Disclaimer: Written by 'JustNeededAUsername', Owned by Supernatural

Last time: Sam watched Dean leave the room, torn about letting his brother out of his sight, but then sighs and follows Jack to the library room. Meanwhile, Crowley and Bobby mysteriously found their way into their room again. Cas went with Dean into the kitchen, and Eileen went and joined Sam and Jack in the Library.

…

After an hour or so, everyone eventually congregated into the kitchen, where they found that Dean and Cas had prepared a big lunch for them. Sitting down at the table, Sam, Eileen, and Jack shared what little they found in the library. "It's mostly full of fiction and fan-fiction. This person might just be a crazy fan like Becky." Sam said, a little dejected. Bobby nodded and said, "Well, hopefully not as crazy as her." Dean laughed a little, choking on his cheeseburger. Sam gets a little freaked out, remembering Dean dying at the mystery spot from choking, but then relaxes once Dean swallows and continues eating. "I actually found a closet room," Eileen said, "When we found that the library wouldn't be much help, I started opening and exploring random doors, and I found a full walk-in closet. It has all of our styles and then some in it." Crowley hid his interest in the closet and returned to eating the food. In this place, it didn't matter what you were, dead or alive, you still had to eat and sleep, as they had found out the previous night. After eating, they all returned to the sitting area, where they expected the screen to light up. And it did, but not the way they thought it would. Suddenly the screen lit up and what looked to be an audible book popped up. Looking at each other, confused at the sudden change, they flinched when a voice boomed out of the speaker.

…

Time truly worked differently in Heaven. It only seemed like hours since his arrival when Sam greeted him on the bridge. And in that brief time, Sam had lived a full life.

"What the heck?!" Dean belted, a little confused. "Quiet you idjit, I'm trying to listen to the story." Bobby hushed his boy, even though he himself was confused, and turned back to the screen.

In that short time, Sam had gifted him a nephew. Named after him. He had masked the overwhelming honour he felt with a; "Really? That'll be pretty confusion at the family dinners, don't you think?"

"Of course that's where your mind goes Dean." Sam said, shaking his head humorously, a small smile forming on his face.

Sam saw right through him, and just clapped his shoulder with a smile and an exasperated headshake.

Time seemed to normalise after they left the bridge to look for the rest of their family and friends. Whatever 'normal' meant in Heaven these days. Maybe it was just because they were together again, and that was all they needed to feel normal.

"You guys do have a special connection," Cas said, "Not just because you are brothers, but because you've been there for each other through thick and thin." Sam and Dean nodded at their friend, but didn't comment.

Just like Dean had sensed Sam's arrival, the rest of their family seemed to sense their approach. Their parents greeted them in front of their childhood home. It seemed misplaced out in the wilderness, and yet the surroundings fit so perfectly. None of them had ever wanted to return to Lawrence. They had avoided it like the plague. But the house, despite the bad memories it might contain, was still the closest thing to a home that all the Winchesters had ever known together. It was still their house. But instead of living on their old street, they lived out here among ever-stretching hills and trees, close to Bobby, Rufus, Jo, and Ellen and all the other hunters that they had crossed paths with and befriended in their lifetime.

Dean and Sam shared a small smile. Being a hunter never fully allowed them to have many friends, but at least the ones that they did have stuck with them in the end.

It was their own little slice of paradise.

Their first night was spent with only their parents. It was even better than the dinner they had shared during The Baozhu, with no deadline hanging over their heads where they would have to smash the dream. They talked, laughed, and cried all through the night, not going to bed until they had watched the sun rise together.

Smiles growing bigger, the two brothers turned to each other and then back at the screen.

His bedroom was not his childhood room, thankfully. The bed would have been much too small, and he had – almost – outgrown the red racing car-patterned wallpaper. Instead, it was his room from the bunker with his exact decor and personal touches, though it was more spacious. The only major difference was the window that let in the red rays of the rising sun.

The bed was bigger and just the right softness. Not too warm, not too cold. Goldilocks would approve. He had not considered that sleep was necessary in Heaven. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe sleeping was just some basic animalistic instinct, and if Heaven took that away, people would go nuts.

"Whose remembering Nursery Rhymes now?" Sam asked, chuckling as he teased her brother. "Oh shut up, you jerk." Dean responded, knowing what would come next. "Female do- Oh come on!" Dean just laughed and turned back to the screen. The rest just watched these things unfold, a small smile hidden across their face.

Something was different about sleeping, though. He didn't dream. It was like closing his eyes, and just waking up seven hours later feeling well-rested. It might have worried some people that they didn't dream, but for Dean, it was a relief. Not even overthrowing Chuck had taken away his nightmares. He was still haunted by the people that he couldn't save, the wrong decisions that he had made and the friends that he had lost along the way. Sometimes it got so bad that Miracle would wake him in the middle of the night, worried so much about his distressed owner that he would crawl into the bed, even though he knew he was not allowed - unless Dean specifically allowed it, which happened more than he would ever admit.

Cas glanced at the dog, relieved that he could do what he himself could no longer do.

Damn that hairball, with his puppy dog eyes and concerned whining.

Speaking of hairball, where was that crazy dog? He must have died many years ago by now. Maybe he was in doggy Heaven or with a previous owner. Maybe he would show up some day. That would be nice.

Or maybe Dean didn't need him anymore. Miracle had been a reminder of the good in the world. That good things still happened. That even though most people were a little messed up, there was still pure, good beings on Earth, when Dean thought that he had lost everything but his brother.

Dean turned and beconed the dog, ruffling its fur until he was covered in dog hair. He didn't care though, and kept on rubbing the dog, as if he needed to in order to survive.

The dog had been a comfort in the night. A silent sounding board that Dean bounced his thoughts off when he couldn't sleep. He was never a guy for therapy, but that damn dog had him talking for hours, turning his nightmares and feelings over like a teenage girl.

And he had been all the better for it.

Sam smiled at his brother, glad that he had found a way to relieve pent up stress and anger in a way other than killing monsters.

But now, he didn't have nightmares. He still felt his old guilts and regrets, but they didn't weigh on him in the same way that they had done when he was alive. He was accepting of them. At peace with his road through life, the good and the bad, if this was how it all ended; Sammy got to live his normal life in the end, and now they were all back together again. It was a good enough ending.

Dean laughed at himself as he stared at his bedroom ceiling. Who would have guessed that he would become a freaking dog person? A lot had profoundly changed over the last months of his life…

You changed me…

Cas flinched, which was thankfully unnoticed by Dean, as he realized who had said those words to Dean. He remembered confessing his feelings to Dean, and then leaving his poor confused hunter for what they both thought was forever. I'm so sorry Dean. I shouldn't have left you after dropping a big bomb like that.

Dean felt a nervous surge in his chest. Cas was back. Again. Somewhere close by, relatively speaking at least. Did he know that Sam and Dean was here? Probably. Everyone else they knew seemed to know, according to their parents. But Cas hadn't come by. Not yet at least. Maybe he wanted to give them time and space to find their family first, get settled. Maybe the Angel finally learned a bit about personal space.

Dean chuckled at that, as he remembered all the times Cas had no regard for personal space. Cas just looked at him thoughtfully, something hidden in his eyes.

But Dean wanted to see him. So bad.

Cas' death had shaken him to his core in every way possible. Dean had always been thick-headed, but he was ashamed that it took his best friend's ultimate sacrifice to finally make him listen to what the Angel said. Though it was the first time that Cas had told him that he loved him as more than family, the Angel had often told Dean how good and righteous he thought he was. Dean sometimes tried to take in Cas' words, but it only lasted for about a tenth of a second before he remembered every terrible thing that he had ever done and then disregarded what Cas was saying with a laugh or a sarcastic remark. But he couldn't do that now, not this time. Instead, he had honoured Cas' words and done his best to live up to them. Be the man that the Angel had always believed him to be and, apparently, had loved.

Dean stopped laughing and chose to ignore his surroundings, focussing soley on the dog that was in front of him.

That last part, Dean had found it hard to wrap his head around. He had never considered it. That Cas could love him. Like that. Cas was a freaking Angel of the Lord. A higher, celestial being. Sure, Dean had had that fling with Anna, but she was still human at that point. This was Cas. His best friend, his non-blood brother, his… His Jiminy Cricket, always nudging him in the right direction and seeing the best in him. The Angel on his shoulder. Oh, the irony.

Sam laughed at that one. He remembered when Dean was his' conscious, helping him when he didn't have a soul. And really, once he thought about it, that really was what Cas was, or is for Dean. Cas was always there to help Dean whenever he himself couldn't. For that, Sam would forever be grateful.

Dean's musings were interrupted by the walking mountain that he called his brother, bursting through his bedroom door. "Get up, sleeping beauty. We are going to see Ellen and Jo."

Sweeter words had rarely been spoken, and Dean was out of bed faster than ever before.

"Aw, Dean, are you excited to go see Ellen and Jo?" Sam asked teasingly, even though he himself was excited too. "Shut up you jerk," Dean replied, for he had learned his lesson on words he couldn't say in this place. Sam laughed at his brother and turned to the screen.

-.-.-.-

It was amazing to see them again. Of course, they lived in the Roadhouse, looking just like it had before it was burned down.

It was the first time they met Jo's dad. Dean had exchanged nervous glances with Sam when their dad greeted him, but they had apparently forgiven past missteps. William Harvelle was a good man, and clearly loved his family more than anything. He ruffled Jo's hair despite her protests and kissed Ellen's cheek whenever he saw an opening.

Dean finally had the possibility to thank the two huntresses for their sacrifice. In return he received a fond; "Oh, what else is family for, hun? Cheers."

Bobby sighed as he recalled all the fun times they all had together before they had died. "Cheers," he responded weakly, only to be heard by Crowley, who turned and looked at him, confused.

They were later joined by Ash when the tech genius finally crawled out of his hole. And later Bobby, Rufus, Charlie, Jody, Donna, and many other familiar faces showed up. At first, he had been surprised to see Jody and Donna. But then he remembered that just like Sam, they had lived a lifetime while he had been taking a simple drive. Dean felt sad that he had missed all this time with their friends. But they were here, they were together, and everyone was happy. That was all that mattered.

It was the party of a lifetime. Or deathtime? Is that a thing?

"Oh that is most definitely a thing, right Cas?!" Dean said, looking at Cas expectantly. "This heaven is different from the one we have now," Cas responded. Dean's smile faltered and then he returned to the dog, causing Cas to regret his words. Poop! Seriously.

It was odd. Death had always been an unwanted, devastating life event. But now, it almost seemed better than living. They knew that the people they missed would one day join them, that they would see them again, which eliminated the threat of an eternal goodbye. Of course, the living didn't know that. For them, death was still the potentially finally goodbye to their loved ones.

Sam pondered on this, and turned to face Eileen. She smiled at him with a small smile and they took each other's hand, thinking about their past together on Earth.

-.-.-.-

Things calmed down after the big reunion party. Dad took Sam and him fishing. They all went hunting for non-monstrous game, like ordinary civilians. They visited old friends. He and dad took long drives in Baby, just for the enjoyment of the ride. They would tinker with the engine late into the night. Sam and he would sit out at night watching the stars, sharing a beer. They had family dinners.

Dean smiled and almost had to laugh trying to imagine his father having an apple pie afterlife. It was hard enough for them to try, but his father had been so lost in the job, he was almost a whole different man now.

Sometimes, old familiar faces would pop up. Jesse Cuevas came by, telling them about a long happy life with Cesar. Donatello made a surprise visit, soul restored, probably a little gift from Jack. Even the pain-in-the-ass Ghostfacers visited, and it was not too bad to see them again. It seemed like people were coming from far and wide to greet them. Dean started to realise just how many lives they had touched.

"Well you two boys do travel around the world a lot," Crowley offered, glancing away from Bobby and at the two boys. Sam and Dean exchanged a look, and nodded in agreement.

More days past with dinners, visiting hunters, nights at the Roadhouse and days just spent in the sun.

With all the reruns of hunters they had met in the past, Dean only had time for fleeting thoughts of Cas. He kept expecting him to pop up, but he never did. Maybe he wasn't allowed. But Dean found it hard to believe that Jack would keep him from visiting. Maybe he was just busy. They had just remodelled Heaven, after all. They were probably still working out the kinks.

Cas flinched again, as he believed he knew why he hadn't come to visit. Dean saw it this time, and looked at him questionably. Cas just shrugged and turned back to the screen.

Slowly, they had more days just to themselves. He actually had time to read books now. Like, actual books with fictional stories instead of heavy tomes in extinct languages. Old westerns were surprisingly good on paper as well.

"Haha, you actually reading books?! Now this I gotta see!" Sam laughed, turning to his brother. "How about we do this thing where you shut up, forever." Dean replied, winning a laugh from his brother in reply.

But more time to himself also meant more time to think of Cas. He started debating whether or not to try to pray to the Angel. It had seemed easier when he thought the Angel was dead. Painful, but easier. To speak into the emptiness, quite literally. Even though his time after the Angel's sacrifice had been fairly short, it had been plenty of time to think about his dying words again, again, again and again. And plenty of time to come up with hundreds of could-have-should-have-would-have-answers. He still felt confused, and maybe a talk with the Angel would help. Maybe it wouldn't.

Jack flinched at the mention of his fathers sacrifice, and turned to hug his father again. Cas, with his arms around Jack, turned and looked at Dean. Does he feel the same way?

But he always came back to the nagging 'what if'.

This caught Cas's attention right away. "What if what?" he asked, but after getting no reply, he turned back to the screen.

What if Cas had told him earlier, or in a non-life-or-dead situation, what would he have done? Probably laughed it off to begin with. He would have pushed Cas away, been an undesirable ass. Before Cas' sacrifice, he would probably not have been able to accept anyone's love. He had long ago given up on that. After Lisa… Hunting and love just didn't go hand-in-hand. But now? He could still not make himself say that he was actually worthy of this kind of love, or any kind really. But he could admit that he wanted it. And looking back, he could see how happy he had been with Cas. How they easily laughed together, how exciting it had been to introduce the Angel to the world of man. How he had often admitted things to Cas that he could never share with Sam or anyone else. But was it enough? It was hard feeling in love with someone when he had not been open to the idea at the time when he had the chance.

If Dean didn't know any better, he might say that he was getting restless. But you don't get restless in Heaven. Right? But it was becoming clear that he needed to see Cas.

Dean refused to look near Cas, and instead focused solely on Miracle, who was still laying down in front of him. Cas noticed this and felt a pang in his chest.

One day, he left their house early in the morning and drove to one of the nearby hills. Far away from any homes, looking out over the curvy landscape decorated in lush nature. Dean lifted his face to the sunny sky and closed his eyes. "Hey Cas." His voice sounded hoarse and rough among the distant chirping of birds. "I'm pretty sure you know I'm here. I know it's been awhile… Well, I guess that depends on how time runs on your end, so… In case you've forgotten about me, it's Dean. Dean Winchester. You know, that pain-in-the-ass-hunter you helped save Earth? More than once. Yeah, good times… Well, I've heard you're back. You're probably busy, but… Please. Please, Cas. I need to see you.

Cas turned to Dean, and disregarding the way Dean wouldn't look at him, he wrapped his arms around his tightly, causing Jack to let go of him. Dean turned and squirmed in the hug, then sighed and returned the gesture. The rest of the crew watched them hug with great big smiles on their faces.

…

Around fifteen minutes later, Dean and Cas got up from their hug, and went to their room to talk things through. Sam watched them leave the room, smiling with a smile so big it hurt his face. Finally! They're not blind anymore! He then turned, and grabbing Eileen's hand, ran off to the kitchen to get a celebratory meal started. Jack laid down next to the dog on the floor, and decided to stay there until the meal was ready. Bobby and Crowley went to the library, and started to research if an angel and a human had ever been together before.

…

Around an hour later, Dean and Cas left their room, and calling Jack over with them, went into the Kitchen where the rest of the gang had been waiting with the food on the table. As they enjoyed the meal, each of them snuck glances across the table and noted how some of them had been spending more time together than others had recently. They enjoyed the meal, and then cleaned up from the last day's mess that they had left behind. After making the kitchen spotless, they went and grabbed night clothes from the walk-in closet and retired to their rooms for the night. Things were changing for the group, and they knew that they had to take these changes in stride. That night, they all had pleasant dreams about spending time with their loved ones, and imagining what their own personal future could be like after this was all over. Really only time could tell.

…

Hey guys! This is a major change in the story, and that's because we are starting the story that's made by 'JustNeededAUsername'. All the bolded words are from her, and her story is called: 'Surely Heaven Waits for You'. So go show her some love and support in her reviews. I have also received the green light from other authors too, so I will start on those soon. More information, I might not update between Oct 9-16 because I will be vacationing. Want to see the characters react to your story or a story you love? Let me know, and I will ask them. Remember that asking for permission always comes first. Anyways, make sure to give yourself time to do either schoolwork, homework, or work work. And make sure you go to sleep at a decent time, because 4 hours doesn't work for everyone as well as it works for Sam and Dean. Take care of yourselves, because I care for you. You matter. You exist! That's all for now.

Carry on my wicked readers!