Epilogue

Castiel met Sam at the funeral. Properly this time. Sam, Dean's only family left in the world, just cried. It was never-ending, his love and devotion to his brother, Castiel could see it in the pain in his eyes.

"I just miss him so much," he sobbed, holding tightly to Cas's hand. They were at Sam's house. There were people milling about, somber looks on their faces. Castiel had seen Lisa earlier, and she smiled at him, a sad smile that knew. Castiel was the one for Dean. He nodded back to her. She was a good person.

Sam looked up at Castiel then. He knew as well, how Dean had felt. He was the one he'd confided in. "Can I ask you a question?" he asked. Castiel nodded. "Was he happy... at the end?"

Castiel could do nothing but smile and nod.

Sam broke down crying again, and hugged him. And Cas hugged back, though he had no more tears left to shed, for Sam was the only bit of Dean he'd ever get to see again for as long as he lived.

o0o

After that, Cas went to Gabriel, who took him in and gave him a job.

That night, as they sat in the back yard while the kids played, Castiel looked at him, and he looked back. Neither knew what to say.

When he felt up to it, Castiel went everywhere that reminded him of Dean. He went to the farmers market and bought as many pears as he could carry, and Gabriel didn't say anything when he brought them all home.

He was alone one night, about a week after it happened, Gabriel and Kali having gone to visit family, when Castiel felt a familiar presence.

He said, "I can't see you, but I know you're there."

Balthazar made himself visible in the corner of the room. "I'm sorry."

"Get out."

"Castiel— "

"Was it you?" Castiel stood, anger radiating from his bones. "Were you the one? Were you there?"

"No."

At the answer, the fight left him. "Why did He do this?" Castiel asked, and fell back into his chair.

Balthazar stood motionless, hands in his pockets. "I don't know."

"But why? Because his number was up?"

"What do you want me to say?" his former companion questioned softly.

"...Am I being punished?" Castiel wanted to know.

"You know better than that." He took a step forward, and then stopped. "That's life. You're living now. And one day... you'll be dying." He stood quiet for a moment. "What's it like?"

"What? "

"Warmth."

Castiel sat up straighter, gazing at the angel. "It's wonderful."

Unabashedly curious, Balthazar asked, "If you'd known this was going to happen, would you have done it?"

His answer required no thought. "I would rather have had one breath of his hair,

"one kiss of his mouth,

"one touch of his hand,

"than an eternity without it.

"One."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Castiel didn't need to ask. Balthazar knew. He offered his hand, and Castiel stood.

Balthazar took his friend, his constant companion throughout all of time, to the beach where they gathered. Castiel stepped away from him, looking at at the brilliant sky, and Balthazar closed his eyes, basking in the glory. When he opened them again, Castiel was running full pelt into the water, the first smile on his face in a week.

All the others looked on in wonder, happy for their departed fellow's new found joy.

Balthazar couldn't help himself. He laughed.

fin