In dreams we do so many things
We set aside the rules we know
And fly above the world so high
In great and shining rings
If only we could always live in dreams
If only we could make of life
What, in dreams, it seems
But in the real world
We must say real goodbyes
No matter if the love will live
It will never die
In the real world
There are things that we can't change
And endings come to us
In ways that we can't rearrange
I love you, and you love me
But sometimes we must let it be
In the real world
In the real world
When we were dreaming heart to heart
I wish that we had stayed right there
For when the dreamers do awake
The dreams do disappear
If only we could only live in dreams
If only we could make of life
What, in dreams, it seems
-In The Real World, Roy Orbinson
Sam died on January 24 2047, exactly 34 years to the day since he had forgotten who he truly was. Gabriel had woken up, his arms still wrapped around Sam. Gabriel knew the moment he woke up that Sam was gone, passing away in his sleep, the perfect way to go.
Gabriel was dressed in all black, standing in the back of the crowd, knowing that he had no right to be there, but he couldn't help it. He had to be there, he had to see his Sam being put in the ground, his family flat out refusing his suggestion of cremation. Gabriel said that he was going to take care of Sam and he would, even after he was dead. He helped Abigail make all of the arrangements; he was even a shoulder for her to cry on when she needed it. This was one of the reasons that he was even allowed to attend the ceremony; he was the strange nurse that they knew nothing about after all. It was nice for Gabriel to be there because he was wanted, he would have been there anyway, but it was a settling idea to know he was allowed to be there.
It was a typical burial, the pastor speaking about how Sam was a good man, how he was in a better place. Abigail got up to speak, her son holding her the entire time. Gabriel never got over the irony of Sam's children's names, each of them named after an angel; Zachariah, Michael, Gabriel, and Rachel. It made him smile, purely bitter sweet, knowing that even without his memory, Sam still couldn't escape his true calling.
Gabriel waited until after the funeral was over to head over to Sam's newly laid tombstone, a simple one that read 'Here Lies Samuel Winchester, beloved husband and father'. There was no one around, no one to hear Gabriel's confession, so he let it all go.
"I'm sorry Sammy that I couldn't take better care of you. The moment that you lost your memory, I knew that there was no way that I was going to be able to let you out of my sight. I had to take care of you; it was my entire fault that you drove yourself to this madness. I hadn't told you the whole truth that one night, all that time ago. There was another solution to get your brother out of purgatory, but it was complete madness, and I wasn't even sure if it would work. I didn't want to get your hopes up to have them smashed to smithereens. The night that we fought I left to go and see if it would work, if the legends and rumors were true; they were Sammy, they were all true. I was working on making your dream come true when you called out for me 34 years ago, when you told me you were sorry. I was so close to getting ours brothers out, I was days away, so close that I could taste it. But the moment that I saw you, I no longer saw a point in completing my task; you were the only thing that was important to me anymore. It took me several years to gain the confidence to try again, the spirit to care about someone other than you again. I lost myself the moment that I lost you, and I never came back Sammy. I will never be the old Gabriel that you knew. I don't eat candy, I don't make jokes, I don't play tricks. I stick to my duty now, doing only what is needed of me. One of those things was freeing out brothers, so I did. Dean and Cas are out of purgatory, I told them that they could never see you; Dean fought me hard on that one. Finally he gave in, understanding that not only would you not remember him, but that you never would. You two could never have the bond that you once had, not with you forgetting him every day. Cas is watching over him now, just as I have with you. I will never stop loving you Sam; I will never stop taking care of you, that includes your family. You have your guardian angel, one that is passed on generation to generation. I watched over you and I shall watch over your sons, and the sons after that until the day that I am allowed back in heaven and I can have you back in my arms. And I will never let go, I will never let you go again Sammy."
With that Gabriel broke down, sobbing against the tombstone, his entire body gone slack, nothing functioning as it should have been. Gabriel wept for what seemed like days before a hand placed itself on his shoulder. Gabriel looked up with tear filled eyes and saw the aged face of Dean Winchester, his own eyes filled with tears. Castiel was standing a distance behind them, not looking a day older, still wearing the over sized trench coat. Dean bent over, helping Gabriel to his feet. Turning to Castiel, Dean nodded, hating what he was about to do. Castiel turning his gaze to Sam's grave, removing the dirt from his plot as Dean could not longer do it himself. Jumping down into the grave Dean wrenched the coffin open, one thing that his pride wouldn't let anyone else do. Flipping the lid open, Dean looked down on the body of his brother; the peace that he could feel radiating off of him brought a sad smile to his aged face. Reaching into his pocket, Dean reveled a small container of salt and kerosene. Pouring both on Sam's body Dean pulled out his lighter, flicking it open he paused, thinking that he would never have to do this in his life. Gabriel took that moment to throw the bracelet that he had been refusing to let go in the coffin as well, he felt like he was throwing his heart in to burn along with Sam. The chain hit Sam, landing square on his chest in a circle, the charms spread out perfectly. Through tear-ridden eyes Gabriel watched as Dean dropped the lighter on Sam's body, the flame catching instantly, consuming Sam in tongues of fire.
After several minutes Dean and Castiel left, leaving Gabriel all by himself at the gravesite. Gabriel continued watching, always watching, waiting for the moment that he could go back to heaven and feel his lovers embrace one more time.
But for now he would watch.