Hey everyone I hope you enjoy this final chapter (apologies for length - I have kind of split it up to before Castiel's arrival and then his arrival, but it fits as a whole chapter).
Dean was busy setting up his 'forbidden' party games. He had already purchased Castiel's gifts and he was pinning a poster into one of the walls. Sure he might have to pay for the damaging the wall after hammering the nails into place, but it was definitely worth it. Just to see the look on everyone's faces. The pin the tail on Lucifer poster he had made by printing of a picture off a devil's head and sticking it on top of the donkey one, making sure he covered the ears with the devil's horns. He then sprayed the donkey's body red with a rusted can he had found in the boot of his impala. Also, he printed off a devil tail and shoved a pin through it and Dean could not help but feel proud of his handiwork.
"Sammy isn't the only smart one!" Dean said aloud as he admired his cheap poster.
Next he tied a Lucifer piñata to the ceiling by shifting the wooden table across the room. He stood on top of the table, which wobbled precariously as he suspended the piñata with a rope. As he finished tying the knot Dean lost his footing and he went crashing onto the grubby carpet of the motel room.
"Ah you son of a bitch!" Dean yelled as he angrily kicked the oaken bar of the table before moving it back into its rightful place.
A knock on the door made Dean's heart skip a beat as he resisted the urge to run over to the door with the excitement of a child, who was expecting a visit from the Easter bunny or some other person, who came bearing gifts. A grandparent or something like that? Dean told the deprived childhood thoughts in his head to 'politely' leave as he opened the door to a nervous young lad, who was holding a box tightly as if his life depended on it.
"Uh cake delivery for a Mr Dean Winchester?" the lad asked as he squinted his eyes to read the note over the large pink box, holding it with a trembling hand.
Taking the box carefully and paying the lad Dean flashed him his most charming smile and said,
"Yes sir that would be me. And keep the change."
"Wow! Thank you so much. This is my first ever tip!" the lad seemed to blush when Dean had addressed him as sir and the way his eyes were shining with gratitude made Dean feel a little insecure. 'I bet this dude is a nerd with no friends. Poor guy.' Dean thought to himself as he shut the door awkwardly and nodded in the delivery guy's direction and gave another little smile.
"That's uh fascinating." Dean added before fully closing the door.
Rushing over to the table Dean placed the pink box down and giggled at the suggestively drawn lady on the front with her legs spread apart. And the box had a feather boa trim around the edges.
"Good ol' Busty Bakery for all your saucy cake needs," Dean chuckled to himself as he lifted the lid to reveal the masterpiece. "Oh this is beautiful!".
Dean looked round as Sam opened the door with his key, his face hidden by silver happy birthday balloons. He also carried a bag that Dean assumed contained Cas' birthday present from Sam.
"Alright I got the balloons Dean and – What the hell!" Sam exclaimed as he placed the balloons down, the weights preventing them from making a bid for freedom.
Sam looked at the party games and was about to walk over to observe the cake when Celeste appeared.
"What happened here?" Celeste asked as she eyed the room and hid the smile that threatened to erupt from her lips as she caught Dean's cheeky grin and sparkling eyes. "Seriously Dean? I thought we agreed, none of your crazy ideas!".
"Celeste! Why did you do that to me earlier?" Sam demanded as he placed a hand on her shoulder and spun her round to face him.
"Oh I am sorry Sam. I needed you asleep so I could go and get my uncle's birthday present. It was kind of dangerous so I needed you out of the way." Celeste explained sheepishly as she registered the look of disapproval on Sam's face.
"Was the shaving foam really necessarily?" Sam moaned as he folded his arms and watched as Celeste frowned. Her eyes were completely focused on his.
"Shaving foam? I left as soon as I used your laptop." Celeste's tone was full of honesty and Sam knew instantly she was telling the truth.
Turning to face his brother he shot Dean a look of disgust. Dean chuckled and earned a glare of daggers from Celeste as he beckoned them over to look at his choice of cake. Celeste and Sam both gasped. The cake was a spitting image of Lucifer as if he was immortalised in there somehow and many different dark colours had been used to capture his casual appearance. Lucifer was standing with his arms spread wide and red text on the white frosting read: "Smite me!". The cake was also decorated with swirls of cream. It looked mouth-watering but the image choice was questionable to say the least.
"How on earth did you get it to look exactly like Lucifer?" Celeste turned to Dean with a mixture of agitation and wonder. Sam also looked at Dean with curiosity.
"Well Celeste. Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when I asked you to show me an image of Lucifer?"
"What you mean how I can use my powers to show others what I have seen or experienced? Making me a bit like a cinema projector."
"Exactly. Well as you were showing me an image of Lucifer I took a picture of it on my phone. Then I went to the bakery and asked them to design me this cake. Pretty neat huh." Dean explained in a chuffed tone of voice.
Celeste stared at the cake alongside Sam, whose mouth was agape. For a moment the small room became awkwardly silent. Then Sam asked,
"What flavour is it?"
Celeste rolled her eyes at Sam, who shrugged in response.
"Well I'm glad you asked Sammy. It's vanilla with a kick of spice thanks to the ginger." Dean grinned as he admired the cake with lustful eyes.
Sam and Celeste winced in unison. Needless to say that sounded like an abnormal combination. Sweet and spicy? Huffing Celeste snapped her fingers and the cake morphed into a bee shape complete with yellow body and black stripes. The bee had a smile made from red icing.
"Oh come on Cel! Why did you have to go and change it?" Dean pouted as Celeste kept a stern expression on her face.
"Because Dean. I don't believe my uncle Cas will see the funny side of you making Lucifer, his brother need I remind you, a sexual predator. And you're lucky I am allowing you to keep those party games in here! Besides the bee has sentimental meaning to him."
Dean mumbled to himself as he plonked himself onto the one of the chairs. Sam wagged a mocking finger at Celeste, who cheekily poked her tongue out at him when his back was turned. The beating of wings made everyone jump slightly. Castiel stood in the middle of the room. His gaze flickered around bewilderedly, like a rabbit trapped in headlights.
"Surprise! Happy birthday uncle Cas." Celeste shouted as she bounded over to him and pulled him towards the table where the cake rested.
"What is all this?" Castiel asked uncertainly as the balloons that were dumped in a corner bobbed up and down.
"It is a surprise party. To celebrate your birthday," Celeste tried to explain it as simply as she could and could not help but feel slightly anxiously at the way her uncle regarded the Lucifer themed games with an undeniable amount of pure hatred. "Those were not my doing by the way."
"Cas come and have your presents." Sam said desperate to distract him from his brother's tactless party games.
"What are presents?" Cas cocked his head to one side as Dean and Sam pulled their gifts out from their individual shopping bags. The gifts were wrapped in tissue paper.
"They are to show someone that you care about them Cas." Dean said as Castiel considered this for a while before he said,
"But Dean. Is it right to show someone how much you care about them by giving them something to possess? I mean material things don't have real value when you think about it. I have no need for them." Celeste smiled at her uncle; he could be wise, deep and insightful when he wanted to be.
"Just accept the damn gifts Cas. That's what friends do. Whatever. It is just a way humans can show that they are nice." Dean sighed frustratedly before pushing Sam in front of him to give Castiel his gift first.
Shyly Sam handed Castiel a heavy rectangular shaped gift. Castiel held the object in his hand and scanned it with his eyes. Looking up at the group with a vacant look Celeste motioned that he should unwrap it. Castiel tore the paper of and his read the title of the book aloud,
"English and American expressions for dummies. Thank you Sam this should prove useful and aid my communication skills." Castiel responded politely although judging by how heavy the book was Castiel had no idea how many millenniums it would take him to read the entire thing.
"You're welcome Cas happy birthday." Sam said as he patted Castiel lightly on the shoulder before sitting on his bed.
Dean went next and he had two gifts; a present and an envelope. He handed the present to Castiel before changing his mind. Hastily he grabbed the small box and replaced it with the envelope. Castiel carefully tore it open and held a voucher reading the words aloud with confusion,
"A voucher that can be used in any diner in any state. A year worth of free pie? But Dean. I don't eat pie." Dean grinned and then said slyly,
"That's a real bummer Cas. As you know I love pie." Castiel regarded Dean with sad eyes and then looked down at the voucher before a small smile appeared on his face.
"Then I give my present to you Dean." Castiel handed Dean the voucher, who waved a dismissive hand at Sam and Celeste, who sent him dirty looks.
"Relax that is what you call a gag gift. No need to worry Cas I'll explain it another day. Here I saw this and thought you might like it." Dean said casually as he returned the small box to Castiel, who opened it.
Upon tearing the paper it was revealed that it was a small black box. Gingerly Castiel prised it open and immediately his head shot up to look at Dean. Craning their necks Sam and Celeste were intrigued to find out what it was. 'Please don't be a box of condoms' Sam thought to himself. If it was he would kill Dean for being so insensitive. However, Castiel lifted up an amulet that was identical to Dean's except rather than being gold it was a shiny silver.
"I will cherish this gift forever Dean. Thank you." Castiel murmured in his deep voice as he placed the black rope over his neck so he could wear his amulet. He held it with his long fingers and gently smoothed it before allowing it to fall.
"Don't sweat it Cas," Dean said nonchalantly although he was thrilled that Castiel liked his gift. "Beat that shrimp!" Dean chuckled as he playfully punched Celeste on the shoulder, who resisted the urge to retaliate.
Celeste walked over to the back of the couch and picked up the leather sheath, which she hid behind her back. She strode over to her uncle and said,
"Okay please don't kill me. But technically it is your fault for giving me that book and obviously I was going to end up finding something that I probably shouldn't have." Nervously Celeste presented her uncle with the sheath.
Castiel drew Albion out and the lights in motel room began to flicker and a strong wind blew from outside.
"My sword. I haven't seen this in centuries. Celeste how on God's green earth did you find it?" Castiel asked completely entranced by the fact he was once again holding the sword that had aided him in countless wars and battles from many millenniums ago.
"Better you shouldn't ask." Celeste grinned sheepishly as Castiel continued to admire his sword. How could he be mad?
"Thank you this sword means so much to me. It is a piece of my past." Castiel moved towards Celeste and debated whether he was going to hug his niece. Although Dean broke the moment by saying,
"Man that is a beautiful sword. Hey Cas use it on the piñata. Um the thing dangling from the ceiling." Castiel followed Dean's pointing finger and his eyes locked onto the devils.
Growling Castiel gripped Albion and raised it above his head before slashing it down onto the piñatas back. A white flash enveloped the room. The piñata exploded and the group were showered in hard-boiled sweets and fruit flavoured lollipops.
"I apologise I do not know what came over me." Castiel looked shame-faced as he gestured for Celeste to bring over the sheath so he could put the sword away.
"Are you kidding? That was frigging awesome!" Dean laughed heartily as he began scooping up sweets from the floor.
"Yeah too bad about your pin the tail on Lucifer though Dean." Sam smirked as he pointed to the shredded piece of charred paper that was sprinkled across the floor.
Dean held a crestfallen expression for a few seconds before he walked over to kitchen and grabbed a few candles and a box of matches he had stashed in a cupboard earlier from his small shopping spree. The group gathered around the table as Dean poked the candles into the frosting.
"A bee?" Castiel glanced at the cake perplexed.
"Remember when you went slightly crazy uncle Cas? Well you kind of had an obsession with bees. Oh it is a honey drizzle cake by the way, matches the theme." Celeste explained quickly as Dean lit the candles.
"Alright Cas. Blow these candles out and make a wish." Dean instructed as the group looked expectantly at Castiel.
"Why? And what do I wish for?" Castiel watched the flames of the candles dance. He felt uneasy.
"It's tradition Cas. All people do it on their birthday and you can wish for anything you want. It doesn't matter." Sam smiled reassuringly at Castiel.
Taking a deep breath Castiel blew at the candles feebly. None of them went out. Dean gestured with his hand that he should have another attempt. This time Castiel took a deep breath and blew with force. He sent the flames darting across to the curtains, which set them alight. Before anyone had a chance to react the fire alarms blared out and the sprinkles came on in their room.
The group calmly left their shabby room (Castiel collected his presents being an angel of the lord the small scale fire was no emergency) and headed towards the nearest fire exit; the front of the motel. Other occupants ran screaming and overreacting. People pushed and shoved each other as they made their way out into the chilly afternoon air. Hurtling around the corner a fire engine raced onto the scene, despite the fact the fire had probably already been put out by the sprinklers.
Celeste observed the other guests, who were dripping wet and were not in the least bit impressed. They shivered and complained. She couldn't help the overwhelming feeling of laughter that bubbled up inside of her. She started to giggle. Then Sam joined in with a light chuckle. Before he knew it Dean was laughing hard and soon Castiel's peals of laughter could be heard too.
"So apart from this little mishap. Did you enjoy your birthday uncle Cas? And did you like the presents? What was your favourite?" Celeste beamed at her uncle and regarded him with glowing eyes.
"Yes I did and I want to thank you Celeste. None of this would have happened if it wasn't for you. And as for the presents I am grateful, but I do not have a favourite. Actually it is because I have something that is much more important to me." Castiel said as he moved a few steps closer to his niece.
"What is it that you have?"
"You. I am blessed to call you my niece and I wouldn't want anything other than that." Castiel murmured as Celeste rushed forward to hug her uncle. Castiel wrapped his arms around her and was shocked to feel the place where his heart was go mushy. Was it normal to feel like your heart was melting? Gently Castiel kissed the top of Celeste's head before removing her arms from around his back.
"What did you wish for?" Celeste asked as Sam sent her a mocking disapproving glance.
"Nothing. Because I already have everything I need right here. That and also due to the expression be careful what you wish for. Now thanks to Sam's book I will be able to learn what that actually means." Castiel answered humbly as the group huddled closer together and watched the commotion with uncontrollable glee. He also touched the amulet that Dean had given him.
Castiel knew at that moment he was probably one of the luckiest angels in all of Heavens existence. Not only did he have a family that extended way beyond just blood relations, but he was surrounded by people, who genuinely cared about him. And nothing could ever replace that incredible feeling.
Thank you to anyone who read my story. Yes a lovely fluffy final chapter. Please feel free to review any positive or negative criticisms are accepted.