A/N - Glad everyone seems to be enjoying this story as much as I am! I love hearing from everyone so keep the reviews coming, they make my heart smile!!! Here's another chapter, didn't have to work today, and after a long ride on my horse (who's name is Winchester, but only because I had to rename him after his last owner forgot his racing name - how stupid!) I suddenly had the desire to just keep on writing. So, I hope you enjoy it. I have a feeling quite a few of you will like the little twist. It was always coming, I just had to set it up right, and this seemed like a good a time as any! XD Anyway, enough of my yammering, please enjoy!

Blessed Be XOXOXOX

Colonel Perry Salinger and his travelling companions - husband and wife Miguel and Elena; British rock star Callum; and orphaned, seven year old twins Declan and Haylie - had been surviving for the last six months by living on the roof of a public library. With his survivalist knowledge, and the assortment of illegal weapons he had been avidly collecting since retiring from the Military, Colonel Salinger was a formidable player in the Apocalypse.

The six of them had been in a small county town about an hour from our hotel, all of them just passing through when the virus hit and thundered through like a tidal wave, wiping out the townsfolk within hours. They took refuge in the library in an attempt to ride out the storm, but, of course, the storm never let up. For months they had been doing just fine, setting up tents on the roof to avoid the risk of Infected's breaking through the flimsy defences, and raiding nearby shops for meagre supplies. Colonel Salinger said it had been kind of peaceful, kind of Zen, except for the constant threat of the Infected that milled around the library every time the sun rose. They had tried leaving but hadn't been able to find any working vehicles, and the nearest gas station was in the next town over, a trek that would have taken almost a day on foot.

So, they decided to stay, and wait for help that never came. Until the day came when they ran out of food and couldn't find anything that the Infected hadn't already ravaged. Desperate, worried about the twins, Colonel Salinger and Callum set off to find a working vehicle. After two nights away, almost delirious with hunger, they came across the RV, abandoned on the side of the road.

And with that, they were saved.

"We didn't even know you were here" Colonel, as he insisted we call him, said around a mouthful of tinned Irish Stew and a slice of Ruth's homemade bread, baked earlier in the day. "We had no idea anyone else had even survived until you guys came out with your guns a-blazing. And let me tell you, that sure was a sight for sore eyes" He smiled, his grey eyes glinting. For an old guy, in his late sixties, he was handsome in a Doc Brown-Mad Scientist kind of way. "Ruth, darlin', this is the finest meal I've had in months"

"It was nothing" Ruth blushed, happily fussing over our newest recruits. She had set herself upon them the instant they stepped through the door, ushering them to the table and practically forcing the food down their throats. She sat beside the twins, having taken them under her wing, making sure they ate every last thing she put in front of them. They were heart breakingly thin, and terribly shy. They hadn't said a word since they arrived. "Would you like some more?"

"Yes, please" Callum drawled in his Hackney accent. He said he was, or at least had been, in a band called Pile Up, which I personally had never heard of, but apparently Orla had. She was sitting in the chair across from him, gazing at him with lusty eyes and playing with her hair seductively.

Smiling broadly, Ruth dished up another bowl of Winter Vegetable soup, and cut off two thick slices of bread for him. She was happiest when fussing over needy people, and having these desperate survivors turn up on our doorstep was like Heaven for her.

"So, do you know if there are any others nearby?" Elena asked. She was a petite Latina woman who only picked at a slice of bread, her eyes darting nervously between all of us. She wasn't exactly the most trusting person. Her husband, a burly guy who unsettled me slightly, was also quiet as he studied each of us with intense eyes.

"As far as we knew, we were the only group who had made it" Dean said, breaking an instant cold pack open and pressing it to my shoulder. It stung slightly, but relieved the deep ache.

I wondered if later, after many, many days of dreaming about it, I might be able to finally enjoy a nice bubble bath with my husband. It seemed like every time I tried to make it happen, another disaster arose. It was kind of getting on my nerves.

"I'm working on getting a radio signal out there" Zeek piped up nervously. "It'll probably take a while, but the aim is to find as many survivors as we can, and offer them a safe haven"

I smiled at him proudly, setting off a fiery blush that spread across his cheeks and down his neck.

I felt my bladder twinge, and winced. Pregnancy was not as fun and painless as I thought it would be. I was just thankful I hadn't been blessed with morning sickness. I was not looking forward to that.

"You OK?" Dean asked, pressing his hand to my belly, worried about the baby.

"Toilet break" I smiled, pushing the chair back from the table and rising stiffly to my feet. He moved to stand, but I put my hand on his shoulder to stop him. Having him follow me everywhere I went would get really old really soon. "I don't need an escort"

I left the group talking about looking for more survivors and headed across the lobby to the modified bathroom, tucked away out of view. Without running water, we had been using the rather archaic system of porcelain potties, which wasn't half as embarrassing as it used to be.

Doing my business quickly, I washed up with some water from a jug and left the small bathroom to return to the others, almost running into a figure standing in the doorway.

It was Miguel.

"Oh, sorry" I said, shrinking back from him. "I didn't see you there"

"He was disappointed by Sammy's bitch" Miguel said, his eyes suddenly glowing black. "It wasn't the vessel he was hoping for"

My heart stopped and, for a moment, I struggled to find my breath. A Demon. A Demon who had me cornered.

"What do you want with my baby?" I whispered, wrapping my arms around my belly. I knew I should scream, yell, sing at the top of my lungs, anything to alert the others, but I couldn't. I was afraid he would hurt my son.

He sneered at me, his hand snaking out to brush his fingers across my cheek, licking his lips vilely. Disgusted, I took a step back into the bathroom. Not the best idea.

"This child will be a King" Miguel said, his voice low and threatening as he backed me further into the bathroom. "He'll will take your son as a vessel and bring this pitiful excuse of a World to it's knees" He laughed evilly. "And, sweetness? You can't stop him"

"But I can" a husky, unfamiliar voice called. The stranger, appearing with what sounded like the fluttering of wings, pressed his hand to Miguel's head, and in an instant, the Demon possessing him was exorcised in a flash of blinding light. There was no sound as Miguel's lifeless body dropped to the floor.

"Holy shit" I breathed, falling to my knees and putting my fingers to Miguel's neck. There was a pulse.

He was alive.

"He will be alright" the stranger, a broad shouldered man with dark hair and smouldering eyes, said, looking down at us. His handsome face betrayed no emotion.

"I… I…" I breathed, standing and regarding this man. There was something impressive about him, something that made me feel safe despite the Demon's ominous words. If this guy hadn't turned up, who the Hell knew what would have happened to me and my son. "Thank you. I think you just saved my life"

He gave a slight nod of his head, but said nothing. He was the strong, silent type from the looks of it. He wore a crisp white shirt and a pair of white suit pants. There was something ethereal about him.

"Who are you?" I asked. "And where the Hell did you come from?"

"I am here to protect your child. Your son" he answered. "And I am not from Hell. Far from it, actually"

"So, you're a guardian angel?" I said with a slight laugh.

"Something like that" His voice was even, flat. He was almost sombre, expressing no emotion at all. "The Winchester brothers are familiar with me. Tell Dean I said... Hello" He turned to leave.

"Wait" I called. "I don't even know you're name"

He stopped and glanced back over his shoulder at me, his dark eyes making me weak in the knees.

"It's Castiel"

And with out another word, he disappeared.