Angel Wings and Demon Pitchforks

26. Why Are All My Brothers Getting Boyfriends?

The food had been ordered. Dean, Cassie, Lucifer and Michael were looking at Sam expectedly, silent and waiting for him to say something. Tell them why they were here.

But Sam wasn't saying anything. Gabriel suspected his mouth wasn't working.

What a time to go mute, Sammy.

"So, we wanted to tell you something," Gabriel said again.

"You're pregnant," Lucifer interrupted but winced after Michael's foot hit his shin.

"Don't interrupt," Cassie scolded.

"Fine, fine, go on." Lucifer rubbed his leg. Michael could really kick.

"So..." Gabriel was nervous but said it anyway, "we're dating."

The reaction was pretty much how he expected:

"WHAT?!"

"Since when?" Cassie asked, his eyes bright and excited. Dean, next to him, was spluttering.

"Why are all my brothers getting boyfriends?!" Lucifer's head hit the table and Gabriel laughed, relieved that the reaction didn't go sideways (he didn't think it would, but there's always a sliver of panic and doubt when telling your family that you're dating someone -- Gabriel lived for his brothers' approval)

The only one who didn't react was Michael, who was sat, frozen, next to Sam. Sam put his hand on Michael's, and he  flinched away.

"Michael," Dean said carefully. Lucifer sat up. "We're at the diner. I'm here. Sammy's here. We're okay."

Michael nodded for a while before forcing a smile. "I'm happy for you two."

Sam seemed to take this as a good thing.

"I'm happy too," he grinned and Gabriel squeezed his hand.

"Oh, it feels good to finally tell you guys," Gabriel said. "I mean, it's exhausting to sneak out of the house to go on a date. And then there's the interrogation coming from Anna and Raph and Balth asking where I'm going, where I was, what I'm doing -- it was hard."

"Well I'm glad that you guys are happy," Lucifer said, still watching Michael.

"So does this mean that you're--"

"Yes it means I'm dating someone before you, better up your game Cassie." Gabriel shot his brother a look that said I'll talk to you later about it. Sam didn't want to tell anyone about them being soulmates, and that was fine. But he didn't really want to be put in the position to talk about soulmates then, because something told him that the reason Sam didn't want to say anything was to do with Michael.

"Ah, our food!" Dean exclaimed, breaking the slightly awkward tension, as the waitress came over, carrying plates of burgers and chips, and the singular salad for Sam.

"When are you going to tell everyone else?" Lucifer asked, digging in to his chips.

"Friends find out on Monday," Sam said. "Charlie finds out on our way home. Jess knew from the beginning."

"Siblings find out probably at the next family dinner," Gabriel finished. "Who knows. Maybe I'll never tell them."

"Don't tell Anna," Cassie said. "You'll never hear the end of it."

---

"Okay so how exactly did the divorce work for you guys, I'm confused?" asked Dean, their meals finished.

"Our parents have been divorced for a month and a bit and you only ask now?"

"Shut up Gabriel I didn't know how to ask."