... Let me tell ya guys. That is sooo weird to look at Supernatural wiki and see the deceased - status in Sam and Dean's profiles.

Thank you so much Bloodforink, Jude, Lionheart Pride, Kathy and dramatv for commenting. I appreciate that SO much and I am glad you've enjoyed the first chapter.

I felt bad leaving the story there. :D Writing this is so therapeutic to me. I hope you'll enjoy the rest of it.

Welcome home

Dean sprinted down the flight of stairs. "Castiel", his voice was gruff. Please be here. The angel had been taken by the Empty half a year ago. Dean had felt this constant pain of having lost his best friend ever since. He had felt the guilt and...

"Dean"

The voice made Dean turn around. He also felt Sam turn right beside him. "Cas." Sam's voice was quiet.

And there he was, dressed in his trench coat and his suit. He wore a smile on his face and he had a book in his hands. He had been in the study apparently. "It's good to see you both, even though it means that you're..."

"Doesn't matter." There was determination in Dean's voice. Just a second later he walked over to Cas and wrapped both arms around his best friend. "You fucking son of a bitch."

The bastard chuckled beside Dean's ear, hugging his friend back. "I do not regret making this decision."

Dean shook his head, before letting go. "We'll talk about that." He stepped away, shooting his brother a quick glance. Sammy immediately walked over and hugged Cas as well. 40 years. Gosh. Dean really hoped that Sam had found happiness in his life.

"I'm okay", Cas' voice made Dean focus on his surroundings again. Sam must have asked him whether he was okay.

"How long have you been in heaven? Did Jack rescue you from the Empty?" Sam seemed excited to say the least.

"It's still hard for me to figure out a timeline", the angel confessed. "I had been in the Empty for quite a while. I don't know how long I've been consumed by it, but I actually just came to heaven. Jack and I basically just finished restoring heaven. He is still busy. I just settled in here. Once I had, I knew it couldn't be long until you arrive." Dean blinked for a second. Time really worked strangely in heaven. It almost seemed like time ran by faster as long as you've waited for someone to appear. In fact, Bobby said that they have been waiting for him. Too damn much to take in. That was confusing. "How are you, Sam? I feel that you've come a long way since we've parted."

"Yeah." Sam nodded, sitting down on top of the huge table. "I think so."

"What happened, Sammy?" Dean leaned against the pillar, watching his brother.

"First I...", the younger Winchester thought about what he wanted to say. "I couldn't hunt alone. And being in the bunker without you didn't work out for me. So I moved to Sioux Falls. Miracle and I have been staying close to Jody's."

Dean smiled fondly at the thought of his dog. He had loved this little fella. At least, Sam had kept the dog with him, even though the animal must have been a constant reminder of what he had lost along the way.

"I stopped hunting after two years and met someone." Sam shrugged. "She was... is great. We had a son together." At that, Sam smiled a genuine smile.

"I'm an uncle?" Dean stood up straighter. "Tell me everything. What's his name? How old is he? What is he doing?"

Sam's smile became a bit more sheepish. "Uhm. He is 34. He is a trauma surgeon. He is dating Alex's daughter." For some reason, Sam blushed for a second. "We've named him after grandma Deanna."

It took a moment for Dean to get behind what Sam was saying. Once he had understood, his initial reaction was to laugh, then a smile was plastered on his lips. He had called his son Dean. "Good decision." Dean nodded. "So you had a good life?"

"Well..." Sam responded. "I mean... yes. I had a good life and I love my son so much, but I was always hoping for..." he trailed off. That.

Dean's expression softened. "Well", he started. "now we just wait for your woman and your son to appear as well."

Sam rolled his eyes. "You realize that you guys are enough." Dean, you're enough. "They are happy and content where they are and seeing this heaven, I wouldn't mind going on an extended road-trip with my brother and my best friend."

For a second the older Winchester contemplated whether this was too good to be true. 'This is the heaven you deserve'. No- fuck his paranoia. They all deserved being together - free and safe. "A road-trip sounds good. Cas?"

Cas nodded, a smile on his face. "I'd like to join you."

Dean grinned. "Well then." He looked at his brother. "Still, I want to meet my nephew. I mean... he must be so thrilled to finally meet me?"

"If this is you asking if I have told him about you", Sam smiled. Busted. "I have. He knows almost everything. You two would get along. He also sees you as a hero." Also. Dean chose not to comment on that.

Nevertheless, he couldn't stop smiling. Any torment he had felt over the last couple of years slowly vanished. Except... "Cas, what does it mean that you can't figure out the timeline. What happened in the Empty?"

"Dean", Cas shook his head.

"You know what", Sam pushed away from the table. "I'm gonna have a look around. I want to see the Roadhouse."

"Take the Impala, Sammy." Dean obviously knew what his brother was doing. Sam knew that Dean felt responsible for Cas' torment. He wanted to give both of them time to talk about everything.

"See you later", Sam snatched the keys.

"Be careful", Dean didn't even think about his words. Thinking about it, they shouldn't be necessary in heaven.

"I'm 77 Dean, I know what I'm doing." Sam joked. It was amazing how natural the banter between them was.

"Don't say that. That's weird" Dean scrunched his nose. The little shit just went away laughing.

"Dean we do not have to have a conversation about my time in the Empty." Cas sounded peaceful. "I'm happy about how things turned out to be."

"It was my fault." Dean took a deep breath. How could Cas stand here and even look him in the eye? He should blame him for his suffering. He should hate him.

"Did you hate Sam for your time in hell?" Cas asked boldly.

"Of course not." Dean huffed. "I made the deal...", he shut up. That had been something completely different.

"It's the same reasoning Dean." Cas warmly stated. "Let bygones be bygones. You of all people should know that a sacrifice for the ones you love comes naturally and out of intrinsic motivation. Please just let it be."

Dean thought about that for a second. "Are you reading my mind Cas?" It almost sounded like it.

"No, I'm reading your face. You're my best friend. I know you." Cas shrugged his shoulders. He had changed. Dean remembered a time when Cas couldn't catch on emotions. Now he could read him like an open book. It didn't even make him feel uncomfortable.

"You should have reached out to us." Dean looked at his friend. "We've missed you." I missed you.

"I couldn't." Castiel shook his head, remorse in his voice. "I had to help Jack and I wanted to have an eye on him. It's really him. In addition to that, I was not in the right shape to go to earth."

The older Winchester thought about pushing for answers. Instead, he just looked at Cas and said: "I'm glad you're here, Cas." Dean let his shoulders slump.

"I'm going to stay with you and your brother," Cas promised. "Welcome home." With that, the angel squeezed the hunter's arm.

Team Free Will was back. Dean couldn't even wish for more.

... maybe another Pie Festival.

Fin.

R&R 3

I'm thinking about starting to write fanfictions more regularly again. I would love to write a short tag to (almost) every episode, starting at season one. Or maybe I write some snippets from the road-trip through heaven. ...

Let me hear what you're thinking.

Author's comment on Dean and Cas: I think my story leaves it very open for interpretation of how their relationship goes on from here. For me it's friendship for the sole reason that I prefer friendship to romance.