Castiel appeared in a seat at the kitchen table with a flutter of wings. She was seated between Jimmy and Dean and looked to all the world like she was sitting there the whole time.

"Cas!" Dean exclaimed immediately, reached out and collided with Jimmy who just shouted out "Claire!" happily and flailed out to hug the girl.

"I'm Castiel." The girl announced, while the two next to her looked at each other awkwardly over her head and pulled back.

"Okay, Castiel." Jimmy said and sighed heavily, looking disappointed. "You can take me back."

"No way!" Dean suddenly exclaimed. Everyone stared at her confused, even Castiel.

"Cas, you gotta give the guy a chance to hug his daughter properly before you hijack him again!"

Jimmy smiled at her, full, open and honest. "Thanks"

"It's not that easy." the girl between the two spoke up. "I am able to retreat to Claire's unconsciousness, but I'm not currently able to leave her body."

"What?" Dean and Jimmy exclaimed at exactly the same moment. They both wore similar expressions of bewilderment and confusion as they stared down at Castiel.

"This body is binding my graze to it. I cannot leave it. We need to find a way to break the spell."

Cas looked up at Dean as she continued speaking. "And I will not leave this body until after the child is born. They need Claire as a vessel for their plans. As long as I am occupying her, they can't use her. It's the safest way for all involved."

"Okay..." Dean said weakly, trying to wrap her head around the whole situation. And there she thought having Jimmy in this house was weird.

The rest of the day was spent with more research. Jimmy eyed the angel wearing his daughters body curiously, as she sat on the floor of Bobby's study, open books all around her. It was odd to look at the body of the little girl and don't see her. Castiel had such a unique way of moving the human body that gave him away anywhere. Being Castiel's long time vessel, he also had a connection that felt oddly like a open phone line. It was like looking at Claire's face like a display and see the name "Castiel" written all over it. He just knew somewhere deep down that this was Cas.

Sam was sitting next to her in Bobby's comfy reading chair, also wrapped in books. Dean was lounging on the couch again, and it seemed to Jimmy as if everyone respected the spot on the right side of the couch as her spot. Dean had troubles balancing Sam's laptop in front of her belly as she searched the net for any signs of Amelia, but she managed it. Jimmy was grateful that they kept looking for her. As happy as he was that his daughter was safe, he was still worried about his wife.

Castiel's head suddenly turned to him and the blue angelic eyes bore into his. Castiel stood up gracefully, passed him on the way out and gestured silently to follow. Jimmy nodded, curiously following the angel in his girls body. Cas stopped when they left the house and turned to face Jimmy, solemn blue eyes again searching his.

"Jimmy." the angel said, sounding so much different than Claire. She had this aura of age and knowledge, so vastly different from his girl. She tilted her head, frowning sadly at him.

"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness for the danger I brought upon your family once again." she said. Jimmy just stood there, not really knowing what to say. Of course, he knew Castiel was the reason his family broke apart, and part of him still blamed the angel for it. But he also knew Cas would have never voluntarily placed them in danger. He trusted Cas. Normal people couldn't even begin to understand how deep the trust of a vessel must go to host an angel. Amelia could never truly understand it since she was not one, but the very fact that Cas was currently in Claire showed his trust was not misplaced as not only he, also his daughter chose to trust Castiel. He was almost part of their family.

Jimmy started to wave around with his hands, searching for words but still unable to say something. What should he say? That Cas brought all this upon them when he first asked Jimmy to host him? It wasn't like he regretted the decision. Yes, he mourned his old life, but he knew the world he knew would have ended without Castiel. What else followed wasn't really in Cas' control. His feelings about the whole matter was torn - but that didn't hinder him about still completely trusting Castiel.

Cas took a step closer and and grabbed his flailing hands to calm him. Jimmy knew Castiel sensed his feelings.

"I can only give you the chance to see your daughter once again." she said, still looking apologetic. Then, suddenly, the expression changed and the huge blue eyes stared up at him with surprise.

"Dad?" Claire asked in wonder.

"Claire!" Jimmy exclaimed and immediately slung his arms around his daughter to hug her tight. His eyes filled with tears of happiness. He had never thought he would have the chance to see his daughter once again. Claire clung to him tightly, not letting go.

"Claire..." he said after a while, stroking over her long blond hair. "I'm so sorry for leaving you and mom."

"It's okay, dad." Claire said, sounding much more grown up than he remembered her. They parted only long enough to sit down on the porch close to each other.

"I know why you had to go." Claire said, smiling encouragingly. "It was important. Mom and I were okay. And the hunters checked up on us from time to time."

Jimmy nodded and looked his girl up and down. She grew up so much in all the time he missed. It wasn't only her body, it was obvious in the way she carried herself and spoke. As her father, he could tell from only this short exchange. And of course Claire understood. Cas was in her after all.

"He feels huge, doesn't he?" Jimmy recalled, smiling lightly. He remembered it all to well. Although he had felt like being strapped to a comet, he didn't feel tiny and squashed under Castiel's weight. Cas had always tried to make him feel comfortable, rest his consciousness safely somewhere deep within.

"Yeah." Claire replied, nodding. "Mom never really understood. I tried to explain her. She never said it, but I think mom was mad at Cas for taking you, and then taking me."

"I know." Jimmy said sadly. He was just glad his daughter understood.

"Where did Cas go?" Jimmy asked worried.

"He's still in there somewhere." Claire murmured. "Just sat back or something."

Jimmy nodded. Claire suddenly grinned.

"He just thanked me that I defended him in front of mom."

Jimmy smiled. That sounded like Cas, always in awe about the depth of human devotion.

"Is he happy?" Jimmy suddenly asked, concerned about his angel. And yes, he did kinda think of Cas as his angel, although on a whole different level than Dean. It was impossible not to get attached to him after sharing so much time in the same body. He almost felt empty and lonely, now that he was riding alone.

"Yeah." Claire answered, her gaze becoming unfocused with wonder. "Really. He loves Dean so much. I can't even..."

She hesitated.

"You will find someone like Dean for yourself." Jimmy replied smiling. His daughter was still so young, of course the intensity of the angels feeling where overwhelming for her. But Jimmy knew it was just love.

Claire smiled. "Cas just said the same thing."

Jimmy chuckled. "Does he talk to you often?" he asked curiously. Cas had never talked much with him in words when he was his vessel. But that was a long time ago and Cas had changed a lot since then.

Claire blushed a little. "I... didn't want to pray to god anymore after he took me the first time."

Jimmy nodded sagely. He knew the feeling.

"So I started to pray to him. Sometimes he answered. But not often."

Jimmy's eyed his daughter in surprise. "I didn't know that."

Claire shrugged. "Mom didn't like it. But I just couldn't shake off everything just like that, you know?"

Jimmy nodded understanding. Of course Cas has had a huge impact on his daughter. It had to change her view of the world. They sat for a moment in silence, and Claire leaned contently against her dad and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Cas is nudging." she said after a while, looking up at him sadly.

"He still needs to do that research, right?" Jimmy asked.

Claire nodded. "I missed you, dad." she said.

"I missed you too, sweetheart." Jimmy replied and pressed a kiss on her head. "But take your time before you come up to visit me, okay?"

"Okay." Claire said and smiled up weakly. They didn't say goodbye. When you had an angel weaved into your life, you could never know what happened. Besides, they were both sure they would see each other again, hopefully after a very long time, up in heaven. They hugged a last time before Claire moved off from him a little and stared at nothing for a moment. Then her posture changed visibly and the blue eyes looking up to him belonged to the angel once more, Claire sleeping deeply somewhere within her.

"Thank you, Cas." Jimmy said honestly. Cas smiled, tilting her head a little. Of course Cas could feel his gratefulness. There wasn't really need to voice his thoughts, but Jimmy was still just human.

"I will watch over Claire." Castiel declared. "I will fight against any harm to fall upon her."

"I know." Jimmy replied. Castiel held his gaze for another moment, but then went into the house, not feeling the need for any more words.

Castiel settled down on the floor again, picking up the same dusty tome he had studied earlier. Sam looked up briefly, a curious frown in place, but didn't ask. Jimmy sat down next to Dean. Dean was still researching on the laptop and didn't even bother to acknowledge him. Jimmy was okay with her, really, but it was odd to look at her, knowing that she was fucking his body. That she was usually a man fucking his body. Knowing that the baby in her belly was made with his body. It was also hard to understand how a powerful being like an angel could fall for a guy like Dean. We wouldn't believe it if he hadn't witnessed it. But his part in all of this was over. He had been confused and irritated when Castiel left him the first time, but he understood so much more since then.

He concentrated on watching Castiel again. It was better for his own sanity. He glanced at the book and didn't even recognise the letters in it. He picked up a few things while being Castiel's vessel, but not enough to help. It was making him uneasy not to be able to do anything. His thoughts circled about Cas and his daughter, and he wondered what her future life would be like. If she would ever be able to life a normal life, knowing all things she knew. Where she would stay if they didn't find Ames. But knowing Cas would look out for her calmed him a bit.

At one point, Dean laid the computer to the side and grabbed a book. It was a pregnancy companion, Jimmy noted and couldn't help a small smile. It was getting late, and eventually Jimmy dozed off. But he wasn't the only one who missed the cue to go to bed.

Castiel stood up after a while and went over to Dean, laying her small hand on Dean's shoulder.

"Dean? Dean!" she asked, shaking Dean a little bit to wake her up.

Dean blinked lazily as she fought her way into consciousness. Blue eyes were staring right at her, only inches away from her face, but it weren't the eyes Dean was used to. It took her a moment to remember that this was Castiel.

"You should go and sleep upstairs." Castiel suggested. One of her hands was travelling down onto Dean's potbelly and caressing it.

"Yeah, okay." Dean answered and yawned widely.

"Good night, Dean." Castiel said and leaned forward to press a sweet little kiss to Dean's mouth. Dean suddenly was wide awake and went completely stiff.

"Cas, you can't do that!" she exclaimed, but managed to keep her voice down enough not to wake Jimmy. Cas only tilted her head curiously.

"You're in the body of a friggin' 15-year old! I can't screw with you, that's sick!"

Cas stared at her with the hugest, saddest puppy dog eyes. "You don't like me like this?" she asked, voice weak and breaking from hurt.

"I didn't think you'd only love me for Jimmy's body."

It sounded so wrong to Dean. So completely and utterly wrong. It was more like she loved Cas despite his body... Yeah, she gotten used to the whole with-a-man thing by now, and she learned to appreciate it. Jimmy was damn hot if she was honest. But she had never, ever even considered another man before Cas.

"No, it's not that." Dean hurried to explain, but stopped as she became aware that Sam, Bobby and Jimmy were still in the same room, even if they all were snoring by now. When she continued it was only a whisper.

"I love you, Cas. Still do." She leaned forward and rested her head against Cas'. "I don't care what you look like. But Claire is still a child. You can't do anything like that with her body."

"I didn't want to." Castiel said, her voice calm and reassured. Dean pulled back to look at her, and Cas eyes were soft and happy as she looked back at Dean. Cas crouched down then and rested her head against Dean's belly, stroking the sides of it lovingly with her hands.

"She's so strong already." Cas murmured quietly.

"I know." Dean answered and smiled as she looked down at Cas. Fuck, this was so weird. She knew in the depth of her being that the girl in front of her was Cas, and she still loved her with all her being. But right now, thinking of the small girl as her lover, boyfriend, whatever Cas was, felt so completely and utterly wrong.

"Good night, Cas" she said, despite knowing Cas wouldn't sleep, and placed a kiss on Cas' forehead before pulling up and heading for the softness of her bed.


Dean was not alone when she woke up next morning. The light weight of another body rested against her, arms slung around her and limps entangled. When Dean opened her eyes, a blond head greeted her, resting on her shoulder. Again, Dean needed a moment to remember this was Cas.

"Cas?"

The blond head moved and blue eyes smiled up at her.

"Good morning, Dean."

Dean gulped, readying herself what she had to ask next.

"Cas, you remember what he talked about last night? And... personal space?"

Cas held her gaze steadily. "It is not objectionable for a fifteen-year-old to cuddle."

"Uhm, yeah." Dean said slowly. Cuddle. She would have never, ever called it that. But it was nice. Not in a romantic, sexy way, just... nice. Like it was nice for six year old sick Sam to cuddle up to his older brother.

"Cas, we don't cuddle."

"We don't?" Cas asked, and the adorable head-tilt looked even more adorable in her current vessel.

"No, we're just...holding, I guess."

"I see." Cas answered, and the way the corners of her lips tugged up as she continued speaking almost looked smug.

"Sam insisted this action is called cuddling. He also said I shouldn't believe you if you tried to call it something else."

"Sam's a bitch." Dean murmured. Yeah, this smile on Cas really did look smug.

So, okay, she was cuddling with Cas. Didn't change anything that Cas now chose to call it that. It wasn't a big deal anymore. A few months ago, it might have been, but not anymore.

Cas lowered her head down to rest on Dean's shoulder again, and Dean draped an arm around her.

"You need to get big again, Cas." Dean murmured.