Angels in the Kitchen

Chapter Fifteen: Reunion

It's May 2nd and Sam's birthday is today so Dean is having a bunch of people over. Kevin and Benny are here already, the latter on better terms with Sam now. Also here are family friends such as his boss Bobby, Ellen and her daughter Jo, and Ash. Charlie is coming, but she had work so it won't be until later. Everyone has a good time, Ellen offering to watch Sam whenever Dean needs it, Benny teaching Sam a magic trick with a coin that the boy proceeds to do again and again. Soon though, Ellen, Jo, and Ash have to leave for opening up the bar Ellen owns.

Some time passes after that when the doorbell rings and Dean rolls his eyes. True to her word, Charlie is late. It's almost seven and everyone but Kevin and Benny are gone. Going to the door, Dean opens it to see the red haired woman all smiles and excitement.

"Took you long enough." Dean teases and Charlie shrugs it off, too excited to care.

"Yeah, I know, but get this! I met someone amazing today!" Charlie explains, "This weirdo at the Laundromat. We're totally buddies now. Anyways, the strange-ass kid was in the Laundromat in dirty clothes and what happens? They start stripping! Right there! I offered some of my dry shorts so they wouldn't be naked because I am clearly an upstanding citizen who does stuff like that."

"Wait, wait, you met a chick who stripped and you actually put clothes on her?" Dean asks, shaking his head, "I thought I knew you."

"Don't be stupid, it was a guy." Charlie scoffs, "I'll also have you know I'm not as big of a pervert as you." She points to her vehicle in the driveway, out of Dean's sight. "Anyways, weirdo is in my car and I was wondering if he could join us. He's pretty dreamy, and you did say you had a gay thing not too long ago. Dreamboat stripper can be your next gay thing."

"I'm not making those a habit, Charlie. It was a one-time thing." Dean groans, "But bring him in, I'm interested in meeting your weird dreamboat."

"Ooohhh you won't regret it, kiddo!" She runs back to her car before ushering over a guy who looks alarmingly like Castiel.

"No way…" Dean mumbles to himself, feeling his heart sink at the sight of the angel.

Is it really him?

No, it can't be.

Castiel refused to give up his grace for them. Not that Dean asked, but he made it very clear it was not going to happen.

Perhaps it's just true that everyone has a doppelganger out there. Even angels.

If it is Castiel and he did, for some reason, give up his grace, does he even remember Dean? Do they come back with their memory?

God tends to have a sick sense of humor, so Dean wouldn't be surprised if when an angel surrenders their grace for someone, he takes it and sends them down with no memories of that person.

That's probably a chapter in the bible somewhere, actually.

Castiel or not, memory or not, as they get closer to the door Dean has to force himself to stay put and not run out to the uncomfortable looking guy.

They finally reach the door and Dean just stares at him.

"So this is the new guy! Says his name is Castiel, sounds pretty angelic huh?" Charlie asks, "I told him this and he said it doesn't, but what does some kid who strips in a Laundromat know?"

Dean remains speechless, continuing to stare at Castiel. The look on the man's face doesn't seem like Castiel's though, it's curious and uncertain. Sure, Castiel was like that in the past, but he wouldn't be now.

Just as the realization that Castiel has lost his memory sinks in for Dean, the brunette flashes him a lopsided grin. "I met Charlie." He says and Dean is torn between punching or kissing the bastard, going with the latter and pulling the man into a rough kiss.

"Whoa, um, anyone want to clue me in on what's happening here?" Charlie asks, edging past them to get inside and grab a piece of cake.

"That guy you brought, yeah, he was Dean's gay thing." Benny explains as he hands her a plate.

"Oh, damn, kudos to you, Dean!" Charlie calls, completely ignored by Dean.

"Cas!" Sam screams, dropping his new toy and charging at Dean and Castiel.

"Sam!" Castiel calls, moving away from Dean to pick up the little boy. "Happy birthday, Sam."

"Cas, are you my present from Charlie?" Sam asks and Castiel raises a brow.

"N-"

"Yes he is, Sammy, aren't I great?" Charlie chimes in.

"Did you purposely come back on his birthday?" Dean asks and Castiel frowns.

"I gave up my grace a week after returning to heaven, Dean. Gabriel noticed how upset I was and talked to our elder brother Michael for permission from god. Michael was reluctant of course, not fond of angels falling, but he relented. Of course god decided to let me fall in another country, so I had to work my way back here through hitch hiking and odd jobs." Castiel explains, furrowing his brow. "I'm not much of a fan of human life so far, to be honest."

"What country did you end up in?"

"The northern part of Canada." Castiel explains. "So I have been down here for about four months."

Dean pales a little. "Four…four months…?"

"That's right."

"So…um…if I were to have prayed to you in that time…?"

"It would have gone to Gabriel, since he is my superior and brother." Castiel says and Dean feels sick to his stomach. "Why? Did you pray to me?"

"Ugh, let's…let's not talk about it." Dean groans, his face bright red. "Ever."

"Alright, I can easily ask Gabriel." Castiel points out, "Since he will be visiting."

"Hey, you guys!" Charlie calls, "We're still here."

"Have your Winchester family meeting later." Benny teases.

"So you're still around." Castiel huffs, staring down Benny before going up to him and whispering. "I suppose I owe you a sort of apology."

"How big of you." Benny smiles, "Humans are pretty impressive, aren't they?" He asks and Castiel nods.

"Charlie! Charlie! You can have one of my gifts!" Sam says, running up to the woman and dragging her to his new toys. "Because you brought Cas back, I want to give you something."

Charlie laughs a little. "Why don't you just give me…" She pulls the boy into a tight hug, "A kiss!" She exclaims, kissing the giggling boy's cheek.

"You have been doing well on your own, I see." Castiel smiles at Dean, "I suppose I should give you some credit."

"You had no faith in me, huh?"

"I had very little." Castiel teases, earning a shoulder bump from the older Winchester.

"You're not cute." Dean huffs and Castiel looks at him with a sly smile.

"If I remember right, last time I wasn't cute, something pretty good happened."

"Only pretty good, huh?"

Castiel rolls his eyes, "Amazing, Dean, it was amazing."

Dean never could have, or dared to, imagine that Castiel would return and yet here he was. Within a few years they got married, officially adopted Sam, and began a life as a married couple. Dean works in Bobby's garage, even inheriting it when the man retired. Castiel ends up a stay-at-home dad, until Sam is in grade school and he gets a job at a nearby nursing home.

In no time at all, Sam is eighteen and going to college to become a judge.

Even with Gabriel coming around as much as possible, Dean would never change a thing. Except maybe that time Gabriel decided to scare the shit out of one of Sam's professors with a sewer gator when he was mean to the boy. That was a bit of overkill.

A/N: Okay, okay, this chapter is shitty and I am sorry. I really am. It's just a wrap up though...so...is that an excuse? Probably not. This is shit and I am horrible for allowing it to pass as the last chapter but this was the best one I came up with soooooooooooooooooooooooooo?