AN: Small reminder that the Metatron mentioned is not CW Metatron.

.-.-.-.-.

'No,' Lucifer whispered harshly. He flinched away as Gabriel's Grace reached out to him. 'This is your fault! You were supposed to keep him safe!'

Gabriel stepped back, raising his hands in defense. 'I did everything I could!'

Lucifer raised his wings as he advanced on Gabriel. 'It was not enough! He was mine! My responsibility! Mine to keep safe! I entrusted his safety to you, Gabriel!'

A sharp crack pierced the air, and they both turned, stunned to find Dean standing a few feet away, bent over and panting heavily.

Dean looked up with a wobbly and bloody grin. 'Good thing my wings grew back, huh?' He winced as his Grace was quickly looked over, every corner of his being searched and caressed. 'Guys. Really. I'm okay. I just overshot the exit,' he said. He grunted as Lucifer pulled him into a tight hug.

'I thought I lost you,' Lucifer said as his Grace swept through Dean's.

Dean wrapped his arms and wings around Lucifer. 'I'm...fine. I'll be fine.'

Lucifer shook his head as he pulled away. 'No, you won't. But I'm here for you,' he promised as he cupped Dean's cheek.

Dean sighed and shook his head. 'We're brothers in that we have the same Creator. But me an' Sam? We're brothers in blood. So don't…use him like that.'

Gabriel coughed and awkwardly raised his wings. 'I, on the other hand, am not related to him, so feel free to comfort me all you like. Woof!'

Dean rounded on Gabriel, wings spread in threat. 'Hey!'

'I'm just sayin'.'

'Look, I'm just… I'm not in the mood,' Dean said as he lowered his wings. 'I had nothin' to lose, and now I'm back. With nothin'. Lucifer's riding my brother. Cas is gone. Again. And I spent… Fuck. I might be faster and a better fighter, but…' He broke off with a broken sigh. 'I woulda let Michael rip into me for all eternity, but I knew Cas wouldn't want me to do that. I did just enough to keep him off.'

'And I'm so proud of you,' Castiel said from behind Dean.

Dean spun around and stared at Castiel in shock. 'C-Cas?' He checked Castiel's claim and followed the bright pulse to the angel standing before him. His Grace flooded into Castiel's, and he lit up in ecstacy as Castiel's filled his own.

'Hello, Dean. Seraphiel.'

'How the… What the fuck happened, Cas?' He pulled Castiel tight against him and buried his face in Castiel's neck. 'You some kinda phoenix or something?'

Castiel laughed softly as he stroked Dean's hair. 'Not exactly. Father sends his regards.'

'Fath—' Dean pulled back sharply to stare at Castiel. 'He's back?!'

'Yes. And he's invited Lucifer to come home.'

'Me?' Lucifer asked, his doubt leaking steadily from his Grace. 'After all I've done?'

'You've earned your forgiveness,' Castiel replied. 'You helped save humanity from the apocalypse that would have wiped them out.'

'What about me?' Dean asked uncertainly. His heart fell as Castiel's smile slipped. He looked away as Castiel placed a hand on his arm, just over the physical mark Castiel had left when they first met.

'I'm sorry.'

'Figures,' Dean said bitterly. He tried to keep his disappointment from spreading to Castiel. At least he still had Castiel. As far as consolation prizes went, it was a pretty good one. He could live with it. He attempted a smile.

He gasped as he was suddenly flown to another location. 'Shit! What did I say about—' He trailed off as he looked around in confusion. Scattered papers and bottles sat on every surface. And in the middle of the chaos stood Chuck.

'Chuck?'

Distractedly, he let his Grace sweep over the room and Chuck, trying to ease his confusion. He froze and faced Chuck. 'F-Father!'

Chuck grinned sheepishly and shrugged. 'Hey, kid. Seraphiel… You've…' He looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. 'Well, you've broken my heart over and over, and yet made me so proud of you. I mighta modeled you too much after humans. I guess that made you a little more unpredictable than I originally thought.'

'You… Why?' Dean let his confusion and need for answers drift over his Father. He sighed in relief as his Grace was gently embraced in a love he hadn't felt in so long.

'I needed someone to show Lucifer and the others that humans were good. That they were precious. I sought to do that through you,' Check explained. 'There was a little stumbling at first… Not even you knew how important humans were. But you pulled through. You did it. You managed to redeem yourself and Lucifer.'

'But…the plan. Your plan.'

'More of an outline. Little, uh…bullet points,' Chuck said with a laugh. 'It's like writing. You have an idea of where you want the story to go, but things change. The story evolves.'

Dean nodded and glanced to where Castiel politely stood against the wall. 'And...Michael?' he asked. He couldn't really see Michael just letting things go if their Father let him out of the Cage.

'I'm letting him cool off for a bit. He'll be okay when I explain everything,' Chuck said as he wrung his hands together. 'I hope. I'll send him a fruit basket first.'

'Adam?'

'Back where he belongs.'

'Kid got the short end of the stick.'

'Maybe, but at least he can visit his mother now. I have Metatron overseeing that the pathways between personal Heavens are reestablished.' Chuck grinned. 'She's happy for the break from publishing.'

'So...what now?'

'Now, you go help your brother.'

'But Lucifer—'

Chuck shook his head. 'Sam's gonna need your help. Humanity still needs the Winchesters, and two are better than one. Besides, I thought Earth was supposed to be your domain? I have it on very good authority you're a little territorial.'

Dean had the decency to look abashed. 'Right. So… What's coming?'

'Do you really want me to spoil the ending?' Chuck gave Dean a shit-eating grin.

'Dude.'

'You just took the Devil out of play,' Chick said as he spread his arms wide. 'Did you really think all the other evils of the world would just go about business as usual?'

'Shit.' Dean sighed and paced away. He tentatively reached out for Heaven's power through the front door and relaxed as he was allowed full access. Angel Radio was also back up, both old and new, and filled with confused chatter. He followed the direct line to the throne room and sent a bright knock.

'I have faith in you, kiddo. But, don't blow your cover.' Chuck moved around the room and picked up a crisp paperback. 'Oh, and Dean? The Supernatural sequels just got an official release date. Even had a cover reveal for the first one last week. Becky really likes it.' He finished with a grimace and tossed the book back on the table.

'I don't know what's worse. Being ignored or cruel and unusual punishment,' Dean grumbled. He turned away as his eyes teared up from the answering cry of a hundred voices demanding answers.

Chuck shrugged. 'I'm trying. I've taken some parenting classes over the years. Came up with some good uh…upgrade packets for the rest of the kids. Gonna start sending them out along the signals next week.'

'I guess we're all learning here,' Dean said quietly. He sent another quick message and was met with resounding agreement. 'Lemme do one thing for you real quick.'

Dean hummed as he moved to a large window facing the backyard. He moved aside the curtains and opened the window, showing a host of hundreds of birds from all over the world. 'It's been ages since the Seraphim had an audience.'

Chuck moved to the window, and his shoulders dropped at the view. 'The HOA is gonna kill me.' He smiled brightly and laughed as the Seraphim greeted him in a cacophony of mismatched noise.

Castiel joined Dean by the window. 'This is amazing.'

'This is nothing,' Dean said as he wrapped an arm around Castiel's shoulders and sent memories of the songs he used to sing along their Graces. 'You should hear us in the throne room. The acoustics are to die for.'

'I look forward to it,' Castiel whisper as he pulled Dean into a deep kiss filled with loving promises and affection.

For the first time in millennia, Seraphiel felt at peace with his life. All the pain and suffering he had caused and endured was worth it for this one moment.

He ended the kiss and rested his forehead against Castiel's. 'Thank you,' he whispered. 'For believing in me.'

'Always.'

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AN: I thank you all for joining me on this eight year journey. And a big thank you to those of you who stuck around since the beginning. You've all given me the confidence to truly pursue some of the ideas floating in my head and share them with others. Thank you.

Check out my Tumblr (likhoradka) and see what else I'm up to! There's art and more writing!