Disclaimer: I do not own either series, or anything you would recognize.
Word Count: 1,684
AN: Thanks to all those who review'd, favourite'd, kudo's, bookmarked, and followed. You guys made this possible with wanting to read this and it was a joy to entertain ya'll. Thanks to MissStud too. We met not have collaberated for very long, but she's the one who suggested it.
Now, I've got some other fics cooking that I hope ya'll will want to read, since I'm gonna be making them. Ok, so enough self promotion. Here's the final piece of the story. As always, enjoy!
SPNTMI
Epilogue: A far more comforting prayer.
Three years later, fourth of July.
Bobby stood on his front porch, waiting as a new, motley assortment of cars would eventually come roaring into his driveway. The first to show up was Simon. A plain blue station wagon that had a slight clunking sound from somewhere in its engine. Bobby'd make sure either he or Dean would patch it up before Simon left. Bobby watched Simon take his time to park and he was getting out by the time Bobby got there. Simon opened the passenger side door. Out clambered a little girl with wild and curly red gold hair. Simon steadied her for a hot second before she was standing on her own. Eden wore a blue and white dress with red stars on the hem. A pendent of tiger's eye in the shape of an hourglass gleamed around her neck. Bobby bent down to her level. She only came up to his knee. She didn't shy away when he did so.
"Hey there. It's been awhile. You're growin' like a weed."
Eden's gold eyes were big. She poked the rim of Bobby's trucker cap. "I think I remember you."
"Yeah?" Bobby's gruff laugh made her giggle.
Eden nodded. "Yeah."
Bobby pulled off his cap and set it on Eden's head. He stood up and led them inside. Simon and Bobby went started to set up in the kitchen as Eden found one of Bobby's books and was frowning at the Latin inside.
"So no word of Jocelyn yet?" Bobby asked, handing Simon a plate.
Simon shook his head. "Not yet but I'm not surprised."
"Hm."
Bobby didn't comment further as they continued and a car horn honked, signaling the arrival of someone else. They met Magnus and the Lightwoods'. Magnus took out the wheelchair that used to be Bobby's and together he and Isabelle helped Alec into it. Isabelle shook Bobby's hand in greeting and Alec gave him a simple nod and a wan smile. He looked gaunt and tired, his skin pale and deep rings about the eyes. Magnus and Isabelle didn't stray far from him, even as they began to help set up. The Lightwoods' didn't seem at all impeded by their old wounds. Isabelle did not cover her blinded eye.
Gabriel showed up by himself, charming Eden by giving her sweets despite Simon's tut of disapproval. Simon told her to wait after dinner and she reluctantly put the candy on the table.
At last Sam, Dean, and Castiel arrive just before the sun set. The impala rumbled past the driveway just as Bobby began to fire up the grill. The older man's scowl had just enough of a playful edge that Dean didn't falter as he held up a case of beer.
"The first store opened up today." Dean crowed. "Couldn't resist."
Bobby smiled. "Well can't blame you for that."
"Let's get this party started." Dean said.
Cas gave a little nod. "Indeed."
At this Dean gave a surprised bark of laughter. His green eyes danced in the half light of the setting sun. Cas perked up at the response. Sam and Bobby exchanged knowing looks. Sam patted Bobby's shoulder and moved on to greet Gabriel. Sam's voice was slow and soft.
"Hey. How you holding up?"
Gabriel put a tablecloth on the wooden table that had been brought out by Magnus and Bobby. The archangel took his time in answering.
"...Alright, I guess. I mean some days are easier than others." he set down plates. "I do miss him. Course, I think Mike's taking this harder than I am."
Sam's voice got lower. A street lamp back lit him, catching strands of his hair. Gabriel sucked in a breath. Sam seemed to notice.
"You can't take that I'll on yourself and I'm gonna keep saying that until it works." he said.
Sam leaned in closer. Gabriel's grin turned mischievous as he moved closer to meet the taller man.
"Better order a pizza while you wait."
Their lips were inches apart when Isabelle cleared her throat, finishing putting the spread together. Bobby called for everyone to come to the table and serve themselves. Sam and Dean sat next to each other. Cas on Dean's free side and Gabriel on Sam's. Alec sat in between Isabelle and Magnus, facing Sam and Dean. Simon sat next to Isabelle, with Eden fidgeting next to him. Bobby sat at the head of the table. He stood up, holding a cup of beer in his hand.
"Before we dig in, I got an announcement."
They all turned to look at him, and grabbed their own glasses. Bobby cleared his throat.
"I know it's been a rough couple of years. We've been dealt some heavy blows. Lost some good friends that can't ever be replaced. Ya'll Nephilim lost Idris and got dragged into the apocalypse. Sam really took one for the team-"
Sam ducked his head as murmurs went around and Bobby continued.
"-and after we shot down the devil, we still had to deal with croats and it seemed never ending. For three years we had to deal with them and now we've beat them." He tilted his glass to the guests at the table. "Together, we killed what needed killing, and now the last of the croatoans have been destroyed. People can now rebuild and humanity has a fightin' chance again." Bobby inclined his drink to Gabriel. "Now, ya'll still have work to do, but here's one less fight. Another day done."
A little cheer rose up. Alec's eyes went glassy for a moment. Downing their glasses, everyone began to dig in and chat. It wasn't until it was dark that they were finished. The far off noises of fireworks echoed in the distance, sound carried by the breeze. Gabriel cleaned the dishes by snapping his fingers, although Cas insisted on doing it by hand.
Simon showed Eden how to hold the sparklers as Sam went back to the impala to get the fireworks of their own. Simon and Eden played with sparklers as Magnus helped clear a spot. Everyone gathered together in a loose cluster of chairs as Gabriel set the fireworks off. A scream of the bottle rocket seconds before bursting into bright stars of colored light. Alec sucked in a breath.
To no one in particular, he said. "I'm glad I'm getting to see this."
Isabelle's breath hitched and Magnus and Sam squeezed his shoulders. Bobby handed Magnus a beer. Simon hoisted Eden onto his shoulders as she pointed up at the sky. Dean grabbed two beers and nudged Sam, who nodded in greeting before turning back to Magnus. Dean found Cas leaning against the impala. Dean made to his side, offering the second beer. Cas took it with a small smile. Dean exhaled in a low gust.
"So." he said.
"So." Cas repeated.
They didn't say much as they drank their beers. Gabriel set off another bottle rocket. It went off in a sharp cry. Cas peered up. Not looking at Dean, he began to speak.
"I really like fireworks."
Dean raised an eyebrow. "Ya? Found something you finally like?"
Cas laughed at their inside joke at least a year old. "This is definitely going on the list." He pausing, sobering after a moment. "To me, fireworks symbolize humans. They shine brightly, make a lot of noise, and then they are gone. Simply beautiful."
Dean turned his head in time to see Cas do the same, to stare at him. Dean swallowed as light lit up Cas's eyes, made them glitter. His heart sped up, almost painful. He could almost feel himself nodding, but he didn't trust himself to speak for a few minutes.
"So...you're cool with this?"
Dean gestured with his hand holding his beer. He wasn't sure how much of what he knew he was talking about. His hands were shaking as the air became tangible, as if a heat have shimmered beside them. Cas kept staring at him, despite the fact that he for once, couldn't seem to sit still. A slight pinkness tinged his cheeks. Cas licked his lips.
"Yes." he sounded oddly breathless.
Dean looked so thrown, that when the next firework went off, he jumped. His eyes darted. He shifted from foot to foot and leaned to Cas for just a moment.
"A-are you sure?"
Cas blew out a breath, sharp and quick. "Oh, for crying out loud, Dean-"
Darting forward, he closed the gap and kissed Dean. Dean, who dropped his beer. The can clattered, aluminum catching the light like its own sparkling jewels. Beer pooling at Dean's boots. Vague undercurrent of cicada chirping in the distance as fireworks went off in rapid succession. Cas's lips were slightly chapped but Dean didn't pull back. He pressed back, harder.
Dean's hands gripped Cas's shoulders in a vice-like grip as Dean's mouth opened wider. Cas made a noise. Too deep to be called a mewl, but too needy to be anything but. Pulling Cas closer, Dean ran his hands all over Cas, who wriggled his hips. Cas welcomed the instinct that drove him to part his legs as Dean tightened their embrace. Cas didn't want to stop kissing Dean. Didn't want air. He thought he understood fireworks, but this was another thing entirely. Like he had swallowed fire, exploding inside him, as his body couldn't contain it and exploded outwards. Cas could still feel the heat on his face. He liked fireworks but this was better.
THE END.