Summary: Set from Dean's POV and in my version of life after the Apocalypse. A bit angsty at first but hopefully romantic and funny later. Please, please, please review!

Let me know if I should continue this because I'm currently writing Ch.2 but I'd like to know if you are all enjoying it or not.

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or its characters.

Pairings: Dean/Castiel, Sam/Gabriel.

SECOND CHANCES

Chapter One

Just looking down at him in my arms made me realise how small and fragile he looked. His bloodied trenchcoat was wrapped around him and his now even paler face was wearing a peaceful expression, his gorgeous blue eyes covered by his eyelids and thick eyelashes. His dark hair was in its usual messy state; yes it was untamed but it just added to his beauty. Yeah, that's right. Castiel was goddamn beautiful even lying dead in my arms. I tried so hard to keep the tears away; I didn't want them falling on his face. I didn't want anyone to fucking touch his face, or him at all for that matter. His lips remained slightly parted from our final kiss we'd shared that day…well…so I thought.

"Dean…"

I heard Sam's voice from behind me. It was soft, almost sympathetic as my name rolled along the sound of it.

"Son…"

I heard Bobby's voice too. His stern voice sounded so much more different than Sam's but I didn't really give a fuck. I was too concerned with the fact that the only person I'd always wanted and truly loved (obviously apart from my family) was lying in my arms dead and gone, just like all the others who I'd loved and lost.

"Come on, Dean." Bobby whispered, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder.

I shrugged it off, which I kinda feel bad for now, but I just wanted to be on my own with my angel. I didn't give a damn whether he'd fallen and become human or not; he'd always be my angel.

"Give him some space," Bobby said to Sam, seemingly thinking I couldn't hear a word of it, "He needs time to grieve."

I paid no attention to the fact that the pair of them pitied me. That wasn't important. I heard them moving away and mumbling voices, then the crackling of what sounded like a lollipop wrapper. Damn Gabriel. Even after the fucking Apocalypse had just ended and his own brothers were dead he couldn't resist eating a Goddamn lollipop.

I sat there and looked at my broken, dead angel. Poor Castiel…he'd given up so much for me. All I could give him was one final kiss in his last moments like he'd asked. At least he'd died kinda happy. That one final look he gave me was so full of trust and love it broke my heart.

Ten Minutes Ago

"CAS, LOOK OUT!" I yelled, my heart thundering in my chest, as I saw the demon approach Castiel but I was too late.

The demon ran Castiel straight through as though he were just a piece of meat to stick a fork in. I broke into a run. Damnit, one demon's always gotta have the last shot before they get sent back down. Hell's army had gone now, and it was just us and the surviving angels left. I knelt down by my lover and lifted him into my arms. He hissed with the pain and tears filled his eyes. God I didn't want to watch him die…I was praying he wouldn't die.

"Dean…" he breathed, "It hurts."

My heart broke into a million pieces when those words left my angel's lips. Tears streamed down his face so I gently wiped them away with my thumb.

"I know it does, Baby, but we're gonna get you fixed I promise." I whispered, cupping his cheek and running my hand through his hair to try and calm him.

Damn typical of me, making promises I can't keep.

"You can't fix me…" Castiel said, his breath hitching through the pain, "I'm dying, Dean."

That's where I started to really panic and I felt my insides tense, and my heart start to beat faster.

"Cas…Cas…you can't die on me, Babe. I need you!"

"You'll be fine, Dean." Castiel promised, "If I reach Heaven…I'll watch over you as I always have."

Coming to terms with the fact that my angel was dying, I held him closer to me.

"Can I make you more comfortable?" I asked, mentally kicking myself for asking such a ridiculous question.

"I'm cold…" Castiel replied, shivering a little, "I feel tired."

That's how I knew the end was coming, as much as it pained me. Damnit, why did everyone I touch die? Why did everyone I ever loved get taken away?

"Alright," I whispered, trying not to cry, "Let me get you wrapped up warm then."

I wrapped his trenchcoat around him and held him tighter.

"Kiss me goodnight?" Castiel asked, his face pale and his eyes glazing over, turning them misty blue rather than their usual happy brightness.

I nodded and lifted Castiel to rest his head against my shoulder, and then lifted my knee slightly so he could rest his body there. He winced from the pain when I moved him.

"Sorry, Cas…I'm sorry." I whispered, feeling his cold hand caress my cheek.

"I love you, Dean."

"Love you too, Castiel."

I leaned forward and kissed Castiel one final time, languidly to put all the love I had into it.

"Goodnight, Dean. I'm going to sleep now." Castiel whispered, wiping one of my tears away with an ice cold finger.

"Goodnight, Baby." I whispered back, "Sweet dreams."

Castiel rested his head on my shoulder and buried his face in my neck, twisting his hand into my dirty t-shirt as the pain surged through him one more time. He whimpered with the pain, and I shushed him, gently stroking my fingers through his hair and holding him close to me.

"Sleep now, my angel…" I whispered, "Sleep now, it's alright to sleep."

I heard and felt his breathing fade away slowly until there was nothing. His hand fell from my shirt and his body sagged, and I knew he was gone. I sat and wept, holding him there still and then I pulled him away from me, just so I could look at him one more time.

Present Time

I was so grateful that the same demon that killed my lover was now lying rotting in Hell where it belonged. I lifted Castiel's body back to my chest and cradled him there. I'm not sure how long I sat there for. I just cried silently into his messy hair, inhaling his unique scent of honey, coconut and vanilla all mixed up.

"Dean…" a gruff voice said, muffled by something, "You're cutting off my oxygen supply…"

"Not now, Cas…I'm crying over you…" I replied, suddenly recognising that familiar voice, "Cas?"

I released him quickly and he sat up, his bright blue eyes sparkling more than ever, his skin a little flushed and his lips looking so delicious I could've kissed them right off his face there and then.

"Dean, why are you crying?" he asked, gently caressing my cheek.

"I thought you were dead, Castiel…" I answered, finding myself leaning into his touch.

"Father gave me a choice," Castiel began, smiling at me, "I could either stay with you as a human on Earth or return to Heaven…"

I assumed the worst, as usual.

"So you're here to say goodbye?" I said, disappointment automatically flooding my heart.

"No…I'm here to stay, Dean."

With that he pressed a tender kiss to my lips, and I knew that there was such thing as a second chance. That one kiss brought all my faith in the good things in life back to me. This was the start of a new life for all of us, and I'd be damned if I wasn't going to make the most of it.

- TBC -