The Other Life
It was Castiel's idea to adopt a little baby girl. He and Dean agreed to raise Elizabeth as normal as possible without her knowing what they are and what they do. Well, rather what they had been doing. They live in a small unknown town in Kansas. Dean has a job at the local garage now and Castiel works at the supermarket. They only occasionally hunt, like when they are specifically asked by people to help them out.
But since they had the baby they could only work part time and took turns in staying at home, taking care of little Beth and of course have the weekends off. It was their family time then. Sometimes Sam came over to help out or when he needs help with a case.
It was inevitable that when their daughter became older she started to ask questions. Why she had two daddies and where her mommy was. When she was old enough to understand, Dean and Cas told her that her mother gave her away for adoption because she couldn't take care of her. They also explained to her that it doesn't always have to be a man and a woman who can fall in love and want to have a family. Beth understood that because they had a few gay friends, men and women.
As a teenager Beth didn't believe the stories she was told about ghosts and monsters anymore and wanted to know why there was a salt line on her window sill.
"It's for protection, honey," Dean tells her. "It keeps evil spirits and demons out." "You're crazy," the teenage girl says. Dean sighs. "I know you think it's all superstition, but you can never know." She rolls her eyes. "Okay." She only asked again when she found these strange symbols in some places in the house and Beth starts to think their fathers are hiding something from her.
The doorbell rings and Castiel goes and opens the door. "Beth!" Dean calls upstairs. He has to call two more times before the sixteen year old girl finally comes downstairs and greets uncle Sam and Gabriel. Beth is secretly happy that Sam's lover Gabriel brings her sweets every time they visit. She says she is too old, but takes them gratefully anyway. And Gabriel knows.
Usually Beth goes back to her room and leaves the adults to whatever they have to discuss and she had never been interested very much. But this time is different. She waits a few minutes in her room and then sneaks out as quiet as she can, walks in her socks down to the living room and presses her ear against the door. She can hear everything.
The girl is not sure what to make of what she is hearing. Sam came to ask Dean for help on a case because Gabriel is not so much experienced as a hunter. Beth didn't know that Dean had been hunting. Soon she realizes they aren't talking about hunting deer or any animals at all.
She hears Dean laughing. "If he's at least half as bad as Cas at interrogating…" Since he doesn't continue Beth can imagine the glare Dean gets from Cas very well.
Sam clears his throat. "Dean, this is a big thing. We can't risk the life of more people. There are already too many victims. Whatever it is, we have to stop it fast before the case gets too much attention. But we need help. From the best."
Beth can't believe what she hears. Victims? What the hell are they talking about?
"Then you're at the right address." Dean declares.
"Cas?" Gabriel now says, Beth can hear that he is still chewing on his gum. "Have you heard anything from any of our brothers? You said you still have contact with some of them."
"I'm sorry," Cas answers. "As a human it is not so easy to get in contact with them anymore. I haven't heard from them in a while. But I try and ask them if they have any information that can help with the case."
"Thanks, Cas." Sam says.
Now Beth hears footsteps and her heartbeat begins to race. Quickly she runs into the kitchen as Cas opens the door and she can hear Gabriel say loudly, "I have the tingling feeling that someone was eavesdropping." Then he chuckles and the girl froze. "What have you heard?" Castiel's deep voice startles her. She drops her head. Cas approaches her, puts a finger underneath her chin and makes her look up at him. "Everything," she mutters with guilt in her voice. Then Dean also appears in the kitchen. "I'm sorry," Beth says, "But I wanted to know what you are always talking about, and what those symbols are, what aren't you telling me? I'm old enough to know don't you think?" She crosses her arms over her chest. Dean sighs and Cas smiles. "I guess we have to tell her now." Dean nods and sits down at the kitchen table. That is going to be a long conversation.
"What about the case?" Cas asks. "Yeah, right" Dean sighs. "Listen, Beth," Castiel's blue eyes look fondly down at his daughter. " We're going to explain you everything later. But now we have this important job to do." Beth pouts and goes back to her room and slams the door. Dean is tense and about to go after her. Cas puts a hand on Deans shoulder. "She will calm down and then we'll tell her." Dean nodded and they go back to the others.
The following week Beth is only talking to Cas when it is necessary or to ask about their job and his answer always is that she has to wait until Dean is back.
When Dean, Sam and Gabriel finally return from the hunt Cas pulls Dean in a long tight hug. Then he looks the hunter over, he has a few scratches, but nothing severe and Castiel is relieved. That he isn't able to heal Dean with his angelic powers is what Cas hates most about not being an angel anymore.
When Beth hears that they are back it is a welcomed reason to leave her math homework. She greets and hugs Dean as well and immediately asks tons of questions. "Okay, okay. But let me get a shower first." Dean answers with a laugh.
Later they sat all around the kitchen table. Beth looks at all of them in anticipation. She was not sure what to expect, what they are going to reveal to her and she was also a little anxious.
"Alright." Dean starts and Cas squeeze his arm to encourage him. "First: We're hunters. Sam and I. Always have been. We hunt all sorts of evil things, like ghosts, vampires, demons and that kind. And those two," he points at Cas and Gabriel, "They are angels. Well, more like ex-angels since Cas is now human and Gabriel has given up heavenly duty and is hiding among the humans. Or behind Sam." "Hey," Gabriel shoots Dean an annoyed look and purses his lips. "I'm not hiding. I only want them to think I'm dead. Lucy did me a favor."
Beth looks at them with wide eyes. "You're kidding," she laughed." Dean shakes his head. "Nope."
"It's true." Sam adds.
"I don't believe you." Beth says. "You're just making fun of me."
"Then how about this?" Gabriel says and snaps his fingers before Sam can stop him. "Gabe!"
In the blink of an eye, they suddenly are outside sitting on the grass by a lake. Beth looks around stunned, mouth agape, eyes wide. "How?"
"Gabriel is also a trickster." Cas explains.
"He has some extra playing god powers." Dean chuckles. "Can be very annoying."
Sam nods. Gabriel rolls his eyes and ignores them. "Wait a second… ah," He snaps his fingers again and there's a blanket and a huge picnic basket. They all sat down, Gabriel between Sam's legs, Cas next to Dean and Beth opposite from them. While they eat sandwiches they tell the teenage girl the rest of their story. They tell her about their hunts, how Cas has raised Dean from hell, how they have stopped the apocalypse and how they found out that Gabriel is still alive.
"The strangest things happened and because we thought Gabe was dead we didn't assume it could be the work of a trickster." Sam explains.
"That was until Cas told us he recognizes Gabriel's presence." Dean says.
"But he couldn't reveal himself or the other angels would recognize him too." Cas adds.
Dean nods. "We owed him so we helped him hiding."
"That's how you got together?" Beth asks." Sam nods and smiles.
"And you?" She turns to Dean and Cas. Dean puts his arm around Cas and the ex-angel smiles awkwardly.
"That was a long journey."
Tbc?