"Dad?" Animula peered around the corner as Cas sat on the couch reading a book.

"Yes?"

"Can I talk to you?"

"You always can talk to me, Ani." Cas smiled as he looked from his book.

Ani sighed and fell back on to the cushion. "What was Papa like?"

Cas was shocked for a moment. "Ani, you know how I feel about questions like that."

"I know, I know, Dad. It's a touchy subject, but I really want to know everything about my father. I mean I already know everything I want to know about you, I know learn about my father I never met."

Cas sighed and this time set down his book. He was going to tell her everything. "Alright, I'll tell you about your Papa." Ani smiled. It was a good thing Gabriel, Sam and Cas had already told Ani all about the supernatural.

"Dean Winchester. One of the best hunters around, with his brother and father Samuel and John Winchester, they were unstoppable. Until they weren't." Cas stared into space. He had been Dean Winchester guardian longer than Dean had known him. He watched the wreck unfold. He watched John make that deal to save Dean. "Sam and Dean lost their mother in a fire due to a demon when Dean was 4 and Sam was 6 months old and lost their father from a deal due to that same demon, 23 years later. Dean was crushed. Then Sam was taken because he was chosen to lead a demon army. A guy named Jake killed him. That's when Dean made a deal with a crossroads demon, sealed with a kiss, to save Sam, but it gave him only a year to live. He did die but that's where I came in. I gripped him tight a raised his from perdition. Well, Sam let Lucifer out of his cage and Uncle Gabe killed him. Along with Crowley. But he was too late to completely save Dean. He had been kidnapped, tortured, and raped. He was already pregnant with you. He wasn't himself after that. Even if we were cutting up and laughing, something was different about him. It was PTSD plus depression. He had a PTSD attack while in labor with you. His blood pressure spike rapidly and they had to cut you out. It was either operate and you survive or deliver natural and you and Dean both die. He died before that aesthesia was giving to him. He wanted to die before having you because of your name. Animula Vitam Winchester. Animula means small soul and Vitam means life. Don't get me wrong, Ani. Dean was the nicest, kindest, sweetest person out there. No one cared more that Dean Winchester. He always put the needs of other before himself, no matter who you were." Cas tried to smile and hold back tears at the same time.

"Do you miss him?"

"More than anything." Cas whimpered. Even after 19 years Cas still can't hold it together over the thought of Dean.

"I wish I could have met him."

Cas smirked. "He was an asshole."

"Why do you say that?"

"But I still love him. He was my asshole." CAs was starting to get very teary eyed. "Every morning I wake up and I think he is laying in bed beside me sleeping and snoring softly. But then I open my eyes and there is nothing but empty space."

"It's ok, Dad. Some things work out for the better." Ani said rubbing his back.

"Wait, what did you say?"

"Some things work out for the better?"

"Why do you say that?" Cas said as he wiped away the fresh trial of tears.

"Even though he is gone his legacy is still here. Like you said he is one of the best hunter in the supernatural society. He died with the label for his courage, strength, will-power, and knowledge."

Cas smiled and just simply nodded. They sat in silence for a while. "So the student became the teacher just then. I'm your Dad. I'm supposed to tell the good advice not the other way around."

Cas got up and looked at his daughter. "I just learned from the best." She replied to him.

"Come on, let's get to bed, you have class in the morning."

She stood to her feet and headed to her room. "Dad?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for tell me about Papa." She smiled.

"Thanks for letting me get that off my chest." Cas returned the smile.

She nodded and waved her hand. "Good night, Dad."

"Goodnight Ani. I love you." Cas laid down in his bed and then he heard shuffling in his room around 20 minutes later. There was a dip in the bed and he turned to find Ani laying with him. She was already comfortable so he just rolled back over and drifted to sleep fast and there were no nightmares about Dean's death. He thought to himself. 'Maybe Ani was right. Some things work out for the better.'" Cas closed his eyes once again and slept. He was happy again, truly happy, all it took was his daughter asking about her Papa.