When Dean awoke, he was looking at the most beautiful garden he had ever seen.
He slowly got to his feet.
The flowers, the trees - the way the sunlight played along the waters of a river of unsurpassed loveliness - Dean looked at everything in awe.
A flock of birds flew over.
No, not birds, he thought. Angels.
The sky was full of them.
Some had two wings, others had four and others had six. Others had three heads and the faces of animals. Some had the heads of men, as well as animals.
Some looked like divinely beautiful humans, but with orbs of light - halos - but not cute ones like on pictures Dean had seen - around the orbs they carried. Some were shaped like wheels, and Dean could feel the spirit of justice and righteousness in them.
There were four angels that burned so bright that it hurt to look at them, they were so glorious - and from their mouths Dean heard them praising God continuously.
A painful longing welled up in Dean's heart and tears fell from his eyes.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked to see Donnie Finnerman standing next to him.
Donnie, too, was crying, and they both stood watching the sky for some time.
"What is this?" Dean finally asked. "I've been to Heaven before and it never felt like this."
"This is Heaven as it was," Donnie replied. "This is the last perfect day, before Lucifer fell and before God and the other angels left."
"The other angels?"
"The archangels aren't the most powerful of the angels. In fact, they're not even the leaders of the lowest sphere of angels - that would be the Principalities." He looked at Dean. "Have you read Thomas Aquinas?"
"I think it was in Bobby's library. Sam kept trying to tell me about an angel named Metatron, but he kept getting him mixed up with Megatron from the Transformers." Dean grinned.
"Metatron was one of the Seraphim - the highest of the angels. Metatron, Sandalphon, Seraphiel and Sophiel. The four angels created from the fire of creation - when God spoke the universe into being." Donnie pointed to four retreating lights that were so painful to look at because they were so beautiful. "All of these angels left when God did. All except the Principalities."
Dean looked up at the sky again. "I get why Cas had such a hard time leaving." And rebelling, Dean mentally added.
Donnie looked at him. "Castiel and his entire garrison are not yet created, Dean. They will barely remember this day as anything but a fleeting dream. No, the Heaven that Castiel knows is a poor, broken shadow of this Heaven. Still beautiful, but nothing compared to this." Donnie let out a sigh, full of the painful longing that Dean felt. "Come - there is more to see."
He took Dean's hand, and with a thought, the two of them were off again.
SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN
They landed in another part of the garden.
It was near dusk, and Dean stood next to Donnie, among many other angels, near a glorious tree, the glowed with a clear, bright light.
"What's going on?" Dean whispered.
"Just watch," Donnie replied.
The four Seraphim came down into the middle of the garden, making a fiery, spinning columns. The other angels covered their eyes. Dean and Donnie did as well.
Then Dean heard a voice that he recognized say, "Metatron! Sandalphon! Seraphiel! Sophiel! Turn down the high beams, will ya?"
The columns diminished until they were about human sized, and everyone uncovered their eyes
It was Gabriel who had spoken.
Dean recognized him, even though he appeared to his eyes as a child sized version of the archangel and trickster.
Beside Gabriel was a version of Raphael, looking so similar to Donnie, that Dean quickly checked to see if Donnie was still beside him.
Besides Gabriel and Raphael were Lucifer and Michael - Lucifer looking like a teen-aged version of his vessel and Michael looking disconcertingly like a young John Winchester.
Donnie grinned. "Yes, I know how you feel - it freaks me out to see Raphael looking like myself. As I'm sure it freaks you out to see Michael looking like your father..."
"I'm a bit beyond freaked out," Dean whispered.
"It's your mind's way of trying to compensate. We can't really comprehend an angel's true form, so it tries to make us see something that we are familiar with. Try not to panic when God shows up."
"What?!" Dean exclaimed.
Then he felt the presence of God descend among the crowd.
Dean felt a profound sense of love and of peace fall upon him.
He looked and saw Gabriel smile up at a glowing light that came from the sky.
"Gabriel," the light spoke. "My beloved son. And all of my beloved children gathered here today. Know that I love you all and bestow my love and blessings upon you. We have so much to celebrate today. First, meet the newest amongst you - and here God called out many names, but Dean only recognized a few of them - "Anael".. "Uriel"..."Joshua".. "Castiel."
Thousands of tiny orbs came into being, and revolved around God.
"Gabriel, on this day, I put you in charge of these angels. Train them well."
"Me, father?" Gabriel looked suddenly shy and a little frightened. "But I don't even have a duty of my own!"
The light that was God seemed to glow with amusement.
"From this day forth, Gabriel, you shall be my messenger and my herald. You shall train these angels and angels from generations not yet created to deliver my word and my judgments."
"Yes, Father," Gabriel said proudly.
"Hold out your hands, my son."
Gabriel held out his hands, and they glowed slightly, and a golden horn materialized in his hands.
"This horn is a symbol of your office, Gabriel. Never forget your duty, and never forget that I have given you this task."
"I won't Father, and thank you."
The light that was God ascended back into the Heavens.
The choirs of angels broke into song, exalting God and God's wisdom.
Dean watched as Gabriel and his brothers cried tears of happiness, for Gabriel and for the angels who were under his guidance.
"There is more to see," Donnie whispered.
Dean looked to see tears running down Donnie's face.
"I don't want to go," Dean whispered back.
"I know. But there's more you need to see."
One of the little lights came over to Dean and nearly landed on his nose.
:::Hello. Who are you?::: Castiel asked.
Dean started to answer, but Donnie shook his head.
"Me? I'm nobody important," Dean answered.
Dean and Donnie clasped hands and flew away.
The little light that was Castiel flew back to his older brothers and sisters. He was certain that it was someone important. He decided he would ask Gabriel later.
SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN SPN
A/N: Sorry this is so late! Real life in the form of work, annoying family members, and a hurt knee got in the way - but I'm back now!
I have to admit - I teared up writing this chapter. Okay, I sobbed like a baby - trying imagine what Heaven would have been like before Lucifer's fall that the archangels would be willing to start the Apocalypse just to get their Father to come home? Pretty intense. I hope that it made you feel the same way.
The Seraphim - only Metatron and Seraphiel are mentioned in actual books of the Bible (depending on the source.) Sandalphon - Metatron's twin - seems to be a later addition. Metatron and Sandalphon are supposed to be the prophets Ezekiel and Enoch, after their ascensions into Heaven, but that goes against most angelic lore as the angels being a separate species from humans.
Sophiel is my addition to the Seraphim, as Sophia (wisdom) is supposed to be a great power and a "daughter of God" - but except for a few legends, she has little backstory. Also, as Metatron and Sandalphon are both considered "male", I wanted Seraphiel and Sophiel to be "female" to balance out the group.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed or favorited this story! It means the world to me!
