Life with the Winchester brothers was like nothing else, always some kind of trouble going on with them. But they managed it, well they somehow hung on by a thread each time they got themselves into what seemed the point of no return.

As for me, things had settled into a new normal, if you could call it that. A pair of hunters and angels had made things interesting to be sure.

But at the moment, I was standing alone in a New York cemetery looking at two very familiar headstones.

Steve and Peter.

I had one last thing to do before I could really let go, I had to say goodbye.

Kneeling down in front of Peter's, I smiled and put my hand on the grass.

"Hey Pete, I miss you, I always will. But I'm ready now; love you little brother."

I felt a peace about it, saying goodbye was the best thing. It was only making it harder when I kept coming back every year, picking open old wounds by holding on.

Then I turned to Steve's, a soft look on my face as I did.

"Hey soldier, it's finally time."

Closing my eyes, I carefully took off the dog tags I'd worn for the past three years and gently turned them over in my hands.

Taking a deep breath, I said, "We never got to really have what either of us wanted but I wouldn't change a thing. I'll always be grateful for what we did have, and now it's time for me to let go of you."

Reaching forward, I hung the dog tags on the edge of the headstone before pressing a kiss to my hand and then touching the cold marble.

"Goodbye Steve."

Standing I looked at them both, finally feeling freer than I had in a very long time.

Feeling a whoosh of air behind me I knew I wasn't alone anymore and before I could even look over my shoulder, I felt the soft brush of feathers and I knew who it was.

"You okay kiddo?"

Turning to look at my guardian angel, I nodded.

"Yeah Gabe, I'm good." At his skeptical look, I took a step closer to him as I said, "Really I am, this is a good thing. I've finally let go of them both, I mean, I'll always love them but I don't have to carry them with me anymore. I can't, it's for the best."

Smiling at me, he threw an arm around me, one of his massive wings blocking the wind keeping us both warm.

"You know both of them are happy," he said softly.

Looking up at him hopefully, he went on, "The kid is with that girl, the one that died."

"Gwen," I whispered, a bittersweet feeling filling me. Peter had been heartbroken when she died, it was only right they be together again.

Gabriel went on, looking at the dog tags now.

"As for soldier boy, he's in a shared heaven with some fiery thing named Peggy. Dancing the time away in a club, The Stork if I remember correctly."

I sighed, of course he was with Peggy. That was how it should be, they did and always had belonged together.

Due to our bond, Gabriel picked up on what I was feeling and tightened his hold a bit as he said, "He did love you Anna, some people can love more than once. But she was his soulmate," he trailed off watching me carefully as if I was going to start crying.

But I surprised him and laughed.

"You don't need to worry Gabe, I always knew what they had was special and that she'd always hold a part of his heart. I'm glad he's with her, that he's happy."

And I was, if anything Steve deserved to be happy more than most.

Glancing up at my golden-winged angel, I smiled.

"And more so, I'm happy."

A wide grin appeared on his face, eyes dancing.

"Now that's what I like to hear, so what about that date hmm?"

I rolled my eyes, ever the flirt Gabe had been asking me to go out with him for a while now. For the most part I think he was just messing around, although there was a hint of seriousness that made me think perhaps he wasn't.

Tilting my head up to look at him fully I asked, "You've asked me that before haven't you? A previous incarnation of me said yes didn't she?"

His golden eyes gleamed with a mix of emotions and he sighed as he snapped his fingers, transporting us from the cemetery to a rooftop in the city, wings making a shield from the biting cold.

"You and me go way back, guess it's only fair I tell you a bit about our history."

I raised a brow, waiting for him to go on.

"Well first off you aren't always female, there were a few versions of you that were the brother I always wanted, not the dickweeds I ended up with. Oh boy did we get up to some fun!"

It was very odd to imagine myself as a guy, best not to confuse myself by thinking about it.

Smirking as he remembered, I shook my head, nudging him to go on.

"But yeah, you and me kid, there was a few times that I guarded you very closely if you catch my drift."

My face flushed as I understood what he was saying, he chuckled as he saw it.

"Oh stop your worrying, I know it's not like that this time around, I just had to make sure. Not that you aren't a knockout like always," he smirked and moved his wing to brush my nose, tickling me. "Maybe next time munchkin, nobody looks better together than you and me. But we make a good team all the same," his nose wrinkled up and a frown crossed his face, "even if you do have an unhealthy attachment to those idiot brothers and that screwup feather duster."

I elbowed him and narrowed my eyes at him.

"Hey watch it, you sugar addicted pigeon; I care about the three of them."

A mischievous spark danced in his golden eyes.

"One of them more than the others I think."

I pulled back, an incredulous look on my face.

"What on earth are you talking about Gabe?"

He just smirked again and dismissed it with a flutter of his wings.

"Nothing, nothing at all lollipop. Now let's get you back before you're missed."

At that, he ignored my protests and zapped us back to the tower where I'd been visiting my brother for a week before heading back to the bunker with the boys.

Huffing playfully shoved him off and went to go get changed for dinner. Tony had insisted he wanted to treat me to something fancy before I left.

"Now you need to make yourself scarce Gabe, I don't want to give Tony a heart attack."

Tony was still blissfully unaware of my having a guardian angel and I wanted to keep it that way, he'd work himself into a fit if he knew and try to figure it all out. Better he didn't know for the time being, I'd tell him eventually…maybe.

He flopped on my bed with a pout and said, "I won't be far, just ca-"

Cutting him off I said, "Call if I need you, I know." Gabriel had a habit of avoiding problems and now that he'd found me again he spent a great deal of his time with me, it was perfect in his eyes as he got to stay out of the way of heavenly issues and spend time with me. There were moments when I wanted to smack him but I'd come to care for my guardian angel quite a bit even if he could be annoying and overprotective, honestly it was very like Tony at times.

"See you later bird brain," I said as I headed out the door to go meet Tony for our last dinner.

Stepping inside I grinned, I had missed the bunker, it had a special sort of charm that was unlike anything else. It was probably more the trigger-happy brothers and endearingly serious angel that made it a place I liked coming back to.

But right now, it was strangely empty, the boys must all be out on a hunt somewhere,

I had rather hoped they would be here when I got back but I suppose I could surprise them with dinner. And it had been a while since I'd made a pie, I'm sure Dean would be excited about that.

After putting my bags away, I made my way into the kitchen to look at what I had to work with and was disappointed when I realized I was one ingredient short of what I needed to make that pie.

Sighing I debated making another batch of muffins instead but the betrayal I knew I would see in Dean's eyes was enough to decide to go and get what I needed for the pie.

The little town that the bunker was close to was only a few minutes away and it wouldn't be any trouble to run and get a few things.

Gabriel had seen me to the bunker and then flown off saying he had a few things to see to and he'd be back soon, so I didn't bother asking him to come with me as I would only be an hour at most.

Taking one of the cars in the garage I headed to the small supermarket and quickly got what I needed, smiling as I thought of how excited Dean would be and how Sam would reluctantly eat a bite when he thought his brother wasn't looking.

And I was looking forwards to seeing Cas again, I'd missed him while I was in New York. Our movie nights had become one of my favorites parts of the week and while Gabe's feathers were grander, Cas's were softer and somehow a bit more comforting.

Humming to myself as I started putting my things in the car, I jumped as a voice next to me said, "Need some help with that?"

Turning I saw a woman that I didn't recognize, probably just a friendly local offering to help.

It was when I saw her eyes flick black for a moment that I knew she wasn't and that I was in trouble. Instantly reaching for my necklace, I began to panic when I realized it wasn't there. Gabe had taken it to tinker with the warding on it so it would shield me from everything but him.

Just as I opened my mouth to scream for Gabriel, a hand clapped over my mouth as another one materialized behind me.

"Unwise girl, wouldn't want to have an angry archangel come down here, now would we?"

Yes that was exactly what I wanted, for him to come and smite you all before there was a thing you could do about it!

The woman smirked at me as she got a bit closer and said, "C'mon now, we could be great friends Anna if you just give us what we want."

Before I could tell her that I didn't really make friends with demons and ask what it was they wanted, I felt a sharp pain in my head and everything went black.

Ugh, I hadn't had a headache like this in a long time. Rubbing my temple, I sat up and blinked in the sparse light of the room I was in.

Where exactly that was I wasn't sure, but the angel sigils on the walls were bad news because Gabe wouldn't be able to get to me with them there, neither would Cas if I tried to contact him.

Struggling to my feet I went over to the wall with the intention of trying to break the warding and get some heavenly help but the sound of the door opening stopped me cold.

Turning I saw the same woman from before with a twisted malicious smile on her face as she approached me.

"Now then, why don't you tell where the Winchester's are hmm?"

So, she wanted information. Well she would be sorely disappointed then, as I wasn't going to give her anything. Not at the cost of putting people I cared about at risk.

"I don't know where they are," I said, and it was true. I really didn't know where they were, so if that was all she wanted then I couldn't help her even if I would have been willing.

Snarling, she grabbed my shirt and shoved me into the wall. Of course, it wasn't the one with the sigils on it.

"Well then let's just see if I can't jog your memory about that along with a few other things."

Something was off, I could tell the moment we all arrived back at the bunker.

Annalise had been here recently. She was due to be back today if my brother could be relied on to bring her back when he said he would.

Her lack of being here had been very noticeable, both Sam and Dean had been more irritable since she left, and I found that movies just weren't as enjoyable or as easy to understand when she wasn't there to watch them with me.

I suppose I missed her, I did like it when she was here as when she wasn't.

Annalise was a pure kindhearted soul, it was refreshing to be around, and she was always much more understanding than either of the Winchesters ever tried to be. It was…nice. When she was close to me I felt better, knowing I could protect her if I could see her. Sometimes I felt strange when she was next to me though, such as the night before she left for New York.

The credits for the movie had started to roll but I didn't move as Annalise had her head on my shoulder, her body tucked up under my wing, a tired look in her eyes.

She had such strange eyes, I could stare in them for hours and still not decide if they looked like sunlight filtering through one of Dean's whiskey bottles or if it looked like prehistoric amber that almost seemed to have a light inside of them.

"What did you think of it?"

Glancing back at her, I thought about it before saying, "Well it seems this Dumbledore man has a flawed idea of the proper place to leave a child. Why couldn't the cat woman raise Harry, wouldn't she have done a better job than those terrible Dursley people?"

Blinking at me, she smiled.

"Professor McGonagall you mean? But yes, that's an excellent observation Cas. She would have, there is never an excuse to leave a child in an abusive home."

I couldn't help smiling back, she was so tenderhearted. I found it hard to imagine her not being a wonderful mother one day.

Where did that come from?

Pay attention Castiel, you just missed what she said.

I nodded so she didn't think I hadn't been listening as I caught the end of her sentence.

"…and that's why I think it's so overlooked in the movies. So we'll watch the second one next time right?"

"Ah, of course. I'm interested in what is in a chamber full of secrets, perhaps Sam and Dean could make one to put weapons in."

She sat up a bit and laughed, a sound I found to be almost musical in nature.

"I don't think they'd want that, but I think you'll like the next one."

A yawn made her pause and then she got up, slipping out from under my wing, something I found I didn't like.

Watching as she raised her arms above her head and stretched, I felt an odd fluttering in my wings, wishing that we could watch the next movie if only to stay here longer.

Just as I was about to suggest it Dean wandered in and rolled his eyes.

"Hey shorty, don't you have an early morning tomorrow?"

Her attention now on him, she nodded.

"Yeah, I do. Tony is so excited, he's got all these plans but honestly I just want to keep things low key and spend time with him and Pepper in the tower."

Raising a brow at her, he smirked.

"Well you should get to bed then, and good luck with that, from what you've said your brother is anything but low key."

With that he walked off, I didn't really care where, Annalise was now looking at me once more.

"Well, he's right Cas. I ought to get some sleep. When I get back we'll watch the next one okay?"

Twitching my lips in a half smile - something that was easy to do around her - I stood, my wings dancing around touching her but not quite letting them.

She smiled sleepily at me and moved her hand to brush the tips of my feathers, something that I couldn't even describe how wonderful it felt.

It was actually alarming how much I liked it, I wasn't used to anyone aside from other angels being able to see my wings. With Annalise it felt right though, almost comforting.

"Goodnight Cas, I'll be back before you know it. I'll miss you," she said as she moved forwards and hugged me.

Carefully I returned her action, and then watched as she disappeared into the bunker to go to sleep.

"I will await your return Annalise."

"Cas did you hear me?"

I looked up at Sam blankly, indicating that I had not.

He only rolled his eyes and repeated himself, "I said can you tell if Anna is back? She said sometime today was when she would be back."

Not telling him I had been thinking of her as well, I closed my eyes and searched the bunker for the redhead and frowned when I didn't sense her.

Looking at Sam I said, "She's not here but she was, recently."

Before he could say anything in response, Dean, who had been parking the Impala returned from the garage and said, "She must have gone out because one of the cars is missing."

There was a brief silence as we all looked at each other.

Usually when she went out my brother was with her but I didn't like this. The moment we'd gotten here I felt uneasy and now I knew why.

She was always safe when with Gabriel but going by the look on the brothers faces they didn't like it either.

"Well I'm sure Gabriel is with her, Anna should be fine," said Sam, though his tone didn't sound all that convincing, even to himself.

Dean on the other hand had already pulled up the tracer he'd put in all of the vehicles, a frown on his face as he mumbled, "She's at the grocery store, or at least the car is. I have a bad feeling about this."

Not wanting to wait a second longer, I strode forwards and put my hands on both of their shoulders, transporting us all to the small store that Annalise shopped at on occasion.

"Dammit Cas, why the hell are we on the woman's hygiene aisle?!"

I furrowed my brow at Dean, asking, "Wouldn't that be where to find a woman in a store?"

Sam just looked irritated while Dean started walked quickly away muttering about how he wanted pie as payment for all of this.

I didn't understand what there was to be upset by, it was simply a part of how women were created to be. Picking up one of the brightly colored plastic packages curiously, I wondered why it upset Dean so much.

"Put that down would you! Come on you idiot, we need to find Anna before Dean has a stroke."

It took me second to realize Sam was being sarcastic and that Dean was not in danger of having a stroke.

Their sense of humor would never make sense to me.

Putting it back, I frowned as a great many of them came tumbling down as I did, making Sam glare at me and throw his hands in the air as he exclaimed, "Oh come on man, really? Mighty warrior of God and you just caused a tampon avalanche?"

I started to pick them up and he shook his head.

"Just leave it!"

Then he turned and left, so I followed. Finding Annalise was more important anyway.

Sam and Dean had left the store entirely, so they must not have found her inside. But the sight that met my eyes was not a welcome one.

The car she had taken out was sitting in the parking lot, trunk open with a partially unloaded basket next to it.

If the scene before us didn't indicate something was very wrong the smell of sulfur made it obvious what had happened.

Demons had taken her.

Dean closed his eyes and then kicked the basket as he yelled, "Gabriel! Get your feathered ass down here right now!"

Seconds later my brother appeared in front of us with a lazy smirk and I couldn't stop myself from lunging forwards and grabbing his jacket with a growl as my wings flew up behind me offensively.

"Where is she, why weren't you watching her? How could you let this happen?!"

His eyes sparked dangerously but I didn't care, Annalise was in danger and it was his fault for not protecting her better.

"I suggest you calm down before you tick me off." Looking at Sam he went on to ask, "What is going on? I left the kid in the bunker while I went to check out something about altering her warding necklace. She's just fine."

I let go and stepped back, how could he have been so careless? Without it she was completely defenseless to anyone who might care to find her. And her own foolishness at leaving the bunker when she didn't have it was infuriating!

How could she do this to me? Ah, to the people who cared about her I mean.

Dean glared at him and crossed his arms as he growled, "Well aren't you just guardian angel of the year! We have a big problem and you're going to fix it."

I sighed, glad that she had left. The demon that had been trying to get information for the past hour had been none too kind. The pain was dulling now, as the power of the bracelet took over.

I looked down at the cut on my arm that was healing up slowly and winced. The knife she used must be slowing it down, because it was very painful. The demon had been really interested in the bracelet and hadn't quite believed me when I said it wouldn't come off, it had only been the pulse of energy throwing her back when she tried to cut it off that she was convinced.

Watching the cuts wasn't helping anything, so I turned my gaze to the ground and the blood that pooled there. I'd forced myself not to deal with any of it, a state of unattachment to try and keep my head about me. I would panic and freak out later, though I couldn't help screaming when she'd been cutting me.

But looking back at the blood, it looked like it would be enough…

If there was ever a time I needed my guardian angel it was this, but this warding was making it impossible to contact him.

Dragging myself over to the wall with the angel sigil, I began scratching at the warding to try and break it, I only found partial success and smudged it slightly but I hoped it wouldn't be as strong now.

I needed him and I needed him badly, this was the only way I could think to get him here. I'm sure he was panicking when he couldn't find me so hopefully this would get through to him.

With blood on my fingers, I started to very crudely draw a symbol I'd only seen the one time.

The horn of Gabriel.

Just as I finished I heard movement in the hall outside my door. Hopefully it wasn't the demon come back to try for more information.

The door swung open to reveal a shorter man in a nice suit, his eyes shot from me to the now blood marred wall behind me and he frowned.

"Well this complicates things, I don't know how you knew that symbol but I don't really want to be blasted by an archangel today. Time to go love," he said with a slight Scottish lilt to his voice.

Looking at him I knew he was more powerful than the previous demon and that I should probably do what he said but I was tired of demons and just wanted to go home. So I set my jaw and shook my head.

"No, I really don't think I'll be doing that. As soon as he gets here, "I glanced at the drawing on the wall and then back to him, "I'll be going home."

It was then he stepped closer as if seeing me for the first time and his face went pale and he cursed.

"Bullocks, you're the newest acquisition of those moronic danger twins!"

He started to look a bit sick and it was then I realized that he must know Sam and Dean. This might work to my favor.

"You know I could put a good word in for you if you help me and get me out of here. What's your name," I asked, hoping this could be solved without any more violence. Particularly towards me.

He straightened as he answered.

"Crowley, King of Hell. I wish I could say it was nice to meet you," at this, he looked me up and down and a slight smirk crossed his face, "if it were under different circumstances I'd say the pleasure was all mine. But seeing as you not only have Squirrel and Moose protecting you but you belong to one of those bloody smite-happy heavenly arses, it's not all that nice."

Squirrel and Moose? Was he talking about Sam and Dean?

"What do you mean, belong to," I asked.

He rolled his eyes as he came closer and grabbed my arm and began to lead me out of the room.

"You stink of angel grace, it's all over you like a mark. The stench of Asstiel is nigh impossible to get rid of it seems. Now come on, you could be a beautiful bargaining chip and I could certainly use one of those right now."

I narrowed my eyes at him, knowing it was a bad idea the second the idea went through my head but the emotional strain of the day had gotten to me and I just wanted to go home.

Yanking out of his grasp I slapped him, the blood on my hand smearing across his face.

"Don't call him that! Cas could zap you back to hell whether you're king or not, and I don't even want to think about what Gabe will do to you once Cas is done. Not to mention I was in the middle of shopping for dinner when your demons grabbed me, Sam and Dean will be a bit more than put out about that."

For a second, his eyes flicked this deep red color and I took a step back. Perhaps making him angry wasn't the best idea.

"Why you little minx," he exclaimed, advancing and grabbing my arm again, tighter this time so I couldn't wrench out of his grasp. "I don't tolerate behavior like that as you'll find."

It was then, right as I was starting to get very worried about what he would do, that the room started shaking.

Gabe, he'd felt my signal! Grinning triumphantly, I looked at Crowley and tried to tug away from him but found little success as his grip had tightened.

Smile dropping, I glared at him as I said, "I'd get your hands off me if I were you."

Now I could hear the sound of fighting and there was a brightness I knew was angel grace. There must still be sigils in other places or I'd have been able to feel Gabriel, but I could tell he was close. What I didn't know was if it was just him or if he'd brought anyone with him.

Looking back at the demon, I saw that he'd not done what I asked as he moved his hand down my arm to hold my wrists, taking no chance of me swinging at him again.

"You are daft if you think I'd do that! You're the only thing that would keep them from killing me love."

Crowley had his hand around my wrist, blood still crying out of the slowly healing cuts, making it hurt a great deal, making me hiss in pain.

So the scene they walked in on was not one that put the king of hell in a good light, although I couldn't imagine him ever really being in that with any of the men before us.

I saw both Sam and Dean standing there looking more furious than I'd ever seen them, and Gabriel with his wings outstretched in a threatening way with a look of relief on his face as he spotted me. But it was Cas who looked absolutely murderous as he saw me, his eyes landing on Crowley and the blood on both of us.

He pushed me in front of him, almost like a shield, moving my arm in a very uncomfortable way.

Both angel's wings crackled with electricity as he did this, neither of them liking it.

"Look, this is all one big misunderstanding. I didn't know she was yours otherwise I'd have never taken her," said Crowley, a hint of desperation in his voice as all four of them glared at him.

"So that's not her blood on you then? Because I don't see how I'm misunderstanding that."

The tone in Sam's voice was low and dangerous, while Dean glowered at the demon, looking as if he was struggling to keep quiet.

"I sent some of my minions after a relic – this lovely little bracelet here – I had no idea it was attached to your newest pet. I'm not stupid after all, so if you could just call off your bats and let us be on our way then I think we'll be squared away yeah?"

Pet?! I think not!

Taking a step backwards and pulling me with him, I looked at the boys wide eyed, silently begging them not to let him take me with him.

That was when Dean nearly exploded, "Any alliance we ever had is going to die right now if you don't get your filthy hands off her."

I made eye contact with glowing blue and that was when Cas took a step forward, looking very much like the warrior he was, snarling at Crowley, "You will not be taking her anywhere if you value your life. Let her go, now!"

I squinted at the brightness coming from him, his wings flaring and sparking with grace. Glancing at Gabe, I saw him nod at Cas approvingly, his wings almost blocking Sam and Dean from view, as he came to stand next to his brother, leveling a glare that could melt iron at Crowley.

"You heard him, let her go or very very bad things will happen to you. Which I don't think any of us would mind all that much, so really, it's your choice. You let her go and you leave here alive today but have to wonder how and when I'll pay you back for ever being that close to her and letting your filth hurt her, or you die here and now today. It's no sweat off my back either way, so what's it gonna be?"

Grip loosening, he muttered, "Like I said, under better circumstances darling. Next time will be different, I'll see to that."

With that he let go and shoved me towards the incensed angels and vanished in a pop of horrible smelling sulfur. Falling forward, I found myself caught in the familiar arms of my candy loving guardian.

"Hey lollipop, it's okay now I've got you."

Burying my face into him, I felt my panic start to receded as his powerful wings wrapped around up both like a soft cocoon of light. He wrapped his arms tighter around me and brushed his hand over my wrist healing what the bracelet hadn't instantly. Sighing in relief from both the pain and that I knew I was now safe, I started to tremble, both from fear of what might have happened the and the sheer exhaustion of it all.

"I…I couldn't reach you. The sigils, I couldn't get to you or Cas."

At the mention of his name, I felt the comforting presence of Castiel get closer even though I couldn't see him.

Gabe tensed and I could hear the snarl in his voice as he said, "I'll see to it that the demon filth that touched you will not live to regret their decisions. Let's get you home gumdrop, some sleep will help."

And with that we were back in the bunker, Gabe having flown us back leaving Cas and the boys back wherever it was that we were. Before I could say much Gabe was gently pushing me towards the bathroom with the instruction to take a hot shower and then go to bed.

Smiling at him fondly I said, "Mother hen you."

He just rolled his eyes and rustled his feathers.

"Go, I'll be there the second you need anything."

Doing as he said I took a long hot shower, crying off and on both because of the emotional day and then the panic I'd not let myself think about in the moment. But the water soothed me after a time and while still completely overwhelmed from the days events I felt better.

Heading to my room without feeling the need to interrupt the lecture I overheard Gabe giving Sam and Dean about not bothering me, I went in and flopped on my bed.

"You were crying."

At the sudden unexpected voice, I yelped and rolled off the bed onto the floor in surprise, landing in a heap.

Looking up I met a bright blue gaze, Cas's figure towering over me, brows furrowed in concern.

"I've startled you," he said, a bit of self-irritation entering his eyes.

Sighing in relief that it was only Cas, I started to stand, only for him to be there helping me in the next second, his large hands on mine carefully.

"It's okay Cas, but what were you doing in my room," I questioned, having had to go over this with him before how knocking was the correct way to ask and then gain entry to places.

He sat on the bed, still holding the hand that had only hours ago been dripping with blood.

"I felt your distress, you were crying…I, I wanted to help."

He looked almost, lost. Like he desperately wanted to do something but didn't know what.

Sitting beside him I grabbed the hairbrush on the bedside table and put it in his other hand.

"Brush my hair, please?"

Looking at the brush and then back to me, the most adorable puzzled look crossed his face.

"You wish for me to brush your hair? I don't understand."

I smiled at him and said, "You wanted to help, this always relaxes me. You don't hav-"

Cutting me off abruptly he said, "No! Ah, no, I'll do it."

Letting go of my hand he very gently turned my shoulders to where my back was facing him and ever so carefully he started to brush out my damp hair.

The soft and dare I say caring way he brushed my hair was incredibly calming and I closed my eyes. For what seemed like a long time he did this, never stopping. After a time, I felt the light touches of what I recognized to be his feathers and when I opened my eyes I saw that he had made a tent of them around us with me sitting the middle surrounded by the black curtain. I could see nothing but inky walls of feathers and as he continued I closed my eyes once more.

Humming in contentment I murmured, "You have no idea how good that feels."

He paused for only a beat before continuing, saying, "That is what I imagine to you would be like what it is to me when you touch my wings. It feels…nice."

I had never thought about what it might feel like to him aside that it didn't hurt him, I'd had no idea it felt as good as this.

Turning my head to where I could just see him out of the corner of my eyes I said, "Your feathers are softer than Gabe's are, don't tell him but I like yours better in a way."

As if reacting to my words they fluttered, curling closer to me almost touching but not quite, like he was holding back.

"Thank you," he said, his voice troubled, like when he didn't know what to say. Turning fully now, I faced him. He was still holding the brush, looking at me as if trying to figure something out.

"What's on your mind Cas, you look like there's a storm up there."

He furrowed his brow, his eyes never leaving mine as he said, "You confuse me."

Tilting my head, I asked, "How so? I'll try to clear things up if I can."

He sighed and looked down before glancing back at me with those blue eyes that I swear could see right to your soul. He was angel maybe he could, who knows.

"I don't like it when you're not there, and today when I, we realized that demons had you I got very angry. They hurt you and I couldn't stop them."

He looked a mixture of sadness, guilt, and anger. I put my hand on his shoulder and smiled.

"You're a protector Cas, it's in your nature. I'm not surprised at all by you feeling that way," I nudged him with my arm playfully, "And that's what friends do, I'd be in some kind of state if something happened to you."

"Friends," he said slowly, as if seeing how the word sounded, "that's how friends react when the other is in danger?"

I nodded.

"Yes, and you and I are good friends. I'm really glad you were there today Cas."

He brightened at that, his feathers softly tracing my arms now as they had slowly moved closer.

"I knew something was wrong the moment we got back," at this his wings closed in what I had learned was a protective manner. "You should have had your necklace, it was incredibly foolish and dangerous of my brother to take it. I'm, I'm so sorry that happened to you, that I couldn't get to you before they hurt you."

After a moment a look of irritation I'd really only ever seen aimed at Sam or Dean entered his eyes as he looked at me.

"It was very foolish to leave the bunker without the protection of your necklace, you could have been killed and none of us could have done a thing," he said, raising his voice slightly, obviously upset by it all. "I don't want you to do that again, not ever! I, I was afraid…"

Carefully he took my wrist in his hand, looking at it as if to be sure it was completely healed and there was nothing more he could do.

Softening he sighed, "I've seen so many good people die, if I can help it you won't be one of them. Not for a long time. But you have to think about what the ramifications of what you do are Annalise, making dumbass decisions like that, as Dean would say, you can't do that."

Frowning as I knew he was right I sighed, "I'm sorry Cas, I never meant to…I guess I really just wasn't thinking at all. I'll try to be better, I can't keep counting on people to get me out of trouble."

Times like this, I found his eyes to be unreadable as I looked in them. He held the mysteries of the universe in them it seemed and for a while he looked like he wanted to say something but didn't. He just looked at me, almost like he was trying to figure something out.

After a time, he let go and started to get up.

"Don't go," I said softly, suddenly not wanting him to leave.

He squinted at me.

"It's getting late, you need rest," he said, wings drawing back as he did.

Reached forward, I put my hand on the downy feathers, stroking them gently.

"Please stay, just until I get sleepy? I, I don't have bad dreams when you're around Cas."

As if unsure of what to say he nodded and folded his wings back around me.

"Very well, I will stay Annalise."

Smiling I closed my eyes again and felt a peace wash over me as my blue-eyed angel stayed and kept the nightmares at bay.

Where the hell was that girl?

Candy for brains was futzing around in my kitchen and she needed to come get that idiot under control or I was going to accidentally spill some holy oil…

Deciding to go and wake her up I nodded at Sam to come with me as leaving the two of them alone would end badly, so we headed towards her door.

Glancing at him I asked, "How do you think she's doing?"

He shrugged.

"I'm not sure, Anna's pretty tough I think she'll be okay, but I don't ever want to see a demon around her again."

Approaching her door, I scowled.

"No, and it won't happen again. Let's see if she's up to having breakfast, and maybe a bit of moron managing because he is driving me insane."

Wrinkling his nose in irritated agreement he said, "Yeah…he's next to unbearable when she's not there."

Coming to the door I knocked softly before opening it.

What met my eyes was not what I expected to see.

"What the f-" cutting me off Sam grinned and pushed me aside as he said, "Well it's about damned time!"

Looking in her room, there was little red still asleep in her bed, snuggled into Cas's arms as he looked up very much like he'd been caught with his hands all over the proverbial cookies.

Blinking to make sure I saw it right, Sam started snickering and leaned against the doorframe.

"Finally make a move then," he asked the flustered looking angel.

"Move? No, she asked me to stay and I just never left," Cas said softly, playing with a bit of her hair.

Oh wow, he had it bad.

Finally realizing the situation, I smirked at him, "Wow, don't know how I didn't see it. You two make a cute couple, absolutely adorable Cas."

He furrowed his brow and said, "No, we're very close friends and I was concerned about her. She explained it to me."

Barely holding back a laugh, I said, "Friends, oh sure. She's about as thick as Sam is," at this I got a halfhearted bitch face, "Short stack there definitely likes you more than a friend even if she doesn't know it."

My point was proven as she sighed, still asleep, and moved closer to him, making the little dork's face scrunch up and…was he blushing? He was, oh this was gold!

Oh yeah, he was a goner. Wait till that idiot with a lollypop up his ass found out about this…

Now things were getting interesting.

Trying to defend himself he said, "I just want to protect her, all the time."

Shaking his head, Sam started to walk off, an amused smile on his face. Calling over his shoulder he said, "Come on Dean, Gabriel will probably burn down the kitchen if left unsupervised for too long. Besides," a wicked smirk crossed his face, "it's rude to interrupt a moment between friends. I wouldn't want to have someone bother me when I'm in bed with a friend."

"Oh yeah, that would piss me off," I said, grinning at the irritated angel.

The look on his face was hilarious and I started to follow Sam as Cas tried to find something to say back.

"How do you become more than friends?"

The question stopped me, and I looked back at him.

"That, you've got to figure out for yourself. But ah, I think now's a good as time than any to talk about it," I said, glancing down at her.

She was awake and looking up at him sleepily.

"Good luck buddy," I said as I made a quick retreat.

Just as I closed the door I heard her ask, "Good luck with what Cas?"

"Well I…"

Smiling, I headed back towards the kitchen, leaving Cas to figure out how to talk to a woman by himself.

Just as I walked in I saw Sam sporting a smug look and Gabriel's jaw drop.

"Cas did what?!"

Hello all! I know it's been a crazy long time since I've updated anything but this has been a really tough year and college has been insane this semester. Thank goodness it's over! I will try my best to get an update on the main story as soon as I can now that school is out for a bit, maybe I get it up as a Christmas/Holiday present to all you guys. I can update you on my life in that one, hope you guys have had a great year and wow I can't believe it's almost over!

Bit of Cas pov here, I hope it was in character and that you guys liked it. I'd love your thoughts on this little add-on to the SPN one-shots as I don't really watch it anymore but still love the characters. I've still got lots more of them in the works!

Merry Christmas to my awesome wizard friend Lyssa! 3