This got only a quick edit so there are probably mistakes. Please try to overlook that. I just wanted to get out a new chapter for you. Happy Reading!

Chapter 54

The Beginning of the End

All she could do was stare at him. "What did you say?" She thought he had just said he wanted her to be his mate.

Cas gave her one of his rare smiles. "I said I want to bond with you. I want you to become my mate Velvet." He was rubbing her leg just above her knee, causing her to have to focus on his words.

Her heart was pounding. Bonding? Mate? Did this mean he cared about her? This had to mean that he did have feelings for her. She felt giddy, her stomach twisting into knots and she had an insane need to start jumping up and down in celebration. "I don't know what to say Cas. This is really unexpected. REALLY unexpected."

"I have surprised you I know. You don't have to say anything but yes little one."

He's so beautiful, she thought. I wonder what his true form would be like if he were still an angel. Pain sliced through her heart. She would never know Cas as an angel again. That part of his existence was over and now he had to make a new life. He was asking her to make her a part of that new life. She smiled. "Oh Cas, I..." The door suddenly flew open and Dean stood there, the Colt in his hand.

"Where is it?" He scanned the room looking for something. "Velvet, get down. Cas, move!"

"Where is what Dean? It is only Velvet and myself," Cas assured him.

"But I heard her screaming. I thought something was attacking you." Lowering the weapon, he took in the scene in front of him. Cas was sitting on the bed with his shirt sleeves rolled up and he noted the absence of the coat, jacket and tie. Velvet sat perched on his lap, her arm draped around his neck. There was no mistaking what was entangled around her ankles. "Oh. Oh!" His face turned pink and he looked back at his friend. "Sorry Cas, I..." He lowered his eyes. "It's just...I didn't mean to interrupt."

"I'm glad you did Dean. He might have hit me again." Velvet looked at Dean and sniffed. She couldn't help but smile inwardly. This was too good an opportunity to yank his chain.

His head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "What?" Cas had hit her? Could he have been wrong about Cas?

"Yeah. It was painful Dean. He didn't want me saying yes so he decided force would make me change my mind." She pouted at him watching the anger cause his face to go even more red than before. She didn't believe she had ever seen that particular shade of reddish purple on anyone. Actually she didn't think she'd ever seen that color at any point in her life. Maybe they should call it Mad Dean.

"Son of a bitch. Cas, I swear I'm gonna kick your ass. What did you do to her? How could you hit her? How could you, you...Get up Velvet. I'm gonna kill him." Dean fingering his weapon. A bullet would take of this problem. No, he wouldn't kill him but he'd lay the hurt on him. Son of a BITCH!

"Velvet," Cas growled and she smirked.

"Please don't kill him Dean. He's going to be my mate. He wants to bond me. So if you kill him, I'd really be disappointed." She grinned at him and laid her head on Cas's shoulder.

"Yes Dean. Please don't kill me. I would never intentionally bring her harm. You know that." Cas was serious.

Dean shook his head. "So he didn't hurt you? What was all that screaming for?" He was very confused. They hadn't been having sex because he knew what a woman sounded like when she shouted her pleasure. That was not what he heard.

She giggled and hid her face in his neck. He smelled so good like rain and sunshine. "Tell him what you did Cas."

He looked at Dean and spoke. "She refused to change her mind about Lucifer so I used an apparently very effective form of chastisement. I have read about it and Sam once told me about your father disciplining you in the same fashion." His voice was steady and serious. Just like Cas.

Dean's eyes nearly popped out of his head. His gaze went back to the scrap of white around Velvet's ankles and bellowed "You spanked her?" He was shocked but not totally unsurprised. Cas knew how to dole out punishment. Having been subjected to Cas's fists, Velvet was extremely lucky he was in love with her.

"Yes. It persuaded her to change her mind. She will not be accepting Lucifer's offer."

Dean watched Velvet as Cas held her in his arms. They looked like they belonged together and of course they did according to what they had learned about her. He grinned like a mad man. Cas may have intended to punish her with a spanking but Dean knew from experience a spanking could be highly erotic. Velvet didn't appear to be too incapacitated. As a matter of fact, she looked extremely satisfied.

The former angel nodded. "It worked better than I anticipated."

"Good job Cas. I have sincere doubts she would have changed her mind otherwise and we would have had to have locked her in the safe room." He gave Velvet an idiotic grin to which she returned with a glare.

"Our next step is to prepare for a bonding ceremony. We will need to supplies and summon one of my brothers or sisters to perform the vows and complete the bond."

"So we live happily ever after?" Velvet raised her head and smiled at Cas forgetting that Dean was there and that her panties weren't where they should be.

Cas looked confused. "Why would you think that? The bonding is to make you safe from Lucifer. If you are bonded, he cannot lay claim to you."

Dean concentrated on Cas's face, refusing to let his eyes stray to Velvet's ankles. He still couldn't believe what happened between the two of them. "What about the whole forbidden, banishment thing when an angel takes a human mate?" Dean knew his friend wasn't an angel but he didn't believe he was 100% human either. Cas had beaten him to a bloody pulp and Dean hadn't been able to fight him. "As much as I think I would like to approve this little plan of yours, I don't know if you should. Look. Very few people know who Velvet really is. I know you've had your angel mojo stripped away but what if some of it is still there?"

Cas shook his head. "I do not feel my grace Dean. I have not felt it for a while."

"That may be the case but those sons of bitches would probably break it up just to punish you. What would they do to her? They don't know who she is and I doubt very highly they would believe it if we told them. No offense Velvet but I think this might be a bad idea instead of a good one."

She sat still on his lap, listening absently to the conversation. The angels. She had forgotten about the stupid forbidden rule. Taking a deep breath, she spoke. "I'm taking back my answer. I won't be your mate. If there is any risk that heaven will come after you, then we aren't going to take that chance."

Dean nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We hold off on that. No need to make stupid choices." Cas was like a brother to him and this mating bonding thing sounded a whole lot like marriage. Just thinking about that word made his skin crawl. He wouldn't wish it on his worst enemy. Well maybe Lucifer but he also felt this was the wrong time for Cas to take the proverbial plunge.

Velvet wanted to cry. She wasn't accept the bond if there was even a minute chance that it would cause pain or death to Cas but Dean standing there saying it was a stupid idea was painful. Although she supposed the heir of heaven, she felt like the most unwanted woman on the earth right now. Turning her head, she hid her face in Cas's neck so neither could see it.

"It could worth the chance Dean. He might stop his pursuit." Cas still held her close, his hand lay still on her knee. He heard Velvet sniff. "Velvet? What's wrong?"

She wasn't going to tell him anything resembling the truth. So she lied. "My skin. It's starting to really hurt. I think I should take a bath. And I think I'm a little tired. I didn't' sleep well last night." Why did everything seem cause her pain? Nothing was going right. Nothing seemed to ever get better. Nothing changed. Nothing at all.

"Dean, would you mind leaving the room? I need some privacy." The spanking still stung but it was almost gone. Now she just wanted to get off Cas's lap, pull up her panties and salvage what was left of her dignity. She shouldn't have said anything to them. Of course they wouldn't agree.

"Sure. No problem. Call me if you need me to apply any first aid." Giving her a wink, Dean pulled the door shut as he left.

"Okay, let me up Cas." She wiggled in an effort to free herself. He immediately released her. Reaching down, she removed the panties and put them in with her other dirty laundry. No way was she going to pull them back up in front of him. "Cas. Why did you really ask me to become your mate?"

"To keep you safe."

"That's it? Nothing more?"

He cocked his head to the side. "Yes. That is all. Should there be another reason?"

"No, of course not. Now, if you'll excuse me. I want to take a bath." She grabbed her robe and moved to leave. "Don't look so worried Castiel. I'm not going to change my mind about Lucifer. I couldn't even if I tried. The four of you are like pit bulls. Always alert, always on guard."

"Next time little one..." He stood and walked to stand in front of her. Staring into her eyes, he continued. "Next time you decide to make a foolish decision the spanking will be the worst of your worries." Leaning over, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Do not forget." He gathered his things and walked out.

What did that mean? One thing was abundantly clear from this encounter. She had no chance with Cas. Nothing was ever going better than it was at this moment. Her heart was breaking again. He hadn't wanted to be with her because he was consumed with protecting her not because of an overpowering love for her. For a moment, she had been completely happy. For moment, she had felt loved and cherished. She kept bringing this on herself. She kept on believing. She believed because she wanted to be loved by Cas. But why did she keep trying when it always ended with her feeling like curling up and dying, she wondered. It was something she wondered about far into the night before falling into a restless sleep.

She crawled from the bed the next morning, groggy and unrested. Stumbling down the stairs, she went for coffee. Dean and Bobby loved their alcohol but they loved coffee in the morning. Trudging back upstairs with a mug, she settled into chair and looked out the window. Right now she couldn't face them. Cas. You coward Velvet, it's him you can't face. The situation they faced was a serious one. They all needed to be focused. Love, well there just wasn't room for that right now especially not for her. Maybe being this Sihade was a curse. Maybe her father, her real father, didn't want her to be loved by another. If that were true, why did he make sure she had all these human emotions. Emotions that made her angry. Emotions that made her cry. Emotions that caused her to feel as if her feet weren't touching the ground because she was so happy.

Looking down, she saw that Dean and Sam were arguing and Bobby was looking very unhappy with the situation. Every once in a while, he would say something and the boys would go right back. She couldn't hear what they were saying but it looked serious. Cas sat watching them, taking in everything they were saying or rather shouting at each other. What was going on? Whatever it was could wait. She wasn't in the mood to talk to any of them at the present time. She wanted to wallow in self-pity and cry until she started to feel a little better. No, she didn't want to cry. She had cried enough. What would she do or a a better question, what could she do? Reaching for the small book on the table, she opened it and started reading. Good research was always a valuable asset to what men did. She was getting better at it especially with Bobby guiding her, teaching her how to assess what would be useful and disregard the unimportant.

Hours later a knock sounded on the bedroom door that no longer latched. "What?" God, please not Cas.

"It's Bobby. I've come to fix the mess Dean made of the door. Is it all right to come in?" He sounded hesitant.

"Of course, come in." It was his house and he had the right to fix what was broken.

"Evening Velvet. You doing okay?" Dean told him about the spanking and what Cas had offered. He knew she had to be hurting yet again.

"Just fine. Never better." She gave him her brightest smile despite the fact she was still in her pajamas and had serious bed hair going on. "You should make Dean fix it. It was his fault."

Bobby looked horrified. "Dean? I'd rather let a Yeti fix it. He may know his way around a car but he doesn't know shit about fixing door locking mechanism. Can pick a lock but doesn't have a prayer of fixing one." He kneeled down and got to work. "You coming down to dinner? Sam is making those veggie burger you and he seem to be so fond of. How can you eat that?"

She shrugged and with a genuine smile said, "I like veggie burgers and I like hamburgers. I don't discriminate."

He grinned as he started removing metal pieces. "Guess that makes me and Dean prejudice. Cas, well I think he'd eat anything you put in front of him." He saw his mistake when her smile disappeared. "Sorry, sore subject."

"Yeah, very sore." She still winced a little when she moved around too much. Realizing what she'd said, she started laughing. "Get it? Sore, spanking."

Bobby laughed along with her, glad she didn't seem to be intent on sulking for days. She didn't really sulk but she did spend a lot more time by herself since Moloch had taken her. She was more subdued and quiet but he had faith she would put it behind her. But it Lucifer got his way, having the time to return to same old Velvet would be cut short. She had gained a little of the weight back she had lost but she still wasn't back to same weight she had carried before. Sometimes the haunted look and the dark circles would return indicating she wasn't resting well. Today was one of those times. It was good to hear her laughing. Dean was endlessly telling jokes and renting funny movies. She and Sam hovered over his damn computer playing those stupid games.

"What were you all arguing about this morning? It looked intense." She pull her feet up into the chair and rested her chin on her knees.

"Oh, that." He replaced the plate and started using the screwdriver to secure it. "I think Sam and Dean should be the ones to tell you."

"That sounds ominous. Has something happened? Is Cas..?" Crap. Couldn't she go one day without saying his name?

"No, no, nothing has happened and he's fine. I just think it would better for them to tell you about it." No way he was going to break the news.

"Bobby, you're starting to scare me a little." If couldn't be good if he didn't want to tell her.

"I don't mean to." He gathered his tools and stood. "Come downstairs to dinner. You need to eat."

"No. I just need to think. I'll join the living tomorrow. I promise."

"How 'bout one of us brings you something? It would disappoint Sam if you didn't eat that patty he calls a burger. I'll even bring you a piece of pie if Dean didn't eat it all. I told him to save you a piece." He waited for her answer.

"Nobody has to bring me food. I'll go down when I want something. I'm not an invalid."

"somebody will bring you dinner."

"Okay." Hoping Cas wouldn't show up with a tray. She didn't want to see him or talk to him right now.

An hour later, Sam was walking in with a tray filled with food. "I thought I'd eat with you if you don't mind."

"Fine with me. What happened? Did Dean and Bobby run you out of the kitchen in protest?"

He grinned. "Nah. I just knew there was prettier company to be found elsewhere."

"Flirt." She returned his smile and picked up her burger. As they ate they traded all the knock knock jokes they could think of and started making up their own. They weren't very good but it didn't matter. It was fun.

"Do you think that you would really have been happy as a lawyer?"

Sam busied himself by gathering their dishes. "Maybe. I mean, I would have been with Jess and that would have made all the difference. But now, with what we do, I able to really help people. I save people from monsters and demons. They are able to go home to their families and live their lives. Because of me, because of Dean and Bobby and Cas."

"You still miss her a lot I guess. She was beautiful." She had seen a photo of her on his computer.

"Sometimes I do. But I've past the pain. I carried it for years. It morphed into rage and it nearly destroyed me. I still feel the anger though. Blame it on demon blood? Maybe. Or maybe it's just me. I don't think I'd trade what we've been through. Dean and I, we grew apart but this has brought us closer. He's my best friend, my brother. He saved me from myself more than once. I owe him my life." He sat on the floor and leaned back against the chair she was sitting in.

"Is this code for "Velvet please work out the knot in my shoulder"?" She laughed. The muscles in Sam's shoulders always became tense when he stayed hunched over his computer hours.

"Nah. That's okay. I'm going to take a hot shower in a little bit. That will help. Velvet, there's something you should know." He seemed very serious all the sudden.

"Is this about the argument everyone was having this morning?"

He nodded. She waited.

"Well? Spit it out. What is it?" Suddenly there was a deep clawing fear in her stomach.

He turned around so he could look at her. "Dean and Bobby agreed as well as Cas. Tomorrow we head to Detroit. I'm going to accept Lucifer and become his vessel."

Velvet could only whisper, "No, you can't."

"This is the only chance we've got." His eyes were serious.

"Let me. Let me go. Not you Sam." She was crying again. Always crying. It never seemed to stop.

"Velvet. Sam is right." Cas stood in the doorway. "He is the only chance we have. You were willing to become bonded but you couldn't have controlled him. Sam has an opportunity and he is going to attempt it."

She didn't want to hear him. She didn't want to hear Sam. "There has to be something. Dean couldn't have agreed. He wouldn't." This was a joke. It had to be.

"Sorry sweet cheeks. I may not like it but we can't hold off any longer. The disasters are worldwide now. Wars are breaking out where there hasn't been war in hundreds of years. This is his handiwork and unless we act, there will be nothing left. The angels want this war and because they don't know about you, you will just be collateral damage. They think they can win but I'm not sure they can. Either way, we lose. Angels hate humans, demons hate humans, Lucifer hates humans. We have to act first." Dean looked determined. He looked defeated. He was going to lose his brother.

Velvet raised her chin as if she say she would defy anything they would say to her."Sam if you're determined to do this. I'm going in with you."