Sam couldn't tear his eyes away from his brother and Cas. Not just because of the spell Cas had put on them for it still enabled their eyes to move. No, he couldn't look away because after years of pining and tension it had happened. Dean had made his move, finally.

Looking to the side, he saw Lucifer looking on with a soft love in his eyes. Gabriel's eyes looked slightly wet as he watched Cas completely break down, sobbing into Dean's shoulder, oblivious to the Angles and Sam watching him. Asmodei had a similar reaction to Lucifer's. His eyes were warm as if lit by some internal fire, his lips in a slight grin. Sam felt his eyes begin to water as Dean pressed a kiss to Cas's forehead, a movement so tender that Sam had never though he would see his brother preform it.

Cas was drowning. Drowning in Dean's arms, tears fell down his face, dripped onto Dean's neck and shirt. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry for taking Lucifer, I'm sorry for the Mark, for Amara, for being so useless."

Dean pressed him closer. "Don't be," he said, lifting up Cas's chin so that his eyes looked straight into Dean's. "It wasn't your fault. You're not useless."

"I could have fought harder."

"There was nothing you could have done," Dean assured.

"Promise?" Cas whispered, looking small and scared.

The first thing Dean noticed when they broke apart were that Cas's eyes were blue again. That perfect, perfect blue that had haunted his dreams for all the time he wasn't with them. That blue he would have killed to see again.

Gazing into them now, he became suddenly, horribly aware that Sam and the other three Angels were there, Cas's brothers. He pushed the realization away and pressed his lips against Cas's again.

It was short and sweet, gentle. Cas seemed to be in shock for most of it before he realized he was expected to kiss back, as if he had expected the first kiss to be an act, not a truth. Dean broke the kiss again, years of pent up love coming dangerously close to spilling out. "I promise," he whispered.

Cas leaned against him, obviously spent from whatever the Hell he'd been going through. "I should probably free our brothers now," he said softly, flicking a gaze behind them.

"Probably."

Cas tiredly raised an arm and flicked his wrist. Immediately the four stumbled forward, released from some invisible force.

Sam stumbled, grounding himself, picking up the discarded flashlight and shoving it in his pocket before running to Dean and Cas as his brother stood up, pulling Cas with him. "Cas," Sam choked, embracing the Angel, surprised to feel Cas respond with a tight hug and muffled sob. "Oh man, Cas, it's good to have you back."

Cas didn't say anything at first, just gripped Sam tighter. "I'm sorry about Lucifer, releasing him," he said softly.

"Don't apologize." He and Cas broke apart and Sam threw himself towards Dean.

"Whoa Sam," Dean exhaled as Sam slammed into him. "That kinda hurts."

"Sorry," Sam said, not meaning it at all. "Oh God Dean, you did it. You actually did it." He felt Dean's laugher going through his whole body.

"Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I did."

"I'm happy for you."

Lucifer cautiously approached Cas. "Hello Cassie," he said softly.

Cas looked away from Sam and Dean. "Lucifer."

Lucifer opened his arms invitingly and Cas walked into them, embracing his older brother tightly. Lucifer felt Cas's ragged breaths against his shoulder, felt him tremble. "It's alright Cassie," he crooned.

Cas shook his head. "What I've done...it will never be alright. Never."

"Dean loves you Cas, Sam loves you, we all do. We've all forgiven you for everything." Lucifer loosened his grip. "It's up to you to forgive yourself now."

Cas pulled away. "Your wings?"

Lucifer sighed. "Nearly ruined. But they will heal, don't worry."

Cas just visibly relaxed just as a scream rang out through Eden.

Asmodei stared. "What?" he asked, voice catching as fear rose inside him. He skirted closely to Gabriel. "What was that?"

"I don't know," Sam responded, pulling out a flashlight and casting the beam around. "We have to get out of here." He reached for the ring on his middle finger but stopped. "Dean," he called warily.

"Sammy?"

"It's gone." The ring, it had vaporized it seemed. "Dean..."

"She said it wouldn't come off," Dean said as all eyes turned towards his brother. "She told us specifically that it changed to fit the finger of the wearer."

Asmodei spoke up. "I might know a little about Reaper rings."

"Yeah," Dean asked, his eyes narrowing.

"They disappear when...when the Reaper dies."

"Billie's dead?" Another scream, closer this time.

"I would assume so."

Sam felt vague panic building inside of him. "We're stuck here."

"No," Asmodei whispered. "This is not happening." He shuddered, imagining living out the rest of his very mortal life in a place with no life, with no food or water and where only nightmares come true.

Lucifer's hands shook. "No." His eyes grew wide, as if this reminded him of being trapped in the cage. "No."

Lucifer wanted to scream. Darkness was falling, the fire from the trees was fading. Soon they would be plunged into absolute darkness save the flashlights that would soon run out of battery. Memories of the cage rushed back to him in a torrent of horror. "I..." he choked. "Oh God."

"Don't say that!" Gabriel snapped. "To even use Fathers name here is disrespectful to Eden! He left us here, He could get us out but He won't. You know why? Because He's not here! He's let Michael hurt you and Sam in the cage, He let Cas and Dean die, let Esmerelda die! Why would he save us now?"

Asmodei flinched and turned away.

"So," Sam said awkwardly, ignoring the part about him and Lucifer. "Great, we're trapped here. Nobody has any Grace left? Cas?"

Cas shook his head. "I didn't have enough to begin with. I am fully human now. I'm sorry Sam, Dean. You should have left me here."

Dean was next to him in two strides. "What?" he said. "No Cas, never. Leaving you here was never an option. I'd have died to save you, Hell, I did."

"Amara?" Cas asked.

"Yeah. But she's dead now."

"Good." Unconsciously he leaned against Dean, relishing in the soft best of his heart and the warmth of his living body. "Why did you come?"

Dean sighed. "Is it not obvious?"

Cas gave him a puzzled look.

"By Dad! Cas, was the kiss not enough?" Gabriel said incredulously. "Seriously? Or, I dunno, the whole 'Purgatory thing' a few years ago? The fact that you are the single person...Angel...whatever, that he would even think about putting above Sam?"

Cas didn't dare to breathe, much less hope. He met Dean's eyes, warm and beautiful and filled with...love.

"If we're both about to die anyways," Dean said softly as the scream came again, closer. "Then I guess I'd better say it, especially if you don't know. I..." He choked. "I...I love you Cas."

Cas couldn't believe the words he was hearing.

Dean couldn't form the words at first. "I...I love you Cas."

He saw Sam who stood off to the side, a tearful smile on his face, nod his approval. Dean gave a quick nod back. His eyes then went to Lucifer, Asmodei, and Gabriel all of whom nodded and flashed quick smiles. He could swear Asmodei was crying just a tiny bit, perhaps this made him think of that Greek woman he had loved so long ago.

"Dean..." came Cas's gravely whisper, shock making his voice hoarse.

Dean flicked his eyes to Sam once more who nodded, wiping under his eyes. "I mean it Cas, I do. I don't know how long I have but..." he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's been forever it seems."

Cas stared at him and Dean felt the awkwardness forming, fear that Cas didn't feel the same way. "I mean," Dean started. "If you don't-"

Cas cut him off by pressing their lips together. "Don't ever say that," he mumbled clumsily. "And if we're going to die let us all die together."

Dean didn't move to break away. He wound his hands into Cas's hair, letting go of worry as he was swept away in a torrent of love stronger than he had felt for Cassie and for Lisa combined. He could stay like that forever, wound into Cas, feeling his body pressing against him, letting years worth of repressed want and love pour out into a hot, messy, beautiful kiss.

Cas was content to stay like that forever but he could tell that whatever had made that first terrible sound was drawing nearer. If they were to die he didn't see it fit for them to die in each other's arms, not with Sam here. With deep regret, Cas broke the kiss. "Go to Sam," he whispered. "If we're going to be ripped apart then you should be with Sam."

"How can we even die here?" Dean asked, stepping back and casting a glance at his little brother who had his back turned.

"Once they kill you," Cas began, hearing the fear in his voice. "Billie told me, when you die here you go to the Empty."