Thank to all that read and reviewed over the course of the story. Special thanks to Gredelina1 for all her help and support. This story wouldn't exist without her.

Epilogue

Castiel was leaning against the wall, just absorbing the sounds and smells of the bunker and the hum of angelic voices in his mind. He likely wouldn't be here again for a while. He needed to return to Heaven and deal with the angels. The call to go home was strong, but he had a responsibility to his friends and that had to come first. He had placed things in the wrong order before, thinking of his angelic family before human, and that had come at great cost. He would not make that mistake again.

He sensed a ghost's approach, and he looked up to see which it would be. Kevin came into the room, broad smile in place. "Mom's sleeping," he said.

"Dean, too," Castiel replied.

Kevin toyed with the heavy, gold ring in his hand and grinned. "I was thinking Sam could snag the amulet and we could go have a little fun. What do you think?"

"I think that is a good idea, but there is something we need to do first. Do you know where Sam is?"

Kevin smiled. "I'm guessing the usual."

"Okay. Come with me please, Kevin." Castiel started for the garage, feeling Kevin at his back.

As they suspected he would be, Sam was leaning against the hood of the Impala, looking thoughtful and a little moody. When he saw them, he scrubbed a hand over his face and smiled ruefully.

"Hey, what's up?"

Kevin shrugged. "Dunno. Cas is being all mysterious. Said there's something we need to do."

Sam looked at Castiel curiously. "You okay?"

"I am fine," Castiel said. "I need to talk to you both, and I wanted to wait until anyone that could… influence your decision was otherwise occupied."

Kevin and Sam exchanged a look and Kevin moved to stand beside Sam. "Okay."

"I am an angel again," Castiel started. "I have all my abilities returned to me. Therefore you both have a choice to make."

Sam seemed to know at once what Castiel was referring to, but Kevin looked confused.

"I can resurrect you if you wish."

Kevin's mouth dropped open. "Both of us? As in Sam and me? As in come back to life?"

Castiel nodded. "I am able to save you now, Kevin, if that is what you wish."

"If!" Kevin laughed. "Cas, I don't even have words. Of course I want to come back. I need to. There's so much… And I can…"

Sam smiled serenely. "You can have a normal life, Kevin. Hell's closed. The leviathans are trapped. Heaven is open. There's no prophet load for you to drag anymore. You're free."

Kevin laughed shakily. "Seriously? Free?" He looked to Castiel.

"As far as I know, there were only ever three tablets," Castiel said. "Leviathan. Demon, and Angel. As Sam said, there is no load for you anymore. You can be free."

Kevin whooped. "Hell yeah! I mean… wow. Do it. What do I have to do?"

"You have to do nothing but wait," Castiel said. "Dean told me where he buried what was left of you after your pyre. I will repair and return you. It won't take long."

Kevin's eyes were alive with happiness. "Cas, I don't even have words. Thank you."

Castiel turned to Sam. "And you, Sam. What do you want?"

Sam was not alive with happiness. He was bowed as if weighed down by the burden of possibility.

"I…" He trailed off and then nodded. "Yeah. Good. Definitely. Bring me back, Cas."

Castiel shook his head. "I will not until I am sure it is what you want. You have a choice, Sam, and this time I want you to choose for yourself and not anyone else. If you want life, I can give it, if you want Heaven, I can see that the amulet is destroyed. And if you want to stay as you are, I will support you in any way I can; as long as it's your choice."

"Do what's right for you, Sam," Kevin said solemnly. "Not for anyone else."

Sam nodded. "I will. I just need to think about it a little. Is that okay?"

"Take as long as you need," Castiel said serenely.

Castiel and Kevin exchanged a look and without speaking, they turned and left the room. Sam needed time and space to think things through. When he came, Castiel would be ready.

Five Years Later

"Kevin Tran."

Their row exploded with cheers and shouts as Kevin crossed the stage and collected his diploma, even Castiel was cheering. Unlike the other friends and family around, none of them felt the urge to be dignified with their excitement, Harvard etiquette be damned.

Dean flinched as Mrs. Tran did the two-finger whistle in his ear.

Kevin turned to them and smiled slightly as he lifted his scroll, crossing the stage back to his seat.

Before they handed out diplomas, there had been speeches, and one of those had been on the subject of roads travelled and trials overcome. Not one of the graduates sitting around Kevin had even the slightest idea of what a real journey was, Dean thought. Kevin's had been more than any of their combined. He had lost everything, given everything, even his life, and he'd come out the other side. He was finally living the life he deserved, the life he'd earned through blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice.

Dean looked along the row at his ragtag family, coming to a rest on his brother. Dean wondered if Sam had any regrets, he once wanted a future like Kevin now, but Sam was clapping and cheering still, his eyes alight with happiness. Maybe his life wasn't all he ever wanted, but it was better than it was once. There were no words to describe how he'd felt when he'd woken the morning after they'd killed Metatron to see Sam sitting at the table with a mug of coffee in front of him and cheeks flushed with lifeblood. He'd not been able to say what he'd felt, so he'd let it all communicate through a hug.

They hunted occasionally now, vengeful spirits, werewolves and rugarus, but the majority of their time was spent in the bunker, learning and recording their knowledge for future generations of hunters and men of letters. Sam had even decorated his room with more than laundry. After all those years on the road, they had a home, and through Kevin, Castiel and Mrs. Tran, they had a family too.

They'd lost a lot over the years, people they'd loved, their parents, Bobby, Jess, Rufus, Ellen and Jo, the list went on and on, but they were honoring those people with notes in journals, so that one day, someone would read it and know those people were the reason there was still a world to live in.

As Sam turned and caught Dean's eyes, he nodded and smiled.

It had been worth it.

So… that's all, folks. I am torn with pleasure and pain at the end of this story. I have loved writing it, especially snarky Sam, but I am glad to see it finished so you can all read (and hopefully enjoy) it, too.

This is the end of this story, but there are 21 more on my profile, so have a look and see if something catches your fancy.

Until the next story…

Clowns or Midgets xxx