22

Happily Ever After

Friday

Cry-Baby hugged Kat back, not crying but close.

"Are you alright, 'Baby?" She asked.

"I'll be okay," he said softly. "It'll take a little bit, but I'll be alright. Smartass and Grumpy will make it better." Kat frowned.

"How so?" She asked. He looked up at her through his lashes. Oh he is just too adorable.

"They tell me how to make it go away. They tell me how to bottle it up and make it stop hurting," he looked at his hands, lips shaking slightly. "Sometimes it doesn't work. Sometimes it hurts too much and they can't help me. That's why I cry and Dean doesn't. And when he cries a little I cry a lot. He has other things to help him. I don't. There's nothing inside me that can make me feel okay. I may not be alright, but most of the time Dean is." Cry-Baby explained softly.

"Then what's wrong lately? Why does he seem more upset than usual?" She asked, sitting next to him on the bed.

"Because everything's starting to hurt more and more. He bottles everything up, but a bottle can only hold so much. He's wearing down and being pushed and pushed. One day, the bottle will burst, and I…I hope you're there when it happens. He won't admit it, but he needs you…I need you." A tear slipped down his cheek. Kat wiped it away and kissed his forehead.

"Shh…I'll do my best, okay?" He sniffed and nodded.

"I'm gonna miss you," he said. She smiled gently, touching his cheek.

"I'll miss you too, Cry-Baby. But we'll still see each other, right?"

"I hope you don't," he gulped. "I don't want you to see me when you look at Dean. I want you to see anyone but me. I want Dean to be okay." She hugged him, soothing his quiet sobs.

"Okay, okay, shh…It's okay. Don't cry, don't cry. Shh…" She lifted his chin. "Look at me, 'Baby, look at me. Can you smile for me? C'mon, no more tears. Smile." It was small and trembling, but it was there. She grinned.

"There we go," she kissed his cheek. "Much better. Now let's get back downstairs before Smartass and Happy drive my parents insane."

"What'd you need, Cas?" Dean asked, leaning against a tree.

"I need to speak to you about what happened with Alastair," The angel said tonelessly.

"So shall it break."…

"Is it true? Did I start all this?"…

"Yes."…

"What does that mean?"

"The righteous man that starts it is the only one that can finish it."

"Then you guys are screwed…I can't do it, Cas…Find someone else." Just a quick flashback to refresh your memory, dear readers.

Dean froze, staring at the angel, slightly blind sighted by the statement. It took him a moment to regain his bearings. He sighed. "Cas, can we talk about this later? I mean-"

"I understand that you're just getting over what the shapeshifter did to you, Dean. But I really need to speak with you," Castiel said almost apologetically.

"Fine," Dean spat, "Fine, what do you want?" Castiel looked at him for a beat.

"To say I'm sorry."

"W-what?" Dean blanched.

"I shouldn't have made you do those things to Alastair. I shouldn't have made you become that again. I am sorry." It was a little hard to tell if he was sorry or not. Such a monotone thing, isn't he?

"Well, uh," Dean said, confused. "Thanks. I guess I'm sorry too. Ya know, for starting this mess." Castiel shook his head.

"Don't be," he assured. "It would've happened anyway." There was a lapse of silence that Dean considered very awkward. Luckily, Castiel doesn't know what that is.

"Anything else?" Dean prompted.

"Yes," Castiel looked at him again, determination in those sky-like eyes. "I'm here to tell you that you are strong enough to do this."

"No I'm not," Dean answered quickly. "I'm not who I used to be. I can't-"

"Just because you have no faith in yourself doesn't mean others don't," Castiel stated firmly. "I have faith in you, Dean. I know you can stop this." Dean bowed his head, shaking it.

"You don't know me, Cas. You don't know me enough to know what I can and can't do," he said firmly.

"There is no doubt in my mind that you can stop the Apocalypse, Dean. The sooner you realize your own self-worth the sooner your faith in everything else returns." Dean shook his head, eyes on the grass.

"Cas, I-" but when he looked up, the angel was gone.

Saturday

Kat's lips moved against Dean's slowly, her hands cradling his face. His arms were wrapped around her, fingers tangling in her dark hair.

"God, you're good at that," Kat said, resting her forehead against his. He smirked.

"So I've been told." They started kissing again, more intensely than the last.

"HEY!" A voice bellowed in the other room. "KNOCK IT OFF!"

"Sorry, Happy!" Kat called back. She turned to Dean. "Looks like we'll have to pick this up later." Dean frowned, pouting.

"I never thought I'd be my own cock block." She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Don't worry, babe," she grinned. "Ten more minutes and you're just you again, okay?" He nodded solemnly.

They stepped into the living room.

"You can't wait ten minutes?!" Happy yelled. "Let me leave in peace!"

"Sorry, Happy," Kat said. Smartass was giggling like mad.

"Shut up," Grumpy spat. "You're givin' me a headache."

"Place nice, kiddies," Meredith said sternly.

"Okay," Kat said, taking a deep breath. "I guess we should make with the goodbyes." Smartass hopped up, smirking. She expected a hug, but instead –grinning the whole way- he dipped her and kissed her dramatically. Kat couldn't help laughing, quite literally in fact. He stood up straight, grinning.

"Tootles, Kitty," he said, kissing her cheek.

"Bye, Smartass," she giggled. She looked at Paranoia, extending her hand. "Bye Paranoia." He shook her hand. And then slowly, hesitantly, he pecked her cheek, his lips barely touching her at all.

"Bye." He wiped his mouth. She chuckled and turned around, walking right into Grumpy. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her in a tight embrace.

"I'm never angry with you around," he whispered. "You keep me calm. Thank you." He kissed her softly.

"Aw, Grumpy, I never knew ya cared," she smiled. He shook his head and sat back down.

Deanne hugged Kat tight. "I'm gonna miss you," She said. "I'm surrounded by dudes in there."

"You'll be okay," Kat assured. "You've lasted thirty years. A little longer won't kill you."

"It might," she groaned, letting her go.

"C'mere you." She was jerked back by her waist and spun around into Happy's arms. Her heart pounded as those hungry lips attacked hers. Kat's hands tightened almost painfully on the fabric of his shirt.

"Alright, enough," Sweetie said, pulling Happy off of her. Kat leaned against the wall Happy had pressed her against when her knees buckled.

"Whoo…" She breathed. "Hang on a second…I'll be okay." She stood gingerly, holding her arms out to steady herself. "Okay, okay, I'm good."

She hugged Sweetie, wondering why he felt so much softer than the others. She took a deep breath. "I'll miss you," she said softly.

"I'll muss you too," he said. She kissed him gently, smiling when he blushed. "Bye, Sweetie."

Cry-Baby latched onto her when she turned to him. He cried into her stomach.

"Shh…Hey, hey," she lifted his chin, "It'll be okay, 'Baby. It's gonna be alright. It'll get better."

"Promise?" Those same green eyes that broke her heart.

"I promise." She kissed his forehead. She stepped back, looking at all of them.

"I'll see you guys, I suppose," she said with a smile.

"As bad as things are gettin', I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't see us again next week," Grumpy snorted.

"Can we leave on a positive note?" Sweetie asked, looking at his watch. "We only have a minute left."

"Are they gone yet?" Castiel asked, peeking fown the stairs.

"Not quite yet, sweetness," Deanne winked. Castiel frowned. So oblivious it's adorable, right?

Kat looked at her watch and bit her lip, holding back tears.

"Hey, it'll be okay, Kitty," Smartass assured. "You'll still see us, in some form." He smiled at her. They all did.

"Bye, Kitty." Two voices.

"Bye, Kat." Four voices.

"Bye Katherine." One voice.

There was a familiar flash of light, and when Kat opened her eyes, only one pair of green orbs looked back at her.

"Looks like I'm all ya get, Kitty," he smiled. She kissed him deeply, rubbing the back of his head and his neck.

"I can live with that," she glanced over her shoulder. "But I think Cas is scarred for life."

Did they live happily ever after? Of course not. But this tale is not over, my dear readers. Not in the least. However, that is for another time. Until then, farewell.

THE

END

--thank you to everyone who read and reviewed throughout this story. You guys are absolutely awesome and keep me goin! Yes, there is a third Sam Winchester and the Seven Deans, but it won't be up for awhile! And if you like my work, be sure to check out my current story Earth Angel and an upcoming story A Study in Scarlet, which is a crossover between Supernatural and The Mentalist. Thank you again and God bless you all!--