Summary: Sequel to 'More Than I Appear'. Castiel comes to terms with Jennifer's shocking news and has to step up to the mark. Please, please review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters *Snuggles up to comfort cookie box*. I don't own the lyrics used in this chapter either.

Pairings: Castiel/OC, Gabriel/OC

A/N: Special thanks to LittleFallenAngel333 for reviewing all the way through the prequel to this! THANK YOU! Also, thanks to everyone who's read, alerted and favourited the prequel!

Responsibility

Chapter One – Decisions

Previously:

Jennifer turned around finally to look at him, revealing a large bump at the front of her stomach. Resting her hand on it, she looked up at Castiel with tear filled eyes, saying her next sentence through gritted teeth.

"Come and meet your unborn baby."

Castiel couldn't speak. He just stood looking at Jennifer and the bump on her front.

"Yeah…your unborn baby. The one we both made the night before we defeated the Devil." Jennifer said, tears falling down her face.

The angel didn't notice tears in his own eyes when he moved forward. Jennifer took a deep breath and decided that the long heart to heart could wait and she took Castiel's hands, pressing them onto the bump. Then she started to sing.

"You can reach me by railway,
You can reach me by trail way,
You can reach me on an airplane,
You can reach me with your mind…"

As she sang, Castiel felt a movement against his hands, gasping and trying to pull back but Jennifer held his wrists tightly, keeping his hands there.

"You can reach me by caravan,
Cross the desert like an Arab Man,
I don't care how you get here,
Just get here if you can…"

There was movement again and then Castiel felt something hit his hand and looked to Jennifer who looked down at her belly, rubbing the bump before holding Castiel's hands to it again.

"This is your daddy…" she whispered to the bump, "You're daddy's come home my little angel."

The sound of its mother's voice made the baby kick again and tears escaped the angel's eyes. He helped make this tiny little human that was currently moving about inside its mother. It felt like it was happy for its daddy to be home. Taking Castiel's hand in her own, Jennifer took him to the quite-frankly-uncomfortable-looking sofa and they sat down.

"Is this our son or our daughter?" Castiel asked earning a shrug from Jennifer.

"I don't know." She replied, "I don't want to know…I'm just happy I have a baby growing in here."

Castiel put his hands back and leaned forward, kissing the bump. There was a kick after and Jennifer gripped his hand.

"Wow…" she breathed, "It's happy to know you're here."

"Hello, my little angel," Castiel said softly, placing another hand on the bump.

There was another kick and Jennifer placed her hand on top of Castiel's, rubbing the bump reassuringly.

"Daddy's here, Sunshine." She whispered, looking up to Castiel, "I need to know something."

Castiel looked up, waiting for her to ask her question.

"Is this baby human or part angel…?"

"Since I was almost human when we conceived it, I'm sure it is human." Castiel answered, feeling Jennifer's hand grip his tighter.

"I need to know for certain…I need to know so I can prepare properly." Jennifer said softly.

"I'll find out when I return to Heaven, I'm sure." Castiel replied, a little surprised when Jennifer leaned forward to get a small photo album.

She held it to her chest and took a deep breath.

"Do you want to see your baby?"

Castiel nodded and Jennifer opened the album.

"This is at six weeks." She said, pointing to the baby on the first photo.

Castiel's eyes widened and he touched the photo.

"See how small it is?"

Castiel nodded and smiled at Jennifer.

"You've kept all the photos?" He asked, Jennifer nodding and turning to the next photo.

"This is at twelve weeks," She explained, "Can you see the changes?"

Castiel nodded and Jennifer turned to the next one.

"This is one I had yesterday." She whispered, "Now it's quite developed look, fingers and toes, identifiable facial features…"

"Wow…" Castiel breathed, neither of them realising they'd been cuddled up while looking at the photos.

Jennifer looked up at Castiel and searched his eyes for honesty.

"Will you stay?"

Castiel looked at Jennifer and thought about how to put this without worrying her.

"I have to return to Heaven to find out if our baby is fully human or not, and then I shall ask Father for permission to return to you." He whispered, "I will have to return to tell you his answer anyway…"

"You have to leave now don't you…"

That was a statement, not a question, and the girl looked so sad that her lover had to leave again.

"Yes." Castiel answered, "I'm being called by Father."

Jennifer nodded before closing the album and thinking for a moment. Castiel was about to stand but she grabbed his wrist, stopping him in his tracks as she still looked to her lap. Looking up, she leaned over, and kissed Castiel's lips, cupping his cheek and keeping hold of his wrist. Castiel felt the bump pressing against him and the baby kicked again, causing Jennifer to gasp and break the kiss.

"Do you still love me?" She asked, her thumb stroking soothing lines across Castiel's cheek.

"Yes, I do." Castiel replied, kissing her lovingly and slowly.

He'd remembered just how she liked a tender kiss: No tongues, force or movement, just one capturing of lips that lingered for a while.

"Do you still love me?" He asked, finding himself with his arms wrapped around her.

Jennifer couldn't answer, so thrilled Castiel still loved her, even if she didn't believe him before she knew now after that kiss. She nodded and kissed him once more.

"I really need to go." Castiel whispered, "I'll see you later."

"Bye, Castiel." Jennifer whispered back, "I love you."

"I love you too."

With a flutter of wings, the angel was gone, leaving Jennifer feeling like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Castiel returned the following day. It was 9:34pm, he noticed as he looked at the clock. Jennifer sat singing to the baby, giggling as it kicked and moved around in her womb. She heard the fluttering of wings but didn't turn.

"Jennifer," Castiel began, "I have answers to your questions."

Jennifer smiled to herself and merely patted the sofa at the side of her, trying not to worry about the answers Castiel had for her. The angel moved towards the sofa and sat down, taking Jennifer's hand in his own so the young woman would look at him. She truly was glowing through her pregnancy. She beamed down at her stomach and rubbed it gently before looking up at Castiel.

"If you're here to let me down do it quickly." She whispered, her smile replaced by a frown and a trembling lower lip.

"First of all, your baby is fully human," Castiel began, seeing relief wash over Jennifer's eyes despite her face remaining sad, "And Father thinks that I should stay with you."

"For how long?" Jennifer asked, relieved that she'd get to spend some time with Castiel.

"Forever." Castiel replied, "And I can still keep my powers, just at my original level."

Jennifer smiled beautifully and tears filled her eyes as she covered her mouth to keep from screaming with delight. Castiel smiled back at her, so widely he thought his face would split in two. Raising hesitant hands, Jennifer cupped Castiel's face gently before leaning forward slowly. Castiel met her lips halfway and they shared a slow but passionate kiss that lasted about ten seconds. Pulling away Jennifer jumped when the baby started kicking again.

"Yes, Honey…Daddy's home now…home for good." She whispered, rubbing the bump again.

"Yes, my little one," Castiel said softly, rubbing the bump himself, "Daddy's home."

There was an excited kick and the couple laughed, Jennifer leaning into Castiel's side.

"We're gonna have to get you some new clothes. You can't wear that all the time." She said with a smile.

"I like this though," Castiel protested, "I don't want to change it."

"But you need to so you can fit in with others, Baby." She explained, "You can keep it for going off to see to angelic business if you have any, but while you're at home you'll want to be comfortable and to fit in."

Castiel nodded reluctantly. Jennifer understood more about humans than he did, (since she was one) so he would need to follow her instruction.

"I'm going to call Sam, Dean and my Dad…they need to know about this." She said with a sigh, "They might not be too happy that you left me, but you're back now and that's what matters."

"I'm sorry." Castiel whispered.

"Pardon?" Jennifer asked, looking for eye contact from the angel.

"I'm sorry for leaving you...I shouldn't have. You loved me and took care of me…and I took advantage of it, abandoning you when you needed me the most."

"No, Cassie…" Jennifer said in an almost whisper, "Now is when I need you the most."

"Can you forgive me?" The angel asked, looking for reassurance.

"You were forgiven the moment you came back." She whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too." Castiel whispered back, kissing Jennifer's lips languidly.

The three men stood staring at Jennifer's stomach.

"You're pregnant!" Dean exclaimed, earning glares from everyone else.

"Oh, that's what this is!" Jennifer began, "I've been wondering what it was for months!"

"You moron." Sam muttered, moving forward to hug Jennifer carefully, "Congratulations, Jen."

"So where is he?" Bobby asked.

"Who?" Jennifer countered, knowing full well who Bobby was talking about.

"You know who I mean." Bobby said with a slight snarl.

Castiel appeared from nowhere and Jennifer grabbed his hand.

"I'm here, Bobby." Castiel said calmly.

"So you finally came back then." Bobby growled, "Good timing."

"Dad!" Jennifer warned, "He had no clue I was pregnant."

Castiel gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Bobby glared at Castiel.

"He's staying with me…not as a human, but God has allowed him to stay with me and still keep his angelic power." She explained, "I know he left me but we're moving on."

Her hand moved to her bump and she gripped Castiel's hand as tight as she could. This was the first time she'd ever really stood up to her dad, she normally just followed his orders, but not now.

"We have a baby to think about." She said sternly, "We love each other, and we're going to make this work."

Bobby's expression softened and Jennifer released Castiel's hand, moving towards her father and wrapping her arms around him. Pulling back she rubbed the bump and introduced the family to the baby.

That night, the family sat and looked at the photos from the scans, smiling and laughing about what the kid would look like if it had wings and a halo. The hunters left Jennifer's house at around 6:30pm because the poor girl was suffering with back pain and they'd been there for four hours anyway. Bobby went back home to double check that this pregnancy wasn't part of any prophecy while Dean and Sam headed to Florida to bring back Brooke and Gabriel.

Castiel, for the first time in half a year, climbed into bed beside his lover, wrapping his arms around her protectively and resting a hand on the bump. Whispering words of love and sharing soft kisses, Jennifer finally fell asleep. Castiel remained to watch over her and their child through the night.

-TBC-