A/N: I made a liar of myself with this chapter—I said I'd never write a death fic. Except it's really more of an ending-ending to the series than a tragedy. And it's happy! Or sappy. Still, apologies to my beta, 29-pieces-of-me, who I forgot to warn before she started reading this.

Also, thank you guest ForgotMyPassword for your review! I am pleased to announce that the de-aged Cas fic is coming together well! The enthusiasm for it has been quite catching for my muse, and I will probably start posting it next week. =)

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Castiel stood in the woods outside the bunker, staring down at four grave markers. Two old, two fresh. The Winchesters had defeated the Darkness with the help of the Reapers, but only after agreeing that this was the end. No more chances after death, no more breaking the natural order. The brothers would die this time, and they would do so together. Of course, each one had separately begged the head Reaper to take the other to Heaven. Even Castiel had pleaded on their behalf. And so the world was saved, and the Winchesters were where they were meant to be. While Castiel was…adrift.

For so long he had fought for the Winchesters, for Heaven. The latter had cast him out, disowned him utterly and completely. It had hurt, but then there'd been Sam and Dean to ease the pain of losing one's family, since they were also that to him. Castiel had sacrificed much to protect them. And now, his mission was over. His last act on behalf of the brothers was to give them a hunter's funeral pyre. The wooden crosses were just a symbol of remembrance, like with Kevin and Charlie.

Castiel had puttered around the bunker for several days, tidying things up, putting books and artifacts away, until he realized there was little point. There were no more Men of Letters to take up residence once again. Thus he sealed the place, and returned to the graves, not knowing quite what else to do.

Leaves rustled behind him, and he turned to find two angels. His shoulders visibly sagged. Apprehending Metatron and returning him to Heaven's prison had apparently not been enough to redeem himself. And Castiel knew with a heavy heart that no one would be coming for him this time. So he let them take him without a fight.

The trip to the portal was silent. Castiel was done pleading, and it seemed his captors were saving their taunts. Or perhaps they simply meant to throw him in a cell with Metatron. That would be a new form of torture indeed.

When they arrived in Heaven, though, he was escorted not to the dungeons, but to an area of lush trees and flora. The angels brought him to a clearing in the garden, and then discreetly backed away. Frowning, Castiel roved his gaze over the scenery, until a prickle of a new presence drew his attention. He turned to find an older black man in simple jeans and a khaki coat standing before him.

"Joshua," Castiel murmured in surprise. He hadn't seen or heard of the angel since the Fall, and assumed that he had died like so many others whose wings had burned to ash.

"Castiel." The gardener appraised him silently, causing Castiel to roll his shoulder in discomfort.

"I take it you're leading Heaven now."

Joshua shrugged. "It had to fall to someone after Hannah. And there aren't many angels left."

Castiel gritted his teeth. "You'll have one less to worry about if you get it over with quickly."

The other angel's lips twitched marginally. "You think I brought you here to kill you?"

"I was…hoping for one last mercy, yes."

Joshua slipped his hands into his pockets. "There are a fair number in Heaven campaigning for your death. However, there's a greater number demanding otherwise."

Castiel felt the last dredges of hope evaporate. An eternity of torture it would be then.

Joshua was regarding him thoughtfully. "I brought you here to stand before them."

Castiel merely nodded. He was tired of fighting, of trying to make himself understood amongst his siblings. Of praying to a father who had never answered. He wordlessly followed Joshua out of the garden, down a white, sterile corridor, and finally through a gold-plated door. Castiel blinked at the sudden change in light, stark whiteness replaced with concrete walls and subtle lamps. This looked like the bunker…

He whirled toward Joshua, intent on demanding an explanation for this seemingly new form of torture, when a loud voice paralyzed him.

"Cas!"

And then there were Dean and Sam, jogging down the steps into the study room. Castiel could only stare in bewilderment as Dean heartily embraced him as the hunter had once done in Purgatory years ago.

He heard Sam chuckle. "This is the part where you hug back, Cas."

Castiel lifted his arms automatically, still too stunned to fully process what was happening. This must be the Winchesters' heaven, but why would Joshua…?

Dean broke away and Sam stepped in to deliver his own hug, squeezing tight enough to draw a small grunt from Castiel.

"I don't understand," he said when Sam pulled back. Was he being given another chance to say goodbye? Or one last memory to hold him over after he was locked away forever?

"Turns out Sammy and me are heroes upstairs," Dean said with a smug grin. "Defeating the Darkness and all, something not even archangels had been able to do on their own." He threw a cheeky look at Joshua, which made Castiel tense. He had thought the Winchesters wouldn't be able to cause any more trouble in Heaven…but he probably should have known better.

Sam rolled his eyes. "I gotta admit, Heaven is pretty awesome. They let everyone come see us—Bobby, Ellen and Jo, Kevin and Charlie."

"Even Mom and Dad," Dean jumped in with a beaming grin that lit up his eyes in a way nothing on earth ever had. It warmed Castiel's heart to see them so happy.

"That's good," he said, a genuine smile melting some of the defeat in his expression. "You both deserve it, after everything."

"Yeah, there was just one person missing," Dean replied, and cast a meaningful look at Joshua.

The angel nodded. "Castiel, I have pronounced judgment on your fate. You are to be imprisoned for eternity—here in the Winchesters' heaven." Joshua's mouth quirked. "Some might call that a cruel punishment indeed."

Dean crossed his arms in mock indignation. "Hey."

Castiel blinked, unable to form a coherent thought. "But…I thought…most of Heaven wanted me dead."

"The angels were overruled," Joshua explained, which really was not much of an explanation at all.

Sam smiled, and reached out to squeeze Castiel's shoulder. "We've been putting up quite a fuss, actually. Everyone has. I, uh, don't think Heaven usually experiences revolts from its tenants, and the angels didn't know what else to do to get us to stop. And so Joshua finally agreed to bring you home." Sam hesitated. "Um, the deal was you'd be stuck with us. You wouldn't be free to move around anymore…" He swallowed. "Dean and I were hoping that'd be a better alternative than whatever else the angels wanted to do…"

"You…" Castiel fumbled, gazing at Sam and then Dean. "Did that…for me?"

Dean cocked his head in a 'well-duh' expression. "We never left you behind before; you think we'd let a little something like being dead stop us now?"

Castiel's lips twitched, and he struggled to regain his composure. "My mistake. I should know better than to underestimate you."

Sam's mouth turned up in a tentative smile. "So, you're okay with this arrangement?"

Castiel felt the tension in his shoulders drain away in relief. Sam must have seen it, because he visibly relaxed too.

Dean clapped Castiel's other shoulder. "Come on, let's go tell everyone we kicked the angels' asses."

"Dean," he hissed in reproach. Joshua could still rescind his judgment.

Sam stepped between them and the docile looking angel, bowing his head in a sign of respect. "Thank you."

Castiel craned a look over his shoulder as Dean was trying to lead him away. "Yes, Joshua, thank you…for mercy."

The elder angel smiled softly with a trace of sadness. "It has been a long time since angels have exercised such. And, Castiel," he called.

Castiel paused, as did both Winchesters flanking him on either side. Protective, unifying.

"I know how you've strived to do penance. You can find peace now." And with that declaration of absolution, Joshua turned his back and walked through a shimmering door that suddenly appeared and then vanished with him. And for the first time in a very long time, Castiel felt…light. As though a great burden had been lifted from his chest.

Dean and Sam were tugging him further into the bunker, to where the sound of growing voices resonated throughout the air, full of joviality and laughter. It was almost overwhelming after the long period of silence Castiel had endured on earth since the Winchesters departed. And then a blessedly familiar gruff voice broke through the din.

"Hey, Feathers! You finally made it."

Castiel smiled. He was home, truly home, at long last.