Sam handed Castiel a piece of paper. "Are you sure you want to go through with this, Cas? We humans have a saying: sometimes it is best to leave well enough alone."

"I made a promise, and I have failed in it. It's time to fix that mistake," he replied.

"Fix what mistake?" Meg asked, entering the library. He was pleased to see that she was wearing the new clothing he had gotten her. The maternity pants and purple t-shirt emphasized the changes to her body and reminded him of why he was doing this.

"It's...personal. I will be gone for a little while."

"Mind my own fucking business, in other words. All right, I can take a hint. Hey, get me some fried pork skins while you're out being all 'personal,' okay?" Meg said.

Castiel nodded and looking at the address on the piece of paper, flew away.

The house was old and well kept. It sat on a clean, quiet street that reminded Castiel of Jimmy Novak's old neighborhood. He liked it and was glad that it seemed safe.

He saw the front door open, and an older woman hurried out. "Jimmy? Oh, it is you! You're safe! Amelia! Claire! Jimmy's back!"

"Ma'am, I'm not—" he began, taking a step back when she tried to pull him into a hug.

"Grandma, that's not Dad," Claire Novak said, stepping onto the front porch. Amelia Novak, Claire's mother, quickly joined her.

"What? Of course it is," the older woman protested.

"I am not Jimmy," Castiel confirmed. He had not anticipated this situation and was suddenly regretting his decision.

"I told you about this, Mom," Amelia said. "Castiel, please, come inside."

Castiel hesitantly walked up the porch steps. Claire gave him a glare, and he moved past her into the house.

They went into the living room, and Castiel looked around with interest. It was clean and orderly. The furniture was old but not too worn. On the coffee table was a math textbook and notebook. He realized that without Jimmy's memories, he didn't even know what grade she was in.

"Do you enjoy math?" he asked Claire, trying to make small talk.

Claire rolled her eyes. "Nobody enjoys math, idiot. Why are you here? Are we getting my Dad back?"

"Claire!" Amelia admonished. Claire just sighed and crossed her arms.

"I'm afraid that is impossible. Jimmy's soul now resides in heaven."

Amelia let out a cry and sank onto a chair. The older woman hurried to her and pulled her into a hug.

"How?" Claire asked.

"There was a battle a while ago..." he began, but stopped. They didn't need to know about the apocalypse. "It was an archangel. It was quick, I promise. Jimmy did not suffer," he added, knowing that was an important fact for humans.

"And yet you're still walking around in what is my Dad's corpse."

Castiel shifted uncomfortably. "I was brought back this way. Jimmy agreed to be my vessel indefinitely."

"That's sick," Claire said. "Well great. Thanks for finally getting around to telling us. Bye."

"Claire!" Amelia pulled away from her mother, and Castiel saw that her face was red and tear streaked. A stab of guilt went through him.

"What, Mom? You might want to be nice to this feathered freak, but I don't. He stole Dad and got him killed." The teenager's voice hitched on the last word. "Why are you here now?"

"I am keeping my promise to Jimmy. I'm checking on you to make sure you are okay."

Amelia stood on shaky legs and wiped her face. "We are. Thank you."

Claire scoffed, "You haven't cared in years. Why now?"

"Circumstances in my life have changed. I am going to be a father and it has made me realize how important family is."

"What?" Amelia cried and slapped him. She gasped and took a step back, her hands covering her mouth as she probably realized that physically assaulting an angel was not the smartest action for a human.

"Going to be a father? W-was that your goal all along? Come down to earth and steal— You really are sick," Claire shook her head and bolted out of the room and up the staircase in the hall. A moment later he heard a door slam.

Amelia and her mother were looking at Castiel in fear, probably expecting retribution. He tried to school his features into what he hoped was a reassuring expression.

"I'm sorry. I didn't come here to upset you. I was trying to do the right thing."

"I think it's time for you to go," Amelia's mother said quietly.

Castiel nodded and headed for the door.

"Wait," Amelia said. "Jimmy... Jimmy was gone before... He wasn't involved in making the baby?"

Castiel nodded. "Long gone." He would not have started a relationship if Jimmy had still been there. Some beings, especially demons, had no problem with doing what they wished while possessing a vessel. Castiel had always thought that kind of behavior was highly inappropriate and almost a form of rape for the original inhabitants.

She nodded. "Do...are you capable of loving the woman that you're with? And the baby?"

"I am. I do," he replied, confused as to where the conversation was going.

"Then..." She paused and took a deep breath. "Jimmy gave his life for his family. He made that agreement with you to protect Claire from being your permanent vessel. So you...you need to be like Jimmy. Love and protect your new family with everything that you've got. Honor his memory that way. Understand?"

"I do."

"Please don't come back. I absolve you of all responsibility for us. We'll be fine."

Castiel nodded and stepped into the hall. A moment later he was back at the bunker, the weight of regret heavy. He knew that what had happened to the Novaks would always be in the back of his mind, and he would always regret it.

o.O.o

Meg was sitting on her bed watching a movie when someone knocked on her door. She called for them to enter, and Castiel opened the door. He was making an attempt to look all right, but she could tell that something was bothering him.

"May I join you?" he asked.

"Yeah, come on. It's a slasher film, though," she warned him, knowing he hated them.

"It's fine," he replied, softly closing the door and joining her on the bed. They were silent for a few minutes. She glanced over and noticed that he was staring blankly at the wall.

"Clarence?" she asked quietly. She didn't know why she cared that something was bothering him, but she did.

"I would very much like to hold you, Meg. I don't mean it in a sexual way," he said, looking at her.

"Okay," she replied, shifting so that he could wrap his arms around her. As much as she hated to admit it, it felt good. "Better?"

"A little."

"Maybe this will help." She took his hand and placed it on the side of her stomach. After a few moments, she felt the sharp kick from inside.

"That's?"

"Your spawn," she answered.

"That is truly wondrous to feel," he said, and she could hear the awe in his voice. "Thank you for sharing it with me."

"Whatever," she replied, turning back to the movie.

He didn't let go of her or move his hand until it was over.