This is lovely; for how sad and melancholy it is for both of them - lives lost, new lives upended (for Castiel, mostly, but surely for Dean as well - I would find it hard to believe he had not been in some kind of relationship or three when he first "took residence" of his new life), a whole history of the world washed away - it is hopeful, and a far more kind ending to the apocalypse than we'll actually see, I fear.

I really enjoyed how you captured Castiel's fears and uncertainty even as his muscle/sense memory kicked in. So much of our daily lives are just that, muscle memory, almost more than actual knowledge, and while he also got shadows of Jimmy's memories you made it feel all so shaky and new for him.

The tragedy, of course, is Jimmy, who died with no warning; but then as much happens when people get into car accidents or have anuerisms, so while it makes me sad I can't find a way to argue against it. I hope he got his own reward, Heavenly or what have you, for this sacrifice he never even got a chance to agree to.

Thanks for a lovely story.