“It is a surprise,” Castiel explained as he kept his eyes fixed on the road, risking only a moment to glance at Hannah in the passenger seat as she seemed fixated on the idyllic setting around them. “But don’t worry, Jack we are nearly there.” Castiel was eager for his newfound family to see his surprise. Dean had been the one to put him up to it, saying that the young Nephilim would love a trip to the mountains for the season. The older Winchester also promised that he and Sam would join them as soon as they got back from their hunt.
“Sam Winchester did not seem as enthusiastic for this idea as Dean did,” Hannah pointed out as she gazed in wonder at the forest that engulfed both sides of the road.
“Well Sam has never been enthusiastic about the holidays,” Castiel explained as he gripped the steering wheel with both hands. “But I think once they join us, they will enjoy it.”
It had taken more than 24 hours to get to this remote part of Northern New York state from the bunker, but the journey had not been wasted. Castiel had enjoyed the time he had been able to spend with Hannah and Jack. He would never have thought it possible for an angel like him to have found a family to love, but he had, and it was all very new to him. He knew that Jack really wasn’t his son, though he often wished it, and he and Hannah had only been together as a couple for a few months. It had taken a long time after she had returned from the empty for him to come to the realization that they were meant to be together. Emotions weren’t natural for him to adapt to and although he had felt something for her, even back when they had first met after the fall, he had never permitted himself to explore those feelings until now.
And even now, there was this nagging doubt whenever he looked at Hannah. This feeling that they were doing something forbidden. Something heaven wouldn’t approve of. They were soldiers after all, and love was a human thing. It wasn’t meant for angels.
But he wanted it. More than anything, he wanted it. He’d learned to embrace emotions in his time down here. His fondness and love for the Winchesters could not be denied. But what he felt for Jack, and Hannah, it was different than anything he had ever felt before. It was the feeling he got when he looked at Hannah. Just looked at her. She was beautiful. Why hadn’t he noticed how beautiful she was before? And it wasn’t just her human vessel with her dark hair which hung in wavy tresses passed her shoulder blades or the thick strands that hid her forehead. Nor was it those piercing blue eyes. It was her inner glow. Her beautiful cream colored wings with the golden yellow tips. The blue light of angelic energy that surrounded her. And it was also her inner being. Her wonder at this world, a kind of wonder he had once had when he first got here. The way she gazed around at the forests around her in awe.
When they had made love for the first time, it wasn’t just sexual intercourse; it was wonderous. It wasn’t that primal pleasure that Dean had often encouraged him to partake in, it wasn’t the strange mating rituals he’d observed watching Dean’s porn collection. This was something different. It was passionate, sensual, and electrifying. He’d never touched or been touched like that, and it was then that he’d realized how deeply he had fallen in love with her. He didn’t need to be human to understand that.
And then, there was Jack, of course. It had taken Hannah a while to get used to Lucifer’s Nephilim, but the boy had taken an instant liking to her, and she couldn’t resist. The two had been inseparable since. The angel who had fallen to Earth during one of Heaven’s most terrifying catastrophe, who had undergone such intense trauma as a result, who had died and somehow come back, and the Nephilim who was supposed to be Lucifer’s spawn, his ultimate revenge against heaven and earth, but had in reality become Castiel’s most precious inheritance- these two had truly become the two beings that Castiel would gladly give up his life for.
A realization that they had arrived at their destination brought Castiel out of his inner musings as he approached the toll gate. Paying the appropriate currency, he maneuvered the truck through and, after a few twists and turns, they arrived at a tiny cabin nestled a thick copse of birch trees.
Castiel parked the truck and turned in his seat to look at Jack. “We have arrived,” he announced. Jack responded by opening the door and dropping swiftly out of the truck as he gazed around at the towering trees. As Castiel joined him, and Hannah made her way around the front of the truck, the Nephilim eyed the little wooden cabin as he walked, piles of fallen leaves crunching under his feet.
Castiel inhaled the thick scent of birch, oak, and pine as he draped an arm around Hannah’s shoulders and moved to get some supplies out of the truck.
“Are we going to live here?” Jack asked curiously as Castiel handed him his duffel bag. “It's amazing. I never imagined that there were this many trees!”
“For a while,” Castiel replied. “Just until after the New Year. There are a number of seasonal festivities that humans in this part of the world observe and I thought it would be appropriate for your first holiday season to take place in a natural setting like this.”
“Smell the air, Castiel,” Hannah murmured as she huddled under his shoulder for warmth. “I can never quite get over how many wonders Earth holds, wonders which were formed long before humans ever walked on this world. And here, aside from this cabin and your truck, it is as if humans don’t even exist.”
Castiel glanced at her with a smile. Hannah had been less enthusiastic about humanity and more eager to explore the natural world. In the bunker, she would spend hours and hours just sitting or standing in the sea of prairie grass that surrounded the bunker. Although she had gotten used to certain aspects of humanity, it was apparent that it was the Earth itself that had really caught her eye.
After a quick look at the cabin interior- not too fancy, just a rustic cabin with a cozy fireplace; the perfect forest getaway for him and his family to enjoy- Castiel led them back out into the forest.
“We are to gather some things,” Castiel explained as he handed them both baskets and held one of his own. He glanced at Jack, as the Nephilim was now dressed in a thick jacket, gloves, and a beanie covering his straw hair. Castiel insisted that Jack would be warm in these chilling temperatures. “The first festivity of the season will be Thanksgiving. I will go into town later and get supplies, but for now, we must rely on the forest, as humans once had to. According to my research, the appropriate things to forage for are hazelnuts. There are also berries and certain types of mushrooms, but hazelnuts are essential.”
“Why are they essential?” Hannah asked as the three of them moved through the forest, the trees surrounding them.
“Because we will be preparing a feast,” Castiel explained. “Dean gave me clear instructions on what we must prepare for their arrival. A large turkey, potatoes cooked in a variety of methods, yams, corn, buns, and most importantly, a large assortment of pies. I went on google, and I chose hazelnut pie to be the cornerstone of the pie assortment.”
Hannah seemed to mull this over in her mind as Jack caught sight of the hazelnut trees and hurried towards them. Castiel walked behind him, gripping Hannah’s hand in his as they strolled through the forest together.
“I see,” Hannah murmured. “But the Winchesters cannot possibly consume that much food,” she said. “It seems overly gluttonous.”
“I believe gluttony and consumerism are both key components of these festivities,” Castiel replied. “At least that is the point Sam seemed to make, although Dean didn’t seem to think that those are necessarily negative things.”
“I am not sure which one is correct at this point,” Hannah admitted. “But this location is wonderous. I don’t think I want to leave it. Everything about it. It’s seclusion, its tranquility; I love it. It’s perfect, Castiel.” She smiled as she turned to look at him.
Castiel met her eyes and cleared his throat nervously as he realized the real reason he’d brought them here needed to be revealed. Although he kept a watchful eye on Jack as the Nephilim happily plucked hazelnuts from the trees, Castiel focused solely on Hannah.
“Have I said something wrong?” Hannah asked hesitantly, frowning as she noticed his lingering gaze.
“No,” he assured her. “It is just… I have brought you here, hoping that you will react positively when I make an important request of you.”
Hannah cocked her head to one side, looking confused as she stared at him. He took a deep breath, calming his nerves.
“I wanted to ask if you would consider becoming my partner in matrimony,” Castiel began. “I… know that we are angels and that you may consider returning to heaven if needed but… matrimony will require us to remain together- for a very long time. Forever, if it goes the way it is intended.”
“Matrimony?” Hannah repeated. Castiel knew she wasn’t going to understand. It wasn’t something angels did, after all. They served heaven; they did not usually make commitments like this to each other. What he was asking was a lot, he knew. He was the fallen angel, the angel who had rebelled and had chosen to reside on Earth instead of heaven. He had defied heaven on many occasions, and he had made more than his fair share of enemies. And now, he was asking her to join him in that rebellion, to be at his side, to share in his life here on Earth.
“I… I know it is a lot to ask,” Castiel stammered, becoming more nervous. “Especially considering I am not heaven’s most favored angel… and your association with me would make you unfavored as well. You may say no if you wish and-”
“Yes,” she said firmly, cutting him off. “Yes, Castiel.”
“Be certain you understand what matrimony entails,” Castiel wanted to make sure she understood what she was saying yes to. “It means we will be partners. Forever. Forever is a long time for an angel and-”
Again she cut him off, this time by moving into his arms and pressing her lips to his. He exhaled, relaxing into the kiss as their lips connected. She broke the kiss after a time, only to gaze lovingly into his eyes, a resolute look on her face. “I know what it means,” she assured him. “And I agree. I want to be where you are, Castiel. You and Jack…” she paused, an even more finite glint in her eyes. “Even if that means I must defy heaven. I want to marry you, Castiel.”
Castiel let out a breath then, smiling widely. “It is customary for me to give you this,” he said, reaching into his pocket and handing her a small box. Curiously, and as Jack returned, his basket full of hazelnuts, Hannah opened the box to see the sparkling ring inside.
“What is the band of gold for?” Jack asked as he and Hannah both looked it over.
“It is a symbol of matrimony, Jack,” Hannah explained, lowering her arms so he could get a better look. “It’s beautiful…”
“I’m afraid I enlisted Sam and Dean’s help in selecting it,” Castiel explained coyly as he watched the two of them as they admired the ring. “I wasn’t quite sure how to properly propose.”
“Are you going to ask me to marry you too?” Jack asked hopefully. “So we can be a family?” Hannah smiled at the Nephilim's misinterpretation of the situation as she glanced at Castiel.
“Well, I looked into that as well,” Castiel explained. He had prepared for this whole situation, and he glanced at Hannah a little nervous again. “And… Hannah, if you agree to this, I would like us to adopt Jack. That is if you want, Jack.”
“What does that mean?” Jack asked, squinting in confusion.
“It means we will be your parents,” Castiel explained. “Not biologically, of course. We wouldn’t replace your mother and, well…”
Jack nodded, understanding. “And my father is Satan…” he finished. “I understand. And I want this.” he glanced, hopeful at Hannah.
“I do too,” she agreed, and Castiel felt instant relief. He happily pulled his new family into his arms, hugging them both tight.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go inside and make hazelnut pie. Together as a family.”
