Chapter Text
10 Years Later…
“I gotta say, Sammy, I haven’t missed this in the last decade.”
Sam turned to his brother and grinned. “You don’t like the stage makeup, Dean?”
“I’m a painted whore.”
“Oh, so dramatic, Dean-o,” Gabriel said, slapping a hand on Dean’s shoulder. “It’s just a little glam-up.”
Dean muttered something under his breath in response. “Okay,” chirped the makeup artist, “You’re all ready.”
The three of them made their way to the soundstage where The One’s ‘Looking Back Reunion Show’ was being filmed. It didn’t take long to find Castiel, surrounded by three children. As soon as Dean reached his husband, he gave Cas a quick kiss. “Missed you, Angel.”
“Dad!” Screamed one of the small boys, running straight to Gabe, hitting him like a wrecking ball.
“Hey, buddy,” Gabriel ruffled the child’s hair. “Have you been good for Uncle Cas?”
“I was, but Rich wasn’t.”
“Shut up, Jared,” Rich screeched from where he was clinging to Sam. Jared stuck his tongue out at his brother, and the adults laughed.
Rowena came bustling over. “They’re ready for you on set, boys.”
“Thank you,” Castiel replied.
“You’re pretty,” Rich smiled up at Rowena.
Rowena blinked at the child before smiling brightly. “Why thank you, wee sir.”
“You’re welcome,” Rich said.
“Come on everyone,” Dean grumbled. “Let’s get this over with.”
“You could have said ‘no,’” Rowena sing-songed as she led them away.
“No, he couldn’t,” said the young blonde girl trailing after the group. “Daddy would have punished him.”
“Claire!” Dean and Cas shouted, their faces going red.
“Oh really,” Sam quirked an eyebrow at his brother.
“Yup,” Claire chirped. “Daddy told Dad that if he didn’t participate that he would be a bad boy, and bad boys need punishment.” She spoke the words deliberately as though reciting something she’d overheard…which she obviously had.
“Claire!” Dean yelled.
“What?”
“You might want to check your surroundings for little ears before talking about your bedroom activities,” Sam said.
“Apparently,” Castiel agreed.
The group was led onto the stage and arranged by the production crew into their seats. They weren’t the only returning contestants this year, but they were by far the most popular. Even a full decade later, people still talked about their season of ‘The One.’ The explosive ending of their season had made them favorites, and from the buzz going around the set, the people wanted to see the two couples who made ‘The One’ history.
Rowena smiled sweetly at all of them, and said, “All right now, we are going to get started filming. Just remember to be yourselves and the audience will eat you up, I’m sure of it.”
“Eat us?” Jared asked.
“Not for real, dummy,” Claire said.
“Claire,” Castiel admonished his daughter. “Apologize to your cousin.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t you worry your precious wee head,” Rowena said to Jared. “The audience will love you.”
“That’s cause everyone loves me, Red,” Gabe smirked.
Rowena smiled at him fondly. “Oh, I have missed you.”
“Okay, that’s enough prattle, let's get this show on the road,” Crowley shouted, walking up onto the set and sitting in his large black chair.
Rowena spun on her heels, leaving the stage, as places and action were called. Crowley leaned forward in his chair and grinned at them. “It’s been a long time,” he said. “I know that not only me, but our viewers, would love to know what the four of you have been up to the past decade.”
“Well, Crowley,” Gabe said. “We’ve been busy.”
“I can tell,” their host said. “Look at these adorable little rugrats. Now which are yours and Sam’s and which belong to Castiel and Dean.”
“These two are ours,” Sam gestured to the boys.
“Which means that Castiel and Dean have this beautiful little princess. What’s your name, darling?”
“My name is Claire and I’m not a princess, I’m a firefighter!”
“Oh,” Crowley sat back in his chair in surprise. “That’s a very noble profession.”
“I know,” Claire said, causing the adults to chuckle.
“And what about the two of you,” Crowley turned to the boys. “What are your names?”
“I’m Rich, and that’s Jared, he’s shy.”
“I’m not shy.” Jared said with an adorable pout.
“Are too,” Rich said. “I’m four and a half and I like sharks and robots and robot sharks too. Jared likes reading with dad but he used to like robot sharks too.”
Crowley smiled indulgently. “Fascinating. So, Gabriel, as our resident bachelor—“
“Not a bachelor now,” Gabe grinned, flashing his wedding ring. “Sam made an honest man of me a year after filming ended.”
“True. You and Sam married. And I believe that Castiel and Dean have as well.”
“Yeah, I convinced Cas to keep me,” Dean grinned at his husband.
“You didn’t have much convincing to do,” Castiel replied.
“What has your life been like since the end of the show?”
“Normal,” Castiel said, and the others nodded. “After Dean and I married, we began looking into ways to expand our family. Luckily, Gabriel’s close friend, and nurse, Jo, agreed to be a surrogate for us.”
“We mixed up all the splooge—stuff—and left it up to nature. And, while we haven’t made it public just yet,” Dean glanced at Cas who nodded. “Jo is pregnant again and we are expecting a boy at the end of the month.”
“Congratulations!” Crowley said. “That’s wonderful news. And what about you and your family, Sam?”
Sam started, as though he hadn’t been prepared for a direct question. “Um, we decided that we wanted to adopt,” he said. “Because of Gabriel’s work, we were able to be approved to adopt kids with medical issues. We wanted to give kids who might be overlooked due to their medical conditions a chance at a happy life,”
“So both of your sons have medical issues, correct?”
“I don’t anymore,” Jared said quietly. “My daddies said I’m in ‘’mission.”
“I will be soon,” Rich announced.
“He recently finished his last treatment and his blood work will be checked next week,” Gabriel said. “So we are very hopeful.”
“I also believe that as of last year, your friend and former contestant, Benny’s niece, Elizabeth, is cancer-free as well,” Crowley said.
Gabriel nodded, “She got some top of the line care and she fought her ass off. Benny, Elizabeth, and Andrea visit us every year in Los Angeles.”
“‘Lizbeth is so nice,” Rich added. “She plays with me and when I get my ports out we’re going to go swimming.”
“That sounds fun,” Crowley said. “Wonderful to hear that she’s doing well these days.”
“So, Sam,” Crowley said. “As one of the most reluctant contestants on the show, how do you feel about it now? Ten years on? Do you have any regrets?”
A slow smile spread across Sam’s face. “I can happily say that going on ‘The One’ might not have been in my plans, but I’m thrilled that Dean dragged me along because otherwise I never would have had the chance to reconnect with Gabriel.”
“You just wanted to jump my bones,” Gabe said.
“Little ears, Gabriel!” Castiel hissed.
Sam chuckled. “Okay, that too. When I first went on ‘The One’ I was looking for a way out from the get go, but luckily I ended up sticking around.”
“Because you got to land my fine ass,” Gabe said.
“Gabriel,” Cas and Sam chided.
“Anyway, if I’d have left when I wanted, I wouldn’t have ended up with my wonderful, perfect, amazing husband.” Sam leaned over, adjusting Rich on his lap so that he could kiss Gabe on the cheek.
“You’re welcome, Sammy,” Dean piped up.
“We are forever in your debt, Dean-o”
“Don’t you forget it,” Dean laughed.
“So suffice it to say that the four of you appreciate your time spent on our little dating show,” Crowley said.
“Crowley,” Sam said, reaching over to take Gabriel’s hand. “Being on your show was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I got a second chance with the only man I’ve ever loved, and now here I am with my wonderful family. I couldn’t ask for a better life, and as weird as it is, my perfect life had to run through the lense of reality television.”
“Reality TV has its uses,” Crowley said.
Gabriel squeezed Sam’s hand and brought it to his lips. “Kiddo, I’m the one who’s grateful for that second chance. You didn’t have to give it, but you did. I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I love you.”
“And me too!” Rich shouted, bouncing on Sam’s knee.
“And me!” Piped up Jared.
“Of course we love you two little terrors,” Gabe grinned at his sons. “You make our family perfect.”
“That they do,” Sam agreed. “But to me, Gabriel, you make my life whole. You’re my husband, my partner, and the fucking love of my life.”
“Language Sam,” Dean said.
Claire giggled. “Uncle Sam said ‘fucking.’”
“Now look at what you’ve done,” Dean laughed. “My daughter swore on national television.”
“Please,” Cas scoffed. “She’s known those words since she could speak, thanks to you.”
“Shut up, Cas,” Dean elbowed his husband and blushed.
“And there you have it folks,” Crowley addressed the cameras. “Our two favorite couples ten years on—doing wonderfully, happy and in love. This is what ‘The One’ is all about. We are in the business of love, and as you can see from the smiling faces on stage—business is good.”
As the camera panned away from the group, Sam leaned over and kissed Gabriel softly on the lips. “I love you, Gabriel.”
“Love you back, Kiddo.”
“That’s a wrap!”