The Angel scared her a little, Mary decided, especially now, defending his love for her boys. But it made her so happy to see that they had someone who would give anything to keep them safe. "John," she said, pushing him back gently. "One moment."

She knew protest was on the tip of his tongue but he kept quiet as she approached the Angel. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you so much for everything you've done for them, I can't thank you enough. You helped save them and the world."

Castiel shook his head. "No," he said. "No, it wasn't me who save the world. I was a pawn, a player in helping but when it comes down to it, Sam and Dean, they are the real heroes."

"Now I don't believe that for a second. If they love you how Charlie says they do and how Dean's told me he does, you must be more than that. Dean's always loved easily but never deeply...outside of family." In the short time she knew her oldest son and from what she'd heard, she had figured out that much.

Castiel was still shaking his head. "Mary," he began. "It might be because you never really got to know him, and I do not mean to be at all rude, but Dean, the Dean I have seen for years loves so easily and so deeply that he's always hidden it away because everyone he loves dies. He loved Ben and Lisa, they don't remember him. He loved you and John, he lost you both when he was a child- both, John, because you changed, you were 'Dad' anymore, you were 'Sir'. He loves Sam and he's lost Sam before. He loved Charlie and Kevin and Bobby and he lost all of them. Not to mention every man, woman, and child he couldn't save. That's his problem, he's been trained since he was a child that there is one thing he can do other than save and hunt, that's protect. He was never taught love, he almost had it forced on him, everything he and Sam have is because he had no other choice, because he couldn't loose anything else. All his nightmares, all his fears, they are all about loosing someone he loves because that's what he's known all his life, he loves easily and looses everything. He doesn't love shallowly, he's never done that, he just never knew how to express it."

Mary closed her eyes, feeling a tear on his cheek. "But you've taken care of them. Bobby told me you pulled them both out of Hell." She had mixed feeling towards the Angel. On one hand she was grateful but on the other she was almost jealous that he had gotten to know her children better than she did.

Cas snorted. "I didn't do a very good job with Sam," he admitted. "I could have destroyed him."

John looked startled. "The soulless thing?" he asked. "Bobby told me."

"Yes, the soulless thing."

"Alright," John said. "Listen...Castiel? Yeah, I don't like you but I am obligated to thank you for doing everything you've done and...and if you make Dean happy, go ahead, be with him."

"I do not need your permission for that," Castiel stated calmly.

Mary bit back a laugh. "If it's worth anything to you, you have my permission as well."

"Thank you."

John looked comically offended. "Her permission matters but not mine? You like her better or something?"

Mary wasn't sure but it looked to her like Cas was biting down a smile as he replied, "she reminds me of Dean."

John was conflicted, confused. The Angel didn't seem bad but deep down there was still that fatherly instinct that didn't like the idea of Castiel and Dean together, didn't want to see Dean get hurt. "You said you're going back?" he asked, changing the subject. "How?"

Cas hesitated. "Got lucky," he said after a momentary pause. John had the feeling the Angel wasn't telling him everything. "It doesn't matter now, I've made sure that Sam and Dean are done hunting for the most part- nothing big, no Apocalypse, no Godlike deities. No more fighting."

John wrapped an arm around Mary, pressing a kiss to her forehead when he heard her muffle a sob. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for taking care of them."

He might have imagined it but John could have sworn he saw the Angel's eyes tear up. "It was my pleasure," he murmmered. "I...I have to go now. It was an honor meeting you both."

John cleared his throat, summoned his courage and said, "thank you. I am...sorry for everything rude I said. I can't express how grateful I am to know that you're taking care of my boys."

"Once again," Castiel said, opening the door back into the Winchesters old house. "It was my pleasure, you are forgiven. It's only natural to want the best for people you love. I suspect I will see you again shortly."

John didn't know what that meant but nodded and followed Mary into the room. When he turned back around the door was closed and the Angel, gone.

Cas hugged Asmodei one last time, whispering his thanks and receiving a soft, "don't you dare mention it."

He turned to Chuck then, gazing one last time upon his Father's aura. Chuck walked over to him, put a hand on Cas's shoulder. "Thank you Castiel," he said. "If you never loved Humanity, Amara would have destroyed us all."

"It wasn't me, praise Dean instead." Cas turned his head away, unable to meet God's eyes. "He killed her."

Cas felt warm arms envelope him. Surprise overwhelming him, he stood stock still until he heard Chuck quietly whisper in his ear, "you were always my favorite."

He let himself relax in his Father's embrace, let himself hug back, let tears prick his eyes because finally, finally, he knew he was needed, he was special. Maybe he was truly a hero.

"I'm ready now," Cas whispered. "To go back."

"I know," He said, releasing His son. "I don't believe I'll see you for a while now."

Cas didn't protest when Chuck put two fingers to his forehead and sent him falling, falling down.

Down.

Down.

AN: So this might count as tomorrow's chapter as I'm going to be busy most of tomorrow and might not have time to upload. I need some questions answered for a future chapter 1) Destiel smut or not? (Not that good at writing smut so I'm thinking nothing graphic) 2) How would you feel about top!Cas? ? No guarantee of smut yet however. Please enjoy! Thanks for the awesome comments and thanks again for reading!