My mind was on fire, something primal deep inside of me striving to get closer to Gabriel. I could recognize the feeling, it was the same pull I'd felt since my angel had rescued me from drowning. His lips were on mine, slowly driving me crazy. I felt him smile as I clung to him, letting him claim his victory.

"I'm going to ravish you until you don't know your own name, I'm going to make you scream loud enough that Crowley can hear it clear from Hell." His hips pushed into mine and my answering gasp was swallowed by yet another hot, possessive kiss. I finally bit his lower lip and he growled, causing me to almost orgasm from that sound alone.

I flung my head back, letting his teeth punish my throat, and took a deep breath. This was going to be hard for me, but he had a lesson to learn. I leaned back and told him that yes, I did acknowledge our bond. Like Cas said, that was all I had to do to confirm we were soulmates. No sex needed, nice and tidy. We were officially bonded for eternity. Now it was time to set some ground rules.

"No more saying I can't hunt," I reminded him. He shook his head.

"You aren't made for it, sugar," he said firmly. "I turn my back, and you're a vampire pinata."

"You can't tell me what to do," I tried to back away, to get him to see reason, but I couldn't break free. "I am not a child."

"You're mine," he said, his arms like steel bands around me.

"Yes, and you're mine," I acknowledged. "That is going to make my next move a bit tricky."

So after the triumph in his eyes flipped to surprise, I wished myself back to our own dimension and left him. Crazy? You bet. But I wasn't going to let him think he had control over what I did with my life. He was going to have to negotiate his way into my life - and my bed. A howl of protest followed me through the dimensional portal, and I knew that my wards wouldn't keep him out of my room since deep down, my soul still called for him. But where to go where he couldn't reach me?

I briefly thought of wishing myself to Hell, but Crowley was most likely healing and without his protection, Hell wouldn't be very safe for me. The bunker was already out as Gabriel could get in without effort. I had to go to the one place my soulmate couldn't reach me.

I'd only been to Castiel's home in between worlds once, when my parents had died. It was a small cottage next to a glowing green ocean somewhere near Heaven, but far enough from my world that Earth could be seen in the night sky. Weird, really. But I didn't waste time looking up at my homeworld as I ran up onto the large wrap around porch to pound on my guardian angel's door.

To say he was surprised was an understatement. "Inlustris? Why are you here?" He took in my bloodied clothes and pulled me inside, closing the door behind us. It magically disappeared meaning no one else could come inside the cottage until Cas allowed it. "Tell me what happened."

"We defeated it. I told Gabe we were bonded so that even if that thing comes back, we're safe." I sank into an overstuffed chair and watched the green waves hit the pure white sand through one of the cottage's many windows. It seemed quite soothing, and I wondered why I'd never asked to visit after being reunited with my guardian angel. Maybe I just didn't feel worthy of visiting since I wasn't a hunter, or an angel.

"Are you unwell?" Cas asked gently, holding my hand. "Did something happen? If you did defeat the leviathan, why are you not with your soul mate?"

"Because nothing has changed, Castiel. He brought that - thing - into the bunker without telling me, he still doesn't look at me like an equal. I love him, but I don't know how to trust him."

"This is highly irregular," Cas muttered to himself. He looked at me again, a hint of mischief in his gaze. "He will not be pleased you are here alone with me, especially after your little show at the bunker." I blushed.

"It's probably not a good idea to dwell on that," I said, thinking of Gabe's reaction to the party. "I got a bit carried away."

A thought hit him, "Crowley?"

"He got hurt protecting me. He's home, I guess. I don't want to think about him right now. What do I do about Gabriel?"

"Do? You need to go to him and discuss your bond. Perhaps have sex." At my look of shock, he grinned.

"I am not completely naive, my daughter. I know you have looked at him with love for a long time."

"The way you look at Dean?" He swallowed, looking at the floor.

"Um, that is - I mean - I do not look upon Dean any differently than I do others."

"If it helps, he looks at you that way too." His head shot up, and for a minute, I thought he'd run away. But he finally nodded, looking weary, yet relieved.

"Perhaps I should heed my own advice and be honest with him, and myself."

"Maybe just walk up to him and give him a big kiss?" He mock glared at me.

"I did not plan to ever discuss this with anyone, especially not you."

"I'm sure you meant that in the nicest way possible, Cas," I laughed. He grinned weakly and we walked out onto the porch, knowing that no one could find their way to his sanctuary without an invitation.

Now that he knew I was not in danger, the door had reappeared, and we sat on a well cushioned porch swing. The call of seabirds echoed from a distance, their songs merging with the ocean breezes. I shivered, and a silver blue blanket appeared over us. I smiled and leaned into my friend. He kissed the top of my head and sighed.

"As much as I enjoy your visit, you know you cannot stay here."

"I - I know. I just needed a little time to clear my head. It was overwhelming having him tell me that I was his and not having him understand that I could be useful in hunts."

"We are in agreement on that point, you are not a hunter." At my look of anger, he smirked knowingly. "Sweet one, you are very brave, and very smart. And if you truly wanted to hunt the darkness, you would excel. But you do not. You only want your soul mate to trust in you. Look into your heart, you know I am correct."

I deflated. "What use am I if I can't help?" He kissed my head and I felt Gabe's fury. Great to see that declaring my eternal love for him did nothing to keep his unfounded jealousy in check.

"You misunderstand me, little light. You have powers and gifts that have nothing to do with violence. Gabriel is right - you aren't meant to fight, at least not with guns."

"I'm listening," I said softly. "What are you saying?"

"You are the mate of an archangel. You are already changing, your lifespan rivals his even now. Your senses are reaching out in different ways. You are a formidable opponent to evil, because you can alter their reality."

"Excuse me, what?"

"Think back on how you projected your, uh, emotions onto all of us. You can make others feel like they are experiencing things that they are not. Even before you bonded with my brother - the skill was there."

"I can control people?" I was aghast, I was going to live as long as an angel? Weren't they basically immortal? My head was spinning. Castiel put his arm around me, hugging me gently. How had my life become this crazy? I tried to get my breathing under control.

"You can control your reality. Think of it like lucid dreaming - but you are awake. If a situation gets too dangerous, or you feel like someone is out to harm another, you can change it. You can protect people, and my brother protects you. It is a partnership of the highest order. Between the two of you, you can save many souls."

"I don't know if I understand it all yet, but you really think I have a purpose?"

"Of course you do, everyone does. You are not meant to harm others, you are meant to bring peace. There are those who would see you destroyed for it, peace is not a popular concept to those in Hell."

"Crowley said that Gabriel and I joining would be devastating to Hell. Is this part of what he was talking about?"

"As much as I dislike agreeing with him, yes. You can bring souls into the peace and joy they were destined for, you can convince almost anyone to be better."

"Almost anyone?" I grinned. "Crowley isn't that bad," I tried not to laugh.

"That remains to be seen," my guardian said with a grimace. He stood up. "And now, my dear, I believe you have to get back to your mate. He knows you are here, but even his powers cannot breach my security." He paused. "I'm thinking he doesn't find it as amusing as I do if his language is anything to go by."

I gave Castiel a warm hug and he smiled at me. "You bring me great joy allowing me to act as your father. I could not ask for a sweeter child."

"Come visit the bunker in a few days, we'll have dinner." At his nod, I closed my eyes and imagined myself back in my room. Almost immediately strong arms came around me from behind. Hot breath near my ear caused shivers to run down my spine. I leaned back and smiled.

"Hello soulmate," I whispered. "Did you miss me?." Spinning me around, his eyes were red, like he'd been crying. I'd never seen anyone look so broken. I frowned, not knowing what to say. Until that moment, part of me didn't really understand the depth of his love for me. My heart fell, and I pulled him into my arms, holding him close as he held back sobs.

"Please don't ever do that again," he rasped. "Please. It's hard enough thinking something out there could take you away from me. For you to leave, I just can't," he stopped, trying to compose himself. "It would destroy me if you were to leave, do you understand that? I would cease to exist."

"I'm sorry," I said softly, reaching up to run my fingers through his hair, pulling him close to me, trying not to fall apart in his arms.. His pulse was racing, and I focused on my love for him, my complete and irrevocable need, sending him as much emotional support through our bond as I could. I held his face in my hands, wiping his tears.

"I didn't understand, I needed to clear my head. I was so sure I had to prove myself to be worthy of you." I shook my head as he went to protest. "And you're right, you've been right from the beginning. I don't need to hunt. I don't need to prove myself by hunting. All I need to do is be me, and love you more than I have ever loved anyone in my entire life."

"You love me?" The question was filled with wonder and we broke apart long enough to lie down, fully clothed on my bed, just holding each other.

"Aren't soulmates supposed to love each other?" My tone was light, but a hint of worry bled through. If he didn't feel the same way, what was the point of this?

"I thought you just," he paused, actually blushing. I raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"Gabriel, are you telling me you thought I only wanted you for sex?" I flung myself onto my back, dramatically throwing an arm over my eyes. "Oh cruel world!"

I peeked at him through my fingers, and we began to laugh, rolling around on my bed like children, kissing each other with joy I was sure neither of us had felt before now. His hands moved under my tshirt, unhooking my bra as I started pulling his shirt out of his jeans. I felt a strong rush of passion flood my senses, so overwhelming that I could barely breathe.

"Gabe, do you feel that?" I whispered, as his lips moving from my lips to my ear, making me giggle.

"I feel everything you do, sugar," he said. "Let it happen, let me love you."

My body tensed with anticipation as it hit again. Looking up at my angel, I understood - his emotions merging with mine, our souls combining in such a way that we would never be separated. His memories were effortlessly finding a home in my mind and I knew he was seeing my past as well.

"Gabriel, please, I need you," I pulled at his hair, bringing his lips back to mine. I couldn't get enough of his kisses, "I will always need you."

His fingers found their way between us, entering me slowly. My thighs parted without any thought from me, my sighs growing into moans. He was moving his thumb over my clit, driving his fingers deeper inside of me. I grabbed his shoulders, forcing my hips onto his questing hand. After a few more pumps of his fingers, he pulled them out and slid into me, his eyes never leaving mine.

We didn't move for a long moment, my body welcoming his, then I pushed him onto his back and found my balance above him. Slowly rolling my hips, I grinned as he closed his eyes and moaned. My confidence grew, my passion grew, Gabe grew (immature of me, but hell yes he did).

I leaned forward and giggled again as his mouth tried to latch onto a breast. I leaned back, arching my body to allow him more access, pushing my hips onto his, panting his name as he grabbed me back down so that he could pound into me from above.

As we came together, I sensed that we had become more than mates, we were partners. Kissing him one last time before sleep claimed us, I knew that things were never going to be the same again.