Eight year old Dean Winchester lay down on his stomach over a long and sturdy branch of a tall Marylebone Elm tree. The abundant green leaves shaded him from the scorching sun. The city of London, England was experiencing an untraditional heat wave in the summer of 1887. Dean was visiting his grandfather the Duke of Campbell, who after not speaking to his only child, Mary for a decade, finally extended an olive branch to his daughter. Samuel arranged a hasty marriage between Mary and John Winchester, a young ranch hand from the States, who struck oil in Texas. A 28 year old John arrived in England ten years prior to buy himself a pretty aristocratic wife which was all the rage. Nouveau rich Americans visited the Continent to purchase themselves a title into their family. Being female meant Mary would not inherit her father's dukedom once he expired but their first born son would become the next Duke of Campbell. Dean was too young to understand any of this.
He scratched his neck. The skin itched due to the scratchy material of his round collar. Dean frowned as he pulled at the velvet jacket his parents forced him to wear to Fergus Crowley's ten year birthday party. The Winchester and the youngest member of the Crowley clan were like oil and vinegar whenever they were in the same place. Crowley was a spoiled brat, who hated to share his toys with any other children. Mary was invited over to tea with Lady Crowley. While the mothers glanced at the latest fashion magazines from Paris, their sons embarked on a wrestling match after Crowley shoved Dean hard. All Dean did was touch Fergus' rolling hoop and the pudgy boy went ballistic. The butler ended with a limp after separating the two combatants.
Now Dean glared at his nemesis, who pushed a skinny boy all the guests at his birthday party relished in picking on. Dean wondered why the other children mocked the boy with the large blue eyes. Perhaps it was due to his bronzed skin. The boy's skin was not the same as the other British children with their pasty complexions. Dean's own skin tone was bronzed because back at home in Texas he always frolicked in the acres which surrounded the Winchester Ranch.
At the moment Crowley yelled, "Baby camel!" He shoved the blindfolded dark haired boy harshly. Dean yanked a leaf from the tree and ripped it in half. He wanted to give the fat little toad a good beating but Dean promised his mother he'd be on his best behavior this afternoon. The children laughed maliciously at the birthday boy's shenanigans. The group of rambunctious aristocratic children were in the middle of a game of Blind Man's Bluff and poor Castiel had been designated as "IT" by the birthday boy himself.
A tall and gangly boy with pale eyes made the sound of a camel causing the others to laugh uncontrollably. Each child took his or her turn pushing Castiel further away from the garden. Dean sat up ramrod straight, when he realized what the true intention of the little bastards was. Castiel was several feet away from a pond. His arms were stretched out in front of him. The boy waved his hands trying to touch one of the voices he heard.
He almost stumbled on a rock. Dean had enough. He climbed down the tree. He didn't care about the scratches on his bare legs. Another reason for hating the knee length breeches his mother insisted he wear. Also, Dean was excruciatingly embarrassed about his bow legs. Crowley and the boy with the eerie pale eyes pushed Castiel closer to the edge of the pond.
"Stop it!" Dean bellowed as he approached the group of unruly youngsters.
"The Cowboy finally honors us with his presence," Crowley covered his heart with one hand.
"Shut your mouth!" The other children stopped. He grabbed Castiel by the wrist and pulled him along with him. Dean realized the blindfold still covered the shorter boy's eyes. He instantly plucked it away and tossed the handkerchief on the grass.
Castiel blinked a couple of times. He rubbed his eyes and took in his surroundings. His electric blue eyes landed on Dean's forest green orbs. He scrunched his brow as he studied the taller boy's features. "You're the American," he said as Dean released his wrist.
Dean's mouth remained open forming an o. He finally managed to whisper, "Blue"
A corner of Castiel's mouth curved upwards. "Pardon me?"
"Your eyes…I've never seen blue eyes like yours. It's like God mixed all the shades of blue and made them into one."
Castiel blushed and bowed his head down. He wiggled his fingers. "The others make fun of me because I am different."
Dean sat down and leaned his back against a tree. Castiel copied him. "Why are you different?"
"My mother is Egyptian. That is why my skin is darker than everyone else's."
"To me it looks like you've been out in the sun. You should see Rufus, one of our ranch hands. Now he was sun burned at birth. I hate to say it but at night sometimes I can tell he is around, only when he smiles." Dean nudged the other boy's shoulder.
Castiel chuckled. "You are funny. You are the Duke of Campbell's grandson?"
"Yes, my parents and I came to visit for the summer. He and my mama weren't speaking to each other for a long time."
Castiel took an instant likely to the American. He spoke with a sort of funny twang. "How long will you be here?" He always longed for a friend; for someone who would not make fun of him and accept him for who he was. His mother convinced his father, who was a viscount to have Castiel be tutored at home. The other children would make his life a living hell if he attended a regular school.
"We leave in early September. Father can't leave the ranch for a long period of time."
"May I ask you something?" Castiel glanced at the ground. He nervously pulled a blade of grass from within.
"I guess so."
"Would you like to be my friend?" Castiel caught his lower lip between his teeth.
"I really would! I hate all these snobby snot nosed babies. Don't get me started on Crowley!"
"He torments me the most." Castiel's lower lip quivered.
"Why does he call you camel?" Dean genuinely asked.
"Because of my Egyptian heritage," Castiel sighed.
"That's stupid. He resembles a bulgy eyed frog…a very fat one by the way."
Castiel laughed hard. Dean joined him in the laughter. "Want to come over to my grandpa's home tomorrow afternoon?"
Castiel rapidly nodded his acceptance. "My parents will be relieved to discover I have made a friend."
"Yeah, mine, too. I haven't made any before now." Dean rubbed the back of his neck.
For the remainder of the summer the two became inseparable. Dean and Castiel played Cowboys and Indians in the Duke's vast garden. Dean even gave his new friend the cowboy hat John had given him for his last birthday.
One afternoon in late August, the two boys threw themselves on the grass after playing hide and seek for two hours. Dean rested his elbows on the dewy grass. "I want us to do something together."
Castiel tilted his head to the side. "What?"
Dean removed a small dagger from within his boot. "I'm gonna carve my initials and then you will do the same."
Castiel smiled at his friend. The two boys stood up and strolled over to the nearest elm tree. Dean sunk the blade as deep as he could before he began carving a D on the bark. Half an hour later he finished. "DMW?" Castiel inquired.
"Dean Michael Winchester," Dean grinned at his friend revealing a gap between his two front upper teeth.
He handed the dagger to Castiel. The shorter boy stuck his tongue out as he concentrated on his task. Once he was done, Dean frowned. "COM?"
"Castiel Osiris Milton…Osiris is the God of the afterlife and birth. My father named me after his grandfather and mother chose my middle name."
"I like it…Osiris." Dean smiled. "Your mother is very beautiful. She's how I picture Cleopatra now."
Castiel shook his head. "You say the funniest things."
"One of the things you love about me." He ruffled Castiel's unruly locks.
Mister Singer, Castiel's tutor beckoned the boys it was time to return to the viscount's mansion. Castiel's was running late for his geography lesson. Dean enjoyed sitting in on the sessions because Mr. Singer made them fun. Today they were going to learn about the Nile River.
Unfortunately, the day before Dean was set to sail back home with his parents arrived. The two boys played dominoes in Dean's chambers which happened to be the nursery. Hard torrential rain battered against the windows. The weather matched the children's moods.
"I am going to miss you, Dean." Castiel's big puppy eyes watched his friend.
"Me, too, Osiris"
Castiel playfully tossed a domino at his friend, who caught it in midair. "I've never had a real friend before and I am glad it was you."
"Will you come to England again?"
"I hope so. Mama said we'll return next year."
"I am glad. There is something I want to give you since you gave me your cowboy hat." He retrieved a silver pocket watch from inside his jacket pocket. He offered it to Dean. "It belonged to my paternal grandfather. He gave it to my father on his wedding day. Father gave it to me."
"I can't accept it, Cas. It is a family heirloom."
"Please accept it. You will remember me whenever you see it."
Dean grabbed the watch. "I'll take good care of it."
"I cannot wait to reach my eighteenth birthday. I plan to go on archaeological digs and discover ancient cities and find pharaoh's tombs."
"Archa what?" Dean asked practically cross eyed.
"Archeologists are men, who travel the world in search of ancient relics."
"Cas, you're the brainiest person I know. Sometimes you sound like a grown up."
Castiel shrugged his shoulders. "Why do we not go to the kitchen and ask the cook to bake apple tarts?"
"Yes!" Dean grabbed his friend's wrist and dragged him down the spiral staircase.
Saying good bye was extremely difficult for Dean and Castiel. The footmen finished strapping the Winchester's luggage on top of the Duke's carriage. Samuel was under the weather and was unable to accompany them to the port. Mary hugged her father fiercely. Something told her this would be the last time she would see him. She found comfort knowing the two of them found peace.
Dean embraced Castiel hard. The shorter boy kissed his cheek. "Thank you for being my friend."
"I'll see you next summer," Dean whispered in Cas' ear. He said his farewell to Castiel's mother.
The Winchesters entered the vehicle. Dean sat by the window. He waved bye at his dear friend and grandfather. Samuel entered the manor. Castiel's vision blurred as he saw the vehicle disappear down the gravel stone path. His mother, Isis held his hand. Her own dark almond shaped eyes became watery. Isis' heart ached for her only child. Would he ever find a good friend like Dean Winchester again? She fervently prayed to the deities she was brought up to believe in; that he would.
Dean stood in between his parents on the ship which would sail them back to the States. They would dock in New York and take a train to Texas. "Will we return next year?" He already missed his friend.
Mary knelt to be at the same eye level with her son. "We have wonderful news to share with you, my love."
"What is it?"
John also knelt in front of his son. "You are finally going to have a sibling. Your mother is expecting."
"Really?" Dean hugged his mother.
"That means we will not be able to return to England for a while."
Dean frowned. "Why not?"
"We will wait until your baby brother or sister is at least two before he or she can take the long voyage."
"I won't see Castiel until then?"
"I am sorry, sweetheart." Mary embraced her child.
Dean walked slowly to the rail. He placed his right hand inside his pocket and fingered the watch Cas gave him. Dean's heart ached knowing he would never see his friend again. Now no one will defend him against Crowley and Alistair. Cas will become a hermit and never leave his home. His dream of being an archa whatever will never become a reality. His eyes glued themselves to the English coast until he was unable to see it from the ship.
