Author's Note: Hello, lovely readers! (: How are we all doing on this fine day?

Again, there were SO many reviews for the last chapter! We've hit 700 reviews~ Thanks so much you guys, you're all amazing. (: Time for today's WALL OF FAME! Many internet hugs to these wonderful people: BananaPudding, BekaForEver, MadWithMusic (Such kindness. Very thanks. Wow!), Free Will Lover, becca65d, missiontothestars, FreeSpirit18 (oh... that sounds horrible. I'm sorry. :/), JamOnToasttt, CullenPretzelness (oh, thank you!), Gustin azza, MusicChannySkyscraper (yeah, I'm a bit worried about that happening to Cas too...), PixieF, fluffy-CrazyCatLady-whovian (happy holidays to you too!), sofia-sama, SciFiLvr13 (oh, that's great! Thank you!), MissMarie27 (yes, I wish life was that simple too. I hope everything is okay with you), a guest, tii-chan17, Casismyfavorite (thanks for both reviews!), ElkeCQuinn, candybracelets (thanks! And, yup, I'm definitely planning on writing more Destiel fics!), Shahara Dagon (you're actually pretty close!), BellaMonster, Tabby, bubbles1843 (aww, thanks!), Hell-homeofintegrity, flutterby cupcake, Toki Asamia (sorry you were disappointed with the chapter), ladyfaith21, AnanymousFox (You're awesome too!), Hellaradyo (to be honest, I love sad endings too, but after thirty nine chapters, I just couldn't leave poor old Dean and Cas being all sad and alone!), 5mit1 (oh, that's so sweet, haha! And, urgh yes, no Supernatural until mid-January! Noo!), jfkgotblownaway, theroguebirdy, anthony. curlow14 and Alianachan (haha, thanks, you were literally like a minute away from missing this chapter's WALL OF FAME!)! Thank you all so much, you're AMAZING!

So, yeah. This is the second to last chapter (or, penultimate, but as Sam says, "No one says 'penultimate'.") I'll be quite sad to see this go next week, but whatever, I'll have my little speech then. (: Remember, guys, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO MAKE IT ONTO THE WALL OF FAME. Just a reminder, in case anyone who hasn't reviewed wants to see their name up on the WALL OF FAME. (:

Thank you for all your support, and I'll see you all on Tuesday for the ending of this fic!

~Rainbow Fruit Loop xx

~Praying for Redemption~
Chapter Thirty Eight.

With a pounding heart and a knotted-up stomach, Cas took a deep, shaky breath in, and knocked, once, and then twice, on the heavy wooden door in front of him.

It was eight o'clock in the evening, and Sam had promised that he would be out of apartment. Sam had been completely beside himself with joy when Cas had told him that he had forgiven Dean, and that he wanted to go back home, and Cas had convinced him to keep it all a secret. He wanted to be the first to see Dean's face upon hearing the news.

After a few minutes, Dean still hadn't come to the door, so Cas knocked again - louder this time, and more impatient, because he was about to fix everything, and he needed Dean to hurry up and come to the door so everything could be good again. After only few moments, though, he could hear Dean moving around in the apartment, and his movements sounded slow and lethargic in the evening's indolence.

Cas could barely contain himself as he heard Dean shuffling over to open the door. How would Dean react to seeing Cas's smiling face? Would he wrap Cas up into a warm bear hug? Would he shower him in a thousand and one kisses? Would he be too shocked to say anything? Would he be joyful? Guilty?

And then, the door clicked and swung open, and Cas melted at the sight of his best friend, his soul mate, his everything. It had been too long since he had seen Dean, and he hadn't realised just how much it had physically hurt to not be together.

Dean hadn't changed too much in their time apart, but his eyes were bloodshot now; reddened from too much crying and a strong alcohol abuse. His short, fair hair was mussed up and spiky from sleeping at a funny angle; just the way that Cas loved it. His face looked scratchier than ever; dark stubble shadowing its way across his chin.

"Cas…?" Dean finally managed to choke out, his voice broken and hoarse. He looked shocked, Cas thought, like he didn't quite know whether to believe his obviously drunken eyes.

Cas smiled gently; his face all bright and relieved, because Dean was right there; close enough to touch with the very tips of his fingers. "Oh, Dean." I've missed you.

There was silence for a few seconds, and Dean was very obviously trying to figure out what was happening, and whether or not he was hallucinating. "What… are you doing here?" he finally asked. Cas could see his fingers twitching where they lay at his sides; itching to reach out and hold him - to touch after months apart.

"I needed to come and see you again." Cas whispered, his voice sounding just as strangled as Dean's. "I've been so lonely on my own, and I've… I've missed you. I need you."

So many emotions were fighting for dominance across Dean's lovely face as he listened to Cas's heartbroken words. Guilt, pain, self-hatred for what he did. Cas could see every emotion flicker across his face - it was evident in the twitch of his lips, the sorrow in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Cas. I've hurt you so much." Dean murmured, taking a small step towards him. "I really ruined everything, and I hate myself for it."

Before either of the men knew what was happening, Dean's arms were around Cas's shoulders; soft and strong and shaky, and Cas had forgotten just how great he smelt - like sweat and alcohol and something uniquely Dean - and how safe he felt in the warmth of his embrace.

"I've missed you, Cas, I have. It's been like hell without you here." Dean murmured, his breathing heavy as he rested his chin on Cas's shoulder, his arms tightening around his body. "I'm still so sorry for what I did to you."

Cas cuddled into Dean's firm body further; seeking comfort in the arms of the only man he had ever loved. His eyes closed against Dean's chest, and all he wanted to do was stay like that for the rest of forever; held out of harm's way, protected from the world's demons. "I know."

"Oh, Cas. What are we going to do?" Dean asked bitterly, after a few quiet seconds. "We can't keep going on like this. It'll hurt too much in the end. And I know that I can't ask you to trust me again, and I know that no length of time will forgive what I did, but, I just… I don't know what to do."

Cas nodded against Dean's body, and took a deep breath in. "Dean, I've being thinking about us, and everything we had, and I want… I want to come home. I mean, if that's- if that's something you want too, then I just… I want to come back home to you, to everything we were when we were together."

And then, all of the heartbreak and pain that he had experienced over the past month and a bit was worth it, because Cas didn't think he would ever forget the look on Dean's face in that very moment.

It was just… happy. Relieved and hopeful and goddamn fucking gorgeous, and Cas didn't think he'd ever seen someone look so beautiful. Because even in his crumpled, red-eyed state, Dean was the most stunning person in the whole entire world.

"Oh, Cas. You're… You're coming back? You mean it?" Dean asked. And he was so helpless and vulnerable and scared in that single second that Cas could feel his heart clenching painfully in a way that it hadn't for a very long time.

Cas nodded his head. "Yes, Dean. I'm coming back. It's just… I need you so much, and I really miss everything we had, and I just want to be happy with you again. I forgive you, Dean, I honestly do. I forgive you."

And then there were tears welling up in Dean's tired eyes, and Cas was startled because he hadn't ever seen Dean cry when he was happy, not ever. There was something undeniably touching about the way Dean's inhibitions had faded away, because here he was - tears rolling softly down his face; crying openly.

Again, Dean wrapped his arms around Cas's chest, clinging on so tightly that it hurt, and there was so much strength and love and passion in the embrace that it made Cas smile.

"Thank you, Cas, thank you thank you thank you." Dean murmured, his face buried in the crook of Cas's neck, his wet eyelashes brushing against the sensitive skin there. "I don't deserve your kindness. Thank you. Oh, thank you. You don't know how much I've wanted to hear you say that. Thank you, Cas."

"It's okay." Cas hummed quietly, his voice as soothing and soft as silk grazing against naked skin. "We're better together. I trust you."

Cas didn't know why it had taken him so long to come back to Dean. Their time together had been the best time of his life, and so what if Dean had made a tiny little mistake? No one was perfect, Cas surely knew that more than anyone, and so they were both bound to screw up once or twice. But it didn't matter what happened, as long as they stuck together, because they were one thousand times better when they had each other by their sides.

"I will never let you down again." Dean promised in a whisper, his voice thick around his tears. "I won't ever hurt you again, I promise. I love you. More than life itself."

Cas's heart was soaring high, because he was finally happy again, and everything was happening just like he had dreamt it would. He wasn't alone anymore, and he knew that he would be with Dean until death did them part.

"I love you too." And then, Cas leant towards him, and pressed his lips against Dean's, once, twice three times; butterfly kisses in between desperate words. "It hurt." Kiss. "Too much." Kiss. "Without you by my side." And Cas's lips were gathering up the tears that were still trailing down Dean's face, and everything was so beautiful that Cas wanted to shout it out to the heavens above.

After a few seconds of quiet kissing, Dean pulled away, and wrapped his fingers around Cas's slim wrists; resting there to feel his racing pulse. "Will you come inside, Cas?" he asked, his skin still shimmering with the residue of his tears. "Back home?"

Cas nodded gladly, and let Dean lead him into the apartment that hadn't changed at all. He let Dean pull him all the way into his - their - bedroom; all soft touches and careful murmurs. When they reached the bedroom, Dean turned to Cas again, before gently cupping his face with his strong, calloused hands.

"I love you so much." Dean whispered, as his fingers moved to slowly stroke through Cas's hair, taking pleasure in each tiny moment because every touch was bliss. His lips were warm against Cas's own, and they too were moving slowly; pressing little kisses up and down Cas's jaw line. "Thank you for giving me a second chance."

"It's okay, Dean." Cas breathed, his skin feeling all tingly and warm as Dean's fingers swept hell-fire trails across his neck and chest. The sensation felt so divinely good that Cas was sure it was a sin, and he didn't care at all if it meant he was going to hell for it.

"Don't ever leave me again." Dean whispered throatily, his voice gravelly with raw emotion. "Please. I won't give you a reason to, not ever."

"Okay." Cas said softly, pressing his lips to Dean's forehead. "Okay."

"Thank you." Carefully, Dean pulled Cas down onto the bed with him, and Cas sunk into the mess of blankets, suddenly aware of just how tired he was. It had been a long, sleepless month and a bit, and Cas wanted nothing more than to fall into a hazy dream world; safe in Dean's arms.

"I know we really should be having some great, great make-up sex," Dean started, his olive eyes filled with too many emotions for Cas to count, "but would you mind if we just… slept?" He flushed a pale pink then, and Cas smiled, remembering how Dean had blushed the first time they'd kissed.

"No, I don't mind, Dean. Sleeping is nice. We have the rest of our lives for sex." Cas murmured, before pulling off his shoes, and taking off his shirt and trousers. After Dean did the same, Cas stretched out across the bed next to him, and pulled the un-tucked blanket across both of their bodies. "I'm happy like this."

"Me too." Dean said, bringing his fingers up to gently trace across the lines of Cas's face. "I love you, Cas. I hope you truly know that."

"I do know, Dean." Cas whispered, burying his nose in the crook of Dean's neck, seeking comfort in the way Dean's chest was moving, slow and steady; reassuring him that this wasn't just a dream. "I'm sorry that it took me so long to realise it. I love you too."

And then, after they shared another quiet, tender kiss, they fell asleep in the nest of warm blankets; bodies and souls entwined, completely and utterly in love.