Author's Note: Not even gonna lie: this is my favorite chapter thus far. I hope you guys love it as much as I do!

That set the tone for the first few visits to the cabin. Although they fell into the roles easily enough, Dean tended to still put up a fuss at some of it. But slowly, he became more comfortable with it and stopped feeling so self conscious. However, one day something happened that stopped him short.

It had started like a normal day.

Breakfast had gone swimmingly, and playtime was plesant. It was getting to naptime when the problem started. Castiel was gently laying Dean into his crib when Dean whimpered.

"What's the matter, baby boy?" He asked.

"Blankie." He whined. Recognition crossed Cas' face.

"Ah. I'll go get it for you." He said, going to the living room. He went over to the playpen, prepared to swipe the blanket from it, but it wasn't there.

That was strange. It had been right here when Dean was playing.

Castiel could hear Dean's cries growing over the monitor he kept in his jacket. He scanned the room quickly and got the same result. Nothing.

Crap.

Meanwhile, miles away from the cabin, Sam was driving up the mountains in search of his brother. He had found a case that needed their attention. He already had the GPS in Dean's phone on and was headed to the location.

Back at the house, Dean's wailing only increased in volume. Castiel sighed and did the only sensible thing he could think to do- he went back to the nursery. He plucked him from his crib and settled him onto his hip. He bounced him up and down and rubbed circles on his back. He hushed him, but it didn't do any good. He just shrieked.

Time went by unnaturally slowly for both of them. It was especially difficult for Castiel because once Dean started crying, he wouldn't stop. More to the point, he couldn't stop. If Castiel had even a thought that the crying was in any way manipulative, he wouldn't have hesitated to put the child over his knee. But he only had to brush Dean's mind to know that the tears were genuine.

Dean was a wreck. That blanket meant the world to him. It was the first thing a parental figure had given him with affection since his mother died. He didn't know what he'd do if it was somehow lost. His cries alternated between loud and shrill wails and quiet whimpers, but they never ceased.

The day had already turned to night, and Castiel was starting to get close to the human emotion of desperation. He sat on the couch with Dean in his lap, trying to calm him down. Well on his way to bring completely frazzled, he decided to reach out to his brother Gabriel for help.

Gabriel, I need your assistance. Please, brother... Help.

He didn't bother trying to hide Dean. He was making too much of a fuss to be hidden, and if Castiel let him go, he would scream. Gabriel materialized in the living room, but Dean didn't notice him. Castiel kept the connection open between them, and told his brother that if he said one word he would not hesitate to put his own blade in him. Gabriel would have laughed at the sight of Dean sobbing in his brother's lap if Castiel hadn't been staring daggers at him.

Just find the blanket. Castiel said, keeping Dean in his lap.

Gabriel rolled his eyes but complied. Castiel could sense that his brother was about to use his powers and stopped him. He explained his thought process about not using his powers so that they couldn't be tracked. Now that Gabriel thought about it, it was actually a decent idea. An angel and a Winchester in the same place made for one hell of a target for any of their enemies. Now that he was looking, the entire house had been monster proofed. There was salt lining the Windows, Holy water on the tables, hex bags stashed strategically around the house, Iron items in each room, and of course shotguns and silver blades hidden around. Smart. Even in this safe haven Cas had catered to Dean's hunter instincts so that he could truly relax. He pushed the thought aside and started looking for the blanket.

Like his brother before him, Gabriel couldn't find the blanket either. So he broke one of his brother's rules and conjured up a blanket identical to the one Dean had. He came back to him and handed his surrogate nephew the blanket. Dean quieted for an instant, took one look at it, tossed it aside. He knew that wasn't his blanket. It didn't look or smell the same, nor did it have the most important factor- Castiel's grace. Dean gave Gabriel a nasty glare, but it didn't have the same effect as it Normally would because he was crying. Gabriel had to bite back a laugh. But he stopped as Dean's wails started going up in volume. Gabriel opened the line of communication back up between him and his brother.

How long has he been crying like that?

About Five hours.

Five hours?! Cassie, how did you survive? Why on earth are you making yourself suffer like this when you can just touch him and make him sleep?! Gabriel practically shrieked, gawking at him. Castiel sighed.

I already explained myself, Gabriel. Now is really not the time.

The thought came just before Dean let out another screeching wail. Cas started bouncing him on his knee again, but it did little to silence the boy.

In that instant, Castiel felt someone trigger an invisible alarm. Any car that came within five miles of the cabin could be detected. He was going to send Gabriel to do it when he realized that Dean's diaper was leaking. He sighed and asked Gabriel to bring him the supplies he needed. The lord only knew that if he were to try and set the boy down he would probably have a baby screaming loudly enough to break the spell he'd cast to soundproof the house. Gabriel brought back what he'd asked for before catering to his brother's wishes and standing guard outside the door.

Dean's wailing temporarily lowered after the diaper was removed and he was changed. Although once his clothes were back on he kept crying for his Daddy. He wanted to be held and comforted. Only when he was back in his lap did he calm slightly again.

Gabriel was standing in front of the house when the car finally pulled up. Sam got out to Gabriel in front of the cabin. That was something he wasn't expecting.

"What are you doing here, Gabriel?"

"I could ask you the same question."

Sam rolled his eyes. "I don't have time for this." He tried to get by, but Gabriel refused to let him by. "Dean and I have a case to work!"

"Not tonight you don't. And for your information my little brother asked me to come here to make sure nobody disturbs him or Dean."

He paused for a minute. "They're not... Having, y'know... Sex, are they?"

The face Gabriel made was laughable. "Of course not."

"Then what's the big secret?"

"It's not your place to ask! It wasn't mine either but Cassie asked for my help." The Angel snapped.

"With what?"

"He just wanted help trying to find something. That's all."

"Look Gabriel, I don't want to fight you. But I need to see Dean now." He said in a warning tone. Gabriel's eyes narrowed.

"I said no. Sorry Sam. You're just going to have to wait until tomorrow."

Sam was never one to be deterred, so he decided to stay and fight. It took him quite a long time but eventually he got the door open and stepped inside. Only once he was completely in the house did he hear the wailing.

A baby? Sam thought. What are Cas and Dean doing with a baby?

Gabriel was still on the ground when Sam got inside and opened the connection with his brother, apologizing because there was nothing he could do to stop it. And truth be told there wasn't anything Cas could do either.

Sam followed the sound of the cries and carefully peered around the corner. Naturally, he was flabbergasted at what he saw.

There was Dean, sobbing his eyes out, sitting on Cas' lap in baby clothes with the Angel trying to comfort him.

He stared at them, puzzled for a long while. Neither of them seemed to notice his presence. If they did, they didn't care. He was so confused. What on earth was going on with them? He didn't even get to ponder the question long.

All of a sudden, in the midst of chaos, the record player started up all by itself, and the familiar tune filled the room as a voice began to sing:

"Hey Jude, don't make it bad

Take a sad song and make it better

Remember to let her into your heart

Then you can start to make it better..."

Castiel remained confused by what had happened, but the effect on Dean was almost immediate. His cries grew quieter until they were nothing more than whimpers, although the tears never stopped falling.

The lights began to flicker, and Dean started fixating on something in front of him that Castiel or Sam had yet to see.

"What is it?" Asked Cas.

"Mommy..." He whispered.

She came slowly, with a kind of pageantry. Her body was revealed from her feet up to her head, wearing the white nightgown she'd been wearing the night she died. Her hair was golden and luminous, her eyes bright, and her smile wide. Instantly, Dean relaxed.

Mary walked toward him, carrying a blue blanket. Dean's eyes lit up and he reached out for his beloved comfort object. The second it touched his fingers, he calmed completely. Mary leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, and laid a hand on his cheek.

"I love you so much, sweetheart." She whispered.

"I love you too, Mommy." He said.

She smiled at him and started singing "Hey Jude" again. Slowly, Dean's eyes fluttered shut. When the song was done, she leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Angels are watching over you."

Unconsciously, Dean smiled.

Mary gave Castiel a thankful look and then turned to Sam. She walked over and took him into another room.

"Hello Sammy."

"Hi Mom."

"I need to talk to you."

"About...?"

"You need to support your brother with this. You might think it's strange, but trust me when I tell you that this is something he needs. Promise me that you'll try not to judge him. Alright?"

"Okay."

Mary smiled at him. "Thank you."

"Sure. Mom?"

"Yes?"

"How are you here right now?"

"When your father and I came up here with your brother we made a little bag of things that we made here and hid it under a loose floorboard."

"Wait, is Dad here?"

"No."

Sam looked at her, puzzled. "How?"

"He is able to come here but chose not to out of respect."

"Respect?" Sam repeated out of confusion.

Mary looked at him. "You don't know?"

"... No..."

"I'll let your brother tell you himself."

"Okay."

Mary stroked his cheek affectionately. "Be good, darling. And know I love you very much."

"I love you too."

With that, Mary Winchester disappeared.