A/N. Sorry guys for the long time in updating 1975 but this idea just came to me the other night and I thought I'd type it up and share it with you guys. So here it is, my first ever Destiel AU story, hope you enjoy and if you have any questions, don't forget to ask them in the reviews. Peace out till then guys.

Because Of You, I Never Strayed Far From The Sidewalk

Chapter 1

"I'm so sorry sir... There was nothing we could do... She was killed instantly."

Dean could barely believe he was hearing these words at all, it was like someone had plunged their arm straight down his throat and pulled out his oesophagus.

He felt physically ill, almost like he was living out his worst nightmare but this was no nightmare.

This was all too real.

It had all happened so suddenly, that morning Dean had woken up to a cold empty bed -which was normal when his girlfriend of two years, Lisa was a nurse who worked night shifts and usually didn't get home until well into the afternoon when Dean was already at work – and had prepared himself to get ready for work by showering and making himself a quick breakfast of toast before with a last look around the house, he had left pocketing his cell phone whilst pulling out the keys to his 1976 Chevrolet Impala.

It was just as he had turned the keys in the ignition that he had received a phone call from the hospital.

At first, he hadn't really thought much of what this phone call could really mean, Lisa usually did phone him in the morning before he went to work to wish him luck and that she would see him later so to say he was surprised when instead of the light hearted feminine voice of Lisa, he instead was met with that of a male would be a understatement.

When Dean had asked who was calling, all the male voice had said to him was that it was concerning Lisa Braeden and inquired if Dean could come to the hospital as quickly as possible, it sent a shiver of panic straight through his system.

Had something happened to Lisa?

Had something happened to the baby?

Only eight months ago, after their two year anniversary, Dean had awoken from his slumber to find Lisa standing over him, her black hair sprawling down her shoulders and back with only a thin dressing gown covering her slim, petite body.

In her hand there was a stick that was shaking in Lisa's hand as she held it close to her, almost as if afraid to show it to Dean.

When Dean had finally woken enough to ask Lisa what exactly was wrong, Lisa had burst into happy tears, instantly bounding onto the bed and capturing Dean in a hug that was so breathtaking, Dean was sure he might have died if Lisa didn't let him go in the next second.

"We're going to have a baby. Dean, I'm pregnant."

To say that that day was the best day of Dean's life would be an understatement, this was the most amazing day of Dean Winchesters whole existence. For months now, Dean and Lisa had been trying to conceive a child without any luck but finally something good had happened.

Letting loose a breath of joy, Dean wrapped his arms around Lisa's waist pulling her in for a quick kiss that had Lisa giggle, pulling away in the next second to slap Dean playfully on the shoulder stating that he had bad breath that would be bad for the baby.

"Sir... Would you like to see you're little girl?"

Those words brought Dean out of his memories, tears instantly threatening to bubble up in his eyes that he wished away as he tried to imagine how he was going to manage looking down at his own daughter when it was the last tie he had to Lisa. It was the only way that Lisa would ever be remembered to him.

Jerking his head down in a quick nod, Dean took a quick deep breath, instantly feeling worry and panic lace up in his system as he tried to think of anything else but the fact that he was going to get to see his little baby girl who had been born a whole month early without Lisa by his side.

The same Lisa who had always wanted a little baby girl ever since she had found out that she was pregnant and wanted to be there to name the precious little thing whatever gender it came out.

Slipping through the thin hospital door that the doctor had opened for him, Dean instantly felt his breath leave his body as his eyes were met with that of Lisa's own chocolate brown eyes in the face of a small baby girl so small, it was almost impossible to fully see her but with a few already wisps of light blonde hair picking their way through.

The nurse in question who was holding the little girl in her arms gave a start when the door closed behind Dean but plastered a smile on her face next second as she held the little baby out to Dean, silently asking if he wished to hold her whilst all Dean could do was stand there, shocked beyond belief at how much this little girl looked like her mother, the eyes were the same and even the small, thin cheekbones that had been Lisa's own and already a cheeky little smile across her face that would have done Lisa proud.

"Sir? Would you like to hold her?"

Starting back with a jump, Dean looked away from the little baby in the nurse's arms and instead into the eyes of the nurse who was staring straight back at him with what looked almost like sympathy in her eyes but he didn't want sympathy from others, he didn't want people feeling sorry for him because he had just lost the best thing in his whole life, he had gained something else in the process.

Shyly nodding his head in an almost hesitant yes, Dean waited with bated breath as the nurse slowly approached him, and without thinking about it, Dean readied his arms into the most comfortable position as the little girl was passed into his hands.

She was soft and light, just like Dean had expected, curled up in the little pink blanket and sucking slowly on one of her tiny fingers, she was in a word... beautiful.

Dean couldn't help the small, almost chocked sob that escaped him that second as he took witness to the small baby that had just been placed in his arms almost like she belonged there, it just felt all too right.

"Hello my beautiful little baby girl" Dean whispered into the soft head as he left a small faint kiss on the youngsters forehead.

"Hello Joanna Beth Winchester."

Two Months Later

Dean sighed with relief as he finally got Jo to stop screaming her small head off for two seconds over something new that Dean was still not exactly sure was.

Flopping down onto the wooden floor by the small crib he had just placed Jo in for the fifth time that day, Dean closed his eyes tightly, almost like he were trying to shut out the rest of the world when all he could really do was hope to god that this time Jo was really out for the count.

Sighing again, Dean opened his eyes again, thinking longing to himself of how much he would just love a quick nap and a beer of some kind when his phone rang out loud, smoke on the water blaring out at top volume from his pocket that instantly had him slam his hand against his pocket, pulling the darted thing and hitting the answer button before Jo could wake up again.

Thankfully for him though, Jo slept on unaware of the noise that would normally have disturbed her.

"Hello?" Dean whispered questioningly, aware that he hadn't checked the caller id before answering so he wasn't too sure of who could be calling him at this time of hour.

"Hello. Is this a Dean Winchester?"

The voice that replied in turn was one that Dean himself had never heard before but it instantly sent a shiver straight through his body and straight to his dick as the voice was very low and gruff, almost like the male voice on the other end had just had sex but he pushed that thought away instantly, this person could be a serial killer for all Dean knew.

"Yes I'm Dean Winchester. May I ask who's calling?"

Bracing himself back against the wall, Dean prepared himself to stand up and away from the wall when the man's gruff voice came back again through the phone.

"Hi Dean Winchester. My name is Castiel Novak. I'm calling about the advertisement that was posted online. I would like to offer my services to you."

Dean choked on his breath that second as he heard the male voice say those last few words, the advertisement online? Offering his services to him? Dean could only stand in horror, half torn between telling the man that perhaps there had been a mix-up and that the man had the wrong number or tell him that he didn't like the joke the man seemed to be making when he continued.

"I'm phoning to offer my services of babysitting to you."

It all clicked in his head that second as Dean fully became aware of what this man, Castiel, he had said his name was, strange name Dean thought to himself but instantly pushed it to the back of his mind, was phoning about.

Dean's one and only truly friend, Ash had inquired how he was getting on with little baby girl Jo today whilst Dean had been at work and Sam – his little but weirdly enough taller, brother - had stayed at Dean's house to babysit little Jo despite the fact that he should have been on his way back to Stanford by now.

Almost two months ago, just days after Lisa had been killed in the car crash, Dean had received a knock on his door at about seven o'clock in the morning just as he had been readying himself to call in and tell his boss, Bobby Singer that he wouldn't be making in it to work.

Dean had immediately went to the door, wondering if maybe it was the man next door who had lost his cat again but when Dean pulled the door open, all thoughts of sanity went away as he took in the tall giant frame of his younger brother Sam.

"Hey Dean, hope you don't mind I'm here, I thought you might want some company."

Without even thinking about it, Dean had stepped forward, pulling his brother into an large hug, tears springing to his eyes again that he once again wished away whilst his mind came to terms with the fact that his little brother had just left his campus at Stanford all the way in sunny California to drive almost thirty hours all the way to Indiana, all to make sure that he was all okay.

"Thanks Sammy."

Dean had immediately replied back to Ash that it was hard having to juggle between looking after Jo all the time and working when Sam was taking some time off from school to help out but really needed to be heading back now, almost asking why in the next second but holding it back.

Now however, it all made sense to him, Ash had obviously put that advertisement up online to help Dean out which Dean was grateful for but why was this the first person to have contacted Dean since he had arrived back home.

"Yeah sorry, errr. Could you possibly swing by tomorrow about twelve for a quick interview?"

Dean crossed his fingers together, hoping against all hope that the guy would say no that he wouldn't be able to help out and Dean could go back to the way things currently were.

It seemed however that god wasn't in too good a mood with him as Castiel's voice lit up straight away as he replied.

"Yes sure of course. I mean, that's fine by me. Thank you Mr Winchester. I shall see you tomorrow at twelve."

And with that Castiel hung up, leaving Dean with only the dial tone to ring in his ear as he tried to understand just what exactly had just happened.

The next morning dawned bright and early for Dean who was roused from his slumber at six o'clock that morning by Jo's screams coming loudly from just across the hall, a sure sign that she was now awake and would continue to be so until her dad came in to check on her and see just what exactly was wrong.

Sighing as Dean slid his tired, aching body out from under the soft, slick sheets that Lisa had picked out herself when they had first moved in together that Dean had no intention on removing, he padded into the cold hallway, instantly regretting not having worn socks to bed last night when the cold pricked at his feet sending a shiver through his whole body.

Sliding into the room that second, Dean flipped on the light switch, scrunching up his eyes as an unwanted burst of bright light invaded his vision, but he tried to ignore that and instead focused on getting to Jo's aid and seeing just what exactly was the problem with her.

Stopping right at the foot of the crib, Dean pulled the frame down, reaching down in the next second and curling his arms around Jo's still small body and raising her to him, already beginning to bounce the little girl softly in his arms whilst shushing her.

"What's with all the noise Joanna Beth?" Dean whispered gently into her hair, ready to try something else when all of a sudden like magic, Jo stopped crying and instead focused her big chocolate brown eyes onto him, a curious almost look on them as if unsure of who Dean was speaking to.

Chuckling softly, Dean bounced Jo in his arms once more, explaining to her that Joanna Beth was her full name and was rewarded with a big raspberry and giggle of sorts from the small girl in his arms.

Smiling again, Dean nodded against Jo's head and slowly placed the small girl back into the crib not having been able to find anything else wrong with her at all.

This seemed to be the wrong thing to do however as next second, Jo instantly burst into loud, bawling tears that had Dean cover his ears, wondering instantly just what exactly was the problem when something the nurse at the hospital had informed him of flew into his mind.

"When the baby's are still young, they will cry a lot but sometimes they will cry for attention just to get lifted, if the little one gets lifted up and is quiet then starts right back again, pull up her frame and walk away, don't show her attention or she will get used to this and begin to think that by crying she can get attention form you. Just ignore it."

Dean nodded in agreement as he pulled the crib frame right back up again and turned around on his heel, clicking off the light as he went, hearing instantly as he went how Jo's screams turned quieter and quieter until at last with a small gurgle she was right back under, Dean sighing in relief as he headed back to his own bed, crawling under the covers and wishing that someone could be here beside him right now, that Lisa was here with him, chuckling at how silly Dean was being to be tricked like that and curling herself around him, her arms soft and warm around his waist.

With those thoughts in his mind, Dean drifted back off to sleep, invisible tears sliding their way down Dean's face as he slowly lost conscious and escaped back into dream world.

Several hours later, Dean awoke to the sound of a faint buzzing coming from his phone informing him that he had a new text.

Rubbing a hand over his face to clear away the sleep from his eyes, Dean leaned over and lifted up his phone, surprised beyond doubt to see that the new text was from a number that was unknown to him.

Clicking onto the text, Dean read the text slowly, trying to work out the words before finally allowing himself to read it once more.

Dean,

It's Castiel here. Just to say that I won't be able to make it at twelve today as a friend of mine has a job interview at the same time and needs me to give him a lift to the job. If it's okay with you, I can come over just now as my house is only five minutes away, you're address was posted on the advertisement and I knew where you were so I can be there in five if need be

Castiel.

Shaking his head at how formal Castiel seemed to be, Dean smiled softly to himself in the same second that Castiel didn't live too far away from himself before the next part of Castiel's words hit his head. Castiel could be on his way over right now and Dean wasn't even properly dressed yet or out of his bed yet.

Pushing his feet out from under the covers, Dean hastily typed back a reply of 'ok xx' and threw his phone back down onto the night-stand as he threw his whole body into action as he pulled off his t-shirt and boxers changing into a new pair of clean boxers with a pair of light blue jeans pulled over the top and finally threw a clean smelling and looking shirt over his head and was ready to go within five seconds as he ran into the kitchen, hastily shoving two pieces of toast into the toaster just in-case the guy hadn't eaten yet when there came a sharp knock at the door.

Pushing the switch down and knowing he could wait for the toast to pop back up again, Dean made his way over to the front door, brushing down his shirt and musing his short dirty blonde hair into what he hoped was a smart presentable look before pulling the front door open and instantly stopping in his tracks when his eyes took in the man standing opposite him.

This was man was in a word gorgeous. His short black hair was tufted up and flying in all directions almost as if he had been pulling on it the whole way over and two blazing blue eyes stared into Dean's own green ones as Dean continued to stand there, staring and trying to think of how creepy he must look right now just staring at a man he had never met before.

"Are you Dean Winchester?" The man asked in the same gruff voice that Dean had heard yesterday over the phone, instantly sending a feeling of something straight to his dick that had Dean curse inwardly at how he couldn't seem to be able to control himself around this strange man.

"Y...Y...Yes.. I am. Casteel I assume?" Dean answered back, instantly regretting it when he saw the other man's head tilt to the side in confusion at the mispronunciation of his name.

"Castiel actually. Castiel Novak."

The man in question, Castiel titled his head back to face straight towards Dean as he held out one rough, calloused looking hand towards Dean who still could do nothing more but stand and stare straight at Castiel before with a awkward cough, Castiel let his hand drop back to his side, almost indicating as to whether he could come in or not.

"Ooh sorry, come on in."

Dean broke out of his day-dream here as he stepped back and away from the door, inviting Castiel in with his hand to which the other man complied shrugging off a large trench coat that almost looked too big on him as he walked in, placing the material in question over his arms and revealing a suit jacket, tie and work trousers under the ensemble.

"Did you just come from work?" Dean asked, as he stood awkwardly in the hallway, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't be completely awkward such as oh my god you are completely hot.

"Yes sorry, I know ten o'clock is rather early on a Saturday morning but it was the only time I could get away without my boss complaining at me when all I do is work for him on a Saturday morning" Castiel replied, hands still covering the trench coat.

"Do you want me to take that for you?" Dean asked, indicating the trench coat as the two men walked into the kitchen, Dean indicating for Castiel to take a seat which the man in question did do, placing the trench coat over the back of the chair behind him.

"No thank you. It is okay."

Dean nodded his head, hands already beginning to sweat as he slowly sat down in the seat opposite Castiel, prepared to starting ask questions about him like are you single and what are you into just as the toast popped that second, reminding Dean that he hadn't exactly eaten anything yet.

Flying from the chair, Dean instantly sprinted over to the toaster, bringing the butter out from the fridge before finally turning back to Castiel who still hadn't moved an inch.

"Would you like some toast? I just made some and I wasn't sure if you had eaten or that at all" Dean stuttered out, surprised that despite a few stutter on some words, he didn't completely embarrass himself.

"Yes thank you. I didn't get the chance to eat anything before I left the house this morning."

Dean immediately began to spread butter onto the two pieces of toast, cutting them in two and getting two plates out before bringing them back to the table placing one plate directly in-front of Castiel and another in-front of himself.

"Thank you Dean."

Dean nodded back, a smile on his face as he bit into his slice of toast and almost moaned at how good it felt to have food in his stomach as he had been hungry for a while now.

Placing down his slice of toast that second, Dean wiped his face down before starting to speak.

"So Castiel, what made you decide to apply for this job?"

"I've wanted to work with kids all my life and I guess babysitting would really be a right step in the right direction. My friend tells me I'm completely delusional though to even think of such a career but I don't know. It just feels right to me."

Dean nodded his head as Castiel spoke, a small smile on his face at how Castiel seemed to be good so far, not creepy or serial killer like in the slightest.

"And do you have any qualifications in child care at all?" Dean asked his next question despite already knowing that even though Castiel was the only one who had applied for the job, he would still be employing the man opposite him despite the fact that he was incredibly hot.

"I do not have any qualifications per se. But I did take a course during the summer there that resolved around child care. I got many colourful resumes from my professors if you wish to see their opinion on the matter" Castiel replied, taking a small bite of his toast and licking his lips as he did so to make sure he didn't have any butter on his lips that immediately had Dean wonder just what else those lips could do.

Shaking himself from those thoughts, Dean instead focused his attention on the fact that Castiel seemed to be waiting patiently to see what the outcome of his last statement would be.

"No need" Dean surprised even himself by saying these words in that second as he tore off a bit of toast, chewing quickly before continuing.

"You're hired."

Dean instantly noticed how Castiel's whole face seemed to light up at the fact that he had gotten the job, blue eyes seeming to flash even brighter and a wide smile appearing on his face that Dean wanted to kiss just to make sure it stayed there forever.

"Oh gosh. This is great. Thank you."

Castiel replied, already digging around in his pocket to which he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text before placing his phone onto the kitchen table, awaiting further instructions.

"Okay, do you think you could start this Monday at 10. I usually have to leave at 10 for work so if that time would be good with you, I would be most appreciated."

Castiel opened his mouth, ready to reply when his phone vibrated on the kitchen table that second, Dean making out the words reflected back in the glass plate.

That's great hun. Love you xx

Dean let his eyes fall to the table top that second as his mind came to terms with him that Castiel obviously had a girlfriend who was congratulating him on the fact that he had gotten the job when Castiel replied.

"Yes. That is perfect with me. I shall be there at quarter to on Monday to allow you to get to work on time."

Dean slowly lifted his head from where he had been staring at the table top to see a wide smile on Castiel's face that he couldn't help but smile widely back to, knowing that despite everything he still found Castiel attractive and even though Castiel was with someone else, he would still be professional.

"Okay, sounds great" Dean replied with a large smile.

A/N. Well here it is guys. The first chapter of my first ever Destiel AU Story. I know Dean is slightly out of character here but I had to make him a bit more emotional since everything that happened to him and how he is now got a little baby to look after. Hope you enjoyed this first chapter and I will try to update as often as I can and update 1975 as well whilst trying to work on my other story's also.

Until then hope you keep enjoying my stories and I will update as much as possible.

OurLittleCornerOfTheWorld xx