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Luminescence. Noun. The Light so Emitted.
"I think we should have pie.” Castiel looks at Dean, the bunker table covered with pictures of different cakes.
“I love you.” Dean says, his head emerging out of his hands. His eyes full of love.
“I love you too, dork.” Cas smiled, the familiar warmth lighting up inside Dean's chest.
He leaned in to kiss his groom-to-be, blue eyes staring into soft greens like fields of ever flowing grass, when Sam clears his throat from across the room.
“You guys make me sick” Sam says from behind them. He's wearing gray sweatpants and an old Stanford hoodie with the hood over his head. He looks miserable, but that's how he usually looks when coming out of his studies. Since before Cas had come back from The Empty Sam and the New People of Letters had set about studying and archiving the bulk of all that was in the newly restored bunker, Sam was the lead archivist and almost mostly consumed by his work these days. the wedding was his only break in the bleak storm of journal entries and random tid bits of unrelated history.
he heads into the kitchen and Cas gets up to follow him. Sam is making a bowl of Chocolate Puffs when Cas reaches him.
“Sam,” he starts.
“Cas, save it, I don't want to hear about how you two are having the best wedding ever, okay? I'm the best man, I hear enough of it from Dean.” his sour mood was a big rain cloud above his head.
“That's not what I was going to say,” he sits down at the table in a chair facing Sam.
“I was going to ask what's wrong? You seem down in the dumps about something” Sam looks away from him. It feels like there should be someone by his side but there isn't and he can't feel a presence like he used to. he doesn't know how to explain that to Cas.
He's brought back into the moment when he realizes he never answered the question. he sets his bowl down on the table with a huff.
"'m sorry for shitting on your wedding Cas," he pauses "i just don't know what's wrong, something feels off. and i don't think it's the stress that's getting to me." he took a bite of his cereal. they had been talking about a specific passage that had been left untranslated, in an ancient language Sam wasn't familiar with that of which had very little resources to decode.
“i think we might have something that'll cheer you up." Cas smiled, his hand resting on the table sympathetically. another side effect of The Empty spitting him out, he retained all his human knowledge.
What.
“What?” he swallowed his bite.
“We set up a few blind dates for you just before the wedding so you can find a date for it, Dean suspected you were upset over something so he set this up for you” Cas explains and he wants to melt into a puddle right then, instead he takes a huge bite of his cereal so he wouldn't have to react for a minute. After he was done chewing he swallowed again.
“wow, guys, I don't know how to feel” which was the truth, he didn't know how to feel about his brother and soon to be brother-in-law setting him up on “a few” blind dates. the first feeling that came to mind was disgust, he needed to get back to his room and solve his riddle before the wedding took up anymore of his time. The second was understanding, if he just went through with this he wouldn't have to hear them talk about how they never see him happy anymore.
which isn't entirely true, and his relationship status doesn't really impact that. He is Demi-romantic, it takes him a good amount of time to warm up to the idea of a relationship with someone. Speed dating was more his brother's style.
He looked at his cereal, he would indulge them just this once. if he couldn't find a date they would surely drop this entire act, right?
“Your first one is in a few hours so you should probably get ready right now. ” Dean said from the doorway and Sam wanted to become one with the floor.
He left the kitchen and got in the shower. He didn't really have date worthy clothing so when he got out, anxiety pooling in his stomach, he opened his closet and went to the very back of it where he kept his more fancier and outdated ‘FBI agent’ suits. He picked a blue number with a matching periwinkle pocket square, if he remembered correctly this was the first suit he "borrowed" after Dean had come for him at Stanford. It still had the tag on it. He was meant to return it but since they might have needed it for a case, Dean had told him to keep it.
He quickly got dressed and decided to wear his hair down. It wasn't completely dry but he was hoping that by the time his date got there it would be. He had been growing it out since Jack reset the universe. It had always looked good long, one day he just decided to keep it long.
He grabbed his brother's car keys and went into the garage.
“I hope you don't mind me taking the impala” Sam shouts across the vast garage at Castiel and Dean who separate at the sight of him. still sheepish in front of other people.
“Yeah fine but just gas her up after, alright?” Dean smiles at Sam, he could get used to this happy and agreeable Dean.
“Can I at least know their name first?” He playfully begs the happy couple. Although he was Demi, he was also Pansexual, it was a gamble whenever his brother tried to set him up with someone.
“Her name is Gabriella” Cas states and the couple walk out of the garage, Sam clicks his tongue a couple times.
“I can work with that” he gets into the Impala and drives out of the driveway. The bar was just around the corner and he was there in no time. His anxiety grew by the minute and he was practically hyperventilating by the time he reached the bar.
He was seated at table 6. While he waited for Gabriella he ordered a glass of wine and tried not to chew his fingers off. His anxiety wasn't normally like this, but again that presence usually dampened it. The absence of such a presence put him on edge.
“Sam Winchester?” a voice behind him spoke and he turned around. A beautiful person graced his vision, her dress was gold and her earrings and shoes matched it, she had short hair and a body Sam could get used to looking at. her voice was as sweet as the honey in his Bee's Knees cocktail.
“Gabriella?” the woman nodded and she went to go sit down. Sam sat more comfortably in his chair after that. there was something so familiar about her.
The date went great, Sam had steak and Gabriella chose to have a delicious looking piece of chocolate cake. She teased Sam for the lack of fun in his life when he brought it up. She insisted on having desert first, stating it started when she was little. his heart warmed at the sentiment.
throughout the date a sense of ease washed over Sam. He got the feeling he had been here before when he looked into her hazel eyes. Gold flakes filled her eyes, floating around like confetti on new years. interesting.
it wasn't until after they had eaten that things went off the deep end.
The room began to spin and spin and suddenly Sam was sitting in a shitty motel room. He had been drugged, somehow. He was bound to the chair he was sitting in.
“What the fuck is going on.” He struggles with the restraints before he hears the rustling of feathers. He freezes. He recognizes that sound. Angels.
“I should've known it was you.” He laughs to himself as Gabriel steps out of the shadows.
“And you still fell for it” his voice sounded as cocky as ever, Sam rolled his eyes. The sweetness gone from both of them. The chill from the AC amplified by their coldness towards each other.
“Yeah, whatever, what do you want Gabriel?” This was taking too long, he just wanted to get back to the bunker.
“I need you to be my date to your brother's wedding, and by date I mean wedding crasher numero dos.” Gabriel says and it's almost like he's nervous about this wedding or something. Sam tried not to acknowledge that he could sense his nervousness from across the room.
It ruffled his feathers, Gabriel had met with Sam like this before (kidnapped him more like it) Hell he was his Guardian Angel! They had grown up together, well that was partially true, they had grown up together but it was more parallel and parasocial than actually knowing him growing up. They had always been there for each other, in a way. And even if Sam didn't know why he was talking to an empty room, he was still talking to Gabriel. And that was enough for a while, It wasn't until their first meeting that Gabriel knew that his feelings for Sam had grown with his wingspan.
Although he was far too messed up from the war to even touch on those feelings. He hid them and hid from the cause of them for a while. After everything, he cant hide anymore.
Their first meeting, it had gone similar to this, started with Sam not feeling that presence next to him, the same presence he had taken a comfort in, and it ended with Gabriel revealing himself and a year's worth of therapy on Sam's part. but there was also an underlying feeling of something Sam couldn't quite place. a closeness that felt wrong, but oh so right at the same time.
Sam would have never admitted this to anyone, but after hearing Dean talk about his experience with Castiel and what he had felt before they had even met, he had felt something similar to what Dean described when they were at the Mystery Spot and again whenever he was alone when he was younger. like a warm blanket around his shoulder, or a comforting touch to his cheek the numerous times he had cried himself to sleep when he was younger. It felt like someone watching him in a way that made him feel less alone. The feeling grew stronger as he grew older. Comforting and secure.
He'd never admit it but he felt it again whenever he looked at Gabriel. those hazel eyes, swimming with gold. It scared the shit out of him.
Gabriel had never wanted to fuck with Sam as bad as he had at Mystery Spot, it was a mistake, but there was still a part of him that laughed at Sam's pain, a part of him that showed up after the war. A part of him that reigns whenever they talk in person. it was enough to scare the shit out of him, scare the part of himself that loved being his Guardian Angel. it was an uphill battle with himself just playing nice as they talk.
Gabriel conjured a drink, something sweet enough to drown the bitter taste in his mouth.
“Fine.“ Sam finally answered and Gabriel almost spit out the sweet concoction he was drinking. He was not expecting Sam to actually answer that. Maybe a fuck you, feathers and a fight. Maybe things were changing, and maybe lady luck was finally looking his way. He let himself get hopeful, puffing his wings out unbeknownst to Sam.
“Okay, “ he sighs out and the ropes around Sam's wrists loosen.
“What's the plan then?” Sam stood up. He was taller than Gabriel, it cast a shadow over the angel's body.
“So, the wedding is in a couple days,” he pauses and Sam nods, waiting.
Gabriel was suddenly nervous, he swallowed that feeling with the rest of his drink and continued.
“Dean has gotten on you about bringing a date I assume? Castiel has called me about finding a date as well” he sighed again as Sam nodded.
“So if we say we ran into each other at the same bar after Gabriella stood you up, and reconnected over a couple martinis, then that should satisfy their need for a backstory but as for evidence that we share chemistry” he paused, thinking,
“Well they know we have a history of fighting, heartache, a few fake kisses and a couple of fake flirtations and it should sell us enough time to get through the rehearsals and to the wedding where we'll hatch our plan” he didn't entirely know what the plan was but this was a good start.
“Should you come back to the bunker with me then?” Sam asks and Gabriel raises his eyebrows but then he straightens his expression out. Gears turning in his head, weighing everything against a metaphorical feather. is this worth it? Was a question that came to mind.
“Yeah, that's a good place to start.” the decision was final, Gabriel was going to go through with the plan he came up with, even if it smote him.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
The door unlocks, Sam peaks through to a darkened foyer the only light coming from the map table.
“Alright, coast’s clear,” he whispers with a giggle. Gabriel clutches his arm tightly as he’s pulled through and down the steps. They sloppily kiss each other. Gabriel inhaled Sam’s cologne and had to stop himself from going further with Sam but once they walked arm in arm into the library, Sam stopped in the doorway and repositioned the angel’s arms into the perfect position so they could slow dance. They danced there for a few moments, laughing, almost forgetting the deal they just made, just being together. It almost made Sam forget that Dean was sitting right there in the corner. almost
Dean turned the lamp next to him on. The shadows making his gray robe look black. He had a shotgun in his lap. He did not look happy.
“What the hell is going on?” He said loud enough to cut through the music in Gabriel's head.
“Dean, its not prom night you don't have to do this bit.” He sighed, resisting the urge to rest his fingers on the bridge of his nose feigning frustration.
“This isn't a bit, why is Gabriel here?!” he exclaims, concern flashing across his expression. “And why were you kissing him “ he whispers the word like Sam’s fourteen.
“Jesus Christ Dean, Gabriella stood me up and Gabriel was at the bar i stopped at on the way here. We got drinks and well, we hit it off.” Sam brushed passed Dean and made his way to the kitchen, Gabriel followed, skittish around the older Winchester.
“is he going to be your date to the wedding?” Dean asks after following him and Sam nods.
“Alright,” he rubs the back of his neck “i guess that's fine” he yawns. he starts to calm down, the shotgun forgotten.
“Go to bed” Sam throws a towel at Dean and Dean leaves the kitchen laughing awkwardly.
Gabriel and Sam fist bump in celebration after he’s gone. Their plan had worked.
“Alright, phase one part one complete.” Gabriel comments as Sam looks around the kitchen.
He was nervous, he didn't know why, but it was probably because he actually had fun dancing with Gabriel. However as short lived as it was, It made him hungry for more little moments like that, and that scared him even more because obviously this was all fake so why would there be more after the wedding. He shook those thoughts off.
In a surge of confidence Sam blurted out, “why don't you stay here, tonight,” he pauses, “the first rehearsal is in the morning, i know that some angels get drained if they use their wings too much and we need you as Castiel’s best person.” He finishes and Gabriel smiles, this was definitely going to be hard for him. That’s why he has his jokes.
“Sure, but I call little spoon,” Sam blushed. They filed out of the kitchen and into Sam’s room.
“Do you think they’d be suspicious if we slept in separate rooms” Sam whispered.
“Yes, would you sleep in a separate room if you just brought a person home with you?” Sam thinks about it for a second and Gabriel fights the urge to roll his eyes…out of adoration.
“Good point” Sam opens the door to his room and kicks some dirty clothes into the dark corner behind his door. He walks over to his bedside and turns the light on with an audible click! It snaps Gabriel’s attention over to Sam who was currently fixing his bed so it was more comfy for the both of them.
And then it hit Gabriel, he was in Sam’s room, for the first time, not as his Guardian Angel. It sent a shiver through him. Sam started undressing and Gabriel had gotten so caught up in his thoughts he didn't notice at first. And then he really noticed. A bright blush burned across his face and made its way to his ears as he watched Sam get out of his clothes, slowly unbuttoning his shirt and then his pants almost as if this was a regular thing that just happens, before his thoughts could wander anymore than they did he went around to the other side of the bed and started undressing himself, he magicked dark green pj’s and Sam pulled out red Buffalo check bottoms from the floor of his closet. There was a whole in them from when Sam was cutting newspaper clippings and accidentally cut the fabric as well, he had fixed them with a handmade patch that resembled the pansexual flag. Gabriel remembers that night. It was the same night Sam came out to his brother. His smile was small and as secret as that moment. He squirmed into the covers.
Memories seemed to blend together when you were a Guardian angel. For Gabriel it felt like he was actually there in some memories, especially when he was a young cherub. Memories of having conversations and giggling at all of Sam's human references to shows Gabriel had no knowledge of. Memories of studying for big tests, a headphone left out for his imaginary friend.
he was there when Sam had ran away, Gabriel had ran away as well. The war had started in Heaven around that time and he just wanted to play his harp and cover his ears to stop himself from processing his brother's fighting. He had disguised himself as a dog, a golden retriever, the dog Sam had wanted for years. Sam had taken him in, unknowingly, and they hunkered down in a moldy apartment while Dean helplessly searched for him. those were the days. before war changed him.
weird memories to think of when he was about to get in the same bed as the soul he was meant to protect.
“Goodnight” it echoed in the dark.
“Goodnight” the echo came back in a much sweeter tone and gravely voice.
Gabriel didn't really need sleep, none of the angels did but he also didn't mind it, so he closed his eyes as Sam's breathing became the only sound in the room, he let his breathing sync with the man next to him. He dreamed of nothing.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
When they woke up, Sam had moved and his arms were wrapped around Gabriel's body, Gabriel looked at Sam as he opened his dark brown eyes. they were so brown, deep and dark, that they were tinged red at the edges. like a redwood. subtle but because of the proximity Gabriel could see it.
he was so focused, staring deeply into Sam's eyes. their noses touching. inhaling Sam's morning breath like it was the air he didn't need to breath. he was in trouble.
he was so focused he didn't notice his brother standing in the doorway.
Castiel was standing there, watching, with a coffee mug in hand.
“Eh-hem!” He exclaimed, sobering Gabriel and waking a half awake Sam. Sam untangled himself and got up, a little too fast. Castiel looked at Gabriel with a look of suspicion. Gabriel just shrugged. he sat up in bed and magicked some morning clothes on in the blink of an eye.
“Dean told me you two met at a bar last night” Castiel's suspicion wore off, but it lingered in his eyes.
“Yeah we did,” Sam yawned.
“When did you get here?” Cas asked Gabriel which was a perfectly reasonable question since he had already missed some practices, but he was here for the Bachelor party which would be tomorrow night. he looked away, it wasn't like he was avoiding his brother. there was a very valid reason he had been avoiding the entire family. he solved half of that problem when he followed the big lunking puppy dog home last night from the bar. the other half, oh well.
he sighed,
“A week ago, I was sleeping in a flat above the bar Sam walked into and we were both so drunk we hit it off right there.” He says smoothly, his eyes float over to Sam, unintentionally but Sam meets his gaze anyway. Gabriel flicks his eyes back to his brother.
Cas shrugs, too stressed to put his story under the microscope like usual. they were safe for now.
“Alright, rehearsal is in a couple of hours, you guys need to get ready,” he says, turning away from both of them.
“There's so much to do,” Gabriel groans, falling back onto his pillow.
“Yeah, but once this is over all we have is cake and dancing.” Sam shrugs as he grabs his phone and heads into the kitchen.
He comes back carrying two mugs of coffee, an RT-D2 mug and one that has a LadyHeart logo peeling off of it. Gabriel laughs as Sam hands him the RT-D2 mug. he looks at the angel with an eyebrow raised. but Gabriel waves him off. it would be too hard to explain, it was another moment of Gabriel feeling like he was actually there when he was only observing Sam. Gabriel preferred Star Trek to Star Wars because Dean would always change the channel, citing 'older brother privileges', to Star Trek when Sam was watching Star Wars. Gabriel was obsessed with the show, the colors, the TV. it was his first love. mix that with his PTSD from the war and you could find the why in his past crimes against the Winchesters. And anyway, he was laughing at an inside joke within an inside joke that wasn't even a joke at all.
He was already loosing it.
Sam shrugged at Gabriel's nonsense and grabbed a towel. he was going to take a shower whether there was a handsome angel in his bed or not. he needed to wash off the shitty motel germs.
Sam would Never admit he just thought Gabriel was handsome, it didn't help that he had caught the angel staring intensely into his eyes while he was still half asleep. his eyes were bleary but he wasn't blind. it felt like he was under a microscope, like Gabriel was studying each crevice and nook of his pupil with that angelic curiosity he had only ever seen on Castiel. it was intensely intimate. He would also never admit that he had done the same, he had gotten lost in his hazel pupils. They were like gemstones, unlike anything Sam had ever seen. He was fascinated by them. He would never admit that he wanted to go back to that moment of intense intimacy, of the domesticity, of laying in bed with his arms around the angel. he'd never admit it but…
He shook himself, alone in the bathroom, he hadn't even noticed how empty the room felt until he was alone. It scared the shit out of Sam to think that Gabriel of all people was the person that filled that hole. it was even scarier to think of the possibility of the obvious..
that his guardian was the "angel" behind their fucked up lives, the one responsible for everything. that's why he couldn't feel their presence anymore.
he really shook himself, he couldn't think of that right now. he started the shower and steam piled out from the bathtub.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
He should probably come clean about the fact that he's Sam's Guardian Angel, but before he could take a moment to dwell on it his thoughts settled elsewhere, specifically on Sam's abs as he walked across the hall into the room next to theirs, his towel wrapped around his waist. Like a moth to a flame Gabriel found himself in the room Sam was changing in. like there was a giant magnet attached to his chest and Sam's abs.
He thought of a million one-liners to get Sam’s attention in the room they were in but almost all of them came from various porn films. On top of that he still wasn't dressed so before Sam noticed him Gabriel fled back to the other room. Flush crept up his face and settled nicely on his ears. Hot, heavy and a giant reminder of his big fat gay crush.
He took a deep breath. Angels didn't need to shower, they could just magick themselves clean so that's exactly what he did, his magic washed over him. Cool and minty fresh. He also used his magic to conjure another outfit.
banana cream colored slacks and a half sleeve matching shirt that fit his figure very nicely was laid out in front of him, and then on him in another blink. his hair slicked back, he looked like he walked straight out of a cross between Hair Spray and Grease.
Sam waltzed in after a moment, Gabriel looked him over. He was a tall drink of cherry wine. wearing crimson slacks with a matching suit jacket so much better than whatever 80s wet dream he was wearing last night. Red looked delicious on him.
Gabriel swallowed. Sam smiled, oblivious.
“If i didn't know any better I'd assume you were enjoying our situation”
“Oh I'm not”
“Then why are you smiling at me like that?” Gabriel raised an eyebrow, trying to keep his suave persona up and only slightly failing.
“You look good in yellow” was all Sam could say before Cas barged into the room, a practice tux on and his hair a little damp.
“We need to leave, half of the guests have already arrived” he huffed while Dean waited in the hallway for all of them. His suit jacket slung over his shoulder like he just walked out of a black and white detective film.
“How do you know that though?” Sam questioned as he and Gabriel were ushered down the hall and to the stairwell leading up to their front door.
“Cameras!” Dean and Cas said at the same time. Already exhausted and it was only ten in the morning.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Once they were at the ceremony, Sam and Gabriel stood at the altar. They were facing each other and there was a force that Sam could feel and Gabriel could embody, almost as if they should be the ones exchanging vows instead of their brothers. Sam raised his hand from where it was resting, like he was going to grab Gabriel’s. They were closer now, the crowd in front of them was too busy to notice. Gabriel looked up at Sam, he was so much taller than Gabriel it made him blush. Sam opened his mouth like he was going to say something but the pianist started playing and his hand flew to the back of his neck as he took a few paces back to his mark. Gabriel stood where he was for a moment before also finding his mark. Something inside the angel crumbled to pieces. His hand fell to his side but it still felt like Sam had a grip on it.
Dean acted as the divider between them as they looked anywhere but at each other.
They both had their reasons for why embarrassment crept up to their faces, the heat of the room a good cover, Sam's embarrassment came from how quickly he let his emotions override his brother's ceremony. it was a fleeting moment, something the busy room hadn't even noticed. but the lasting impact, Gabriel's touch, the fuzzy feeling in his chest like his lungs were made of felt, that was pure emotion clouding his judgment. it made him rethink the whole arrangement, but this was the last practice. the wedding was tomorrow.
Gabriel was a motherfucking archangel, he didn't know why he had to feel emotions when he could just flip a metaphorical switch inside of him and shut those nasty little things off. he'd loose himself before he let himself get lost in those puppy dog eyes again….but the more he chewed on those thoughts, let them dissolve in his sugar filled stomach, the more he found he didn't have the energy to fight the feelings threatening to crawl up his throat. the wedding was over in a day, he could tough it out. he hoped.
Kevin switched tunes to Here Comes the Bride and Cas started walking down the aisle, he was joined by Anna who walked with him arm in arm. When they reached the altar Anna let go and sat down in the front row. Dean took a ring out of his pocket and Cas did the same. Charlie stood between them, a beaming smile on her face and tear stained cheeks. her tux jacket a fresh emerald, she was wearing one of her classic graphic tees and suspenders that were connected to black slacks like half of the wedding party was wearing.
“Okay” she claps “I'll save all my comments for the real deal wedding, let’s do this” she looks at Dean and he kind of chuckles, you could hear the built up emotion in the back of his throat. It made tears well up in Sam’s eyes, something he didn't expect to happen. his eyes were still avoiding Gabriel.
“Today we’re joined together, reformed Hunters, Witches, Angels, Demons, and all, to Celebrate two souls joining in unholy matrimony. Suck it chuck. Ahem, Dean Winchester, do you take Castiel to be your dearly beloved? To love and to hold, in sickness and good health, for better or worse?” she paused waiting for Dean’s answer.
“I do,” he said softly.
“Alright, Castiel, Do you take Dean Winchester to be your dearly beloved? To love and to hold, in sickness and good health, for better or worse?” she paused again.
“I do” his voice wobbled out, tears in his eyes like this practice was the real deal.
“Ight!” Charlie claps, “bla bla bla you may now kiss the bride, y'all walk down the aisle and we all go home to get ready for the party, now where is the food?” The crowd laughs as she pushes past everyone trying to get to the row with her girlfriend. the crowd all get up, some still sitting down, but the practice ceremony was over so the fun chaos that usually follows the ending of a huge gathering started to pick up, which also meant the laughter and talking from before the exchange of rings started again. it was about to get loud.
Sam and Gabriel locked eyes before they could stop themselves, uncertainty was laced through Sam's, he could see it reflected back in Gabriel's eyes. they didn't say anything as they left the altar. they walked down the aisle, shoulder to shoulder, hands rubbing against each other. the familiar buzz was still there as their hands bumped together. they didn't say anything but they knew, they were already gone.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
“The food should be in the back, help yourselves guys, thank you all for coming. the wedding is going to be so good!” Castiel shouted across the lawn they were on. He turned back to Dean and swept a stray hair behind his soon-to-be husband's ear. Sam watched them as they walked down towards the cars. Longing in his expression. It wasn't until Gabriel was almost pressed against him that he could feel the angel. He looked down at the trickster.
“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Sam asked uncertain. Gabriel was only half listening.
“Lets just go get in line Everest” he quickly turned away from Sam and ran to go get in line, like they were playing tag instead of having a scary conversation. He wasn't hungry but he knew Sam was.
Sam didn't want to play his game, he didn't want to play tag with Gabriel but he chased after the angel anyway. He was hungry after all.
“Will you at least tell me what the plan is?” Sam whispered close to Gabriel’s ear as they waited in the back of the line. his voice reverberated inside of Gabriel's head, it made him dizzier than any candy he'd ever had.
The angel didn't know what to say, the plan was simple. pretend to be dating until the wedding was over and then Gabriel would disappear like he always did. he was the deus ex machina character. Then another thought occurred to Gabriel, what if this time he didn't need to end things? what if this time he could have what he wanted.
he immediately threw that notion out the window.
“Gabriel?” Sam whispered again, this time closer than before. the angel could smell his cologne, and he wanted to be stuck there forever. Closer than close to someone who was supposed to hate him and instead chose to go along with this stupid plan of his.
Before he could say anything he turned around, grabbed hold of Sam’s arm, and they teleported to some shitty motel room. The archangel started pacing the space in front of Sam.
“Gabriel what the hell?!” he exclaimed, stepping out of the trickster's embrace.
“Look, i can explain.” he paused his pacing and looked at Sam, he bit his lip and if Sam wasn't utterly confused he would find that extremely hot, in fact he couldn't stop staring at Gabriel’s lips. He really did look good in yellow. It suited him well.
“Are you going to explain or are we going to stand here silently watching the cockroaches skitter around?” Sam finally found words and Gabriel snapped his head in his direction, not stopping his frantic pacing.
“Right, yes, i can explain. I may not have been entirely truthful about this entire plan you see?” he paused again, licking his lips he takes a deep breath you just have to rip the band aid off Gabe he thought, He exhaled, stopped his pacing, and Sam nodded.
he was prepared for whatever Gabriel had to say, he knew there was something up and it was on point that someone formally known as The Trickster to be lying about something.
“You remember when you were little and you would always talk to yourself?” his heart was beating like a hummingbird, he was an archangel he didn't need to breathe but spending so much time on earth and around humans he picked up a habit. His body betrayed himself sometimes in return. Out of habit he conjured a sweet up, a cherry lollipop.
Sam wasn't expecting him to reveal something so personal but, he waited patiently for Gabriel to get to a point.
“And you know how Castiel is Dean’s Guardian Angel? Well Castiel isn't the only guardian angel still alive.” He had wanted to scream this out since meeting Sam in the flesh. Cherry flavoring from the lollipop he poped in his mouth would never be enough to cover the bitter taste this truth brought about.
“What I'm saying, Sam, is what if someone was listening all those years ago, all those lonely nights at Stanford. When you ran away with Bones, what if you were never alone?” He finally looked at Sam. his crazed monologue over, he could feel his wings tense up just waiting for Sam to have a reaction.
“What?” Sam couldn't tell how Gabriel knew about Bones or anything else for that matter but he was giving Gabriel a chance to explain himself.
“I’m your Guardian Angel, Sam.” Gabriel stated. Seriously, with near sobering delicacy. The use of his name twice put the seriousness into focus for Sam. Holy shit.
What the actual fuck. Sam sat down, this was a lot to process but his first emotion before the weight of everything crushed him down into exclamations, was happiness.
So happy he could've kissed the archangel right there on the moldy carpet of the shitty motel room.
"are you going to say something, please for the love of Jack say something." he started pacing again and all Sam could do was laugh,
"oh thank fuck." were definitely not the words he expected to hear. he quickly thought about the alternative and it was better than stay away from me!
Gabriel laughed along, did he know why he was laughing? No, but he couldn't help it, nervous energy bubbled up from inside of him turning into giggles that crawled up his throat. he felt like vomiting, and was kind of glad he didn't.
"i thought the reason why i couldn't feel you anymore was because it was him, those hallucinations were…they messed with my perception of things, and my memories are not there anymore, or at least they arent as clear as they were around that time so you can see how i thought it was your older brother." he stood up, Gabriel understood at once. the things his big brother had put him through during the second war…he just understood.
"Look, what i mean by that is that it’s cool that you’re my guardian angel, I'm mature enough to see clearly that you’ve changed. You’re no longer running from your family, and you’re no longer the trickster that hurt me all those years ago. You are you, you’re Gabriel, Gabe.” he smiles and the light blush that was on his face had magnified by the end of his statement.
Gabriel looked away for a moment, it was almost too much for him. Everything he had ever wanted before was laid out in front of him. All of his thoughts and fears and what-ifs disappeared in an instant.
“Thank you, Sam.” was all he could say. All of that and the only thing he could say was thank you. he was at a sudden loss for words, something even Sam realized.
and then it dawned on Sam, that thank you was everything. Everything he had just said in reverse, Gabriel felt the same way.
there was a moment of peace between them, the tension cut neatly and with a grace that was unlike the atmosphere they were used to.
He grabbed hold of Sam’s shoulders and teleported them back into the venue, they were off to the side so as to not cause suspicion.
once Sam had caught his bearings, he looked at Gabriel across from him. the sun had caught in his eyes and they sparkled like golden sap on the bark of a beautiful tree, or stardust.
and then he looked up.
the sun had caught more than just his eyes. as Gabriel was talking to him, the sun's rays moved through him, all of him. it revealed huge, towering wings. they were flared out, his wingspan was about the size of the alleyway they had spawned into. they were expansive and everything he had been imagining for the past ten years. prismatic in their coloring, and the way the sun moved through them made them look like a thousand rainbows against the tarnished brick of the building behind them.
when clouds covered the sun they were gone, and Sam thought he could cry.
eventually Gabriel realized that he was not listening. his wings relaxed, he saw Sam's eyes follow them and knew…they were bonded now, more so than they already were, that conversation they had was bordering on confessing their love and they both knew it. Really Gabriel should have seen this coming, so instead of overreacting he took a deep breath and on the exhale he decided he wasn't going to run away. No, this time, Gabriel wouldn't woosh them away. This time he backed away from Sam. His wings drooped, they almost formed a shield around him but Sam could still see Gabe's face. A guilt-ful expression etched into it.
Something was wrong, and he was holding back again.
"Are you okay." Sam took his eyes off of the massive luminescent wings for a second and really looked at Gabriel. he looked at the peach fuzz that danced across his cheeks and the luscious locks that adorned his head like the true halo he used to wear. it felt so familiar, he felt so familiar, so right. Like everything wrong in Sam's life had been righted just by looking at Gabriel.
"no, I'm not, Sam." he took a deep breath, returning the eye contact. his eyes were swimming with uncertainty.
"what, what is it?" he was falling over his words.
"i think I'm in love with you."
Sam wasn't at all surprised to hear this, nevertheless it still hit him like a two ton truck.
"You, what?"
"I said i think I'm in love with you." his wings relaxed from their comforting position.
"I, I think I am too." Sam admitted, realizing there really was no other place he'd rather be even at his brother's wedding. After Gabriel admitted to being his guardian angel the wall was broken. The feeling was back, the warm comforting feeling that reached all the way down to his soul, was finally returned there after being gone for so long. he recognized that as Gabriel now, the archangel's presence brought that feeling out. Why would he ever want to leave that?
They had known each other all along, they had lived through hell together, almost killed each other, died, faked their deaths, and gone through an angelic war together. through all of it, they had known each other. That was enough for Sam.
Gabriel stood there, blinking for what felt like eternity. Sam could sense hesitation, and then he stepped closer, closing the gap between them in one stride.
He kissed Gabriel on the lips, it wasn't heated or passionate like the ones he had seen in the pornos Gabe had sent him over the years but it was sweet and subtle and everything Gabriel had ever dreamed of as their first kiss.
Gabriel's wings stretched out from their resting position and came to wrap around them, Sam could feel them lightly nudging him closer.
Sam deepened the kiss, reaching down to run his hands through the archangel's hair. it enticed a moan from Gabe.
Sam pulled away and looked at him, certainty and love were imprinted in his big beautiful brown eyes. The red from the suit making them look even more delectable.
"I really love you." Gabriel said, his hands coming to cup the sides of Sam's face. He sounded so taken, it made Sam's heart catch in his throat.
He choked out an "i love you too" before the gap of silence got too wide.
Gabriel's wings fanned out and flapped and moved and stretched as they stood there staring, awestruck, at each other.
The first time they were allowed to look at each other intently and openly and how they wanted to because everything that needed to be said had been said.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
They returned to the party. No one had noticed their departure. The dancing, and singing, had continued while they were gone. by the clock on the church they were outside of, the had been gone for two hours.
They walked through the party, hand-in-hand, not because they had some lie to uphold but because they wanted to.
As soon as Cas saw his big brother from where him and Dean were standing, they were off, the angel pulling his soon-to-be groom along with him.
"Gabriel!" he nearly shouted. Dean squeezed his hand, telling him to cool down a little.
Gabriel heard his name and looked, before he could protest Sam began to lead him through the crowd towards Gabriel's brother and his own.
"Hey guys." Sam rubbed the back of his neck as they stood there.
"you know, you guys don't have to pretend anymore." Cas smiled, "we would actually appreciate it if you just came as yourselves, you don't have to lie and say you're together to appease us." Dean smiled and wrapped his arm around Cas, pulling him closer.
Sam shared a look with Gabriel before saying,
"i appreciate the sentiment but, we're actually together…now." he laughed and Gabriel giggled next to him.
"oh! well congratulations!" Cas exclaimed.
"yeah, it's a funny story, i disguised myself as his date and we did actually start out faking this but something happened and i guess i had fallen before i realized it. thankfully this big lunk was in the same boat." Gabriel looked up at Sam, his eyes full of devotion and love. Sam wanted to swim in his hazel pools soaking in the praise.
Dean blinked, looking from their clasped hands to their adoring gaze at each other. The glow surrounding Gabriel was the last piece in the puzzle, the thing that made it click for Dean.
They were in love, just like him and Cas.
They also had more in common than just that.
"you're his guardian angel." Dean said slowly,
"yes, i am." Gabriel admitted, without worry or stress, only the squeeze of Sam's fingers around his.
"wow." Cas looked at Dean, leaning into his embrace.
"yeah." Dean agreed to whatever just happened.
Gabriel was expecting some grand fight, some pushback because Gabriel was stealing my baby brother from Dean and you and i both know how bad this will look from Cas but to have such a lackluster reaction to it…maybe Gabriel was used to a little drama in this family.
"wow, i was expecting you to be up in arms about this." Sam scoffed like he couldn't believe what just happened, at least they were on the same page.
Sam noticed all of a sudden, he could see Gabriel's wings again. it's almost as if one had been frozen into a protective embrace around him and the other lay limp at his side. the prismatic effect still there, like they were hiding the true color behind masking tape. the more he thought about it, the more it reminded Sam of an invisibility cloak.
"well, we're just glad it isn't Lucifer." Dean shrugged and Cas nodded with him.
"you guys seriously thought Lucifer was my Guardian angel?!" Sam was half livid at them, and then he let go of it, after all he also thought Lucifer was his Guardian angel.
he took a deep breath.
"yeah, for a second. you hallucinating him didn't help with our suspicions."
"if i may step in here, that's all in the past now, our brother isn't here anymore and he never treated any of us like the family we forged together. he treated us, me and Sam, like playthings, i know i should have come around earlier but don't insult us with your relief." Gabriel huffed.
Again, Gabriel expected a huge pushback and inevitably some sort of fight, and again he was met with something unexpected.
Dean started to laugh and Cas, unexpectedly pulled them into a hug.
his wings flared out behind him in surprise and he glowed a bit brighter in the sun set as their group hug tightened.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Gabriel headed to the car, he wasn't exactly in charge of the bachelor party but he was the only one out the guys that had the Vegas flare they so desperately needed.
They went to a local dive bar at Castiel's request. the party included Gabriel, the groom himself, Garth, and Kevin. they had to leave Jack at home since he's still a minor even though he's practically god..or something. Gabriel was still a little confused on the power dynamics in that area.
Lucky's glowed brightly in neon green above their heads as they walked through the rustic wood doors. Gabe had bought those frilly feather boas and a sash that read groom to be. Castiel wore them reluctantly, swatting at Gabe with his wings when the archangel took a picture to send to Sam.
Everything that had happened before this, the confessions and kiss and the revelation, had put Gabriel in a better mood than he had been when he had gotten into town.
He had severely missed his little brother, he had gotten word of his death from Ana after she had been resurrected and it crushed the part of him that still cared about the family that cared about him. he had taken care of Cas when he was younger, before he was called for war and before Cas was selected to be a guardian angel.
There was a time, when Heaven was a place that wasn't scared by their father's greed and their brothers' ambitions. Gabriel's mind drifts back to that time every once in a while, especially when he was around his younger sibling.
They're in the dive bar, the atmosphere is like any of the other dive bars. dead animals adorned almost every wall, velvet accents, a couple pool tables, the works. it was just missing the abhorrent amount of cigarette smoke Gabriel had seen in various porn films and movies he'd seen set in "dive bars"
It was also practically abandoned. Gabriel stretched his wings as he collapsed down onto the couch where Cas was sitting, his wings were also out stretched.
"So.." Cas paused, "when were you going to tell me you were a Guardian Angel?" the bar was quiet, Garth and Kevin were singing in the far corner. he had deliberately waited to bring this up, out of ear shot of the werewolf and ex-prophet.
"Huh.."He didn't exactly have a quick witted answer to this like normally. He was also slightly inebriated but nevertheless he answered, "I guess it just got away from me, the war.." he trailed off, the joint they had passed around hit him a few minutes ago and he was fighting the substance to stay in the moment.
His big wings twitched while the smaller third set fluttered in frustration at trying to find the right words. Castiel watched with intrigue at what his brother had to say. Castiel had never really heard from any of his siblings that had suffered through the war before his time. he was the aftermath of the war, his brother was the war. Cas could still see the scars his brothers, other archangels, had left on him. it was jarring to see when they reunited but overtime he had grown into them, much like Castiel had grown into his wings.
The words finally came to Gabriel,
"I had become a guardian over a little boy before i had grown my second set of wings. We had days where we would lie in the sun and play and i thought i could stay there forever. " he started. Cas settled his wings, they rested around his shoulders comfortably.
"My mission was to protect him, but i was just a cherub, i wanted to stay in that sun laughing with him for forever." there was a catch in his throat, like a broken record, he wrung his hands like he was confessing his sins in a church pew.
"The boy died, under my watch." a lead weight dropped into Gabriel's stomach at the memories rushing to the forefront of his mind.
"Gabriel.." Castiel sounded so far away, but Gabriel persisted. he had a point at the end of this.
"And then you were brought to us. You wont remember but you were such a tiny angel, so frail, you cried when any of the others touched your fat little baby arms." Gabriel laughed looking at his brother, Cas smiled.
"I was afraid to hold you, i thought since the boy I was watching over died under my watch that i was corrupt." he paused again, "I thought that I would hurt you if I held you, I hid from you then and i still hide from you." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, brother." It was almost a plea, his big wing reached out and bumped against the wing closest to him. a gesture of affection, almost like a fist bump in a way.
Castiel laughed. The archangel hadn't heard his laugh in so long. it brought a warmth to his chest that had been missing for a while, Gabriel smiled. He continued the conversation, "you were pre-destined to be a guardian, just like me and the others before you. The only difference was the war had already begun while you were still in trainers."
"It was fast moving, they needed all the help they could get, Michael convinced me to join the frontlines. I had almost all of my plumage by then so i said fuck it, i didn't know they would cut my guardian duties in favor of me being a solider, i didn't read the fine print and it was already too late before i realized." he took a shaky deep breath, Castiel was as still as a statue, listening intently as he sipped on his drink.
"During the war, i had gotten another assignment from an ally and rebel. I was destined to be Sam Winchester's guardian angel. I kept tabs on him every once in a while, he provided an escape from the horrors of the war. Whether it was watching Star Trek with him and his brother or just listening him rant about the monster of the week, his world was my safe space for a good majority of the war. " he conjured up a sickly sweet drink and took a swig from the glass.
"We grew older, he grew taller and i grew into all three sets of my wings. the war was still raging but we both ended up with a rebellious streak. " he laughs at the memories and Cas laughs along with him. He continues,
"I snuck down to earth when the war was at it's peak, there was a portal back then that was easy to access if you knew how to access it, and Lucifer had shown me how to years prior. i used my barely fully fledged angelic abilities to disguise myself as a dog, a golden retriever, the dog Sam had wanted since i had been watching over him."
"Sam had run away from home, and he took me in unknowingly."
"i think i remember Dean telling me about this."
"yes, they searched for him, Sam regrets running away now, but back then it was our little sanctuary. he would feed me pizza and candy and stuff you should never feed a dog and we would dance and watch TV and it was everything i had ever wanted. An escape away from the war and a friend. " They both took a drink and waited a moment before breathing, and then Gabriel took a breath and continued,
"Our brothers dragged me back to the war not long after Sam was found, I was still able to keep tabs on him but less frequently due to increased surveillance. my only mission at that point was to be a solider and to die as one." The memories swirled in his mind, threatening to crawl up his throat if he didn't spill them right now. Castiel moved his wing so as to offer reassurance.
It was a lot, hearing this, hearing his perspective of the war he grew up during. Heaven was a lot different back then, the corruption was less obvious, it was covered by the bond they all shared, by his love for their father, for his brothers.
"I'm sorry, for all the running i did after the war. i was going to tell you, we were the same. Hell, we were watching after brothers. I'm sorry for all of the shit I've put you guys through over the years. it was an uphill battle to find myself after the war, after everything really."
"I need you to know that i ran because i was scared of what, of who i had become." Gabriel rubbed the back of his neck, looking at Castiel, his wings met Gabriel's and there was a glint in his eyes. tears formed and fell as Gabriel recounted his long-winded tale.
"I know, Gabriel. You showed up when we needed you most, that's all that matters." their drinks had been forgotten, condensation leaving rings on the wood table in front of them.
"C'mere." the archangel stood up and welcomed his little brother in a hug tighter than any human could give. Their wings wrapped around each others. They stood like that for a while. Gabriel stood on his tip toes and rested his head on top of Castiel's.
"Thank you." Castiel said, his voice sticky from holding back tears.
"Anything, brother." He clapped the angel on his shoulder as he let go of him. Castiel wiped his tears with he sleeve of his shirt and smiled, content.
He didn't even finish his beer before he found himself wanting to leave the bar.
Gabriel rounded up his drunk patrons and party-goers and they left, ready for the big day.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Sam went to the car, after Gabriel and Cas had parted, and started the engine.
they didn't really have a plan like Gabriel and the other guys did. they were stuck with Charlie, Claire, and Jack. Jodie and Donna would pop by later that night but for the mean time it was the dream-team.
They settled, back at the bunker, with some beer (for those that could drink) and fun glittery mocktails. to honor the groom-to-be they put on one of the only Scooby-Doo movies Sam could find. Which was coincidentally Scooby-Doo: The Brave and The Bold.
Sam listened happily to Dean's ranting about how he's practically batman, Sammy! and how he looks just like Scooby. He swatted at his brother when he playfully insulted him.
Laughter filled the bunker like warmth fills a bakery in the early morning. The kids all in one place, under one roof. Safe, Jack wouldn't let anything happen to them anyway. Jodie and Donna joining them for glitter mocktails and Scooby-Doo. they had all changed out of their wedding clothes and into their pj's. Sam had put on his old Stanford hoodie and his flannel sweatpants, Dean was in his horror slut t-shirt they had gotten at a Spencer's some time ago and his hot dog sweatpants. Claire and Jack had bought matching Sanrio pj's they had found online one of the times Jack had been down in Lawrence. Jack's had Pompompurin while Claire's had Hangyodon on them. they had cute little phrases on them that Sam could never remember.
A sense of peace entered Sam's mind for the first time in a while. The feeling he had been chasing was finally back, his nervous system said fuck it and finally relaxed itself. this archangel is going to be my downfall. He thought with a laugh.
After about the fifth yawn in a row, Sam called it and clapped his brother on the shoulder as he walked out of the Dean-cave where they had been 'partying'.
"I'm gonna hit the hay, before Gabriel gets back." he punctuated the sentence with another yawn.
Dean laughed, "okay, see you tomorrow, Sammy." He smiled softly at his brother, this was it. this was the day before his brother's big day. something neither of them would have thought they would be experiencing ten years ago, hell, even five years ago!
Suddenly Sam was hugging Dean, tightly, like this was their last day on earth.
"I love you brother," Sam was tearing up.
"I love you too, Sammy." Tears threatened to spill from the corners of Dean's eyes. "But, uh, let's save the tears for tomorrow." They laughed.
Before they could separate, and before the realized; Jodie, Donna, Claire, and Jack had snuck up on them
"Attack!" at Donna's call they encompassed the brothers, forcing them into a group bear hug.
They laughed until they all had enough, they separated out of breath from laughing.
"I'm going to bed, now." He started to walk away and Dean swatted at him playfully but he was unsuccessful in his attempts. Sam left with a smile and a sense of contentedness.
He fell asleep within minutes of meeting the mattress.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
When Gabriel got back to the Bunker, Dean said that Sam had gone to bed early. He headed to Sam's room, ready for bed as well.
When he opened the door, quietly and cautiously so as to not wake his human, he was met with Sam, bundled up in his blanket, sleeping peacefully. It made his heart melt.
They talk about love at first sight as if it's some myth, to Gabriel, the myth was true fact. he gulped back the nervousness resting in his throat. He magicked the dirty bar-germed clothing off of him and conjured his emerald green pj's back on. His wings were tired, he was excited to sleep, to rest and wake up and see Sam in the same bed as him. Finally with him, against all odds. forgiven for the sins he did commit all those years ago, this wedding was his baptism back into the good graces of his family. he was so tired of hiding, so tired of lying, he could unmask and just be now. And it had always been like that, but the war had clouded his mind. The wartime politics had polluted his vision and warped what really mattered to him.
But now it was clear, as he scooted under the covers of Sam Winchester's bed. his wings acting as a protecting force above and around them. he quickly fell into sleep's loving embrace.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
It was the day of, the bunker was a mess with the hurried before of a wedding.
Sam had woken up next to Gabriel, embraced and melded together. The sun couldn't come through the bunker's thick walls but the glow that Sam had seen the other night was still there. A golden light that encompassed everything about him. it was subtle but Sam being Sam could see it. The way his blonde hair moved when he moved his head, it was like he was made of star dust and Sam could see the molecules that held him together. tiny sparkly molecules.
Sam sat up, and with a soft giggle, Gabriel's wing…his wings.
Sam could see them, the prismatic mask over them had lifted and they were no longer invisible. They, much like his hair, were flaxen; and real. they reminded him of a hummingbird, hell, Gabriel himself reminded him of a hummingbird. his sickly sweet thriving-off-of-sugar personality gave way to those thoughts.
before Gabriel could push him back down to bed Sam noticed the second and third set. He hadn't noticed them the night before because they had gotten distracted, but now that he can actually see them, there were three sets of wings. One that formed at the intersection of his shoulder blades, one that was right below them, and then one right below that one. feathers danced across the skin of his back, moving with his breathing.
They were huge, one wing from the first set almost covered the entirety of the bed, the other wing was off the bed and took up half the floor. The second set was smaller than the first and when resting, overlapped that first set. The third, Sam observed, was significantly smaller; it fit perfectly in between the gap that the second pair provided and went straight down his body.
He wanted to touch them. they were so fluffy and felt as such when he was nudged back into his pillow with an angelic giggle, he could feel goosebumps form as they touched his shirtless body. star dust was etched into them as well, he saw this golden effect yesterday when the sun hit Gabriel just right. gold flakes and glittery particles just like in his pupils.
Sam was in awe, and Gabriel was drinking it in. I love you he whispered, so softly, Sam almost didn't hear it but then,
"I love you too." Gabriel moved his wing and sat up with Sam. The green pj's he was wearing complemented the green of his eyes, much like the red of Sam's pj pants complemented the reddish brown of his eyes.
"We should get ready."
"I think that's a good idea."
They were full of smiles, giggly, silly, I'm-so-in-love-with-you smiles.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
The church bells rang in the distance, they had drove to the venue. Sam took a separate car with Dean and Gabriel had taken the other car with Cas.
They met each other, wearing their outfits from yesterday. Gabriel's wings seemed to pass through clothing despite being physical. Don't think about it too hard Gabriel warned him when they were getting ready together.
Everyone was congregating outside in the parking lot so they joined them. Sam led Gabriel over to Charlie, her hair put into space buns and her glasses screwed tightly onto her face as she tried to focus on the script she was holding. she was wearing the same suit jacket and slacks from yesterday but a different graphic tee, this one was a cream white with green lettering that read Reunite Pangaea with the continent in the middle.
"good morning, Charlie." Sam approached her.
"g'mornin, Sam." She mumbled without looking up from her script.
"Morning..Charlie." Gabriel hesitated, looking up at Sam and then back at Charlie as if he was looking for approval.
She looked up at Gabriel and then her eyes shifted down towards their intertwined hands and then back up to their faces. She was grinning hard.
"You two finally got together!" She practically squealed rushing to wrap her arms around them both.
Sam laughed, Gabriel's wings were as expressive as ever but settled around them all.
Kevin came out of the church to usher everyone back in and they followed.
Once everyone settled into their places, the music started. Survivor's Eye of the Tiger started playing, piano accompaniment skillfully played by Kevin.
Jodie and Donna both walked Dean down the aisle, their matching dresses swishing in tandem. they waved goodbye to him when he went to stand in front of Sam, seating themselves in the front row. the music stopped, then Something Stupid started playing, which when Cas walked through the threshold, transitioned into the wedding march.
Ana was leading him to the altar, a smile on her sweet face. Her champaign colored dress complimentary.
he pecked her cheek as they said their goodbyes and he took his place on the altar. They looked a lot like the people on wedding cakes.
the music had stopped and the church had quieted to almost dead silent.
Charlie stepped through the arch of flowers they had set up on the altar, clearing her throat, she began the ceremony.
"Just like yesterday, today, we are joined together, reformed Hunters, Witches, Angels, Demons, and all, to celebrate two souls joining in unholy matrimony. Suck it chuck. Ahem, do you two have your vows ready?" she asked them and the couple nodded.
"Okay, we will now begin with the couple's reading of their vows." Charlie said to the crowd in front of them.
The church was as quiet as it had ever been, it felt like him and Dean were the only two people in the world. He didn't need a paper or anything like that, he knew what to say instinctively. He had been thinking of this moment for years.
He cleared his throat, looking Dean in his eyes. Both grooms were already tearing up.
"you told me, a long time ago, that you thought you didn't deserve to be saved. That i should have left you in hell. I'm here to remind you that you were wrong. It turned out that i was your guardian angel, my mission was to save and protect you." he started, already sniffing back tears as he spoke with a wide grin on his face.
"i stood by that mission even when i was in danger, even when my vessel was in danger, i stood by you and you offered me an escape from Heaven's corruption. You were my first and last taste of free will, you showed me what it was like to be human, you were the reason i became a hunter, before i even knew what any of it meant." Cas had grabbed hold of Dean's outstretched hands as he spoke. Trying to find something to ground him.
"I want to carry that with me always, the love you hold for me and the things you have taught me because of that love. i want to cherish and hold you dearly because i can, because we've been through so much. I'm ready to be with you, Dean." his wings came to touch Dean's shoulders as they stood there holding hands. Dean was crying.
"wow, tough act to follow. " he joked while a sob caught in his throat, a few people in the audience laughed.
somewhere in the crowd, Garth groaned, waking up from his hang over-induced nap.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚
Dean let go of Cas' hands, watching his wings flow back to the angel's side and rest around his shoulders like a blanket. he loved Castiel's wings. whenever they were laying in bed he loved when they spread over his body, stretching and covering him like a weighted blanket. They had weight to them, something he could feel, something that felt so real and only he could see them. he really was the luckiest bastard on the planet.
he cleared his throat as well, the sobbing had subsided but his throat still felt sticky with mucus in the way it usually did after crying.
"Well, Cas," he started, stalling enough to allow him time to grab the wrinkled paper his vows were written on from the pocket he had left them in the night prior.
Phew, he mentally exhaled when he found it, unfolding it and breathing in.
"Cas, you have saved me so many times both out in the field and in our own home." he laughed through the tears that were welling up and spilling over.
"You have saved me so many times, the most important thing you've saved me from was myself. you saved me from becoming someone i could never forgive myself for becoming. multiple times, whether that be in that barn or later on in our journey to now. you saved me when you showed me true happiness, and showed me that i could have that too." he walked closer to Cas, placing his hand on the angel's heart.
"The Empty stood no chance against us."
"i promise to love you like I've been loving you, help you learn things like i have been, even if you already know. I promise to continue loving you for forever, Cas, I mean it. Until the stars in the sky blink out and we're skeletons melted to the hood of the Impala." he wiped Castiel's tears softly as they laughed choked sobs.
Tears streamed down Charlie's face, her makeup still intact. She sniffed and tried to wipe her tears before continuing the ceremony,
"Dean Winchester, do you take Castiel to be your dearly beloved? To love and to hold, in sickness and good health, for better or worse?” she paused waiting for Dean’s answer. Sam and Gabriel locked eyes over their brothers' shoulders, they were crying.
“I do,” he said softly.
“Alright, Castiel, Do you take Dean Winchester to be your dearly beloved? To love and to hold, in sickness and good health, for better or worse?” she paused again. her tears had dried but anticipation ate away at her and half of the wedding party.
“I do” his voice hoarse from the tears.
"Then i pronounce you two, married!" She squealed excited. "you may now kiss!!" Truthfully she had been waiting for this moment since she read the Supernatural books, it was like making her action figures kiss at the end of a romance plot she was playing out with one of her crushes. every girl knows what it's like to be god at one point, this was one of those moments for Charlie.
Everybody left the church to form a line on each side of the stairs leading out of the church. Castiel and Dean ran down the stairs and practically jumped into the Impala waiting for them at the bottom. The car had, in pink writing, Just Married, written on the back windshield. Dean will not kill Jack for doing that to Baby, after all it was tradition and he had promised Cas that he wouldn't get angry on their wedding day. they drove off, white and blue streamers and cans the car like it had a veil on.
Sam and Gabriel were left in the wake of a beautiful wedding, a wedding that had left them tear stricken and raw. The wedding party around them danced and threw rice and beads and seeds as well, something to give back to the local fauna. They held hands, Gabriel's wing draped around Sam's shoulder. They were content.
They would go back to the bunker later, after the festivities had ended. They would collapse into the same bed and maybe, if Sam was up for it, they would watch an episode or two of Star Trek. Fat, happy, and together.
finally.