AN: Here's the last part. It's a bit fairy-tale, but the way I feel right now, it's what I need. Enjoy!
Dean is still asleep when she wakes. He's beautiful, she never really thought about that before, but now that she's human she does, and she likes how he looks, very much.
She leans over him, and presses her lips to his lush ones, feeling them curl up into a smile as he wakes.
"Morning Baby..."
"Morning," she smiles back, settling down on him, so they can just lay here for a bit, together.
His fingers trail down her spine, until he's tracing the indents of the scars on her back, over and over. But then he stops and goes still, and she wonders why. Maybe he doesn't like that she's not perfect? Scratches and dents always did upset him.
"They were there when I changed," she tells him. It's not her fault.
"Can I see?"
He doesn't sound upset, so she moves enough to allow him up, then he's leaning down to look at them.
"What's wrong?" she checks.
"Nothing. Nothing's wrong..." But his voice sounds funny.
"What is it?"
Then he's looking up at her in wonder.
"It's me and Sam, we carved this when we were kids..."
"Your marks..."
"Yeah. DW, SW..." he says, tracing them again.
It makes her happy, to still have this part of herself.
"I thought I'd lost them..." she says, rolling over and holding her arms out for him. He comes to her, letting her wrap him up, letting them just be close. It always feels better when they're close.
"You were always there for us..." he says.
"I still am," she assures him.
"I know. Now, somehow, we just gotta convince Sam of that..."
-67-
When he stirs awake, his head isn't on the pillow, it's on a person, and he remembers it's Cass.
"Morning, Cass," he says, snuggling in a little tighter, not quite ready to leave this comfort behind yet.
"Good morning, Sam. You slept well."
"I did," he realises, considering everything he has to worry about, but having Cass close has helped. "How was your night?"
"Peaceful," Cass simply answers, combing his fingers through Sam's hair.
He closes his eyes and breathes deep, this is nice, he could get used to this, having another person in the bed while he sleeps. Because it's been a while, since Amelia, and back before that Jess. Moving in with her, being able to share a normal life with a normal person, was the best thing that ever happened to him. He knows that's gone now, doesn't really wish his life was different anymore, but for that time, it had been good.
"Hey Cass?"
"Hmm?" the angel responds, still gently stroking his hair.
"In Heaven, did you ever come across a girl called Jessica Moore?"
"Jessica Moore..." Cass ponders. He thinks if Cass met her, he'd remember. Jess was very special.
"Yeah. Tall, blonde, gorgeous. A smile that makes you forget the monsters exist."
"She was your Jess..."
"Yeah..."
"No. But I could make enquiries."
"No," he decides. "Don't do that. She deserves to rest in peace." He doesn't want to mess things up for Jess, getting involved with him only got her killed.
"You miss her..."
"Not like I used to. I just hoped she was okay, I guess."
Cass is quiet a moment before he speaks again.
"Sam, if this isn't what you want, with me I mean, that's okay. I'm not going to abandon you or Dean."
He sits up, so he can look Cass in the eye, this person who has been there for them for five times as long as he even knew Jess. And the thing about Cass is, he fits in this life, he can take care of himself, and that's what he needs now, a partner, someone to be on equal terms with.
"I want this, Cass. I need you."
Cass touches his cheek, looks into his eyes.
"As long as you're sure."
"I am. But let's take it slow. Just take each step as it comes."
Cass gives him a soft smile.
"Well, Sam. You know I have time."
He smiles back, pleased, glad to have something he doesn't have to work his ass off for, for once. Something that can just be.
-67-
When he walks into the library, Sam and Cass are there, standing very close, and then he sees Cass' hand trail down Sam's arm, squeezing Sam's fingers, and the soft look in Sam's eyes.
"What the hell?"
"Dean..." Sam startles, taking a quick step back. And then Cass, in true Cass style, just blurts it out.
"We've entered into a romantic relationship. It's very new. We're taking it slow."
"And again," he repeats, looking to Sam. "What the hell? I'm the one acting weird?"
"This isn't that weird, Dean. Who, besides you, do I care about or trust more than Cass?"
"He's a dude!"
"No, he's an angel."
"A dude angel!"
"I don't care about that, and this isn't for you to decide."
As soon as the words are out Sam's mouth, he clearly realises how hypocritical they are. Dean opens his mouth to point that out, but Sam cuts him off before he gets a chance to throw it back at his brother.
"We're heading back to Michigan," Sam says. "I need to sort this out."
Deciding that he cares way more about protecting Baby than if Sam and Cass wanna play hide the zucchini with each other, he lets that part go.
"Then we're coming too."
"Dean, I don't know-"
"I do. I want this settled as much as you do. We can't live with this hanging over us."
"Fine. But whatever we find, you have to accept it."
"Fine, I will. Because there's nothing to find."
"Guys," Cass says. "Lets just stick to the facts."
"Fine," they both huff in unison.
-67-
Sam is wrong, is all he can think as they drive north. Their stories, his and Baby's, are so interwoven, that they wouldn't be who they are without the other. He picked her, yet she was there since before he can remember. No stranger could know the things Baby knows. If Sam could just pull his head out of his ass for five damn seconds, stop having to be the smart one all the time, he'd realise that.
"Dean, don't fight with Sam."
From the driver's seat, he looks over at the gorgeous girl beside him. It's not like he wants to be at odds with his brother, but he has to fight for what's important and what is important is keeping Baby close.
He loves Sam, would die for him, has died for him. Still, in the past Sam has abandoned him, and lied to him, but Baby has never done either of those things, so it's her he's putting his faith in.
"You know what he thinks, it's not true."
"I know, but he's only doing this because he loves you. How many monsters have we hunted? How many times have things not been what they looked like?"
"But this is you, and he should trust us."
"That's hard when you and I don't even know what the truth is."
"Baby, if he saw you like I do, he'd know."
She gives him a little smile, like maybe he's being silly.
"Dean, it's never going to be like that for him, so we have to be patient."
"How can you be so calm about this?"
"I believe in you. And Sam. I've listened to plenty of disagreements between you before. You always come to the right conclusions in the end."
"Yeah..." he agrees, that's not necessarily a comforting thought though. "But how much blood gets spilled along the way?"
-67-
They are in separate vehicles because Dean said that would be best. He doesn't really like the idea of leaving Dean alone with a potential witch, but it seems a little late to try keeping them apart at this point.
So he and Cass are following, he's driving and Cass is sitting beside him. It's been so long since he's had someone there, someone he can let his guard down around, someone he can trust with every part of himself.
"I'm glad you're here, Cass," he tells the angel. "It means a lot."
"I'm not sure how helpful I'm being," Cass frowns. Always the soldier, trying to maximise outcomes. Sam doesn't need the fight, not like Cass and Dean do, he's always been satisfied to be curious, to observe without having to act, he's only fighting now because he can't not try to save Dean. Maybe they'll be good for each other, him and Cass, bring a bit of balance.
He smiles over at the angel, knows it's not really a happy one, but that doesn't make it any less sincere.
"I could be driving alone right now."
The look on Cass's face softens and he smiles back. And in that moment he hopes there's peace to be found, and that they can find it together, whatever form that takes.
-67-
It's only been a few weeks since the whole thing went down, but the Winchesters lives have changed a lot since then. Dean is convinced that he's found the love of his life, and even Sam has found himself taking the tentative first steps in a new relationship. If Dean's right, that's the good part.
They are at the witch's former residence, and Castiel is helping search for 'clues'. Because it hasn't been long, she hasn't flagged as a missing person yet, all her things are still here, and it's the usual parade of spell books, alters and arcane ingredients littering the place.
He isn't exactly sure what they are looking for, but as they sift through it all, he's sure Sam or Dean will make it known when they find it.
Apparently, the Winchesters never made it this far before, the witch caught them by surprise out in the open, which is another part of the reason that Sam is so suspicious, and Castiel can't deny that the notion does raise questions.
Every now and then, he glances over at Baby, to see if she looks like she is about to break cover and curse them all, but if she is acting, she plays her part to perfection, sticking to Dean's side and managing to maintain that look of wide-eyed innocence.
As for the brothers themselves, they are riffling through papers, and magical ingredients, and grimoires, like one of those golden tickets belonging to the man with the purple coat and penchant for disfiguring children is hidden here, and each of them wants to be the first to find it.
And then, as Sam's hand pushes aside a pile of parchment, he freezes. Castiel looks down to spot two familiar faces on a photograph, and a familiar set of wheels. And with it too, is a version of the spell Sam found. It's very damning evidence.
"Dean..." Sam says, slowly turning to his brother, the horror audible in his voice. He obviously doesn't want to hurt Dean, but he will if it means saving his life. "She knew we were coming. She was ready."
"What?" Dean says, rounding on his brother, tensing already because he can hear the finality in Sam's voice.
Sam holds up the photo, but Dean doesn't flinch. He's made up his mind about Baby already, and that's that.
"I've never seen that before," Baby says. Sam ignores her, and then she is suddenly caught in the middle, and the way Sam sees it, there is a witch between him and his brother, and he can't not do something about that. But the way Dean sees it is that his whole life is about to be ruined. Neither of them are going to back down from this fight, and it's not going to end well because neither of them walk away from a fight until they've won.
"You said," Sam says. "That if we found something, you'd accept it."
"Look at her, Sam!" Dean demands, planting himself between his brother and his girlfriend. "She could have killed us a hundred times over already. Your theory doesn't make any sense, what's she waiting for?"
Baby stays quiet, sensing the danger she's in.
Sam eyes her critically, thinking it through.
"Maybe she doesn't want us dead, maybe in thrall is just as good. Tell me if there's anything you wouldn't do for her."
"That's the concept of love, Sam. There's nothing supernatural about it."
There are a few arguments Castiel could make contrary to that statement, but he thinks it wise to keep those to himself right now.
Sam's not buying it and Dean can see that too.
"That's enough, Sam. Baby, come on."
Dean takes a step back, planning to get her away, but Sam isn't going to let that happen. He loves Dean too much.
"Dean," Sam says, raising his gun, eyes glistening with tears as he takes aim at Baby. "I can't let you do this."
Dean immediately steps in front of Baby again and raises his own gun, holding it on Sam.
"And I can't let you kill the girl I love!"
There are guns pointing in all the wrong directions, are they really gonna shoot each other over this? And that's when Chuck shows up, appears completely out of the blue.
"Fellas," he says in that easy way of his. "I think maybe this has gotten a little out of hand, don't you?"
"Oh, so now you show up?!" Dean barks. "An apocalypse isn't enough to get your attention?"
"But trying to gank a car is?" Sam finishes.
"No need to be nasty, boys," Chuck frowns.
"I think tensions are just a little high here," Castiel says, slowly reaching out to guide Sam's gun hand down, trusting God to have a handle on the situation. Thankfully, Sam lets him. "It's alright, Sam," he softly assures, having faith in God to sort it out now.
Sam looks into his eyes, and accepts the sincerity of his words, allowing himself to lean into the touch. It's nice to know he comforts Sam that much.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Dean demands.
"It's pretty simple really," Chuck shrugs. "Baby is your soulmate, Dean. I thought you would have figured that out by now."
"My soulmate?" Dean sceptically repeats.
"Of course," Chuck says. "What else would she be?"
"That's an actual thing?" Sam says.
"It's rare," Chuck allows. "But it happens."
"How?" Baby questions. "What does it mean?"
"A soul gets split, ends up in two places. Sometimes it's an accident, sometimes I plan it that way."
"So which is this?" Dean wants to know.
"I planned it. So, you know, it's destiny. The two of you."
"So let me get this straight," Dean says. "You ripped a soul in half, put half in a damned hunter and the other half in an awesome set of wheels? Because that makes total sense."
"You're not damned, but yes."
"Did you plan for Baby to end up human?"
"No. That was a lucky happenstance. You were right, Sam. And that witch's plan would have worked if Baby's new body wasn't already occupied by a soul of it's own."
"I felt that," Baby says. "When I changed, there was a moment, when I wasn't sure I could keep the body, but then I heard Dean's voice, and I knew I had to stay. For him."
Dean and Baby share a look, like he can't believe how close he came to losing her without even knowing it. And the realisation that it was her will to be with him that has made their love possible. Admittedly, it is quite profound.
"Why would you make my soulmate a car?" Dean demands, understandably confused.
"Dean," Chuck smiles, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Babies, children, hunters... They don't need a romantic partner, what they need is a home."
And the things is, not one of them can argue with that.
"Dean, I'm so sorry," Sam offers.
"Hey, turns out you we're right too, Sammy. Sort of."
Sam gives Dean a tentative smile, and Dean returns it.
The thing about being willing to do anything to keep each other safe, means that they also cross lines and hurt each other sometimes too. Their bond never breaks though, because they only ever act with the others best interests at heart.
"Now," Chuck says. "Can I trust you boys not to shoot each other? Because that would put a real hitch in my plans."
They both tuck their guns back in their waistbands.
"What plans...?" Dean tries to ask, but Chuck has already vanished. "Douchebag..."
Sam turns to Baby.
"Baby, I... I don't even know what to say. I almost..."
Obviously Sam feels terrible, so Castiel clasps his hand, hoping that will make him feel that he doesn't have to shoulder all the guilt alone. And when Sam's hand tightens around his, it feels like hope.
"It's alright, Sam," she says. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you. I always want you to fight for Dean. I know how important you are to each other."
"Thanks, Baby. I really appreciate that."
"Now," Dean says, wrapping an arm around Baby, his soulmate, and pulling her close, but he's speaking to all of them. "Are we done here?"
"You guys are," Sam answers. "Me and Cass might stick around for a bit, make sure there isn't a stray soul floating around here anywhere causing trouble."
"Is that what they're calling it these days?" Dean says, grinning between them, and Castiel realises he and Sam are still holding hands.
"Sam and I don't have sex, Dean," he points out, rebuffing the innuendo.
"Okay," Dean frowns. "Now this makes even less sense. Why the hell not?"
"You should," Baby adds. "It's really good."
Castiel opens his mouth to answer, but Sam cuts him off.
"Because it's none of your business, Dean."
Dean looks rather affronted by that.
"Oh, so now our love lives are off limits?"
Sam gets a sheepish look on his face.
"It's like Cass said before, we're taking it slow."
"Going slow is overrated," Baby says. "Pedal to the metal. Right, Dean?"
"Right, Baby," he agrees, pulling her in for a thorough kiss.
Castiel looks up at Sam, wondering if they should do the same. Dean and Baby do seem to be ridiculously happy after all.
"No," Sam says, as though he's read his mind. "We take this at our own pace." Then he frowns over at Dean and Baby. "Okay, you two. We get the point. Weren't you heading home?"
When Dean and Baby come up for air, they share a look that he imagines Dean would describe as 'sappy' on anyone else's face but his own.
"We already are," Baby says, looking up at Dean voicing the thought for him.
"Damn straight," he agrees. "Guess that squirrelly little douche knew what he was doing after all."
Sometime later...
They're sitting in the car, covered in blood and gunk after another successful hunt, just taking a minute to catch their breaths.
Dean's beside her, like always, and she reaches over to hold his blood-stained hand. Doesn't matter, because her hand is bloody too.
She loves him, so much, and it only gets stronger with each day that passes.
"Dean...?"
"Yeah, Baby?"
She guides his hand over to rest upon her belly. Her shirt is ruined anyway, and she loves his soiled hands, he's a soldier, he will never give up fighting. She wouldn't want him to.
"Would you like it if we had a baby?"
He looks at her, then down at his hand, realising where it is, and then looks up at her again. He's understood what she's telling him, the baby is already there, and he looks amazed by it.
He doesn't say anything, doesn't need to, he just leans across and kisses her, they're happy, both of them.
The back door opens and Sam slides in, smelling like smoke.
"It's done," he says, assuming they should be driving away now, but she and Dean are still gazing wondrously at each other.
"What'd I miss?" Sam says.
"Can I tell him?" Dean asks.
She nods and squeezes his hand, and he turns towards his brother.
"Baby's having a baby. I'm gonna be a dad."
She loves the smile on his face as he announces that news.
"Oh wow," Sam says. "Congratulations you guys."
"Don't think you're getting outta this easy, Uncle Sammy. So many diapers are gonna need changing."
Then Sam is smiling that big smile right back at Dean.
And she's smiling too, this is her family, and she's always been a part of it, but now she's contributing to it, and that feels right.
This kid is gonna have a destiny, there's no doubt, but it's also gonna have three people and an angel, to watch it's back and love it to bits. It's more than any of them ever had, and from where she's sitting, their lives all seem to be working out okay.
AN: I wrote this before I'd seen the eps where Chuck turns into a complete douchebag. It just took me this long to post because I wanted to finish watching first in case anyone inadvertently dropped any spoilers in comments. Anywho, there it is. Hope people found something to enjoy in all this randomness. Thanks a bunch for reading if you made it this far :)