A/N: So sorry this one took so long, I've been busy with school work and such. But here it is!
The sun was setting, and an orange glow was leaking over the grassy hill, stretching the shadows of the two brothers who stood before a cross. It was planted in the ground, and stood over a patch of recently disturbed earth. It was a grave. The grave of an angel.
Dean was standing there, slouching, his eyes swollen and pink. He stared at the bit of earth that now covered his best friend, the love of his life, and felt empty. Not only had he watched the very life evacuate from the blue eyes he had always treasured, but he was responsible. Castiel had died for him, and now he had to live the remainder of his days without his angel. His prayers would go unanswered, and he would never love again. Dean was numb.
Sam scooped the last bit of dirt on top of the mound, forever sealing Cas within his unmarked grave. He set the shovel down, and rubbed the dirt off his hands. His brother had not spoken, and he had barely moved.
"Dean…" Sam said softly.
His older brother did not acknowledge his words, but kept his eyes locked on the cross.
"Dean." Sam said again, this time more abruptly.
Dean momentarily snapped out of his trance, turning his head slightly to look at his brother.
"I thought you might like to say a few words." Sam said.
Dean turned his head to face the grave again, this time taking a small step forward so his toes were bordering the patch of dirt.
"Cas was one the best people I have had the chance of meeting…." Dean started. "Sure he was a little uptight and didn't understand pop culture references… but he was family." The hunter's voice shook and he set a hand over his mouth as tears welled up in his eyes.
"He came into my life at a time where I had lost all hope, and he stayed… He stayed with me when no one else was around, and he was loyal, and caring, and would stop at nothing to protect us. He rebelled, he turned his back on his family, and everything he knew, for us." At this point tears were streaming steadily out of Dean's eyes. "Cas, you saved me. In more ways than one. You saved me from hell, you saved me from Michael, but most importantly, you saved me from myself. You saw every side of me, the good, and the bad, but never once did you second-guess me. Until your last breath you vowed to always protect me, and that's exactly what you did…. I-I don't know how I'm gonna live without you man, but I know I have to because that's what you wanted… I'm not sure if you've got your ears on, wherever you are, but you need to know that I'll never forget you and…. I will always, always love you…"
Sam began to tear up as he watched his brother fall to his knees, the streams of tears falling rapidly. He looked up at the sky momentarily, and then let his face fall into his hands, making whimpering sounds as his back shook. Sam Winchester had seen his brother in pain, he had even seen him lose his will to live, but never had he seen him so… empty.
"Dean… I know you don't want to leave him… but we should check back at Bobby's. We can come back to visit him in a few days if you want."
The older hunter did not say a word, but slowly rose from his kneeling position, keeping his eyes on the ground before him. "Wait…" he said to his brother, pulling his army knife out of his pocket, and walked closer to the cross.
Dean sat there and carved at the cross for a minute or so, carefully inscribing a word onto the light brown wood. He did it with so much focus and care, not letting the tears that blurred his vision fall for a moment. When he stood to walk away, Sam peered past him at what he had just written.
Castiel
"He deserves more than an unmarked grave."
Sam nodded in agreement, and then turned to walk back to the Impala which was parked just down the road.
Dean lingered behind, moving his hand to lay on his shoulder, pressing it carefully into the pink handprint that was still there. That's all that remained of his angel, the only trace that he had entered the Winchester's lives. But then a thought popped into Dean's mind. Castiel had given him something right before they walked into the warehouse. Dean let the hand drop from his shoulder, and touched the top of his pocket, feeling the bulge of the paper.
Dean carefully pulled the paper out of his pocket, pressed between shaky fingers. He unfolded it, the back facing up, and looked to see a single word, written in intricate cursive font.
Always.
Dean flipped the paper over, and smiled while the tears began to pour once again. It was the picture of Dean kissing his angel on the cheek, during the day at the park. Cas filled with a happiness and a love that made Dean's heart flutter. He ran a finger over the image of Castiel, keeping his eyes locked on the piercing blue that twinkled, even in the photograph.
Dean remembered what the angel had told him, that same night, his last night on Earth.
"If I die tomorrow, I want you to know that this was the best day of my life."
Dean bit his quivering lip to stifle more vicious tears, and let his mouth pull into a soft smile. He never cease to miss his angel, but deep down he knew Cas had died happy. He had died protecting his hunter.
His mind swam over his memories with Castiel. The first time the met, the fear he felt when watching him explode, the sheer joy he felt when he appeared, the first time they kissed, the first time he said "I love you" and the first time they made love. The loss he felt at this moment was crippling, but his time spent with Castiel was the best he ever had.
"Always." Dean agreed out loud, bringing the photograph up to his lips and pressing a kiss against the image of Castiel.