Cas watched Gabriel and Molly watching each other. Neither had moved to speak
"Before either of you says anything I think it is my place to advise that you both consider your words before speaking. There is a lot more than your relationship that is at stake. JoyAnna is in the picture now and she needs more than a mother and father that fight all the time."
Both Molly and Gabriel exchanged sideways glances at each other. Gabriel ran a hand over his face before looking at Cas. Molly, meanwhile, was looking at the archangel and was quietly thinking,
"God give me patience so I don't set this dwarf on fire."
Molly tried to focus on Cas' previous advice of holding anger in, no matter, what the species takes you down a bad road and how was she to forgive Gabriel if she didn't hear him out? It was no secret that Molly still loved Gabriel. She would freely admit that to Cas anytime that he asked so why was it so hard to admit it in the moment? Whatever, the reason she needed to make sure that she was up front with Gabriel. JoyAnna deserved to know her father and deep down Molly wanted her lover back!
Gabriel's voice pulled Molly from her thoughts.
"Well bro it's time for you to go. This conversation is going to be awkward enough without you scowling at me the whole time."
Gabriel snapped his fingers and Cas instantly vanished. Molly turned looking at Gabriel crossly.
"What did you do to him?!"
Gabriel smirked.
"Relax, he's just in the kitchen with Dean and Joy. Cas is right, we need to talk this out."
Molly crossed her arms over her chest
"Now you are wanting to be grown up?"
Gabriel shrugged.
"Figured that you would want that."
Molly stood up starting to pace. She walked around the room a few times before sinking back into her seat beside Gabriel.
"I wanted to you with me when I was pregnant. I needed you and you left! It's been hell since you left. You have no idea how bad it has been! We've been lucky to avoid Asmodeus. He's..."
Molly stopped talking. Her bottom lip quivered as she thought about what was their reality now. She didn't notice Gabriel scooting closer. He waived his hand in front of her face hoping to get the rest of the sentence. When Molly didn't, Gabriel carefully took her hand into his.
"Molly?"
Molly quickly yanked her hand away. She didn't look at Gabriel. The last thing that she wanted was to see the expression on sadness in his face.
"He's after us Gabriel! Asmodeus is after us. He wants Joyanna. The asshat thinks because you are her father that she is going to be a better candidate for...whatever he did to you."
Gabriel's golden eyes looked panicked. For a moment he reminded Molly of the archangel that she met so long ago. He looked like that guy that would have been scared by his own shadow. After a moment his demeanor changed back to normal.
"Molly, he isn't going to touch her."
Molly's blue eyes narrowed.
"Forgive me for not trusting you."
Gabriel sighed miserably.
"I deserved that. Molly, I'm sorry...for everything. You didn't deserve any of that. It doesn't matter what excuse I give you because none of them would be good enough. I would like to say it was some PSD I had going on that made me lose my common sense. Sugar, I am still so in love with you."
Molly looked at him closely.
"You don't leave people that you love! Gabriel you abandoned me when I was most vulnerable! You abandoned that sweet little baby that you didn't get to see! Gabe I was there for you when you were a few a stones throw of a cuckoo's nest. I'm sorry Gabriel but it is a going to take me some time to forgive you. I can't trust you right now and I don't. I'm not getting to close to you. In case you go and leave me in the dirt again."
Gabriel jumped up off of the couch.
"You are really quoting that Sam Smith song to me?!"
Molly shrugged.
"It fits. All I can say is...prove me wrong. Prove to me you've changed and I may reconsider."
Gabriel sighed.
"Fine, whatever I have to do. Ugh this means that I have to face your father at some point don't I?"
Molly smirked. She reached out patting Gabriel's shoulder.
"Best of luck to you."
She was fighting the urge to laugh at the horrified expression on Gabriel's face. Molly knew that he was thinking of the fight that he would have with Balthazar at some point in the future. What Gabriel didn't know was just how angry the other angel was. Balthazar had been all for going after Gabriel and dragging his ass back. It didn't matter if Gabriel was more powerful than him! The last thing he wanted was his pregnant daughter being on her own. It had taken Molly, Sam, Dean, and Cas to convince Balthazar that she wasn't going to be alone for him to be mildly okay with the fact that Gabriel wasn't there.
"I was a shitty father! I wasn't there when you needed me. Yes, I know that I was clueless about your existence but it doesn't justify anything in my eyes. Now I realize how wrong I was. This little one is going through the same thing you did and she doesn't deserve it! I am going to drag him back here kicking and screaming if I have to."
Molly was pleasantly surprised with Balthazar's role as "grand father." Although he hated the grandpa jokes that Sam and Dean would make he adored JoyAnna with everything he had! He would come in at least twice a month to see JoyAnna. The whole time that Balthazar was there he as spoiling JoyAnna non stop! When he was gone JoyAnna would often take Molly or Dean's phones to call Balthazar. It didn't matter what the angel was doing he would stop and talk to JoyAnna as long as she wanted. Hours long conversations happened with Balthazar just listening to Joy babble about whatever was going through her mind. Molly wasn't sure how many dates Balthazar skipped out on just to sit and face time with the baby.
Molly smiled at the memory before looking back to Gabriel.
"Gabe, I want to try something and don't think this changes anything."
Gabriel nodded, looking relieved that the conversation had gone from Balthazar to something else.
"Yeah?"
Molly stepped closer to Gabriel and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was soft at first. She was almost teasing the archangel with what he was missing. When Gabriel realized this was actually happening he gently wrapped his arms around her waist deepening the kiss. He wanted Molly to see just how much that he missed her.
Gabriel was the first to pull away. Some of the emptiness that he had been feeling for the past year had started to fade. This was the closest that he had felt like himself for a long time! Judging by the expression on Molly's face she was feeling the same thing. Her eyes were closed and lips still puckered. It would be so easy for him to lean back in for another kiss but he decided against it. Gabriel for once, wanted to do the work that was needed. He knew that there was no easy road out. Whatever it took, he was willing to do.
"Molly?"
Molly held her hand up, standing quietly for a few more moments.
"Bond is still good."
Gabriel chuckled.
"I told you that there really isn't anyway to break it."
Molly's eyes didn't open. Despite the fact that Gabriel tasted like whiskey, his kisses was still like liquid heroin laced fire.
"Can you not ruin the moment with your yapping?"
What a dangerous night to fall in love
Don't know why we still hide what we've become
Do you want to cross that line
We're running out of time
A dangerous night to fall in love.
The following weeks passed slowly for Gabriel. He was trying anything that he could possibly think of to prove to Molly that he had changed. She was still being wary any time that he was near her. He was at least able to get her to open up to him some but that was it. Anytime he attempted to kiss her again Molly would press a single finger to his lips saying,
"Soon, Gabriel."
The only good part in the past few weeks was JoyAnna had finally warmed up to Gabriel. It took her a few days of quiet watching before Gabriel was able to warm her up with candy. Now she had no issues when Gabriel reached for her. In fact, she was following him around the way she did Cas. Hearing her say "daddy" was also one of the highlights of the week.
"No bed! Bye bye!"
Gabriel was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of JoyAnna's shrill screech. He was still internally trying to plot ways to get Molly to fully trust him again. So far he was coming up short. Gabriel knew sending her another howler wouldn't be an option.
Looking up JoyAnna came toddling past him in her footed pajamas.
"Hi daddy! Bye daddy!"
She gigged, clearly trying to find a quick hiding place. Gabriel quickly reached out grabbing JoyAnna in one arm.
"Nice try shorty."
Joy gave him a pouty expression.
"No bed."
She giggled. Gabriel carried her into her bedroom where Molly stood patiently waiting with a smile on her face.
"Good team work thing we have going on here."
She said with a smile as Gabriel put JoyAnna in her crib.
"Yeah, apparently she thought didn't see me sitting there. Time to go to bed princess."
JoyAnna shook her head and started rubbing her eyes.
"Joy not sleepy."
Gabriel smirked.
"Uh huh. Stay in bed princess. If you don't I'll know about it."
JoyAnna gave Gabriel a smirk before immediately rolling over. Molly motioned to the door knowing that the quicker they got out of there the quicker Joy would go to sleep. The kid was always afraid that she was going to miss something. Molly, in a way couldn't blame her, they did kind of lives in a three ring circus.
Molly waited until Gabriel shut the door. He didn't move for a minute. Clearly he was waiting for Joy to beckon him back in and away he would go. Molly was proud of him. She would have never expected Gabriel to adapt to this change so quickly. His out of character change was almost enough to sweep Molly off of her feet!
"Molly, wait."
Molly turned almost running right into Gabriel's chest. She felt her face automatically blush and was thankful that the hallway was dark.
"Yeah?"
She replied softly. The moment that Gabriel's arm went around her waist she froze.
"Molly, please. What do I have to do? Its been weeks now. I've changed. I've done everything that you have asked of me. I want my wife back."
Molly stood on her tiptoes pressing a gentle kiss to Gabriel's cheek.
"Soon."
Gabriel groaned muttering under his breath in Enochian.
"When is soon? Tomorrow? Next week? When Joy is grown up? Five centuries from now? I need to know what soon is! You telling me one thing and showing me another. You said yourself that our bond is still strong."
Molly pressed her lips together looking down. She couldn't bring herself to look at Gabriel's face. Molly instead focused her attention on the ring that Gabriel had given her when they officially bonded. She had started wearing her wedding ring again a week previous.
"It is...I just...I don't know Gabriel. I'm scared okay."
Gabriel's face looked heartbroken. He wasn't sure what else to say that the moment. It seemed nothing that he would do would ever be good enough to win Molly over. Maybe this was going to be his reality! He would be caring for his daughter and constantly waiting for Molly to decide to take him back. The first responsibility he didn't mind but the latter just seemed miserable!
"Kay...well I know where I stand."
Gabriel said coldly. When he started to turn to walk off Molly quickly stepped forward.
"Gabe, wait."
Gabriel didn't turn.
"Just forget it Molly. We are going to wake the baby up. I need some air."
Gabriel left Molly staring after him. He knew that he should stay and talk to her. At the moment, however, he had to get away before he said something that he would regret later!
Walking outside Gabriel noticed Cas standing looking up at the sky. Raising an eyebrow, Gabriel looked up before looking back at Cas. The other angel hadn't uttered a word.
"So Cas, are we looking at something in particular or what?"
Cas looked at his brother after a few moments.
"Simply enjoying the silence."
Gabriel nodded without a word.
"Yeah, I don't like silence. Makes me nervous."
Gabriel replied. Cas silently agreed. Gabriel never handled silence well. Even before Asmodeus got a hold of the archangel, silence always drove Gabriel nuts.
"Clearly. I take it things didn't go well with Molly?"
Gabriel scoffed.
"What gave it away?"
Cas shrugged.
"Your emotions. I would say give her patience and time but I feel that is the last thing that you want to hear."
Gabriel was quiet a moment.
"Yeah, not really. I think I am sick of the being patient and waiting conversation. Its like a one step forward and two steps back kind of situation."
Cas wasn't 100% on the best way to handle the situation. He could put his two cents in but he was positive that Gabriel wouldn't like his input. Cas understood to an extent why Gabriel panicked when he learned that Molly was pregnant. He would have panicked too if he was in Gabriel's shoes. The running is what baffled Cas! He couldn't imagine just leaving Molly to deal with everything alone.
"Well you're back now. That is the important part. Even if things don't pan out well with Molly for some time JoyAnna will definitely benefit with you being here."
Gabriel slightly smiled.
"I couldn't leave her now."
Cas looked relieved.
"I do hope you mean that. If you leave again it would devastate the child."
Gabriel looked to his brother with the most dead serious expression that Cas had ever seen on the archangel's face.
"I. Will. Never. Leave. Her. Again!"
Cas actually smiled at that.
"I trust you. As much as I despise Raphael I am glad that he found you and showed you that vision. I saw it too and I was gravely concerned."
Gabriel nodded.
"I was concerned that she was going to turn out like Dean."
Cas chuckled.
"She would have been an even mixture of Dean and myself. I don't think you saw everything. JoyAnna, when not hunting, would be as awkward as I am."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, that is concerning."
Cas chuckled.
"She would have tuned a lot of that out by the time that she would become a teenager. Did Raphael show you the other vision?"
Gabriel's mouth immediately dropped.
"Fuck, there is more?! What the hell do I have to fix now?!"
Cas smirked at the devastated expression on his brother's face. Clearly, Gabriel assumed there was more damage that he was going to have to fix now.
"Nothing more that you are working on now. Maybe it will be an incentive for your return and staying."
Gabriel groaned,
"Crap, I may regret this but show me."
The next thing Gabriel knew he was standing in the bunker again beside Cas. The other angel began to pace before looking down at his watch.
"JoyAnna, you are going to be late for school again."
He called. Dean sat on at the table with a bowl on cereal in front of him.
"Relax Cas. You have some time before she will be late."
Cas turned to the eldest Winchester.
"I don't really like the idea of her going to a regular school with normal children. It concerns me."
Dean sighed as he stood and put his empty bowl in the sink.
"You need to relax Cas. Joy is perfectly safe. You know that her teacher is an undercover angel. If anything happens Diana will be in touch with you before you can say mongoose."
Cas raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I say mongoose?"
Dean rolled his eyes.
"Just go with me, huh? We, as in Molly, Sam, and myself have decided that it was a good idea to raise JoyAnna like a human until she started figuring out that she isn't normal. I know that you want to be upfront with her from the get go but I think it would be too much on a kid to know that she is half archangel."
Cas groaned.
"Very well. When things go bad I am saying I told you so."
Dean shrugged as JoyAnna came running in. Gabriel sighed looking at her. In this vision the child appeared to be around 6 or 7. She still looked like a perfect version of Molly and Gabriel mixed. Her blonde curls were fixed neatly framing her perfect little face.
"I'm ready!"
She said in an extra sassy tone as she dropped her back pack on the floor. Cas turned looking at her with his normal stern expression.
"You are wearing a tutu to school?"
JoyAnna looked down at the pink tutu that was over her blue jeans.
"Of course. I'm a ballerina princess."
Dean chuckled.
"Sheesh Cas. She's a ballerina princess! You can't be a ballerina princess if you don't have a tutu! What is wrong with you?!"
Dean chuckled as JoyAnna sat down at the table and started swinging her little Converse clad feet. Cas sighed.
"Well I have never been a ballerina princess so I had no idea."
Dean gave him a smile before looking back to JoyAnna.
"Joy, I have a question sweetie. Why were you late for class yesterday? We dropped you off at the door to the school?"
JoyAnna looked up with a very Gabriel like expression. She sat her spoon down and folded one hand on top of the other.
"I saw a bug."
Dean blinked.
"So you didn't go to class because you saw a bug? Why didn't you walk around it?"
JoyAnna shook her head.
"No, I followed the bug. When it went under a door and I couldn't follow it any longer I decided it was time to go to class. They were already having circle time when I walked in. Ms. Diana didn't seem to pleased."
Cas put on his trench coat giving the child a displease expression.
"You get distracted too easily dear."
He looked up at Dean and the two had a silent agreement that the child was more like her father than she realized.
"Well its time we get going or you will be late again. Ms. Diana isn't coming after me."
Cas said casually. He reached down picking JoyAnna up in one arm.
"Cassie, Ms. Diana said that I have a lot of potential to live up to and I am wasting it acting like Gabriel...whoever that is. Who is he?"
Both Cas and Dean's faces went about three shades paler. Neither spoke for a moment before Dean finally got his voice working.
"Nobody. Just some idiot that makes bad choices. That's all you need to know. Joy, just go to school and be a good girl. If your good today, I'll take you for ice cream."
"With sprinkles?!"
JoyAnna squealed. Both Cas and Dean were relived when the child's thought process had left her father. Dean nodded.
"Well you can't have ice cream without sprinkles! Your mommy should be back today too and she can come too."
JoyAnna's smile winded as Dean kissed her head.
The next thing Gabriel knew he was standing in the middle of a classroom with children running all over the place. He looked around a few times until his eye landed on the teacher. Diana! Gabriel knew her well. He chuckled at the thought of her once being a great solider now she was teaching snot nosed kids their ABC's.
Gabriel turned looking at the door as Cas walked in with JoyAnna holding his hand. Diana stood up and walked over.
"Good morning JoyAnna. I see that you are on time this morning. No bug adventures?"
JoyAnna shook her head.
"No Ms. Diana. I'm sorry about yesterday and being naughty."
Diana smiled and patted JoyAnna's head.
"Its okay dead. Why don't you go play play dough with Crissy?"
JoyAnna nodded eagerly as she hugged Cas' leg.
"Bye Cassie!"
When JoyAnna had joined the other little girl in the play dough section Diana turned back to Cas.
"Something tells me that you want to talk."
Cas' eyes narrowed.
"JoyAnna mentioned that you compared her to Gabriel."
Diana nodded.
"Its kind of hard not to. The resemblance is uncanny."
Cas sighed.
"She doesn't know about Gabriel, Diana. We have not told her about him."
Diana's mouth dropped.
"Oh Cas, I am so sorry! I had no idea."
Cas held up a hand.
"Everything is fine. Dean distracted her with the prospect of ice cream and sprinkles."
Diana smiled, looking back at the little girl.
"She's a very smart little girl! JoyAnna has a lot of potential. I'm time we will see just how great that she can be."
Cas nodded with a sad smile.
"For now she needs to be a child."
Diana nodded.
"Understood."
Meanwhile, across the room, JoyAnna stood mushing play dough with her fingers. The other little girl that she was playing with looked up.
"Joy, I have a question?"
Joy looked up from her play dough, clearly not realizing that her father was standing within inches of her.
"Yeah?"
She said. The other little girl was looking at Cas who had stepped out of the room before turning her attention back to JoyAnna.
"Why do you call your daddy, Cassie?"
JoyAnna frowned. The expression of awkwardness on JoyAnna's little face broke Gabriel's heart and like Cas said it made him thankful for Raphael's random visit!
"Cassie isn't my daddy. He's my uncle."
The other little girl looked confused.
"Well where is your daddy?"
JoyAnna looked down. Her little face went a soft shade of pink.
"I dunno."
The next thing Gabriel knew he was standing beside Cas again in the yard.
"Okay, Cas you made your point! Hell, that was a disaster! I can't believe that you sent her to a regular school. She could have hurt someone!"
Meanwhile inside,
Molly lay in bed silently wishing that she would have just accepted Gabriel's advance. Things could be like they were in the beginning. She could be happy again. Just because Gabriel made one mistake that didn't mean that he would make it again! There was also the fact that he was crazy about JoyAnna. The baby seemed to be an insurance policy that would make Gabriel stay home.
Right as Molly began to drift off red light filled the room and a siren began to sound. Molly's eyes snapped open as she looked around in shock. She had never seen this happen before. As quickly as she could she made her way to JoyAnna's room and threw the door open.
The little girl was standing in her crib with her hands over her ears. She looked relive the moment that her mother picked up her.
"Too loud mommy!"
Molly immediately felt that something wasn't right. She tightened her hold on her daughter before taking off down the hall. Where was Gabriel? What in the hell was happening?
The moment Molly stepped into the main room her mouth dropped. About 10 feet away stood none of the then fucking Asmodeus. Molly stopped walking as the man turned to face her.
"Well if it isn't Molly. About time we meet in person. Look at that! That must be JoyAnna. You both will make a great addition to my collection."
Molly looked around the room seeing the random demons surrounding them.
"I know a few things Asmodeus. One, we are not going anywhere with you. Two, you can go back to hell and kick rocks!"
Asmodeus chuckled.
"You are feisty. I like it."
"Well don't like it!"
Molly sneered. She quickly turned back to the demon that was getting uncomfortably close.
"Back off fucker!"
Molly sneered before using her free hand to smite the demon where he stood. The other demons in the room simultaneously died as well. Asmodeus looked totally confused until he turned around and looked up the stairs.
"Gabriel! What are you doing son? You know well what I can do to you! I broke you!"
Molly's eyes rolled up to where Gabriel stood. His looked to her telepathically saying,
"Cover her eyes."
Molly quickly turned Joy around holding the little girl's head against her chest. She knew that she should probably get the hell out of the room but she couldn't move. Between being scared to death that Asmodeus would try to hurt Gabriel again and knowing if something happened she wasn't going to be in some room where Asmodeus could trap her.
"You're too weak!"
Asmodeus sneered before shooting a spell at Gabriel, which he easily repelled.
"Not anymore!"
Gabriel shot back. Molly's mouth dropped. This was the side of Gabriel that she didn't seen. This was the archangel that he was meant to be!
"Oh, by the way, I always hated that dumbass suite!"
The moment Gabriel's eyes started glowing Molly knew that the asshat near her was in real trouble now! Molly stepped back and held JoyAnna closer to her. The toddler was struggling to get loose but stopped when Asmodeus start screaming. As much as Molly wanted to close her eyes; she couldn't. She kept her attention locked on Gabriel's face and the small smirk that was on his lips.
The moment that what was left of Asmodeus vanished Gabriel was beside Molly.
"Are you two okay?"
His voice was soft so he wouldn't scare JoyAnna but laced with worry. Molly nodded unable to speak as she eased up on her grip on the baby. JoyAnna looked up finally clearly confused as to everything that was going on. She looked at Gabriel then back at her mother's pale face.
"This place too loud!"
She whimpered. Cas, who Molly hadn't even notice walk into the room, offered to take JoyAnna. Molly slowly put Joy in Cas' arms. She knew that he was going to try to get her settled down and back to sleep.
Once Cas was out of the room, Molly turned back to Gabriel who was glaring angrily at the ground.
"Gabriel..."
"I'm fine."
He snapped. Molly jumped, slightly startled at his curt response. She was quiet for a few more moments before having the courage to speak again.
"Gabe, please. Everything is fine. I'm okay. Joy is okay. Asmodeus is no longer a threat. Hey, we can mark one thing off of our to do list!"
Gabriel slightly smiled at that.
"Yeah, one thing down."
Molly nodded,
"I promise I am fine. I'm worried about you."
Gabriel reached out taking her hands in his.
"I'm good. Felt kind of good watching that fucker burn."
Gabriel smirked at the the awestruck expression on Molly's face. He looked around making sure that there was no one else in the room before reaching out and pulling Molly against him. Molly reached out stroking her fingers over his cheek.
"Watching you burn that fucker was kind of a turn on too."
Gabriel raised an eyebrow.
"So I guess we are good?"
Molly nodded,
"We can do the talking later. Right now I am ready for the making up part!"