Akirra sat at the table with a glass of water and began recounting the history of the Fae to Bobby and Dean. They listened with rapt attention, soaking up every detail, eyes wide with wonder as they heard her story.
The Fae worshiped the Goddess Danue, Mother, as they call her. Mother was the mate to their Father, God, and together the two sang the song of Creation creating the Universe and life within it. God created Angels and Danue created the Fae. Together Angels and Fae didn't work out well. The Fae were very powerful and given free will and they fell instantly in love with their Mother. Not so much for the Angels. They were not given free will, so God created humankind and gave them freewill placing the Angels in charge of the destinies he had chosen for each human. However, with the first war in Heaven, Mother and Father both realized that if a war between Fae and Angel ever happened the Universe would be destroyed. They also realized that eventually someone would have to police the Angels, ensuring the humans safety, foreseeing in the future the angels rebelling against their own lack of freewill. Danue created Avalon, a place for the Fae to live, within an alternate plane of existence. Here her creations thrived peacefully, for the most part.
The other creations she placed in Avalon were the Seelie and Unseelie. They were able to traverse both Avalon and Earth through a veil or gate between the worlds. Both races were like the Fae in features and beauty but not as powerful. The Seelie, meaning light, were beautiful creatures, tending to the forests and rivers and all the earth elements. The Unseelie were dark and dangerous, tended to the fire and death elements. Much like with the Angels though, soon war broke out between the two races. The war in Heaven and the Fae wars had a devastating affect on earth. Danue and God made the decision to close the gates to Earth. However, one Fae must stay behind to ensure the gates remained closed and to rise up one day and defend Heaven if the need ever arose. The reward for the Fae who stayed would be a soulmate, or Shay'anon, from the human race. This was a great reward because Mother and Father loved the humans so much. In addition, it would give the Guardian a way to continue the Fae on Earth through the children that came from the union. Akirra was chosen to stay for her powerful abilities and her love for the race.
"So, why didn't you show up before now? I mean Sam needed help since he was 6 months old!" Dean said frowning.
"Only Mother or Father could wake me up Dean." Bobby, still shaking his head, refilled his glass and offered the bottle to Dean. Dean filled his glass with Bobby's homemade whiskey and sat there. Suddenly he felt another presence and knew Cas had finally shown up.
"Fae." Cas stated the word with both awe and trepidation. Akirra stood slowly, looking at Cas with a mixture of anger and love.
"Angel."
"You are here to render judgment on us then." Cas made the statement yet was still in denial that their time was up. He had never thought that it would come to this, never suspected that the Guardian had been resurrected by his Father. He had wanted to believe that he could change his brothers and that he could have restored order to Heaven. He only wondered what would become of the humans. His look towards Dean was one of pity and sorrow.
"Dean I am sorry." Dean looked from Akirra to Cas.
"What's going on?" he asked, starting to feel dread.
"Judgment is upon us, and I feel it will not go well for Heaven." Akirra looked at Cas in shock. She rushed to him, her tall frame almost gliding, and embraced Cas.
"Oh Castiel, did you think that Father truly would destroy you and your kind?" she asked with such affection in her voice it brought tears to their eyes.
"Is that not why you are here?" he said, his arms coming around her yet unsure of how to touch her. Dean chuckled at the uncomfortable look on Cas' face. Cas shot him a look and cocked his head sideways at Akirra who had released him and stood back to look him over.
"Castiel, take my hand." he did and once he touched her cool skin he began to glow brightly, his wings extending and his mouth opening in a soundless cry of joy. Dean and Bobby both went to their knees at the awesome vision of Cas's angelic self. Both quickly averted their eyes just for good measure and once Cas let go of Akirra's hand it was over.
"Father!" he croaked out, sounding so joyful. Akirra nodded her head and smiled softly at him, her long fingers stroking Cas's face gently.
"He knew the humans had passed their test, thanks to Dean and Sam and you Castiel. But he felt that you may need some extra help and so he chose to wake me. I have two missions now, to help restore order to Heaven and pass Judgment on demons." Cas was stunned. He walked to the table, glancing at Dean and Bobby on the floor, and picked up Dean's glass. He refilled it and swallowed the contents. Filled it again and handed it to Dean who had rose from the floor.
"Hand me the bottle." Cas handed the bottle to Bobby who turned it up and finished it off in one gulp.
"Halleluiah." he said.
"Praise be brother." Cas stated to Bobby in his usual deadpan voice.
"Wow, blessings and whiskey, Sam's missing out." Cas looked at Dean and sighed.
"Your usual sarcastic wit is miss placed here Dean. This is truly a momentous occasion. Heaven has been spared and so have humans. The Guardian Fae has the power to destroy the world and ferry souls to Avalon where Mother would decide what to do with them. It could have been a very .. unpleasant time for both of our kind." Dean stepped a little farther away from Cas.
"Sorry dude .. it sounds more like it was you that was in trouble than us." he chuckles a bit, and looks over at Bobby, who was glaring at him. Bobby slaps him upside the head.
"What about Sam's soul and the Pieces of Eight? And did you find Michael?" Dean asked.
"Michael has been located. He specifically told me about Akirra which is why I am here. Where is Sam?" Cas asked.
"He's resting still. He managed to get through my shields I had placed around his memories earlier today." Akirra stated as she moved back into the kitchen and resumed her seat at the table. They all sat then, taking a moment to absorb the peaceful vibes that had settled over the kitchen.
"What is the Pieces of Eight?" Dean asked again. Akirra smiled.
"When Sam fell into the pit with Michael was the precise time Father woke me. I immediately came to Sam, horrified at the fate of my Shay'anon. For a brief moment, I was able to halt time in order to convince Sam to give his soul to Michael for safekeeping. Michael took his soul and, in case he was tempted, distributed it to eight people that cared for Sam." Dean's shocked gaze locked on Kirra.
"WHAT? Who?" he yelled.
"Mary, John, Jessica, Ellen, Jo, Bobby, myself, and you Dean." Dean sat there in utter silence.
"Sam .. does he .. I don't feel it .. how .. " Dean stammers, he looks at Bobby who was sitting there with wide eyes. Kirra laughed.
"Crowley wasn't going to give you your soul back Bobby because he knew you already had a piece of Sam's. You managed to get yours back on your own and I didn't intervene because it was truly a treasure seeing you all came together to accomplish that." She laughed. "But you both each have a piece of his soul nestled just here," she pointed to a place just above her heart, "and when Sam is ready it will be removed." The thought that Dean had something so personal of Sam choked him up.
"Does Sam remember any of this?" Bobby asked.
"Yes, he remembers it all now. Michael will bring it all together when Sam wakes and is ready to receive his soul. Until then Michael has been doing some inner meditations and redefining his purpose. I believe that he will be a great asset to bringing order back Castiel." Cas nodded.
"He did seem different when I spoke with him."
"Umm .. what exactly did you mean bringing Judgment to demons?" Bobby asked.
"I will make them an offer at a second chance with humanity, but they must make it of their own free will and must truly want it for the right purpose. If not then their choice will destroy them. I have spent much of my time as ethereal since my awakening and have learned much of your world and the work that you hunters do. I determined that I would start with Crowley's contracts and work my way through them first. Crowley has agreed to give me the ones with slight infractions and he will retain the truly evil." Dean snorted.
"Crowley just agreed to this?" Akirra's eyes flashed brightly, and for the first time Dean saw the power that lay within. Her face hardened, fangs extended, a small rumble shook the house. Everyone sat straighter in their chairs and glanced apprehensibly at Kirra.
"I did not ask. Once I dealt with Lucifer, I removed Michael and Sam from his cage and brought Crowley to me. I am in possession of over four thousand souls with which I will begin Judgment after Sam and Michael piece his soul back together and houses it within Sam again. In the mean time, you still have the issue with the Alpha's, other demons, and monsters to contend with. I have decided that I will also create a safe haven, Sanctuary, for hunters and their families. The demons I save will help ensure the protection and smooth running of the Sanctuary. Bobby will have help with the work that he does for the Hunters, such as providing cover stories and research. I will pull elementals in to provide healing and cures for other issues like curses. I will also open the veil of the Fae Underworld and bring in my Daione Warriors. They will take over the search and retrieval of the stolen weapons from Heaven and repair the ones that have been broken like the Staff of Moses. This will all take time, and won't happen till Sam is whole, but it will help ease the burdens that have plagued you all for so long."
The three men were awestruck at the changes that Kirra so matter of fact laid out for them. For Dean and Bobby it meant a possibility in the near future of having a somewhat normal life. For Cas it meant that he could finally achieve peace between his brothers and a peaceful Heaven.
"I have so many questions ... " Bobby stated, " I don't even know where to begin." Akirra smiled.
"I know Bobby, but let's start with clothing." Dean laughed at Bobby's look, and it felt so good to do it.
"I meant mine." Kirra actually blushed.
"Though my robes are comfortable I feel this will not meet with the approval of society today." she grinned.
"Probably need to put on a glamour to cover those ears, teeth, and nails of yours as well." Cas disappeared and reappeared within seconds and produced a stack of women's magazines for Kirra to look through.
"Thank you Castiel." She flipped through some pages and her clothing quickly rearranged itself into a simple pair of jeans, white T-shirt, and brown leather boots. She retained the silver jewelry and the band around her forehead. Her ears shrank to normal human ears and her fangs and claws retracted, her nails reshaped to normal human nails.
"So, is this more acceptable?" She chuckled, humor dancing around her eyes as the men noticeably relaxed a bit more.
"Sorry Kirra, fangs and claws just sets off our alarm bells you know?" Bobby smiled. Dean remained quiet for a bit and Kirra lightly touched his hand over the table.
"Dean, call Lisa." he shook his head.
"Veritas had her tell the truth. She's done with me. And I'm not so sure that isn't right see .. I don't think I'm cut out to be a father," he said quietly.
"Dean," he looked up and into Kirra's eye's," you will be exactly what they need. A strong man that Lisa can count on, a strong figure that Ben can look up to, and they will be the solid foundation that reminds you every day of why you do the things you do. She will be the brightest spot of peace when you come home from the darkest part of hate and evil. Call her." Dean breathed in the apple scent, letting it calm him, and nodding he walked out of the room.
What if she doesn't answer? Hell what if she does answer? Dean dialed the number and as it rang he thought of what Kirra said, about Lisa and Ben and about Sanctuary. If ever he was going to get a life that included everyone he loved then this was it. He just didn't know for sure how to convince Lisa that he wasn't a monster and that he really needed her to give him a second chance.
"Hello Dean." she answered, sounding tired.
"Lisa."
"I thought we talked about this." she said.
"I think you talked and I listened. Now I want you to listen. Please." he knew his voice was pleading but he was willing to swallow his pride for one more chance with the only woman he knew could handle him and all the crap that came with him.
"You have just a few minutes then I'm hanging up." she said.
"I was infected, a vampire, when I came, I was saying goodbye. I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye Lisa. But I should have stayed away and I if I hurt you and Ben then I'm sorry. That's the last thing I'd ever do. I need you Lisa. I need Ben. Every time I go out on a case, it's you I'm doing it for. You're all I think of when I wake up in the morning and when I go to sleep at night. For God's sake I can still smell your hair and I haven't seen you in weeks which either means I'm turning into a girl or I love you and can't stand being away from you and really need you tell me I can spend the rest of my life making this up to you." Dean sat heavily on the porch, hand on his head, silently praying that Lisa didn't hang up on him and Cas wasn't listening in.
"Dean ... "she started to say but he interrupted her.
"Please Lisa ... "he said, tears gathering in his eyes, "I know I fucked up from the beginning but I swear to you it's all different now. Sam is better and I'll tell you all that, hell I'll answer any question you have and will fill you in on the ones you won't think to ask. Just please .. please .. "
"Dean, shut up." she broke in. Dean cringed, knowing what was to come. He looked up, hope dying on his face.
"Come home when you can get here. But make it soon, I really need you now." Lisa said, tears in her voice and it broke Dean in two.
"Baby, you come first from now on. I'm on my way. Pack a bag though, there's some shit going on here that neither of us will want to miss." he laughed and she laughed with him.
"Consider me packed. Ben is staying with my mom and dad for a few weeks while they go on vacation to Florida. So, come get me Dean." she said and hung up the phone. Dean raced in the house and almost plowed in to Cas.
"I need a lift. Now." he said to Cas. They disappeared and then just as fast they reappeared with Lisa in tow.
"Oh my god." And she immediately passed out.
"Crap, so much for romantic make up sex tonight." Dean sighed, catching Lisa before she hit the floor.
