A/N: Thank you guest Kathy for your reviews! Fluffy chapter here, folks. ^_^

Chapter 3

Dean pulled the Impala into the driveway behind Jody's truck and parked. He'd barely turned off the engine and started climbing out of the car when the front door of the house opened and Cas came barreling out.

"Dean! Sam!" Cas ran to Dean first and practically leaped at him.

Dean let out a surprised "oomph," almost staggering back a step as Cas threw his small arms around Dean's waist. He leaned down to return the hug. "Hey, buddy. It's good to see you, too."

Cas let go as Sam came around the front of the car, and the towering giant had to get down on one knee in order to give the kid a real hug.

"Hey, Cas," Sam said with a smile.

Jody stepped out on the front porch, arms crossed and a smirk on her face. "He heard that behemoth of yours from halfway down the block."

"Hey, no dissing Baby," Dean objected. "And that's a purr you hear."

"Yeah, from the belly of a beast. Now come here." She started forward, opening her arms, and Dean gladly moved in to give her a hug as well.

After Sam got his, they made their way inside where Alex was sitting at the dining room table with several hefty looking textbooks laid out in front of her. She looked up long enough to give them a warm smile.

"Hey."

"Hey," Sam replied. "How's nursing school?"

"All-consuming."

He smiled in commiseration. "Yeah, pre-law was like that, too."

Alex lifted her brows. "You were pre-law?"

Sam shrugged. "A really long time ago."

"What's pre-law?" Cas asked, wedging himself between Sam and Dean.

"It's school to become a lawyer," Sam answered.

"Oh. What's a lawyer?"

A retort of them being minions of Satan was on the tip of Dean's tongue, but he held back. Little Cas wouldn't get it.

Actually, to be fair, Castiel the angel wouldn't have gotten it, either. He would have pointed out the inaccuracy of such a statement.

Dean felt a pang at the absence that was still there in his heart and in their lives. He missed his best friend being in the bunker with them, helping on cases. Yet at the same time, Dean was glad that Cas was doing well, that he seemed happy, that he was healthy. In the end, that was more important.

"Well," Sam started, "a lawyer is someone who studies the law, and when someone does something bad, a lawyer then has to either prove guilt or innocence."

Cas's face scrunched up in concentration as though he didn't quite get it.

Dean turned to Jody and asked quietly, "Where's Claire?"

"Upstairs." Jody sighed. "She's trying, but I can tell it's not easy on her."

Dean nodded; he still felt bad that he was partially to blame for that. He patted Jody's arm, and then headed toward the stairs, leaving Sam to fumble his way through explaining lawyers to a six year old. Hopefully Cas wouldn't decide he wanted to be one when he grew up. Dean wanted him to be anything other than a hunter—almost anything. At least that was several years away, and jeez, sometimes that realization felt like a gut punch, in both good and bad ways.

He came to Claire's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Dean turned the knob and let himself in. Claire was sitting at her desk, but had half turned in her swivel chair to face him.

"Hey," he greeted, and then because he couldn't think of anything else, said, "You haven't been answering my calls."

Claire folded her arms across her body. "Wasn't much left to say after Jody filled me in."

Dean internally winced. He moved toward the bed and sat down. "I'm sorry. We should have told you first. I should have told you first."

She shrugged one shoulder. "I get it, you were busy."

"That's no excuse. Cas was…" His chest hitched every time he talked about his friend in the past tense, because in so many ways, Cas was gone, yet not. He was downstairs with Sam and alive and vibrant. "I mean, I know you two had a complicated relationship, but you cared about him," he finished tentatively. The truth was Dean wasn't quite sure how much Claire had cared about Cas, the angel that had taken her father away.

"I do miss him," Claire said softly. "But we weren't that close. I think…I think we might have become that, over time." She paused, eyeing him with compassion. "How are you doing?"

Dean gave her a somber look. "I miss him, too. But he's not really gone. That kid downstairs is still Cas in a lot of ways. He's curious, caring." Dean snorted. "He still likes bees."

Claire's expression turned thoughtful. "I've seen some of his drawings of bees." She shook her head. "Castiel always did like that bee emoji."

Dean huffed out a laugh. "Yeah." He fell silent for a moment, sifting through emotions that were still troublesome on occasion, but that he'd done better at coming to terms with. "Cas has a chance at a better life," he finally said. "And though it doesn't make the pain go away, it makes it…more bearable. If that makes sense."

"It does."

Dean nodded, and then straightened as he sloughed off the solemn mood. "You been taking care of yourself out there?" he asked.

Claire rolled her eyes. "As well as you guys do."

He snorted. "Then that's not good, is it?"

She shot him a wry look at that.

Dean met her gaze. "What are your plans?"

Claire's mien hardened and she started shaking her head in clear frustration. "Everyone keeps asking me that." She stood abruptly from her chair and paced toward the window. "And you know what? My plans had been to come home, still hunt, maybe with Jody. But everything's changed."

Dean stood up too. "I get it. You thought things were going a certain way, you made plans, and then the floor got ripped out from under you. It's been an adjustment for all of us. Even Jody and Alex. They didn't ask to suddenly become guardians to a former angel. But they're making it work. We're all making it work, and you can, too."

"I barely pick myself up after everything falls apart," she retorted. "Maybe I want to stop trying."

Dean cautiously approached her. "I understand that feeling, too. Like why bother, right? Because just when you think things are starting to get good, it'll be taken away from you."

Claire blinked, eyes turning watery. Dean's own throat constricted.

"But I think Cas is living proof that good things do happen. Maybe not the way we want. But you still have family here. Just with one extra member."

Claire angled a pinched look at him, and he closed the last of the distance between them to enfold her in a hug. Her arms came up to squeeze back with such firm intensity that Dean suddenly wasn't sure who exactly was the one providing comfort. Maybe they both were.

Dean finally drew back. "You gonna come down and say hi to Sam?"

Claire surreptitiously wiped her eyes. "Sure."

They headed downstairs where Dean was relieved to see the conversation had moved on from lawyers, and now Cas was telling Sam about pumpkins that were in the backyard and how Sam had promised to teach him how to make a jack-o-lantern.

"I made paper jack-o-lanterns in school," Cas said. "But they were flat. I want to see a real one."

Sam chuckled. "Sure thing, buddy." His gaze flicked over to Claire and he nodded in hello.

"Tomorrow," Jody interjected. "Right now, I'm gonna start on dinner."

Cas grabbed Sam's hand and started tugging at him. "Come see my room. I made lots of stuff in school." As he yanked Sam along, Cas grabbed at Dean's hand, too.

Dean couldn't help the smile that broke out across his face, and he exchanged an amused look with his brother as they were both propelled toward the stairs by a rugrat less than half their size. But Cas's eagerness and obvious joy were contagious, and warmed Dean's heart with the confirmation that beyond the pain of its beginning, this here was, in fact, a blessing.

Sam and Dean spent the night in Jody's living room, Sam having to take the floor since he wouldn't fit on the couch. He managed to sleep decently, though. Seeing Cas again had filled him with a lightness he hadn't expected, and the next morning after they'd all had breakfast, Sam was out in the garden with the little guy, ready to pick those pumpkins.

"These look great," he said, causing Cas to beam at him.

He took the pair of shears Jody had given him and snipped a pumpkin from the vine, then another. Cas bent down to pick up the smaller one, making a series of unintelligible noises as he struggled to heft it off the ground.

"You got it?" Sam asked, poised to take it if necessary.

"Mhm-hm," Cas grunted, and turned toward the house.

Sam picked up the other pumpkin and followed behind, one arm out as a safeguard in case Cas dropped it. They made it inside, but the pumpkin was too heavy for Cas to lift high enough to get up and onto the table, though he tried.

"Whoa there, cowboy," Dean jumped in, striding over and reaching under the pumpkin to help.

"Oof. Thank you," Cas said. He then climbed into a chair and looked expectantly at Sam. "Now what?"

Sam set his pumpkin on the table. "Okay, first we have to cut a hole in the top, and then we have to scoop out the pumpkin seeds."

"Do we use the seeds to plant more pumpkins for next year?"

"Uh, sure, I don't see why not."

"Hey," Jody put in, "set the pulp aside and I can make pumpkin pie with it."

Sam's brows rose dubiously. He'd never had homemade pumpkin pie from scratch before. "Okay, sure."

Dean clapped his hands together. "Well there's the best part of the day right there."

"But we haven't gone trick-or-treating yet," Cas replied. "The kids at school say it's the best part of Halloween, because you get candy. But I think dressing up is the funnest part."

Sam grinned. He'd never had a Halloween that was so…normal, before. He was actually looking forward to it. "I think it's all fun," he said, and picked up one of the carving knives. "Okay, I'm gonna cut the top off."

"Can I do it?"

Sam hesitated. "I think it will be too tough for you." But he went ahead and sawed the blade into the pumpkin until he made it through the meaty shell. Then he gestured for Cas to take a try. The kid put both hands around the knife handle and tried to move it, but it remained stuck. He let go.

"Okay, maybe you better do it."

Sam hid a smile, and proceeded to saw a circle around the top. He then plucked the piece off, bringing with it some stringy glops of seeds, which he had to cut off so the top would be clean to put back on at the end.

"Now we have to scoop out the seeds," Sam explained. "So roll your sleeve up. It gets messy."

Cas's eyes were dancing with eagerness as he pushed his sleeve up past his elbow, and then he was shoving his hand into the pumpkin. He giggled. "It's squishy."

"Here, put the seeds on this plate," Sam said, grabbing one and setting it next to the pumpkin. "Jody, do you have an ice cream scoop?"

"Um, yeah, hang on."

She went to rattle through the kitchen drawers while Cas deposited fistful after fistful of sinewy seeds on the plate. His sleeve started to fall down, so Sam stepped in and folded it back up securely.

Jody came back with a scooper and a large bowl for them to save the pulp in.

"Thanks," Sam said.

With a little help from Dean, they eventually got both pumpkins completely cleaned out and ready to carve. Dean left Sam and Cas to that, and was already talking pie recipes with Jody as he took it upon himself to look through her pantry at ingredients.

Sam pulled his chair over next to Cas's. "Okay, so what do you want to carve?"

Cas tilted his head in confusion. "A jack-o-lantern."

Sam bit back a smile. They should probably start simple, given this was little Cas's first Halloween.

"Right. Okay, well, let's start with a tiny nose in the center here." He put a smaller carving knife in Cas's hand and guided him to a spot on the side of the pumpkin. With Sam's added strength, Cas was able to push the blade through the chunky exterior.

"We're gonna make a small triangle," Sam instructed, helping Cas along. When they'd cut the shape, Sam used his finger to push the piece into the pumpkin, then reached in to take it out.

"Okay, now for the eyes, we'll make two big triangles."

"I know to do that," Cas declared.

Sam arched a brow. Well, alright, then. He glanced over his shoulder when he heard his brother snicker, and shot Dean a mild bitch-face.

"I can't cut straight," Cas said. "This is harder than scissors."

Sam reached out to take his hands again, helping him saw through the tougher parts of the pumpkin's flesh. The mouth would be a little trickier, but Sam took his time, assisting Cas inch by inch as they wielded the knife in an arc, and then up and down for a tooth. By the time they were done, a pie was already in the oven.

Cas heaved a loud sigh. "That's a lot of work."

Sam chuckled. "Yeah, but it'll be worth it. Come on, let's do the other one, and then we'll put the finishing touches on them together."

"Okay."

Together, they carved another simple, traditional jack-o-lantern face on the second pumpkin while the kitchen began to fill with the warm aroma of baked spices. Jody had already brought out a package of tea light candles, so Sam picked out two and placed them in the bottom of the pumpkins, and then used his lighter to ignite the wick. Lastly, he placed the tops back on and then sat back in his chair.

Cas's eyes danced with the reflection of the light flickering through the carved shapes. "They look so neat!"

Sam grinned. "That they do. Nice job, bud."

Dean stepped forward. "Let's put them out on the stoop," he said, picking one up.

"Is that where they're supposed to go?" Cas asked.

"Uh, yeah, typically. I think." He glanced at Jody for confirmation.

She nodded. "Yeah, they often go there. And then when it gets dark they look even more spooky," she said, hunching forward toward Cas and deepening her voice.

He giggled and squirmed away, then went back to the table to try lifting the other pumpkin.

"Whoa, I got it," Sam jumped in, scooping it up. It was much lighter without the innards, but there was a live flame inside. "You tell us where we should put them, okay?"

"Okay." Cas bounded ahead of them.

They passed Alex coming downstairs on their way to the door.

"What smells so good?" she asked.

"Jody and Dean made pumpkin pie from scratch," Sam replied.

"Should be almost ready," Dean called over his shoulder as he stepped out onto the porch.

Alex looked relieved. "I could use a study break," she said, and headed toward the kitchen.

Sam followed Dean and Cas outside where Cas directed them to put the jack-o-lanterns on the ground in front of the bushes. Then they went back inside where the hearty scent of pumpkin was now making Sam's mouth water. It seemed to even draw Claire downstairs, as she ventured into the kitchen not much later, and Jody handed her a slice of pie without any fuss.

"Oh, this is heaven," Dean moaned after taking a forkful.

"Isn't heaven up in the clouds?" Cas asked.

"Dean means it tastes so good he feels like he's in heaven," Sam explained, then took his own bite with a large dollop of whipped cream. The pie was good, but, really, everything about this day had made Sam feel like maybe he was in Heaven. Except he wasn't in some facsimile of his happiest memory; he was creating one. And while there was still some big stuff on his and Dean's plates when they left here, taking the time like this really did do wonders for his soul.

Jody set her empty plate aside and glanced at her watch. "It should be time to go trick-or-treating soon. Cas, you want to go put on your costume?"

His face lit up, and he scampered out of his seat. "Yes!" But he'd only taken a step toward the hallway before pivoting back around. "Alex, are you coming trick-or-treating?" he asked, giving her the puppy dog eyes.

"Of course." She gave him an apologetic grimace. "I'm sorry I missed out on the pumpkin carving. I had to do a lot of studying today so I could come out with you tonight."

Cas beamed at her. "Oh good." He spun toward Sam and Dean. "And you're coming too, right?"

Sam's lips twitched. "You bet."

Delighted, Cas hurried from the kitchen, Jody following after him. Sam shook his head in amusement and finished his pie, while Dean helped himself to another slice.

Not much later, Cas and Jody came back down, and Sam's brows rose at Cas dressed up as none other than a bumblebee, with a little cap on his head with antennae and transparent wings behind his back. Dean was shaking his head, and he shared a look with Claire that Sam couldn't read.

"Well, aren't you the coolest little bee around town," Dean said to Cas, who grinned happily. The kid grabbed Dean's hand and started tugging him toward the front door. Sam got up to follow.

"Claire, you coming?" Jody asked nonchalantly.

"Nah," she replied, just as casually.

Sam exchanged a look with his brother, wondering what Dean had said to Claire yesterday, if he'd been able to make any headway with her.

But before anyone could try wheedling her, Claire went on, "Someone should stay and hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters who come here."

Jody pursed her mouth, but after a moment nodded. "Okay. See you later."

They headed out. It wasn't dark yet, though it would be twilight within forty minutes. There were other kids starting to come out as well, some with families, others in unchaperoned groups. For a brief moment, Sam couldn't believe he was strolling down the sidewalk with his brother and surrogate family, treating Halloween like the fun holiday it was to most people, as opposed to being on a case or simply shutting themselves in to avoid the crazy that tended to come out around this time.

He watched Cas whip his head around in wonder at the various costumes, watched him bound up to a door and knock and hold out his little plastic pumpkin for a handful of candy, all the while looking as though he was having the time of his life.

Cas came dashing back down the drive to them. "Look at all this candy!" he exclaimed, holding out his container.

Dean leaned over to peek inside and let out a low whistle. "You hit the jackpot there, buddy." He paused. "Whoa, is that a Zagnut?"

Sam quirked a brow. "A what?"

"I used to love those," Dean said. "You remember, it's basically peanut brittle."

"Oh yeah." Sam remembered Dean buying those at gas stations when they were on the road with Dad.

Cas dug in his container and pulled the candy bar out. "You can have it," he said to Dean.

"Are you sure? That's your candy. You're the one who dressed up and rang the doorbell."

"But I have a lot and you like it."

Dean smiled softly, and accepted the bar. "Thanks, man."

Cas turned to Sam and Alex. "Do you want some?"

Alex smiled and rubbed his head, making his cap crooked. "Maybe later."

Sam held a hand up. "Same here."

"Yeah," Jody chimed in. "No candy before dinner."

Dean froze, already unwrapping the Zagnut candy bar. Cas burst into a fit of giggles as Dean gave Jody a sheepish look. She rolled her eyes.

They headed to the next house, which was fully decorated in cotton spider webs, jack-o-lanterns, orange lights, and an array of other ghoulish paraphernalia. Sam roved his gaze over it all, torn between appreciating the spirit and feeling disgust because monsters were real and way more gruesome than these parodies were imitating.

A group of five kids were already heading up the walkway, when a pop-up vampire suddenly shot out of a nearby coffin, eyes red and fangs bared. The kids screamed and squealed, crowding in on each other and almost falling into the bushes. A recording of a sinister laugh played from a speaker.

Cas stood frozen on the sidewalk. "I don't want to go that way."

Dean frowned, glancing between Cas and the coffin. He put his arm around Cas. "How about I go with you? Remember monsters are scared of me."

Cas bit his lip.

Dean took his hand and tugged him forward. "Trust me."

He guided Cas up the walkway, putting himself on the side of the trick vampire, which had since reset. When the thing popped up, Dean body blocked it, and stayed in its face through the audio laughter and until the thing folded back down.

"Yeah, you better run."

Sam shook his head, unsure whether to be amused or embarrassed. Based on the looks on Alex and Jody's faces, the same was true for them.

But Cas made it to the door and rang the bell to get his candy. After that, Dean walked with him up to every door, as it was getting dark now and harder to see what scary decorations might be hidden in someone's yard.

Sam marveled at this soft side of his brother. Of course Dean had always been like this, when Sam was growing up. It'd just been years since he'd let it out. Cas was giving him that opportunity again. And Sam was grateful. For so many things.

Tragedy may have brought them all here, but out of it had also come something more wonderful than any of them could have ever imagined.