Author's Note:

I was asking on my tumblr if anyone had requests for another 'Christmas Tradition' fic and no one asked so I figured I'd do random things. This first one is based in my fic world 'Chronicles' after the main story.

Aeterna

"What do I get for Cas?" Dean asked casually and looked at Jet as they drove to the mall.

"Dude," Jet ran a hand through his hair and leaned back in the seat, "I haven't gotten anything for Sam and he's the easy one, how am I supposed to help with Cas?"

"Wait, you didn't get Sam anything?"

"No. I know how to buy him shit when he's a friend, not my boyfriend! What the hell do you get boyfriends? I've never had one before Sam! Girls are easy; make-up, flowers, chocolate, jewelry, gift cards to their favourite clothing stores because you never buy them that shit without their being there, et cetera. But Sam's not like that."

"Just get him what you'd normally get him." Dean scoffed.

"Man you don't get it; if I get him the normal shit it looks like I'm doing the 'we're buddies' thing. I can't laugh and give him lewd magazines or take him out to a strip club or some shit, he'd get offended." Jet's expression was priceless, he was stressed out and Dean could see the little lines between his eyebrows increasing. "It needs to say 'I know we're a couple, I love you, but also it's something you wanted/could use.'"

"That's tough." Dean looked up at the ridiculously packed parking lot, finding a spot was going to be hell. "Glad I don't have that problem."

"You do so."

"How do you mean?" He raised an eyebrow Jet's way.

"What'd you get Cas?" Jet grinned, his eyebrow mirroring Dean's though far more accusing.

Dean pressed his lips into a tight line and furrowed his brow at Jet, "You know I didn't get him anything yet."

"So then what are you planning to give him? You actually think about how he's going to react to your gift? Do you know if he'll even like it?" Dean parked as Jet spoke, trying to ignore the condescending undertone. A spot had conveniently opened up right next to him - he pissed off a dude with his signal on but Dean didn't really care that much.

It was their first Christmas together. Dean took out and stared at the list of gifts in his hand, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the blank space next to Castiel's name.

He came up with nothing in almost a minute. Jet had a good point.

How the fuck do you even shop for a guy like Cas? He never had to think about it while saving the universe and fighting the Void. A nice gift would've been a peaceful home but that was already said and done several months ago. So what? Trinkets? Jewelry? He had to remind himself that Cas was actually really old, considering how time passed on the Mainline. And on top of that he was also from a dimension that was slightly behind the times. Dean had to be the one to show Cas how to use different things in their world, mostly computers but it was always a little beyond Castiel's caring anyway.

So technology wasn't something he should get. Sam wanted a laptop from him; he had already found something randomly cool for Jet - thankfully because his buddy was the one shopping with him. His mom and dad got something couples-y like a nice date night, Michael also enjoyed technology so Dean figured some video games for the guy's PC - Steam gift card for sure. Gabriel just needed candy. Shit loads of it. Then the family friends, whom he'd already shopped for, stuffed animals, gift cards, just nice cards in general, a movie night, a few months of Netflix, and other random stuff for the older folks.

"Oh my god…" Dean dropped his head against the steering wheel. "What the hell do I get him!?"

"There, now we're on the same page." Jet climbed out of the car, "Come on! This crazy mystery present isn't going to find itself. We saved all of fucking existence; I think we can find these guys some goddamn gifts."

Dean appreciated Jet's enthusiasm but it was still more complicated than he'd ever anticipated.

They walked into the mall and slowed their roll, watching what seemed like hundreds of people wander in aimless directions. Stores were full and line ups were ridiculous. The two exchanged determined glances, not a word passed between them because a single fist-bump said everything.

Dean and Jet stormed every store for any item, making mental lists in their heads of what might work out and what wouldn't. The list of 'what wouldn't' grew larger and larger as they ruled out everything else. There was one thing Dean though might've been cool and nearly wrestled an old lady for it - but he decided it wasn't good enough so he let it go. They considered DVDs, games, CD's, even stupid little things like journals but nothing was right. What the hell could they get their boyfriends? The two bros were stumped and after a few hours of hunting they rested on benches in the middle of the mall.

Jet dropped his head into his hands and sighed heavily. "This is the worst..." He groaned and Dean nodded quickly. "I bet those assholes probably have the perfect presents and we're gonna walk in there with some dumb shit... or nothing, at this rate."

"Right? Like Cas probably put the most thought into some amazing thing that I can't even fathom and I'll walk up and give him a half-eaten Cheeto or something..."

"What the fuck do we do?"

"I don't even know anymore. You think he'd even want anything? Like should we make coupon books or something?" Dean wasn't quite sure if it was the idea or the way he'd asked but it made Jet laugh. "Dude stop laughing, I have no idea!"

But he didn't stop. Maybe he'd finally cracked. A shit load of responsibility dumped on them to fight monsters and save the world; maybe he'd lost his mind. And then, maybe Dean did too because he started to crack up right along with Jet.

The two sat laughing in the middle of the mall, empty handed and doubled over on a bunch. People walked by like they weren't even there, like some specters that shouldn't exist and therefore are making no noises. But they didn't care, it was funny. Their situation and how stupid it all sounded were hilarious. Stress did weird things to people.

"What's so funny?" It sounded like Castiel.

They'd be so preoccupied with getting gifts and not finding anything that when they sat down they didn't notice who was on the other bench behind them. Dean and Jet looked over their shoulders to see Sam and Cas next to one another, staring back at them. Jet glanced at Dean really quick and both of them struggled to stop. They couldn't do it. It was already so stressful that they just had to laugh, Sam and Cas sitting directly behind them was too much.

"I don't even know!" Jet snorted out the reply, he was holding his sides like they were in pain. "Fuckin' coupon book, man! What the hell!"

Dean laughed even harder as he listened to his best friend's voice crack into giggles. He couldn't breathe but that was okay, it was a good kind of not breathing. "I don't know!" He managed the words when air would get to him.

"Are you guys... trying to find gifts for us?" Sam asked hesitantly.

"Yeah." Jet looked at him honestly, calming himself down finally. "I can't find anything that's... right."

Sam and Cas looked at one another and smiled what looked like complete relief turning into a grin.

"What?" Dean raised an eyebrow at them and Cas shrugged.

"Nothing, I just thought I was the only one who had no idea what to get you." Cas over the bench and kissed Dean across it. "Can we just pick something we think is cool?"

Dean laughed softly, "None of that 'it has to be romantic' bullshit?"

"Please." Cas kissed him again, this time Dean returned it and cupped his boyfriend's cheek.

"Sounds like a deal." He said after they separated.

Jet looked at Sam with wide eyes and a pleading expression that just begged they do the same thing that Dean and Cas just suggested. Sam scoffed at him and looked the other way, a smirk on his face.

"Aw c'mon!" Jet got up and walked around in front of Sam, "You've already got something don't you? I'm not good at romantic gifts-"

Sam grabbed his arm and pulled Jet into his lap, his hands moving roughly through his boyfriend's hair. It was a harsh kiss but it shut Jet up, aside from a moaned exhale. Sam let him go after a few seconds and gently pet the side of Jet's head, "Alright, we can do like they're doing."

Jet didn't reply, he just dropped onto the bench with one knee on either side of Sam's hips and kissed him back.

Cas blinked at them a few times and looked at Dean. "We should uh..."

"Stop them before we get kicked out." Dean completed the sentence and went to haul Jet off his brother.

It would be a good first Christmas.