A few rays of sunlight escaped 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 had been asleep.

Michael stared at the gap between the curtain and the wall, thinking about how different his life had become. His hand kneaded the long, soft brown hair that covered half of the pillow and his left shoulder. That moment right there was what he risked his life for, and it was worth it.

"Good morning."

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

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

The way Kye looked at him—with so much love and awe, as if he was the single most important thing in the world—still made Michael speechless at times. None of his siblings had ever looked at him that way, naturally.

To them, he was an authoritative figure. A leader with a fist of steel. They respected and feared him too much to freely love him.

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

Michael had known affection in the most technical sense of the word, but he hadn't understood it. He had never given or received it. Not like that. Not that purely, unconditionally, and overwhelmingly. His meat suit tingled with its mysterious force.

For the first time, Michael truly understood what humans meant by "looking forward to the future." His life wasn't a constant, rigid line anymore. It had a clear goal. Selfish one? Perhaps. But who could dictate otherwise? Michael could and would give Kye more than just a piece of his grace.

A soft knock on the door caught his attention.

"One second." Michael barely concealed his annoyance. He wasn't ready to get up and let go of the human in his arms, but his siblings were waiting.

That day was a special day.

Years had passed since that fateful, brutal night. A lot had changed, but it wasn't enough to make Michael forget or put down his guard. Never again would he let those who were close to him abuse the power they possessed.

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

The angels would stay for security and orders only until reconstruction and repopulation reached the quota. After Raphael's camps were all demolished, Naomi had come up with a big project to give the rescued free housing and essential social services. It had been 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 knew that these gestures were perceived as too little too late. After decades of bad blood between the two kinds, humans' fear and angels' hatred ran deep.

A changed Ayham, however, was quite visible. The city had 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 had doubled its size within a month or two and looked more and more like it had before the War.

Population growth usually came with new problems. So did population shrinkage. Thousands of people who had taken refuge in the Resistance camps and outposts left for the city during that 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 gut.

The directors hadn't known if they should maintain the organization or disband it. None had 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 had 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 those kind acts were nothing but a sham to cover everyone's eyes from something much more sinister.

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

It was funny that there were more angels than humans around then. To those 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 there. Their families were there.

Ruby and Gadreel had moved out but visited with their kids often. Dennis and Lena had been 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 had looked more mature and polished as time went by, naturally. Bobby could tell life had treated her well. However, there had been this unmistakable yearning in her eyes that Bobby knew so well.

His late wife had 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 had remained her biggest desire until the day she died, and that quiet pain in Kye's eyes had brought it all back.

But they all had their own destiny.

Kye sure hadn't lacked love. When she had looked at Michael, her pain turned into something tender. They had beamed in each other's presence. It had been hard to imagine Michael could look that happy when he barely smiled. He had 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 had 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 had become exactly that when he was with Kye.

***

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

Michael held Kye's hand to his lips and gazed at her intensely for a long time. He couldn't take his eyes away from her faint smile. She was beautiful. Her physical youth might have been the result of his grace, but deep down inside, her soul hadn't changed, and that was what mattered. She still attracted the eyes of other men, but it didn't bother him. In fact, Michael was proud. She was his. Her heart and soul belonged to him. People might have known her name and face, but none of them connected to her the way he did. No one knew what they had been through to stay together all these years. On the same level, no one had ever loved and understood Michael like Kye. He hadn't believed it before, but they were true halves of each other.

He stopped at the door and watched the small bundle on the bed for a few more minutes before walking out. Naomi and a few other angels had waited patiently for him. She greeted him with her 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 stopped as if she still had something on her mind. This situation didn't have a predecessor, so naturally, many were concerned. "Brother, are you sure about this?" she asked.

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

---

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

The Marcos had expanded their business all over the city by now. Two hundred years was a long time, and there were rumors that the family would sell the business soon and reap the fruit of their labor, but Kye doubted it. Pride was in their blood, and the deli was more than just a restaurant for them. It was their family name and everything that the name stood for. They wouldn't sell it, at least not anytime soon.

Michael accompanied her around the neighborhood where she had grown up one more time before they left to see part of her extended family. Nick had had a lot of descendants living around, and they all gathered that day at the family house to have a farewell lunch for Kye and the archangel.

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

The meal ended on a bittersweet note, and they stayed until 3 in the afternoon, just talking and reminiscing. When the large entrance door finally closed behind them, everything around them seemed quiet again. Kye fixed her fur scarf while shivering in the cold breezes. The season was changing, and even with Michael's grace, she was not an angel, which meant she could still experience hot, cold, and every unpleasant sensation in between. She simply didn't age, get sick, or become injured anymore the way normal humans did.

"Let me."

Michael touched her shoulder and turned her toward him. He straightened both sides of the scarf and adjusted it for her. His fingers stayed on her delicate skin a few seconds longer than necessary, and he smiled at the pink color on her cheeks. So predictable was the way she reacted to his touch even after centuries together.

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

Michael put his arms around Kye's waist and pulled her closer to his body. She immediately closed her eyes and leaned against him. It warmed the archangel's heart every time he saw how much she trusted and depended on him with her small actions.

They landed in front of a simple blue-painted two-story house. The white picket fence and small wooden gate made the exterior look nice and inviting. Pushing the gate open, Kye walked to the entrance door and knocked on it. A fiery red-haired woman in a long, floral dress came 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 talked fast and opened the door wider for them.

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

Kye touched the woman's arm and smiled gently at her. Charlotte was a warm-hearted woman, a rare eccentric soul. Dennis was lucky to have her. She balanced 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 filled with tears. Not wanting her to break down into a full-scale crying session in front of the house, Kye hugged the young woman and guided her inside.

"Will Dennis' parents and Lena be here soon?" she asked as a distraction. "...Thank you, Michael," Kye turned her head and smiled at the archangel, who was helping her with the coat.

Charlotte wiped her tears and admired the couple in silence. They could make everything and everyone around them seem to disappear when they were together. So in love and inseparable even after two centuries. It made Charlotte feel fortunate to have something similar, even when her time with Dennis hadn't been that long. Her husband had believed love would come at the right time, and when it did, he would know, so he had taken 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 hadn't found anyone he wanted to commit to that way. Very picky, but it had been a gain for her. The man had, literally, an eternity to find the right person, so Charlotte couldn't blame him for that. She was just grateful that they had found each other.

Just like his parents and aunt, or many people for that matter, Dennis had met her at the most unexpected place and time. Her life had been at rock bottom at the time, and he had saved her. He still did today. It had taken them years before both were ready and knew what their hearts really wanted, but they were finally there. On their wedding day, Dennis had given her part of his grace, also making her immortal. They would never have to say goodbye.

Sometimes, Charlotte still wondered what she had done to deserve such a blessing. Every moment with him was fun, sweet, and full of love. Their life could not have been more perfect.

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

Dennis appeared out of the kitchen and checked his watch. He kissed Charlotte and told her how he had set up everything. The guy was a spitting image of Gadreel—tall and handsome with an earnest expression and calm manners. The only difference was his large brown eyes, clearly inherited from Ruby.

As if on cue, the door opened with a loud bang, and a small orange tornado came crashing into Kye. Without Michael's support at her back, she would have surely fallen backward onto the floor.

"Hello, Auntie! Michael!"

The young girl who had just come in gave each of them a bear hug before sprinting to the kitchen and attacking the first plate of food she saw at lightning speed. She hadn't looked much different in the last twenty years. They hadn't gotten to see her often recently due to the tight training schedule at the new garrison. There were a few of them now, consisting mainly of nephilim like Dennis and Lena. They were the necessary changes that the Heavenly Host had made for the new world— the best option they had to control and make use of a new, constantly increasing population born with human mindsets and unimaginable powers.

Gadreel and Ruby followed right after Lena. They looked good but worn out.

"What happened to you two?"

Kye raised her eyebrows curiously. The couple looked like they had just finished a triathlon.

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

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

"I hope she'll never change."

Ignoring Ruby's second eye roll, Kye laughed and squeezed Michael's hand.

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

She kissed his cheek and waited for Ruby's response, but her sister just waved her away before dropping onto the couch. Gadreel followed her like a shadow, collecting her discarded scarf and beanie from the floor. Ruby looked exhausted and ready to take a nap. Kye shook her head and walked into the kitchen.

"Hey Dennis, can I see Louis?"

She spoke softly while tapping her nephew's shoulder.

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

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

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

Kye swooned over the boy and couldn't help a big smile when Dennis placed Louis into her arms. The warm, soft feeling of his small body and the intoxicatingly sweet baby smell made Kye feel all gooey inside. She had never had one of her own, so every baby she met made her melt. She wanted to smile but also cry at the same time.

Watching the woman hold his son to her chest, Dennis spoke under his breath.

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

Kye nodded and turned back to Louis. She loved the boy, and he loved her too. He reacted differently around her compared to most people. He cooed and moved around a lot, swinging his chubby limbs all over the place.

Dennis chuckled at the sight before walking out of the room. He closed the door halfway and turned around, almost bumping into the archangel standing quietly next to the door. When he was about to say something, Michael put one finger up. Understanding what the man wanted, Dennis nodded and left for the stairs. He turned back one last time to watch the archangel, who had been larger than life in all the bedtime stories his father had told him, now look almost lonely with his head lowered against the wall.

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

Michael waited until the sound of Dennis' footsteps completely faded before moving closer to peek into the room. The human girl—his heart—was holding and having a passionately nonsensical conversation with the moving baby in her arms. She looked perfect—motherly—and Michael felt the same pang of guilt that had eaten at him ever since. Kye could have been so great at it. Michael knew he was guilty of robbing that joy from her.

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

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

"Stop frowning and come in. You're upsetting Louis," Kye suddenly spoke over her shoulder while still rocking the fussing boy. She turned to look Michael in the eyes.

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

If Kye could have turned back time, she would still have chosen the same. It was not a small price, but one she was willing to pay.

Despite her encouragement, Michael didn't move one step from where he stood. His eyes dashed to every corner of the room before her. Kye sighed and carried baby Louis over. She put the boy in Michael's arms and glared at him until the archangel reluctantly accepted.

Remembering what she did, Michael rocked Louis clumsily from side to side. The scene made Kye laugh out loud, and her heart felt warm and fuzzy. Both the archangel and the boy gave her a displeased look.

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

He looked up slowly as if, somehow, his own words managed to surprise him.

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

She knew exactly why, but she still couldn't believe that after all this time and everything they had gone through together, Michael still had to ask.

"Do you resent me?" he asked instead. "For not giving you the thing you desire most?"

"The thing I desire 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 I never dreamed of. Me? What did I do to deserve that? I know my responsibility, Michael. Honestly, having babies versus the whole world's fate? It's a no-brainer. We barely rebuilt it. Our peace is so fragile. Being 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 leaned forward and brushed 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 closed his eyes, trying to control his breathing. The scent of Kye's perfume and her words weighed heavily on his heart. Of course, he felt the same. He didn't think his heart could waver, not even a little. Kye owned it.

Kye backed up a little and touched Michael's large hand on Louis' blanket. She loved the heat and tingles that emitted from it. The archangel pulled her back and planted 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 had always been. All she could do now was react.

Michael had always been better with his actions than with words. Kye took a deep breath and pulled away, taking the half-asleep Louis from Michael's arms to put the baby back in his crib. She didn't have enough time to turn around.

Michael pinned her to the side of the crib, and all she could feel were his hands.

Please, not now. Not here, she begged, using the connection between them.

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

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

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

"Why not?"

She had a baby who scowled at any sound or movement but, miraculously, hadn't woken up yet—and this relentless creature stared at her as if he were innocent. Kye's head was spinning. This was not good. Too much and too fast all at once, just as it had happened many times before, and she knew exactly where it led. The room's temperature rose with their collided energy—his boiling grace. She could feel it through the thin fabric of her dress. Kye could tell how much Michael wanted her, and so did she. She didn't want this to stop at all.

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

The images Michael had fed her mind drove her crazy. Her hairpin dropped to the floor somewhere, and she couldn't care less about it—not when Michael had his hand deep in her long, wavy locks, making a mess of them. He kept her tightly in the stronghold of his arms while tilting her face up to meet his. The kiss melted them from the inside out. Kye clawed her nails into his scalp. She looked and felt like a hot mess, with flushed cheeks and undone buttons.

The archangel wasn't much better. His face was smeared with lipstick, and his hair stuck out in all directions. The silk tie was crooked on his white dress shirt. A dazed look overtook his face as his deep blue eyes darkened with desire. He smiled at her, and Kye swore she had never seen anything so beautiful.

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

What had she done?

Her body was still coming down from the high Michael had given it. Kye touched the side of his face and brought their foreheads together.

Michael's eyes lit up as he read what was going through her mind. Her human soul could never comprehend the full depth of what he felt. Just being this close was enough to throw him off balance in the strangest and most wonderful way. Never in his long existence had Michael experienced helplessness like he did whenever he was with Kye, and never had he loved the feeling so much.

Michael closed his eyes and let go of Kye. He walked away, fixing his tie just to have something to do.

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

He turned around to see Kye pulling the blanket up to Louis' chest. She smiled softly at the boy and then at him. Her eyes met his, and her smile grew a little brighter. A few strands of hair fell down, framing Kye's face like rose vines. She stood there, basking in the yellow light coming from the hallway, and Michael's heart fluttered. An ethereal creature, more deserving of love and grace than anything else.

The sounds from downstairs reached them again. Kye straightened her back. She smoothed out the last few wrinkles in her dress before turning to Michael.

"Let's go," she said as she grabbed his hand and led the archangel out of the room.

---

The dinner passed uneventfully. Out in the back garden, under the starry night, the group of eight—baby Louis included—stood and savored the last moment they would 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 chuckled through her watery, swollen eyes and hugged her sister tightly. Gadreel was also at the end of his time on Earth, so he would be due back in Heaven soon. It wasn't fun to be left here without the two most important people in her life for a while.

Giving his wife one look, Gadreel placed his hands on her shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze. He then walked over to Michael and reached out his hand—a gesture he had learned from his years on Earth.

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

Michael nodded and turned to look at the two women who were still hugging each other.

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

He called softly, careful not to interrupt their moment. Kye didn't reply, didn't even look back, but she slowly let go of Ruby. She just couldn't seem to take her eyes off her sister and the children behind her.

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

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

"...You guys take care."

Kye sniffled and smiled at Dennis and his family. This was the very first time it felt so hard to let go of this small family, but maybe in the future, it would be easier.

She and Michael would see Gadreel soon, but she didn't know when she would see Ruby, her children, and her grandson again. Time worked differently here on Earth compared to Heaven. Nonetheless, they would see each other again. She would make sure of it.

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

After the concentration camps, her mom's health had deteriorated quickly, and the woman passed away within months of staying in her new home. She hadn't even had a chance to enjoy it. It broke Kye's heart every time she thought about her mom. With her death, Nick moved all the way to the other end of the continent, where they needed help to build a new city, and he stayed there for the rest of his life, only coming back for a few visits. Before passing away, he told his children 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 was always grateful for his decision.

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

Letting a living human soul—even an upgraded one—into Heaven was something that had never happened before. The angels, Naomi included, no matter how open-minded she was, had held many reservations. Michael knew the risk he was taking, but he planned on doing it no matter what. He couldn't bear the thought of leaving Kye behind by herself every time he returned to Heaven. He could pop in for a visit, but it would not be the same as having her next to him every day and night. He also wanted to show her the place where his life began. He had the power, so he would do it a thousand times with no regret.

He walked over and intertwined his fingers with hers. Without a word, their minds linked, and they conversed in a language 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 was 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.