Epilogue: The Beginning or End?

Crowley pulled the last jar out of the box and read the label. Glancing around he found the correct shelf and sat the heavy jar on it. Wiping his hands off on his apron he was pleased with his work. As a demon he had heard story after story of Gabriel's skills as a healer. How the archangel could heal anything with the right ingredients and a proper space. Given the state they were in right now he figured that Gabriel's skills could be put into action once more.

That was why he had done this. He had taken the empty room that was across from the kitchen and filled it with solid mahogany bookshelves. Each one was custom made and each was labeled alphabetically so everything would be easier to find. Most of the shelves were filled with jars and covered bowls but there were also hanging racks all over as well. Near the door was a large marble desk that doubled as a workstation with a few empty shelves behind it for books and notes. Oh yes he had put a lost of thought into this.

Gabriel would be thrilled at all the rare ingredients he had managed to find. Yes this healer's lab was everything a person could dream of. There was only one final piece that he needed to be sure of. Crowley walked over to the book case nearest the door and opened the clear plastic lockbox that had been built into the shelf. Opening it the Scotsman reached into his pocket and pulled out the antique pill case that held the Devil's Claw that he had given the angel.

Crowley shook his head, remembering how the angel had asked him, turning nearly beet red, to aquire him some more. He was going to say no at first, thinking maybe the angel was in need of a hit but then he realized that Gabriel was like him. After his human blood addiction he kept a small vial of it on his person at all times as a reminder and it seemed that the angel wanted the same. He had agree and when he handed the case over to the angel, the blonde had looked scared when he took it until he told the angel that he couldn't let the drug control him anymore. The smile he got made his day.

Opening the pill case he sat in inside the little angled shelf so that the pink petal were visible to all. With a grin he closed the lid and locked it. Palming the small key he decided that instead of giving the key to Gabriel, he would give it to Sam. After all, he was sure that after the last time that the Moose would want to be present should the angel work with the drug once more. Taking off his apron, the demon hung it on the rack near the door and grabbed his suit coat and jacket and walked out, whistling as he headed to Sam and Gabriel's room to drop off the key.

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"So that's what Michael's been doing huh?" Dean asked, passing a cup of coffee to his mate. "I figured it was something like that I just didn't know it'd be that bad."

Castiel nodded. "What should we do Dean? Should we tell the others?"

"I don't know man. I mean it's not really our secret to tell." Dean said getting in the bed with the angel and wrapping an arm around him. "Michael made the deal with Xaphanel. He's kept it a secret this long so he must have a pretty good reason for doing so. With Michael's relationship with Lucifer being on the rocks right now I'd rather keep far away from it. Last thing I want to do is out Michael and have that be end of their relationship."

"I understand but I do think that someone should be told." Castiel said with a sigh, taking a sip of his drink. "Our Father should know at least."

The hunter nodded. "We'll tell Chuck in the morning if he doesn't already know."

"Are you sure it's okay for me to stay the night with you?" The angel asked softly.

Dean actually flushed. "I sort of outed the fact we mated Cas. I hope you don't mind. I was so worried about you that I couldn't hide it anymore. You're not mad at me are you?"

Castiel seemed to think about it for a minute as he sat his cup on the bedside table. "Does this mean I'm allowed to kiss you in public now?"

The eldest Winchester let out a smile. "Yeah. You can kiss me in public now. We can even share the room now."

The dark haired angel grinned. "Good."

Dean only had a minute to question the response from the angel before Castiel pounced, nearly knocking them both to the floor in his haste to undress them.

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"Why don't you trust me anymore Mike?" Lucifer asked softly. "Is it because of what I did?"

"It's part of it." Michael said. "You swore to never hurt Gabriel ever again and you did it anyway. It just makes me question all the promises you make."

The Morningstar flinched at that. "I talked to Gabriel about what happened that night. I apologized to him and he forgave me. He said he understood that I was worried about you and I tend to overreact when someone I love is hurt."

Michael nodded, wincing slightly as he pulled on a shirt; most of his wounds were nearly healed but some were still hurting. "I'm glad you apologized and worked it out."

"What about you Michael?"

The First Born frowned at the use of his full name and turned to face his mate. "What about me?"

"Are you going to apologize to me?" Came the soft question.

"Apologize to you? Why would I need to apologize to you?" Michael asked. "You're the one who hurt Gabriel's feelings."

Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "And you hurt mine. Or do you not remember threatening to throw me back into the Cage?"

Michael turned away. "Why should I apologize for that?"

"Maybe because you accused me of hurting Gabriel with the one thing that I knew would hurt him and then you turned right around and did the same thing to me. You know how I feel about the Cage. You know what the very thought of it does to me anymore." Lucifer reminded him. "You knew and you still said you would do it."

"What would you have me say Lucifer?" Michael asked, turning to glare at his brother.

"You could start with the words 'I'm sorry'." Lucifer nearly snapped.

Michael's glare intensified and Lucifer let out a sigh and backed down. Shaking his head Lucifer turned away and pulled something out of his pocket. Michael felt his heart stutter in his chest as he realized that it was the mating charm he had made for Lucifer. The Second Born wasn't wearing it.

"What are you doing Lucifer?" Michael asked, trying not to let his worry be heard.

Lucifer sighed and sat the bracelet on the dresser he was leaning against. "I guess...I guess I'm fixing your mistake."

"My mistake?" The First Born asked, not sure if Lucifer was being serious or not.

"Yeah. I should have turned you down when you asked me to mate with you." Lucifer said. "I knew that if Dad ever came to let you out of the Cage that I'd be forgotten again. I didn't think I'd ever have my freedom again but I also knew it was only a matter of time before you'd get tired of me and things would go back to the way they were before."

"Luc?"

"It was nice while it lasted Mike." Lucifer said softly, refusing to look at the eldest angel. "Thank you for making my dream come true, even if it was only for a short time. I hope that you find someone that you can actually trust to be with. Someone that you actually love."

Michael froze; was Lucifer really doing this? "Luc I do love you."

Lucifer shook his head and stood, moving towards the door. "You only think you do. It'll pass soon and you'll wonder what you even saw in me in the first place. Just promise me that you'll be happy with someone else, someone who you trust. Promise that you'll love them the way you loved me in the beginning when we were happy."

"Luc please don't go. We can fix this." Michael said softly. "Just...Just...Let's talk about this."

"I've tried talking about this with you. Your response was to threaten to throw me back in hell." Lucifer said, his voice cracking. "I love you but I can't live in fear of being thrown away when I do something wrong. I don't want to do this Michael but it's better this way. You can keep my feather or throw it away, just don't give it back please."

"Lucifer please!" Michael said, panic filling him.

Lucifer shook his head. "I'm sorry Michael."

Michael felt numb as he watched his mate walk out the door. Walking over to the dresser he picked up Lucifer's bracelet and stared at it. Adam had been right about him needing to apologize but it seemed that now he was too late. He had driven his mate away. How was he going to fix this now?

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Gabriel slipped out of his and Sam's room and down the hall. He was wearing the shirt Sam had given him and a pair of boxers. He padded silently down the hall and out into the garage where his children were. It had been three days since Xaphanel's attack and now that things had settled down he was able to slip away to talk to his children. They had asked to speak to him tonight after everyone had gone to bed and he was happy to get the chance to spend some time alone with them.

The three greeted him warmly with kisses, head butts, and cool coils rubbing against his skin. Gabriel sat down and Sleipnir laid down behind him, letting the angel rest against him, while Fenrir curled up on one side of him and Jörmungandr laid his big head in Gabriel's lap. None of them noticed the two shadows that were watching them.

"I missed you guys." The angel said softly. "I wasn't sure if you'd answer my call."

^Why would we not answer our maker?^ Jörmungandr asked, his forked tongue flicking out.

*You will always be the most important person to us.* Fenrir said, leaning up and licking the blonde's face.

We would never abandon you. Sleipnir sat nuzzling Gabriel's cheek with his soft nose.

"I don't know why you'd care. I haven't been the best dad in the world to you. I left you alone for so long." Gabriel said softly. "I guess I took a page right out of my Dad's book. I swore that when I had kids I wouldn't abandon them like Dad did to us. Then I turned right around and did the same thing. Guess I'm more like him then I thought."

^We understood why you had to leave. You made sure we knew why it would happen when it did. You were the best dad in the world to us. You love us.^ Jörmungandr said. ^It was more then enough for us. We are honored to call you our creator.^

"I shouldn't have called you. I shouldn't have dragged you into my mess." Gabriel whispered.

*You are in great danger Father. That thing has ill intent for you. I fear for you.* Fenrir said letting out a low whine.

He will stop at nothing to hurt you. He would sentence you to a life of pain to fulfill his need. Sleipnir whinnied. Knowing this the three of us have talked while you were resting with your life mate. We have decided to help you in the only way we can.

Gabriel froze. "What are you saying?"

^The time of gods has passed Father. There are none who believe and worship anymore.^ The snake said. ^It is time for us to move on.^

Gabriel felt as though his heart stopped. "I need you here."

*You only think you need us Father.* Fenrir replied, kissing the angel once more. *You have your family once more. Something you told us you always wanted. Now you have it. We can be at peace knowing that you are with them again.*

"Please don't. You're my family too." Tears streamed down the angel's face as he realized what his kids were saying to him.

Yes we are but in this world you are needed more then we are. The Norse ways are gone and we should go along with them. The horse gently reminded the blonde. This is our way of thanking you for everything you've done for us.

Gabriel shook his head. "I love you."

^*We love you as well Father. Always.*^

The three began to glow and as they did their bodies began to disappear leaving three small balls of glowing white Grace. The Grace seemed to quiver before merging into a single ball and sank into the angel's body. Gabriel let out a harsh sobs and broke down in tears. His children were gone. They gave up their life force, the very Grace that made them, to give him a fighting chance. The sound of footsteps made Gabriel look up where he found Sam and Chuck watching him sadly.

"Dad...They...My sons..."

Chuck came forward and pulled his son into his arms. "I know Gabriel. No parent should ever have to say goodbye to their child. Not even an angel."

The archangel couldn't take it. His sobs came out harsh and fast. Tears of pure pain and grief. Sam joined them on the floor and helped hold Gabriel as the angel continued to grieve.