#let's not forget mr. dean would be bored in heaven

[sofreddie]

Sam's Revenge (Part 10)

Characters: Michael!Dean, Benny, Cas, Sam, Reader, Others mentioned

Warnings: Extreme Angst

Word Count: 1,443

My Masterlist

Series Masterlist

PART 9

Dean, Benny, and Cas fought their way into Sam's compound, a mix of stealth and outright brawl. The demons seemed to be endless and they continued striking them down. As they finished slaughtering the initial wave, Benny turned to Dean, huffing for breath from the fight.

"Dean, you need to go find Y/N and your boy," he said, Cas warning them as more footsteps could be heard approaching. Benny closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, before his lids flew open and he pointed up the elaborate spiral staircase, "She's up there," he said after catching her scent, forever ingrained in his memory.

Dean hesitated before nodding, charging up the steps in a flurry as he could hear the fighting recommence downstairs. He rushed through the halls, swinging open doors of the mansion in search of his wife and child. He finally found them at the end of one of the halls, imprisoned in a lavish suite.

"Dean?" Y/N squeaked in surprise as she saw him burst through the bedroom door. She leaped up from where she sat on the small sofa, baby DJ clutched in her arms. She ran to him without a second thought, accepting his strong arms around her body as he took a moment to cherish his family in his arms once more.

"Benny and Cas are downstairs," Dean breathed out, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes, "We gotta get you two out of here."

"But, Sam-" Suddenly Dean's eyes flashed blue, his body gone rigid as his arms fell from around her. The light dissipated and Dean's head turned down stiffly to meet her eyes once more.

"I need your help to defeat Sam," Dean spoke, though his voice was different, colder.

"Dean?"

"My name is Michael and I'm an angel. I'm sharing this vessel with Dean," he explained, seeing the concern and awe in her eyes.

"An angel? L-like Castiel?"

Dean - no, Michael, her mind reminded her - sneered slightly at her question, "An archangel," he clarified, "We have to stop Sam."

"B-but, how?"

"His necklace, it holds his soul," he elaborated, "If you can return his soul, it will cancel the siphon spell. Then I will defeat him." Y/N nodded in understanding as she remembered the last time she broke the necklace.

Y/N took advantage of Sam’s distraction, pushing him as hard as she could from her. Sam fell back several feet, stumbling. Realizing what just happened, he growled, his lips curling up over his teeth as he huffed, glaring at Y/N and taking a wide step towards her.

Sam immediately stopped upon seeing his necklace dangling between the fingers of her closed fist, the light pulsing stronger than before. He looked down at his chest to verify it was real, his hand not finding the pendant in its usual place. Sam looked up at her then with rage, and a hint of fear.

“Give it back, Y/N. Don’t make me take it from you.” He reached out his open hand, waiting for her to return it. Y/N paused, before sighing in defeat, and slowly walking forward to place it in his hand. Sam growled with impatience as she hovered close to his hand, causing her to jump and drop the pendant. Sam’s eyes went wide as it fell, hitting the ground, bouncing and rolling. His eyes jumped to Y/N. A lump formed in her throat, knowing whatever was coming wasn’t good. Might as well make it count, she thought as she suddenly stomped on the pendant with her heal. A crunch was heard before the room exploded in blue light, blinding them. Then nothing but the sound of Sam’s agonizing screams.

Benny and Cas appeared in the room then behind Dean, battered and bloody from battle, distracting her from her memories.

"Hey, Cher," Benny smiled at her and she returned the gesture.

"Cas," Dean said, "Take DJ and get somewhere safe. Benny, you go with him."

"What about you two?" Cas asked as he accepted the young child into his arms.

"We'll take care of Sam."

Benny and Cas nodded, bidding quick farewells before taking off once more. Y/N looked at Dean. She wondered if the others knew about Michael. Michael was certainly good at being Dean she uncomfortably realized.

Dean turned and smirked at her, as if he could hear her thoughts, "Let's go find Sam, shall we?" Dean said as he left the room, knowing she'd follow.

As soon as they stepped into the hallway, Sam was there, standing further down the corridor. His large frame seemed to fill the hall as he started at his brother menacingly.

"You're dead," Sam spoke matter-of-factly, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes, "You're not Dean."

"No, I'm not," Michael said as he took a step closer, "You are an abomination and I am going to destroy you."

"Is that so?" Sam smirked humoredly before turning his gaze to Y/N, "Come here, Y/N," Sam crooned. She swallowed hard, casting a questioning glance at Michael before moving to Sam's side, "Let her go and you'll have your battle," Sam sneered, one arm wrapped protectively around Y/N, holding her to his side.

Her head shot up to look at Sam then, his normal hazel eyes peering down at her in response. In the whole time he held her captive, he wasn't cruel to her. He provided for her and DJ and kept them from harm's way, even if they were prisoners. But now, for Sam to try and keep her safe from a perceived danger, shocked her. Even dark and without a soul he seemed to care about her and that thought sent unpleasant chills through her body.

"Agreed," Michael said after a pause, flashing his eyes at Y/N before returning his gaze to his foe. Sam turned, ignoring Michael for the moment, cupping Y/N's face in his hands. He leaned down and placed a tender peck to her lips. She froze in fright and uncertainty at the touch of his lips to hers, reminding her of things she'd rather forget.

She managed to remember her goal, her task, as Sam kissed her gently. With a shaky and hesitant hand, she reached up, trailing her hand along his chest. Sam moaned lightly, kissing her again and Y/N forced herself to respond to the kiss, furthering Sam's distraction.

With a sharp intake of breath, she pulled back from the kiss, holding his gaze. She suddenly forced herself several feet back from him and it was then Sam saw the glimmer of the necklace wound between her fingers. His eyes flashed to hers as he realized exactly what she had done.

"Y/N-" he breathed out, seemingly hurt and disappointed. But that couldn't be, she told herself. She shook her head, dropping the necklace and lowering her foot to smash it to pieces. The second it broke, the familiar bright light filled the room, Sam's screams echoing off the walls around them.

As the light faded, Y/N saw Sam on his knees, panting for breath. Michael stood over him, a hand outstretched as he connected with Sam's head. Sam screamed once more as a whirlwind of energy was sucked from his body and into Michael's hand. After what seemed like an eternity, Sam dropped to his side, crumpled in pain and shaking.

"Is…is it…done?" Y/N asked, looking at Michael.

"His soul is intact and I have cleansed him of the blood, and his power with it," Michael stated, turning to meet her eyes.

"So you'll go back to Heaven now?"

"Yes," Michael agreed, turning as if to leave.

"Wait!" Y/N shouted, rushing to him, "Dean-"

"I said you and your son would be safe. I even left Sam alive for Dean. But I never said I would return him."

"No!" Y/N screamed, lunging at the angel who caught her and held her a safe distance from him, rolling his eyes as if he were bored.

"If you or Sam come after me or Dean, the deal is off. I will gut your son while you watch and then I'll kill you and Sam," Michael promised in a low tone, his eyes flashing blue for a moment, "Do you understand?"

Tears streaked down her face as she sobbed, trying to find words to beg and plead with the angel. He shook her forcefully, roaring in her face.

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

"Y-yes," she stuttered out through broken sobs. At her uttered words, his touch was gone, along with Dean, the space he occupied now empty. She dropped to her knees, screaming out her pain.

She would find a way to get Dean back. She had to.

A/N: There will be a third and final series to The Winchester Way saga. It is currently being written and will be released May 2021.

Forevers:

@winchesterprincessbride

@iamcmims

@roxyspearing

@reigningqueenofwords

@mogaruke

@ellen-reincarnated1967

@speakinvain

@atc74

@sterekloveaffairs

@mrs-meghan-winchester

@chook007

@growningupgeek

@goldenolaf25

@esoltis280

@hobby27

@sis-tafics

@arryn-nyxx

@x-waywardaf-x

@shann-the-artist-moon

@sandlee44

@lucywinchester2000

@emoryhemsworth

@time-travel-bouqet

@buckysbrat

@calaofnoldor

@spnbaby-67

@miraclesoflove

@lyarr24

Sam's Revenge:

@allethalove

@squirrelnotsam

@salt-n-burn-em-all

@idreamofdeanie

[itmighthavebeenintentional]

Dear Mr. Fantasy

Summary: Sometimes when he sleeps, Dean sees flashes of other Dean Winchesters, in other universes. His dreams lately have been filled with himself in a thousand forms, a thousand different versions of what could have been. Dean likes to think that they’re made of the same star stuff, but whatever the cause, he feels the connection. 

Warnings: SEASON 15 SPOILERS, bit of angst. 

Author’s Note: Inspired by Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and the header image; prompt given by @thoughtslikeaminefield​. Love you. @cabin-fever-bang​ prompt fill. So many thanks to @cracksinthewalls​ and @there-must-be-a-lock​ for exceptional editing and motivation. Also love both of you.

Word Count: 2157

ItMightHaveBeenIntentional’s Masterlist

Dear Mr. Fantasy

Sometimes when he sleeps, Dean sees flashes of other Dean Winchesters, in other universes. His dreams lately have been filled with himself in a thousand forms, a thousand different versions of what could have been. Dean likes to think that they’re made of the same star stuff, but whatever the cause, he feels the connection. 

Some have been vastly different (he spent an entire day lost in thought about a female version of himself who was apparently a rodeo queen by day and monster hunter by night). 

Some are so similar that the lines between his actual self and the other blur to the point of confusion; is he dreaming about himself or a different Dean who made one different choice twenty years ago?

He can always tell the difference, eventually. A scar in the wrong place, an absent friend or loved one still around or maybe someone gone who shouldn’t be. In one universe, someone neglected Baby (couldn’t have been Dean, had to’ve been Sam) to the point where she pulls slightly to the left. 

Dean spends the morning after that dream with a muscle tick in his cheek and a suspicious, side-eyed glare for Sam that he never bothers to explain.

But there’s one particular Other Dean, a favorite one his mind drifts to during rare peaceful moments. Daydreaming when he should be researching, drifting off when a particular song plays on the radio while he’s working on Baby, even washing his hands sometimes will pull him back to those dreams. 

Unsurprisingly, his favorite alternate world has no monsters. It’s not that he isn’t aware of monsters in this dimension, that he doesn’t hunt them. No, in this other world, there’s no magic, no terrifying creatures of the night at all. He can feel the lightness of this world, steadiness that comes with not having to worry about whether a vampire is going to make this evening walk your last or a wendigo is going to join you on your camping trip.

Dean has a theory that this world was a test world, one where Chuck decided to just let things evolve as they would with very little interference. Humanity still has its issues: war, plague, famine, politics, streaming services that have lived long enough to become the villain. 

But no monsters.

Chuck has left this world more or less alone, and Dean is pretty sure he knows why. In God’s eyes, a world without monsters is stale. This alternate world is a world without supernatural conflict, without apocalypse-level struggle, without life and death and good and evil and all that high-stakes, cursed-destiny crap Chuck literally eats for breakfast.

Boring. This world is a snoozefest for Chuck, and Dean’s okay with that.

In fact, he loves it.

He’s been rooting for this world for a while now. He still dreams of it sometimes, so he knows somewhere deep inside that it’s still around. He knows all the worlds will be destroyed eventually, wiped away by Chuck’s callous cruelty. But this one…

Dean’s not the sentimental type, not really, but if he could send it a greeting card, it’d be that cat from years ago on the motivational poster, clawing onto a tree branch.

Hang in there, baby.

He must have done something right for once, because he drifts off and finds himself back there again. He’s a little older in this universe, and he suspects his other self is in denial about beginning to need glasses. A shame, too. A mechanic’s gotta be able to see what he’s doing, and the eyestrain headaches his other self suffers every night would probably clear up completely if he’d just go get his eyes checked.

But they both know he won’t. 

He sees better with his hands than his eyes these days. At forty-eight years old (none of that years young bullshit, either; he’s old, and he’s goddamn earned it), he’s spent his entire life in a garage working on one motor or another, same as his dad before him, and so on. 

It’s honest work, clean despite the grease, and Dean himself has used his own money to help put at least a couple of generations of little Winchesters through college or wherever their hearts took them, starting back with his brother. Dean and his dad both feel pride over Dr. Winchester, the history professor. Might not make as much as a mechanic, but he’s happy and settled, and really, what man could ask for more?

The best part of this Dean’s day, the best part of his whole life, is her. He’s known her for nearly three decades and loved her just as long. 

He was a twenty-year-old punk, learning his way through the art of motorcycles. He’d spent his life so far working on muscle cars, something he would never completely tire of, but now he was in absolute heaven. Dad’s buddy Danny Elkins had agreed to take Dean on, and Dean had taken to bikes like it was meant to be. 

Four months into his new life, Danny’s daughter brought her dad lunch, and, for the first time in his life, Dean wondered whether there might actually be a woman who could pull his attention from an engine for longer than a night or two. 

It was more or less instant attraction for the both of them, kinda like the movies that she loved to watch. Unlike those movies, however, there was no disapproving father to contend with or prove himself to.

“She’s a big girl and can crack your skull just as good as me,” he’d told Dean. “Pretty sure she’s settled on ya, so just make sure you’re worth it.”

So that’s what Dean did. 

Tonight’s dream finds the older Dean alone in the garage, and the sun is at the tail end of setting. Splashes of indigo and orange paint the horizon, framing her approach in a wash of colors blending into shadows that hold no danger.

“Figured you’d forget dinner tonight, what with your new toy. Thought we could share, and you could show me what you’ve been up to.” 

She doesn’t really care about the bikes, the cars, any of it. She only cares that it matters to him, and whatever keeps him running is something she wants to be a part of.

Surrounded by motorcycles in various states of repair and assembly, they speak quietly of their day, sharing the tiny details and separate moments that make up their simple life. She feeds him a bit of meatloaf with her fingers, and he eagerly returns the favor by sucking a smear of mashed potatoes from the corner of her mouth.

She sets the dinner containers aside, twisting to the side to reach for the apple cobbler she made yesterday, when he realizes he can’t stand even that bit of separation between. He’s been without her all day; that’s too much to ask of any man.

“C’mere,” he says.

Dessert forgotten, she settles astride his lap, arms linked around his neck, smiling that serene combination of lips and eyes and cheekbones that makes his heart twist and his groin swell same as the first time she turned them on him thirty-odd years ago. 

They’ve sat like this a thousand times, and he prays silently he’ll get at least a thousand more. When they were kids, crazy and hungry for every experience, she’d come into the garage in her little tank top, her tiny shorts showing off her new ink, heels fit to kill someone (how she never broke an ankle has always been a mystery and a miracle, in both Deans’ opinions).

She scrubs a thumb over his bearded jawline, humming deep in her chest. She’s swapped the tiny skirts for jeans, although he thanks his lucky stars every day that fashions have moved from bootcut back to skinny. Harder to get off quick, but damn does he love the lines of her legs in ‘em.

They press foreheads together as an old Traffic song plays over the radio, swaying gently, always in sync. 

“Dear Mr. Fantasy, play us a tune,” he half-whispers, half-sings, breath warm on her cool cheek.

“Something to make us all happy,” she answers in kind, eye closed. She slides her nose alongside his, runs her chin over his wiry beard, smiles into his kiss as it buffs her face red. 

Perhaps in remembrance of their long-past youth, she’s chosen her smallest tank-top, one she’d normally never wear without at least a button-up over it, and he drops his head to rub his cheeks over the bare skin over her collarbone. Her legs link behind his back, anchoring her as she leans back to allow him more access. 

God, what she can still do to him. The salt of her skin, the fragrance of her perfume that he picked out for her on their first anniversary that she’s worn religiously ever since, the silk of her hair that he tangles between fingers that still tremble with eager nerves.

Older Dean and worn-out, monster-plagued Dean sigh together, content down to their bones. This life is it for both of them. She is it. One Dean still can’t believe his amazing luck after all these years, and the other aches at the simple, total happiness he feels honored to witness.

“Dean.”

The older man runs a reverent hand down his wife’s arm, twining his fingers with hers. He kisses her knuckles, a few more crinkles lining his eyes as he smiles.

“Dean, wake up.”

The scene before him begins to fade as she takes his face between her hands, kisses his temples, the spot between his eyes, the corner of his mouth. For just a second, this Dean (the “real” Dean, as Chuck put it) feels those kisses, looks deep into her eyes and feels that warmth and light that she brings to the other man’s life. 

I love you, she whispers, and he allows himself to believe for one moment that she’s talking directly to him.

“Dean, come on, Cas has a lead.” Sam’s voice finally breaks the dream wide open, and Dean reluctantly opens his eyes. “We gotta go check it out. Get dressed.”

“Yeah.”

He sits up slowly, feeling each of his forty-one years with an ache that no longer surprises him. He swings his legs over the side of his bed, rests his elbows on his knees, and drops his face in his hands. If he concentrates hard enough, he can still feel her phantom caress, her thumb against his cheekbone, her lips on the corner of his.

I love you.

Dean scrubs at his face with hands that get a little older and a little more scarred every day. Warrior’s hands, a testament to his hunts and battles. If he squints a little (maybe he needs an eye exam, too) he can imagine they’re different sorts of scars: burns from hot engines, cuts and scrapes from tools and every-day hard work rather than knives and punches. 

He inhales, gathering strength, putting on his mental armor piece by piece. A knight, riding off to save the world from the devouring dragon. He reaches over and grabs his jeans, sliding them on and standing in a smooth motion that is accompanied by only one or two pops and cracks.

I love you.

Dean doesn’t know how this is all going to end. He knows how he won’t let it end: him against Sammy, to the death and all that biblical Cain and Abel crap. But beyond that, he’s going to fight to save his brother, all of his little patchwork family, because they’re all he has in this world. 

He wonders briefly if his other self’s wife exists in this world, or if she’s just an anomaly, a one-time figment of Chuck’s imagination. He’s pretty sure it’s the latter; a man can only get that lucky once in a thousand lifetimes, and that other Dean is that one in a thousand.

This Dean could search a lifetime and never find her. She’s already been found, and maybe, just maybe if he and Sam can get their act together and bring the final beatdown on Chuck in enough time, he can save her. He can’t have her, but he could save her world, leave her safe and happy with his other self.

“Let it be enough,” he says aloud, not sure if he’s coaxing himself or the universe. He says it again, one more time for luck. 

It has to be enough.

…

“Dear Mr. Fantasy” by Traffic

Dear Mister Fantasy, play us a tune,  Something to make us all happy. Do anything, take us out of this gloom.  Sing a song, play guitar,  Make it snappy.  You are the one who can make us all laugh,  But doing that you break out in tears.  Please don't be sad if it was a straight mind you had.  We wouldn't have known you all these years.

[fanfic-corner]

Cafe AU

6/11/20 - Someone requested I do some Cafe AUs, and boy am I glad they did, or else I wouldn’t have read these fics. They are just another level of relaxing (mostly!).

A Little Slice of Heaven by onamelancholyhill on AO3. (112,265 words).

Tags: Slow Build, Friends to Lovers, Falling in Love, POV Dean Winchester, POV Castiel, POV Third Person, Alternate Universe - Bakery, Bakery and Coffee Shop, Friendship, Family, Episode s04e17 It’s a Terrible Life, Alternate Universe - Human, Explicit Sexual Content, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Bisexual Dean, Idiots in Love, Making Out, Apple Pie Life.

My Rating: 5 stars.

Description: Jim Morrison once said, “The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are.” That was Castiel Novak’s motto in life, and the reason why he accepted his grandmother's inheritance and took the responsibility it implied. Dean Winchester, a remarkable accountant at Sandover Bridge & Iron Inc., however, had other priorities. He lived to serve, hidden in a mask that didn’t allow him to be honest with himself, but lonesome and boring. When destiny made their paths cross, in a less than promising way, with Dean as the instigator and Castiel as his victim, Dean’s mind started wandering, in between pies and cakes, coffees and muffins... What if Mr. Morrison was right? After all, as the guy used to say, "there can’t be any large-scale revolution, until there’s a personal revolution first."

Notes: So cute, and the plot was great! It’s really making me want to rewatch It’s A Terrible Life. I did have to google who Sarah Blake was though, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fic with her in.

In the House of the Rising Bun by imissmaeberry on AO3. (9,046 words).

Tags: Bakery and Coffee Shop, Baker Dean, Barista Sam, College Campus, Poet Castiel, Mutual Pining, Daddy Issues, Background Sam/Jess, Past Balthazar/Castiel.

My Rating: 5 stars.

Description: Dean Winchester only has three rules concerning the cafe he and his brother Sam own, "House of the Rising Bun".

1. Any and all opportunities to make a pun will be taken. 2. Free regular coffee with your student ID (If you want some of that fancy nonsense you gotta pay, sorry kids). 3. Anyone and everyone is always welcome.

Between Dean running the shop full-time and Sam helping out whenever he isn't in class, there really isn't a whole lot of time for romance for either of them. But that all changes when they gain a new regular - some writer from London - who may or may not have the bluest eyes Dean's ever seen.

Notes: First of all, the puns were amazing and I am willing to fight people on that. Secondly, that was so sweet and funny I am afraid I might have to disappear under mysterious circumstances and open my own cafe...

Just Your Heart, In Exchange For Mine by noxsoulmate on AO3. (46,808 words).

Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Bakery and Coffee Shop, Bakery Shop Owner Dean Winchester, Retired Hunter Dean, Cas is a witch, Canon-Typical Violence, Witch Curses, Demisexuality, Dean Winchester’s First Time With a Man.

My Rating: 5 stars.

Description: Dean owns a bakery and Castiel loves his pie. This could be such a cute little bakery love story – if it weren’t for the fact that one was a retired hunter and the other one a powerful witch. There’s also the matter of the black little cat Dean finds in front of his bakery one cold and rainy night. Not to forget the crazy witch on the loose, ripping out other witches’ hearts.

Notes: Absolutely adorable, and the artwork was phenomenal! This fic also hit me right in the feels.

Through a Bakery Shop Window by thatwriterlady on AO3. (2,860 words).

Tags: Dean Has a Crush on Castiel, Shy Dean, Sweet Castiel, Dean has Asperger’s, Dean has Social Anxiety, Socially Awkward Castiel, Fluff, Coffee Shop Owner Castiel, Bakery and Coffee Shop, Discussion of Asperger’s, Mention of Autism, Dean has OCD, Castiel has OCD, Castiel has ADD.

My Rating: 4 stars.

Description: Dean passes a bakery every day on his way to work and it smells so good. Through the window he catches glimpses of the man that works there. Dark, messy hair and a bright smile intrigue Dean and he decides to break his usual routine and drag his brother in one Saturday for breakfast. He didn't intend to even so much as see the man, let alone talk to him, but Sam is rather persuasive...

Notes: Okay, this was so precious! Plus Sam and Gabe having a conversation about their little brothers was so cute.

My Own Little World by tale_to_tell on AO3. (6,858 words).

Tags: Hurt Dean, Protective Castiel, Meet-Cute, Fluff, Pining, Coffee Shops, Implied Domestic Violence, Abusive Alistair, Abusive Relationships, First Kiss, Human Castiel, Protective Sam Winchester, Dean Has Self-Worth Issues, POV Castiel, Love Confessions, Implied Sexual Content, Light Angst, Happy Ending.

My Rating: 4 stars.

Description: Castiel stumbles into a local café in order to avoid the rain, and during the process he meets a very attractive barista by the name of Dean Winchester. It doesn't take long for Castiel to fall in love with Dean's wit and charm.Too bad that Dean has a boyfriend.

Notes: This was fairly sweet, and I was not expecting the Sabriel content (always read the tags, folks). Also, return of Alistair being an asshole! I would have forgot he existed if he didn’t keep popping up in these fics.

Alfie wears a dress by Morethanacupcake on AO3. (2,402 words).

Tags: Alternate Universe, Bakery and Coffee Shop, First Meetings, Love at First Sight, Kid Fic, First Kiss, Fluff, Tooth-Rotting Fluff.

My Rating: 3 stars.

Description: "But the little boy watching TV on his living room is sporting a huge bruise on his cheek, the dark and purple kind. And he’s wearing a dress.” Dean meets Alfie Novak, a sweet little boy who likes to cook and wears dresses. He meets Alfie's dad, Castiel, and starts a little revolution in their little town.

Notes: This was so sweet, Cas is the best dad, and I will be forever plagued by the image of Ash and Benny in a dress.

Finding the Words by Honey_Bee80 on AO3. (1,530 words).

Tags: Bakery, Bakery and Coffee Shop, Baker Dean, Writer Castiel, Mutual Pining, First Kiss, Cas is Clueless, Bisexual Dean, Pansexual Castiel, Writer’s Block, Fluff, Alternate Universe - Human, Human Castiel, First Dates.

My Rating: 3 stars.

Description: Cas is a writer who's stuck. Dean and Sam own a bakery. Basically I'm a sucker for coffee shop/bakery stuff and needed Cas in glasses.

Notes: This was fairly adorable and the way the author managed to slip in a hint of Cockles was very smooth (although shipping real people makes me a little bit uncomfy).

Chocolate, Caramel, and Zombies (Of a Metaphorical Sense) by TextReciprocation on AO3. (1,461 words).

Tags: Bakery and Coffee Shop, Alternate Universe - Human, Fluff.

My Rating: 4 stars.

Description: Castiel approached the counter and looked at the menu contemplatively. The barista spun around to face him, eyes bright and hair untidy. He was roughly Castiel's height and build, with sandy hair and lightly tanned skin. Castiel's breath caught at the sight of him, but he bit his tongue, chastising himself.Cute baristas were rarely gay and always taken. Castiel knew this. Fate, as it happened, was a cruel mistress.

Notes: Very cute, and Cas was an absolute mood in this. It made me feel tired just reading it!

And as a bonus for all the Good Omens fans...

The Angel Cake Challenge by almaasi on AO3. (8,132 words).

Tags: Canon Universe, Fluff, Romance, Team Free Will 2.0, Day At The Beach, Mistaken For A Couple, Bakery and Coffee Shop, Food as a Metaphor For Love, Public Displays of Affection, Pet Names, Endearments, First Kiss, Bisexual Dean Winchester, Closeted Dean, Coming Out, No Prior Knowledge of Good Omens Needed.

My Rating: 5 stars.

Description: There's a kooky gay couple sitting in this little beachside bistro, at the table next to Dean. Dean's biggest mistake was telling them they looked cute together. Now they've noticed Cas, and they're silently encouraging Dean to be as openly affectionate as them. Dean didn't sign up for this challenge. But now? Hell, he's in it to win it.

Notes: Okay, technically no one owns/works at a coffee shop, but it is set at one, and it is adorable. I love my Ineffable Husbands, and I love Destiel, so this was perfect. Also, I may not have met him yet, but Jack was adorable.

So, if I disappear forever, you’ll all know where to find me. Seriously though, these are some of the cutest fics I have ever read. And if you ever want to suggest a fic or a list, please don’t hesitate to ask me!

[canimal]

In terms of Hermione’s characterization in fanon, what do you dislike? Like is there a way people characterize her that you would disagree with?

Ooh, Heavens, yes, I have some opinions on this. Lol! Please excuse me for what may be a long-winded, oddly passionate rant. There is A LOT about fanon Hermione that I cannot stand. First, perhaps the most irksome and obnoxious thing to come out of fanon for me personally is “Hermione, Brightest Witch of Her Age” (or “Brightest Witch of THE Age” depending on who is writing). Okay, y’all, let’s discuss this. In PoA (and I’m talking books here because I’ve maybe seen the movie twice and I don’t really like it - but that’s a topic for another rant), Remus Lupin says to Hermione (and I’m paraphrasing because I don’t have my book with me) “You really are the brightest witch of your age.” Basically, her teacher told her “Of all the 13 year old witches I know, you’re the smartest.” NOT “You’re the brightest and most gifted and most incredible and most powerful Witch of this era in history in the entire world.” Still an awesome compliment, but hardly a title bestowed on her from the Queen. I’ve seen so many people run with that line like there’s some sort of Official Title or Office for the “Brightest Witch of Her Age”. It was a compliment from her teacher! She’s been written before in soooo many stories where she proudly lays claim to that title like she was knighted or something. No. Stop. Please. She’s clever and likes to learn, but no. Don’t call her that like it’s a real title. And certainly don’t make her refer to herself as such. It’s obnoxious. Do you know what I would do if I met someone who said “Hi, I’m George Smith, the Smartest Man in This Century”?? I’d want to punch him in the face. Also, I’m very bothered by Hermione’s canon imperfections being ignored in fanon. If you’ve ever read any of my stories, especially recent stories, you’ll notice that I’ve had to put up disclaimers reminding readers that I don’t write Perfect!Hermione because I find perfection to be unrealistic and boring. In the books, she was neurotic, anxious, stubborn, unwilling to listen to anyone who had a different opinion, very emotional, and honestly, pretty freaking mean on a few occasions. It seems like if you dare to write a story where Hermione isn’t Super powerful, All-Knowing, All-Seeing, able to fix every problem with a snap of her fingers, and a host of other annoying Mary Sue personality traits, you’ll get complaints from readers that she’s Out-of-Character. 🙄 Umm, no, the girl who cried a minimum of 71 times over the course of seven books (and those just the instances Unobservant Harry witnessed) and whose biggest fear was failing all of her exams isn’t the most confident of people. She rushes to books when she doesn’t know the answer because not knowing something makes her feel powerless. She feels that way a lot. There are some very popular stories in this fandom that just make me cringe because they’ve taken the imperfections that made her someone many of us could relate to and made her some sort of Goddess of Power and Perfection. No, stop. Please. Wandless magic .... ugh. Please allow me to roll my eyes so hard it hurts. If wandless Magic was “so easy”, why would people even need wands? If anyone could theoretically do it, why was Voldemort so worried about making his wand work against Harry? Or why was the Elder Wand such a desired object? Why did Dean make the comment that he needed to find a wand to fight and Seamus look at him like he was nuts for not having a wand? They’re important. If wandless magic could be easily done, we would see more of it. (Don’t get me started on the movies. 🤬) In one of the early chapters of my story Echoes of Silence, I had several readers want to know why Hermione didn’t just use wandless magic to save herself and the 60+ other people on the Ministry-controlled heavily warded island? Because apparently SuperGoddessPowerfulBrightestWitchofAllTime!Hermione could just snap them off the island. Forget the fact that she’d not been able to use magic for five years while she was starving in Azkaban. Nope. She should’ve been able to do it. (This also goes hand-in-hand with my above complaint.)I seriously could go on and on about what parts of Fanon Hermione I can’t stand. There’s a lot. I love messy, complicated characters and when she’s sanitized or made to be some Supreme Being that she’s not, I hate her. She’s not the character I most identify with (that would be Mr Ronald Weasley so if you want another rant on what I hate has been done to Ron in fanon, I can do it. Just not sure you’d really want me to. Lol!) but many people DO identify with Hermione because of her flaws. Taking those away from her makes her unrecognizable. If you’ve never read the canon books, People of Tumblr, please do. They’re wonderful and much better than the movies. And even if there are stories out there that I like just as much, if not more, it’s still important to know the source material.

[marie12141989]

Happy Birthday Dean Winchester

Words: 2305

Mary stretched on the step stool and taped one side of the happy birthday banner up over the doorway of the war room and stepped down and walked backwards a bit to make sure that it wasn’t crooked. Rowena stood beside her and placed her fingers under her chin with a smile “It looks perfect to me what about you Mary?” she asked looking over.

“Yeah I’d say we did a pretty good job. The last time I tried to hang one up with John you had to duck to get through the doorway. It was beyond crooked.” Mary said and both of them laughed. Crowley walked over to them, a party hat already on his head and a noise maker in his mouth he looked up at the banner before taking the noise maker out of his mouth.

“I got the tables decorated, Mrs. Tran and Garth are almost done filling up the balloons and Castiel just texted me to let me know that Gabriel, Balthazar and him are on their way back with the rest of the guests.” he said. Mary nodded her head and headed towards the kitchen, Mrs. Tran had all of Dean’s favorite things cooking except for the pie which she had bought last night. She opened the fridge door to see that the pie wasn’t in there though, she turned and looked at the kitchen table and got frustrated when she still couldn’t find it. She let out a yell and whipped around when she felt someone tap her on her shoulder, she came face to face with Gabriel who had pulled his hand back and had a shocked look on his face.

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you, what are you looking for?” he asked looking the table over.

“The pie I had in the fridge. At least I thought it was in the fridge, I’ve been looking all over for it and I have no clue where I could of sat it.” Mary said looking around. Gabriel stood and thought about it before his eyes went wide and his mouth came open. “What? What’s wrong Gabriel?” she asked noticing the look on his face.

“There was only one pie in there right?” Gabriel asked and Mary shook her head yes. “Crap. I’m sorry. If I had known I would of stopped him somehow, I saw Dean eating a pie this morning….I didn’t know it was his birthday pie so I left him to it.” he said and walked over to the garbage to show her an empty pie tin on top of the rest of the trash. Mary let out a sigh and muttered a few curse words under her breath until she heard a snap and she turned around and saw several pies on the table. “There should be enough pie for everyone to have two or three pieces.” Gabriel said counting the pies on the table. Mary smiled and placed a hand on his back giving it a small pat.

“Thanks Gabriel. Were you guys able to get the people I asked for?” she asked and Gabriel nodded his head yes.

“It was hard to find the one person you asked for. I didn’t think I was going to be able to get him in time but word got back to him and he got a hold of me himself.” Gabriel said and they heard footsteps behind them. Mary turned around and let out a gasp when she saw John standing in the doorway with a smile on his face.

“Yeah sorry about that Gabriel. I’ve been bored and lonely since Mary disappeared so I was hopping around people’s heaven’s which I know I shouldn’t of done you already yelled at me for that. Anyway when I heard that he was looking for me I prayed my location to him, he showed up told me it was Dean’s birthday and that after all the crap I had put our boys through that I could at least celebrate a legitimate birthday with them.” John said smiling at both of them.

“Uh yeah well I will leave the two of you alone to talk and catch up and um well uh yeah.” Gabriel said walking around John and heading out of the kitchen.

“Gabriel wait.” Mary said grabbing his arm, he turned around and was surprised when she gave him a little peck on the cheek “Thanks.” she said before letting him go. Gabriel let out a little laugh before walking out and checking his cheek for a lipstick stain, he saw Rowena behind him who already had a wet handkerchief in her hand.

“You have a little smudge right here.” she said wiping his cheek. He went to move away after she moved it away but she grabbed a hold of his arm and licked her thumb before she rubbed it into his cheek again.

“What are you doing?” he asked getting a bit irritated.

“Cake frosting. You know you’re suppose to use a fork to eat cake with not smash your face into it.” Rowena said rolling her eyes.

“So I missed sue me.” he said sticking his tongue out.

“Very mature. Anyway I need your help with something.” she said pulling him back into the war room.

“But I thought that everything was done.” he said with a huff.

“It is but we need your help setting the table, Sam and Dean are going to be back any second and we don’t have the plates or silverware out and ready and then we need help getting the food on the table. Don’t complain you’re an archangel so it shouldn’t wear you out so let’s go chop chop.” she said pushing him over to where the plates and silverware was. Gabriel grumbled a couple of things under his mouth and started to place the plates around the table making sure there was enough for everyone there before placing the forks and spoons beside the plates before heading into the kitchen and helping Mrs. Tran, Rowena and Mary carry food out to another table that was waiting. Just as everyone had gotten everything ready Mary got a text from Sam saying that they were right outside the bunker. Everyone scrambled for a place to hide before Balthazar flipped off the lights. They heard the bunker door open before Sam and Dean walked down the steps.

“Sam did the war room’s lights blow or something?” they heard Dean ask. Balthazar was right beside the doorway so he could see when Dean walked into the room. He quickly flipped the lights on and Dean jumped back a bit when everyone jumped out of their hiding spots. He looked around and saw Garth and Bess on the other side of the doorway smiling at him, beside them was Mrs. Tran and Kevin then Charlie who was standing beside Cass. Crowley and Rowena were standing beside each other, Dean had to try his best not to laugh when he saw Crowley with a party hat on and the noise maker in his mouth. Next was Bobby who was standing next to Gabriel and beside them was his mom and dad, next to them was Jody; Claire and Alex and next to them was Balthazar. “What are you guys doing?” he asked looking around and Jody rolled her eyes.

“Isn’t it obvious? We’re celebrating your birthday silly.” she said walking over and punching his arm. Dean grabbed the spot before looking down with a smile.

“Yeah my mom made you all of your favorite things to eat.” Kevin said pointing to the food table.

“Rowena and I put up the decorations.” Mary said pointing up to all the streamers and banners.

“Oh Garth and Mrs. Tran did blow up the balloons though.” Bess said. As they were all pointing out what they had done to help Crowley started to hand out the hats and noise makers since it was officially time for the party.

“And before I forget Gabriel snapped up a couple of pies for everyone to enjoy since someone ate the one that was suppose to be for his party.” Mary said giving Dean a playful glare. Dean looked down before looking back up and smiling.

“And Claire did do a pretty good job of making sure that the gift table was perfectly sorted.” Jody said. Dean looked over at the table that she was pointing at and his mouth dropped open when he saw all the presents.

“That’s….that’s a lot.” Dean said surprised, he started to walk over to the gifts but Mrs. Tran smacked him and turned him around.

“Where are your manners? First we eat and sing to you and then you get your gifts.” she said. Dean huffed but walked over to his spot at the table and waited for everyone to sing him happy birthday, Gabriel went into the kitchen while everyone sang and came back out with one of the pies but now it had two candles in it one was a three and the other an eight. They were both lit and Dean couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of a birthday pie before Gabriel put it down in front of him, Dean closed his eyes and thought about what he wanted more then anything else in the world then opened them again once everyone had stopped singing and blew them out. Once he did he pulled the candles out and was about to cut into the pie when his mom took it away.

“Real food first young man.” she said and Dean pouted.

“But I want pie! Gabriel snapped up enough for everyone to have a few pieces! You said so!” he said crossing his arms.

“I know but Mrs. Tran spent a lot of time making all of your favorite foods so you’ll eat that first.” she said. She went around the table and took everyone’s plates before asking them what all they wanted. Balthazar, Castiel and Gabriel grinned and bared the fact that the food just tasted like molecules just so that they wouldn’t ruin Dean’s party.

“You know I’m sure this is very good Mrs. Tran. I just wish I could taste something other then something that’s loaded with sugar so I could honestly tell you.” Gabriel said looking around the room.

“Well thank you Gabriel it’s an old family recipe.” she said.

“Which means it’s her recipe. We don’t have any old family recipes. Mom likes to experiment.” Kevin said. Mrs. Tran smacked his arm before taking a few more bites of her food.

“Well next time someone has a birthday I’ll have to see about making something with a lot of sugar. Maybe one of your birthdays.” she said pointing to the angels. Balthazar licked his lips and gave her a small smile.

“That’s a nice thought but we don’t have one. We were all born before those things really mattered so we wouldn’t even know what day we were born on exactly. In fact Gabriel can’t remember exactly how old he is.” Balthazar said.

“Well then we’ll pick a day to celebrate.” she said and everyone could tell from the tone of her voice that that was it for her. After the food and pie slices that everyone loved and then Dean got to open up his presents. Garth and Bess got him a neat little necklace, it looked almost Native American and the little pendant it had was a wolf howling and right beside it was a silver bullet, Dean smiled and thanked them before putting it on. Jody and the girls got him a couple of things for his car, Bobby had gotten him a couple of lore books that the bunker didn’t have, Balthazar and Gabriel had somehow bought him a vcr and old tapes to go with it and Castiel had found a tv to hook it up to.  Mrs. Tran and Kevin got him a cook book after they had found out from Sam that he loved to cook different things in the bunker’s kitchen. Mary, John and Sam got him his favorite cologne, shampoo, and other things for his bedroom and bathroom.

Crowley and Rowena got him gift cards for his favorite restaurants and Charlie had gotten him a bunch of nerd memorabilia. After Dean had put his gifts away he went back out and helped to clean up, once everyone had left Sam walked out with two ice cold beers. He handed one to Dean and opened his “You know Sammy even after all the crappy birthdays I’ve had I think this one is starting to make up for it.” Dean said. Sam smiled before taking a swig of his beer.

“So. You wouldn’t object to do this again next year?” he said asked and Dean shook his head no.

“Nope. We can do this every year for the rest of eternity for all I care. Of course if Mrs. Tran has her way we’ll have a birthday to celebrate every single day. What exactly do you get angels and archangels as birthday gifts anyway?” Dean asked honestly wondering.

“Not sure about Cass but Balthazar would love anything kind of wine or something. Gabriel…….eh get him something sweet and something to do with women and he’d probably love us forever.” Sam said. Dean laughed before taking a few swigs of beer, after a few hours of talking both of them headed for bed and Dean laid in his bed before turning over and pressing the button to his new light that Charlie had given him. The light turned on which turned out to be the Death Star and the theme to Star Wars played, Dean laughed while the song played before rolling over and closing his eyes.

“She is still such a nerd.” he muttered to himself.