Chapter 36

I must apologise to you guys for taking too long to update this but I had all written out, I just needed to put everything together but didn't have time because of my work. Anyway, here it is and I hope some of you like the characters I have included in this chapter, if you don't, we can't be friends.

WARNING: nothing much, a little bit of fluffiness (try not to explode, please, and if you do, please pick up the pieces as you leave, thank you)

Thank you for reviewing, following, and adding to your favourites. Also, for those of you who have not noticed, I have started a series of random Destiel, Sabriel and other pairings (brotps, otps, angelcest?) fics called Still a Better Love Story than Twilight; they are short fics that come to my mind when I have free time at my work and I just write them. I hope you enjoy them (:

…~)*(~…

You must remember this

A kiss is just a kiss

A sigh is just a sigh

The fundamental things apply

As time goes by

And when two lovers woo

They still say, I love you

On that you can rely

No matter what the future brings

As time goes by

~As Time Goes By - Dooley Wilson

He let out a groan as the arm under his tightened, his muscles ached yet he forced out all of his strength against the body on top of his. He became dominant over the other boy and he chuckled as the other groaned in pain. A drop of sweat rolled down to his chin and he felt the cool breeze from the ceiling fan dry it away, he looked up to find a pair of familiar green eyes starring at him, he grinned widely as the man laughed.

"Okay, Dean, don't break his arm." John chuckled as he sat down on the sofa. Sam groaned as he lay on the floor defeated while Dean raised his arms in victory.

"You're getting better at it, Sam. Almost got me there." he smiled as he helped his brother to his feet.

"I think you hurt my back." Sam put a hand on the small of his back at the pain.

"I'm sorry, princess, I'll try to be more gentle with you next time." he mocked, Sam rolled his eyes at his brother as he walked out of the living room to the kitchen. Dean stretched his muscles

"Is Grandpa Henry coming?" he questioned as he sat opposite of John.

"He said he'll be here in the afternoon. Now remember," he pointed at Dean with a warning expression, "Do not ask him anything about-" he motioned with his hands yet Dean understood and nodded, "I don't want him to start on the whole, 'John, you should have done this or that' speech." he ran a hand down his face. "I don't know why Mary insisted." he shook his head.

"Are you nervous?" he smiled; John glanced sideways as he shifted in his seat.

"No." he frowned, "I don't get nervous. I'm just- wondering if it's a good idea."

"Everything's going to be fine." he assured, "Besides, last time he said he was proud of you." John tsked as he shook his head.

"You know how he is, he can never make up his mind." he sighed.

"John, I told you to stop thinking too much. Come help me prepare the meal instead." Mary stood by the door holding a towel in her hands. Her floral dress down to her knees, her hair neatly brushed into a bun and her cheeks rosy, giving her a fresh glow. John smiled as he admired her beauty, feeling a warm sinking feeling to his chest that after all those years, she still enchanted him in no way other woman could.

"Alright." he groaned as he stood up.

"Dean! No more wrestling with Sam. I had to give him a pill for the pain." she shook her finger at him; Dean shook his head with annoyance towards Sam.

"Okay, mum." he nodded.

Mary disappeared with John, leaving Dean in the living room by himself. He looked around him wondering if Mary had rearranged, added or removed decorations from the room or if he had just missed home. It was the same smell, the same colours, the same place as before yet; there was an empty feeling to it. He had been away from these things surrounding him now for a while and now they seemed alien, misplaced and different. He reclined against the sofa as his eyes closed, he could hear the grandfather clock mark each second with a tic-toc until it became detestable, the air from the vents reached the top of his head, making his hair move and it tickled; he chuckled feeling it hit his eyelashes lightly. Mary spoke quietly in the kitchen with John, Dean could hear the muffled voices but could not make anything out of them yet he was certain they were whispering about Henry Winchester; he was a pleasant man, strong in his opinion, a great father who would sacrifice himself to see his only son, John, happy. He visited frequently as he travelled around the states since he had retired, Sam and Dean would run up to him and be greeted with a heart-warming embrace; John watched from the door, holding Mary's hand, as his father smiled happily with his grandsons in his arms, and though he knew that happiness would not last forever, he could cherish the memory for a while.

"Man!" Sam complained as he dropped on the sofa opposite of Dean. "I missed mum and dad but I don't want to be here." he folded his arms across his chest.

"Quit whining, Sam, we only get to see grandpa once every six months." Dean responded without opening his eyes.

"I know but why today? Out of all days!" he let his head rest against the sofa.

"What? You miss Gabe already?" he chuckled.

"Shut up." he rolled his eyes. "I saw you looking out the window like you were in a sad romance movie, you miss Cas too." Dean opened his eyes as he grabbed a cushion from behind him to throw at Sam.

"Was not, bitch!" Sam dodged.

"Jerk!" he laughed.

"Hey, watch your language you two!" John spoke from the kitchen; they heard Mary scold him for listening to the boys' conversation.

"Sorry!" both spoke at once.

…~)*(~…

"Gabriel, place it back on the shelf." Michael sighed as the boy pouted with the bag in his hands. He folded the list in his hands to put it inside his pockets and walked towards Gabriel.

"Pleeeeaseeeee?" he batted his eyelashes with a twinkle in his eyes at Michael who simply rolled his eyes.

"No, could you please behave?" Gabriel held on to his brother's arm, "It was adorable when you were younger but you are sixteen years old, behave your age, please." he shook his arm pushing his brother away but the other held on tighter.

"I'm still adorable." he stuck his tongue out at Michael who simply shook his head with a sigh. "Why won't you buy them for me? It's just one bag."

"Because I do not wish to see you in pain for a toothache and have to take you to the dentist, plus, you have one at home." he retrieved the bag from his brother's hands to place it back on the shelf.

"They're almost gone!" Gabriel grabbed another one to toss it into the shopping cart.

"Must you be so childish?" he snapped at his brother taking the bag from his hands, he accidentally scratched Gabriel who frowned. He stared at the small scratch as it began to bleed; he glanced at Castiel who stood in silence next to Michael.

"I'm sorry." he swallowed bitterly before walking away silently, Michael sighed with guilt and tossed the bag into the shopping cart.

He walked idly, staring at the list in his hands; a few of the items listed he swore had not been written by him; he shook his head as he recognised Gabriel's writing. He stopped for a moment to look around him; he found himself standing in the middle of the cereals aisle, Gabriel was nowhere to be seen, and Castiel stood next to him quietly.

"Do you regret accompanying me to the store, Castiel?" they young boy turned towards Michael and shook his head.

"Not at all." He glanced around him, "It had been a while since I had accompanied someone to the grocery store." He gave Michael a small smile who returned the gesture.

"Yes, I remember last time you did. You were about ten, I believe." He smiled widely, "Does it bring back memories?" Castiel kept silent for a moment before answering.

"I remember Mrs. Johnson, Anna and Gabriel running through the aisles, and she could not control them." He chuckled, "Yes, it does bring back memories." Michael shook his head with laughter, imagining his siblings making a mess around the shelves, the bakery and the candy section.

"That reminds me, we need to find Gabriel, Aunt Hester will arrive at the house soon and we must hurry." He took hold of the shopping cart once again; Castiel inserted his hands in his pockets as he followed his brother. They passed by three aisles to grab the items needed before they heard a familiar voice in the distance and loud footsteps approach towards them. Castiel sighed knowing his twin was about to embarrass them; Michael threw his head back with a groan, preparing himself to be told to calm the boy or he'd be thrown out of the place.

"Cassie! Cassie! Michael! Guess what!" Gabriel ran towards them, almost slipping and falling were it not for the empty shelf he held on to as he turned the corner; Michael shook his head as he waited for Gabriel to reach them.

"What is it this time? Let me see, you broke something or opened a bag of candy and I have to pay for it." He pressed his lips into a thin line; Gabriel snarled at him displeased.

"No." He rolled his eyes, "Better, I found Mrs. Johnson!" he clapped as he rocked back and forth on the heels of his feet; Castiel frowned slightly fixing his eyes on the floor in thought, Michael chuckled.

"You what?" he questioned with a small laughter.

"Mrs. Johnson, our nanny who went missing for a long time? I found her!" he beamed, "Remember her, Cassie?" he glanced at his brother.

"Yes." He gave a small nod.

"I found her! Now she can return home." He was lost in his own joy that he did not notice Michael laughing almost hysterically with a hand placed on his stomach. "She looks a little older and she didn't recognize me." He pouted slightly. "What's so funny?" he frowned at Michael.

"I think you are a little too old for a nanny." he tried to compose himself enough to speak.

"I know but now that she's been found, she can come back home and stay with us!"

"You think Mrs. Johnson was missing?" he wiped a tear away from the corner of his eye; Castiel stared at the floor in confusion yet he was able to place the pieces together.

"Well, yeah, that's what you told us, remember?" he furrowed his brows as he stared at Michael in confusion.

"Oh my," he chuckled, "She wasn't missing, Gabriel." He shook his head, his face hurt from smiling and laughing. "She retired. Her mother was ill and her health was no better."

"What?" Gabriel frowned, Castiel glanced sideways feeling embarrassed. "But- " he looked at the floor, "You mean all this time she was okay and I worried for years for no reason?" he clenched his fists at his sides.

"When you say it like that, it sounds mean from my part having lied to you."

"Why would you lie to us? So she just left us and she didn't love us enough to come back later?" he pouted angrily; Castiel frowned slightly as he kept his eyes on the floor.'

"What? No, no, not at all." He shook his head, "Because I know how much you loved Mrs. Johnson and I did not want you both to think she had abandoned you. She did love all of us but she could not continue to work because her mother and her health required so much attention, and with us it was too overwhelming." He placed his hand on Gabriel's shoulder.

"She didn't even recognize me." He frowned, "Can we go talk to her?" he looked up at Michael.

"I do not know where she is, I am certain she would love to see you guys grown up." He pat Gabriel gently on his back. "But we need to hurry home, Aunt Hester is going to arrive soon and I need to be there."

"Yeess!" Gabriel beamed, "Is she bringing Sami?" he grinned.

"Yes, and it is Samandriel, not Sami." Gabriel rolled his eyes.

"I love that kid." Gabriel grinned; Michael stopped abruptly and turned towards his brother with a warning look.

"Do not even think about feeding him all of your candy again, Gabriel." He pointed at the boy with his index, "Last time Aunt Hester was not pleased and Samandriel ended with a stomach-ache."

"It was just one bag! Come on!" he threw his hands in the air. "I am not going to feed him candy." He folded his arms across his chest, "I'm going to teach him how to play video games." He grinned.

"Oh and no violent videogames, please, I do not want him having nightmares either." Gabriel snarled. "Castiel, would you mind allowing Samandriel to stay in your room instead? I do not trust him." He gave a small nod towards Gabriel who seemed offended.

"He may stay with me. I do enjoy his company." He smiled slightly as he remembered the young boy; they shared many interests besides reading, drawing, classical music and tea brewed from leaves, not tea bags, staring at the sky instead of spending time in front of the TV, writing instead of playing video games, and listening instead of doing the speaking.

"Thank you." He gave Castiel a small smile. "Let's hurry, we have been here for an hour and there are still items in the list." He retrieved the list from his pocket and look at it before holding it towards Gabriel. "Carry this and do not lose it." He handed Gabriel the paper. "Tell me what we need."

"Asparagus." He made a disgusted face, "Those are on that side of the store." He pointed towards the north side of the place. "Tomatoes, lettuce, roman lettuce, vinegar, olive oil, ooh, here's a fun one; gelatine!" he grinned happily. "Get the strawberry or lemon, I don't like the pineapple gelatine." He scrunched his nose.

"It is not for you, Gabriel, it is for the kid."

"But I like it too!" he protested, "Besides, everyone likes lemon and strawberry gelatine."

"I don't." Castiel poke his head from behind Michael.

"You hardly like anything, Cassie, you don't count." He rolled his eyes. "You're a bore."

"Be nice to your brother, he has better taste in everything than you." Michael teased; Gabriel gasped offended and stuck his tongue out at Castiel who simply smirked.

"Alright, let's go get the tomatoes." He took a step back with the cart but felt someone bump into him; he turned around to find a young woman of his age with an apologetic expression on her face.

"I am so sorry, I'm clumsy and wasn't looking." She apologised as she stepped away from Michael; he smiled gently with a nod.

"There is no need to apologise, I was distracted as well." The woman smiled to ease the awkwardness of the moment. Gabriel glanced at Michael, at the woman, at Castiel then back at Michael.

"Have we met before?" she squinted at Michael who furrowed his brows as he looked at her. "I'm sorry, you just look so familiar." She shook her head in thought.

"I do not recall ever meeting you before, Miss..?"

"Rachel! My name is Rachel," she extended her hand towards him and he politely shook hands.

"Michael Novak." He gave her a small nod; Rachel tilted her head slightly, and then gasped.

"You're him!" she smiled, "You're the man from the magazines and newspaper." Michael stared at her in confusion.

"Excuse me?"

"You're everywhere on the news and magazines." Michael frowned in confusion as he wondered what the media had said this time about him. Gabriel glanced at Castiel confused but the other boy simply shrugged confused as well.

"Here it is." She retrieved a magazine from her basket; Michael grabbed the magazine, seeing a snapshot of himself walking out of the hospital where his father was admitted into at the corner of the cover.

'Novak Company's Next Heir', Michael Novak, the eldest son of one of the richest men in America struggling with family issues, his health and being pressured into becoming the CEO of Novak Industries.

He closed the magazine as he managed to calm his anger; the young woman stood before him with an apologetic expression.

"Are you okay?" she furrowed her eyebrows attempting to read his expression; Michael nodded with a forced smile.

"I am alright. Excuse me." He composed himself; Rachel took the magazine from his hands as he held it out for her. "Thank you." She nodded with a small frown.

"Look after yourself." She gave him a small smile before disappearing from the view.

He took a deep breath to relieve the pressure in his chest, yet it did not help much. His hands gripped the handle of the cart tightly, making his veins more visible; Gabriel furrowed his brows as he stood behind his brother with Castiel, both boys kept silent before Michael began to walk again.

"Are you okay?" Gabriel asked after a few moments; Michael kept silent as he looked around for the items he needed.

"Yes." He gave a small nod.

"That lady." Castiel turned to Michael.

"What about her?"

"What was she referring to? Why are you in that magazine?" Michael smiled gently.

"That? Nothing important." He continued to walk with the cart. "Asparagus, there they are."

"You lie, Michael. It is important." He stood in front of the cart blocking the path. "What did the magazine say?"

"Not now, Castiel. I will tell you at a proper time. Please help me with the groceries, we need to be home soon." He sighed; Castiel nodded with frustration. They walked together in silence, getting the last items needed; Gabriel kept his distance from his brothers.

"I am proud of you for being-" Michael cleared his throat, "for facing your fears. Thank you for coming with us." He smiled at Castiel who returned he gesture.

"I am far from brave." He inserted his hands in his pockets, "Every part of me tells me I should run, that I should not be here but, you and Gabriel are here. You are not strangers and that helps." He buried his nose on the scarf around his neck, "Thank you, Michael, for doing so much for us."

"Hey, it's okay." He stopped to wait in line for the cashier, "That is my job." He paused for a moment seeming pensive. "I think mum would have loved to see how all of you turned out to be." Castiel lowered his head to stare at his shoes; Gabriel frowned slightly.

"Do you remember her?" Gabriel asked.

"Mum? Yes, I was very young but I do remember her." Castiel kept quiet for the remaining time as the items were being scanned; he sighed in frustration knowing he was being paranoid that people around them were staring or whispering. He wrapped his coat closer to his body and stepped closer to Gabriel; pressure began to build in his chest and the flutter in his stomach increased, his breathing sped up, he tried to calm himself by taking deep breaths.

"Are you okay?" Gabriel looked at his brother who seemed uneasy and uncomfortable; the younger boy nodded.

"I will wait outside, I think I need air." He gave Gabriel a small nod before walking out the door while the groceries were being bagged.

He stood outside, letting the sunlight hit his face and he shielded his eyes with his hand, the soft breeze blew past him, giving him an a sense of peace, which did not last long.

"Hey, kid, smile!" a man stood a few feet from him with a camera strapped around his neck; he snapped photo after photo. Castiel made fists at his sides as he glared at the man.

"What gives you the right to invade my privacy?" he spoke in a low growl.

"I'm not invading your privacy, you are over there, and I'm over here." The man grinned and continued to take photos.

"Leave me alone!" he raised his voice.

"Calm down, kid, it's just a camera." He rolled his eyes.

"Which you are using to invade my privacy." He took a step towards the man yet he did not seem intimidated. "Delete them."

"No way! It's my camera and this is how I make money, kid." he moved his brows up and down twice.

"How much money would you like for that camera?" he glared at the device.

"This? It's not for sale, sorry." Castiel stood before him, clenching his fists tighter, wanting nothing more than break the device on the man's face yet he managed to calm himself.

"Hey, are any of your older brothers gay? Michael or Luci-? Lucifer? Luciano? Ah, Lucian?" he furrowed his brows, placing one of his hands on his hips. "I'd love to fuck either one." he laughed closing his eyes. Castiel launched himself towards him, tackling him to the ground with a loud thump; the camera's lens shattered, and the flash piece broke off. Castiel held the man down on the pavement, hitting and hitting his face until he could no longer feel pain on his knuckles; he could hear the loud beats of his heart, not the man's groans or Michael's voice until he felt strong arms pull him away. His chest rose up and down furiously, his body trembled from the rage.

"Gabriel, hold your brother!" Michael yelled at the boy who stood motionless before the scene in shock but he managed to compose himself enough to pull Castiel close to him.

"Hey, it's okay, calm down." he spoke quietly; Castiel buried his face on the crook of his brother's neck as he took deep breaths before an anxiety attack could overtake him. "Let's get you in the car." he wrapped an arm around his baby brother's shoulders, leaving behind Michael who tried to help the man.

"He broke my camera!" he shouted at Michael, "And he broke my nose! I'm suing you." he pointed a finger at the taller man.

"Hey, listen, I know my brother and he would not have used violence against you unless necessary. Now, I advice you better stop talking before we call the police on you." he took his wallet from his pocket to retrieve the cash he carried. "This should pay for the damage to your camera." he held the bills towards the man, "I'm keeping this." he reached for the camera, proceeding to retrieve the memory card away.

"You can't do that! It's mine- ow!" he held his nose to stop the bleeding. "Hey! Come back here!" he watched Michael walk away and groaned in frustration.

He tightened his arms around Castiel, sensing the boy's distress. His breathing calmed enough for him to speak yet he kept silent, waiting for Michael to arrive and yell at him.

"Shh it's okay." Castiel rested his head on his twin's chest, feeling the vibrations as he hummed to a song he knew was very familiar but could not guess its title. He closed his eyes tightly, feeling the warmth of his brother's body envelope him; it was calming, peaceful to be held as the hell inside him turned to ice, to only calm waters. He became hypnagogic, listening to Gabriel's quiet humming, the purr of the engine and Michael's whispers. The scent of chocolate, cherries and vanilla reached his nostrils, lulling him to sleep along with the hand caressing his hair.

Part II will be posted later (very long chapter)