Hey everyone. It's back to work tomorrow so I wanted to get another chapter out today. Please feel free and let me know if you like the direction the story is taking.

Chapter 11

Surprises

She stared at the feather in awe and closed the locket carefully. Then, without saying a word, she got up from the table and walked outside. She was stunned to say the least. Sitting down on the rusty hood of a junk car, she simply held the locket in her closed hand. Why they do something so sweet for her? Bobby had told her about Sam and Dean's mother dying so tragically and that had to make the necklace even more precious. And Cas, he gave her a feather from his wing. That was really special too. At least she thought it might be. Maybe everyone in trouble got angel feathers. No, she didn't think so.

Not since her grandparents had she felt so emotional about a gift. But did she deserve it? She had been upset with them but not enough to warrant a present she was sure. What had made them do it? Whatever the motivation, she liked the gifts a lot. Loved the gifts was more like it, especially the angel's, for now she would always have a small part of him with her. She sat there thinking about the events of the day as the sun slowly started it's dissent into the west.

"That was really generous of you Dean," Sam looked at his brother with a smile. "I don't even mind you didn't consult me. That was an interesting thing you did with the sigils. So it really works?" he directed that question to Castiel.

"Yes. Excuse me." The angel got up and went outside.

Sam and Bobby exchanged looks.

Velvet was deep in thought as Castiel approached her. He knew the gifts surprised her but he didn't understand her reluctant acceptance. The evening sun was casting a glow over her and he went to where she sat. He saw she still had the locket in the hands. He wondered why she wasn't wearing it.

"May I sit with you?" He waited for her to answer.

"Of course," she smiled at him. "Do you really have wings?"

"Yes."

She looked thoughtful. "Do you have a halo?"

He smiled finding it easier to do so than before. "No, no halo."

"When I was little, we had chickens and ducks and I had a bird named Monkey. They used to lose their feathers. It made them look sick and bald. I would collect the feather and make collages out of them. Is that what happens to you? Or are they invisible?" She was curious realizing she knew little about him.

"Angels do not lose their feathers. Ever," he explained.

"So where did the tiny feather come from?"

"I told you, from my wing."

"How?"

"I removed it," he answered.

"Was it like pulling a hair from your head?" An angel pulling out a feather, now that was kind of silly.

"No, it was...uncomfortable. It would be equivalent to you pulling out your fingernails." It had been painful to remove the tiny feather. He couldn't fathom the pain of pulling out one of the larger contour or flight feathers.

She gasped. "Why? Why would you do that?"

He shrugged. "It needed to be done."

"Are you okay? I mean does it still hurt?" She looked concerned.

"It will heal. I will regenerate in a short time," he assured her.

"Do you have to do this a lot? I mean the carving the ribs and giving a heavenly gps to distressed humans."

"No. You are the only person who has ever received one."

"Oh," she didn't know what else to say so she opened the locket and looked at the feather. "You wings are this color? Why does it seem to glow?"

"My feathers contain part of my grace. Yes, that color precisely."

She looked at him. "Grace? Like from God?"

"Yes, it is the divine essence that makes me an angel. Without my grace, I am human. Without my grace, I would weaken and die," he told her.

She paled. "Does this weaken you for me to have it?" She looked at the feather again. It was so beautiful and ethereal. "I don't know what to say. You should take it back. We could probably glue it or tape it or something." Dear lord, how did you put an angel's feather back on?

He laughed and it sounded strange in his ears. "No little one. This little feather will not weaken me. Don't worry, I'm fine." She was worried it would hurt him. He felt an odd stirring in his stomach.

She reached out and touched the feather and she heard his sharp intake of breath. "Cas?" She touched the feather again. He groaned. She jerked her hand back and snapped the locket shut. "Are you alright?" It must have caused him pain.

"Yes. My grace is tied to my soul."

The only thing she could do was look at those beautiful blue eyes so open and honest.

"When you touch it, it feels as if you are stroking my soul," he confessed. He hadn't known this would happen.

"Look, it's too beautiful not to touch. Here!" She held out the chain, the silver locket dangling from her hand. "Take it. You shouldn't give me this. It's too precious." She didn't want to hurt him.

"No. It is my gift to you. It would...hurt me here if you returned it," he said pointing at his heart. "The sensation is not unpleasant." He smiled again hoping it was reassuring.

He could see the emotions on her face.

"Alright," she relented. "Will you fasten it for me?" She asked and when he nodded she showed him how to fasten it.

"Velvet, did you mean what you said?" He asked her letting his fingers lightly touch the back of her neck.

"Mean what?" She asked, puzzled.

"That you wanted me leave and never come back."

"No!" She said a little too loud. "I didn't mean it. I was hurt because you said looking after me was not floating your boat. And I didn't mean it when I said I really didn't like you. You just gave me the best present ever," she reassured him and gave him a pretty smile.

After Castiel left, Sam turned to Bobby. "Did you find anything?"

"Not really. There are all kinds of mythological creatures that deal with animals but usually they are associated with a particular animal. Artemis is known to be the goddess of the hunt and most animals seem sacred to her. I don't think our girl is a Greek goddess. Besides Artemis avoided men like the plague and Velvet has already shown her interest in men," Bobby said. "What you told me doesn't make a lick of sense."

Dean looked confused. "What?"

Sam explained what had happened in the pet store. "I never saw anything like it Dean. It reminded me of those cartoons I watched when I was little and all the animals would flock to the princess."

"That is so gay." Dean turned and spoke to Bobby, you know anybody we could talk to, a psychic or voodoo priestess or somebody."

"Already did. I got nothing," Bobby informed him. "Where did you two come up with this plan of yours?"

"I knew that we've been hard on her, making her stay shut up inside and we made her feel like she was 5 years old. It was all Cas's idea. I just happened to think of the locket. Besides, it seemed appropriate for her to have it anyway," Dean shrugged.

"You should know, according to lore, angels never give up their wing feathers. To do so is indicate great care for an individual." Bobby informed them. "Seems an angel's grace is directly tied to their soul and their feathers contain small amounts of grace. Seems our girl now owns part of Castiel's soul."

Needless to say Dean and Sam were speechless.

"Are you telling us that Cas knew this when he gave her that feather?" Sam was astonished.

"Yep. Those fluffy little things are part of the entire package, not an afterthought in other words." Bobby couldn't believe it at first but Velvet had the angel so torn up he wanted to be with her all the time. "According to legend, the last angel that pulled this little stunt did so more than 4,000 years ago."

"So what does that mean? Cas is pissing off God? He's losing his mojo?" Dean questioned. The angel was a dumbass sometimes but he didn't want him to lose his grace. No wonder Cas had been in pain after placing the tiny bit of fluff in his mom's locket. "What about Velvet? Is this going to harm her?"

"No. It works just like he said it would. As long as she has the locket, he can find her anywhere on the planet. It doesn't grant her magic powers or anything." Bobby continued.

Dean looked out the window at Velvet and Cas sitting on the junk car. "We've got to figure this mess out Bobby."

Velvet went back in alone, shouting, "Hey Dean, time for pie." Castiel stayed outside to think.

"Hey little bro," a voice said causing him to raise his head.

"Gabriel?"

"In the flesh," he laughed at his joke. Then he grabbed Cas and hugged him. "It's good to see you."

"It is good to see you too. Where have you been hiding all this time? What are you doing here?" Cas was not surprised by Gabriel's reaction to seeing him.

"Just been enjoying the fruits of Dad's labors," he grinned and stuck a lollipop in his mouth. "So hanging out with the Winchester boys. How's that working out for you?"

"They can be difficult at times."

"Yes, so I've noticed. Dean is still a stubborn ass. Sam of course is all torn up because brother Lucifer needs him. Wow! You sure got a winner here." Gabriel found the whole thing amusing.

"Dean is the only one who can stop the apocalypse," Castiel replied. Gabriel was the eternal jokester, which was the most likely reason he liked humans so much.

Gabriel gave goofy grin, "Uh-huh. Now, about this girl..."