Chapter Text
“Cas, what’s happening?”
“I don’t know, Dean.”
Dean was panicked. If Castiel didn’t know what was happening, then that was really not a good sign. He felt the ground fall from beneath his feet, a familiar tug at his midsection indicating that an angelic force was transporting them elsewhere.
Castiel quickly surveyed his surroundings. He immediately registered that they were no longer on the earthly plane. Furthermore, he deduced that their journey was not yet over. More alarmingly, he realized they were being sent where humans were not allowed to exist.
“Dean,” Castiel’s tone was demanding and urgent. “Close your eyes. Right now. DEAN, CLOSE THEM!”
Castiel wasted no time lunging at Dean, defensively surrounding him with wings he knew Dean could not see but would work to protect him nonetheless. He saw Dean hastily throw his arm over his face, and Castiel was silently thankful Dean listened to him without question for once in his life.
“Keep them closed, Dean.” Castiel continued with his orders. “Do not open them unless I say you can.”
Dean felt the warmth and light surround him that he had come to associate with angelic grace overload. “Cas, what’s going on?”
Castiel noted the edge in Dean’s voice. “We’re being summoned to heaven.” The angel tried to keep his tone as soothing as possible considering the chaos coming to life around them.
“What? Why?”
“I’m not sure,” Castiel admitted.
“I’ve been to heaven. More than once, apparently. Why all the crazy, eye-burning theatrics this time?”
“We aren’t going to your version of heaven.” Castiel explained as he began to recognize the light and song that filled his grace, indicating their intended destination. “We aren’t going to any human version of heaven.”
“What does that mean?” Dean snapped, frustrated. “What other version of heaven is there?”
“The Host’s Heaven.” Castiel gasped as he felt the skin of his vessel start to give way to his true form; angels rarely remained tethered to their human skin when summoned to the angelic realm of heaven.
Dean sensed Castiel’s form changing around him. “Cas, what’s wrong? What’s happening to you?” He reached out blindly with his free arm.
“Dean, no!” Castiel shouted, but his voice was already turning to what Dean would register as shrill static. “My true form is surfacing. Don’t look, don’t touch.” Castiel cut off his speech abruptly, not willing to risk giving Dean an aneurysm with his true voice.
“Castiel,” a powerful voice rang out into the surrounding air as Castiel and Dean materialized in a predominately white room with no walls, full of marble pillars and unending light. “There is no need to be afraid. Not for you or the human you protect.”
“Who the hell is that?” Dean jerked his head blindly in the direction of the new voice. “Cas? What’s going on?” He half-shouted, hands still planted firmly over his ears as per Castiel’s instructions.
“You may open your eyes and uncover your ears, Dean Winchester. You have nothing to fear here.” The voice saturated the air like sweet honey.
“NO!” Castiel protested immediately, unwilling to trust their unknown host until he was sure Dean was safe.
“No?” Dean asked. “Why not, Cas?”
Castiel, now in his true form, towered over Dean and looked down at him in surprise. “You can understand me?”
Dean slowly uncovered his ears. “Yeah, Cas, I can understand you. You sound… normal. Louder but like you. No screeching static or whatever.”
“I don’t understand.” Castiel turned towards the glowing glimmer of a visage before him. “How is this possible?”
“Like I said, neither of you have anything to fear here. You are both allowed to exist in your true forms without repercussions of being in each other’s presence.” The unknown entity calmly explained.
“Whoa, Cas.”
Castiel turned his attention back towards Dean, whose eyes were now open and trained on him.
“You can see me?” Dean nodded slowly. Castiel stood still – suddenly feeling more vulnerable than he had in over a millennium – waiting to see how Dean would react to his true, larger than life form.
Dean gulped, heart-racing, trying to process what stood before him. An ethereal figure, roughly the shape of a human but the height of skyscraper, with six wings outstretched further than his eyes could see. An overall glimmer reminiscent of a rainbow found in the spray of a waterfall in direct sunlight. Terrifying and calming all at once. And all undeniably… Castiel.
Angel of the Lord indeed.
“Damn, Cas.” Dean whistled. “Wave length of celestial intent, huh?”
“Something like that.” Castiel smiled sheepishly.
“Dude, you have six wings.” Dean exclaimed with his patented half-smile. “You’re awesome.”
“This isn’t… overwhelming?” Castiel frowned in concern.
“Hell yes this is overwhelming! But in a good way. Can’t see your face all the way up there, though. Don’t love that.”
“Yes, my height does make eye contact difficult.” Castiel quipped sarcastically as he rolled his eyes, somehow unsurprised that the height differential was what Dean chose to focus on.
“Perhaps you would both be more comfortable if I allowed Castiel to remain in his vessel.” The voice returned, and suddenly Castiel’s massive and glowing true form was gone, his familiar body and tax accountant garb standing in its place.
“Dean,” Castiel immediately gasped as soon as he had his gravely, human voice returned to him. “Dean, are you injured?”
“I’m good, Cas.” Dean reached out and laid a steadying hand on Castiel’s shoulder. “Just glad to have you back to… not the size of the Chrysler building.”
Castiel huffed but made no comment, turning to focus his attention on the unknown celestial being in front of them. “Unveil yourself and explain this unexpected summoning.”
“Oh, Castiel.” The floating orb of light shone a bit brighter as it spoke. “Do you not know me after all of this time? Am I not recognizable to one of my most favored children?”
All at once, Castiel knew the presence before him. He felt the wave of recognition, a sense of understanding cast upon him. He immediately kneeled and hung his head in reverence. “Father,” Castiel gasped. “I am not worthy to stand before you.”
“On the contrary, dear Castiel.” The orb burst, and in its place stood an average looking man, clothed in a simple blue button down and khaki pants. “You are most worthy.”
“I am flawed and disobedient.” Castiel continued, head still bowed. “I have long sought revelation but along the way have made terrible mistakes.”
“That is true, but it is the price of free will.” The man said.
Castiel’s head quirked up a bit. “Free will – so it is true. That was your intention all along?”
“To some extent.” The man smiled. “You may have taken it a bit further than I anticipated, but that is your nature.” He placed a hand upon Castiel’s shoulder. “Please, my son, rise. Do not shield your eyes from me.”
Dean’s eyes went wide as he observed the exchange. “Cas,” he said softly. “Is this…?”
“God, Dean,” Castiel whispered in reverence. “This is God.”
The man they now knew to be God smiled at them. A minute or two passed as the gravity of the situation sunk in. Castiel and Dean stood where few souls ever had the chance to be – in the direct presence of the Lord and Savior of Heaven. For all his wonder, Castiel was starting to worry about what event – what earthly or heavenly situation – could possibly merit such an audience. It was highly unorthodox and, as far as he knew, unprecedented. Castiel knew they must proceed with caution. Naturally, that was when Dean found his voice.
“Are you kidding me?” Dean yelled. “We have been on the world’s worst scavenger hunt for years looking for you. We literally died, went to Heaven, and fought our way into Joshua’s garden to find you, and you told us to stop looking, and now you decide to make introductions?”
Castiel felt panic bubble in his chest. “Dean –”
“No, Cas,” Dean held up a hand and cut off Castiel’s warning. He fixed the man – God or whoever – with a fiery glare. “Now, when there is no apocalypse, no great war between Heaven and Hell, no end of the world disaster on our hands, you decide to invite us on up for a chat?” Dean huffed his disapproval. “Excuse me if I’m not thrilled to make your acquaintance. Especially since you appear to be wearing the vessel of my fifth grade math teacher.”
“I appear to you in whatever form you need to me to appear.” God explained. “Castiel sees me in my true form, whereas you appear to have conjured up the memory of the only teacher to ever encourage your intelligence.”
“This is just more ridiculous by the second.” Dean groaned.
Castiel glanced at Dean in horror. Not that he didn’t agree with the hunter’s sentiments, but he had just told off God; it was not, historically, the best move. Therefore, when he heard laughter coming from his Father, his head snapped to stare in shock.
“Oh, Dean Winchester. I have been waiting quite some time for you.”
“Yeah? Well, I’ve been around. Where the hell have you been?” Dean retorted.
“Dean, please.” Castiel shot him a pleading look. “Be… nice.”
Dean raised his eyebrow at Castiel, having no doubt that ‘nice’ was not how he truly intended that sentence to end. Regardless, he couldn’t deny Castiel’s frightened gaze. He gave another dramatic eye roll accompanied by a short nod to indicate his consent to ‘be nice.’
“Your accusations are not incorrect, Dean Winchester.” God said, seemingly unfazed. “However, things cannot always happen according to your timeline. The events you referenced were to be endured without my interference.”
“Yeah, endured is not the word I would use.” Dean snapped, earning him another look from Castiel.
“You are angry. That is to be expected.” God nodded. “But you must let that anger go for your journey is not over yet.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Dean demanded.
“Your journey is about to get truly interesting.” God smiled.
“Interesting? I am pretty sure my life has already been interesting enough.”
“Do not fear and have faith that it will work out.” God responded.
Castiel gave God an alarmed look. “Forgive my inquisition, Father, but what will work out?”
“The plan, dear Castiel.” God clapped his hands excitedly. “Dean Winchester’s plan.”
“I don’t have a plan.” Dean said defensively.
God chuckled. “While you have made it abundantly clear that you do not believe your life has a plan, that does not mean a plan doesn’t exist. The Winchester plan has been in place long before your soul sparked into existence. It has been sung of in heaven amongst my highest circles for centuries now, and it is finally coming to pass.”
“Cas,” Dean was unable to hide the panic in his voice. “What’s he talking about?”
“I don’t know.” Castiel shook his head, “I swear I don’t know, Dean.”
“Castiel has no knowledge of this portion of the Dean Winchester plan.” God verified Castiel’s confusion. “That is the funny part about human destiny when mixed with free will. Angel or not, you can no longer be privy to it once you are a part of it.”
“I don’t understand.” Castiel frowned.
God turned to Castiel. “The moment you opted to join… what is it you call it… ah yes, Team Free Will, you forfeited your ability to join the Winchester destiny conversation. Rather, you became a main topic in said conversation, although very few seemed to realize it.” God sighed. “That has always been the problem with my angels – their inability to key into emotions and human attachments. Hence why they keep underestimating the significant role you now play in Dean Winchester’s story.” God smiled at Castiel. “Love is the most wondrous part of human nature. Powerful enough to change even the most fastidious of plans. You are one of the few angels to have truly figured that out, and for that reason you have continuously been rewarded.”
“I still don’t understand.” Castiel said.
“Castiel, I know you’ve always suspected my intervention in your continued existence. After all, there’s only so many people who could bring you back from the dead time and time again.” God revealed.
“You kept bringing Cas back?” Dean questioned.
“I was the one to order his resurrection on several occasions, yes.” God explained.
“Why?”
“Because you needed him.” God turned his gaze towards Dean. “Because the angels needed him. Because Heaven needed him. Finding an angel so dedicated to free will and humanity is… not common.”
“That does not explain what Dean’s continued journey is.” Castiel pointed out.
“Then let me reveal it to you.” God gestured to Dean. “You are destined to have a most miraculous child.”
For a moment, Dean seemed to choke on air, unable to hide his surprise. “Excuse me?”
“I know it is something you have always desired. And I am happy to tell you that it will be.” God offered.
Dean threw up his hands in disbelief. “Hang on just a sec –”
“In fact, the time is now.” God continued.
“Time for what now?”
“A child, Dean. God is going to give you a child.” Castiel deadpanned, barely digesting the news himself.
“Cas, that is not funny.”
“I’m not laughing, Dean.”
“Well, then you’re wrong – ”
“He is not mistaken, Dean Winchester,” God chimed in.
Dean stared at God, blinking periodically, utterly at a loss for words.
“Perhaps this merits a bit more explanation.” God had the audacity to look confused.
“You think?!” Dean gesticulated wildly to emphasize his need for further explanation.
“I’ve been waiting for you to settle down for some time now. Hoping you’d find the right person and subsequently bless your child into existence through… conventional means.” God laughed a bit. “You came close a few times, but when push came to shove you always seemed endlessly determined to keep on the road. For a while I figured it was your sense of duty keeping you from settling down, but now,” God gave Dean a knowing look, “I realize it was for an entirely different reason.”
“Oh yeah?” Dean crossed his arms defensively. “What reason is that?” He asked even though he was pretty sure he knew the answer.
“You hadn’t found the right person.” God smiled at Dean fondly. “The person who would give you a reason to settle. To leave the life of hunting and destruction behind. Now you have.”
Dean gulped as his eyes reflexively flicked to Castiel. God wasn’t wrong, but that didn’t mean it made Dean feel any better about his current situation.
“Normally, I don’t condone angel-human relations, but the bond you and Castiel share seems to defy all pre-ordained destiny orders, so who am I to argue?” God shrugged jovially. “If you are to have a child, then you will have a child with Castiel.”
“What?” Dean and Castiel voiced their disbelief in unison.
“Honestly, it’s better this way.” God ignored the shocked faces in front of him. “The child will be even more miraculous than originally planned.”
“Bull shit.” Dean snapped. “You can’t just decide that we have a child. It doesn’t work that way. Not to mention we are both missing some crucial parts when it comes to baby making, in case you missed that section of your Adam and Eve Bible lesson.”
God gave Dean an amused look. “When it comes to creation, it works whatever way I command it.” He placed a comforting hand on Dean’s shoulder. “Do not fear, Dean Winchester. This will be the greatest blessing of your life.”
Dean felt a rush of grace surge through him when God touched his shoulder. “What’s happening? What are you doing?”
“Extracting your DNA.” God said simply. “As I explained, the child will be made from your blood,” – as he pulled away God held a vial with what was undoubtedly Dean’s blood in it – “and Castiel’s grace.”
God flicked his wrist and Cas gasped as he felt a sliver of his grace escape his body and float into a basin waiting in God’s hand. Dean stared as God took the vial of his blood and poured it into the basin already swirling with Castiel’s grace. He felt panic rise in his throat at the realization of what was happening.
“Hold on,” Dean stepped forward, arm outstretched in an effort to stop God’s actions.
“That is not an option, Dean.” God threw the bowl into the air, which burst into a blue-green orb. “The process is underway.”
“Cas,” Dean choked out, desperate for any kind of solution to what was happening. “Cas, what do we do?”
Castiel looked over at Dean, eyes glimmering with resolution. “There is nothing to be done, Dean.” He laid a steadying hand on Dean’s arm. “Once the creation process has started, nothing can stop it.”
“Creation process?” Dean muttered in disbelief as he continued to stare at the spinning blue-green orb, which God was now collecting between his hands in midair.
“So it was foretold that on the cusp of springtime, when the earth first showed signs of its annual rebirth, a child would be brought into creation.” God’s voice boomed into the surrounding space. “By the hand of the Father, a miracle would occur, allowing the essences of man and angel, his two beloved creations, to join into one.”
As God spoke, Dean felt a power surge through him. The energy buzzed through his veins, warm and pure, engendering feelings of calm and absolution in his soul. Dean turned to Castiel, and by the look on the angel’s face, he could tell that he felt it as well. While his feelings of being unsettled were not completely cast out, he was overwhelmed with a sense of undiluted goodness and innocence that he could not displace.
“Such a child, the product of righteousness and rebellion in the face of adversity, will be raised with humanity and grace combined.” God continued as he gathered the blue-green orb into his arms. “Thus, a partnership will be forged, never to be undone as long as God exists.”
The orb in God’s arms burst into a shower of gold light so bright that Dean raised his arm to temporarily shield his eyes. As the light faded away, it was replaced by a bundle of blankets cradled in God’s arms.
“In Heaven itself the child was born.” God smiled down at the new life in his arms. “Thus Heaven’s daughter was brought into creation.”
Dean felt his heart skip a beat at the word ‘daughter.’ A girl. It was a girl. Holy fuck. His and Cas’ little girl.
Dean had only one thought in his head at that moment: Jesus fucking Christ. He instantly vowed never to speak of said thought to his (oh dear God he still had trouble processing it) daughter.
“And she was named Arielle.” God concluded. “Glory always be to Arielle.”
“Arielle,” Castiel said softly. “Lion of God.”
Dean glanced over at Castiel and saw a look of awe and amazement on the angel’s face he had never seen before. A small cry came from the child in God’s arms. Dean felt his heart lurch in his chest at the noise and he moved towards God.
“Please,” Dean choked out. “Let me hold her.” God handed the bundle over to Dean, who immediately cradled the child – his daughter – in his arms. “Shh, hey there, baby girl.” Dean heard his voice hitch with emotion as he stared down at the new life form in his arms. “You’re alright. I’ve got you.” After a moment, the cries subsided, and Dean felt his breath catch in his throat as the baby curled into his chest, a small fist of tiny pink fingers grabbing onto his shirt.
And in that moment, Dean was lost. He knew that no matter the panic he had previously felt, this tiny being of life had suddenly, irrevocably, become his entire world.
Castiel materialized at Dean’s shoulder, staring down at the baby girl in wonderment. “Is she an angel?” He asked softly.
“She is part angel, part human.” God confirmed. “Her grace will remain dormant for the time being. For how long exactly, I cannot say. I suspect it will be years before it fully develops.”
Castiel nodded silently. “So she will present as human.”
“For now, yes.” God said.
“And she is ours?” Dean asked, his eyes never leaving his daughter’s face. “I know you waved her into existence or whatever, but she is our daughter?”
“Yes. She is a manifestation of your DNA and Castiel’s grace.” God nodded. “Although, I do not suggest you bring her to a doctor for a paternity test. I suspect her genetic make up would confound them entirely given the circumstances.”
“And you are relinquishing her to us?” Castiel asked, his voice powerful and commanding. “You will not interfere with us raising her as our own?” Dean felt a surge of affection towards Castiel for asking that question.
“Yes.” God decreed. “As I stated previously, she is your child and therefore will be under your care. I was required only to help with the creation process.”
“Thank you.” Dean finally looked up from Arielle’s face to look at God. “I didn’t know… I don’t know…” He swallowed as he tried to properly express himself. “Just… thank you.”
God smiled at Dean fondly. “The child is a blessing.” He said. “And now it is time for you to return. Your journey here is done.”
“Father,” Castiel said quickly. “What does this mean? Will I fall?”
“Oh, Castiel,” God chuckled. “Falling implies pain and suffering. You will not fall. You will live.”
Castiel gave a curt nod to indicate his understanding. Whether or not he actually did understand, Dean wasn’t so sure.
“Good luck to you, blessed Arielle.” God cradled the child’s head lightly. “May you flourish in the light.” God placed his hands on Dean and Castiel’s shoulders. “And may you two always remember the glory of your union.”
And without further ado, Dean and Castiel felt the floor fall out beneath them as the Heavenly Host faded around them. Dean hugged Arielle to his chest protectively, and Castiel surrounded them – his family – with his wings as they were transported back to earth.