A few rays of sunlight escape through the thick curtain to spray on the bed. The couple, wrapped in each other's embrace, opened their eyes at the same time. However, only one has been asleep.

Michael stares at the gap between the curtain and the wall, thinking about how different his life has become. His hand kneads the long, soft brown hair that covers half of the pillow and his left shoulder. This moment right here is what he risks his life for, and it's worth it.

"Good morning."

The sleepy voice pulls him out of his subconscious. Kye is looking up at him with her misty brown eyes.

"Good morning," Michael replies, savoring the moment.

The way Kye looks at him—with so much love and awe like he is the single most important thing in the world—still makes Michael speechless at times. None of his siblings looks at him that way, naturally.

To them, he is an authoritative figure. A leader with a fist of steel. They respect and fear him too much to freely love him.

To humans, Michael is many things. They used to pray to him, asking him for protection and guidance up to the moment he descended on Earth. Then, he became a monster who destroyed their world.

Michael knew affection in the most technical sense of the word, but he didn't understand it. He never gave or received it. Not like this. Not this purely, unconditionally, and overwhelmingly. His meat suit tingled with its mysterious force.

For the first time, Michael truly understands what humans mean by "looking forward to the future." His life isn't a constant, rigid line anymore. It has a clear goal. Selfish one? Perhaps. But who can dictate otherwise? Michael can and will give Kye more than just a piece of his grace.

A soft knock on the door catches his attention.

"One second." Michael barely conceals his annoyance. He is not ready to get up and let go of the human in his arms, but his siblings are waiting.

Today is a special day.

Years have passed since that fateful, brutal night. A lot has changed, but it isn't enough to make Michael forget or put down his guard. Never again will he let those who are close to him abuse the power they possess.

The new laws that Michael worked so hard for are now firmly in effect. Eternal contracts have become obsolete, but in some dark corners, behind closed doors, abuses can still happen despite severe punishments. That's why Michael has pushed for a more hands-off era that allows Earthlings to take back control of their planet.

The angels will stay for security and orders only until reconstruction and repopulation reach the quota. After Raphael's camps were all demolished, Naomi came up with a big project to give the rescued free housing and essential social services. It was a great idea from someone who had lived among humans and knew them intimately. Still, it was hard to erase the stain Raphael's reign of terror had left behind.

Michael knows that these gestures are perceived as too little too late. After decades of bad blood between the two kinds, humans' fear and angels' hatred run deep.

A changed Ayham, however, is quite visible. The city has seen the greatest return in its history. At first, a few individuals dared to come back. Then, wave after wave, people flooded the city gate as it was dismantled and rebuilt. Ayham doubled its size within a month or two and looked more and more like it had been before the War.

Population growth usually comes with new problems. So does population shrinkage. Thousands of people who had taken refuge in the Resistance camps and outposts left for the city during this time. The organization faced a unique situation. They had fought the battle for freedom and equality for so long that when these things became reality, they could feel like punches to the guts.

The directors didn't know if they should maintain the organization or disband it. None wanted to let go of what they had built for years with their youth, blood, sweat, and tears. The idea that angels and humans could and should coexist was unfathomable. It left a bad taste in their mouths. They argued among themselves, night and day until everyone was exhausted.

Some hardcore believers stayed, preparing for a soon-break-out war because angels were liars, and these kind acts were nothing but a sham to cover everyone's eyes from something much more sinister.

Bobby Singer didn't know what to think and, frankly, didn't care so much anymore. The world had changed at an unimaginable pace, and many things he used to believe in just didn't ring true anymore. Most had left. People wanted the best for themselves and, maybe, the best was what Ayham had to offer.

Old Rufus had passed away a few years back, and Bobby knew he would follow soon.

His livers and kidneys had acted up a lot lately. Well, none of his organs was in mint condition anymore, and he didn't see the point of bugging the healer. Everything was just a Band-Aid at this point even with angelic grace. Bless the healer's heart for still trying.

It was funny that there were more angels than humans around now. To these rogue angels, the camps had become their only home. They didn't want to go back to Heaven or their garrisons. And why would they? Their lives were built here. Their families were here.

Ruby and Gadreel had moved out but visited with their kids often. Dennis and Lena were loud and rambunctious, just as one would expect of a pair of teenagers, but they had started training. They needed to if they wanted to live with their grace.

Kye also had come to the camp several times throughout the years. The girl looked more mature and polished as time went by, naturally. Bobby could tell life had treated her well. However, there was this unmistakable yearning in her eyes that Bobby knew so well.

His late wife used to look at the kids in their neighborhood that way. They had tried so hard for one of their own, but nothing had ever come out of it. Children remained her biggest desire until the day that she died, and that quiet pain in Kye's eyes brought it all back.

But they all had their own destiny.

Kye sure didn't lack love. When she looked at Michael, her pain turned into something tender. They beamed in each other's presence. It was hard to imagine Michael could look that happy when he barely smiled. He accompanied Kye to the camp every time despite his extremely busy schedule. Most of the time, he would stay a few steps behind and watch Kye interacting with her family, giving them some privacy, but his eyes followed her every step. Bobby had been around long enough to know what it meant when a man looked at a woman that way. Michael was no man, but he became exactly that when he was with Kye.

***

"I'll be back. Get some more rest."

Michael holds Kye's hand to his lips and gazes at her intensely for a long time. He can't take his eyes away from her faint smile. She is beautiful. The physical youth may be the result of his grace, but deep down inside, her soul hasn't changed and that's what matters. She still attracts the eyes of other men, but it doesn't bother him. In fact, Michael is proud. She is his. Her heart and soul belong to him. People may know her name and face, but none of them connect to her the way he does. No one knows what they have been through to stay together all these years. On the same level, no one has ever loved and understood Michael like Kye. He didn't believe it before, but they are true halves of each other.

He stops at the door and watches the small bundle on the bed for a few more minutes before walking out. Naomi and a few other angels have waited patiently for him. She greets him with a usual smile.

"Good morning, brother. We are ready. Is there anything else you want me to do?"

"No, Naomi. You have helped a lot. Continue your work and report to me every quarter. We will leave soon."

"Of course. I will do my best..." The blond-haired angel stops as if she still has something in her mind. This situation doesn't have a predecessor, so naturally, many are concerned. "Brother, are you sure about this?" She asks.

"Yes, I am. We have waited for this day." He gives her an assuring smile, which is rare. "Everything will be fine. I will see all of you again."

***

They walk hand in hand on the familiar route they have wandered hundreds of thousands of times before. The cobblestones are worn, but the trees have stayed the same, or almost. They know the Council planted some new trees forty-five years ago to replace the old ones that had been destroyed in a storm. Time doesn't spare anything, yet somehow, the neighborhood doesn't change much, just as the two of them.

The Marcos have expanded their business all over the city now. Two hundred years is a long time, and there are rumors that the family will sell the business soon and rip the fruit of their labor, but Kye doubts it. Pride is in their blood, and the deli is more than just a restaurant for them. It is their family name and everything that the name stands for. They won't sell it, at least not anytime soon.

Michael accompanies her around the neighborhood that she grew up in one more time before they leave to see one part of her extended family. Nick had a lot of descendants living around, and they all gather today at the family house to have a farewell lunch to Kye and the archangel

She doesn't know all of them personally, but she tries to keep in contact with some. The head of the family, Carl, is the fifth great-grandson of Nick. They don't look much alike, but their personalities mirror each other. Kye has talked to him often since the guy was sixteen and newly took over the family estate. Nick had made a successful career for himself out of the little he was given in his life. Kye will be forever proud of her brother. She is happy to finally see him and Mom again. They have been waiting for her. By the look of it, she knows Nick's descendants will be fine. Carl is a good man, hard-headed but smart, and has a great work ethic. He will take good care of the family through the tough times.

The meal ends on a bittersweet note and they stay until 3 in the afternoon, just talking and reminiscing. When the large entrance door finally closes behind them, everything around them seems quiet again. Kye fixes her fur scarf while shivering in the cold breezes. The season is changing and even with Michael's grace, she is not an angel, which means she can still experience hot, cold, and every unpleasant sensation in between. She simply doesn't age, get sick or injured anymore the way normal humans do.

"Let me."

Michael touches her shoulder and turns her toward him. He straightens two sides of the scarf and starts adjusting it for her. His fingers stay on her delicate skin a few seconds longer than necessary, and he smiles at the pink color on her cheeks. So predictable is the way she reacts to his touch even after centuries they have been together.

"Let's go. They are probably waiting for us."

Michael puts his arms around Kye's waist and pulls her closer to his body. She immediately closes her eyes and leans against him. It warms the archangel's heart every time he sees how much she trusts and depends on him with her small actions.

They land in front of a simple blue-painted two-story house. The white picket fence and small wooden gate make the exterior look nice and inviting. Pushing the gate open, Kye walks to the entrance door and knocks on it. A fiery red-haired woman in a long, floral dress comes out to greet each of them with a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh, my God... I'm so sorry! I shouldn't say that! Please, come in. Dennis is inside."

She talks fast and opens the door wider for them.

"Thank you for inviting us. You guys really didn't have to prepare a whole meal..."

Kye touches the woman's arm and smiles gently at her. Charlotte is a warm-hearted woman, a rare eccentric soul. Dennis is lucky to have her. She balances out his personality perfectly.

"Please don't say that! Of course, we have to see you guys off properly. We will miss you terribly, but at least it's not forever, I hope..."

Charlotte's eyes quickly fill with tears. Doesn't want her to break down a full-scale crying session in front of the house, Kye hugs the young woman and guides her inside.

"Will Dennis' parents and Lena be here soon?" She asks as a distraction. "...Thank you, Michael." Kye turns her head and smiles at the archangel, who is helping her with the coat.

Charlotte wipes her tears and admires the couple in silence. They can make everything and everyone around them seem to disappear when they are together. So in love and inseparable even after two centuries. It makes Charlotte feel fortunate to have something similar, even when her time with Dennis hasn't been that long. Her husband believed love would come at the right time and when it did, he would know, so he took things very slowly. He had delayed dating until he was about one hundred and ten. A few flings here and there but nothing serious. He couldn't find anyone who he wanted to commit to that way. Very picky, but it was a gain for her. The man had, literally, an eternity to find the right person so Charlotte couldn't blame him for that. She is just grateful that they have found each other.

Just like his parents and aunt, or many people for that matter, Dennis met her at the most unexpected place and time. Her life was at rock bottom at the time and he saved her. He still does today. It took them years before both were ready and knew what their hearts really wanted, but they were finally there. On their wedding day, Dennis gave her part of his grace, also making her immortal. They would never have to say goodbye. Sometimes, Charlotte still wonders what she has done to deserve such a blessing. Every moment with him is fun, sweet, and full of love. Their life cannot be more perfect.

"They should be here about...now."

Dennis appears out of the kitchen and checks his watch. He kisses Charlotte and tells her how he set up everything. The guy is a split image of Gadreel, tall and handsome with an earnest expression and calm manners. The only thing different is his large brown eyes which are clearly inherited from Ruby.

As if on cue, the door opens with a loud bang and a small orange tornado comes crashing on Kye. Without Michael's support at her back, she would surely fall backward on the floor.

"Hello, Auntie! Michael!"

The young girl who has just come in gives each of them a bear hug before sprinting to the kitchen and attacking the first plate of food she sees at lightning speed. She doesn't look much different in the last twenty years. They haven't gotten to see her a lot recently due to the tight training schedule at the new garrison. There are a few of them now that consist of mainly nephilims like Dennis and Lena. They are the necessary changes that the Heavenly Host has made for the new world. That is the best option they have to take control and make use of a new, constantly increasing population that was born with human mindsets and unimaginable powers.

Gadreel and Ruby follow in right after Lena. They look good but worn out.

"What happened to you two?"

Kye raises her eyebrows curiously. The couple looks like they have just finished a triathlon.

"What else? Helping Lena move into her new place," Ruby rolls her eyes and sighs dramatically. "Gadreel did most of the heavy lifting, of course, but she had a lot of knickknacks that were all over the place, and she was very particular about them. Ugh, it was a nightmare."

Kye chuckles at her niece's busy back. Just as Dennis is a perfect copy of Gadreel, minus a few details, Lena is a mini-Ruby. She is loud, outspoken, and very energetic. Her hair is one shade lighter and she chooses to wear it way shorter than her mom, but the dark, lively brown eyes and a little button nose that always flares when she is into something are one hundred percent Ruby. The young girl looks like a giant bee with her stripy black and orange shirt, fighting with Dennis over a piece of chicken.

"I hope she'll never change."

Ignoring Ruby's second eye roll, Kye laughs and squeezes Michael's hand.

"Let me go check on my beautiful boy. Ruby, you want to come?"

She kisses his cheek and waits for Ruby's response, but her sister just waves her away before dropping on the couch. Gadreel follows her like a shadow, collecting her discarded scarf and beanie on the floor. Ruby looks exhausted and ready to take a nap. Kye shakes her head and walks into the kitchen.

"Hey Dennis, can I see Louis?"

She speaks softly while tapping on her nephew's shoulder.

"Of course, Auntie. Let's go!"

Dennis drops the carving knife on a plate and washes his hands then leads Kye upstairs to a cozy nursery room. The door is slightly open and they both try to walk in without making any noise. To their surprise, the six-month-old baby is already wide awake and staring at them with his studious hazel eyes.

"Who is the most beautiful baby in the world?"

Kye swoons over the boy and can't help a big smile when Dennis puts Louis in her arms. The warm and soft feeling of his small body and the intoxicating sweet baby smell make Kye feel all gooey inside. She has never had one of her own, so every baby she has come across just makes her melt. She wants to smile but also cries at the same time.

Watching the woman holding his son to her chest, Dennis speaks under his breath.

"I'll be downstairs. Take your time. Let me know if you need anything."

Kye nods and turns back to Louis. She loves the boy, and he loves her too. He reacts differently around her compared to most people. He coos and moves around a lot, swinging his chubby limbs all over the place.

Dennis chuckles at the image before walking out of the room. He closes the door halfway and turns around to almost bump into the archangel who is standing quietly next to the door. When he is about to say something, Michael puts one finger up. Understanding what the guy wants, Dennis nods and leaves for the stairs. He turns back one last time to watch the archangel, who was larger than life in all of the bedtime stories his father told him growing up, now looks almost lonely with his head lowered against the wall.

Dennis has an idea of what is going through Michael's mind, but it is not his place to say anything.

Michael waited until the sounds of Dennis' footsteps completely faded before moving closer to peek into the room. The human girl, his heart, is holding and having a passionately nonsensical conversation with the moving baby in her arms. She looks perfect---motherly---and Michael feels the same pang of guilt that has eaten at him ever since again. Kye could've been so great at it. Michael knows he is guilty of robbing that joy from her.

He can break many rules for her, but just not that one. Kye will never have his child. Or any child for that matter. They will never watch their children grow, and Kye will not perish.

Michael was warned. Fate is not to be meddled with. He is powerful, but not that powerful. Father told him until Fate's prophecy was broken or altered somehow, their offspring would bring nothing but death and destruction. Michael cannot have that. He cannot lose Kye either. He is a weak and selfish creature.

"Stop frowning and come in. You're upsetting Louis." Kye suddenly speaks over her shoulders while still rocking the fussing boy. She turns around to look Michael in the eyes.

His turbulent energy can be felt from miles away, and the pendant on her neck glows brighter than ever. Kye doesn't like seeing her archangel so vulnerable, torturing himself with a decision that they made together a long time ago.

If Kye can turn back time, she would still choose the same. It is not small, but that's a price she is willing to pay.

Despite her encouragement, Michael doesn't move one step from where he stands. His eyes dash to every corner of the room before her. Kye sighs and carries baby Louis over. She puts the boy in Michael's arms and glares at him until the archangel reluctantly accepts.

Remembering what she did, Michael rocks Louis clumsily from side to side. The scene makes Kye laugh out loud, and her heart feels warm and fuzzy. Both archangel and boy give her a displeased look.

Michael fixed Louis' blanket. "Are you happy, Kye... I mean, with me?"

He looks up slowly as if, somehow, his own words manage to surprise him.

"Why do you ask me that question again, Michael?" Kye whispers.

She knows exactly why, but she still can't believe that, after all this time and everything they have gone through together, Michael still has to ask.

"Do you resent me?" He doesn't answer her. "For not giving you the thing you desire the most?"

"The thing I desire the most is right here. It's you, Michael. A life with you. I cannot ask for more than that. Now, I won't lie... I have dreamed about it, having a baby. Yours. Mine. How beautiful it would be. But I'm happy. This life, this journey with you, I know what comes with it. There are many things I don't understand and never will, but I've learned to trust and have faith again. Not in God, but in you. You bring me the kind of happiness that I never dreamed of. Me? What did I do to deserve that? I know my responsibility, Michael. To be honest, having babies versus the whole world's fate? It's a no-brainer. We barely rebuild it. Our peace is so fragile. Being a human, I can't help what I feel sometimes when I see what others have. What Ruby has, but at the end of the day, what more could I ask for? I have you. I cannot be so greedy. I have never regretted or resented you, Michael, ever. And I never will." Kye leans forward and brushes her lips against Michael's. "You are everything to me. Two hundred years ago, now, and forever. I hope you feel the same way, too."

Michael closes his eyes as he tries to control his breathing. The scent of Kye's perfume and what she just said weigh heavily on his heart. Of course, he feels the same. He doesn't think his heart can waver, not even a little. Kye owns it.

Kye backs up a little and touches Michael's big hand on Louis' blanket. She loves the heat and tingles that emit from it. The archangel pulls her back and plants a kiss on her lips. Intense right from the start, taking her every breath away and leaving her no room to think or hide. Just as Michael was. All she can do now is react.

Michael is always better with his actions than words. Kye takes a deep breath and pulls away, taking the half-asleep Louis in Michael's arms to put the baby back in his crib. She doesn't have enough time to turn around.

Michael pins her to the side of the crib, and all she can feel is his hands.

Please, not now. Not here. She begs, using the connection between them.

We can go home. Now. I'll take you.

Kye nearly has a heart attack every time she hears a sound from downstairs. The conversations, Ruby's boisterous laugh, and dinnerware clanking together are all signs that she and Michael need to stop. It is a wildly inappropriate place and time. The door is wide open. Anyone who comes in would have a full view of what they are doing.

"Please," Kye digs her nails into Michael's forearm while trying to catch her breath. "We can't just leave..."

"Why not?"

She has a baby who scowls at any sound or movement but, miraculously, hasn't woken up yet, and this relentless creature stares at her as if he is innocent. Kye's head is spinning. This is not good. Too much and too fast all at once as it has happened many times before, and she knows exactly where it leads. The room's temperature rises with their collided energy. His boiling grace. She can feel it through the thin fabric of her dress. Kye can tell how much Michael wants her, and so does she. She doesn't want this to stop at all.

"Because," she blushed and rolled her eyes, "You always take forever."

The images Michael had fed her brain drive her crazy. Her hairpin dropped on the floor somewhere, and she couldn't care less about it. Not when Michael has his hand deep in her long, wavy locks, making a mess out of them. He keeps her tightly in the stronghold of his arms while tilting her face up to meet his. The kiss melts them from the inside out. Kye claws her nails into his scalp. She looks and feels like a hot mess, with flushed cheeks and undone buttons.

The archangel is not much better. His face is smeared with lipstick, and his hair sticks out on all ends. The silk tie is crooked on his white dress shirt. A dazed look takes over his face as his deep blue eyes become darker with desire. He smiles at her, and Kye swears she has never seen something so beautiful.

You did this, Kye. Michael's voice echoes in her head. 

What did she do?

Her body is still coming down from the high Michael has given it. Kye touches the side of his face and brings their foreheads together.

Michael's eyes light up when he reads what goes through her mind. Her human soul can never comprehend the full depth of what he feels. Just being this close is enough to throw him off balance in the strangest and most wonderful way. Never in his long existence has Michael experienced helplessness like whenever he is with Kye, and never has he loved the feeling that much.

Michael closes his eyes and lets go of Kye. He walks away while fixing his tie just to have something to do.

"Let's go. They're waiting," he says.

He turns around to see Kye pull the blanket to Louis' chest. She smiles softly at the boy and him. Her eyes meet his, and her smile gets a little brighter. A few strands of hair fall down, framing Kye's face like rose vines. She stands there, basking in the yellow light coming from the hallway, and Michael's heart flutters. An ethereal creature, more deserving of love and grace than anything else.

The sounds from downstairs once again get to them. Kye straightens her back. She smoothens out the last few wrinkles in her dress before turning to Michael.

"Let's go," she grabs his hand and leads the archangel out of the room.

***

The dinner passes uneventfully. Out in the back garden, under the starry night, the group of eight, baby Louis included, stand and savor the last moment they share on Earth, at least for the next couple of centuries.

"Send Mom and Nick our love. And if you see Bobby and the boys, tell them they'd better not get themselves in too much trouble too."

Ruby chuckles with her watery, swollen eyes and hugs her sister tightly. Gadreel is also at the end of his time on Earth so he will be due back in Heaven soon. It is not fun to be left here without the two most important people in her life for a while.

Giving his wife one look, Gadreel puts his hands on her shoulders and squeezes as a way to comfort her. He then walks to Michael and reaches out his hand, a gesture he has learned from the years on Earth.

"Take care, Brother. Until we'll meet again."

Michael nods and turns to look at the two women who are still hugging each other.

"Let's go, Kye. It's time."

He calls softly to avoid interrupting their moment. Kye doesn't reply to him, doesn't even look back, but she slowly lets go of Ruby. She just can't seem to take her eyes away from her sister and the children behind her.

"We will see each other soon, I promise..."

She says to them, trying to hold back the tears when she sees the other woman nod and quickly bury her face in her son's shoulder.

"...You guys take care."

Kye sniffles and smiles at Dennis and his family. This is the very first time, so she feels so hard to let go of this small family, but maybe in the future, it will be easier.

She and Michael will see Gadreel soon, but she doesn't know when she can see Ruby, her children, and her grandson. Time works differently here on Earth compared to Heaven, nonetheless, they will see each other again. She will make sure of it.

By the time she comes back, Louis will already be a grown man. Kye looks at the blue bundle in Charlotte's arms. Her heart is sad but peaceful. Their bond is quite special. She wishes she could see him grow up, but she has to go. It's time for her to see her mom and Nick, they missed out on each other in life and two hundred years is long enough.

After the concentration camps, her mom's health deteriorated quickly and the woman passed away within months of staying in her new home. She didn't even have a chance to enjoy it. It breaks Kye's heart every time thinking about her mom, and with her death, Nick moved all the way to the other end of the continent where they needed help to build a new city then stayed there for the rest of his life, only came back for a few visits. Before passing away, he told his children that he wanted to be buried next to his mom, and the oldest son honored that. The man stayed, creating a new lineage of Adlin in Ayham, and Kye is always grateful for his decision.

Michael couldn't leave right after he woke up because rebuilding a city took as long as anyone anticipated. He knew Naomi had her plate full, but listening to Kye talk about her late family often, Michael knew as soon as everything was in place, he would take her to them.

Letting a living human soul, even an upgraded one into Heaven is something that has never happened before. The angels, Naomi included, no matter how open-minded she is, have had a lot of reservations. Michael knows the risk he takes, but he plans on doing it no matter what. He can't bear the thought of leaving Kye behind by herself every time he goes back to Heaven. He can pop in for a visit, but it would not be the same as having her next to him every day and night. He also wants to show her the place where his life started. He has the power, so he would do that a thousand times with no regret.

He walks over to intertwine his fingers with her. Without a word, their minds link, and they converse in a language that is not open to any outsider.

Kye could see her soul in Michael's mind. Her sadness, hope, and a thousand other emotions. In that mixture is his love and anticipation.

"I'm ready," she said with a smile.

Notes:

This is the final chapter. Next week will be the epilogue. A small story of their first encounter. Thank you all for staying with me and this story. I'm currently working on a related story about Lucifer and his time on Earth, way before Until The End Of Time. It is intended to be an original with no SPN character or detail.