Happy tenth anniversary of Castiel's first appearance on Supernatural. I don't know where we'd be without him.
I wrote this what feels like forever ago and have been waiting for it to fit in somewhere for a while. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Thanks for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing.
Disclaimer: In no way do I have any rights to Supernatural or any of the characters you are familiar with. I only own Amriel and any OCs that pop up along the way.
Chapter Forty Two: Vows
"Cas, where are we going? Shouldn't we be back at the bunker so you can rest?" Amriel asked, growing more and more anxious with each passing minute they were in the car. Not long after they had finished helping Sam and Dean hunt a Nachzehrer from the bunker, he had told her to change into a dress he had picked out, then got her into the car and tied one of her scarves around her head, covering her eyes so she couldn't see where they were. All he had told her before they left was that it was a surprise.
"We're almost there, Elle. Be patient," he told her, and she could just hear the smile in his voice.
She pulled at the hem of her floral dress and hummed along to the music on the radio, keeping herself occupied until she felt the car stop and Cas told her to sit tight.
Her door opened and he took her hand, helping her out of the car. The makeshift blindfold was removed and Amriel blinked a few times, her eyes adjusting to the light before she looked around. They were in a field of lavender, parked beside the Impala and another car she didn't recognize, and she saw a small gazebo in the distance with three men standing there, apparently waiting for them.
"What is this, Cas?" she asked as he led her towards the gazebo.
"Well, I once told you that when I recovered my grace I wanted to commit myself to you in every way. I intend to keep that promise," Castiel told her as they approached, and he greeted Sam and Dean once they were up the steps and in the small gazebo.
Amriel looked at the Winchesters, taking in their suits and smiling when she saw that Sam was holding a small bouquet of lavender, lilac, and baby's breath.
"I can't believe you three planned this without me," she grinned before turning to the third man, who gave off the air that he was a servant of God. "Hello, Father. I'm Amriel."
"A pleasure. I'm Father Harris. Why don't I give you all a few moments before we begin," the man excused himself, leaving the four alone.
"This is amazing," Amriel gushed. "I didn't envision anything like this when Cas and I discussed marriage. I wasn't really sure what to envision."
"Only the best for our favorite angels," Dean told her, and Sam handed her the bouquet. "We found the padre on the way over. Hope that's okay."
"Of course. This is all perfect. Thank you, Dean," Cas nodded at his friend, his hand still holding onto Amriel's. "Do you have the other things?"
Amriel glanced up at him, furrowing a brow before turning to look back at Dean, who was searching his jacket pocket.
"Wouldn't leave home without 'em," he said, and Sam scoffed.
"We were on the road for ten minutes and he realized he forgot," the taller Winchester said, and Dean shot him a glare.
"Cas," Amriel said suddenly, catching his attention and causing him to look down at her. She leaned into him closely, whispering, "I didn't prepare anything... Don't weddings have vows?"
"It's our wedding, we can do whatever we want," he told her with a smile, and she felt a little better about the whole thing.
"Okay," Dean interrupted, "Are we ready to get this show on the road? Sam and I got a lot going on-"
"Dean!" Sam snapped, "Come on, this is a big deal. Everything else can wait."
The older Winchester rolled his eyes and handed Cas whatever he had retrieved from his pocket, turning his attention to Amriel.
"You'll need this for the ceremony," he told her, taking her hand and dropping a platinum band into her open palm. "Don't lose it, okay?"
"Oh.. Okay," Amriel mumbled, staring down at the ring and noticing that the inside was engraved with their initials and the date. They must've been planning this for a while, she mused, a small smile on her lips. "I think I'm ready."
Father Harris returned, and the four organized themselves in front of him. Amriel and Cas stood across from one another, with Dean standing behind Cas and Sam behind Amriel, and the pastor began.
Amriel couldn't even concentrate on anything he was saying, she was so focused on Cas. His hair was neatly combed and his tie was actually on correctly, which was something that happened very rarely. He was smiling down at her, his blue eyes full of light, and Amriel felt her heart pounding in her chest.
"At this time, before proceeding with the bonding ceremony, I would invite the couple to share their vows," Father Harris spoke. "Amriel, would you please deliver yours first?"
She froze, her mind going blank as she continued to stare at Cas. He nodded in encouragement, telling her to go on, and she took a deep breath before beginning.
"I had been lost until I found you, and the moment I did, I knew I was safe. I knew I could stop searching for a way to get home, because you are home. I can't imagine my life without you, and I plan to spend the rest of my existence by your side as your wife, your support, and your equal. I love you now as I've always loved you, and as I always will love you," she grinned up at Cas, noticing that the smile he wore lit up his eyes.
"And now Castiel, would you deliver your vows?" Father Harris asked.
"You came into my life at a time when I wasn't sure how I was going to go on. I don't know how I went through life without you, but I'm glad that you stepped into that gas station when you did. You've been a source of strength, wisdom, and understanding that I appreciate more than you know. I love you now as I've always loved you, and as I always will love you," Cas said, repeating her last sentence and making her heart skip a beat.
Father Harris had them join hands before he continued, "Amriel, do you take Castiel as your cherished husband, in front of these witnesses, and promise to stay by his side through sickness and health, joy and sorrow, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Amriel grinned, her eyes not leaving Castiel's as she said it.
"Castiel, will you take Amriel as your cherished wife, in front of these witnesses, and promise to stay by her side through sickness and health, joy and sorrow, so long as you both shall live?" Father Harris asked.
"I do," he said with a nod, and the pastor asked for each of them to take out the rings so they could now exchange them.
"The wedding rings perfectly symbolize the never-ending love you two have for each other. By exchanging these rings, you solidify a lifelong commitment to one another. The rings serve as a welcome and constant reminder of the bond you've formed with your partner. Please repeat after me: I, Amriel, give you, Castiel this ring as a symbol of my enduring love. Just as the circle of the ring completes itself, so you complete me."
Amriel repeated his words with little difficulty, sliding the platinum band onto Cas' finger with ease, glad to see that it fit him perfectly.
Cas softly repeated the words as he took Amriel's hand, nearly dropping the ring but finally sliding it into place. The blonde glanced down at the thin band as it glinted in the light, and the pastor continued.
"Amriel and Castiel, by the power vested in me by the state of Washington, I am pleased to pronounce you wife and husband, sealed together today both in law and in love under the eyes of God. Castiel, you may kiss the bride!"
Before she knew it, Cas had wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her in for a sweet kiss, and when he pulled back Amriel could see the love clearly written across his face. She saw Dean over his shoulder, smiling proudly at the pair.
A pop came from behind her, and Amriel turned to see that Sam was pouring champagne for the four of them.
"Thank you so much, Father," Amriel said to the pastor, who smiled in return.
"Of course," he answered, "Anything for the children of God. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sermon to plan for tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your evening, and may your lives together be long and fruitful."
Champagne was passed around and Dean toasted the newlyweds, asking what they were going to do for their honeymoon.
"Oh… I haven't thought about that," Cas said, his eyes wide as he realized he didn't have anything planned. He had been so focused on keeping the wedding a secret from Amriel that he had completely forgotten. "I'm sure we'll come up with something."
"Well you don't have to. Sam here hacked the Seattle Four Seasons and booked you a week in the Presidential suite," Dean grinned deviously as he glanced over to his brother. "He'll give you the info before we leave tonight."
The sun began to set on the field and Sam turned on the strings of lights hanging in the gazebo, the sounds of soft classic rock filled the air, and their sixth bottle of champagne was opened. It was a gorgeous night, full of stories, laughter, and relaxation. It had been so long since they had the time to just enjoy themselves and not worry about anything for a few hours.
"Thank you for helping me with this," Cas said to Sam as they leaned against the pillars of the gazebo, watching Dean teach Amriel how to shotgun a beer. "I had no idea what I was getting myself into with the planning..."
"It's no problem, Cas. You and Amriel are family," the younger Winchester answered, smiling as Amriel finished chugging her beer and beamed up at Dean, who had a proud look on his face. "It's the least we could do after everything you guys have done for us."
The two fell silent, watching Dean crush the can against his forehead as Amriel's laughter filled the air, and for the first time since the Fall, Cas felt content. Tired, but content.
"Castiel," she called out to him, walking towards the gazebo, "Dean says it's time to do shots!"
He smiled, thinking back to the first time he and Amriel did shots together.
Dean lined up four shot glasses and filled them with whiskey— a good bottle he may or may not have lifted from a liquor store on the way up— and passed them out.
"Okay now, I never thought I'd be doing this, but congrats, Cas and Elle. Sammy and I wish you many happy millennia together," Dean toasted.
Once the Winchesters were sober enough to drive, or rather, once Amriel used some of her power to sober Sam up to drive, the angels sent them on their way after thanking them repeatedly for the amazing night. Dean tried to shrug it off, but Amriel could tell that he was happy with how it had gone too.
Now that they were alone in the gazebo, the newlyweds looked at one another, smiles on their face.
"It's truly beautiful out here," Amriel mused, motioning to the fields of lavender and the stars above them. "And the smell, Cas… nothing in Heaven has ever smelled as good as this."
"You're right. Heaven is nothing compared to being here with you," he smiled, as he approached her, taking her hand in his and squeezing gently. "Amriel, I've been thinking about something nonstop since we retrieved my grace, and I want to ask if you wanted to-"
"Yes," she interrupted him, nodding even though he hadn't said what he wanted to do. "I've been thinking about it too, and I would love nothing more than to share my grace with yours."
Amriel watched his eyes light up, feeling her heartbeat begin to pick up speed. She let go of his hand and told him that she'd only be a second before reaching into his pocket and grabbing the car keys. She headed over to the car and opened up the trunk, pulling out the blanket that was inside.
"C'mon," she called out to him, motioning for him to follower her as she wandered out into the lavender field. She could tell that he wasn't far behind by the sound of his footsteps, and Amriel smiled to herself as she spread out the blanket and turned around to find him inches away.
"I'm not quite sure how-" Amriel started, her face heating up as she spoke. "I've only ever heard of a few angels doing this."
"I don't think there's a guidebook, Elle," he told her as he set his hands on her hips. "Just… Go with the flow."
Amriel laughed, shaking her head and burying her face in Cas' chest, "I don't think you've ever just gone with the flow."
"I guess there's a first time for everything, right?" Cas said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. She looked up at him and started pressing kisses to his jaw, her fingers running up his stomach and over his chest, tugging at his tie.
"There's something I've been wanting to show you," she murmured, pushing him back a little bit so she could look up at him.
"And what would that-" Cas started, but before he could finish he gasped at the sight before him.
Amriel had finally revealed her wings to him, and by the look on his face, she could tell he was pleased. She had taken care of them after being abducted by Urim, preening when she was alone and making sure the feathers had all grown in correctly. They weren't functional, but she had taken care of them regardless.
"Cas?" she asked, wondering what he was thinking and suddenly feeling nervous. "I- I can put them away."
"No, don't do that," he finally said. "I was debating on whether to show you mine or not. They're nowhere near as magnificent as yours."
The blonde peered over her shoulder and saw the emerald feathers, rolling her eyes at how hesitant and self deprecating Castiel was being.
"Cas, I love you. Every part of you is magnificent to me," Amriel smiled. "You know, I've put in a lot of effort on these. The least you could do is show me yours."
She watched as he shrugged off his jacket and tossed it beside the blanket, and when she looked back to him she was surprised to see that the feathers of his wings were pitch black.
"Oh, wow, Castiel-" she trailed off, trying to find the words to describe what she was feeling. "They're so impressive." She walked around him, looking from every angle. They were large and foreboding, those of a warrior. She hadn't seen them since a few years before the Fall, and her memory had been fuzzy, but now that she could see them, his wings were exactly as she remembered.
"I've been preening too, Elle," he said with a lopsided smile, obviously thrilled with the fact that she was pleased. "I know why you take so long in the bathroom after you shower."
Amriel flushed, surprised that he had figured out what she had been doing in there. She took his hands, lacing their fingers together and pursing her lips when she felt a small spark between them.
"Is this how it begins?" she asked, feeling her grace stirring within her.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Cas answered with a shrug. "There's only one way to find out."
They sat facing each other on the blanket, and Amriel grabbed her blade, looking at the familiar weapon and biting her lip, weary about what they were going to do next.
"Are we supposed to say anything? Is there a spell?" Amriel wondered aloud, playing with the blade as she spoke. "Do we do it at the same time?"
"Stop overthinking it, Elle," he told her with a smile, taking his own blade and holding it in his right hand.
Amriel nodded, knowing that for their graces to merge, they had to be released from their vessels.
"This would be so much easier in Heaven," the blonde mused, earning a small chuckle from Cas.
"I suppose, but I'm glad we're doing it here, on our wedding night," he shrugged in response.
The angels locked eyes and sliced each other's exposed wrists with their blades, not breaking eye contact as bright, blue lights fled their vessels and danced around them.
Amriel was the first to look away, her eyes following the celestial lights as they tangled in the air, as if they knew exactly what to do without being told.
"We're human?" she gasped, suddenly aware of every nerve in her body. She ached from sitting on the ground, but she felt amazing otherwise.
Cas merely nodded as he too watched their graces float through the air, "How do you feel?"
"Incredible," she smiled, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his lips before asking, "Is this what it was like for you?"
He looked down at her, shaking his head slightly, "Most of the time I felt weak, tired, and hopeless. Right now I'm feeling the exact opposite."
Before she could say anything else, a bright light flashed in the sky, illuminating the field, and the pair looked up at the sky. Amriel felt her heart stop, admiring the sheer beauty as their graces floated back down and into them.
Castiel's eyes flashed a bright blue, and with the way he was staring at her she knew hers must have done the same. She watched their matching wounds heal and felt a rush of new grace running through her.
"Do you feel it?" Amriel asked, reaching out and lacing their fingers together, feeling a new power run between them.
"It's incredible," Cas nodded.
Amriel wasn't sure who moved first, but before she knew it their hands were all over one another. Cas was busy kissing her neck while she pulled at his tie, unbuttoning his shirt as quickly as she could.
"You're incredible," she breathed, setting her hands on his cheeks and pulling him away from her neck so she could look into his eyes. "Now take off your pants."
When she woke up the next morning, Amriel found herself surrounded by a mass of feathers. She couldn't tell whose were whose, and for a second she was worried they had gotten tangled up as they slept. She quickly righted herself, tucking her wings against her back and marveling at the sight before her.
"Cas," she said gently, watching him take a deep breath as his eyes fluttered open before closing them again to shut out the bright morning sun. "Your wings!"
"Hmm?" he mumbled sleepily, and the blonde motioned to his feathers and her own.
"They've changed colors," Amriel told him, "They're so gorgeous."
Instead of the pitch black that they had been last night, Amriel could see emerald feathers speckled throughout the span, shimmering in the light. She peered over her shoulder and saw that her own were different, too.
"I can't quite see, but I think mine have changed too," she smiled, looking back at Cas to see him staring up at her.
"Yes, they have," Cas answered, reaching up and taking her hand in his. "They're emerald, just like before, but instead of fading into white, it's black… Like mine."
"It probably has to do with our union, two graces becoming one and all," she mused, squeezing his hand as she spoke. "Do you want to get up and start the drive to the hotel Sam booked for us? I think he said check-in is at 2 p.m."
"I'd rather stay right here with you," he said with a small smirk on his lips, "But I can see that you're ready to go. So let's get up."
The pair dressed in their clothes from the day before, inspecting each other's wings as they moved, and Amriel looked around the field, squinting in confusion.
"Cas, are there more flowers here than there were yesterday?" she asked, noticing the lush green and purple flooding the fields surrounding them.
"It would appear so," Cas answered with a small smile, plucking a stem of lavender and tucking it into her hair. "I think it's all your fault, the way you tilted your hips right as I-"
"Cas!" Amriel yelped, her cheeks and neck turning bright red as she cut him off. "You really think we caused this?"
"What else could it have been? You remember the stories about the Amazon, it isn't unheard of," he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her against his side. "I'm proud of what we created, aren't you?"
Amriel gazed out into the field, nodding as she replied, "Yeah, I really am. It's beautiful."
Their suite in Seattle was jaw-dropping. They had been greeted at the front desk with a "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Moscone" and as they were checked in, the employee went over all of the amenities their suite and the hotel offered. Then they were escorted to the suite and shown around the expansive place, and Cas tipped the bellboy as he left.
When they were finally alone, Amriel dropped her bag on the king sized bed and slipped off her shoes, turning to face Cas with an enormous smile.
"We have to get Sam a gift for setting this up," she said. "He really went above and beyond."
"I'm sure we'll find something in the city to get him," Cas answered as he shrugged out of his trench coat and jacket.
Amriel hummed as she unpacked her bag, hanging up her clothes and putting her belongings away in the drawers. They were booked here for a week, so she figured it would be nice to unpack and settle in.
Ever since she had woken up that morning, Amriel felt different. She felt in tune with herself, aware of everything around her. But on top of that, she was also aware of Castiel. She could feel his presence as he wandered around the suite, curiosity emanating from him as she heard him opening cupboards in the kitchen.
She felt attuned to him, and before she realized it she was on her way into the kitchen where she found him snooping in the fridge.
"Do you feel different?" she asked, watching him jump in surprise before he turned around to face her.
"What do you mean?" Cas replied, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"I don't know… I just feel different after last night. Like I knew you were in here being a snoop," Amriel said with a laugh. "I can't describe it, but I feel closer to you than ever before."
She watched his eyes light up as he smiled, and she could tell he felt it too.
Cas wrapped her up in his arms, breathing in the smell of her shampoo and heaving a content sigh.
"I don't think I've ever been this happy in my entire existence," he said, knowing that she felt the same way.
"What do you say we go explore the city?" Amriel asked, pulling back a bit and looking up at him with a smile. "We can do anything we want since we're on vacation."
Sam had promised that he and Dean would try their best to leave the couple alone on their honeymoon, and Amriel had really appreciated that. They would have a week of nothing but each other- no angels, demons, or any other supernatural business to interrupt them.
After going to the top of the Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, they went to Pike Place Market and wandered around.
Amriel was overwhelmed by all of the artisans, vendors, and musicians. She looked from table to table, pulling Cas along by the hand. The blonde picked up a bracelet from one of the tables and tried it on, looking at the way it sat on her wrist before shaking her head and returning it to the table. She picked up a different one and turned to ask Cas for his opinion, only to find that he wasn't there.
"Cas?" she asked, putting the bracelet down and turning around to try and find him. "Where did you go…"
She went to the next few vendors, keeping an eye out for her trench coat clad husband, frowning when she was unable to find him.
Amriel pulled her phone out of her purse, ready to send him a text, only to find that she didn't have any service.
"Oh come on," she grumbled, tossing the device back into her bag in frustration. Unsure of what she should do, she decided to sit on a bench in the open-air plaza to try and regroup.
Thinking about their new bond, Amriel tried to feel for his presence. He was somewhere nearby, but she couldn't quite pinpoint it. Closing her eyes, she opened her mind and focused on nothing but Castiel. She thought of his eyes, and how they sparkled whenever he laughed, and his deep voice whenever he told her that he loved her.
"Castiel," she called out in her mind, hoping he would hear her. She wasn't praying to him, instead she was trying to reach out using their combined grace. "Where are you?"
A few moments later she felt his presence was closer and his voice echoed out in her head, "Open your eyes."
Amriel did just that and looked up to see him standing in front of her, a bouquet of flowers in one hand.
"That's incredible," she breathed. "How did you find me?"
"The same way you reached out to me," Cas said with a smile as he handed her the flowers. "We have a lot to learn about our new powers."
"I guess so," Amriel smiled back, thanking him for the flowers and taking his hand, squeezing gently as he lifted her from the bench and they continued through the market. "I don't suppose we could ask Sam to do some research on bonded graces, seeing as there aren't many cases, huh?"
"It's worth asking. He did find those paintings neither of us knew about," Cas answered, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as they walked. "Now, what's next on your list?"