Hi all!

Wow...long time no see. I apologise for being MIA, you know, real life sometimes comes first : )

But I'm back, and offer you this super cute chapter as a sorry...hope you like it!

Please review and thanks so much for all of them so far...thanks for sticking with me!

Enjoy!

Onwards...

'Dean, would you quit goofing around and stand in the line, please?'

'Why wait? We could just stick Cas behind the glass and everyone would flock to see him!'

'He's kidding...' Sam tried to reassure the people around him, namely a woman next to him who looked horrified that Dean was suggesting putting a baby inside the zoo exhibits.

Sunlight streamed in through the wooden beams covered in plastic boards above them, making the area hot and humid. Families milled around them, stressed out mums, dads looking out for their children as they weaved around, laughing and chatting.

Sam grabbed his big brother by his arm, Gabriel by his hand, and stood them in the line to the ticket office, Castiel safely held to Dean's hip with steady hands. The two year old was looking around with an open mouth, big blue orbs open in wonder, black hair pushed by the wind. Gabriel stood next to him, his brown eyes similarly wide, looking up at all the posters taped to the walls.

Dean seemed to be exited to be here than most of the children were, a big grin plastered on his face, looking in all directions. 'Come on, Sammy. Remember when Dad took us to the zoo when we were little? We had a great time!'

'Not really' grumbled Sam, fishing out his money. 'I was only two at the time...although I do slightly remember you threatening to leave me in the monkey enclosure'

'Oh yeah...' Dean grin spread and Sam had to smile with him; a rare moment of fun in the Winchester household, even if he didn't remember much.

'Are we gonna see the lions?' Gabriel tugged at Sam's sleeve and Sam grinned at him.

'Yup, and the tigers and maybe a bear...'

'Oh my!' cried Dean, jiggling Cas on his hip, hoisting him up onto his shoulders, keeping a tight hold on his ankles, the little boy laughing.

They quickly passed the ticket stand and were soon in the open air, sucking in the fresh scents of the zoo.

'Right...' Dean unfolded his map and set Castiel on the ground, the little angel stamping his feet and raising his arms to be picked up again. 'Hold up Cas...'

Sam looked at the signposts. 'Elephants or big cats first?'

'Gabe?' Dean looked down at the elder angel, who pondered for a moment.

'Nellyphants!' he shouted, turning tail and running down the path.

Castiel giggled and Sam looked at Dean.

'Hey, little dude? Gabriel!'' Dean shouted.

Gabriel turned and stared back at the threesome.

'You're going the wrong way!'

-x-

'And here we find the elephant in his natural habitat...'

'-Dean'

'Watch as he mills around on his giant legs, taking in his surroundings with practised ease...'

'-Dean!'

'Eagerly anticipating the attention of the small hairless apes as they come closer...'

-'DEAN!'

'What, Sammy? Can't you see I'm Attenborough-ing the moment here?'

'Yeah, but your fat heads' in the way and Gabe wants to see!'

A woman with her child chuckled good naturally next to them and Dean flashed her his best grin.

'Oh ok... where is he?'Dean turned around, careful not to dislodge Castiel, who was standing awestruck beside him, staring up at the huge pachyderms as they meandered about their enclosure, his blue eyes wide, small fingers grasping at the chain mail fence in front of him.

Dean quickly found Gabriel, who was stood next to Sam, unable to see what was in front of him, his brown eyes tearful. 'Here you go, little guy.' Dean grabbed Gabe under the arms, hoisting him up and onto his shoulders, the little boy laughing and kicking his legs, Dean wincing slightly.

'See 'em now?'

'Yeah! There's two of them...' Gabriel trailed off, mouth wide.

Never had the angels seen such as sight before, and Dean felt a warm feeling of pleasure engulf him...it was like having a second chance at having a childhood, showing what all good parents should do with their kids. It was like one and only chance he had at fatherhood...and he thought it was going rather well.

'Ok, explorers-' he grinned, as they made their way out of the milling families and back onto the path. 'Where to next?' The oldest Winchester looked down at Castiel, who was now in Sam's arms, much more willing to be picked up and carried than walk himself.

''Bwirdies!' he cried, pointing into the air where a pigeon had just flown past. Sam chuckled and moved his arms about.

'Birdies it is then!' smiled Dean, gently taking Gabriel's hand and leading his family to the bird enclosure.

-x-

'They feel all funny...'

'Just hold out your hand, good boy.' Dean smiled down at Castiel, who was stood with his legs splayed apart, arms akimbo, three tiny pink birds of paradise perched on each arm. They pecked gently at the seeds on the small angel's hands, Castiel's face lighting up in delight as they moved slowly down his arms. One flapped its fan tail, sending a waft of hair into the angel's face, ruffling his hair, making Cas scrunch up his nose. Dean stood next to him, every inch the proud father he had become. He bent down and took out his phone, quickly snapping a shot of the grinning angel.

'You'll never believe this when you grow up...' he murmured.

'They grow up so fast, don't they?'

A man stood next to him, looking to be in his fifties, smiling at Cas. 'That's my grandson' he pointed to a blond boy who was staring at the parrots of their perch, trying to coerce them into speaking to him.

'Uh huh' Dean smiled slightly.

'Just treasure these times while they last...couple more years then they'll be swearing at you, slamming doors and you'd wish they'd never been born.' The man laughed good naturedly.

Dean chuckled and nodded at the man, who moved off to his wife, watching his grandson. How he wished he'd be able to give that sort of advice to someone else...the most help he could give is how to exorcise a demon. And he didn't think many people would really want that type of advice.

'Dean, look!' Castiel pointed above him and Dean looked up, grinning as another pink bird gracefully flew down, settling on top of the angel's head.

Castiel giggled, keeping very still.

'They like you, Cas' Dean observed, smiling.

'I like them too!' laughed Castiel. Then the birds seemed to stand to attention, before spreading their pink wings and lifting off, feathers flying in every direction, the wind making Cas' eye widen and mouth open in complete awe.

'Wow' breathed the angel, turning to Dean, raising his arms.

'Know what time it is now?'

Cas shook his head, brow furrowed.

'Lunch time!'

-x-

They found Sam and Gabriel already in the small cafe area, already with lunch of hot dogs with a juice drink. They found a small park bench, right next to the monkey enclosure, where the lemurs roamed free. Nearing the end of the afternoon, families milled about, children were getting tired and the attendants of the zoo were wandering around, picking up at the little and directing people to certain animals.

'I saw birdies!' cried Cas, flopping down next to his brother, who sucked some ketchup off his finger, smiling.

'Did you?' smiled Sam 'Did Dean have a hold too?'

'Nope..he was scared to' Cas giggled, not looking at Dean, who shot him a mock shocked look. The eldest Winchester grinned and grabbed his hot dog, opening his mouth to take a bite.

'What the...!'

Dean shot backwards, almost falling off his seat as a furry face jumped in front of him, two tiny, yet strong hands grabbing at his food. The lemur, small and brown with a long tail, landed on the table and danced over it, holding Dean's hot dog as his prize, jumping onto the fence, using his tail as balance.

'Give that back!' Dean demanded, after staring at his hand for a few moments. The lemur looked at him, as much to say 'You want it? Come get it'

'Dean just go buy another!'

'Nope, I'm getting mine off that thieving little long tailed rat!'

'Tis not a rat!' cried Cas, who stood up on his seat, watching the fiasco. 'Tis a monkey.'

Dean sighed and, giving the lemur a lasting dirty look, marched off to buy himself another lunch. He came back and Sam looked at him.

'Where's your food?' he asked, as Dean didn't come back with anything.

'Did you think I'd bring my lunch back here?' he asked, increadulous. 'Nope...I ate it over there, by the nice safe zebras'

Gabriel laughed and sucked his straw. Sam smiled at the two angels, who were getting tired by now.

'Guess what time it is now?'

Two expectant faces looked up at him.

'Gift shop!'

-x-

'You have $10...'

'I want this one!'

'No, Cas...I said $10, not $30!'

'But I want that one!'

Dean sighed and looked down at the angel, who looked up at him with big blue pleading eyes.

Don't look, he told himself...just don't look.

'Please?'

Damn.

'Oh alright, since you said the magic word'

Sam laughed at his brothers willpower. Or lack of it.

'What?' cried Dean as he grabbed the very expensive plush dolphin Castiel had picked out.

'Nothing...' mumbled Sam, grinning. 'Can I have one too?'

'No, you freaking cant! You want one, you buy it yourself!'

'Please?'

'Nope!'

Sam grinned and went to pay for Gabriel's choices...colouring pencils and a big nature pad.

Dean took a deep breath, then paid for Castiel's dolphin, giving it the young angel, who wrapped his small arms around it an smiled.

They all walked slowly back to the Impala, Dean now carrying the sleeping Castiel in his arms. They gently strapped both angels into the back and sat in the two front seats.

'I think this was a good day' commented Sam.

'Yup' Agreed Dean.

'Better than any demon hunt'

I really hope you enjoyed that...it stems from lots of trips to the zoo I've taken... : )

Thanks so much for reading, I'll be back soon with more cuteness!

Luckypixi

xxxx