Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

When Monday came around, Cas stood in the middle of the living room, his hands on his hips, looking as serious as an eight-year-old can. With his chest puffed out, Cas announced, “I want to start walking home from school alone.”

Bobby and Ellen exchanged a look. Then—

“No,” Ellen said immediately.

“No damn way,” Bobby grunted at the same time, arms crossed.

Cas whined. “But I’m not a baby,” he argued, stomping his feet. “I can do it.” His blue eyes darted between them, pleading. “Please?”

Ellen sighed, rubbing at her temples. Bobby just shook his head. “Kid, you’re eight.”

Cas straightened his back. “And responsible.”

“You got lost in the grocery store last week.”

“That was one time,” Cas muttered, crossing his arms now.

Ellen exhaled sharply, giving Bobby another look, and Bobby grumbled under his breath before finally relenting. 

“Fine,” he said. Cas immediately perked up, hope lighting his face. “But,” Bobby added, leveling him with a stern look, “you go straight home. No messing around. No stopping to talk to strangers. No detours.”

Cas nodded eagerly. “Of course!”

Bobby wasn’t convinced. But Cas looked so damn proud of himself that Ellen just sighed. “Alright,” she said. “But if anything happens, you come straight back to us, got it?”

Cas beamed. “Got it.”

As Cas ran back to his room, Dean, Jo, Sam, and Ash started complaining about how Cas was too young and he shouldn’t be walking alone.

“He needs his independence, like you guys have!” Ellen explained.

“But he is 8!” Dean retorted.

“You know what? Ma, Pa aren’t gonna do anything.” Ash shook his head. “But I got an idea.”

“What? What is your great idea?” Jo asked with a snort.

“We stalk him!”

“What the hell?!” Dean asked.

“Wait, wait, Ash is right.” Sam agreed. “Since you have your extra classes, Jo, Ash, and I will follow him in the evening. Make sure he reaches well.”

“You can’t keep it up all the time.” Bobby smirked at the kids’ antics.

“We will make a schedule!” Sam jumped excitedly. “And it will be only for the first few weeks!”

“Alright, you do you.” The adults shook their heads and left to do their morning chores as they made their schedule, while Dean too left to get ready for his day.

-x-

As soon as school was over, Ash had made his way to Cas’ school.

Ash was on spy duty . He was absolutely committed to the role—so committed, in fact, that he was practically bursting with obviousness . 

He wore an oversized trench coat and sunglasses, even though it wasn’t sunny. 

As Cas walked out of the school, Ash stepped behind a tree dramatically, practically tripping over himself in the process. When he realized he had been spotted by a teacher, Ash froze for a second too long, then dove behind another tree, rolling across the sidewalk in the process. He was a wreck.

Cas looked over his shoulder briefly, squinting in Ash’s direction, but his face stayed neutral. Ash held his breath, hoping Cas hadn’t seen him— but of course he had.  

Cas turned away, continuing down the street without a word, pretending not to notice. Ash breathed a sigh of relief... and immediately tripped on the sidewalk as he tried to move again.

-x-

The next day was Jo’s turn. She was much more subtle—at least, that’s what she thought. She walked a little ways behind him, keeping her distance and casually observing. That was, until she spotted a dog. A really cute dog.

“Oh my god, you are adorable ,” she said, sidetracked, her voice dripping with affection. The dog perked up and ran over to her, tail wagging like crazy, and Jo forgot completely about her mission. She was fully engaged in a dog-petting session when she looked up— and Cas was gone.

Jo panicked, scanning the street. “Cas!” she called out quietly, then louder. “Cas!” She spotted him a block ahead, already walking confidently down the sidewalk. She sprinted after him, tripping over her own feet, and arrived at his side just in time to casually jog alongside him.

“Oh, hey, I was just heading home too,” she said, trying and failing to sound casual.

Cas didn’t look at her. “Mhm.”

-x-

Finally, it was Sam’s turn. Sam’s stalking style was far more sophisticated. He was quiet. Stealthy. Responsible. 

He kept a good distance, never getting too close. He was careful, watching Cas from the opposite side of the street, always staying one step behind. He had this.

But then— Cas turned around . And Sam froze. Cas was looking right at him.

“Oh, hey,” Sam said, trying to act like he had been on this street a hundred times before. “I, uh, I’m just out for a jog.”

Cas raised an eyebrow.

Sam started jogging in place, trying to cover up his panic, but Cas just watched him.

“Yeah, I’m definitely not stalking you. No sir, just out for a jog in the middle of the afternoon,” Sam said, his voice unconvincing.

Cas stared a moment longer, then shrugged and walked off without a word.

-x-

Dean laughed as Cas recounted the whole stalking Sam, Jo, and Ash had done for the past few days and had decided that enough was enough.

So when they gathered for dinner, Cas placed his fork and spoon on the table before leaning slowly on the table, propped on his elbow.

“If you’re going to follow me, at least be good at it,” he said, completely deadpan.

Ash gasped, eyes wide. 

“Wait, you knew?!” Jo blurted out, his face turning red.

Cas just smirked, looking at her with amusement. “I’m not stupid, Jo.”

This got Pamela, Bobby, Ellen, and Dean laughing out loudly as Jo, Sam, and Ash whined and pointed at one another for their failed plan.

Pamela, Bobby, Ellen, and Dean stayed to clear things off as Cas and the three kept bickering as they went to their respective rooms.

With the kids gone, Dean leaned against the kitchen counter, fidgeting as he asked, “So, any updates from Cas’ mom?”

Pamela stiffened before sighing as she nodded and said, “She sent a letter… and it was not good.”

“So… Naomi has reached out?” Dean asked, his voice tight.

Pamela nodded, her face somber. “She’s getting remarried… and said she can’t take Cas. She’s moving in with her new husband.”

Dean clenched his jaw. A hot surge of anger bubbled up in his chest. “That’s it? She just doesn’t want him? She chose not to take him?” His voice shook with frustration.

Dean’s heart ached at the realization that Naomi had just made a choice to leave Cas behind.

Pamela, Bobby, and Ellen exchanged heavy glances before Bobby spoke, “Dean, you have to understand… we can’t force Naomi to be a mother. If she’s not ready, she’s not ready.”

Dean shook his head, the words not registering. “ She’s his mother. ”

He felt a knot in his stomach. Cas was so young —how could Naomi just walk away from him? It wasn’t right.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Dean said, frustration seeping into his voice. “Cas should have the choice . He should get to decide what’s best for him. That lady can’t just give birth and leave him. He needs to have his choice!”

But Pamela, Bobby, and Ellen stood their ground, even though they weren’t happy with the outcome. They couldn’t force Naomi to change her mind. They couldn’t make her love Cas the way he needed.

Dean hated that answer. It made him feel powerless. He hated it. But he wasn’t going to stand by and let Cas feel abandoned again.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Well, I’m not letting him go through this alone. I’ll be here for him. No matter what.”

-x-

Weeks flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for Dean’s birthday. The house buzzed with energy as guests started arriving. Lisa and Sonny were among the first, bringing laughter and gifts. Everyone was in high spirits, but there was something extra special in the air that day. Cas was practically glowing, his excitement infectious as he carefully handed Dean a small, handmade gift. It was a wooden carving of the Impala, painted with as much detail as an eight-year-old could manage, and Dean’s heart swelled with pride.

The day felt normal—maybe even perfect. The food was served, laughter echoed through the house, and Dean couldn’t help but smile at how lucky he was to have such a tight-knit, loving group around him.

Then, without warning, the doorbell rang.

Dean didn’t know what to expect, but when he opened the door, his smile faltered. There, standing in the doorway, was Naomi.

Cas froze, his eyes locked on her. Dean watched the emotions play across the boy’s face—confusion, fear, longing. It was a whirlwind of feelings, but one emotion stood out most of all: he wanted his mom .

Naomi’s cold gaze swept over the room, and she stepped inside without an invitation, a large wad of cash in her hand, thrusting it toward Bobby and Ellen. “I’ve remarried and settled into a new house. I’m ready to take him back now.”

Cas flinched at the words.

The room immediately grew tense. Jo, Ash, and Sam blocked the door, their faces stern. “No,” Jo said firmly. “You don’t get to just show up like this.” Ash stood beside her, his arms crossed, nodding in agreement.

Bobby and Ellen exchanged uneasy glances, clearly torn. They knew they couldn’t legally stop Naomi from taking Cas, but the thought of losing him was unbearable. Pamela hesitated before speaking, her voice low. “We can’t force him to stay. It’s his decision.”

Cas stood near the door, his hands fidgeting, his face a mixture of uncertainty and sadness. Dean’s heart broke watching him. Cas wanted to go with Naomi, but Dean knew how scared he was to leave the family that had become his home. Cas had found a place in their hearts. They had become his real family, but Naomi was his mother.

Dean decided to take Cas inside and ask him privately what he felt.

Cas’s voice broke through the silence. “If the world were just, Ellen and Bobby would be my parents. But... that’s my mom.”

Dean’s throat tightened. He’d seen the tears, heard the late-night cries as Cas clutched his angel plushie— his comfort when he couldn’t find peace anywhere else. It had never been fair to Cas, but Dean had tried.

Dean knew what he had to do.

Taking Cas back to where everyone was, he stepped forward to his family. “Let him go.”

Cas’s face fell, confusion and a sense of relief mixing with the pain in his eyes. 

“What, no way!” Sam spoke up as Dean watched Cas.

Cas didn’t want to leave, but he didn’t know if he could stay. Dean could see it, and though it broke him, he had to give Cas that choice, the one thing he deserved, one thing Sam and himself didn’t have.

“He needs his mom, Sammy.” Dean said, his voice quieter but firm. Sam’s eyes softened in understanding as he moved back.

“Good. Go pack your stuff Castiel. We are moving to another state and to catch the train, we need to leave ASAP.” Naomi said, straightening her coat. Cas nodded solemnly before walking to his room as they all stood in the room.

The cheery atmosphere of the birthday party was gone and the guests all dispersed. Lisa gave a supportive hug to Dean while Sonny patted him on the back as he left. 

Cas was now back in the room with a suitcase, his size,  full of his stuff. The boy hesitated at the door, his small form frozen as he looked back at them. 

Bobby muttered something under his breath, before walking to the boy and patting him on the back. “You take care now, kid.”

Jo, on the verge of tears, turned away to hide her feelings.

Cas approached Ellen slowly, wrapping his arms tightly around her. She held him close, the weight of the moment sinking in. 

Cas looked to Dean, his eyes shining with unshed tears, clutching his angel plushie in both hands.

“I’ll always remember you,” he said softly, his voice filled with quiet pain.

Dean nodded, scared if he spoke he would start crying. Sam and Ash tried to lighten the mood, but the tense atmosphere stayed.

Pamela hugged the little boy tight and kissed his cheeks, expressing her feelings,

Naomi stood by the door, her tone brisk. “We need to get moving.”

And with that, Cas stepped outside. The door clicked shut behind him, and Dean stood there, numb, watching the little boy leave the family that had loved him like their own. 

A family that would never end by blood.