Charles watched as his youngest son strayed from the life he thought he'd live. Castiel spent less time worrying, less time taking notes and doing homework. He spent less and less time in his room, and more time downstairs talking with Anna as they studied, or playing games with Gabe, or sometimes Charles would find him and Luke laying on the floor of one of their rooms, eyes closed, listening to music. When he wasn't there, Cas was with Dean. This was the majority, it was impossible to tear the two apart, though no one dare try. When Charles saw all these changed with Cas, he didn't worry like he normally would've. He didn't interfere, he didn't tell Castiel to stay on track. He didn't do any of this, because Castiel had a light in his eyes he'd never had, and he had a laugh and a smile that Charles had never been graced with. Charles stayed out of the way because he'd already lost so much by getting involved before. He'd learned a lifetime of lessons in the span of a minute when he'd lost Michael. After that, Charles vowed to never make the same mistakes. 

When school started up again, Castiel, Luke, Anna and Gabe all returned. They all received strange looks, but were set straight by the glares of Dean, Benny, Charlie and Jo, who all walked with the Novaks into the building. No one dared ask questions, knowing better, and after the first week, even the cautious glances had stopped. Anna took up cheer leading again, and it didn't take long before she reclaimed her throne as cheer captain. By mid March, everything had seemed to fall into a comfortable routine. Everyone was happy, everyone was content.

"Dean Winchester to the office please, Dean Winchester to the principal's office." Dean stood slowly from his English class, and Castiel furrowed his brows, watching as the seat beside him suddenly became vacant. When Dean entered the office, Mary was there, eyes rimmed red and puffy, and she covered her mouth to hide a sob when her eyes landed on Dean. He ran to her, pulling her into his arms and trying to calm his mother. He had no clue what to think, he was numb, waiting for whatever words would inevitably change his life. 

"D-dean... It's your father, he's gone." Dean froze, his arms clasped tightly around his mother's torso. He couldn't breathe or think, and everything seemed out of focus. In a split second, his perfect life fell apart at the seams, converted into something dark and unknown. He'd had two parents that morning, and now he had one who was a weeping mess in his arms. Dean didn't cry. The principal watched with a mixture of nervousness and sympathy. Dean thought of Cas to steady himself, and how Cas had acted when Luke had been dying. And with that, he looked up, jaw set, meeting the eyes of the principal. 

"Please call Castiel here, and Sam." He turned to his other and gently lead her to the couch against the wall. "Mom, you need to sit here. Castiel will drive you home, and I'll call Bobby to meet us at home. I'll meet you at the house, and we'll tell Sammy there." Mary could only nod. When Castiel walked in, he didn't ask questions, listened to what Dean said and nodded before carefully shouldering most of Mary's weight as he lead her to the car. Sammy came in moments later, and Dean forced a small smile to his younger brother. Sam wasn't stupid, and he as instantly filled with dread. 

"Sammy, hey. Something's happened okay? So I'm going to drive us home, and we'll discuss it there." Sam knew better than to protest. He lifted his backpack onto his shoulder and followed Dean to the Impala. Dean didn't take any pleasure in driving his baby like he normally did. He was stiff and numb, and didn't even bother to tun on the radio as he drove them home. Bobby's car was already in the driveway, so Dean pulled up beside it, his father's SUV missing. Dean knew his second career was the reason, and his knuckles were white as he carefully took them off the wheel and walked Sammy inside. Mary wasn't in the living room, but Bobby, and Castiel were waiting for them. Dean shot Bobby a pleading look, silently begging for Bobby to tell Sam. Dean couldn't do it. Bobby nodded curtly and Castiel stood, grasping Dean's hand tightly as Sam sat in front of Bobby. Dean didn't listen, he didn't want to hear it again, so he buried his face in Cas' shoulder and covered his ears. Even then, he could hear the blood curdling scream from Sam, the sobs that ensued and he tore away from Cas, running to his little brother and collapsing on the floor in front of him, pulling the smaller boy to his chest and letting the sobs wrack through them both. Castiel understood- he'd been in that very same situation, sobbing on the floor with Anna, gasping for breath that never came, and then wishing it would never come again. When Ellen and Jo came back into the room, Mary was hanging off Ellen's arm, face in her shoulder as if she couldn't bare to look up. Jo had clearly been crying and she was still shaking. Though Castiel and her hadn't gotten very close, he walked over and pulled her into his strong, comforting arms. And she complied, falling into his chest and crying. Ash was leaning on the wall in the hallway, eyes red, but not crying anymore. He didn't say a single word. The room was quiet save for gasping sobs and whispered words of comfort. And once again, Castiel felt the silence that had haunted him for years. 

The service was large, and spring had just begun to blossom outside. The church was pristine and white, and when Dean and Castiel stepped out of the Impala, they saw crowds of people who'd known John or the family. There was a clear difference in guests, there were those that knew of his first career as a businessman; they wore suits and long black gowns with hats that had nets to cover their eyes. The there were those who hunted with him; they wore dark jeans and flannels or leather. They were more worn, but Dean took far more comfort in them being there than the professional stances of those who had no idea who John really was. They all parted as the cars unloaded with the rest of Dean's family. Mary slipped out of Ellen's jeep, wearing a long black dress with heels. Her long blonde hair was undone, falling over her shoulders. Ellen wore black dress pants and a deep purple blouse, and her own hair was down as well. Bobby had dressed up, wearing black slacks, black shoes, and a worn black jacket on top of his usual plaid. His hair was slicked back, and his trademark ball cap was no where to be seen. Dean wore a suit, as did Castiel, and Castiel kept Dean's hand tight in his as they waited for the adults to begin the procession into the church. Sammy clung tight to Dean's other hand, looking so small in his own suit, eyes wide and rimmed red. Dean wished he could take away all that hurt, keep Sammy safe, like he was always supposed to. But there was no fixing this right now, they all had to suffer through this day, all had to accept this loss. As they trailed behind their family, all the other's watched with sorrow and sympathy. Dean saw a casket up front, but he knew the body was not in there. They would handle the proper burial tonight. with a real 'hunter's funeral'. Bobby and Mary had decided it was only right, to bid him off the way he deserved. This funeral, like everything else suburban families did, was all for show. 

They took their seats up front, and Dean zoned it all out until he had to speak. Mary had asked Dean to say a few words in honor of his father, and Dean had obliged. Slowly, he walked to the front and laid out his papers on the podium. 

"My father was a wonderful man. He worked hard his entire life, and cared so much more about other's than himself. He died the way he lived- caring, giving, and protecting." Dean knew the story they were going with- John had died trying to protect a young woman in a town a few states over. He'd been there on business, and when leaving the office one night, saw a man harassing a young lady, and he'd stepped in, taking the fateful shot that ultimately saved her life, and ended his own. Dean knew the real story, that his father had died protecting that young woman from a particularly dangerous demon. Luckily, the demon didn't make it out alive either, but John had also lost the fight. "My father taught me most of what I know, most of what I live by. He taught me the little things, like how to ride a bike, how to act, he taught me my manners, and I keep a lot of him in my character. But my father taught me things bigger than that. Dad taught me how to appreciate those around me, how to love unconditionally, how to put on a brave face and keep living when life takes everything you've got. He taught me how to be vulnerable, loving, yet courageous and brave at the same time. He supported me falling in love, supported me growing up and making the choices I have. He came to every single football game I had, and cheered the loudest. I'll continue to live the life he taught me to live, for me, and for him. I'll continue to make him proud." Dean cleared his throat and slowly walked back to his seat, relaxing a bit when Castiel was close enough to touch again. 

That night, the Winchester's made their way out to a field near Bobby and Ellen's house. Castiel tagged along, for Dean's sake, and to get his own closure for losing John, who'd become so much like a second father to him in the past half a year. They pulled into the field and slid out of their cars. A few other hunter's were there, a burly dark skinned man named Rufus, and several others who Dean didn't know. A cradle large enough to hold a grown body was built, and a pile of wood lay tucked beneath. Inside the cradle was a body bound in white sheets and twine. Dean choked back a sob and felt the warmth of Castiel move closer to him. Silently, he said his goodbyes as Bobby lit up the fire, and they watched as what remained of John Winchester returned to the earth. 

Dean didn't sleep that night, and neither did Castiel. He sat on Dean's bed with the other boy's head in his lap, stroking his hair and soothing him back to sleep when the nightmares continued to startle him awake. Sammy slept beside them on the bed, curled up with tear stained cheeks. Every once in awhile he'd whimper and shift, and Castiel would reach over, rubbing the younger boy's arm, or smoothing down his mess of hair until he relaxed. Cas watched as the sun rose, and didn't move until Dean woke up. He looked exhausted, a bit of young stubble on his chin and Castiel just pulled him into him, rubbing his back as Dean let all of it come crashing down on him again. When ready, the 3 boys made their way downstairs where the rest of their family awaited. They were surprised to find several more people had populated the house. Naomi and Anna were in the Winchester's kitchen cooking breakfast. Gabe and Luke were tidying up the house and talking with Bobby and Ash when they rested. Castiel smiled fondly at his family and how easily they stepped in, doing everything they knew needed to be done. They'd been there before. 

It took weeks before Dean showed any semblance of his normal self. He spent endless nights crying in Cas' arms, or waking up screaming from his nightmares. He dreamed of yellow eyed demons tearing his father apart in a myriad of different ways, and each time he started awake, Cas was there to kiss away the tears and sooth him to sleep. Some nights, he and Cas shared coffee and cigarettes on the balcony, talking quietly about anything and everything. And sometimes, they'd look up at the sky and both silently talk to the ones they lost. Soon, Dean started to heal, slowly, but surely. He helped Sammy come to terms with everything, and took on a lot of work in the house to help his mother. Bobby and Ellen became regular occupants of the house, helping out and cooking meals. 

"Dean? If you're interested, you can start up at the salvage yard after graduation." Dean smiled at this and looked at Bobby. They were all seated in the living room, save for Mary and Ellen, who'd gone out to have a girls day. 

"Thanks, Uncle Bobby. I'd really like that." Dean and Cas hadn't talked about what would happen after Dean graduated. Since Cas planned on graduating a year early, they only had one year to work out. Dean hoped to avoid college in that time, and work at the salvage yard with Bobby until Cas graduated. He could study football or mechanics or something wherever Cas went. He'd follow him anywhere. 

"Dean Winchester. Dean hopes to pursue a career in football after taking a year off and working at his Uncle's auto repair shop in town. Dean graduates with 4 scholarships..." Castiel didn't listen as he watched Dean cross the stage. The crowd attending the graduation cheered and Castiel made sure to cheer the loudest. He was unbelievably proud of Dean, for accomplishing everything he had despite the odds. Anna was graduating with Dean, having taken an extra year of schooling after losing Michael. She'd gotten a variety of scholarships, awards and bursaries, and would have no trouble studying nursing in the fall. Luke was graduating too, but staying at home another year before he decided what to do. Dean looked silly, like everyone did, in his ugly golden gown and cap, but his goofy smile and bright green eyes still made him look gorgeous. He shared his first dance as a graduate with Cas, whose proud blue orbs made Dean's heart pound so hard it hurt. He knew he was exactly where he was meant to be.