Title: Empty Nest
Prompt: Written for devils_almond on livejournal: SPN, Castiel, after the Apocalypse, heaven tells him he can come back-he refuses.
"Come home, brother. It is finished now."
Castiel stared at Michael. Then he slowly looked past his oldest brother to Zachariah, Raphael, Joshua, Gabriel, and all of his brothers and sisters . . . and he shook his head.
Michael didn't seem to know what to make of that. He stood there dumbly, hand outstretched.
"Castiel?"
"No thank you, Michael."
Zachariah found his voice. "You refuse heaven? You refuse our Father's will? You will fall!"
"I have already fallen," Castiel's voice turned sharp.
His choices had cost him dearly. He was only a fraction of what he had once been. His brothers and sisters had not supported him through it as the Winchesters had. Castiel forgave them, but he could not forget what his choices had wrought.
"I refuse heaven. I do not refuse our Father's will."
Castiel turned his face up to the soft warmth, and light, and indescribable feeling of the Lord's presence. After so many years, he could look upon his Father at last.
His faith had been rewarded.
"I do not believe our work on Earth is finished," he murmured. "I wish to stay and do as you originally intended. I wish to love the humans."
"Go," came the order from on high. It came with a ringing tone, a soft touch, and a light that bathed Castiel in grace once more.
He had never expected to be restored. He now owed Dean a beer. Castiel opened his eyes, and turned to do his father's bidding.
"Can I go too, Dad?" Gabriel piped up from the second row. "Please?" You know how much I love the humans. Can't I go too?"
A gust of wind ruffled Gabriel's wings and hair. The archangel's face fell into a pout. "Well, it was worth a shot," he grumbled, falling back into line.
"You may go, Gabriel, but I will be keeping a very close eye on you," the voice answered, bemused. "Be sure to come home on occasion. I will have messages for you to deliver."
Gabriel's face split in a wide grin.
"Go."
Gabriel was off like a shot, snatching Castiel by the back of his trench coat and flitting off to the first exotic destination to come to mind. He even remembered the Winchesters to Dean's displeasure.
The rest of the angels stared after their brothers in stunned silence. What had just happened? Castiel had chosen earth above heaven. Gabriel had followed him. God sent them on a divine quest. What could this possibly mean for angels and men?
God actually laughed. "Go. All of you."