Salt of the Earth Chapter 21

Sam and Dean waited and watched for Castiel's return. They played with the babies and the girls cleaned house, made meals and entertained visitors who wanted to meet Anderson and Mary-Elizabeth for the first time. All congratulated Sam and Dean, and were curious about Dean's experience with bringing them into the world. Sam continued to hover over him protectively and encouraged him to rest. He was still tired and dozed for a few minutes at a time when they would get a break. His body was exhausted from all its previous efforts, not only from the day before, but from the months prior—he'd made two human beings! Anyone who complains that a pregnant woman is tired all the time or mean really doesn't get the whole picture of what she's accomplishing…

He reflected on it, as well, from time to time throughout the day. He marveled at the process by which they were born and still had some feelings of being overwhelmed that he carried them inside his body. He would stop to look at them and smile; other times he would touch their hair and listen to their breath while they were eating. He watched them sleep and smile when Calliel was near—yes, babies smile at their guardian angel—all babies do, and Dean felt lucky that he was able to see this, because people outside of the farm didn't. He had to laugh when he observed the Guardian with Mary-Elizabeth and Anderson. The huge angel cooed and talked baby talk and giggled with them. He was often finding himself wanting to ask Calliel what they were saying, but opted not to; some things should be left unknown and savored anyway.

Sam seemed like a new man, somehow. Actually, he was. Dads are born the same day as their children, as opposed to women, most of whom transform the day they realize they're pregnant. Dean saw another Guardian appear, too, when he would watch Sam with his son and daughter when people came to visit. He wondered, too, if this wasn't some 'master plan' orchestrated by Cas to get Sam a normal life despite their upbringing and the younger's spectacular clashes with his own father. It's true when someone says, "Wait until you have your own kids, then you'll understand." The beauty of it is, with the Winchesters, they adapt quickly. Their life experience had taught them this. John had taught them this, and even though Sam had his own issues with his dad, he realized that he honestly did the best he could, given the circumstances. He was a good dad. He never deprived them of love, even when he was angry. Sam, knew, too, that he would never, ever, be able to look at his children and recall there ever being a time where he felt unloved, and he had every intention of letting them know this, too.

Even though the brothers had seen things in their lives that would make others cringe and scream and run away, both, somehow, still retained the ability to be awestruck at the most mundane things of the human experience, and this was one of them. Dean would catch him looking at him and chastise him with either a "Gawd, you're such geek, knock it off," or he's look at Sam and blow a snarky kiss at him.

3:30 came, and Cas arrived. He brought emissaries from the garrison to witness the Winchester's decision about the nephilim and report back, as they were waiting close by, prepared for either a war or celebration.

"Hello," he said. It was apparent that he was anxious about the brothers' decision, and although it might result in a fight he would obviously side with the Winchesters on, he said before that he would die for them. He would be ready—even if it would be a losing battle.

Abby stood at Dean's side as he held Anderson and Susanna cradled Mary-Elizabeth. The volunteers of the farm stood vigil outside, waiting for the results of the meeting.

"This is Ananchel. She is the Angel of Grace and is here should you have decided to bind it, and this is Armaita. She is the Angel of Truth. She can report back to the numbers that are waiting nearby with your decision with no suspicion of guise."

The brothers nodded and acknowledged the other angels, who chose to remain silent until the decision of the brothers was made known to them. Calliel stood near with his arms folded, jaw clenched and ready to do his job should the need call for it.

Both Dean and Sam said nothing. They stood side by side as a united front to present the decision to the heavenly host. Cas was comforted that the girls were there. He also noted that there were volunteers from the ranch gathering outside, also interested in what would transpire inside.

Sam spoke first. He thought it appropriate since he was the children's father. He closed his eyes to organize his thoughts to present their decision in the least offensive way. "Dean and I and the girls gave it a lot of thought, and what we decided wasn't easy, but we think it's best. We'd like them to be human. Susanna and I will be their mom and dad-."

"Cas, I've known you all my life," Susanna interrupted, stopping to search for Sam's hand and meeting his gaze for a moment, "You know I've always wanted this. You know that I've waited for someone who means enough to me, and you know that Sam is a good man. I want to be these babies' mother, I want to be the mother of his children, and no one else's. I know it's not going to be easy. I know what Sam might be facing soon. And I want him to come home. I want to be the one he comes home to. I want to see his children grow up. I want to be his family-."

"You don't have to present your case." Cas smiled slightly. "Has your father agreed to this?"

"I'm not asking."

Everyone but Ananchel and Armaita giggled.

"I need to ask," Sam started. "Excuse me." He moved to the front door, and before he got there, he caught sight of Anse, standing by the porch outside the window, and gave him the thumbs up. Sam returned with a wink, grinned at the thought and faced the group. "Apparently, it's already been discussed. How do we do this?"

"You consent to return their grace to Heaven, with no chance of it ever being returned?" Ananchel clarified. Sam, Dean and Susanna replied in the affirmative, in unison. "You realize they will grow up and bleed and cry, and mourn, and make mistakes?"

Calliel stood behind the Winchesters. He spoke. Generally when he did, everyone listened.

"I am their Guardian.

I will keep them through a thousand perils.

I will deliver messages from On High, and I will thwart the efforts of the one will cause them harm.

I will guide the hands that heal them.

I will inspire the minds who teach them.

I will carry them through rivers of grief and will make straight the paths they choose.

I will comfort them when they mourn.

I will smite those who conspire against them.

I will be their company in loneliness, I will be their voice when they are unable to speak for themselves.

I will advise in moments of confusion.

I will hold them tall when insecurity challenges them.

I am a Guardian Angel,

I am the mightiest of all those assigned with the protection of God's most precious creation.

All of this, I will do, as charged by my Father, and deliver them unto Heaven when He calls them."

All stood in awe. No one dared to speak, until Susanna offered more.

"I'll comfort them when they cry, and when they're scared during thunderstorms, and I'll read them stories, and help them with homework-."

"—And writing their names." Dean added as he scanned the room. "By the way, Uncle Dean here—they have us. We're the dads. We got this covered. Work your mojo so we can move on here, eh? It's almost feeding time."

Ananchel sighed. She was getting to like these folks and their spirit…

She spoke in Enochian and laid her hands on Mary-Elizabeth's and Anderson's heads. A white glow appeared and Sam, Susanna, Dean and Abby could see the path was leading from the newborns into the angel. The babies shivered some, stretched and sqeaked, and then it was done.

Cas reached out to Sam and Susanna and put their hands together, and again spoke in Enochian. After a soft prayer, he laid his hands and Susanna's hands on the babies heads. As if on cue, Mary-Elizabeth and Anderson smiled.

"Congratulations, Susanna."

Abby raised her eyebrows. "That was the easiest birth I've ever seen."

"No shit," Dean replied. "Can we use that again someday?"

Abby faced him and wrapped her arms around his back. "Don't worry. The next one's on me."

"I took the liberty of moving the 'batcave' here," Cas started. "I hope you don't mind. It's kind of a—present."

Dean's eyes widened. "You moved the whole thing!? The whole bunker? Cas—it was a whole mountain thingy!"

"Yes. It's just over the hill. I watered the grass on it, too. Just to be safe." Straight face. All Cas.

Dean looked at Sam and smiled. He was pleased, then he moved to Abby. He smiled and kissed her. This adventure was fucked up, for sure, but eventually something had to work in their favor, right? The road ahead would be nasty, but now they had another purpose, and finally it was a purpose for them and them only. They would return to this ranch for the rest of their lives and live and love their family. For a long time it was just the two of them, now they were blessed with a family bigger than they had ever known. And it wasn't blood, not all of it. And it was okay.

FIN

A/N: Thank y'all SO MUCH for reading! PLEASE keep the reviews and comments coming! This was pure joy to write, and I constantly have new ideas coming! Follow me as a favorite author and I promise you'll be entertained!