Three years later:

Dean was not a popular creature in the forest. The animals looked upon him with disgust and fear. Castiel kept Dean away from them though, telling the animals that when they threatened his charge, they threatened him too.

A certain buck deer tried to charge at Dean when Castiel had left him in a meadow.

Castiel luckily stopped it, having harsh words with the deer.

The deer had just shook its large head, its sharp antlers swinging in rage and told Castiel: "Human bad. Make human leave."

Castiel had been so enraged with what the deer had said that he made the deer leave his forest under exile, and never to return.

None of the animals mentioned Dean directly to him since. But that did not mean that they didn't give him a hard time.

Castiel hardly left Dean alone, in fear if the animals might hurt him. The plan was to care for the child until he was old enough to leave the forest on his own. That was the plan. But plans never go as expected.

Castiel didn't expect to fall into a deep hearted love with the child that he cared for. Castiel had found the child exactly one years ago today, and Dean still nursed off of him.

In all of Castiel's years he had never imagined himself being a wet nurse. Their nest was high in the trees, made like any normal bird nest, with sticks and soft grasses.

It offered a place that Castiel could protect the youngling and nurse him without being watched by the animals.

Castiel sat with Dean across from him, who was fast asleep in the curve of his wing. Dean gripped the soft feathers tightly, as if afraid Castiel would leave him.

Castiel had tried to teach Dean different tongues so he could speak words with the animals...unfortunately it didn't take. Castiel knew it wouldn't, Dean was human, no matter how much Castiel tried to change that fact, Dean would always be a small minded simple human.

Castiel decided he would teach Dean the way of life, and how to care for the forest like he would a hatchling. He couldn't see sending his most prized possession, which Dean had become, to the nearest village and expect him to defend for himself.

The outside world was a cruel, dark place. And Castiel did not want his love to be any part of it.

Castiel leaned over kissing Dean's soft baby hair to wake him up. Dean squirmed for a moment before opening his bright green eyes. Castiel smiled. The baby actually blushed, his cheeks a deep red that would put even the most glorious rose to shame.

"Good morning love." Castiel said gently rubbing his babies tummy that was still full with his milk. The milk Castiel produced had a small amount of grace in it. Dean would probably live long past a humans life expectancy years since he had a small amount of grace inside him. Dean was considered blessed since he nursed of a holy creature such as Castiel.

Castiel sent a telepathic link to Dean's mind, connecting their minds so they could converse. Telepathic links took tons of concentration and energy, so Castiel usually didn't do it. Only when he was bored or it was urgent.

"Hungry. Hungry." Dean's mind was still young, so it only ran in simple circles of basic needs, not really old enough to hold a conversation with.

"Again?" Castiel asked out loud. Dean had been very hungry lately, and it concerned him.

Dean's mind just kept whining.

"Hungry. Yes. Hungry..." Dean got up on his young legs, wobbly with sleep, and waddled over to Castiel and dropped onto his chest. Castiel just chuckled as he cradled Dean's fragile head to his chest as the baby latched onto him. Pleasure soaked his pores at having relief. It made his heart swell with pride knowing he had kept the baby human healthy and alive for one whole year. Castiel considered this date Dean's birthday since he found him on this day.

Castiel smiled when Dean looked up at him with wide green eyes as he pulled in steady streams of milk. Castiel knew his milk was addicting, the purity of it made any mortal creature content.

"So good mummy. So good. So Happy." Dean's mind remarked. Dean was still young so he didn't understand that Castiel was not the one that birthed him. Castiel cared for him and gave him his nutrients and love and protection but he was not his mother.

Castiel pulled the baby from his breast and looked at him. Dean's basic instinct told him that the one that nursed him was his mother.

That wasn't the case though. Castiel decided that if he didn't correct this early on, it would just get worst.

"Dean...I am not your mother." Castiel said surely to make sure the baby understood. Dean understood more then a average three year old human. The angel grace in him opened his mind to more understanding of words, languages and the world around him.

But when Castiel told Dean he was not his mother, the little human looked devastated. Castiel knew Dean believed with all of his small heart and soul that Castiel was in fact his mother, but when Castiel had said other wise, the little one just stared at him emotionless with wide eyes.

"You are mummy. I love you." Dean's mind supplied through the link and he cuddled into Castiel's warm breast.

Castiel sighed and shook his head sitting up, putting the baby down in front of him.

"No Dean. I'm not. I am not your mother." Castiel said with more force.

Dean just looked at him. His mind blank before he just replied with one word.

"Oh." The baby looked away to the side, not meeting Castiel's steady gaze.

He thought he would leave it at that. How did you tell such an innocent wholesome creature that their race was evil and corrupt?

Castiel couldn't help but notice that night how Dean wasn't snuggling in the warmth of his chest or wings anymore, but sleeping on the other side of the nest.

Castiel found he couldn't sleep with the baby not directly next to him. He reached over, pulling Dean in, but Dean woke up when he was halfway there and crawled away. Castiel just stared in open shock.

"Dean?" Castiel asked unsure what was wrong. Dean just glanced at him before turning away and curling into a ball away from him.

"Dean!" Castiel growled, trying to get the babes attention. Dean just ignored him. This was alien behavior for the three year old tiny human. Maybe he just wanted some alone time?

Castiel just shook his head and laid his head down and soon fell to a deep uneasy sleep.

Castiel woke up at dawn as he always did. He blinked a few times before looking across at Dean. Dean was sitting staring at Castiel with huge black bags under his eyes. Had he gone to sleep at all last night? He was still across the nest like he had been last night, probabily not moving at all.

"Good morning precious." Castiel smiled gently, trying to act cheerful despite how empty and betrayed he felt that the baby wouldn't sleep with him.

Dean just blinked slowly, non-responsive. Castiel just furrowed his eyebrows in concern, he was almost sure the melancholy mood would have left the infant by morning.

He got up on his hands and knees, his breast hanging full off his chest and crawled over to where the infant sat. The baby tensed but no emotion crossed his face. Castiel was very concerned now. Maybe once Castiel fed him his morning feed he would be back to normal.

"Are you hungry Dean?" Castiel asked sitting down and reaching for the baby. What he did not expect was when Dean slapped his hand away with his tiny fist looking up at him with dull green eyes.

Castiel raised his eyebrows and reached for the infants mind, trying to find the problem. His heart faltered when Dean pushed him out of his head and blocked all of his thoughts from Castiel's reach.

Castiel just tilted his head confused.

Dean just turned away giving a grunt when Castiel pushed at his side gently.

"Dean? Why did you push me away?" Castiel asked. Dean just sighed deeply.

Castiel tried reaching for the young mind again, and was relieved when Dean let him in.

"No hungry." Dean said simply to his much older mind.

"Dean, you haven't eaten since yesterday night. What's wrong?" Castiel asked gently running a gentle hand against the smooth skin of the babies back.

"Are you feeling ill?" Castiel asked concerned. Dean just looked up at him and shook his head.

Dean's mind was silent. Not replying. It would not be very common for a creature who drank holy milk like Castiel's to get ill, but it could happen.

"She said I no eat." Deans mind replied hesitantly.

Castiel just tilted his head.

"Who said Dean?" Castiel asked concerned.

"She did." Deans mind supplied as he nodded. Castiel just sighed, because that wasn't of help at all.

Castiel had secured the forest and made sure there were no threats. He didn't feel any danger near the nest so he had no clue what the infant was talking about.

Perhaps Castiel shouldn't leave the baby for long periods of time like he had been. Maybe the infant was becoming mentally unwell. Soft in the head. Castiel just ignored the remark about this she and coaxed Dean.

"Come on, eat please...for me? She's not going to hurt you if you eat." Castiel said reaching down and kissing down the babies delicate spine. Dean smelt of newborn freshness, and innocence and sweet spice. The smell was intoxicating.

"No hungry. She said no mummy" Deans's mind responded insistent. Castiel just sighed leaning back up. Rhis she was obviously imaginary.

Everyday since Castiel had been named guardian of the forest, he had spent all day watching over it, helping it grow, keep it safe. But ever since he got Dean he would have to come back to his nest three times a day to feed the child.

"I'm going to check the forest then okay? I'll be back when the bright circle is highest in the sky." Castiel said pressing a quick kiss to the babies fat cheek, Dean's whole body shifted with the force of it.

Castiel got up and walked to the edge of the nest and looked back at Dean, who was sitting in a ball with his tiny back turned to him. Castiel just shook his head and jumped from the nest, spreading his large wings and letting the wind carry him.

He hoped Dean would feel hungry when he got back.

Castiel spent the whole morning gliding over his forest, looking for potential threats. Luckily he didn't find any, his forest never was a dangerous place. The only threat was when humans wandered to close to the boarders, or on rare occasions into the forest. He started south then east. He had to fly at a magnificent speed so he wouldn't be late on feeding Dean at noon. When he finally did get back to the nest, he had covered one half of the forest.

His wings were exhausted, since he didn't get a good rest last night since Dean was having a tantrum. Every since he got the babe he considered it his own child, he just didn't want Dean to get confused. Castiel was not his mother, caretaker yes, mother no. Your mother was the one who birthed you, Castiel did not birth Dean. Who was not a hatchling but a human.

Castiel got back many hours later at noon and landed on the edge of the nest softly, almost silent. His heart stuttered when he saw Dean. The baby didn't look like it had moved an inch.

"Nucaseh." Castiel called gently.

Dean glanced in back of him. Castiel approached him on silent feet. He crouched down picking up the baby and pressing him in between his breast.

"What is wrong my little one?" Castiel asked sitting in the edge of the nest and pulling Dean back and sitting him on his lap. Dean wouldn't meet his eyes.

Castiel took one of his breast in hand and pressed the teat to Dean's closed lips. Dean turned his little face away. Turning his nose up at it.

"Dean. This has gone on long enough. Eat." Castiel demanded. Any animal wouldn't dare question Castiel's direct demands, but the little human just deliberately disobeyed him and turned away.

"Dean, do not make me force you." Castiel warned.

Dean didn't respond, so Castiel took the back of the babies head gently in his hand and pressed Dean's mouth to his teat. When the baby didn't open his mouth like he usually did fear strikes Castiel's heart.

"Dean open your mouth." Castiel demanded gently, rubbing his thumb on the babes cheek. Dean squirmed for a moment before giving up, seeing it was no use. Dean's whole head fitted into the palm of his hand. Dean still didn't open it so Castiel tried to pry it open gently with the finger of his other hand. He succeeded and slipped his fat teat pass the babies lips and gums.

Dean grunted and tried to pull away but Castiel held his head fast. Dean exhausted quickly and stopped his useless struggles. He tried biting on the teat to get Castiel to let him go, but gums were useless.

Castiel made him drink until his small belly was extended into a round swollen hump full of milk. Castiel did this to make up for the missed feeding this morning and also as a mild punishment for the humans arrogance. Dean had no choice to pull away since Castiel kept his tiny head in place with his hand.

After Dean drank until his small stomach expanded, Castiel pulled him off and the babe started crying instantly. Tears ran down the babies face and weak sobs escaped its throat as he flopped over like a dead fish in his hands. Dean was probably past full now. He placed the human on the nest floor and Dean curled into himself, probably uncomfortable with the large burden that was now his stomach. Castiel adjusted the baby onto his side so he didn't lean to much weight on the bulge. Castiel knew that his milk wouldn't cause the baby pain such as a stomach ack, but was probably very irritating. Dean was sleeping in minutes. The milk working as a drug to sedate him

Castiel just smiled and kissed his too full belly. He stretched his limbs and took off again, flying swiftly so he could be back by sundown.

Castiel returned before sunset and smiled when he saw Dean was awake and playing with his toes.

"Keriawa Nucaseh." Castiel said smiling. Dean just looked up in acknowledgment before sucking on his thumb.

"Are you hungry Nucaseh?" Casriel asked tilting his head. Dean just blinked up at him before looking away. Castiel sighed, he didn't feel like playing this game right now with the human.

"Do not make me repeat this afternoons episode Dean." Castiel said in a warning tone. Dean just looked down as if ashamed and scared. Castiel sighed heavily and just laid down on his side exhausted and stretched his arms near his face to show Dean how temptingly full his breast were. He waited a while before he connected his mind with Dean's. Dean accepted him in his head which Castiel was pleased about. The babies belly was still large with milk but Castiel was sure he was hungry again, and his breast felt unusually full.

"Come Dean. I'm tired and you need to eat." Castiel said gently, coaxing the young mind. Dean just looked at him tiredly.

Suddenly Castiel flinched when a wall of emotions hit him like a brick wall.

Betrayal, distrust, unhappiness, anger, sadness, hurt.

Casriel stared at the little one in shock. He knew this was abouyet his afternoons force feeding.

"Dean. You gave me no choice. You were hungry and you refused to eat. If you don't eat you will become weak, and your body will shit down and die." Castiel's mind explained.

Dean just stared at him confused. Of course the human didn't understand. He was only human after all.

"I couldn't mummy. She's was watchings." Dean's mind said nervously.

"Dean." Castiel sighed irritated now. He was sick of the human lying.

"Come here, I'm not asking anymore." Castiel flapped his wings angrily.

No more. No hungry. Dean's mind insisted.

"Yes you are. Come here now." Castiel said firmly.

"No mummy no!" Dean's mind cried out as the infant shook his head.

"FOR THE LAST TIME! I AM NOT YOUR MOTHER!" Castiel found himself shouting. When the baby flinched Castiel stopped and felt ashamed in himself. The little one was only a child. He didn't know what was best for him. He was just reacting how any infant would. Stubborn. Castiel regained control of himself and told himself not to get angry with the baby, he was to young to understand the things such as needs to survive.

Suddenly he was shoved out of the infants mind and Castiel panted at the sheer force in it from such a tiny creature. Dean turned away, his tiny wingless back to Castiel as if mocking him.

Castiel didn't know what to do. The wingless back just reminded him that this was not a hatchling. It was a human. Castiel couldn't dream of understanding it. He thought he and Dean had a unbreakable relationship so far. Obviously he was wrong.

Anger that he hadn't felt in years filled him and he jumped out of the nest spreading his wings and gliding as he flew away from the nest before he could do something he might regret. He just had no patcience for stubborn baby humans right now, and flying always helped him think.

If Dean didn't want dinner, he wouldn't get dinner.

Castiel flew all night and finally started heading back to the nest at dawn. He was much more calm now and relaxed. His wings were exhausted from flying all night so he went slower then usual. When he had the nest in sigh he perched on a branch above it and looked down to see if Dean was asleep. His heart jumped in his chest when he didn't see Dean at all.

He leapt down into the nest looking around nervously and desperately.

"Dean?" He called, his heart picking up speed and his breathing increasing.

Panic started in two seconds after his brain registered the nest was clearly empty.

"No no no..." Castiel mumbled to himself. How could he be so foolish?

"DEAN!" He called desperately, hoping this was some sick joke and the infant would reveal himself laughing.

But after a few seconds and nothing happened Castiel sniffed the air and picked up a faint scent. Him and Dean had been the only ones in the nest ever. So when Castiel picked up another scent his chest seared with rage and fear. It smelt dangerous. But old, like something of the old world like himself.

Suddenly when he looked down seeing the nest not only had his dark blue and pitch black feathers but light brown and dark brown feathers he hissed in anger. He recognized the scent now. Where his forest ended a darker one began. The humans feared it and called it the Dark forest.

It was right next to his. And he knew who roamed there.

Lilith. The harpy.