Heaven

by LizzeXX

Lucifer has been set free but Dean isn't the only angelic weapon of Heaven any more. What will Michelle do now that Sam is clear of demon blood? How will the boys react when they finally discover the truth about Michelle? What secrets will be revealed? Sam/OC Third in the Davidson Gospels trilogy.

22. Swan Song

Swan Song

Sam was sitting on the hood of the Impala, drinking a beer, just staring off in the distance as Dean joined him.

"Dean?" Sam looked over, "What's going on?"

"I'm in," Dean sighed.

"In with…" Sam trailed, not willing to hope.

"The whole 'up with Satan' thing. I'm on board."

"You're gonna let me say 'yes?'"

"No. That's the thing. It's not on me to let you do anything. You're a grown…well, overgrown…man. If this is what you want, I'll back your play."

"That's the last thing I thought you'd ever say," Sam smiled lightly at his brother.

"Might be. I'm not gonna lie to you, though. It goes against every fiber I got. I mean, truth is...you know, watching out for you...it's kinda been my job, you know? But more than that, it's...it's kinda who I am…" he sighed, "You're not a kid anymore, Sam, I mean, especially with what you have planned for Michelle, so I can't keep treating you like one. Maybe I gotta grow up a little too. I don't know if we got a snowball's chance…but...but I do know that if anybody can do it...it's you. I believe in you, and so does Michelle…so you have my blessing…in both respects."

"Thank you," Sam smiled wider.

"If this is what you want..." Dean said, turning to him seriously, "Is this really what you want? Both things?"

Sam nodded, "I'm the reason he was let out. I got to put him back in."

"Ok," Dean nodded, "And Michelle?"

"I want this more than anything," he looked down, "And…I can't face Lucifer without doing this first."

"Then get to it!" Dean laughed, pushing Sam off the Impala and towards the house.

~8~

Sam took a breath as he watched Michelle sitting in Bobby's study, a pile of books open around her, her journal open before her as she cross referenced her notes. He just watched her, smiling, as she tugged a lock of hair behind her ear and circled something.

"How long you gonna stand there watching me?" she asked, turning to look up at him, smiling as well.

"Forever," he replied.

She rolled her eyes at his corny response as he walked into the room, "What's wrong?" she asked, seeing his expression morph into one more serious.

"I um…" he swallowed hard, "I wanted to ask you something before I…"

"Let Satan wear you to prom. As Dean would say."

She'd talked to Sam about this before, when they'd all gotten back. And she'd overheard Dean and Bobby talking, she knew Dean was onboard as well.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"So…" she asked as Sam was quiet a moment.

He walked over to her and knelt before her, taking her hands in his own and looking up at her, "Marry me?"

"What?" Michelle breathed, her eyes wider than Sam had ever seen.

"Marry me," he repeated softly, his thumb stroking the back of her hands.

"Why?" she frowned, shaking her head, in shock.

"You know why. I'm going to say yes to Lucifer, I might die…"

The anger that appeared on her face confused him, "That's not a good reason."

"What?" he frowned, confused.

"I don't want you to want to marry me because you might die tomorrow Sam or because the world might end or even just to have sex with me…" he opened his mouth to argue but she continued, "It's like I said when we faced the Whore. You should marry someone because you love them and want to spend forever with them, not when you think forever is only going to be a week long or a day long…"

"I do love you," he cut in, "I wanted to ask you to marry me all year…"

"Then why didn't you?" she asked quietly.

She'd been waiting for him to ask her for forever. But now, it seemed like he only wanted to marry her for the day. It felt like a cop out, like instead of forever, like he'd rather just deal with her the one day…

He bowed his head, staring at his hands entwined with hers, "I…I didn't think I deserved you."

"Sam…" she began, but he looked up, cutting her off.

"No, I…I've done a lot of things. Horrible things. Most of them to you and Dean. I've hurt you, not just your feelings but you, I…I almost killed you to protect a demon…" he spat out demon as though it were a poison, which it very nearly was. He swallowed hard, "I…I still can't see why you stuck with me, why you still love me."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black box, popping it open to reveal a simple diamond engagement ring. Nothing too gaudy but nothing too cheap, it was beautiful in its simplicity…something he knew Michelle would appreciate.

"I bought this," he held it up for her to see, "When I took that break and stayed at your house. I was walking through town and saw this in a jewelry store window and I knew when, not if, I proposed to you, this had to be the ring I did it with. Whenever I felt like I was getting too close to the dark or too angry, I'd take this out and look at it. It reminded me why I was fighting the darkness inside me…I wanted to be better…for you."

He looked away from the ring and up at her, "I figure…if I'm willing to throw myself into Hell to save the world…maybe that might make me a smidge close enough to deserving you."

He was suddenly cut off by a fierce slap across the face. He looked up at her, startled to see the vague tears collecting in her eyes.

"That's for thinking you don't deserve me," she told him, before sliding off the seat and kneeling across from him, "And here's my answer…" she leaned forward and gave him the most passionate kiss he'd ever experienced.

He was breathless when he pulled away, "I…is that a yes?" he could scarcely believe that she might actually be agreeing to marry him.

She just smiled, "Five conditions."

"Anything," he breathed quickly.

"Bobby gives me away," she held up a finger, counting off, "Dean is our witness, Castiel performs the ceremony, we get a NICE hotel room to...celebrate, and…" she smiled a bit wider, "When this is all over…we have a real ceremony."

He smiled broadly, "Of course," before he laughed and leaned in to kiss her, his heart feeling like it would explode from the sheer joy he was feeling.

"We done here?" a voice called. They looked up to see Dean standing in the doorway, looking impatient but very happy, if the grin on his face was anything to go by, "The chapel's booked till 8. Let's go!"

He walked off as Sam helped Michelle stand, "What?" he asked, seeing the suspicious look on her face.

"You were so sure I'd say yes, weren't you?" she grinned.

He let out an uncomfortable laugh, "Actually…I thought you'd say no…Dean thought you'd say yes."

She just laughed and walked out of the room, Sam watching her go a moment. He was finally going to marry her. He remembered what she'd said about possession, love usually trumped it. He was absolutely sure he loved Michelle, more than anything, and the ceremony would just be another way to cement that, to anchor him to being Sam. He knew, he just needed one moment of pure happiness and love to hold him over, to give him the strength to fight to get back to her…if he had Michelle…he could do anything.

~8~

The ceremony had been amazing.

Simple, quiet, in a little chapel outside of town. They hadn't made their own vows, both knowing how much the other loved them. Bobby had beamed proudly as the boy he thought of as a son and the woman he saw as a daughter wed, both finally finding that little bit of happiness in their Hell-on-Earth. Dean had watched on with a sense of relief and even a bit of exasperation, that they were FINALLY tying the knot. It had been years in the making.

Dean had dropped them off at the most upscale motel they could find and Sam and Michelle checked in last minute, and both expressed their love that night, just laying in each other's arms afterwards, taking a moment to just enjoy the time they had. Both making promises of forever despite not knowing what would happen the next day.

When the morning had come Sam and Michelle had left the motel to find Dean waiting with Bobby and Castiel, the trio having checked out a small gathering of demons to get the blood for Sam. They nodded at each other and headed out, making quick work of the demons, hanging them upside down over a Devil's Trap as they collected the blood in empty galloon jugs.

"I still can't get used to you at eye level," Dean commented to Bobby as Michelle and Sam loaded the Impala with the jugs of blood.

"So, was I right?" Bobby asked.

"As always, Yoda. Two stunt demons inside, just like you said."

"Did you get it?"

"Yeah," he sighed, glancing back at his brother, who was wiping his hands on a rag Michelle had handed him to clean the knife as well, "All the 'go juice' Sammy can drink."

"You ok?" Bobby frowned.

"Not really," he admitted, after the exuberance of the wedding had passed, and the alcohol he'd ingested from the celebration with Bobby and Castiel had worn off, he'd been hit with just how bad things were going to get, "What do you got?"

"Not much. These look like omens to you? Cyclone in Florida, temperature drop in Detroit, wildfires in L.A…"

"Wait…what about Detroit?"

"Temp's dropped about 20 degrees, but only in a five-block radius of downtown Motown."

"That's the one. Devil's in Detroit."

"Really?" Bobby frowned, "As far as foreboding goes, its a little light in the loafers. You sure?"

"Yeah," he glanced over at Michelle, recalling the words Lucifer had said when they'd appeared in the supposed-future, "I'm sure."

~8~

Dean was driving the Impala, Sam riding shotgun with Michelle in the backseat, just that little bit of normalcy he needed…except for Castiel sleeping in the backseat as well.

"Aw," Dean smirked, glancing at Castiel in the rearview mirror, "Ain't he a little angel?"

"Angels don't sleep," Sam remarked, before blinking and turning in his seat to look at Michelle.

"Figured it out?" she smiled at him.

"That's how to tell if you're sleeping. You don't."

She nodded, "I never REALLY sleep."

"Don't you get tired?" Dean asked.

"No," she shook her head, "It's sort of like a meditative stage, the lightest sleep imaginable unless I'm knocked out by someone else. The only time I can even dream is when Castiel came to check on me, or I get sucked into someone else's dream, or it's a vision from Heaven. The only other times I can remember dreaming were when I had those nightmares of Hell. It's how I knew I wasn't dreaming when we were in Heaven."

Dean nodded, thinking that over. Made sense.

They were silent a few more moments before Dean looked over at Sam, "Sam, I got a bad feeling about this."

"Well, you'd be nuts to have a good feeling about it," Michelle remarked.

"You know what I mean," Dean grumbled, to Michelle especially, "Detroit. He always said he'd jump Sam's bones in Detroit. Here we are. Maybe this is him rolling out the red carpet, you know? Maybe he knows something that we don't."

"Dean, I'm sure he knows a butt load we don't," Sam cut in, "We just gotta hope he doesn't know about the rings," he took a breath, glancing back at Michelle, who nodded, now was as good a time as any to tell Dean what he'd told Michelle he wanted to say, "Hey, um...on the subject, there's something I gotta talk to you about."

"What?" Dean glanced at him.

"This thing goes our way and I...triple lindy into that box...you know there's a chance I'm not coming back."

"Yeah, I'm aware," Dean replied tensely.

"So you gotta promise me something," Sam continued, Michelle reaching forward to place a hand on Sam's shoulder. He quickly placed his hand over hers, squeezing lightly.

"Ok," he nodded, "Yeah. Anything."

"You gotta promise not to try to bring me back."

"What?!" Dean exclaimed, "No, I didn't sign up for that."

"Dean…"

"Your Hell is gonna make my tour, Michelle's tour, look like Graceland! You want me just to sit by and do nothing?"

"Once the cage is shut, you can't go poking at it, Dean. It's too risky."

"No, no, no, no, no," Dean shook his head, "As if I'm just gonna let you rot in there…as if I'm gonna leave Michelle a widow the day after you get married!"

Sam flinched at that notion…he didn't want that anymore than Dean did, but he'd already talked this over with Michelle. She'd been strangely calm and told him things would work out.

"Yeah, you are," Sam stated, "You don't have a choice."

"You can't ask me to do this," Dean said quietly.

"I'm sorry, Dean. You have to."

Michelle leaned forward, "And now that I FINALLY have a say in this…" she glanced at Dean before turning to Sam, "We won't."

"Michelle…" Dean began.

"But don't worry. This goes our way…things might just turn out ok for the both of you," she turned to Sam, "Besides…you promised me a wedding, you better come back."

Sam just chuckled at that, her hope actually making him feel like maybe he had a chance of getting out alive.

"So then what am I supposed to do?" Dean frowned.

"You go find Lisa," Sam said, "You pray to God she's dumb enough to take you in, and you…you have barbecues and go to football games. You go live some normal, apple-pie life, Dean. Promise me."

Dean looked away, not able to promise that yet.

~8~

Bobby walked over to them that night as they parked and stood in an alleyway of Detroit.

"Demons," he said, having scouted ahead for them, "At least two dozen of them. You were right…something's up."

"More than something," Dean replied.

"He's here," Michelle nodded, sensing the angel lurking at the end of the block, "I know it."

Bobby sighed and walked over to Sam, "I'll see ya around kid."

"See ya around," Sam nodded as he and Bobby hugged tightly for a few moments.

"He gets in..." Bobby began, pulling away, tears in his eyes, "You fight him, tooth and nail, you understand? Keep swingin'. Don't give an inch."

"Yes, sir," Sam nodded, before heading over to Castiel, "Take care of these guys, ok?"

"That's not possible," Castiel said, knowing from experience. He still couldn't figure out how Michelle managed to keep the brothers alive with all the trouble that followed them.

"Then humor me," Sam smiled.

"Oh," Castiel's eyes widened, "I was supposed to lie. Uh...sure," he attempted giving Sam a false smile of reassurance, "They'll be fine. I…"

"Just...just stop...talking," Sam waved him off.

He turned and walked back over to the Impala, where Dean and Michelle stood at the trunk. He looked at his wife…his wife…he never thought he'd ever get to think that of any woman when he first started hunting again, but he was so glad he could with Michelle. He smiled at her, "Thank you for giving me even just a day married to you."

She just returned his smile, "You better keep swinging," she semi-threatened, "I want that wedding."

He was starting to think it was a joke between them now, her way of coping, knowing he wouldn't be coming back but making plans as though he would.

He turned and opened the trunk where the demon blood sat and glanced at his brother and wife, "You mind not watching this?" Dean just nodded and walked off, but Michelle stayed by him, "Michelle…" he really didn't want her to see it.

"For better or for worse," she repeated the words Castiel had said when he married them, "Doesn't get much worse than this. I'm not leaving you."

He sighed but nodded, slightly comforted by the fact that, even at his worst, drinking demon blood, she would stand by him.

~8~

Dean looked over when he heard the trunk to the Impala slam closed to see Sam and Michelle walking towards him, "Ok?"

"Let's go," Sam said, his body tense as he stalked past.

"Now or never," Michelle added as they headed straight for the house where the demons had grouped.

"Alright!" Sam shouted, holding his hands up in the air, "We're here, you sons of bitches! Come and get it!" the demons started to walk out of the house, on guard, as they looked at the trio, "Hey, guys. Is your father home?"

~8~

They struggled as they were shoved into a dark room to see Lucifer staring out at the night's sky, "Hey, guys," he called, seeing their reflection in the glass, "So nice of you to drop in," he breathed out on the window, fogging it up with ice, "Sorry if it's a bit chilly," he drew a small pitchfork on the glass, "Most people think I burn hot. It's actually quite the opposite."

"Well, I'll alert the media," Dean retorted.

"Help me understand something, guys," Lucifer turned to face them, "I mean, stomping through my front door is...a tad suicidal, don't you think?"

"We're not here to fight you," Sam glared, struggling more. With the demon blood circulating through him, but without the demonic influence coupling it, one instinct remained…protect Michelle, protect his wife.

"No?" Lucifer raised an eyebrow, walking over to them, "Then why are you?"

"I want to say 'yes.'"

"Excuse me?" Lucifer smirked, but then Sam closed his eyes and the demons behind them dropped to the floor. Sam took a small step before Michelle, "Chock-full of ovaltine, are we?"

"You heard me. Yes."

"You're serious," Lucifer finally seemed to realize that.

"Look, Judgment Day's a runaway train. We get it now. We just want off."

"Meaning?"

"Deal of the century. I give you a free ride, but when it's all over, I live, he lives, Michelle lives…"

"Oh, I wouldn't hurt Michelle," Lucifer smiled, "She's family after all."

"You bring our parents back…"

Lucifer shook his head, growing bored, "Ok, can we please drop the telanovella? I know you have the rings, Sam."

Dean tensed at the words, Michelle laying a hand on his arm, trying to keep him in check, hoping this all wasn't happening like it seemed.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Sam said after a moment.

"The Horsemen's rings?" Lucifer said, "The magic keys to my cage? Ring a bell? Come on, Sam," he sighed, walking past the brothers, "I've never lied to you. You could at least pay me the same respect," he turned around to face them, "It's ok. I'm not mad. A wrestling match inside your noggin...I like the idea. Just you and me, one round, no tricks. You win, you jump in the hole. I win...well, then I win. What do you say, Sam? A fiddle of gold against your soul says I'm better than you."

Sam was silent a moment before glancing at Dean, "So he knows. Doesn't change anything."

"Sam…" Dean began.

"Dean," Michelle cut in, squeezing his arm still in her gasp. He turned to her, startled that she was stopping him from stopping Sam.

"We don't have any other choice," Sam argued, turning to Lucifer, "Yes."

Lucifer closed his eyes and soon there was a bright white light filling the room. Dean and Sam both had to shy away, cover their eyes, but Michelle watched in growing horror as Nick fell to the floor, the light, more like a ball of blackness with two specks of light, leaving him to zoom straight into Sam, who collapsed to the floor as well, the light disappearing with it.

Dean spun around to see Sam lying on the ground and quickly grabbed the rings from his pocket and threw them at the wall.

"Butmon...tabges...babalon!" Michelle shouted as the wall started to break apart, leaving a swirling black vortex in its wake.

"Sammy!" Dean yelled, running to Sam, who was stirring.

Michelle frowned, seeing the wings behind Sam's back…it wasn't Sam.

"Dean!" Lucifer called.

"Sammy!" Dean shouted, helping him up.

"I can feel him," Lucifer groaned.

"Dean!" Michelle called, trying to warn him away…the plan was over. But he mistook her shout for a reminder of the little time he thought they had.

"Oh, God!" he quickly pushed Sam towards the vortex, "You got to go, now! Come on! Go now, Sammy. Now!"

Lucifer stood there, seeming as though he was going to jump in, when he suddenly straightened and turned, smirking, as Michelle quickly moved to Dean's side, "I was just messing with you," Lucifer said, "Sammy's long gone," he turned to the wall, "Chader butmon tabges babalon!" the vortex died down till it was just the rings stuck to the wall. Lucifer walked over to them, plucking them off, and putting them in his pocket before turning to face Dean, "I told you...this would always happen in Detroit."

And then, he was gone.

Dean looked around the room, tears in his eyes as he realized his brother hadn't been able to fight…they'd lost.

A muffled sob broke through his thoughts as he turned to see Michelle staring down at the floor, her heart breaking for what had just happened. He quickly moved to her side, hugging her as she hugged him back, both needing the other's comfort as the reality that they'd just seen someone they love basically die before them hit them.

Michelle just clutched Dean tighter, knowing what would be coming next.

The ball of black energy...

The two specks of white light...

It was the last piece of a puzzle.

She knew what had to happen now, and it scared her more than anything she'd ever faced.

~8~

Lucifer appeared in an old worn down room, a few men and women of varying ages standing behind him. He swung his arm, stretching it as he felt Sam fight within him.

"Sam," he shook his head, knowing Sam could hear him, "Come on. I can feel you...scratching away in there. Look...I'll take the gag off, ok?" he walked over to a mirror and looked in, watching as his reflection changed into Sam, glaring at him, "You got me all wrong, kiddo. I'm not the bad guy here."

"I'm gonna rip you apart from the inside out," Sam spat, "Do you understand me?"

"Such anger..." he smiled…but then it turned into a frown, "No…you're not angry anymore are you?" he smiled, laughing, realizing what he'd thought was anger was protectiveness, a desire to stop him, "Oh my niece has been to work, hasn't she? But she's not here anymore. Young Skywalker, who are you really upset with? Me? Or that face in the mirror?"

"I'm sure this is all a big joke to you, huh?" Sam glared.

"Not at all," he shook his head, "I've been waiting for you...for a long, long time. Come on Sam, you have to admit…you can feel it, right?"

"What?"

"The exhilaration. And you know why that is? Because we're two halves made whole. M.F.E.O. Literally."

"This feels pretty damn far from good."

"I'm inside your grapefruit, Sam," Lucifer tapped his head, "You can't lie to me. I see it all. How odd you always felt, how...out of place...in that family of yours. And why shouldn't you have? They were foster care, at best. I'm your real family."

"No, that's not true," Sam shook his head.

"It is. And I know you know it. All those times you ran away, you weren't running from them. You were running towards me."

"I'm not running anymore."

"No," Lucifer sighed, "Unfortunately you haven't been for a long time. Again, my niece must have had her work cut out, getting you to go from a child, desperately wanting to be normal, to a man willing to immerse himself in the supernatural to, how would she put it, make a difference?"

Sam smirked, "Actually, I take it back, I am running."

"Oh?" Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

"But not to you. I will ALWAYS be running towards Michelle."

Lucifer shook his head, "This doesn't have to be a bad thing, you know. I let Dean live, didn't I? And Michelle? I want them to live. I'll bring your folks back too. I want you to be happy, Sam."

"I don't want anything from y..."

"Really?" Lucifer scoffed lightly, "Not even a little payback?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sam frowned.

"Look closely," he gestured behind him, "None of these little devils look familiar to you?"

Sam looked over, his frown deepening, "That's Mr. Bensman...one of my grade-school teachers."

"And that's your friend Doug from that time in East Lansing," Lucifer nodded, "And Rachel...your prom date. Sam Winchester, this is your life. Michelle was right you know. Azazel's gang has been watching you since you were a rugrat, jerking you around like a dog on a leash. I know how you feel about them. Me too. So, what do you say you and I blow off a little steam?"

He turned and walked towards the demons who remained still even as Lucifer slaughtered them for Sam.

~8~

"A 7.6 earthquake in portland, 8.1 in boston, more in Hong Kong, Berlin, and Tehran," a news reporter announced as Dean stood before a TV store, his arm around Michelle's shoulder as they watched along with Bobby and Castiel, "The U.S.G.S. has no explanation but says to expect a six-figure death toll…"

"It's starting," Castiel commented before walking away.

"Yeah, you think, genius?" Bobby snapped.

"Bobby…" Michelle sighed.

Now was not the time to fight amongst themselves.

"You don't have to be mean," Castiel retorted.

"What do we do now?" Dean asked, looking at the three of them, praying one of them had a plan.

"I suggest we imbibe copious quantities of alcohol..." Castiel suggested, "Just wait for the inevitable blast wave."

"Swell," Dean glared at him, stepping away from Michelle to talk to the men, "Thank you, Bukowski. I…I mean, how do we stop it?"

"We don't. The only way to stop Lucifer is for Michael to face him. You say 'yes' to Michael and they will meet on the chosen field, and the battle of Armageddon begins."

"Ok, well, where's this chosen field?"

"I don't know."

"Well, there's got to be something that we can do!"

"The only thing we can do is wait for the end or say 'yes.'"

Dean shook his head, "There must be another way," he didn't want to fight Sam, not now, not ever.

"I'm sorry, Dean," Castiel frowned, "This is over."

"You listen to me, you junkless sissy, we are not giving up! Bobby? Bobby?"

"There was never much hope to begin with," Bobby shrugged, coming to stand next to Dean, "I don't know what to do."

As the three men bickered amongst themselves none of them noticed Michelle close her eyes as she stood, stoic, before the TVs, a tear falling down her cheek as she gathered her strength. She knew she needed to tell them, but...she'd been hiding this from them for so long, she didn't know where to begin...

~8~

Chuck sat in his home, typing up what seemed to be the last 'Supernatural' book. He took a swig of his drink before rereading what he'd written. He'd been writing about the car, about the boys' adventures in it.

"'In between jobs," he read, "If they weren't too injured to enjoy it, Sam and Dean would sometimes get a day, sometimes a week, if they were lucky. Though more so now that Michelle had joined them. They finished jobs quicker, were hurt less, healed faster when they were, except now they knew it was due to her angelic abilities helping them along. They'd pass the time lining their pockets. Sam used to insist on honest work, but now he hustles pool, like his brother…half the time he's really trying to impress Michelle with his skills. They could go anywhere and do anything. They drove 1,000 miles for an Ozzy show, two days for a Jayhawks game, 18 hours to make a quick stop to Disneyland once. And when it was clear, Michelle would get them to park the car in the middle of nowhere, sit on the hood, and watch the stars...for hours...without saying a word. It never occurred to the boys, though it was crystal clear to Michelle, that, sure, maybe they never really had a roof and four walls, but they were never, in fact, homeless.'"

He grinned, rereading that last phrase, "That's a good line."

Just then his phone began to ring and he answered quickly, excited, "Mistress Magda?"

"Um, no, Chuck," came the voice of Dean Winchester on the other end.

"Oh, uh, Dean," his eyes widened as he leaned forward, "Uh, wow. I, uh, I didn't know that you'd call."

"Who's Mistress Magda?"

"Nothing," he said quickly, "She's a, uh, a…just a, uh...a close friend."

"Yeah, I'll bet, real close," he could practically hear the eye roll in Dean's voice, "Whatever happened to Becky?"

"Didn't work out," he sighed, "I had too much respect for her."

"Boy, you really got a whole virgin/hooker thing going on, don't you?"

"Ok, this can't be why you called," Chuck said, getting uncomfortable with the jokes.

"Sam said 'yes.'"

"I know," he nodded to himself, "I saw it. I'm just working on the pages."

"Did you see where the title fight goes down?"

Chuck frowned, "The angels are keeping it top secret, very hush-hush."

"Aw, crap…"

"Didn't you ask Michelle? She saw it in the vision she had before coming to hunt with you."

"She said she didn't see the final battle!"

"Actually, she said she didn't see how it ended..." Chuck began, before adding quickly, "I can tell you if you want though, I saw it anyway. Perks of being a prophet. It's tomorrow, high noon, place called Stull Cemetery."

"Stull Ceme…wait," Dean sounded startled, "I know that. That's…that's an old bone yard outside of Lawrence. Why Lawrence?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, "It all has to end where it started, I guess."

"Alright, Chuck, look," Dean sighed, "You know of any way to short-circuit this thing?"

"Besides the rings? No. I'm sorry."

"Well, do you have any idea what's gonna happen next?"

"I wish I did. But I…I just…I honestly don't know. I mean, I knew how it happened before…"

"Before?" Dean asked, frown evident in his words.

"Before Michelle changed it."

"She changed it?" Dean ground out.

"Michael was descending on Adam, remember?" Chuck tried to explain, "He was supposed to take Adam, Adam was supposed to fight Sam…but now…I can't tell."

"Damn it Mickey!"

"But…if it's any help. I can't see how it'll happen, because I don't know what Michelle's plan is."

"Michelle's…plan?" Dean breathed.

Chuck nodded even though Dean couldn't see it, "She has a plan Dean, one she's been working on the whole year…but I…"

"Gotta go Chuck," Dean called quickly before the phone went dead.

Chuck sighed and put the phone back down.

~8~

Dean stormed out of the car, nearly breaking the door as he shoved it open. He stalked down the alley towards where Michelle, Bobby, and Castiel were standing around, talking.

"What's wrong?" Bobby asked, seeing the murderous look on Dean's face.

Dean was beyond pissed. All this time Michelle had a plan and she'd just let Sam go off and say yes?! What the hell was she thinking?!

"Something you want to tell me Michelle?" he glared at her, "'Cause Chuck seemed to imply you had some sort of trick up your sleeve for a while now…" Bobby and Castiel turned to look at her as she looked down, "Also said that you changed what was supposed to happen by saving Adam. Did you know? Did you?!"

"Yes!" she shouted, "Yes, I knew!"

"Michelle?" Bobby frowned, looking at her almost disappointed.

She took a breath, "I didn't just see you and Sam break the seals in my vision," she began, "I saw the battle...the whole battle..." she shook her head, "I saw what happened after it…"

"And?" Dean asked, trying to wrap his head around what could possibly make her let Sam say yes.

"Michael took Adam," she explained, recalling the dream, "And he faced Sam, who'd said yes to Lucifer. It was the same plan, jump in the hole…but it didn't work…"

"And you let Sam say yes anyway?" Dean shouted.

"Dean, let the girl talk!" Bobby snapped as Michelle flinched at Dean.

"They faced each other and Sam eventually did jump in the hole…" she said, "But after he killed Castiel…" Castiel's eyes widened in shock at that. He knew she'd had a vision, but she never told him exactly what it was, "And Bobby…" Bobby's mouth dropped open, "And beat you to within an inch of your life Dean," she finished looking at him, "And it got worse."

"How?" Dean breathed.

"Sam came back. But he was different, his soul was trapped in Hell. He didn't have a soul Dean! Sam took Adam with him, there was anarchy in Heaven without Michael there, Crowley was taking over Hell, demons were running amuck, Sam was half-working for Crowley when he reunited with you! Castiel went off the deep end, trying to set himself up as the next god by absorbing the souls in Purgatory! Bobby was killed and became a vengeful spirit! The angels just kept screwing with everything! Eve was freed. The Leviathans were freed. Everything was just going to hell on Earth, everything was messed up. I had to stop it!"

"Well what are we supposed to do now?" Dean demanded, "Adam's dead, he's not Michael, how the hell are we supposed to stop Lucifer?!"

"Adam's dead," Michelle agreed, before steeling herself for what she had to say next, "But you're not."

Dean blinked, shocked that Michelle was now telling him to say 'yes' to Michael.

"No," he shook his head, he wouldn't kill his brother, "Not a chance."

"It has to be you Dean," Michelle continued softly, "Because…if you say yes…there's a better future out there."

"How?" he nearly spat.

How could a future without Sam be better?

"I have a plan that will save both of you. But I need you to say yes."

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you," she said, holding up a hand when Dean made a move to argue, "It's one of those rare times where I can't tell you Dean. If I do, then Michael will know what it is…and he can't know. You need to trust me."

Dean swallowed hard looking at her, considering her words.

Michelle, seeing his struggle, took a breath and continued, "I swear you will have your brother back. I promise both you and Sam will walk away from this and the angels will leave you alone. I promise."

"Ok," Dean said, nodding, "You didn't have to promise anything…after all this time…I figure I sort of owe you for a lot. And I do, trust you, that is."

"Thank you," she smiled, hugging him quickly.

"But…" he blinked mid-hug, pulling away to look at her, "You said Sam and I will be ok…will you?"

She stepped back, moving her hands behind her as she nodded, "Of course."

Dean frowned, "Promise?"

"I promise."

Dean nodded before sighing, "Come on Cas, call me up an angel."

He walked away, with Castiel following, to prepare to say yes. Bobby looked over at her, "You sure about this plan of yours baby girl?"

She nodded.

He sighed and turned to follow after the boys.

As soon as Bobby's back was turned, she uncrossed her fingers from behind her back. She was sure about most of the things she'd promised Dean, most definitely not the last one though.

~8~

Lucifer stood in the middle of the cemetery, waiting, when suddenly Dean, or should he say Michael, appeared, "It's good to see you Michael."

"You too," Michael replied, "It's been too long. Can you believe it's finally here?"

"No," Lucifer frowned, "Not really."

"Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be," Lucifer replied, smiling a bit, "A part of me wishes we didn't have to do this."

"Yeah," Michael nodded, "Me too."

"Then why are we?"

"Oh, you know why!" Michael glared, "I have no choice, after what you did."

"What I did?" Lucifer asked, incredulous, "What if it's not my fault?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Think about it. Dad made everything, which means he made me who I am! God wanted the devil."

"So?" Michael shook his head.

"So why? And why make us fight? I just can't figure out the point."

"What's your point?" Michael frowned, for someone so evil Lucifer seemed far too reluctant to fight his brother.

"We're going to kill each other. And for what? One of dad's tests. And we don't even know the answer," Michael tensed, some faint recollection of Dean's flaring to life, a whisper from Joshua, before it faded, "We're brothers. Let's just walk off the chessboard."

"I'm sorry," Michael shook his head, "I…I can't do that. I'm a good son, and I have my orders."

"But you don't have to follow them!"

"What, you think I'm gonna rebel?" he nearly spat, "Now? I'm not like you."

"Please, Michael…" Lucifer nearly begged.

"You know, you haven't changed a bit little brother. Always blaming everybody but yourself. We were together. We were happy. But you betrayed me, all of us, and you made our father leave, knowing you'd come back made him leave us."

"No one makes dad do anything. He is doing this to us."

"You're a monster, Lucifer. And I have to kill you."

"If that's the way it's got to be..." Lucifer nodded, "Then I'd like to see you try."

Michael was silent a moment before he lunged at his brother…

The Apocalypse had begun.

~8~

Michelle was silent as she stood in the alley. Dean had disappeared moments ago, after Michael had descended, and there she was…waiting. She looked up at the sky, it was morning now…soon it would start and she'd have to implement her plan.

Suddenly the sky went dark, an eerie red hue amongst the clouds. Michelle gasped, feeling a flash of warmth surge through her, and quickly ran to Castiel, "Cas…send me to the cemetery," she said, taking his hands.

"I can't," he frowned, "I don't have the power..."

"You do now," she said, her hand glowing just a tiny bit, "Enough to send me there."

"Michelle, no," Bobby started, not wanting her to wander into the middle of the smack down of the century alone.

"I have to," she said quietly. She looked back at Castiel, who nodded and placed two fingers on her forehead…

And then she was standing on the side of a war zone.

Trees were uprooted, gravestones were broken, the ground was cracked, fires were everywhere. She looked up to see Sam and Dean…no, Lucifer and Michael…dealing blows. Michael threw a hefty punch, knocking Lucifer back. But before Michael could advance on him, Lucifer had reappeared before him, sending him flying back with a swift uppercut. Michael went flying through the air, crashing through the few remaining upright trees and collapsing on the ground.

Lucifer took a step towards his brother when…

"Lucifer!" Michelle shouted

He spun around to see Michelle standing behind him, about twenty feet away. He shook his head at her sadly, she was interfering with his fun…all bets were off now, she was fair game. He reached out a hand, causing vast amounts of pain to race up the girl's spine. She screamed, falling to her knees as cuts appeared on her body, her nose began bleeding. He dropped his hand as she slumped forward, panting.

"Such a disappointment," Lucifer commented, before raising his left hand to finish her off when…

What little light there was left glinted on a piece of metal on his ring finger.

Sam could see the wedding ring he wore…that tiny piece of metal that represented Michelle's love for him and his for her…suddenly a rush of images flew through his mind, of Castiel, of Bobby, of Dean, but more importantly, of Michelle…the girl who had found her way onto a battlefield for him. The images came faster, her smiling, laughing, crying, sleeping, hunting, fighting, researching, hurt, happy…married…the last image, the sight of Michelle just before he was to 'kiss the bride' faded and he was Sam again.

He grabbed his arm, pulling it back as he fell to his knees, "Michelle!" he shouted as she looked up, "I've got him…whatever you're planning, do it now!"

She nodded before reaching out, with both hands now glowing, Michael watched as a light flew out of her hands and struck Sam, hitting him in his chest, a wind rippling out of it from the sheer power of it. She pushed, the light passing through Sam. He watched as Sam fell to the ground, unconscious, but a swirl of black energy remained, the light striking it in the chest…Lucifer.

She had pushed the angel right out of him.

The sight of his brother was off-putting for the angel. Where once there was a brilliant white light, was now a dark cloud, the only true light where two small holes where the eyes should have been, eyes now narrowed slits, glaring at Michelle.

Michelle panted, half-hunched over, the light now up to her shoulders.

Michael watched as she scrunched her eyes shut and pushed herself to her feet, pushing the light out farther…the glow spreading throughout her body till it she was faintly glowing herself. He heard a scream of pain and looked over to see that the light hitting Lucifer in the chest, the wind billowing from it, was causing the dark cloud to ripple around it, a faint light starting to expand from where Michelle's power touched. His eyes widened as he watched the wind the power was creating blow at Lucifer, pushing through him as it had Sam, but this time pushing the dark cloud back with it. As Lucifer screamed the cloud seemed to grow angry, clinging to its host.

Michelle grunted, her foot slipping, as she was pushed back by the cloud's resistance, but she didn't give up.

Michael gasped as the light around Michelle started to flicker, growing stronger and brighter each time, "Michelle!" he shouted, realizing what she was going to do…she was putting her all into one final push, "Don't! It'll kill you!"

Michelle, despite the violent gusts around her and the pain coursing through her body, the pounding in her ears in time with her heart that was on the verge of giving out, managed to hear him. She turned her head, looking at her father, tears streaming down her face.

"I know," she whispered, though he heard her anyway.

She turned and, with a strangled cry, pushed the light out with all her might. The dark cloud was forced completely away from Lucifer, who fell to the ground, a faint ball of white light, hovering just inches above the ground.

Michelle fell to her knees as the wind and light pushed the shadow back…a moment later the cloud exploded in a rain of fire and ash.

Michelle fell to the ground.

A split second later Dean's body fell to the ground, a light shooting off towards the small ball that was Lucifer, grabbing it and lifting it up to the sky, through the dark clouds that had culminated, breaking through to let a ray of light down which slowly spread over the cemetery till it was a beautiful day once more.

~8~

Dean groaned as he blinked awake, feeling much like he'd been run over by a car or had the worst hangover of his life…and he'd had some pretty bad ones. He rubbed his head, blinking as he looked around, everything coming into focus. He was lying on the ground in a cemetery…why was he in a cemetery agai…SAM!

He sat up quickly, ignoring the stabbing pain in his head that came with the movement, to see Sam lying a few feet away, on his side. He scrambled to his brother, checking him, almost laughing in relief when he felt a pulse beneath his fingers.

"Sam!" he shouted, shaking his brother, "Sammy!"

Sam winced at the feeling of being shoved and slowly opened his eyes to see Dean leaning over him, "Dean? Wha..." he groaned, feeling the pain as well.

"Is it you?" Dean asked, eyeing him closely, it seemed like Sam. Something had been off when Lucifer had been in him before, he hadn't truly believed it was Sam at first either, and he'd been right. But this…this was his brother. He just knew it.

"Yeah," he nodded, sitting up, he moved to rub his forehead as Dean had done, when a glint caught his eye. He looked down at his hand, seeing the ring on his finger, and his eyes widened, "Michelle!" he called, looking around for her.

"What?" Dean frowned, seeing the absolute terror in his brother's eyes.

"She was here!" Sam told him, turning to look over his shoulder, "No!" he shouted, quickly pushing himself up to run to where the prone form of Michelle was lying. He skid down onto the ground, scooping her into his arms, "Michelle!"

Dean quickly knelt on her other side, reaching out to feel for a pulse…his stomach dropping when he realized there was none, "Sam…" he said slowly, not sure how to tell his brother.

"No!" Sam shook his head, realizing what Dean was saying, "No, she's not dead! She can't be!"

"She's cold," Dean replied…however long they'd been out, he could bet she'd been gone that long. He cursed the angels, he couldn't remember a single thing about what had happened, how she'd ended up that way.

"No…she's…it's just the chill," Sam argued, pulling his coat off to put it over her like a blanket, "It's chilly out…she was lying there a while, she's just chilled."

"Sam…" Dean began.

"She's not dead!" Sam nearly snarled at his brother, cradling Michelle to him, rocking her back and forth, tears in his eyes. But he knew the truth, she was gone…and it hurt. It hurt so much more than Jessica, than any woman he'd ever lost before, "No…" he sobbed, hunching in on himself.

"Sam!" someone called, they looked up to see Bobby and Castiel running over to them, "Dean!"

"Oh no…" Castiel breathed, seeing Michelle lying there, paler than death.

"What…" Bobby shook his head, unwilling to believe his eyes.

"How'd you get here?" Dean asked, his mind still trying to process what was happening.

"I felt my powers return," Castiel said.

He'd been standing in the alley, praying for Michelle's safety, just knowing from the last look she'd given him that…it was too...final...when he'd suddenly felt a warmth spread through him, his powers, he'd been returned to his place as an angel. He'd immediately zapped him and Bobby to the cemetery…this was not what he'd been hoping and praying to find.

"Can you save her?" Sam looked up, "Bring her back?"

Castiel looked down at her and blinked, shaking his head slowly, "No…" he sounded stunned, "I can't."

"Why the hell not?!" Dean demanded, glaring up at him.

"It is beyond his power," a voice said from beside them.

They looked over to see a man who looked similar to their father though with a different nose and brown hair, Dean vaguely recognized him as their paternal grandfather. But he was standing beside another man, who looked just like a healthy Nick.

Just as Dean was about to demand who the hell they were, Castiel spoke, his voice filled with awe, "Michael."

"Michael?" Dean turned to look at his grandfather look-a-like and then to the next man who looked incredibly guilt ridden and sorrowful, "Lucifer?"

Sam growled and, had it not been for Michelle locked in his arms, would have lunged at the man, corporeal or not.

"Heal her, now!" Dean demanded, glaring at them.

"We can't," Michael said.

"It's your fault she's dead!" Dean growled, "Now heal her!"

"It's beyond even our power. What she did…" he shook his head, staring down at Michelle in a sad sort of awe.

"What did she do?" Bobby asked, tears actually falling from his eyes as he quickly tried to wipe them away before anyone noticed, but failed miserably.

"She pushed Lucifer out of Sam," Michael replied, before placing a hand on Lucifer's shoulder, squeezing it in what seemed like a reassuring manner, "And then...she pushed an evil out of Lucifer."

"I thought Lucifer was evil, period," Dean cut in, having gotten that much of a sense from vague recollections of his time as an angel condom.

"As did I," Michael nodded, "But I was wrong. We all were."

"Lucifer was...possessed?" Castiel frowned, not having thought it was possible.

Lucifer nodded, "You remember the legends brother," he said quickly, his voice thick with regret, "Of the evil that existed opposite our father?" Castiel nodded. It was the equivalent of the boogie man to angels, an evil that had been there as long as God, where there was light, there was also dark, "It took hold of me…it…" he swallowed hard, his eyes filled with tears, "It made me do such…horrible…" he couldn't even finish speaking as he looked down at Michelle, the result of all his actions.

She was dead, his brother's daughter, his niece, the wife of his vessel…because of him.

"The last push she made to free Lucifer took more power than she had," Michael continued, "She had to put everything into it, her heart, her life, her soul, her essence, her energy, her mind, everything she had, all her strength, focused on that one task…everything she had was used, everything is no more."

"No…" Castiel breathed.

"What?" Dean looked up sharply.

"She's gone," Castiel replied in shock, "Everything that ever made her Michelle was destroyed in the blast. Her heart, her mind, her soul…it's all gone," he looked down at the girl, "That's a shell…a body…an empty one…"

Sam let out a shuddered breath as he pulled Michelle more firmly to him.

"She has done much for us, and for you," Michael continued after a moment, "Not only has she returned my brother to us, but she has destroyed the First Evil, and she has broken the curse upon your family."

"What?" Dean looked up, startled, "How?"

"I tried to tell you boys," a voice said.

They looked over to see Gabriel standing there, in the flesh, looking like he hadn't been killed by his brother.

"Gabriel," Lucifer breathed, relieved to see his brother alive, but feeling imminently guilty for what he'd done.

Gabriel just smirked, "Hey bro," he smiled, that one gesture letting Lucifer know he didn't blame him. He turned back to the boys, "You had to stop sacrificing yourselves for each other. Someone outside your family had to feel you deserved to be forgiven. THEY had to sacrifice themselves for each of you to free you," Sam and Dean looked at him, stunned, "Some trick," he whistled, "Most people can only sacrifice themselves once."

"What?" Sam breathed.

"She gave up her soul for Dean when she went to Hell," Castiel said, it was the one plan Michelle HAD let him in on, "It was the first step."

"She gave up her life for Sam," Michael added, his eyes still on her, full of sorrow.

"But Adam?" Dean shook his head.

"You didn't think she came out from that confrontation completely unscathed did you?" Gabriel asked incredulously, "When she pulled Adam out she went against her father's plan, she disobeyed her father's will. She sacrificed her rights to salvation because of that," he shook his head sadly, "When she died, she wouldn't be allowed into Heaven. But she did it anyway. Her soul, her life, and her afterlife, for your family," he looked up at the boys, "Curse is over. I can't believe she figured it out."

"Of course she did," a voice said from behind them, "It was my gift to her," they turned around to see Chuck standing there, "An innate knowledge of the divine and a way to use that knowledge."

"Chuck?" Dean squinted. There was something...different...about the man. He was standing straighter, more confident, and decked out all in white.

Chuck smiled, "You didn't think I'd let the child of one of my angels enter this battle unprepared did you?"

"God?" Castiel asked, eyes wide.

"Castiel," Chuck greeted with a nod, "She gave up more than just that," he continued, "From the time she was a child, she knew she would die in this battle."

"If she was going, it would be on her terms," Gabriel said, echoing his words to Michelle before he himself had died.

Dean felt a cold pit settle in his stomach, even then Michelle knew she was going to die for them. Sam could only squeeze his eyes shut, realizing now, all that talk about wanting a wedding…it hadn't been to convince herself that he'd be ok, it had been to make him think she would be ok.

"She was planning how the last year or so," Chuck nodded.

"But…" Dean shook his head, "If she knew she was going to do this…why go after the Horsemen?" he looked at Gabriel, the angel who told them to do it.

"I always had a suspicion that this…" he gestured around vaguely, "Was never about you two boys," he admitted, "It was about Michelle. It was a test for her, right?" he looked over at Chuck.

Chuck nodded, "She represented the best of both my creations, human and angel. Her actions would decide who was worthy to be saved, luckily, it was both of you. Her angelic powers driven by such human love."

Gabriel nodded, turning back to the boys, "The closer the Apocalypse got, the stronger she got. But she needed to test her strength, SHE needed to be the one to face the Horsemen. Only when she was able to face them all, and win, would she be ready to face Lucifer, to save him apparently. It was all a test for her. It was a progression, with each Horseman using more of her powers to face."

"But Death?" Dean shook his head, "Death gave us his ring."

Gabriel just whistled, "Hell, just to face him and come away alive is a feat," he looked meaningfully at Dean, "She touched him, Dean, she shook Death's hand. She faced death, stared him in the face, and accepted it. No one touches Death without dropping dead."

"She broke her promise to him too then," Dean muttered, looking down at Michelle.

She'd promised she'd be ok…and now she was dead. The one promise she didn't keep was the one they needed her to more than anything.

"Not really," Gabriel shrugged, "When Death told her that Sam was the only one who could stop Lucifer, he meant he was the only one strong enough to hold him off so Michelle could 'do what must be done' to stop him. And she did what had to be done."

"Can you help her?" Sam asked suddenly, looking up at Chuck, "Please, I don't care if I have to be cursed again, just bring her back," Dean nodded in agreement, seeing the heartbreak in his brother's eyes.

"She gave up everything she had to save you," Chuck repeated, "Her soul was destroyed."

Sam turned his gaze back to Michelle, his heart breaking all over again, the small shred of hope…

"But luckily," Chuck continued, grinning, "I am God, I can do pretty much anything," the boys looked up at him quickly as Chuck just crouched down and placed two fingers on Michelle's forehead.

A moment later Michelle breathed in deeply, her eyes still shut, "Thanks Chuck," she said, breathing out, before blinking as she opened her eyes.

"You knew?" Dean demanded, stunned by the revelation that Michelle knew Chuck had been God the whole time…however Sam's reaction was far different.

He'd grabbed Michelle into his arms, pulling her into a tight hug, holding her as though afraid she would disappear if he let go. He'd come so close to losing her, to truly losing her, as in 'never coming back' losing her…never ever, EVER again, he swore it. With every fiber of his being he would keep her with him till they both died of ridiculously old age…

Michelle smiled softly, hugging Sam just as tightly. She'd had a sliver of hope that she might somehow come back, but she'd known she was most likely not going to. She knew what she was giving up to save the brothers, to save her father and uncle, her family…the world…but she'd come to terms with it…now though, being back…she couldn't help but feel gratitude at Chuck/God for allowing her back.

Sam helped her to her feet, holding her close even as Michael approached her. She eyed her father warily at first, unsure of what to do or say to the man she'd never known.

Luckily Michael took care of that.

He reached out and pulled her into a gentle hug, "I'm so glad you are alright."

"You are?" Michelle asked, stunned. That was not what she was expecting.

"You are my daughter and I love you," Michael said, pulling back to stare her in the eye, the truth of his words shining through.

"But…" Michelle shook her head, "I thought I was a mistake?"

It was the only reason she could come up with as a child for why he'd never had a part in her life at all. Why Castiel and Gabriel had been there for her more than he ever had.

"No," Michael shook his head quickly, "You were a reward."

He knew his actions, or seeming lack thereof, had affected her deeply. His absence in her life left her feeling as though she were lacking. He knew his reaction to Uriel attacking her in the past with Anna must have cemented that, but he couldn't react to her being hurt. She hadn't told the boys yet that he was her father. And it had been willed by God upon her conception that only she could tell others about her parentage, all the angels knowing how dangerous her life would be not just as a Hunter, but should the wrong people, demons, or creatures learn who and what she was. He'd had to act unaffected when he'd seen her hurt. To be too outwardly concerned, given what the brothers thought of him at that point, that he was an unfeeling soldier, would have made them too suspicious too early. He'd had to keep him himself out of her life for that same reason. Archangels, save Gabriel, hardly EVER came to Earth. If he appeared just to visit a little girl, that would have tipped off the demons and he'd be damned if he was the reason his daughter was hunted. Everything he'd done had been to protect her.

Chuck nodded when Michelle looked at him for confirmation, "I gave him the chance to create a child, you," he told her.

He knew what her parents had told her, a story of a rebellion in Heaven, of Michael being thrown out in the process, forgetting his angelic roots...it was a story Michael had told her parents when he had visited them as John Winchester. It was the story the angel wanted them to tell her. In truth, Michael had fallen from Heaven, with his Grace intact, upon the blessing from him that this action would lead to a child. It had been left in God's...well, his...hands after that. He'd arranged for Micael to fall into Miles Davidson, the force of the fall did lead to amnesia. It had been planned that way. He wanted Michael to experience genuine love, to conceive a child out of that love and not just because he thought his father willed it. Making Michael forget had allowed the angel to fall in love, to have that child. Michael's story about the rebellion, it had been his own way of letting Michelle know that she'd been conceived out of love, so she wouldn't feel like her birth had just been the result of another order as Michael had let himself fall due to his words and promise.

"You're Michael's shield not because you allow him to fight through protecting the sword," Chuck continued, "But because you give him a reason to fight."

Michelle blinked back a few tears, the brothers smiling at her, happy to know that she could no longer think of herself as a mistake. Bobby strode up to her as soon as Michael had stepped back, hugging her as well, happy she was alive. This was then followed by Dean, then Castiel, and even Gabriel.

Chuck stood back, watching with a pleased look on his face, when Lucifer stepped forward.

"Michelle…" he said quietly. Sam and Dean tensed, still not too trusting of the once-damned angel. Michelle just turned to him as Sam pulled her back into his arms, "How did you know? That the First Evil had possessed me…not even my brothers knew."

"As ironic as it is…" she began, "It was actually something Zachariah said that got the thought in my mind that something was wrong."

"Zachariah?" Dean frowned, the douche-angel?

She nodded, "The first thing he said to us once Lucifer was free was that Michael had to defeat the serpent…but he didn't say Lucifer. It almost sounded like they were two separate entities. And there were references in some lore that the serpent in the garden that tricked Eve wasn't Lucifer. So it made me wonder who it was and if it had any sort of connection to Lucifer at all, which it did, but not in the way you think.

"There was also how Lucifer spoke, like an angel, not a human," she continued, "The longer an angel is away from Heaven the more human he should get, act, sound, like with Gabriel or Cas, but Lucifer still spoke like one even after millenia. So I started thinking that something was keeping him in a perpetual state, a stasis, from when he was an angel. So he had to have been possessed when he was still an angel of the Lord…but how? When?

"When we went to the supposed-future, the Lucifer there said something about how he wouldn't bow to the humans because they were flawed," she added, "But humans weren't considered flawed till after they ate the apple and were cast out of Eden. Which meant the fall of Lucifer actually had to have happened after that! Meaning the snake couldn't be Lucifer. So what was it?

"I did some digging and found out that there were a few obscure references in other older religions of a great evil being represented as a snake…so I did more research on that evil and found out that there was a great evil at the beginning of time that opposed the light, God. But that this evil couldn't exist without something to latch onto, like a parasite. It had to have a host. Even a split second without one could destroy it. It latched itself onto the shadow of God, the evil that existed opposite him, till he created Eden and the animals, where it grabbed hold of a snake, the one from the Tree of Knowledge.

"After Adam and Eve were cast out, light was brought to the garden to cleanse it of the impurities Adam and Eve had unleashed on the world, to keep the garden pure. The light would have had to been borne by the light bearer, Lucifer. I guessed that when he came to the garden, somehow, the evil jumped from the snake to Lucifer when he tried to banish it…and then it just spread its influence through the angels like a disease. But it stuck to Lucifer as its primary host, merging with his spirit…when he possessed Sam, a corporeal body as opposed to an angel's spiritual one, it merged with Sam's blood, which made it more corporeal, solid enough for me to cast it out…

"And then there was the demon blood. Why would Lucifer, an archangel, need his vessel to ingest demon blood but not Michael and his vessel. It had to be that there was something more that needed to be contained, a second element. For one angel to take a host is fine, but two entities would be something that explained needing demon blood to sustain the host. "

She looked over to see everyone except Chuck staring at her, half-awed, half-shocked.

Chuck just nodded, "And half that information, all the bits about the First Evil and how it sustained itself, can't be found in any book. Part of my gift to her, she just knows everything about Heaven, about angels, about creation, some things not even the angels know," he smiled softly at his sons, "I wanted this to be over too, you know."

He just wanted his sons, his family, back together again.

"Is that how you knew he was God?" Castiel asked, turning to look at Michelle. Even he hadn't known and he had been an angel at the time.

"Kind of," Michelle said, "Remember how I could see flickering angel wings behind him but not on him?" Castiel and the brothers nodded, "I wasn't exactly clear about the number of wings…you assumed I saw one set, but I saw thousands. Only one person would be that connected to angels. God."

"Just how much have you 'not been clear' about?" Dean demanded, turning a hard look on her, "I want the truth, now, Mickey."

He'd had enough of all the secrets and lies. Sure, right now, he was just so relieved that Michelle was alive and Sam was alive and they were all free, but still…part of him felt like a failed older brother, that he hadn't known what she was planning.

She smiled softly, "Part of the perks of being part human, I can lie," she laughed a bit before sighing, "My dad was completely German, not a speck of French in him, his middle name was Joseph not Michelle, I was named after my father though," she nodded over at Michael, "And that was basically the sum of the lies you didn't find out the truth about."

Dean thought back. It was true, pretty much everything he'd suspected she was hiding they did find out about. Her time in Hell, her parentage, her powers, her plan to save them all.

Chuck smiled before stepping up, his face solemn, "Michelle, I'm sorry but…you need to make a choice…"

"About what this time?" she asked, almost dreading the oncoming question.

"Wait!" Dean cut in, looking over at Michael, "You said there was no such thing as freewill."

"Of course there's freewill," Michelle smiled lightly at Dean.

"But…" Dean shook his head, recalling her previous words.

"You always have a choice Dean. When they say that they know where it will lead…it's not that you don't have a choice, it's just that…well, this is God we're talking about. He made all of us, he knows us so well that he knows what we'll pick. That's all Michael meant by seeing the final outcome."

Chuck nodded, "She's right. For example, I knew Michelle would die in this battle because the amount of power needed to save Lucifer would kill her. But would she be the Michelle you know if she didn't try to save the both of you?" he looked at Dean and Sam, the latter who still hadn't let Michelle step out of his arms.

"No," Sam whispered, hugging her closer.

"There you go," Chuck nodded, "She had a choice, but I knew which one she'd make," he laughed a little, "Seems like she's always had the most important decisions to make."

"Like what?" Dean asked, suspecting this wasn't the first time God had given her a choice.

"We gave her a choice once, sent to her in a dream when she was three, to help fight in the Apocalypse, or to forget the dream and live on as a normal girl."

"My parents really did want to settle down," Michelle looked up at Sam, "Wanted me to have a chance at normal."

Castiel smiled, he'd been the angel assigned to offer her that choice, "She got up from her bed, walked downstairs to where her parents were, and told them she knew monsters were real and to teach her how to fight them."

"So…that's what you meant when you talked to Jesse," Dean looked at her, "About the choices and expectations on children."

She nodded sadly, recalling that whole situation…but then smiled softly as she recalled that, now that Lucifer was free and the First Evil was gone, so were the boy's powers. He'd be a normal boy again.

"We gave her another choice," Chuck continued, "When you two opened the Devil's Gate, we sent her a vision of what was coming, of you two, the first and last seal, the final battle…she could either ignore it or help you."

"I got up, packed my bags, and went to find you," Michelle smiled, leaning back into Sam's embrace, very happy she'd made that choice.

"When she returned from Hell we offered to take her to Heaven and heal her, or she could return to you and try to protect the seals."

"I headed down the road towards South Dakota."

"And I offered her the power to recharge Castiel enough to get her here, even knowing she would die if she came."

"As you can see, I appeared out of nowhere."

Chuck looked thoughtful a moment, "You know…you never really ever gave us an actual answer. You just got up and went."

She looked over at him, "Was there even a question? Fighting for good in the Apocalypse, saving two brothers from an extra burden, helping try to stop the end of the world, saving my husband and my brother…there was absolutely no question what anyone would pick."

Chuck smiled at her, more like beamed proudly, "And that's why good won."

Michelle actually blushed at that.

"But, back to point, one final choice," Chuck turned to Michelle seriously, though also promising her an end to being the pawn they had made her all her life. He knew, as strong as she was, she had spent her life knowing she was meant to be Heaven's warrior, fighting on the same side as a father she thought hated her, knowing her life would end during the Apocalypse. She had been more than a little resentful of that at times, and rightly so. It had been more than anyone, even him, had a right to ask of a child. But there she was, pushing past it, finding the strength to fight for good, and so, he could promise her this, one last decision to make before they left her in peace, "Since you did die," he smiled softly at how the brothers and Bobby winced at that, "You can stay here and remain on Earth, or continue on and go to Heaven."

Michelle frowned, taking a step before the brothers to face Chuck, "So…I need to pick between going to Heaven and seeing my parents, my friends, my family, reliving my happiest memories, at peace, in paradise, forever…or staying here, fighting and hunting, getting injured, never knowing if I'm going to die, living in cheap motel rooms, eating greasy food, with Dean's immaturity and Sam's gas? Is there even a question?"

Sam and Dean looked down, frowning, Sam with tears in his eyes, when you put it that way…there really was no question.

Michelle stepped back with a smile, linking her arms with theirs, "My boys, any day."

Sam and Dean's heads snapped up to look at her, stunned.

She just smiled at them.

"What?" Dean breathed.

"Someone's gotta keep you alive on hunts," Michelle reasoned to him before turning to see Sam, tears glistening in his eyes, "And I just got you, I'm not about to lose you now," she leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss, "Marriage is forever, Sam…I still want that wedding though."

Sam just laughed before pulling Michelle up into his arms and spinning her around.

Dean looked over to see Chuck watching with an unsurprised smile.

"You knew she'd pick us right?" Dean asked, Chuck nodded as Sam set Michelle back down, "Then why offer it?"

Chuck shrugged, "Why not? Just because I know what you'll pick doesn't mean you always know. You have to make the decision and understand why. That's all life is, a mess of decisions that lead towards happiness and purpose. And personally," he smiled more, "I love watching all of you come to the decisions on your own. Like Gabriel said, you are flawed, but you try so hard to be better. You really are amazing creations."

Dean smiled, feeling more than a bit proud, not just of him but of all of humanity.

Chuck took a deep breath, "Well, looks like my work here is done," he looked up at the sky, "I'm a bit homesick, Earth is amazing in it's own right, but Heaven…Heaven is home."

Dean nodded, understanding completely. Nothing ever beat your home.

Chuck walked over to Michael, Gabriel, and Lucifer, hugging his sons in turn, having not seen them in ages. Not even when he'd been parading around as a prophet. Only one was born every lifetime now. It used to be more, but the only angels that could be trusted to protect a prophet were archangels. Gabriel was running around on Earth and already protecting someone else, Lucifer was possessed and trapped in Hell, Michael couldn't be tethered to him as he knew Michelle would eventually cross paths with 'Chuck' so Raphael had been left to guard the prophet version of him. Now though, he had his boys back. Well...most of them...

Dean turned to Castiel, who was still staring at Chuck in shock, "What are you gonna do now?" he asked the angel, as Michelle, Sam, and Bobby walked over with him.

"Return to Heaven, I suppose," Castiel answered, shaking himself out of his thoughts and turning to them.

Michelle smiled, stepping forward to hug the angel briefly, "I'm happy for you."

She knew how hard it had been for Castiel to be cut off. Secretly, it was her opinion that this whole test for her might have had a small bit of it be a test for Castiel too. He had to continue on, even when everything was against him, when things looked darkest he still had to hope it would work out…he'd truly proved himself to be an angel through it all. Not to mention her boys. Sam and Dean had been tested every which way through it all, dealing with contracts running out, demon blood, Lilith, the Apocalypse, they'd been tested in their own way while also providing her with strength to face her own challenges.

"Oh, before I go," Chuck called, walking over, "Two quick things," they turned to face him, expectantly, he stepped up to Michelle and smiled, "I have something I want to give you," he reached out and put two fingers on her forehead for a moment before pulling away.

Michelle opened her eyes. The boys watched as they widened, looking stunned and grateful.

"What happened?" Sam asked, a bit concerned.

"He healed me…" Michelle breathed, "From Hell, he healed all of that."

Dean blinked, "But isn't that supposed to take like...more than fifteen years?"

Chuck laughed, "I made the world in 7 days Dean, I'm pretty sure I can do something like this in seconds," Dean looked down, bashful at that, "And before you say something," Chuck looked at Sam, who was about to open his mouth, "Yes, there are rocks that are millions of years old, I love seeing all of you come up with your own conclusions and debates or just keeping faith," Chuck laughed, "Besides, millions of years could be like a day for me, right?"

Sam smiled, his unasked question being answered. One thing was for sure, Chuck...God...whatever he wanted to be called...had a certain sense of humor.

"And second?" Michelle asked, getting them back to point.

"Right," he nodded, "It seems I have a position for an archangel available."

"So then Raphael's…" Michelle began.

"I know everything he did," he nodded, having learned that Raphael had been in league with Zachariah from the start to kick off the Apocalypse, of his two remaining archangels, he had been the one to doubt, to start the Apocalypse because he was tired of waiting, patience was a virtue the angel didn't have, and he couldn't have that, "As Joshua said," he grew serious, "You know how I can get with that whole wrath thing," Sam and Dean swallowed at that, but Chuck just brightened and turned to Castiel, "What do you say Castiel? I think you've earned a promotion."

They looked at Castiel, who looked on the verge of passing out at the offer, if that were possible for an angel. He was staring at Chuck, wide eyed, in shock, his mouth actually hanging open. They waited a few moments but Castiel still remained frozen.

"Cas," Michelle nudged him.

"Yes," Castiel nodded, blinking as he snapped out of it, "It would be an honor."

Chuck nodded, "Good," he snapped his finger and there was a bright light. When it cleared Castiel was standing there, looking just as he always did, but with Jimmy's body lying on the ground.

"What the…" Dean breathed.

"Archangels are more powerful than regular angels," Michelle told him as Castiel knelt down and placed two fingers on Jimmy's head, the man disappearing, "They can appear without a physical form."

"Where'd he go?" Sam asked.

"I sent him home," Castiel replied, standing up, "Michelle did promise he would be returned when this was over."

Michelle smiled, that she had, "Thanks Cas."

Castiel nodded before turning and walking over to stand by the other archangels.

"See ya round," Chuck smiled, nodding his goodbyes to them before snapping his fingers.

They were gone, leaving Sam, Michelle, Dean, and Bobby standing in Bobby's study once again.

~8~

Sam was taking nothing for granted when it came to Michelle. She wanted a wedding, he gave her a wedding. They'd decided to hold it at her house, having a yard that was expansive and not filled with scrap cars. They'd sent out invitations via phone calls to all the Hunters they could think of that were still alive, even some who had retired, like Martin who, they'd learned, had checked himself out of the mental hospital a week or so after they'd left. They also didn't forget a few non-Hunter friends they'd made over the years, like Pamela.

And now it was time for the actual ceremony. There were chairs set up on either side of a small aisle that led to a white sort of tent/altar. There were quite a few Hunters on Sam's side as well as on Michelle's. All the Hunters they'd called said they would come and come they did. It wasn't often that Hunters found happiness so they took every opportunity they could to recall the good times when they could. And two of their own tying the knot was good enough for them, especially since it was a Davidson and a Winchester doing it, this was not something any Hunter would miss for anything. Wedding of the century in their little community.

Michelle and Sam were standing at the front of the gathering, off to the side of the altar, talking with Dean, who was the Best Man. They'd decided to forgo the whole walk down the aisle as they'd already done it. It was just a quick ceremony with friends this time. The priest who was going to conduct the ceremony was Gideon, the late Leah's father. Michelle didn't have a Maid of Honor as she had told the boys she and Jo Harvelle had promised to be each other's if they ever got married. Jo was dead therefore, no Maid of Honor. But Lisa was beautiful as a bridesmaid.

They were just about to start the ceremony, when a high-pitched wail resounded, growing unbearably loud. Sam, Dean, and the guests quickly covered their ears, hunching over to escape the noise, as Michelle just looked up listening, a smile growing on her face.

As soon as the noise was gone the Hunters were on their feet, guns drawn, looking for the source of the noise as the brothers turned to Michelle, "What was that?" Dean asked.

Michelle just beamed, "My family's coming."

Sam's eyes widened and he quickly turned to the guests, "Uh guys?" he shouted, getting the attention of all the Hunters, "Everything's fine…but we're gonna need all the Hunters on Michelle's side to move to my side, if you could?"

The Hunters looked around, confused for a moment, before doing what was requested, finding new seats on Sam's side, effectively filling every last seat.

"Sorry," Michelle smiled at them, "It's just…I have a rather…large…family, and they've just informed me they're all gonna make it."

Before the Hunters could question what she was talking about, there was a flash of bright white light, forcing them to turn away, and when they looked back, the seats on Michelle's side were full of various men and women. The Hunters were more stunned at the sudden appearance than threatened, so Michelle was thankful that they didn't draw their guns again. It seemed they'd figured out just what the people on her side of the aisle were. As quickly as word had spread that Sam had 'started the Apocalypse' in their community, word had somehow spread of her true parentage as well, while angels were forbidden to talk of it, the same could not be said for demons and humans. Nearly all the Hunters there now knew she was part angel as well.

"Congratulations!" a voice shouted. The trio looked over to see Chuck walking up the aisle towards them.

"Chuck!" Michelle laughed, keeping his 'code name' among the other Hunters, hugging him as the man stepped over to them, "What's all this about?"

"You're family. We're not going to miss this," Michelle and Sam smiled, "And besides, I wanted to make sure you got my gift."

Michelle gave him a questioning look, but he just nodded over his shoulder. She looked over it, her eyes widening at what she saw. She gasped, drawing Sam's attention, he looked over as well, his mouth dropping open, as was Dean's.

There, walking down the aisle towards them, was John and Mary Winchester, followed by Kelly Ann and Miles Davidson, followed by Adam and his mother, then Ellen and her husband, then Jo and Ash, Jesse and his parents, as well as Jimmy Novak and his family…but it was the first three sets that stunned, not only them, but the guests as well. There were mumblings among the Hunters as they watched in shock as their fellow Hunters, deceased ones, walked towards their children and friends.

"Oh my God," Sam breathed, seeing his mother beaming at him and Dean proudly.

"Mom?" Dean gaped.

"Dean," Mary smiled, stepping up and hugging her son, much like Kelly was doing with her daughter, "Sammy!" she turned and gave Sam a fierce hug as well, "Look at you both!"

"Dad," the boys greeted, stunned at seeing their father greet them with a large smile, seeming actually happy for once.

"Boys," he nodded at them, before stepping forward and pulling them both into a hug.

"My boys," Mary breathed again, tears falling from her eyes. She'd been watching over them from the moment she ended up in Heaven, nothing and no one would stop her from being able to do so. And she told them so as well, "I am so proud of you," she gushed, hugging them again.

"Me too," John agreed.

"Oh!" Sam started, catching a glimpse of Michelle being released from a hug by Jo. He stepped over and tugged her back, "Mom, dad…this is Michelle Davidson, my wife."

A fresh wave of tears hit Mary as she hugged her daughter-in-law, followed by a hug from John.

"Sam," Michelle said, taking Sam's hand, "These are my parents, Kelly Ann and Miles," she introduced as her parents walked over to them.

Sam could now understand why so many Hunters had thought that Michelle was Kelly at first glance. They were the same height, same hair color, same eye color, same nose. But she had a bit of Miles in her, his ears, his eyebrows, and his smile. It was to be expected that, even though Michael was her father, Miles was her human dad, she would look a little like him as well.

"It's so nice to meet you boys," Kelly stepped forward and gave Sam and Dean a hug while Miles followed with a firm handshake, "We were so happy when the cupids told us that Michelle had found you Sam."

Sam blushed at that. Michelle had once said she found it disturbing that the angels seemed to keep tabs on their relationship…he now saw what she meant.

"I'm happy I found her too," Sam said, holding Michelle to his side, squeezing her in a sideways hug.

"I'm just glad I got to be here for the wedding," Jo called, stepping over as her parents greeted John and Mary and Kelly and Miles.

"It's only for today," Chuck reminded them, "As Michelle and Castiel have said, everything has a season," Dean opened his mouth to ask something, but Chuck cut him off, "And yes, Dean, they will be there for your wedding too."

Sam turned to his brother, stunned, as Dean actually blushed, he'd had no idea Dean was planning to propose to Lisa.

"Well, let's not waste time then!" came Ellen's cheer. The three pairs of couples made their way to their respective sides, Miles and Kelly sitting on Michelle's side, John and Mary on Sam's, Jo standing beside Michelle along with Lisa while Dean and Ash stood by Sam, the Harvelles and Milligans sitting with the Winchesters while the Novaks and the Turners sat with the Davidsons.

Gideon was stunned at the sight and explanation that all the people, most of the people, sitting on Michelle's side were angels, honest to God angels. He recognized Castiel from before, and was a bit confused to see two of him, but he assumed the one in the trench coat was the angel as the other one had his arm wrapped around a woman. When the man, Chuck, had requested to do the ceremony…and he'd learned in a quiet whisper from Dean that Chuck was God, he'd graciously stepped down to sit with the Winchesters, next to Bobby and Ben.

The ceremony happened in the blink of an eye, and before Sam and Michelle knew it, they were married…again.

The reception basically remained in the wedding location but with the chairs moved to be placed around a few tables with a line of buffet food set up. People were milling around, Hunters talking with Miles or John, some angels speaking to Mary and Kelly about their children. Dean and Lisa were standing near the buffet table, quietly speaking, as Ben and Jesse played tag with Claire. Of course, Ben had already made a pass at Claire which just made something tug inside Dean at the thought that, according to Lisa and the test she'd run, Ben wasn't his.

"You do know Lisa," a voice said beside them. They looked over to see Michelle placing a slice of the wedding cake on her plate, "That an A mother and a B father can produce a child with AB blood, right?"

Dean looked over at Lisa, whose eyes were widening remarkably, stunned. She actually looked like she was about to drop her wine so Dean quickly snatched it.

"What?" Lisa breathed.

Michelle smiled mischievously, "You might want a DNA test with Dean instead."

That was all she said before walking off.

Dean blinked as the words sunk in. Apparently the test Lisa had done was a simple blood test, the other man was probably type AB, which was what made her think he was the father and not Dean…but…if Michelle was right…then Ben might very well be his son!

His moment of pure joy at the thought came crashing down as he realized something…Michelle had told them, as they sat around Bobby's table after stopping the Apocalypse to talk about everything in detail, that, in order to break the curse on their family, every existing member affected by the curse that was still alive had to have something sacrificed for them. She'd explained that, through Castiel's help, she'd discovered that the only remaining members of their family line were Dean, Sam, and Adam. No cousins, no uncles, no distant relatives survived but them.

Now though…if Ben was his son, there was another Winchester out there. The curse couldn't have been broken.

"You'd think, right?" a voice said. He looked over to see Gabriel standing there with a plate piled high with food. God had granted all the angels a physical form for the ceremony, and it seemed Gabriel was getting the most out of it, not quite used to not having a physical form anymore as he'd been returned to Heaven with his brothers, "But you'd be wrong."

He half-glared at the angel, he'd realized that the archangels seemed able to read minds as well…either that or he was far too easy a book to read. He'd go with the first option.

But then the words caught up to him, he turned to face the angel, "What do you mean?"

"You're thinking the curse isn't broken 'cause of the kid right?" Gabriel smirked as Dean nodded, "Come on big boy, you really think SHE," he nodded in the direction of Michelle, who was talking with Adam and his mother along with Sam, "Would risk that?"

Dean blinked, "What did she give up for him?" he shook his head, confused, "What else is there?"

Gabriel rolled his eyes, "Not all sacrifices have to be as big as the ones she did for you and Sam or Adam," Dean just gave him a look, expecting more, he sighed, "She gave up her earthly protection to Lisa and Ben."

"What?" Dean asked, not understanding, what protection?

"She told you about how that bastard Azazel tried to bleed on her right?" Gabriel asked, Dean nodded, "She's always thought it was her cries or something that drove him away, and that's fine, that's what her parents told her happened."

"But it's not," Dean followed, "Was it?"

Gabriel shook his head, watching Michelle as she now turned to talk to Jimmy and his family, "When Azazel tried it, Michael could sense his daughter was in danger and began to descend…that's what drove him off."

Dean blinked, "Why didn't her parents tell her?"

Michelle had gone through life thinking Michael hadn't cared, that he was ashamed of her, but that proved to Dean that Michael loved her even then.

Gabriel shrugged, "I have no idea. Anyway, bro realized that he'd sensed her danger too late, it takes a few seconds to filter up to Heaven and whatnot. He wanted someone on Earth that could be instantly alerted to any supreme danger she might face. Only problem was, the only angel he'd trust with his daughter was an archangel…and I was the only archangel on Earth."

"He found you?"

Gabriel nodded, "That was the only time I'd seen Michael since I left."

"I take it you agreed?"

"Of course I did," Gabriel frowned at Dean's lack of faith, "She's family. She's special."

Dean nodded, understanding, he felt the same about Sam, "But how did she give you up?"

Gabriel smirked, "When you went to see your girlfriend that last time before you were gonna let Michael jump you, you saw Michelle hug her right?" Dean nodded again, "She was tethering me to Lisa and Ben, untying me from her to tie to them. Sacrificed her protection."

Dean shook his head and looked over at Michelle, who was now standing with Sam, both of them sharing the piece of cake Michelle had gotten before. He smiled, Michelle really was something special. He glanced over at the line of presents, mostly boxes wrapped in newspaper, probably full of ammunition or guns, some sort or weapon, or charm, but there was one in specific he was looking for, with holes cut in the top…his gift. He quickly grabbed it and headed over to the duo.

"Hey man," Dean greeted, stepping up to Sam and Michelle.

"Hey," Sam smiled. Dean had to stop a moment, he'd never seen Sam smile that wide for that long. He hadn't stopped smiling all day actually. He took a moment to think to himself he could get used to seeing that.

"What's that?" Michelle asked, looking at the box in his hand.

"My wedding gift for you," Dean said, holding it out, "I know you're supposed to wait, but I really think it needs to be opened now otherwise there may be a slightly less pleasant present in there later."

Michelle eyed him curiously before taking the top off the box, her eyes widening as she held up a golden retriever puppy, yapping quietly, "Oh," she cooed, cuddling it in her arms.

Sam reached out and touched something dangling from the black collar around its neck, "'Bones II,'" he read, before turning to Dean, who could only shrug. During their time in Heaven, he could recall how happy Sam had been to see the dog and, well, if they were going to have a house and kids, they would need a dog, "Thank you Dean," Sam smiled, realizing this was the start of Dean forgiving him for his abandonment problems in the past.

"No problem," he waved him off.

"Aw," Michelle pet the puppy, "We are going to turn you into the perfect little hunting dog, yes we are."

"Hunting dog?" Dean frowned, turning to look at them, surprised.

"Uh, yeah," Sam said sheepishly, "We uh, we were thinking we might keep hunting."

"Really?" Dean asked, eyeing his brother.

"Really," Sam said, "I mean, you remember how Michelle said that now that Lucifer's free and the First Evil's gone, that so is Hell," he shook his head, remembering his shock when Michelle had mentioned that little fact, "All the demons are gonna be topside, swarming Earth, confused, causing chaos, trying to rally troops, start their own war…we need to stop them."

Dean blinked, "Who are you and what have you done with Sammy?"

Michelle and Sam laughed, "You're welcome to come Dean," Michelle began, but there was something knowing in her eyes.

Dean hesitated a moment, looking back at Lisa, "I…um…I'm sort of owed a beer."

Sam smiled widely, nodding, "Well then, you take your time enjoying it."

"Oh, believe me, I will," Dean nodded, eyeing Lisa up and down as she spoke quietly with Ben, who was glancing over at him with a broad grin. Dean couldn't help but grin back.

Michelle could only smile at the brothers as they stood there, surrounded by family and friends, safe, happy, alive. She closed her eyes, taking a breath in, just taking a moment to remember this, this was what she had fought and died for.

And it had been completely worth it.

The End

A/N: Wow, the saga is complete lol. I hope this chapter explained everything that was unanswered. I just realized as I was editing it that like half the chapter is original, I hope it was good and believable as well. I have no idea where all the talk about Lucifer being possessed and the snake and First Evil came from. I just couldn't help but think that there were tiny little things about Lucifer that didn't add up, so I tweaked the story, tweaked the lore a little to give another possible explanation. I threw in little references to the later seasons, everything Michelle saw in her vision, everything she had to stop from happening. I also added that little part about Raphael being in league with Zachariah, no idea if it's true, but it is in this story. Also, not sure if they ever mention what Chuck is in the show, I mean he randomly disappears at the end of this episode, dressed all in white? Of course I'll think he's God, and Chuck would make an awesome one :)

I really want to take a second to thank all of you, readers, reviewers, everyone. I was only hoping for 100 reviews and you gave them to me, which made me smile like you can't believe. It really means a lot to me that you read my stories and that you (for the most part) liked them :) I hope I did you proud with this ending, as promised Michelle did not jump in the hole lol :)

On Wednesday I will be posting my new Sherlock series The Jackie Holmes Chronicles, with the first story Holmes, Sweet Holmes, a little play on Home, Sweet Home. I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself. It'll be so weird not posting a full, complete, chapter for two whole days, lol, I'll probably go through withdrawal and post a chapter of 'The Adventures of Spaceman and Timegirl' earlier than planned, that or be as bad as Sherlock when he's 'bored.' Don't worry, I won't paint a smiley face on my wall and shoot it though :) But...with how I'm going to be posting the chapters, if I wait 2 days...we'll get The Woman just in time for Christmas, which just might be worth the wait lol :)