#btgog!asks

The angels stare at each other with various levels of confusion. 

“I have not heard of ‘Destiel.’  It sounds like an angel name, but it is not one I know.”  Raphael frowns, trying to place why it seemed familiar. 

“I’m pretty sure Sam is the only new angel since Dad stopped making them,” Gabriel says, “so I’m clueless.”

Castiel looks to the Winchesters.  Mary is as confused as the angels, but Sam and Dean are…not confused.  Which confuses Castiel further. 

“Sam?  Dean?  Do you know this question pertains to?” he asks, drawing everyone’s attention to the two brothers.

“You sure it isn’t Deastiel?” Sam snickers.

“I-it is neither!” Dean yells, his face growing more red with each passing second.  “Besides, I thought you prefered ‘Samstiel.’“

Sam laughs until tears stream down his face.

“Are these,” Castiel pauses, unsure how to phrase it, “angel names you have chosen for yourselves?”

Sam howls. 

Dean pushes him onto the floor, whispering, “Bitch.”

Sam laughs harder, unable to respond with his usual comeback.

“Well, now I really want to know,” Mary says, looking expectantly at her oldest son. 

“Ugh,” Dean groans.  “Fine.  So, you know how I told you that Chuck was writing a book series about me and Sam when we first found him?  Well, the books got a cult following.”  He shudders, remembering Becky.  “A couple years ago, we did a hunt where a teacher and some students disappeared.  They were all involved in a theatrical production…of Supernatural: The Musical.”

“Oh my,” Mary grins.  “Do you think I could find it on that RedTube site?”

Sam hits the floor with his fists.  Laughter cuts off his ability to breathe.  The angels watch him, torn between amusement and concern.

“Oh my God, Mom.  No!!” Dean yells.  “It’s YouTube.  YOU-Tube!  Not RedTube!”

“Oh, I just remember it has a red logo.  What’s RedTu–”

“It’s nothing!” Dean takes a deep breath.  “Anyway, the girls putting on the show had some interpretations that they felt were hidden in the subtext of the books.”

“Interpretations?  Of subtext?  Sounds kinky,” Gabriel says.  “Do tell more.”

“I am going to kill all of you,” Dean mutters, then scowls at Sam on the floor, “especially you.”

“No murder!” Mary orders.  “At least until I hear what Destiel means.”

“It’s…it’s what…” Sam struggles through laughing fits, rolling out of range from Dean’s kick.  “It’s the name the girls gave to the romantic pairing of Dean and Cas!”

Silence falls over the group. 

“Oh my Dad,” Gabriel whispers, “this is the best day of my life.”

“What did our Father write that led to readers believing we were together?” Castiel asks.  He’s looking to Dean for the answer.

“Man, who knows?!” Dean rubs the back of his neck, slightly calmer now that all has been revealed.  “Those crazy fans used to pair me and Sam together before you entered the picture.  And we only skimmed a few of the earlier books.”

“Probably all those long, silent stares you gave each other,” Sam says. 

“Students turned the Winchester Gospels into a musical?” Raphael asks. 

“I want those books.”  Gabriel stands and pulls Raphael to his feet.  “We need those books.”  They disappear in a whispered rush of wings.

“Shit.”  Dean stares at where they’d been standing.  “I’m burning every copy that enters this bunker.”

“They’re online,” Sam tells Mary, then jumps up and sprints from the room.

Dean is on his heels, screaming, “SAM!!”

“Oh God,” Dean chokes, his face turning white.  “That...that’s a terrible theory!”

“How would that even work?” Sam asks, looking more green than white.  “If I’d become the ‘boyking’ as Azazel had planned, I’d just be groomed for Lucifer.  Then I’d just be his willing vessel, and I wouldn’t be king of anything!”

“And as a fallen angel, I would be powerless to prevent either of you from utter destruction,” Castiel adds. 

“Unless by ‘fallen’ they mean ‘ate all the souls and became god for a few days,’” Dean says weakly.

Castiel considers it.  “It would not give me much time.  But I would not require more than an hour or two to stop either of you with the amount of power I had.”

“Cas!  This isn’t a strategy session!”  Dean stares at the angel in horror. 

Castiel shrugs.  “I meant hypothetically.”

“Hypothetically,” Sam starts, his mind going into overdrive, “would we all be mortal enemies vying for power?  Or would we be allies who divide and conquer the Earth, Heaven, and Hell?”

“Nope!” Dean stands, scooping Sam out of his seat.  “Nope, nope, nope!  We have enough going on in our lives without trying to imagine absolute worst-case scenarios and world domination.  The only thing we’re dominating tonight is a board game.”

“RISK?” Castiel perks up.  He loves board games.  “Battleship?  Stratego?  Catan?”

“Candyland,” Dean snaps.

“I’ll get it ready!!” Gabriel’s voice screams from somewhere within the bunker.

“I hate all of you,” Dean sighs, resigned to his fate.  “Come on, little brother.  We better hurry, or Gabe will transform half the bunker into an actual Candyland and we’ll have to eat our way out.”

Actually...

I don’t have a definitive end for the series as of this moment.  I know generally how I’d like it to end in terms of getting characters and situations to certain places.  But I don’t have that “final moment” in my head yet.  And I’m okay with that.

I have several full stories planned to go still in the series, and several one-shots I’d like to explore within this universe.  Some things to look forward to:- Heaven storming the BMOL HQ in England- Christmas/New Years with some familiar hunters, and possibly a case- A story where Sam ends up hopping through several different alt!dimensions (it’s gonna be a BIG one)- The bunker turning into a Hunter’s Haven or Retreat, with hunters using the place to research, stock up, rest, heal, hide, etc.  (and an alliance with Heaven as they try to foster better angel/human relationships)- Possibly bringing in the other Princes of Hell (Dagon, Ramiel, and Asmodeus) as the new “big bad” - Purging Lucifer of the corruption caused by the Mark- Dealing with the “Dean is mortal and Sam isn’t” issue (y’all didn’t think I’d let that continue, did you??)

BEYOND ALL THAT, I’m looking at writing a sequel series featuring adult angel!Sam (set centuries after the “end” of BTGOG, when he appears about 19-20yrs old) finding himself in an alt!world...and back at the beginning of season one.  Basically, a rewrite of the show.  But with the Sam from BTGOG.  I’d really like to explore his character as an adult again, full of confidence and experience.  I’m also leaning toward it being a Sabriel fic (I’m trying to be very conscious about how I develop Sam’s relationship to Gabriel now so that it doesn’t become too parent/child and remains more mentor-oriented.). 

“Hmm, that’s a tough one,” Gabriel says, frowning.  “First of all--kuddos to you for trying to make the best of a hard situation!  Not everyone would take in a toddler before they turned twenty!!

“I’d be super careful with the ‘secretly don’t want him’ aspect.  Kids are very perceptive, even before they learn to talk.  They can sense when adults aren’t being honest, or pretending to like them.  Make sure you are getting outside support from friends, therapists, or even other family.  Don’t let this little guy become an object of resentment in your life.  It won’t be good for either of you!

“I know there’s a million-and-one books out there on raising kids, and even more advice givers on the internet.  But I can share a couple tidbits of experience with you.

“I’ve always found that treating kids like actual people goes a long way.  Be honest--they’ll know if you’re not.  Don’t talk down to them, and don’t just pretend to listen when they talk to you. 

“Using ‘because I told you so’ as a reason for them to do something does NOT go far, and teaches them nothing.  If you want them to obey, tell them why.  ‘Don’t touch that--because it is dangerous and will cause you pain.’  Or ‘pick up your toys--because if they stay on the floor, they can be stepped on and broken and then you can’t play with them.’  Kids need to understand consequences beyond punishment. 

“And it’s okay to be honest about yourself with them!  If you’re exhausted and not up for playing an intense game with them, it’s okay to say ‘dude, my feet/back hurt really bad right now.  How about we watch a movie instead?’  Kids are very empathetic when you share your struggles!”

Gabriel smiles, soft and warm.  He looks at his own flock, and remembers his own children from a previous lifetime. 

“It doesn’t quite feel like ‘childhood’ yet.  What with all the kidnapping and torture and stuff,” Sam says with a wry smile.  “Of course, maybe it’s more like my first childhood than I realized.”

Sam thinks of all the times John had used him as bait during hunts.  Or pushed him too hard during training as punishment for some slight.  Shuddering, he shakes his head to clear the dark thoughts away.

“I’m still adjusting to this new life.  There’s been so many changes--and I don’t just mean being small or having grace.  Having Mom back, and Gabriel, is crazy and wonderful.  And all the new people--Raphael, Morpheus.  I’ve never known what life could be like with more family than just Dean.

“I mean, we had Bobby, but we never lived with him.  Dad was more of a commanding officer than a father, even when we were little.  And he wasn’t around much anyway.

“It’s hard, because I constantly have this feeling that I should be doing something!  Hunting, researching, cleaning weapons.  But if I so much as look at a weapon, I’ll have a team of protective mother-hens descend on me like a swarm.”

Sam huffs a sad laugh. 

“Fifteen years ago, this would all seem like a dream come true.  All I wanted back then was to get out of the hunting life and be normal.  Not that this is normal!”

He looks at his tiny hands, pooling his grace in his palm until a ball of light is visible.  He tosses it into the air, and catches it when it falls back down.  The light evaporates.

“But I must admit, I am grateful for this new life.  Healing is hard, but worth it.  I’ve gone so long just falling apart at the seams.  I didn’t know anything else was possible.  I didn’t even know how bad it was until I suddenly wasn’t slowly dying.

FIRST OF ALL…unless I’m WILDLY misreading your url, you are a DRAGON AGE FAN!!!!  HELLO, MY NEWEST FRIEND <3<3<3  I actually started doing a Cullen romance playthrough (as a human warrior or rogue), but then DAI came out on the Xbox1 and I had to start over.  I think I ended up playing a male dwarf and romanced Iron Bull?  LOL…Dorian was my fav romance so far, but Cullen is ADORABLE with all his blushing and awkwardness.

*coughs* But that’s not what we’re discussing here…

I did actually have Dean BRIEFLY mention the SPN book series in “Child of God” when he tells Mary about Chuck. He referred to them as the “Winchester Gospels.”  I debated a LOT over how I wanted Mary to learn their backstory.  I’ve read several fics where Mary either gets the books or “someone” mysteriously gifts the bunker with the dvds of our world’s series (or the French Mistake’s world). 

I decided that I wanted her to learn MOST of their history from the boys themselves.  BUT I’m still considering having her stumble over them at some point and reading them all to fill in some of the details they don’t mention (which could also lead to some revelations for the boys since they don’t know everything that went on during times they were separated)!

I’m not sure if I’d do it as a one-shot (to go into the “Ask and It Shall Be Given” collection) or have it be an ongoing background plot through a few different stories…

“Sweetheart, you are welcome to drop by our Hunter’s Haven anytime!  That’s what we’re here for--rest, relaxation, renewal...umm, other ‘r’ words that I can’t think of at the moment.  Even if you aren’t a hunter, I won’t tell anyone.  Your secret’s safe with me.”

Gabriel winks and grins in delight. 

“We’ve got everything a weary soul could want.  A kitchen with two head chefs who are in constant competition for making the biggest, bestest meal.  The ultimate Healer who can help with physical, mental, and spiritual wounds.  Word of warning--don’t try to tell him you’re ‘fine’ because that will send him into overdrive and you’ll be fussed over for days.

“We’ve got a giant dog who likes to snuggle folks by the fire.  And by ‘giant’ I mean ‘pony-sized.’  Look out--he also likes to lick. 

“The rest of our flock is pretty special too.  We’ve got pranksters and mother hens all over the joint.  You should be able to find anything you need.  So, feel free to stop by anytime!”

Gabriel grows sober, his gleefulness turning solemn.