True to his word, only a little over an hour later Sam returned to the motel. He rushed into the room, dropping his hunting satchel by the door and heading straight for his brother. As Gabriel expected, Castiel's immediate reaction was to hold Dean close and puff out all his feathers in an entirely threatening way. Sam was taken aback. Not so much by Castiel's threat, but the fact he had done it at all. The only thing missing was a growl and bearing of teeth from the little angel.
Sam turned to Gabriel, shock written all over his face. "Yeah, he's going to do that for a little while. It's a natural angel response to failing who you're charged to protect." Gabriel watched Cas wrap Dean in a warm cocoon of protective feathers. "But it wasn't Castiel's fault. He's a pretty much powerless angel while he's a child, and no-one could know what was to happen."
"I don't blame him for anything. I can imagine his reaction to the kid who pushed Dean would have been adequate." Sam sighed. Dean hadn't said anything to Sam, so the adult left them to it. "He's not hurt, right?" Sam got some beer from the mini-fridge in the kitchen and cracked open one for him and one for Gabriel. The archangel stared at what was proffered to him before finally taking it and giving the liquid a sniff. "Gabe, it's not going to kill you."
The angel rolled his eyes and took a deep pull, sighing with contentment. "No, Dean is perfectly alright. I healed his bone completely and even strengthened it a little." Sam nodded and sat back in his recliner. Gabriel watched the colourful images play across the screen of the TV. Both Dean and Castiel seemed perfectly happy to sit and watch them for the rest of the afternoon. But these were the last few hours they were going to have as children, and both Sam and Gabriel wanted to make up for the disaster that was the playground.
"It's just gone half one. Feel like getting some lunch?" Sam thought it sounded like a wonderful idea, but he pulled an unamused face when Gabriel held up a chocolate bar. "That doesn't consist entirely of chocolate."
Dean and Castiel had been fairly quiet all afternoon. They'd eaten their chosen meals with little fanfare and just sat murmuring to each other under their breaths while they waited for the adults to finish eating. The restaurant was little more than a fancy diner, but no-one seemed to care.
"You know I could've just magicked us up a better meal back at the motel, right?" Gabriel groaned, poking at his pathetic excuse for a shepherd's pie. Sam looked at his salad which was little more than weeds with some chicken and hard cheese thrown in.
"I know, but I wanted to take them out. They both seemed to enjoy their meals. And they get free ice-cream here, too." The two children had their foreheads pressed together, eyes slightly crossed from their proximity, as they conversed quietly. Sam smiled at the sight. He was dreading when Dean and Cas had to return to their adult forms. He knew that he couldn't keep them this way because they were all still hunters, and they weren't allowed to live that sort of life. Sam was cherishing every moment they got like this, and he was hoping they were too.
"They only reason they enjoyed their meals, is because they're kids and don't know better. And I'm pretty sure the ice-cream they serve here is that pig fat stuff." Gabriel shuddered at the atrocity and had to resist the urge to whip up his own gourmet icy treat. Sam rolled his eyes at the angel's whining. Were all angels such babies about everything?
"At least they got to go out." That was Sam's final word on the matter. The two kids perked up when a little bowl each of ice-cream with sprinkles were placed in front of them. The look in their eyes alone was worth the bad food and smell of feet that pervaded the restaurant.
It was just gone four in the afternoon when they got back to the motel, because Gabriel had insisted that they stopped at a parlour and got proper ice-cream. "I refuse to let their memory of the creamy goodness as children be tainted by that pig's wallop they served back there." The angel was so fired up, Sam didn't dare to argue. And he wanted ice-cream too, so it was a win-win situation.
The children immediately climbed up onto their bed and resumed the little game they had been playing between themselves from earlier. It seemed like they'd lean in really close and the first to smile or blink lost. Small things entertain small minds, Sam assumed.
Sam fetched a couple of beers and Gabriel didn't turn his nose up at it this time. "See? This stuff grows on you." Sam smirked.
"Yeah, like a fungal infection." Sam's smirk disappeared and Gabriel chuckled evilly. The two spent an hour talking and Sam took the chance to give Gabriel a rundown of what the demons had been planning during the hunt he went on. From what Sam and his accomplice had gathered, there was a 'motherbitch' demon that was summoning lower level demons to slowly possess and infiltrate the town – a gradual take over. Gabriel seemed a little concerned by this.
Their conversation was interrupted by Cas climbing up into Gabriel's lap. Dean stood awkwardly in front of Sam until the adult reached over and pulled him up to mirror Cas. "Is it wrong that Dean and I like to hug?"
Sam's eyes went wide and he stared at Gabriel, unsure how to answer. Luckily, the angel took charge. "Not at all, buddy. You're so lucky to be such good friends."
"Cas is my best fwiend ever. And I love him." Dean's voice was so quiet that even in the near silence of the motel room, everyone had to strain to hear him.
"But the boy at park said it was wrong for a boy and a boy to love each other. But why is it wrong? How can it be wrong when I love Dean so much?" Cas' worried voice and the expression on Dean's face made Sam want to find the kid who had not only broken Dean's arm, but also made them worry about their friendship, and… well… shout at him, probably. You can't punch kids. As much as he'd like to.
"It's not wrong. There's nothing wrong with it at all." Sam soothed.
"But the kid said his dad had told him it was bad. He said that people who did that were called faggots. And he must be right, because dads are never wrong. Are they, big brother?" Castiel's head leaned back on Gabriel's shoulder as he stared up at him.
The archangel smiled sadly and brushed Cas' hair off his forehead. "Our dad is never wrong. That boy's father most certainly was. Any love you have for Dean and he has for you, you have to cherish – it is a very special thing you two have and you can't let people calling you disgusting names get in the way of that. Okay, boys?" Both the kids nodded at him. "Good, how about you go play for a bit?" They climbed down and headed back to their bed, feeling much happier and at ease.
Sam groaned, letting his face fall into his hands. "Jesus. I never thought I'd have to have that conversation with Dean and Cas of all people."
Sam could see Gabriel's jaw clenching. "That's the one thing I hate about you humans; you have so much hate for each other. Had I known that's what that little bag of dicks was telling them, I'd have smote his arse right there and then." At Sam's expectant look, Gabriel shrugged. "So I'm a hypocrite, sue me."
The adult Winchester shook his head with a grin and stood when Gabriel got up. "Never mind what happened at the park. Thanks for looking after them today, Gabriel." He placed a hand warmly on the archangel's shoulder.
"Not a problem, kiddo. Cas is my little bro and believe it or not, but I'm quite fond of the lot of you."
Sam smiled lopsidedly. "Our very own blessings from an almighty archangel – how lucky are we?"
"Don't let it go to your head; I'm not going to come and bail you out of trouble every time you do something stupid."
"That blessing isn't refundable for Karma, is it?"
"Not a chance, Sammy." Without really thinking about it, Sam ducked forward and gave his friend a sort of manly, half hug. He cleared his throat when he stepped back. Gabriel had a shocked, confused expression on his face.
"What was that?"
"Shut up, Gabe." Sam grunted, trying to hide his blush. The angel ruffled Sam's hair affectionately, earning a growl and glare from the human.
"Come here, Cassy." Hands linked with Dean, because God forbid they stopped touching for five seconds, Castiel stumbled towards his big brother. "I've gotta go now. You'll be going to bed soon anyway, right?" Instantly, Castiel's big blue eyes started to well with tears. "Hey, none of that now; I'll see you again really soon."
"I don't want you to go." Cas clamped himself to his brother's leg, wings drooping low on his back.
"That's nice of you to say, but I have to go home too."
Curious eyes bright with tears, the child looked up at him, "Home to Heaven?" He asked.
Gabriel nodded slowly. "Yeah; I've got… chores to do and Dad'll be really cross with me if I don't do them. Do you want Dad to be cross with me?"
"No!" Cas hugged him tight again and pressed his face into the top of Gabriel's leg.
"Then you're going to have to say goodbye and let me go, huh?" Cas shook his head and the archangel laughed. "I'll come and see you within the next few days, okay? You'll be all grown up by then." Reluctantly, Castiel pulled away and wiped his tears on his jumper sleeve.
"Okay." He sniffed, "Goodbye, big brother."
"Bye, little dude. Catch you later, Dean." The boy in question waved shyly. "Right, well. I guess it's time for me to blow this popsicle stand. Later, kids." With a flashy show of his wings – mainly to show off in front of Sam – Gabriel flew away. The fluttering of wings still audible once the angel was gone.
"Whoa! Dean, Dean, did you see his wings?! They were so big and cool! I hope my wings will be like that one day." Cas' own little black ones twitched reflexively when Dean threaded his fingers into the soft feathers and smiled tenderly at his friend.
"Alright, boys; bath time." Sam called, heading towards the bathroom to run the water.
"Yay!" Cas cheered, dragging Dean along behind him.
Castiel enjoyed his bath as much as the first time. He shook his wings when he got out, spraying Sam – who'd managed to remain mostly dry this time – and Dean with water and drenching him. Both boys were confused when Sam dressed them back in their adult t-shirts.
"Why are we in these?" Cas was shivering slightly in the cool air of the living area. Sam figured he could let them wear the long bottoms until they went to bed.
"Because you'll be all grown up tomorrow morning, and you won't fit in your pyjamas anymore. So you have to make sure to take your pants off before you go to sleep, okay?" Cas nodded. Dean's eyes were filled with excitement.
"I'll be big and strong like you? An adult!" Dean's grin was the widest Sam had seen it as long as he'd been a kid. Sam had to force his returning smile. Kid Dean seemed to have forgotten most of the trauma that was his whole life. Right now, all he knew was Castiel was his very best friend in the whole world, Gabriel was really cool and Sam was just some guy who set him on edge a little. The last bit hurt Sam a little; he could see fear and uncertainty in Dean's eyes every time the kid looked at him. At least he was better now than when this first started.
"Yeah, an adult. You'll get to drive Baby, too."
Dean gasped and latched onto Castiel. "We'll be adults, Cas! We can drive the car to the park all the time! Or go get your big brother and have ice-cream."
The angel joined in Dean's excitement. The two of them bounced around the room and Sam could only watch on with a heavy heart. "Alright, you two, calm down. Half an hour then it's bedtime."
"But we aren't tired." Cas protested, pouting. Sam blinked. Goddamn, the angel was a cute kid. He shook his head, not about to be cajoled by a child.
"You will be, especially after the big day you've had." Sam picked up the remote to the television and turned it on to some prime time game show. "Let's watch some TV, okay?" The two little boys climbed up onto the couch, and curled up together. Sam looked down when Dean's back leant on his arm. He smiled at the little boy who returned it shyly.
He let them stay up a little longer than he originally planned, trying to make every last minute with them count. But finally, he could see they were yawning and blinking with heavy eyes. He stood and scooped them both into his arms. "No. Not yet." Cas whined, but his head fell onto Sam's shoulder and his eyes drifted shut. Sam was pretty sure Dean was already asleep.
"C'mon, boys." He murmured softly. After removing their pyjama bottoms, leaving them in just their adult shirts and some really loose boxers that were practically shorts on them, Sam pulled the blanket up over them. Dean immediately reached for Castiel, tucking himself under the angel's chin. Cas lifted the blanket a bit so he could wrap his wing around Dean. They were lying on their sides facing each other. Sam shook his head with a soft smile. If those two didn't just realise once they were adults again… he'd knock their heads together. "I don't care if this is awkward for you tomorrow, but I want to let you know that I love you both." He dropped a quick kiss on both their heads and bid them good night. Sam returned to the couch to watch a little more TV and sneak a quick drink (or three) of whiskey.