Author's Note: So I'm taking a brief break after this. Just a month or so, because I'm frankly doing too much until sometime late next month. I'm writing intermittently but I can't write fast enough to update every week. So, I'm going to give myself some time and then when I come back I'll be able to update every week until the end.

I don't own Supernatural.

***Castiel POV***

April 25

Everyone looked at each other. Then, at exactly the same time, Ember and Castiel both reached out for the gun. Ember used her force powers and Castiel used his grace, and the grace was stronger.

"I don't understand," Sam said, and all heads swiveled suddenly to look at him. "You're God. Couldn't you get a little magic from somewhere else? This doesn't make any sense."

"Yeah, not so much," said Chuck. "Souls are complicated - even for me. We could kill him, if that's what you really want - I mean, after what he did?"

"No!" shouted Eileen, Krissy, Ember, and Castiel at once.

Ember caught Dean's considering look and doubtful eyes, and her brow furrowed in anger. "Sam was soulless after the Apocalypse, and we went to the ends of the Earth to get his soul back. What Jack did was awful," she added. "But it wasn't him!" She looked at Chuck. "We're not killing him."

Castiel tentatively sided with Sam. "Father, are you sure this is the only way? I don't understand why so much must be given. I'm willing to give my life, of course, but are you sure its best that Jack lose-…"

"Stop, Cas," Dean said forcefully. "You heard him. This is the only way."

"So much for Team Free Will, you righteous asshole!" Ember snapped, her temper getting the better of her.

"And Death said the only way to defeat Michael was to lock you in a box!" Castiel protested to Dean, shooting Ember a meaningful look to calm down.

"Death, now there's a good character," said Chuck, who had been watching them fling insults and remarks across the table like a ping pong match. "Did you know there's a universe where Billie the Reaper became Death? Ugh, she's terrible at it."

There was silence for a second as they all digested Chuck's odd words.

"Can you make another gun?" Eileen asked finally. "And use power from the demons in Hell?"

"You don't want them effecting his soul," Chuck pointed out, and they fell silent. "Look, I can take the gun back, if you don't want it, but this is my only offer," he said, holding up his hand as if in threat.

"No!" said Castiel and Ember at once.

Castiel squared his posture, his decision made. "I'll be back," he said as Ember rounded on him. Chuck nodded at him.

"Castiel, please!" Ember begged him. She wanted him to stay with Jack. It needed to be her, it was always supposed to be her. From the moment Jack had been born, a part of her felt she'd been running on borrowed time. She was supposed to die then… she latched onto Castiel's robes and refused to let go, attempting to fish for the gun.

She knew immediately when he transported them, felt the air whoosh by as he flew. She refused to let go lest he disappear again, but she did look up and realize he had flown them back to Conway Springs.

"Cas!" she began, finally letting the horror, the panic, the desperation overflow.

He cut her off, and she felt grace wind through her being, calming her. "Don't you even dare give me that fucking calming-…" she attempted as the grace made her lethargic. She fought it, and it felt as though she was wading through sludge. "Fucking bastard!"

She was reminded of the time Dean, Sam, and Castiel had locked her in Bobby's warded home before going to fight Lucifer. But she had been with Dean, then, and Castiel had respected her boundaries at that point and not attempted to invade her mind. She had been stronger, then, and had thrown him across the room. She wished she could do that now.

"He'll need his mother more than his father when the feelings of remorse catch up to him," Castiel said.

"No, Cas!" Ember exclaimed. "He needs you to protect-…"

"No, he doesn't," said Castiel. "He has you, and Dean, and Sam, and the bunker." His eyes were fire, a determination reflecting in the blue, and Ember recognized when she had lost, though she refused to admit it.

He was stronger than her, and she wouldn't unlock her demon powers – not for this. Once she released them, though she might be able to overcome Castiel, she would no longer have the presence of mind to do what needed to be done.

She realized, suddenly, that she was about to lose him, again…"

"Cas, please don't go, I love you," she said, holding onto him, burying into him. She tried to catalogue his scent, the feeling of his arms around her.

"I love you too," he said, and he kissed her hard. It was meant to be the last time he would ever kiss her – she could tell that in the urgency, the way he was intense but also so incredibly gentle.

She could feel the sludge in her mind intensify, and it wasn't the usual calming draft, the one her mind was now programmed to accept and welcome. He was trying to put her to sleep. Her demon powers fought against it.

"I love you, Cas," she said, "But you'll never be able to put me to sleep."

Suddenly the sludge in her mind intensified in a way that was foreign, was not Castiel at all, and a rise of panic swelled up inside her. God - !

And then she was out.

***Castiel POV***

April 25

"Thanks for the mental assist," Castiel nodded to his Father, returning to the bunker and positioning Ember delicately in a chair.

"You put her to sleep?!" Krissy exclaimed, running forward to check on her mother.

"She wouldn't let go, and she was fighting the calming grace," Castiel protested.

Krissy smiled weakly. "You had to know that would happen," she said.

"I did," Castiel said. "It's why I asked for mental assistance before we even left." He nodded at Chuck.

"It's the least I can do," Chuck said, "sending you to your death and all. But she won't stay asleep forever," he added. "Only an hour or so."

Castiel took a deep breath. "Okay," he said, looking around at the rest of them. He slowly began to say his good-byes.

"Krissy, you're the daughter I never knew I always wanted. I wish I could've been more of a father to you. I hope that I set a good example for you, and I enjoyed teaching you languages and religion."

Sam looked at him with shock. "Wait, we're – we're doing this now?"

"Why wait?" asked Dean, but his voice came out flat, as though even he was hesitant.

"Cas, no," Krissy stood up to put her arms around him and pulled him into a genuine hug, which for her were rare at best. "Thank you, Cas, for – for everything. For saving the world. For teaching me language and religion. And, for – for making Ember happy."

"Look after her," Castiel said. "And look after Jack, too."

"I will," said Krissy quietly. "I will."

Eventually Castiel moved onto Eileen. "I'm so glad Sam found you," he said, signing at her before pulling her into his arms.

"Thank you, Cas," Eileen said. "We'll miss you."

"Sam," Castiel said, facing him. "Please be there for Ember after I'm gone. She'll need you. Thank you for being such a good friend, to her and to me."

Sam was doing what Ember had called his "Sam is trying not to cry" face, where he blinked his eyes and seemed to wince a little. Sam grabbed him in a bear hug, and whispered, "Why are you doing this? There must be another way. Please, Cas."

Castiel ignored him. Finally, he turned to Dean. "Dean, you're my best friend. Even before I fell in love with Ember, you taught me about humanity, about love. I'm sorry that I took her from you. I'm sorry for everything."

Dean looked at him with clear surprise. "Dude, that was ages ago. It's – it's fine. God, Cas-…" Dean seemed at a loss for words, and so hugged Castiel as well.

Finally Castiel turned to his father. He was warm, and bright, but Castiel thought – had thought for some time – that things were more complicated than that. "You were not a good father," he said, tilting his head to consider. "You were not there for me when I asked so many times. But you're here now, and so I must heed your wisdom."

He turned his back on his father and turned to his friends again. He smiled, attempting to memorize their faces. "I love you all more than words can say," he said. "I will do this on my own, to spare you the sight of it. Goodbye, everyone." And he disappeared.

-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-

When Castiel prayed to Jack in the abandoned graveyard in Lebanon, Kansas, Jack arrived immediately. "Jack," he said, hugging his son.

"Castiel," he said. "You said my grandfather had come."

"He has," Castiel said. "And he's given me this." Castiel held out the gun and began to tell Jack the plan, leaving out the part about Castiel having to die.

Jack considered it carefully. "As much as I don't want to feel the remorse of what I've done… I never want anything like this to happen again. I can't feel anything anymore, Castiel."

He looked pleadingly at him. "And it's not just the bad things. I can't feel the good things, either. Like love, and happiness…" he trailed off, and Castiel hugged him.

***Sam POV***

April 25

"Do you watch us?" Sam asked Chuck as he perused the contents of the Men of Letters bunker. Dean had excused himself to go to the bathroom, leaving Chuck alone with Eileen and Sam. "When you're not here, are you... watching us?"

"Yeah," Chuck said excitedly. "I mean, you're one of my favorite shows."

"Then why don't you do something?" Sam asked angrily. "If I had your power-…"

"You could heal my ears," Eileen chipped in. "I'm not sure I'd want that. But you haven't even volunteered."

"Guys," Chuck said with a sigh. "We talked about this. Not the way it works."

"Wait a second," Sam asked, anger bubbling over finally. "Why, when the chips are down, when the world is failing, why does it always have to be on us?!"

"Because you're my guys!" Chuck exclaimed. "You and your brother and Ember, isn't she something! But that kid… I mean, honestly I was surprised he managed to be born in the first place… in either universe. And the whole 'resurrection' thing, and drawing on the power of his soul? I did not see that coming."

Sam narrowed his eyes. A revelation forced its way through, unwanted but painstakingly clear. "Wait a second," Sam said. "You're scared of him!"

Chuck opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly Dean's voice said, "Sam, look who's joined the party!"

"I heard that God was back in town. Am I too late?" Rowena's voice filtered in from the situation room. "What's wrong with Ember?"

"Cas put her to sleep," explained Krissy, who had answered the door.

"Guys, hold on a second," said Sam, returning to the situation room with Chuck following behind him. "This doesn't make sense to me. None of this makes any sense."

***Castiel POV***

April 25

"Where's my mother?" asked Jack, untangling himself from Castiel's embrace to look at him.

Castiel was ready for this question. "She's back at the bunker, waiting for us to come back," he said. "You've been a little… volatile lately. I convinced her it was for the best."

"That's understandable," said Jack, nodding his head. "No, wait. It's not," he said again, apparently thinking hard. "You're asking me to shoot myself with a gun. There's nothing in this world or any other world that would keep either her or you from being with me to make sure I'm okay right now."

Castiel tried to keep his face impassive, but Jack picked up on his shock anyway. His eyebrows turned suspicious. "My experience with Dumah and Heaven and angels has made me more distrustful of others," he admitted. "And the fact that I lack a soul seems to mean that I think more logically."

He looked Castiel in the eyes, and Castiel could feel a foreign power lacing through him. He recognized an angelic brand of truth power, but stronger. He felt anguish – how dare Jack use this on him! "Where is my grandfather?"

"He's back in the bunker," Castiel said.

Jack disappeared, and Castiel followed him.

When Castiel arrived, Jack had already run toward Ember. "Mother?" he said, pumping her full of healing grace.

"She's only asleep," Castiel explained.

"Why is she asleep?" Jack rounded on Castiel.

Ember began to awaken in the background, groggily. "Cas? Cas!" she shouted, sitting upright.

"Jack, my grandson!" Chuck moved forward toward Jack, holding out his arms. "It's so great to finally meet you!" Jack regarded him with a suspicious glare.

"Jack!" Ember shouted, running toward him.

"Get back, mother," Jack said firmly, using his powers to force Ember back into her chair.

"Ember?" Castiel said worriedly, moving toward Ember's chair.

"Castiel!" Ember exclaimed, her eyes falling on him with glee.

"Everyone, stop!" Sam screamed.

The group of them froze, looking at Sam with surprise.

"This? This stupid… soul… gun… thing that Chuck gave Cas?" Sam gestured to where the soul gun was in Castiel's pocket. Eileen took his hand. "Are we really believing that Chuck – God – can't create one simple soul?"

"I've told you," said Chuck, angry, "Souls are complicated. Especially Jack's."

But Castiel could see Chuck's anger now, a righteous fury. He could see beyond the body of "Chuck" into the being that was God, and it was red with anger, roiling, and he was suddenly terrified.

Jack apparently had no such problem. "Hold on," he said. "I made angels. Angels! And I don't think I'm as powerful as you."

"You're not!" Chuck said firmly.

"Not yet," said Sam. "But Chuck's scared of him! Aren't you?" he rounded on Chuck. "That's why he wants to turn him human."

"Sam!" Dean exclaimed, apparently unable to keep silent for any longer. "Is it really necessary for us to piss off every diety?"

Suddenly, multiple things happened at once.

God smiled, a soft, smirky smile. A gunshot went off. Jack exploded into blue light.

Behind Jack's back was Rowena, pointing a gun that looked exactly like the one Chuck had given to Castiel.

Everyone gave yells of surprise, rushing forward, but then the light became blinding and everyone except Castiel, Chuck, and Jack hid their eyes.

"Jack!" Castiel yelled, progressing further than the others and reaching Jack first.

"Father?" said Jack weakly, coughing.

Then he began to cry. Tears filled his eyes, cascading down his cheeks.

Then he passed out.

"Jack!" exclaimed Ember, who had at least partially recovered from the blinding flash of light.

"He's okay," said Castiel, still shocked by everything that had happened. "He's okay. We're all okay. He's got a soul again. But… he's human."

Sam was right. Chuck could've done so much more. He was scared.

"That didn't go the way I'd hoped," said Chuck, standing up from where he had been sitting calmly in a chair at the situation table. "But at least one person knows how to follow the script I write."

Castiel's head swiveled around to where Sam was crouched over Rowena, who had fallen awkwardly, her eyes wide open and devoid of life. "Rowena!" he said, heading that direction, but Sam shook his head, his eyes closing with pain. "She's gone," he said.

"Right, well, I'm off," said Chuck. "This was nice practice. I won't make the same mistakes again. I've got another universe that's my favorite…"

And he disappeared.

-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-

FIVE HOURS EARLIER

Rowena was terrified. Someone was in her house. She could hear them rummaging around in her living room. How had they broken through the trap on the front door? Only someone either powerfully magical or completely innocent would be able to thwart that ward. The door had been locked, so a break-in would automatically rule out completely innocent.

"Rowena," said a voice Rowena recognized. "I know you're in there."

Rowena breathed a sigh of relief and revealed herself to her unexpected houseguest. "God," she breathed reverently.

"Chuck," he corrected.

"Still," she drawled. "If I'd known it was you, I'd have given you a better greeting! As it was, you gave me quite a fright!"

Chuck raised an eyebrow.

"What can I do for you, your Godliness?" she said, bowing.

"Cut the crap, Rowena," he said.

Rowena stood out of her bow. "Fine," she said waspishly. "But you didn't have to scare me half to death." She reclined on one of her sofas, crossing her legs. "Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company? I assume this isn't a friendly visit?"

"I need your help," he said.

Rowena let out something between a laugh and a scoff. "You're God. What on Earth could you possibly need my help with?"

"The Winchester's boy Jack," said Chuck. "He's currently missing a soul."

"I'm aware," said Rowena. "He kidnapped me. Tried to get me to help him bring back Mary Winchester."

"Yes," said God, who was obviously up to speed on the subject. "I've got a proposition for the Winchesters."

"I'm listening," said Rowena suspiciously.

"I've made a gun that, when shot, will turn Jack human. In exchange for his powers, and the life of the shooter, who must be a magical being."

Rowena began to laugh. "What? But you're God."

"Yeah. So I've been told," Chuck snapped. "But the Winchesters let Amara out of the bag. It's not just unfettered creation anymore. Now? We balance each other out. Do you know how much power a soul like Jack's will cost? Souls are complicated. Even for me."

"Okay," Rowena scoffed. "And you want me to do you the favor of giving up my life for Jack's soul?"

"Not quite," said Chuck. "Actually, that honor will go to either Castiel or Ember."

Rowena's face turned seriously upset for the first time during their visit. "No," she said seriously. "You can't!"

Chuck sighed. "Unfortunately, I agree with you."

Rowena was confused. "What?"

"What I'm asking you," said Chuck, "Is to be a sort of… back-up plan."

"What?" Rowena said again.

Chuck sighed. "Ideally, Ember or Castiel will sacrifice themselves for their son. I mean, the Winchesters and their friends have been racing each other to the sacrificial pyre for years now."

"That's true enough," Rowena said, rolling her eyes.

"But if it doesn't work, you would be the back-up plan."

Rowena stared at Chuck incredulously. "So let me get this straight. You want me to sit by and let my friends sacrifice themselves. And then, on the off chance they're actually smarter than that, you want me to step in and sacrifice myself for them."

"More or less," Chuck said, as though he was simply asking her to buy him some fruit at the market.

"Um, NO," said Rowena. "I'm going to have to pass on that. I mean, it's a tempting offer, but…" she clandestinely reached down into her purse to attempt to speed dial Sam.

"What if I can give you your son back?"

Author's Note End: I'm so excited for the reveal that this universe will be canon-adjacent.

So here's a thought. When figuring out how the universes would fit together, we know obviously that there is one God and multiple universes. We know there's one Empty, because God has no dominion there.

I think there's supposed to be one Death, but I already shot that idea in the face by not killing off my Julian Richings Death at the end of Season 10 when "canon Dean" killed him off with his own scythe. So, for the sake of this fanfiction, Death has to be different in each universe, and Death's whole "I'll reap God in the end" speech was either just posturing or else he doesn't really know how the whole situation works. Also, much love to Lisa Berry. Not a big fan of Billie but all the love to Lisa!

Which takes us to Amara. But wait! That's an actual plot flaw! Bear with me here. We know that in at least two of the canon universes Lucifer was likely corrupt, leading to a giant battle between the angels (the "TV"-verse and "Apocalypse World"). This means that in at least 2 of the canon universes, Chuck created a Mark of Cain and placed it on Lucifer, which corrupted him. And this means that Chuck either made multiple gateways with multiple locks which Amara could get out of (maybe she was so strong that he needed multiple locks?) or else Amara was sort of divided up into all the little worlds (cosmic being, why not?). I personally haven't decided which of these theories I'm going with yet. Probably a combination of both. Either way, this plot flaw is not my fault, and I've finally found the one plot flaw I can't manage to correct in fanfiction.

The only thing we can really conclude is that I am a nerd and have thought about this way more than the writers even though I'm not getting paid for it.

So in future, this fanfiction will essentially be "canon-adjacent."