Author's Note: I circumvented the whole plotline at the beginning of Season 12 with Lady Toni. She drives me nuts, anyway. She's like the "Joffrey" of the series, for me anyway. Plus, I really wanted a fitting end for Ember before she went into deep cover. So sue me. And review me!
***Ember POV***
May 3, Early Morning
Ember woke up earlier than everyone else, and trudged into the kitchen. Chuck was alone in the kitchen, looking at Dean's computer and eating leftover Chinese take-out food.
"Hey… um, Chuck? Can I ask you a question?"
"Mmmm," he said, not looking up.
"Um… okay… so… what am I supposed to do with a half-demon, half-angel child?"
"Free will," Chuck said immediately, still not looking up. "Like I said, it comes with the kit."
Ember sighed, sitting down next to Chuck. "I know that," Ember said. "But… I don't have any idea how to… where to even start with this. I mean… is it Castiel's child? Or Lucifer's?"
"No way to tell," Chuck said, continuing to watch the anime. "Could be either one."
"It… could?" Ember asked. She had been sure that Chuck was going to say the child was Lucifer's.
"If they were fighting for the driver's seat," Chuck said, "It could be either."
"Okay," said Ember. She thought about it for a moment. ''And… what if it's Lucifer's?"
"What if it is?" Chuck replied.
"Will it be… evil?"
Finally, Chuck put down the Chinese food and turned to Ember. "Lucifer wasn't made evil," Chuck said. "The Mark corrupted him. So it doesn't matter whether it's Castiel's or Lucifer's… it won't be evil. Not to start out with, anyway." Chuck considered for a second, then added, "You should know, though… giving birth to this child… you won't be able to survive it… not without the healing powers of an angel, anyway. A normal human can't survive the birth of a nephilim, but you might be able to. You'll still need an angel, though."
Ember swallowed, understanding Chuck's meaning. "So Castiel can help-…"
"I wouldn't count on it," said Chuck, returning to his Chinese food.
"What do you mean?" Ember asked, suddenly angry in Castiel's defense.
With a sigh, Chuck once more abandoned his Chinese food and looked at her. "Ember, I didn't make angels to understand things like shades of grey. They were made to be my soldiers. And Cas… don't get me wrong. He rebels more than most, and he's always exceeded my expectations. But he's not ready to be a father to a half-angel. He'll abort that child as soon as look at it."
Ember gave Chuck a horrified look. "I-…"
"Don't blame him," Chuck said. "He loves you. Far more than you know, I think actually, and far beyond what your supernatural powers can account for. He'd never want to hurt you… but that's how I made him. It's in his wiring. It's why the angels don't run around fornicating like those pagan Gods you and the Winchesters run into every once in awhile."
Ember closed her eyes, stunned. A horrible weight had settled in her stomach, and she knew Chuck was right.
"So… what should I do?" she whispered. "If... if I want to have the child? And… ensure that it's good?"
"Again," Chuck said, sighing. "Free will. But… do you want my honest advice?"
Ember nodded.
"Run," Chuck said.
"What?"
"If we survive this," Chuck said, "Run. Go on the run, and don't look back. Right now the child's magic, and yours, are working in your favor. Its magic appears to naturally hide it, but that won't help you when you're showing, and when your powers change with the pregnancy. One look through your mind by an angel, or possession by a demon, and they'll know everything. Stay away from hunting." He paused, letting her digest. "And then, when the child is born – if you make it that far – make sure you're around someone who won't kill it on sight, and who knows how to hide it properly, and raise it to be good. Your friend Sam Winchester might be a good bet, but there will be others."
Ember could feel herself tearing up.
"I'm sorry," God said. "If you'd like, I can get rid of it for you."
Ember shook her head. "No, I… I just need to think," she said. "It… it doesn't matter now." She looked up at him with her best attempt at a forced smile. "I mean, you know, Amara might kill us all in an hour any-…"
But just then, Ember heard Dean's footsteps coming from the hallway. Not wanting Dean to see that she'd been crying, she turned on the spot and disappeared.
***Castiel POV***
May 3, Morning
The big fight with Amara was over.
They had lost.
The witches, demons, angels, Lucifer, and God had all fought her, and they had all lost.
But at least Lucifer was gone.
It was the first time Castiel had been himself in months. Now there would be people who would want him to answer for his time as Lucifer. Dean and Sam would want to know why he made the decision to allow Lucifer to possess him, and what he planned to do if Lucifer hadn't been killed in the battle against Amara.
And Ember… At least with Dean's Demon Bond, the two of them had been equal in power. They'd each had free will. But the demon bond with Lucifer… how had such a thing even happened? Surely she must blame him! He should have known, should have thought about the possibility. He'd known Lucifer created the demons. He should've known Lucifer would know how to pervert an angel and create a demon bond… He would never forget, as long as he lived, the sight of her black eyes. "Stop holding back! You did this to me, again, at least enjoy it! We can be together again… sort of…"
He had closed the door on their relationship when he thought he was dying, but as soon as both of them realized that he wasn't dying, it felt as though the door had somehow opened again. As much as he had tried to avoid her after their kiss, he had secretly hoped that somehow, miraculously, she still loved him. She had been with Dean at the time, but perhaps someday she would have made a different choice, a choice that would have allowed them to be together, if the fates aligned. And he had been her deepest desire, he knew that. Now, though, after everything that had happened between them, the door was closed forever. He had caused her nothing but pain, and what little apology he had been able to give her would never make up for the damage he had caused.
All things considered, it occurred to Castiel that he was almost, almost relieved it was the end of the world.
***Ember POV***
May 3, Noon
They had a plan. God had said that Amara's weakness was light, which made sense, really. They were going to end her. They had everything they would need, theoretically. Billie the Reaper had even shown up, and provided thousands of souls, which had been harnessed into a bomb.
Maybe they would even live through the day. Then they could figure out what to do about Crowley and Rowena in the same room, and about God dying. And then, Ember could figure out what to do about Castiel shooting her guilty, sad looks when he thought she wasn't looking from across the room. And eventually, she'd figure out what to do about the other problem.
"So what now?" asked Castiel, after shooting Ember another furtive glance.
"Well, now we have the bomb, so we just have to find Amara," said Sam.
"I can track her," said God. "She's not warded anymore. Why would she be? She won."
"Okay, so?" asked Dean.
"We need somebody to get close to her, someone with a … personal connection," said Castiel.
For the first time in the past 12 hours, thoughts of the pregnancy left Ember. "Dean, no," said Ember.
But they all knew it had to be Dean. Rowena and Crowley were raising their eyebrow at Dean, waiting for his answer. Castiel was hanging his head. Even Sam swallowed hard.
Dean looked around at the group, and reached for Ember's hand. It no longer mattered that they weren't together, nor did anything that had happened in the past. He looked her in the eye, and she knew… she knew he was right. This was their last chance to save the world… and this time, it was Dean who had to be sacrificed.
Maybe they would be lucky, and God would still find the strength to pull Dean back from the Empty and send his soul to Heaven, before even God was reaped.
-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-
Before he died, Dean had one request: to go to the grave of Mary Winchester.
Castiel was the first to say good-bye, and he caught Dean in a hug. "I could go with you," Castiel offered.
Dean looked at Ember, just briefly, and Castiel followed his gaze. When they made eye contact, however, Castiel looked away once more. "No, no, no," Dean said. "No, I gotta do this alone." Then Dean said something softly, too soft for Ember to hear. Castiel's eyebrows furrowed together, and he glanced at Ember once more, and nodded. "Thank you for everything," Dean said to Castiel, louder this time.
Then Dean turned and addressed the group. "Okay, look. I want a big funeral," he said. "All right? I'm talking epic. Okay? Open bar, choir, Sabbath cover band, and Gary Busey reading the eulogy."
"Done," said Sam, while Ember nodded. Tears were streaming down her face.
"And for my ashes, I like it here," Dean continued, looking near to tears. "Yeah. You know, as far as eternal resting places go."
He moved closer to Ember, nodding at her. "Ember," he said, and reached to hug her, but Ember moved for his lips instead, and the two of them kissed, fiercely. His lips were soft, and she remembered all the good things – their talks in the Impala, and sunrises, and beer, and Dean teaching the children to fight, and Valentine's Day in Colorado.
Dean pulled back, surprised. "I'm sorry for everything, Dean," she said. "I'm sorry it didn't work out like we'd wanted. But I love you…"
"I love you too," he whispered into her ear. "I always have, and… I always will, even if that love is different now. I'm sorry I couldn't be better, couldn't be everything you wanted."
"Dean…" she said, but he shushed her with another soft kiss. It tasted wet, and Ember realized it had mixed with her tears.
Dean reached into his pocket, then, and took out the keys to the Impala. He hesitated for a moment, as if collecting himself, and walked over to Sam. Sam shook his head, with tears in his eyes. The two men talked softly for a moment, then hugged. This hug lasted longer than either of the other two goodbyes - a hug between brothers.
Finally, Dean let go, and already he seemed miles away. He gave one last determined look at the group. "Let's do this," he said.
Chuck snapped his fingers, and Dean was gone.
***Castiel POV***
May 3, Afternoon
Somehow, the six of them – Sam, Ember, Castiel, Rowena, Crowley, and Chuck (God) – had found their way to a bar called "The Lazy Shag." The bar was closed, but Crowley had opened it anyway. It seemed fitting, somehow, here at the end of all things.
Crowley and Rowena were sitting at the bar companionably, taking lazy drinks. Sam was speaking in hushed voices with Chuck in the corner. With horror, Castiel realized that Ember was approaching him, for the first time since Lucifer had left his vessel.
It was just as he thought – she was looking at him differently. Once she had been his best friend's girlfriend. Then she was his girlfriend, and afterward there had still been something between them, whether it was a hope, or a wish… Now, she looked at him with trepidation, and there was terror in her eyes. He could tell she had steeled herself before even approaching him.
"Ember, I'm so, so, so sorry," he told her. "I never thought there could be a demon bond between us, and it never even occurred to me that Lucifer would pervert-…"
"Cas, you told me that already," Ember said, calmly. "And I already told you, it's not your fault." She swallowed hard. "Look, if we survive this… I think I'm gonna take a break from the whole hunting thing. You know, with Dean gone, and all, I think it's just best if I sort of… lied low and took some time to heal."
It was just as he'd thought. Ember never wanted to see him again. "It's not your fault," she said again, seeing the upset look on his face. "And I don't blame you, or anything like that. It's just… I think I need some… space. You know, a quiet life. For awhile."
Castiel understood. It was better this way. His presence had only made things difficult for Ember and Dean as a couple, ever since Castiel had been with her. And now Dean was probably going to die, and he had saddled Ember with a horrible Demon Bond… it was probably better this way. He felt a horrible weight settle in his stomach.
Suddenly, Sam cried, "Chuck!"
Chuck had disappeared.
A few minutes later, the sun returned to the sky, and they knew it was over.
Dean had done it! The world was saved.
And Dean was gone. And Ember never wanted to see him again.
***Ember POV***
May 3, Evening
Ember's thoughts were whirling as she headed back into the bunker. Honestly, she was trying not to cry. Just a few more hours with Castiel wouldn't hurt anything, as the group of them all mourned together…
Nobody had heard from Dean, or from Chuck… She had called him, and his phone was still ringing, and wasn't going straight to voicemail. Wouldn't it go to voicemail if he… exploded?
Ember was so distracted that she missed the woman whose hand was dripping blood in the lobby of the bunker. Suddenly, Castiel was gone in a blink of light, and a tranquilizer dart lodged itself firmly into Ember's neck.
"Hello, hello!" said a woman's voice.
It took Ember a second to register that she had been shot and that there was a sting in her neck, and another second to register that she wasn't incapacitated.
During this time, Sam had reached for his gun, but the woman drew a gun on him first. "Don't. Sam Winchester. Toni Bevell. Men of Letters, London Chapterhouse. Oh, you won't have heard of me—us. We're very traditional. Keep out of the way, keep to our studies."
Ember tried to become invisible… but it wouldn't work. She looked down at her hands in horror. Why wasn't it working?! Thinking fast, she played dead.
"You, um... What?" Sam asked.
"They sent me to take you in," Toni responded.
Did Ember still have the power to move objects? What was up with her sudden loss of powers? Was this because of the pregnancy? Opening one eye just a bit, she experimented with, very slowly, moving a pen that was on the table behind the woman. This worked fine.
"To take me in?" Sam asked.
"Assuming the world didn't end, and— Yay," Toni said. Ember hated her already. She was disgustingly chipper and far too well put together.
"Look, lady—"
"We've been watching you, Sam. What you've done, the damage you've caused—archangels, Leviathans, the Darkness, and now, well— the old men have decided enough's enough."
Ember thought quickly. Did she want to throw Tony against the wall now, or see how things played out? It was always better to know your enemy. She would see how things played out, then.
"I mean, let's face it, Sam," the woman continued. "You're just a jumped-up hunter playing with things you don't understand and doing more harm than good. Now, where's Dean?"
Ember's heart jumped, and anger filled her.
"Dead," Sam said. "Listen, lady. I don't know who the hell you are or what the hell you want—…"
"Stop," Toni said.
Sam moved forward despite Toni's warnings. "Put the gun down."
"I said stop," Toni said again. Ember was watching now with a squint, ready to stop the bullets if needed.
"You and I both know you're not gonna pull the trigger," Sam said.
Toni fired. Ember slowed the bullet, which pinged against Sam's leg harmlessly. She jumped up, throwing Toni against the wall. "Cleary the British Men of Letters isn't as good as they think they are," Ember said. "Your tranq dart sucks."
"You shot me!" Sam screamed angrily.
***Ember POV***
May 3, Night
Sam wasted no time in putting Toni in the bunker's dungeon. Ember was glad for her appearance, almost – it would give Sam something to do, with Dean gone and her out of the picture. Meanwhile, she had to go check in with Krissy. She was fairly self-sufficient, being 18, but Ember still didn't like leaving the young adult on her own for over 48 hours. She was devastated about Dean, but a small voice in her head reminded her that Dean had been in worse situations than this and still survived. Plus, there was no real confirmation that he was even dead, and still no word from Chuck.
Finally, late that night, Sam texted.The text simply said, "Come quick."
Ember was terrified. Had Toni escaped from her bonds? Did they find out something about Dean?
Ember teleported to her usual spot, just outside the bedroom she used when she used to stay overnight. She heard voices coming from the kitchen… including Dean's.
"Dean!" she screamed, and launched herself into his arms.
He held her tightly, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Ember," whispered Dean in his low voice. "I'd like you to meet my mother."
"What?" Ember said, surprised. She whirled around, and, sure enough, she saw the woman she recognized from Dean's old pictures.
Ember looked around the room in shock. Sam was looking at his mother lovingly, and Dean was looking at her expectantly. Castiel was avoiding her gaze. Mary Winchester was beaming at her.
"How?" Ember said.
Dean explained the story. He said that Amara had decided to make up with God, and that they had left Earth on an extended vacation. In return for his help, Dean said, God had brought his mother back to life.
Ember wasn't sure what to feel. She was happy for Dean, of course, but apprehensive. Despite their break-up, Ember was still very much a part of "Team Free Will." What would Dean's mother think of the fact that she was half-demon?
"We told her about you," Sam said, noting how uncomfortable she was.
Ember's head swiveled around to Sam, silently thanking him. Then she turned to Mary, awaiting her judgment.
The older woman smiled at Ember, a good sign. "My sons have told me that you hate demons as much or even more than we do. They told me you've been a good friend, to both of them. It's nice to meet you," Mary said.
-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-SPN-
It was late at night, but everyone seemed to feel that a meal was in order.
"This is fantastic," said Sam, eyeing the food his mother had bought appreciatively.
"All I did was point at some stuff on a take-out menu," she said. "I would've cooked, but I, uh...don't."
"Well, now, wait," said Dean. "Your meat loaf was amazing."
"Came from the Piggly Wiggly," Mary replied. "Sorry to burst your bubble."
Mary tapped Dean on the arm. "But do you still like pie?"
Dean laughed and grabbed the pie.
Mary turned to Sam. "Sam. You keep looking at me like I'm going to explode."
Sam laughed. "I'm sorry," he said.
Ember looked at them, fondly: her ex-boyfriend, her best friend, and the love of her life. She would miss them all, very much.