AN: Happy Halloween!

Here were are guys, the final chapter apart from the Epilogue. It has been a great month of writing and I'm pretty proud of this story. I've proven to myself that I can write a longer story and actually finish it. I'm thinking of writing a Christmas story in December but we will see. I'm planning to do a big edit after the epilogue is posted as well. Some things may be rewritten but I'm mostly going for grammar and such because this story has all been set out on a deadline.

Thank you all for the support and I'll see you all again in November for the epilogue of awesome!

"So you think it is a locket?" Sam Winchester asked as he frantically searched the second floor office.

"Our parent's left everything to us. Nothing was separated out. We were left in charge of doing with the fortune as we pleased. In other words, we all got exactly the same amount of everything but Lucifer who claimed a locket of our mothers," Michael Novak explained. Sam turned to face him.

"Do we know where this locket is?"

"No, but I've got a pretty good guess."

XXXX

The room which had once been Mrs and Mr Novak's bedroom was fairly large. The wall were painted a deep red. Large windows covered by white tattered curtains were spaced across one of the walls. There were a few painting adding a more personal touch too the space. One of the paintings of a woman with neatly curled dirty blond hair caught Sam's eye. A thought flickered through his mind.

"Is that a painting of your mother?" the tall man asked.

"Indeed it is, Samuel," Balthazar agreed before taking a step towards it. Sam frowned slightly at the use of his full name but said nothing.

"What are you thinking?" Gabriel looked up at him with a glint of confusion in his eyes.

"Alright. So you know how in the movies sometimes people hide safes behind pictures?" Sam asked. The Novak's just looked at him curiously, each with their head tilted just slightly to one side.

"I'm sorry but I don't understand," Anna admitted. The rest of the family nodded in agreement.

"Wait," Balthazar began. "Are you trying to say you think the locket is behind the painting?"

"Yea exactly!" Sam clapped his hands together.

"I suppose it is worth a try," Gabriel said.

Sam stood in front of the portrait. He studied the art for a second debating on the best way to remove the painting from the wall.

"Try lifting it up," Anna suggested.

He placed his hands on the portraits golden frame. The painting was fairly late but smaller than the length of his arms. Very carefully, Sam lifted it off the hinges and placed it gently on the floor.

"Sam Winchester," Gabriel breathed. "You are a genius."

That was enough to make Sam's cheeks heat up slightly. However, the blush soon faded when everyone gathered around the opening in the wall which had been hiding behind the painting. There on top of a pile of envelopes was a silver locket.

"Is that it?" Sam asked. Michael nodded. The oldest son reached out for the jewelry but hesitated before his fingers made contact with the cool metal.

"I can't," he stammered. "I can't pick it up!"

"What?"

"The locket. I can't pick it up! It think it is because of the curse," Michael explained his voice shaking ever so slightly.

Sam gulped. He took a step closer before reaching out and grabbing the locket. There was no flash of lights or anything like you'd see in the movies. Nothing happened. Sam was a little shocked by that admittedly.

"We've got to burn it right?"

Sam shouldn't feel sorry for Lucifer. He really shouldn't. He didn't want to. But, he kind of did. The man had written letters to his dead parents over the years and kept them hidden away. Not having the time to really read the letters the group skimmed over a few before tossing them in the fire. Each letter was Lucifer spilling out his heart too the only people he thought he could talk too without being judged. Truthfully, it was kind of sad. All the letters as well as the locket had been tossed in the fire.

XXXX

"Cas," Dean panted as he dashed into the door. "Cas where are they?"

"Second floor," Castiel replied quickly. He looked like Dean had surprised him which was probably true. There was no time to waste. Dean dashed up the stairs not even noticing when they gave a screech due to the sudden weight. Castiel was following close behind Dean.

"Sam!" The oldest Winchester boy called out. "Sammy!"

"I'm in here Dean," Sam called back.

Following his brother's voice, Dean and Castiel were led back to the group once more.

"Did you find and burn whatever?" the oldest Winchester panted. His younger brother nodded.

"You burned the bones?" Michael asked.

"Almost died but yes and so now we've got a raging Lucifer on the loose and one more step in this curse," Dean snapped.

"Let's go then," Balthazar replied.

The group headed out of the room and towards the stairs. Just before they reached the last step Michael froze.

"What is it," Anna asked before reaching out and touching her older brother's shoulder. He didn't move for a second. Dean was sure if a ghost could get any more paler than Michael just had.

"Lucifer," he whispered.

XXXX

He stood in the family room on the first floor where it had all started. Michael gulped as he placed his foot on the floor. Lucifer snapped his head too the side. When he saw his older brother. A large venomous smile spread across his lips.

"Michael." His voice was like ice. Dean couldn't help but shiver. The group took a few very nervous and slow steps into the room. No longer was Lucifer a huge ball of light but rather a human like his siblings.

"How many years has it been?" Lucifer asked.

"172 years," his older brother replied.

"Time really does fly, doesn't it?" Lucifer cackled.

"Not really. Not when you feel every second tick by."

The other man made a soft humming noise before agreeing with Michael.

"Suppose so."

"Brother," Gabriel whispered softly but Lucifer took no notice. Sam gently placed his hand on the much shorter man's shoulder in attempt to comfort him.

"Please brother," Balthazar began there was a quiver in his voice. It was apparent then, just how nervous the family really was. Dean could feel his hands balling up into fists but he did not do much more than that.

"You are not my brother," Lucifer snapped coldly. Balthazar recoiled a little.

"Just end this, Lucifer," Anna whimpered.

That was the moment when Dean swore he knew that Michael had worked out just what he needed to do. Lucifer was currently bickering with his younger siblings.

"I know what I have to do," Michael Novak whispered softly too no one in particular.

"What?" Dean replied just as softly.

"The curse. At first I thought I couldn't break it but now I see that this is much more difficult," the other man spoke.

"What do you mean?"

"The final step. I need to set his soul free, sort of," Michael explained.

"How are you going to do that?"

"I haven't a clue."

Michael took a step forward. Then another.

"What are you doing?" Anna called out. The oldest Novak only turned his head towards her a gave a sad little smile before turning back too Lucifer.

"I," he began. "I accept you."

Lucifer looked at Michael with a confused expression as though the man was speaking another language.

"I," Michael paused for a brief moment. "I, well, I always have. Truth is I've always been a little jealous of you. You were always everyones favourite and you didn't even have to try. I've always worked so hard to be like you. Well, to be liked in general, actually. When mother and father died I didn't know what to do, none of us did. I should have been there for you. I should have listened. Lucifer, I deserve this fate but nobody elses does."

There was another second of silence.

"I just want you to know. I've always loved you, little brother, and more than anything in this world I am sorry."

The oldest Novak took a step forwards. He pulled Lucifer into a tight hug. Everyone wore the same expression in that second, shock.

"I'm so sorry."

There was a brilliant flash of bright white light. Dean had to turn away in order to shield himself from the blast. As soon as it came it was gone and so was Michael and Lucifer. Dean slowly lowered his hand away from his eyes before turning back to the living room.

"Is it over then?" Sam asked. The group glanced around.

"Yes," Castiel replied. A smile spread across his lips. "It is over."

Dean let out a little sigh.

"Dean. Sam," Michael's voice whispered as he appeared once more in the room.

"Michael?" the youngest Winchester spoke. "I thought you were dead. I mean gone."

He just laughed lightly at that.

"I thought I was too. Anyway, I haven't much time until I really will be gone for sure. I just wanted to thank both of you for everything. "

"Oh ya, not a problem," Dean replied. Michael gave a slight nod before bursting into a bright flare of light and then fading into nothing.

"Sam," Gabriel began. "I suppose it is my turn to go. " He looked over to Dean and gave a confident smile before turning back to Sam. "Have a good life, you hear? Don't be sad alright. I'll be seeing you Samsquatch."

Dean rolled his eyes when Sam then went and kissed Gabriel's forehead. His younger brother had always been the sap. It wasn't long before Gabriel was gone too.

"Thanks again, boys," Balthazar grinned before disappearing. Anna quickly kissed both Dean and Sam on the cheek, said her thank you's, and was gone leaving only Castiel.

'Castiel,' Dean thought.

The youngest Novak took a step towards Sam.

"I can not thank you enough, Sam," the man spoke.

"I'm glad I could help," Sam replied. Castiel gave him a smile before walking over to Dean.

"Dean," he began.

"Can't you stay?" Dean interrupted. The look Castiel gave him was enough to break his heart.

"I can't."

"Can't or won't?" Dean questioned.

"Both," he replied sadly. The other man was caught off guard by the answer.

"Why?"

Castiel took in a deep breath then let it out in a sigh.

"I've been here a very long time," he began. "I'm 199 years old and truth be told I don't want too see 200. This house hasn't been my home in so long. This town is one I no longer know. Dean, it has been 172 years. I don't know how to use an Iphone or the internet. I'm not interested in new cars that never stop advancing. You know I haven't felt the warmth of the sun on my skin and the chill winter winds in 172 years. No longer do know the feel of human touch or the scent of dirt after rain. All I want is for this to be over. I'm so tired."

"Are you scared?" Dean asked. He looked at Castiel straight in the eyes.

"Yes," the other man admitted. "Yes I truly am."

"Come here then,Cas."

The ghost took a step closer. Dean smiled before pulling him into a kiss. It wasn't a very long kiss but it wasn't very short. It was a soft kiss. A sweet kiss. Dean knew that Castiel wouldn't be with him much longer. He didn't need to open his eyes too know the other man was already shining bright like a star and it wouldn't be long before he faded away. Soon enough, there was no longer a second pair of lips pushed up against another. Dean's eyes fluttered open. There was nothing.

Just dust in the wind.

XXXX

A lot can happen in twenty four hours. A lot can change. As Dean and Sam got back into the Impala and gave the old Novak house one more glance they saw it in a different way. Neither could say how it was different but it just was. Sam had suggested maybe it seemed less like something out of an Edgar Allen Poe poem. Dean suggested it was because they now knew there was more out there in the world. Both brothers agreed that both were probably right. The car rumbled before it drove off into the cold November weather.

"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."

- Edgar Allan Poe