"Another day, another sunrise

Washing over everything

In its time, love will be mine

The beauty and the tragedy."

~The Beauty and The Tragedy by Trading Yesterday

Four Years Later

One more week, Dean thought. One more week and this baby will be out of Cas and I can stop sleeping in the panic room. Of course he'd been ecstatic when he first learned of the pregnancy, and they were expecting a baby girl named Mary Grace Winchester, but it was fairly hard to be enthusiastic when you're getting lamps thrown at you because apparently the shirt you were wearing clashed with the color of the walls. Dean had given up on trying to reason with his hormonal husband and was currently slinking upstairs in search of food, keeping an eye out for the psychotic force better known as Castiel.

He walked into the kitchen and found the angel sitting at the table, skin pale and face tear streaked. The azure blue eyes Dean knew and loved were red and puffy. Cas looked up, saw Dean, and immediately broke down into tears again. Oh crap, what did I do this time? Dean wondered, rushing to Castiel's side and folding the angel into his arms.

"What's wrong?" he asked, rubbing Cas' back soothingly.

"You left me!" Cas sobbed into Dean's chest. "I woke up and you weren't even there! I thought something had happened to you!"

Oops. "I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean to worry you."

Castiel seemed to accept his apology (for once!) for he sniffled quietly against Dean's shirt, the tears slowing and finally stopping. It had been this way the week before James had been born too; Castiel's emotions had been all over the place, even worse than they were throughout the rest of the pregnancy. Dean felt guilty for abandoning Cas last night, but at that point he'd been fearing for his survival, and he figured it was better to have to explain to Cas than for James and Mary to grow up without their second father.

Cas drew back and wiped his eyes. "I am sorry Dean, I am sure I have effectively frightened you with my hormonal tendencies."

The answer to that question was a big YES, but Dean thought it was smarter not to say so. "You can't help you're a little whacked out, Cas, I understand."

Any further reassurances were cut off by the fork that had suddenly stabbed Dean in the crotch, right through his jeans. He cried out in pain and stumbled back, yanking the fork out and throwing it away from him. Cas was on his feet, his eyes narrowed angrily. Dean found himself wishing he'd never left the panic room.

"Whacked out? Is that how you think of me?" Castiel demanded furiously.

It was going to be the longest seven days of Dean Winchester's life.

Three Frightening Days Later

Gabriel was at the park with Castiel, so Dean went over to Sam's house with James in tow. The little boy was already gorgeous, with Dean's emerald eyes and Castiel's mess of rumpled brown hair. When he pulled up in the Impala, Sam was sitting on the porch with Loki and Isadora, Lily still sleeping up in her room. He smiled and waved at Dean, dark circles ringing his eyes. Gabriel was pregnant again (ask one of the Winchesters to tell you what a condom is, they'll probably just stare at you like you've started chanting in Cambodian), so the younger Winchester was going through the same hell his brother was. But sadly this was a different kind of hell than the kind they were used to, and the only thing around to grip them tight and raise them from Perdition was a bottle of whiskey.

"Uncle Dean!" Loki yelled happily, dashing off the porch and taking a running leap into his uncle's arms.

Dean grinned and swung the boy around. "Hey little man! Gotten laid yet?"

"Dean!" Sam scolded.

"Panties out of a twist Samantha, he probably doesn't even know what that means yet."

"I know what it means," said Isadora proudly, who was too much like Gabriel for her own good.

James bounded over and happily wrapped his arms around Sam's legs. "Hey Uncle Sammy!"

Sam ruffled the boy's hair. "Hey James. You keeping your daddy in line for me?"

"Which one?" James deadpanned. Because only a spawn of Castiel could sound deadpan at four years old.

Sam chuckled. "The one without the big belly."

"Easier said than done," the boy said with a long suffering sigh. He didn't even sound like he was four.

James bounded off to go play with Isadora and Loki, leaving Sam and Dean to watch their children fondly. Sam and Gabriel's pet hellhound was laying under a shade tree, panting softly in the afternoon heat. The kids climbed all over her, but the hound didn't so much as move. She loved her family and her two masters. Once, when Isadora had gotten a cold, she had curled up with the hellhound and slept through the night just like that.

"Any luck surviving Cas' pregnancy?" Sam joked.

"No, I'm praying for my life at least three times a day." Dean was completely serious.

"Try keeping a readily stocked supply of chocolate cakes around. Seems to work on Gabe," Sam suggested.

"Yeah well that make work on Glenda The Good Bitch, but Cas is a little harder to handle."

"I'll pick you out a nice tombstone just in case you don't survive this."

"Thanks."

*At The Park*

Castiel squirmed once again on the park bench; as much as he loved his soon to be born daughter, Mary had a habit of sitting on his vessel's bladder, making it very difficult to remind himself that he didn't have to use the facilities. But then again he didn't have to fornicate with Dean either but he did that. So yes his afternoon would be a little easier if his daughter decided to swim to the other side. He realized at that thought he'd spent far too much time with Gabriel since it was impossible for Mary to swim around in the womb.

He glanced at his elder brother, who sat beside him just as pregnant, eating a vanilla and raspberry swirled ice cream smothered in gummy bears. Cas was immediately thankful he hadn't experienced any taste urges (Dean did not count since he was a non negotiable daily dosage), and he wondered how it was Gabriel could be so at ease. Didn't he worry that humans would notice their stomachs and have an 'OMG ALIENS!' moment? Well, according to James that's what would happen.

Then again the boy had also insisted that sock gnomes existed, well and truly confusing Castiel since he had never heard of such creatures, and with his angelic knowledge that was a first. Once Dean had smirked and confirmed their existence, Castiel had taken appropriate measures and laid traps for the thieving beasts. After Dean had accidentally set off one of the traps getting his fingers stuck in a 'mousetrap from hell!' he'd explained to Castiel that no they weren't actually real it was just a human thing. He'd felt quite foolish as he healed Dean's fingers.

Gabriel of course and his mini me of a daughter had found it hilarious. He truly worried about Isadora; that fledgling was going to be a handful and a half. A flick to his forehead stirred him out of his thoughts. He blinked at his smirking brother.

Gabriel, no longer gorging shamelessly on ice cream, said, "No Winchester angst when we're away from the repression of the husbands."

"You're also a Winchester though, and I am under no repression. Is Sam-"

At his brother's deadpan stare, he realized that Gabriel was being...well, himself. He ducked his head, feeling the tell tale flush creeping into his cheeks. Gabriel snorted.

"I'm well aware that I'm a Winchester." Castiel looked back up, seeing his brother finger his ring fondly. "What I was meaning is why are you so broody, no pun intended, today? Kick back and relax 'cause trust me, when lil Mary pops out you can kiss your peace and quiet goodbye."

Castiel returned his gaze to the other children running around the park laughing and squealing. "I cannot wait for Mary to be in my arms, and I like the house being noisy. Have you and Sam thought of any names yet?"

Gabriel laughed. "Well I was thinking maybe Atton or Romeo for a boy, and Astella or Sayuri for a girl. Sam suggested Jayden or Jasper for a boy and Marci or Serena for a girl. So yeah we're pretty much undecided. Meh we'll pick something when it comes." He then sighed and shook his head. "As much as I love that Sasquatch, having his rugrats is hard on the organs if they're going to be baby yeti sized upon exit."

Castiel nodded as if he actually knew what Gabriel was talking about, and his brother added, "I should have got a bigger vessel. Sometimes being short is a pain, like you know that tall cupboard at our house? Well the kiddos asked for a cookie each that Granny Mary made, so I go to get them and Sam ends up finding me dangling from the cupboard since the chair I stood on to reach them slipped from under me. Totally not cool."

Castiel gave a soft little "hmm." "I heard Sam say to Dean he loves you just the way you are. He said 'he's cute and cuddly'." Cas knew his brother was blushing right now but pretended not to notice since Gabriel, like Dean, preferred not to have 'chick flick moments.' What poultry had to with emotions, Castiel didn't know.

A woman approached them with a stroller containing two toddlers whilst resting a hand on her bump, and she sat exhausted on the bench beside them as the toddlers cried. Gabriel sprung into action (sprung into action as best as a man with a belly large enough to need its own country can spring, that is), producing a bubble blower and blowing bubbles towards them. The toddlers whimpered then giggle at the pretty bubbles. The woman breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you so much."

"No problem, I have three myself," Gabriel replied, grinning.

The woman jokingly added, "And one on the way I see."

Gabriel winked back "You caught me. Here keep it I have a dozen spare anyway." The woman thanked him and took the bubble blower before getting up and walking away, and as she left Gabriel knowingly added, "Oh…and angels are watching out for you."

She smiled and left with the kids. Castiel shook his head "I doubt I'll ever understand your humor."

Gabriel patted his back sympathetically. "Cas you wouldn't know humour if it was nailed to the broadside of a barn." Then the archangel saw…"Ohhhhh, Slushies! Must. Have. Blueberry. Slushy!"

Castiel shook his head amusedly but accepted the grape slushy that Gabriel handed him, relaxing contently in the sunshine.

Four Miserable, Life Threatening Days Later

Today was the day.

And it was about damn time. By this point Dean was on the verge of writing What To Expect When You're Expecting 2.0, A Full Guide On Surviving Your Angelic Husband's Pregnancy. May not sell many copies, but he was sure he could offer a few useful tips. (Rule One - If he bursts out into tears and starts throwing his clothes all over the room, threatening suicide, then he's probably misplaced his trench coat again. Rule Two - Always stay within running distance of a conveniently located panic room. Trust me, your life depends on it. Rule Three - If you survive, buy some condoms. USE THEM.)

"Dean?"

Castiel's familiar, husky voice drew the Winchester (who was currently sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard, treasuring what few moments of peace he'd managed to salvage) out of his thoughts. Besides the dark circles of exhaustion under his eyes, Cas looked fairly normal, not ready to break down in sobs or skewer Dean's balls with a pitchfork. It was a nice change when the angel smiled at Dean warmly and apologetically.

Dean slid his legs apart to make room and held an arm out. "Get over here."

Cas happily obliged, sitting down in the opening between Dean's knees and leaning back against his hunter's chest. Dean's arms encircled him from behind, his hands settling on Cas' stomach and remaining there, feeling Mary Grace kick in her eagerness to be out of the womb. Castiel dropped his head back against Dean's shoulder, allowing his eyes to fall shut. He was asleep in no time.

James toddled in shortly after, climbing up on the bed with his parents and curling up next to Cas, whispering since his pregnant father was asleep. "Hi Daddy."

Dean smiled and moved one of his hands to ruffle his son's hair. "Hey kiddo. Wanna say hi to your sister?"

James bit his lip and nodded fervently, squirming with excitement. Dean took the boy's hand and placed it over Castiel's stomach, watching James' eyes light up as he felt his baby sister kicking. Dean could only smile as the small boy cautiously pressed his ear to Castiel's stomach, trying to hear his little sister in there. Miraculously, Cas slept through it all, his much needed sleep undisturbed.

After awhile they all fell asleep together; Dean with one arm around Cas, James tucked under Dean's arm, Cas leaned back against his husband. Just like Sam and Gabriel and their children did, Dean and Cas and their own made a beautiful family. Early in their relationship, back when Gabriel had first been pregnant with the twins and Dean and Cas were just starting to fall in love, their relationship had appeared strictly psychical to someone on the outside looking in.

This wasn't true, of course. Dean had at first only wanted to expose the sexual side of their relationship because Castiel was the only one he felt comfortable with when it came to letting his emotional guard down. So Sam may have often come home to find them pressed up against walls, kissing feverishly, or on the bed going at it like a couple of teenagers (the first time the latter had happened, Sam had promptly started yelling, "My eyes! My EYES!") but no one was around for the other times.

The times when they would just lay in each other's arms after sex, or sometimes lay together just for the sake of closeness. Or the times when Dean would press the most loving of kisses to the side of Cas' face, grinning as the angel blushed, then telling Cas he was beautiful. That was the side of their relationship Dean had been reluctant to let anyone else see, but eventually he grew just as comfortable being loving towards Cas as Sam was being loving towards Gabriel. That's not to say they didn't still get caught making out (when Cas wasn't pregnant, of course) or get found having sex in the backseat of the Impala, but some things just never change.

The small family slept without interruption for several hours.

…It was the last peaceful moment they would spend together.