Thank you Jenjoremy for beta'ing, Gredelina1 for helping me get the ideas out, and you all for following me on this journey. Every review, fave, and alert email has made all the hard work worth it.

Epilogue

Dean had called the meeting, and he was in charge of it, but that didn't stop Sam's hands from shaking with nerves. Dean had called Castiel, the Castiel that belonged in this time, to Bobby's place, and there he had laid down the facts of everything that had happened and everything Sam and his future self had done. When Dean had finished, Sam had told him the story of the future and what the world would have become if they hadn't acted. Castiel had been incredulous, doubtful, but now he seemed to be coming around to accepting.

"I should like to speak to myself," Castiel said.

They had expected that Castiel would need proof of the incredible story they were telling him, and so Dean nodded and whistled loudly, apparently unable to deny himself one last chance to screw with Cas. "Cas, come on down. Apparently you need to talk to yourself."

The kitchen door opened and Cas walked in. He showed no anger at Dean for his unconventional summoning. He merely looked intently at the past version of himself. "Hello."

Castiel looked stunned but he quickly gathered himself. "Hello."

"Well if this isn't the weirdest thing I've ever seen, I don't know what is," Bobby murmured.

Sam nodded his agreement. The two Castiels were identical apart from the missing tie around Cas's neck. Even their expressions were the same as they looked at each other, bemused and a little awed.

"Dean has told me an unbelievable story," Castiel said.

Cas nodded. "And yet you believe."

"I do. I understand as I would do the very same thing now, even without memories of an apocalypse to compel me, if I could bring the Host back to what it once was."

Cas sighed sadly. "The Host needs to heal itself. It will happen, I am confident, now that their plans have failed. You have changed already, have you not?"

"I have. I changed the moment Zachariah told me the plan. I tried to help." He scowled at Sam. "But I was banished."

Sam rolled his eyes. Changed he may be, but this version of Castiel was still a bit of a dick. "I banished you to save your life. Some thanks would be nice."

"Thank you," Castiel said awkwardly, as if the words felt wrong on his tongue.

Sam smiled. Maybe not such a dick after all.

"What happens next?" Castiel asked.

"No one knows who killed Zachariah, do they?" Dean asked.

Castiel shook his head. "It is a mystery to them all, as is your escape. I imagine the blame will eventually fall on Anna."

"That's nothing new for her," Sam pointed out.

"Exactly," Cas said. "This is as good as things can possibly get for us, I think."

"Okay then," Dean said happily, clapping his hands together. "That's done. What happens next?"

Castiel looked to his future self. "What do I do now? Can I still serve Heaven knowing what they were planning?"

"That's your choice to make," Cas said. "Do not make it lightly."

Sam watched the play of emotions on Castiel's face as he battled his decision.

"I will remain faithful," he said eventually. "If I am within the Host's confidences, I will know their plans. It will be better for all concerned."

"Thank you," Sam said sincerely, knowing what it would cost the angel to do this. He would be forced to pay obeisance to those who would have destroyed the world if given free rein.

"What about you two?" Dean asked, looking from Sam to Castiel. "What are you going to do now?"

"There are still a few things for us to do," Cas said, glancing at Sam, "but then I think we will be free to return home. If you're ready, of course."

Sam was more than ready. He would stay forever if that was what it took to save the world, but if he could go back to his time, he would do it with glee. He wanted to see Dean and Bobby again, the ones who belonged to him, not the versions he had borrowed from his past self. He wanted to live in the new world he and Castiel had created, the world without the Devil and the apocalypse.

"You don't think we should stay?" Sam asked doubtfully.

Surprisingly, it was Dean that answered. "No. Don't get me wrong, it's been awesome having this older, more mature version of you around, but you've got to trust yourself to make the right choices in this time. There's a Sam who belongs here, and it's about time he got to test himself again."

Sam nodded and smiled. Dean was right. He had to trust himself; otherwise, it was all for nothing for him. The world would be saved, but he would be unchanged.

"Okay then, Cas, let's get home."

One of the things left to do was deal with Ava's body. Sam wanted her buried in her grave again, a respectful and fitting end for someone he grieved, but Cas argued against it. She could not be left whole; it would be too much of a temptation to the demons. Eventually, Sam saw the truth in Cas's words, and agreed to allow Anna to scatter her molecules over the oceans, much as she had once planned to do with Sam in a now changed future. The same fate met Ansem Weems and Jake Talley—the other special children who had given themselves over totally to the powers Azazel gave them. Lilith could search for lifetimes and she would never be able to find all of them. Anna would be Lilith's shadow now. If the demon came topside, Anna would be there to watch out for the Winchesters.

The last of their preparations for the future completed, it was time for Sam and Cas to return to their own time. They were congregated in the library of Bobby's home, and Sam was once more imploring Dean to restrain his younger self.

"He might remember," Sam said. "After I killed Alastair, when I was in the hospital, he caught a glimpse, but you have to make sure he knows it's not worth it."

"I know, I know," Dean said. "Don't worry, Sammy, just as soon as you're gone, me and you are going to have a long talk."

Sam nodded and then drew a deep breath. "I guess this is goodbye then."

Dean smiled. "For like thirty seconds. You'll be back there with me and I'll be here with you."

"You know what I mean," Sam said.

"I do," Dean said, becoming serious. "I get it. It's the same for me, too. But it's what has to happen."

In a moment of perfect synchronicity, the both stepped forward and brought their arms up to embrace the other. It lasted only a moment, soon they were slapping backs and moving back, but Cas knew that was just Winchester custom, to make it seem as nothing. Sam turned to Bobby who was looking solemn.

"See you real soon, boy," Bobby said.

Sam smiled. "Give or take a couple years, yeah."

Bobby nodded and smiled then became solemn. "Thank you, Sam. For doing this, all of it. I know it's been tough on you, tougher than tough, but you did it. We're grateful."

"Yeah," Dean said gruffly. "Thanks."

Sam nodded slightly and cleared his throat. "Okay then, Cas. I guess it's time." He sat down on the couch and laid his hands flat on his knees.

Cas walked forward and laid his upturned hand on Sam's sternum. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Sam said, closing his eyes and bracing himself.

Cas pushed forward, his hand creeping through Sam's chest until he found the two souls nestled against each other. Sam cried out in pain and Dean and Bobby shouted, but Cas ignored them all. He had to be concentrated and careful to do this without tragedy. The soul he needed to retrieve was obviously different, flayed and raw as it was, and he cupped his fingers around it and then withdrew his hand from Sam.

He looked to Dean and Bobby, seeing the awe in their face and then, holding the soul close against him, he spread his wings and took flight for the last time from this place and returned to his own time.

Bobby was reading at his desk and Dean was stretched out of the couch under the window when Cas arrived. Bobby lurched to his feet as soon as he saw Cas. "Is that…?" he asked in a breathy voice.

Cas nodded. "I have him."

Bobby hurried to the couch and slapped Dean's chest. "Wake up, Dean! Sam's back!"

Dean jerked awake and was on his feet before his eyes had even cleared from sleep. "Sammy?"

"Here," Cas said serenely.

"Thank god," Dean breathed. "Let's get him back where he belongs."

Dean and Bobby practically ran from the room down to the basement, and Cas followed at a slower pace, exquisitely aware of the precious thing he held in his hand.

As he entered the panic room, he saw Sam writhing on the cot, trying to fight his way free.

"The wanderer returns," Balthazar said in a dry voice. "Finally."

"Don't do this!" Sam snarled.

Cas ignored him completely. "The chains please, Dean," he said.

Dean took a key from his pocket and opened the padlock. The chains clinked away and Sam's struggles increased in fervor. Balthazar gripped his shoulders and pinned him in place as Cas lowered the soul to Sam's chest gently. Sam's eyes were wide and horrified as he stared down at it.

Cas drew a deep, calming breath and then pressed down gently. The soul slipped into place with ease, seemingly joyous to be reunited with its correct body at last. When Cas was certain it was settled, he withdrew his hand and stepped back. Sam's eyes were closed, but his breaths were easy. He would wake soon.

"Is he okay?" Dean asked.

"He is perfectly fine," Cas said. "He just needs a moment."

Cas unbuckled the restraints around Sam's wrists and ankles and then waited. All was perfectly silent for a minute until Sam's eyes began to rove beneath their lids.

"Sammy, easy," Dean said in a gentler voice than Cas had ever heard him use before. "You're okay."

"Dean?" Sam asked in a soft voice.

Dean smiled widely. "The one and only."

Sam's eyes opened and a look of blissful relief spread across his features. In a swift, smooth movement, he twisted so he was sitting on the edge of the cot and looked up at Cas. "We did it." It wasn't a question.

"We did," Cas agreed. He could feel the memories changing now of the years between. An apocalypse replaced with lives saved on the usual, smaller scale.

"Good," Sam said with satisfaction. "That's… good."

So… There you have it. That's the end. Hopefully it was a satisfying ending for the story you've all put your time into reading. If you're hankering for a new read, I have 24 other stories on my profile including my latest WIP Bond Of Brotherhood. I am also working on a couple new stories that I'm not posting yet, so add me to alerts if you want to hear about them when they're ready.

Thanks again for supporting me this far.

Until the next story…

Clowns or Midgets xxx