The air is warm and full of sunlight. High above them, the mid-morning sun sits in an absolutely cloudless sky, and a gentle breeze coming from east of the city stirs up hair and stray napkins, sending the white paper scattering across the big lawn. There are large, round tables dressed in pretty spring green and gold, ten chairs around each table and facing the main stage. There are people laughing, drinking wine over half-eaten steaks, sharing banter, exchanging exclamations of surprise and joy that each one of them had made it to that day.

Amidst the group, one suited man with a silvery scar on his forehead stands up and goes over to the stage, where a lone microphone stands. He gestures to the wedding band to quiet down and clinks his knife against his glass into the microphone, prompting silence from the crowd.

"Thank you, everyone, for joining us all on this beautiful day," he says, smiling widely at the muffled applause and one, single hearty cheer. "I know not everyone has known Sammy-boy as long as I -."

"It's 'Sam', Azazel," comes a voice, prompting a chorus of laughter.

Azazel smiles, raising his glass and nodding his head. "Sam," he says, turning towards the source of the voice. Sam Winchester and Jessica Winchester are seated at their own solo table, at a right angle to the stage and facing the band. Jessica looks beautiful, her hair teased by the breeze, falling down around her shoulders in a thick mesh of blonde and light brown. Her white dress clings to her upper body, giving way to a loose and flowing floor-length skirt that has become slightly green with grass stains, and she smiles when she turns to her husband, their fingers interlacing on top of the tablecloths. Sam smiles, too, giving a nod for Azazel to continue.

"Sam," Azazel says again, raising his glass. "It's been a little over two months since our beloved leader, and your father, passed away." A shadow passes over Sam's face, and he nods again. "But I believe I can speak for all of us, and him looking down on us, when I say that he would be very, very proud of you, for what your leadership has meant, and brought, to all of us." Another chorus of cheers breaks his speech. "And I know, with this…beautiful, vibrant woman at your side," The cheers give way to soft 'Aww's as Jessica rests her head against Sam's shoulder, "that you are destined for a long and happy life. I wish everything good and blessed for the both of you. Sam and Jessica Winchester!"

The guests all erupt into a round of applause as Azazel makes his toast, grinning and stepping down from the stage. Sam smiles, blushing a little as Jessica nudges him and makes a silent gesture towards his own glass.

"Uh, thank you, yes -." He accepts the microphone from a waitress gratefully, doing up his suit jacket and raising his own glass. "Thank you, to everyone who could come today. I know Jess and I love and appreciate all of you, and what we are – who we would be, would. Um. Would not be possible, without all of you."

The guests applaud again, and Sam can see Jessica's parents smiling from their table next to him.

"You, ah, you mentioned my father, Azazel," Sam continues, his cheeks twitching like he's forcing himself to smile, even though his voice is very serious. "I thank you for your kind words. I hope my dad would be proud of me, and I hope that wherever this leadership role takes me, that he'd support my decisions.

I'd like to, ah, take a moment to thank someone else. A lot of you came into the Eagles after he'd left. Some of you only know him as a ghost story. I'd – I'm talking about my older brother, Dean." Sam clears his throat, reaching down to tangle his fingers with Jessica's once more. Looking down at her, Sam sighs when she gives him an encouraging smile, squeezing his fingers. "He was my brother, and he was my best friend, and I loved him. And I just wanna say that – that I'm sorry he couldn't be here today. And I hope that, wherever he is, he's found peace. And thank you, to everyone who could be here today. I just wanted to make sure we remember those who can't."

Across the street from the wide, green lawn, Castiel stands, watching the edge of the proceedings with sharp, narrowed eyes. He's flanked by two men, and there is a third sitting in a car near them, listening in through a pair of headphones.

Castiel lifts his head when the applause starts again and Sam sits back down. "What did he say?" he asks of the man in the car.

Ash shakes his head, lifting his eyes and grinning over at the man on Castiel's right. "He's talking about his big brother," he says. "Says he's sorry he couldn't be here; wants him to know he loves him, and that he hopes he's happy."

Castiel nods, half-smiling, and turns his head. "It's not too late to change your mind," he says.

Dean rolls his eyes. "Too many people in there want me dead," he replies, shifting his weight and wincing when the motion causes the bandages around his shoulder to pull. "I'll be safer where I'm going."

"Where are you going, exactly?" Castiel asks.

Dean grins at him. "Word on the street is that Crowley's hiring a gardener," he says, and Castiel nods again. Crowley's land, it is well known, is neutral ground. Dean will be safe there, from both Eagle and Angel eyes. "I'll lay low until this all blows over, maybe make some dramatic reveal once Yellow-Eyes kicks it."

"I'll do my best to hurry that process along," Castiel replies, with so little inflection that it startles a laugh out of Dean.

"I'd like a word with you, if that's alright," the man flanking Castiel's other side says, suddenly, and Dean blinks but nods, following him a little ways away so that they're out of earshot. "Do you know who I am?" he asks.

Dean nods. "Yeah, I do," he says, looking the other man up and down. "I never thought I'd ever meet the famous Michael."

Michael's lips twitch into a wry smirk. "Believe me, that sentiment goes both ways." He holds out a hand, clasping Dean's tightly when the younger man shakes it. "Thank you for taking care of Castiel," he adds, after a moment. "He's… I'm very thankful, Dean, and know that you will always find allies within the Angels, should you change your mind."

Dean nods, licking his lips. "I'll try my chances in Purgatory first," he says, a half-joke that falls flat as soon as he says it. "You…you take care of him, okay? He has a penchant for diving head-first into trouble."

Michael grins, fully this time. "You don't have to tell me. He got that from his father." Dean blinks, frowning at the odd statement, before he decides it doesn't much matter. Ash is going to give him a ride back to the church, help him collect his shit and say goodbye to Bobby who was way better to him that Dean deserved, and then over to Crowley's lot. Today is the safest day to move around under an Eagle watch, after all.

Everyone is at the wedding.

"Dean!" Castiel calls, hurrying over to the passenger door as Dean moves to get into the car. "You're just…just leaving? Just like that?"

Dean nods. "It's the only way, Cas. I can't stay here. There's too much bad blood."

Castiel frowns, worrying his lower lip between his teeth. Then, he sighs, clenching his jaw and squaring his shoulders. "Will I…do you think there's ever a chance you might…?" Dean waits, unsure what Castiel is trying to ask; he doesn't want to assume.

The older man huffs a big sigh, and raises his eyes. "Do you think we will ever meet again?" he asks, all in a rush, and Dean can't help but smile.

He reaches out, wraps a hand around Castiel's tie and pulls him in for a hard, fast kiss. "Keep yourself outta trouble, Cas," he says, running a hand through the man's messy hair, and kisses him one more time. "And maybe, if you play your cards right, I'll see you on the Boulevard."

Castiel blinks, his fingers dragging against his lips as Dean pulls away, and he steps back to allow Dean to slide into Ash's car and shut the door behind him.

"You watch out for my little brother," Dean says sternly as the car stutters to life.

There's a moment, before Castiel's shocked look dissolves into a smirk. "It's practically my job now," he replies, and then Dean grins at him, and Ash puts the car into drive and pulls out of their parking space. It isn't long before the pair have disappeared down the road, loud rock music playing through the speakers and a stream of dark exhaust marking their exit.