Chapter 34.

He had noticed during the night that Anael's car had gone and he had felt a moment of worry, thinking that she may have decided she couldn't stay, then relief, that perhaps the whole situation was now over and she and Dean had emerged relatively unscathed, then guilt for even thinking of the end of their relationship as a good thing, then he had sat in the Impala for an hour and thought deeply and he had decided that he should do what Jules was always asking him to do and step back and let people live their lives. So Cas had woken early to make breakfast for everyone, spending a few minutes at the farm first to ask Sarah for a lot of fresh eggs and to reassure her about his sudden disappearance the day before.

Charlie was awake first. She often was. She kept odd hours for a human and didn't seem to need a lot of sleep. As she ate her omelette, he said, as casually as possible, "Anael's car is gone."

"Is Anael gone with it?" she said.

"I think so." he said, "I don't want to look in case she and ... in case I would be intruding. But she'll be safe, wherever she is. I should stay calm."

She pointed to the chair opposite her. "Sit!" she said.

He obeyed.

"Well done!" she said and he wondered if she were making fun of him. She must have seen his uncertainty, because she quickly said, "You're right. She's safe. Maybe she went out for a drive to clear her head. Maybe she and Dean went somewhere, or maybe she's left us for a while, but all of those are fine. She's making her own decisions. That's good."

"Yes, I can see how that's good." he said, "I want her to make her own decisions and I want Dean to make his. I struggle not to protect the people I love."

"Yeah, me too and Dean more than either of us. We understand, Cas."

"Don't tell them I was worried."

"Of course not." she said.

Jules came in and started to make the coffee. Cas made her an omelette and she sat at the table to eat it. "Any sign of Dean yet?" she said.

"No." said Charlie, "What about Sam and Eileen?"

"I think they had a late night. Best to let them sleep." said Jules.

Cas poured the coffee for all three of them when it was ready. As he sat down again with his, he heard laughter and smiled.

"What is it?" said Charlie.

"Dean and Anael are laughing." he said.

"Mind link?" said Jules.

"No, just long-range hearing." But by now, all three could hear it as Dean and Anael walked to the kitchen. Cas could not believe how different they looked from the night before. They seemed light-hearted and relaxed. Dean's hand rested lightly on Anael's shoulder.

"This woman," said Dean, "Is an artist of deception."

"I am a hustler and a liar!" she said proudly.

They were happy. It hardly seemed possible, but they were. "Lying is something I do very badly." said Cas, "It's a valuable skill to have."

Immediately, Dean said, "It's no bad thing that you can't lie, Cas. It's been a very good thing at times. But it's very useful too that Anael can, especially as her more angelic powers are no longer available." He looked at the skillet. "Breakfast?" he said hopefully.

"I'll make you some now." said Cas, "Anael, will you eat with us?"

"Yes, I'd love to." she said, "I just had the most amazing night."

"We hustled pool." he said, "Made five hundred dollars for baby stuff."

"Quite a haul!" said Jules.

"She plays dumb so well." said Dean, "I couldn't believe it. Her improvisational skills are off the charts."

Cas couldn't hide his smile. She was learning and Dean was happy about it and there was harmony and nobody was talking about leaving. He was noticing something else as well, how close together they stood, how they even stood the same way, a matching set and he wanted them to understand how good she was, just as he always reminded people how many languages Jules could speak and how creative she was in problem solving.

He gave her an omelette and then made Dean's, adding some bacon to both. Anael went to get herself a coffee and started telling Jules and Charlie about her adventures.

Dean said quietly to Cas, "You're not making breakfast to try to make up for anything, are you? Because all that is forgotten."

"It's not entirely forgotten by me." he said, "I want to make amends."

"You don't need to." said Dean.

"I know that, but I love making meals anyway. Let me fulfil my odd little urges."

Dean nodded and smiled. "Yeah, okay."

Cas gave him his plate. Then he said as quietly as he could, "Only you and she know where you want this to go, I have boundary issues and I say dumb things, but I want you to ignore everyone and everything, including me and just work out with her what will make you both happy."

"We've done that and it's fine. We went platonic and it was great. Better than sex." said Dean in a whisper.

Cas ignored the obvious lie. Instead of challenging it, he said, "Whatever happens, I will love and support both of you."

Dean nodded again. "I appreciate that. Thanks."

"We didn't get to have a bar fight." said Anael to the girls.

"Don't worry," said Dean, "We will."

"Only a matter of time, with Dean around." said Cas.

Sam and Eileen walked into the kitchen. "Is this a party?" said Eileen.

"No, this is breakfast," said Cas, "But Anael is a hustler."

"And a liar!" said Anael, proudly.

"And that too." said Cas.

"And we made five hundred dollars playing pool and we're going to blow it all on a shopping trip to get your baby whatever you think he or she needs."

Sam poured coffee for him and Eileen then sat on the counter with his. "That sounds like a story we want to hear from the beginning." he said.

Anael hurried to oblige, enjoying having and audience. Castiel glanced at Dean and saw his pride in her again. "You know, you could do a lot worse." he said.

"And she could do a lot better." whispered Dean.

"I don't see how."

"Your perception of me is a little too generous." said Dean.

"Whereas your perception of you is accurate?"

"Tried all that stuff twice, struck out."

"Don't you get one more strike?"

"Yesterday, you thought this was the dumbest idea ever." said Dean. This, not that. It was time to back down and drawing attention to the fact that he had acknowledged the relationship existed would have been unhelpful, but it made Cas feel better about the whole thing. There was hope.

"I was wrong." he said.

"I don't think you were." said Dean, "But look at her. She's happy and she's proud of herself and she should be. Things will be easier now."

"Yes, I think you're right." said Cas.

Dean smiled as if nothing could ever trouble him again. "She had hardened hustlers cheering her on in that bar. It was magnificent!"

Anael turned and looked at him. She had heard and his praise pleased her. He met her eyes. "Magnificent." he repeated.