Chapter 1: Liberating Vipers

You have done nothing but try to fulfill your own destiny, my strong boy. You have experienced things a father should not have allowed. I felt your pain and yet you continued to fight, and for that I give you back a part of your own soul. A reminder that I am not without my love for my children.

~oOo~

~Vatican City~

It was the bright streak across the sky and the glorious crack of thunder that jarred the clergyman out of his bed. Dark brown eyes glancing around the shadowed room, the red of his blanket bleeding into the black background. A tired sigh was released as he closed his eyes, breathing in deeply as another crack lit the room. The storm outside the ancient building raged, whistling in his ear.

His eyes once again opened wide, searching around the room for the sound. Out of the corner of his eye, a figure stood. The unmistakable shape of a woman. Turning his head, thunder and lightning split the sky once more, showing the small woman's face. Her eyes as black as obsidian. The clergyman inhaled quickly, a cruel smile spread across her face as the light faded. Launching from her place, she grabbed his face, covering his mouth just as he was about to speak.

Her ebony orbs stared at him, the venomous grin plastered against her features widening. "Don't scream father, you don't want to wake your friends." Her eyes flicked, revealing deep brown irises. With her hand still over his mouth, she grabbed his night shirt, pulling him to a seated position. Looking around, she whispering once more. "You seem like a charming and chivalrous man, would you help a lady find her baby cousin?"

It didn't take long for the man to lead her into the museum, two other women waiting in the center, looking up and watching the ceiling. The shorter of the women looked down, watching as her older sibling pushed the clergyman to the ground. She tilted her head to the side as the man looked up slowly, his body shaking. The taller blond woman groaned in annoyance before pulling out a pack of cigarettes.

"Let's hurry up Vetis, this place is giving me a headache." Crouching, Vetis looked at him and smiled softly, laying a gentle hand on the side of his face. "Listen closely child, earlier today my sisters and I felt a sudden feeling come over us. One we hadn't felt for some time now, but today a woman appeared in this museum. All we wish to know is where we can find her. No harm will come to you if you cooperate, do you understand?" The man's eyes widened as they slowly rolled back into his head, "of course mistress."

Standing, the man asked for her cell-phone, quickly dialing a number before placing against his ear. It took him a moment before someone answered, to which he quickly rattled something off in Italian. Another moment passed, before he handed it back to Vetis. She looked at him expectantly as she shoved the cell into her back pocket.

"Well, human, where is she?"

"With the police, arrested for indecent exposure on hallowed ground."

The oldest sister, Naamah, groaned and roller her eyes as she twisted her wrist. The clergyman's head quickly snagging at a 90 degree angle, before dropping like a sack of potatoes. The blonde demoness took the cigarette from between her teeth, blowing out a large plume of grey smoke. Nodding to her sisters, she vanished from the room, followed swiftly by the others.

~oOo~

~Lebanon, Kansas~

Sam stood there for a moment, his heartbeat in his ears as he watched the woman stand at the balcony. Her own eyes wide, her breath catching in her throat as they continued to stare at each other. Her hair was bright, mimicking the few photos the brother's kept of her with them. Dean's leather jacket covering her shoulders and the oversized plaid shirt and jeans hanging loosely on her body.

"Mom?" Sam finally spoke, a hand gripping the back of a chair to keep himself steady as she turned for the stairs. Dean's voice, nothing but a murmur to him as he walked into the war room. Only a minute passed before she was standing in front of him, a hand slowly reaching up to touch his face. "Sammy?" She spoke softly. He gave a nod, looking up to find his brother, a small smile playing on his lips.

He was never really one to get carried away with his emotions, but he would be willing to make an exception. He quickly wrapped his large body around his mother, burying his face in her hair and closing his eyes. Mary wrapped her own arms around him, her soft sobs breaking his heart as their legs gave out, forcing them to the ground. He breathed her in, the faint smell of jasmine and the ocean, the scent bringing back long forgotten memories. It didn't take long before he felt the fresh trail of tears run down his cheek.

Her own heart breaking, even with the small description of her sons' lives, her mind racing. The full grown man that held on so desperately, whose body had been tested, and whose mind had been pulled asunder. This once small mewling child, who she last saw was now someone she didn't know. Pulling away, she wiped the tears from her face, chuckling softly as she looked at Sam.

"Hiya, Sammy."

"Hi, mom."

Dean walked over, kneeling next to them as they turned, his own eyes slightly glassy. Mary tilted her head at her oldest, reaching out to bring him in for a hug. Dean pressed his forehead against his mother's as Sam brought his own in.

Castiel stood off to the side, watching quietly, his grace swelling at the reunited family. He had been working alongside the Winchesters for so long, it was good to finally see them happy, reunited with their mother. Looking back to the staircase, his brow furrowed for a moment, when a sudden vise grip pulled at his chest. A scream escaped his lips as he doubled over and dropped, breaking up the precious moment between mother and sons.

"Castiel?"

"CAS?!"

Dean grabbed Castiel's shoulders, rolling the angel over as his brother helped restrain him. "Cas, what's wrong?" Cas let in a sharp breath, his face going pale as he let out a strangled noise. His body twitched violently for a moment before he slowly began to relax, his arms uncoiling from his chest. The pained expression becoming calmer as his electric blue eyes fluttered opened.

"Castiel, is everything alright?" Sam gripped the angel's upper arm, helping him sit up against the doorway. Castiel gripped the sides of his head, rubbing his temples to ease the pain that still sat there. Gazing up, he looked between the two brothers.

"I . . . I don't know. It felt as if something jammed itself right into the center of my grace. I do not wish to experience that again, whatever it was."