Saving Lucifer

Her Family

Three Months Later

Sitting out on the porch swing looking out over the land our ranch sat on, I took the time to observe the past few months.

Time had moved on as if nothing was wrong. My life may have been turned upside down but time wasn't stopping to wait. Azriel's second birthday came and went. We had a little party for him, the family, Bobby and Jody as well. He's talking clearer with every passing day.

Abigail turned four the following month, the two are inseparable. Abigail has begun staying in Azriel's room when he's not with me. She says it's her job to protect him since he saved her. When I tried to explain to her that she isn't obligated to anyone for Azriel's grace she waved me off. That's not something I want her growing up believing, so we're going to gradually work on that.

A few weeks had gone by without being able to reach Castiel. Lucifer swears he's still in there and that he's healing but he doesn't know why he isn't responding when I try to pull him into my dreams. I've begun keeping my distance from Lucifer. The pull between Castiel and I have become stronger as his grace strengthens. Gabriel has been great at running interference and keeping my mind busy.

The boys, Sam and Dean, have gone back to hunting. Dean claims it's because there's a shortage of hunters due to the vampire spree but I know he's just anxious. He was never one to sit around and just enjoy life. He was never able to stay in one place for too long. The road was his home and hunting was his life. I don't think even love could ever change that in him.

Sam decided to go with Dean to keep an eye on him. He shares the same fears I have; Dean will fall off the deep end again. I'm thankful Sam will be there to keep his head on straight and keep him in line. Those two were always better together.

Jody took in a young girl who had been kidnapped by a vampire nest when she was a little girl. She was used as their bait, basically. She would lure people, mostly men from bars, back to their nesting area where her "family" would feed on them. When Sam and Dean found the family, the mother had just begun the process of turning her. Jody, determined to save the girl, almost lost her life in the process. The girl ended up saving her instead. Not having fed on human blood yet, Sam and Dean were able to reverse the process and that was the beginning of a new life for her.

Bobby wasn't fond of the idea at first, of course, we knew he wouldn't be but Jody kept insisting he would accept it eventually. To our surprise, without announcing it, he did. It became obvious when he'd refer to her as part of the family or say things like, 'I should get home to the girls' when he'd visit. It warmed my heart knowing Bobby was finally able to have a family of his own. Jody was so good for him. She kept him in line and made the old cranky man happy again. He earned that.

Gabriel had been back and forth between here and Heaven, keeping an eye on Chuck. He tells us Chuck is claiming to want to help again, that he regrets his decision to toss me to the Nothing. I want no part of hearing anything he has to say. He requested my presence but I have yet to go see him.

"Hey. Hello in there."

Startled out of my thoughts, I turned my head towards the front door to find Lucifer standing there.

"Where were you just now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I tried getting your attention a few times. I need to go out for a while. Can you keep an eye on Abigail? Gabriel isn't back from Heaven yet."

Rising to my feet and walking into the house I allowed my curiosity to get the best of me.

"Where do you need to go?"

His eyes dart off to the side as his hand rubs the back of his neck nervously.

"I-There's something I have to do."

Brows pulled in with worry, worry for my Castiel, I began prying for more answers.

"Where exactly is it you need to go? Will you be safe? You're not doing anything stupid are you?"

Giving a nervous laugh, he walks to Abigail's room and calls for her to go to him. Kneeling in front of her he speaks with such love and emotion.

"I've got some things I need to take care of, sweetie, but I'll be home soon. Angel is going to be here with you guys."

Her sparkling green eyes beam up at me as she bounces into Lucifer's arms for a hug.

"Ok, daddy, and I'll watch Azzy."

Smiling, he kisses the top of her head and walks back towards the living room where I am still waiting for answers.

"Luce, please, give me something."

"I'll make sure nothing happens to Cas, ok? I'll be back as soon as I can." Snapping his fingers, he vanishes from where he stood.

Sighing, I try pulling at Castiel once more without success.

"Angel, can you come color with us?" Abigail stood in her doorway holding papers, colored pencils, and crayons.

"Absolutely!" I beam at her, making sure to hide my worry.

Sitting on the floor with the kids, we are all drawing and coloring. I am mainly helping Azriel hold the crayons and mark on the paper and not the carpet.

Abigail on the other hand, hands me a picture that is beautifully drawn, for a four-year-old. There is a group of people standing in what seems to be a field. A ball is flying through the air, two little kids, a boy and girl, are playing on the ground. Everyone is smiling.

"Tell me about your picture, Abbie."

Climbing to her feet, she comes over and begins pointing at the page.

"This is me and Azzy playing on the ground. This is Uncle Sam and Uncle Dean throwing a ball. Here are you and Uncle Cas finally together, happy. And here is Gabriel and Daddy watching all of us."

Smiling, I wrapped my arms around her tiny body and hugged her tightly.

"This is beautiful, Abbie, I'm going to hang it on the refrigerator."

"It's my family picture." she smiles and skips back to her spot on the floor and begins coloring again.

Looking over the picture once more, her words dance around in my mind. Her family. We are her family. She is our family. Nothing is going to change that. Not now, not ever.