Destined

Chapter 28

  Dean and I lay in his bed, Dean on his back with me curled against his side, one wing extended behind me and the other resting over Dean. Dean had an arm wrapped around my shoulders.

  "You are so beautiful," Dean murmured, twining his fingers through my hair. I reached up and traced my finger down Dean's lips.

  "'The moon only reflects what the sun shines onto its face,'" I murmured. "'Without the sun, the moon would be nothing.'" Dean looked down at me.

  "Did you read that somewhere?" Dean asked. "It's pretty."

  "It's from a story Mother used to read to me. In context, it's a bit sad, talking about how some people are so empty on their own. But... I could only dream of reflecting someone as beautiful as you," I said. Dean sat up and I rolled off of him, sitting up as well.

  "Thanks, but... You're not just a mirror, Cas. I'm not so narcissistic as to fall in love with someone who's just a reflection of me," Dean said.

  "Maybe one day the two of us can live up to each other's standards," I said, smiling. I reached out and traced my fingers across a small scar on Dean's shoulder. He glanced down at my hand.

  "That one was a training accident. I dodged right into it," he said, smiling. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the scar.

  "You have so many..." I murmured. Dean moved closer to me and began running his fingers down my arm.

  "You don't. That's one of the things I like about you. You're so... Clean," he said. "You haven't been through battle."

  "To my father's everlasting shame," I said, fiddling with the blanket.

  "He's a fool to be ashamed of someone like you. If he'd seen what I saw earlier, shame wouldn't even cross his mind when he thought of you," Dean said, reaching forward to push my hair out of my forehead. Before I could respond, there was a knock on the door. Dean and I looked at each other, then at the door, eyes wide.

  "Hello?" Dean called.

  "Your highness, your father wants to see you," a servant answered through the door. Dean and I shared another glance.

  "I'll be there in a minute!" Dean responded. Dean slid out of the bed and started putting his clothes on.

  "You can stay here if you want to, I don't mind. I'll be back as soon as I'm done," he said. I nodded.

  "Good luck," I said. Dean grinned.

  "I'll need it," he said. He walked back over to his bed and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. "I'll be back soon." I smiled and Dean walked out of the room. I got out of the bed and pulled my own clothes on, beginning to wander around Dean's room. His room seemed very lived-in, with items lying on tables and just a general feeling of warmth and comfort. It felt very different from my own room. I wandered over to a small bookshelf in the corner which looked mostly untouched but for one book resting on the top of the bookshelf. I picked it up, wondering which book could be so special as to be the only one touched in a long time. It wasn't a title I recognized, but it looked like a book for children, which was in itself a great recomendation to me. Any children's book with a plot still to be enjoyed as an adult must be good. I took the book, sat down in one of Dean's chairs, and began to read.

***

  I'd only made it through a few chapters when Dean burst into the room, a giant grin on his face. I stood up as Dean charged toward me, wrapped his arms around me, and lifted me into the air, spinning me around. I laughed, caught up in Dean's obvious excitement.

  "What happened?" I asked when he put me down.

  "We did it. Cas, we did it, Dad agreed. We're getting married!" Dean exclaimed. Then he kissed me. When we broke apart again, I was grinning too.

  "I can't believe it," I said. Dean kissed me again.

  "I can," he said. My smile faded a bit as Hannah's face sprang to my mind.

  "Do you think Hannah's okay?" I asked.

  "She's with Charlie, and trust me, nothing happens to Charlie unless she wants it to. Hannah's in safe hands. I know you must miss her, but you'll see each other again soon, I'm sure," Dean said. I smiled again.

  "I'm glad she got to be happy. And I'm glad we have a shot at it ourselves. I just hope we aren't making a mistake," I said. Dean brushed his fingers through my hair.

  "I believe in us," he said. I smiled.

  "When's the wedding? Did he say?" I asked. Dean's smile fell a bit, and he looked nervous.

  "One week. We're using everything Hannah planned," he said. "Is that going to be okay?" I took a deep breath, my head reeling slightly.

  "Yes, It's fine. I'm beginning to see how Hannah felt," I said. Dean looked at me worriedly. "I'm lucky enough to be in love with you, though." I reached up and smoothed a piece of Dean's hair. Dean smiled at me.

  "We'll make it work. Now, what do you want to do with the rest of today? We should do something to celebrate," he said. I held up the book, which I'd forgotten.

  "I found this book. You seem to like it. It might be nice to have a relaxing day of reading," I suggested. I was a little nervous to suggest it as Dean didn't seem like the reading type. When Dean saw the book, his face fell. He pulled it from my hand and stared at the cover.

  "Was I... wrong?" I asked tentatively. Dean blinked and looked back up at me.

  "No. It's just... I've never read the end of this book. Mother was reading it to me in the days before she died. Every time I tried to read it after that, I could never make it farther than she did," Dean said quietly. I held out my hand towards the book.

  "Would you like to try again?" I asked. Dean paused, then handed me the book.

  "Yes."

***

  That night, I was back in my own room. Dean had wanted me to stay with him, but I decided that it would be better for me to sleep in my own room until the wedding. I was about to go to bed when I realized that we still had a problem. Father. I sighed, sat down, lit a lamp, and began writing a letter to convince him. I was almost done when someone knocked on my door.

  "Dean?" I stood up and walked over to the door. "I told you, I'm not-" I opened the door and my words halted in my throat. The man at the door wasn't Dean.

  "Can I help you?" I asked, slightly nervous. I didn't recognize this man at all.

  "Castiel?" The man asked. I nodded. The man stepped forward and, before I could react, struck me on the head with something heavy. Shock ran through me and I stumbled back, disoriented. The man stepped forward. I tried to swing at the man, but he blocked my punch, grabbed my shoulders, pulled me to the ground, and slammed my head against the floor, knocking me unconscious. As the darkness closed in, all I could think of was Dean. Would I ever see him again?

  Oooooh we're getting close to the end now! ;)