Ever since their meeting with Jo and their secret conversation, Dean and Sam had been acting different from their normal selves. I felt guilty for my own actions and for the fact that they still did not fully trust us. I believe they might have felt guilty as well, though I could not be entirely sure. Gabriel and Bobby noticed and were more subdued than usual. If Balthazar knew, he certainly did not care. Things were strained and unpleasant.

I consulted several books on conflict resolution and making friends, but none of them seemed truly appropriate for our situation, let alone species difference. So I withdrew; I stopped helping with the Impala and spent more time walking in the woods or checking out different places outside the compound. Fearfully, I tried to avoid them, so that our friendship could not end.

It took about a week of this before Dean followed me into the woods, cornering me, and forcing me to talk.

"Cas, what is up with you lately?"

"I do not know to what you are referring."

"Ever since… 'that day,' you've been avoiding me like the plague. You're acting pretty messed up. What's wrong?"

I did not have the words to express my feelings fully. I shook my head.

"Look, Sam thinks you heard the two of us talking. Is that what this is?" I nodded. Dean spoke quickly, "That was just talk, you know? Sam, Bobby, and I aren't planning a great escape or anything. Jo probably is, but she's always been like that – more guts and brains than sense."

I responded slowly, "though that was part of my concern, I was more worried that our friendship would be damaged if you returned to feeling about your situation like you did when you first arrived."

Dean hesitated before replying, his brow furrowed, "I'm not following you there, buddy."

I tried to explain, "When you first arrived, you thought you were going to be treated like slaves and abused; you were so angry and afraid. I was worried that this would set all the progress we have made in our friendship back. That is why I have been avoiding you – all of you."

"You're saying you stopped trying to be friends, because you're worried we won't be friends anymore? That doesn't make one lick of sense." Dean punched my upper arm, but not with much force, and I gathered the intention was playful. "I hope we're still friends. After all, for a jerkwad angel, you're not so bad."

"Thank you, Dean. For a human, you are an exquisite specimen."

I could not understand the bright, red flush that spread across Dean's cheeks at my compliment. It was a pretty color.

Things did improve after that, though they did not reach the same level of comfort as before. At times, at my very weakest, I felt a small about of resentment for this Jo, though she had been deemed worthy to be saved. More so than ever was the question of what the relationship between the humans and the angels was supposed to be. Feeling lost, I requested the guidance of one of the wisest angels, hoping that he would have some answers.

Even though Michael was the highest among the archangels, he was a military leader, so for spiritual guidance all angels looked to Joshua. He was humble, wise, and lived simply, listening to the voice of the Lord. His wisdom was much sought after when there were disagreements among our ranks.

Though I offered to go to his home, Joshua insisted on coming to ours, bringing his charge and some friends with the day I asked to speak with him. "Good morning, Castiel," he greeted me, handing me a large basket of apples. "Let's get the rest of this inside before we make introductions." He and the others were carrying large baskets, boxes, and containers full of produce and flowers.

Obediently, I followed Joshua inside as he led the way through our house to the kitchen. "Here we go. Gabriel, clear off some space on the counter; we come bearing many gifts!" Gabriel did as asked. There was much bustling as we hurried to place all the baskets and buckets of things they had brought us.

"Nancy, give your box of squash to Sam, which can go by the sink. Gabriel, you should try grilling those up with some onions, garlic, and olive oil. Inias, I think you have the garlic cloves; put those in the panty. Balthazar, take the rest of what Nancy is carrying and make a spot for it. Bobby, you and Kevin can fill up the kitchen table." Finally, having unloaded everything, he stood back and placed a large vase of wildflowers right in the middle. Everything smelled earthy and warm and good.

Joshua spread his arms and stated, "I hope you don't think that I'm putting your little garden down; it's coming along so very nicely. But the Lord gave me a green thumb and a generous spirit. I hope you'll enjoy all this. Now, let me meet all of you." Joshua went around to Dean, Sam, and Bobby, taking each of them by the shoulders and looking deeply into their eyes, as he gave them a warm smile. I wondered if they would feel uncomfortable by this close contact, as Dean often expressed feeling around me, but they only smiled back.

"I am so pleased to finally meet you all. Now, I think you angels all know Inias, don't you? I don't believe he's worked with you for awhile. He's been protecting of Kevin Tran, here, for over three years, but Kevin only met him when the end came. Kevin is a prophet; his ways is different from Chuck's if you're wondering. And my young friend here is Nancy Fitzgerald. She's a brave girl, who despite having no prior supernatural experience defeated a dozen demons."

I looked at Nancy in surprise; unlike hunters, most humans who encountered demons for the first time usually and unfortunately died. The girl ducked her head shyly. "It wasn't just me; some friends helped."

Joshua patted her shoulder fondly. "But you gave them the courage and you survived." Joshua then introduced Sam, Dean, and Bobby to the humans. I waited somewhat impatiently for a moment to question Joshua about my concerns, but soon he had us all washing the fruit and vegetables or cutting them up to make 'a light snack before dinner,' as he put it.

Everyone moved about cheerfully, chatting and getting to know one another. I was the only one ill at ease; even Balthazar was laughing with Inias about some trouble Kevin had gotten them into.

I tried getting Joshua alone so that I could speak with him, but that proved difficult. He said that we would talk after dinner, but then we had desert, and was growing dark and I was growing desperate.

"Please, Joshua," I implored, having taken a hold of the sleeve of his sweater. "I truly need to speak with you on a matter of grave importance."

Joshua looked me over. "That does sound serious, my friend. All right, let's talk out in your lovely, little garden. Come on, Kevin."

I followed him outside, entreating, "I do not believe that this is a matter that the boy needs to hear. I would prefer it if—"

"Castiel," Joshua interrupted. "I am bringing the boy for a reason. Now," he called, "Gabriel and Balthazar, you come too." The two other angels looked annoyed for a moment at being summoned from the other room, but stopped when they realized where they were. "Go ahead, Castiel. Ask."

I looked up at the night sky, wishing for something that I could not name. Finally, I began, "It has been difficult, living with the humans. We fought a great deal at the beginning, but over time they grew to respect us, and we began to care for them." At Balthazar's snort, I added, "Some less than others."

I went on, "We had—have a friendship. But Michael came to visit, and we met a girl, named Jo, and they view things so differently. None of us know the right way. Are we supposed to treat them like animals that need care and supervision," I looked guiltily at Kevin, "and are they supposed to fear and despise us? I feel lost without guidance." I could think of nothing more to say, but my heart felt heavy and pained in my chest.

Joshua looked all three of us over, before patting me on the shoulder. "I can see how much you have struggled with this – all of you. Kevin here was given the task of keeping and reading the prophesies concerning the building and care of this sanctuary. He knows all the rules and guidelines for taking care our humans. But let me tell you, they are vague, even for these end times. They're really more a list of who to save and who to pair them up with and where we should live and other basic things."

He leaned back against our garden fence. "I find it interesting how each pair of human and angel has chosen to live differently. That is good." He smiled comfortingly, "I know you want me to tell you what to do, how to behave, but I'm not going to. You think that's a bad thing, but let me tell you that it's not. You have freedom – freedom to be friends, to respect and care for, and to love. Most of all, love. It's not often that we angels get the opportunity to make our own choices like this. You should make the best of it. I have been very pleased with the way I have seen you all acting tonight. I hope this comforts you in some way."

With those words he left, summoning Nancy, Kevin, and Inias with him. I turned to the other two. Gabriel smiled at me. "Feeling better now, Cassy? I sure was getting sick of that hangdog expression of yours."

I ignored his comparison of me to a member of the canine family and asked, "Should we tell them?"

Balthazar said, "Yes. I'm sick of the boys acting like I'm a monster again. I mean, I am quite monstrous for an angel, but I find their tiptoeing tedious."

Gabriel laughed at that, and I almost joined him. It was strange, but my heart no longer felt heavy and weary. In fact, I could not feel it at all.

That night we went back indoors, and Gabriel explained what Joshua had told us. I could feel the tension leaving the room.

"So we're free to do whatever we want?" Dean asked, leaning forward from his seat on the couch.

"No," stated Balthazar as I said, "Within reason."

Gabriel compromised, "You're free to do what you want within the rules already in place. I feel like they've been working well so far, don't you? 'Course we can always give you more chores, if you feel like you have too much free time on your hands."

Sam rolled his eyes, saying, "I think we have enough to do around here, especially with Gabriel making most of the mess."

"And Castiel cleaning most of it up," Balthazar muttered.

I ducked my head; I thought no one had noticed my apparent addiction to late night cleaning sessions. I could hardly help it if I had a higher standard of livability than these slatterns.

"For the most part, I've been happy with how things are arranged," said Bobby. We all agreed, setting our arrangement back to the way it had been. This time it felt… solid, somehow. Our lives were now defined by standards that we all agreed on. I smiled at Dean; once more, we were friends.

Dean clasped a hand on my shoulder. "Come on, boss. It'll take a few days, but my baby will be all put back together if we actually work on her." As the pair of us walked outdoors, his voice dropped, "I'm glad we're friends again – I mean, I'm happy to have my assistant back."

"We make a good team, do we not?"

"We certainly do, Cas."