Chapter One

She remembered when she had seen him for the first time. He had the look of someone who had seen enough tragedy to last two lifetimes, maybe more. His tan trenchcoat was dirty and he looked like he had just walked to The Inn at Shady Pines for many miles. But he was also very beautiful - so beautiful she found herself staring at the man.

"Celeste!" It was her dad's annoyed voice that brought her back to reality. "Get this man the key to room 204, please."
She jumped at the order, unusually flustered. Her shaky hand grabbed the key off the hook and she turned to face the mysterious stranger. Looking into his eyes that first time, she realized they were blue. So very blue. She could lose herself in them...

"D-Do you have any bags?" She asked shakily, trying to compose herself. What was wrong with her? She met many attractive guests everyday working at her dad's inn. Why was this man so different?

He looked confused at first, squinting at her. Then he said in a low, gruff voice, "No."

She was still so twitterpated that she didn't even realize this was strange. A dishevelled, beautiful man who comes to the inn with no luggage, no car and only a first name? No, that wasn't strange at all!

Her dad rolled his eyes behind the desk and chuckled. Celeste led the man out of the main office and out towards the first set of stairs, now composing herself. They walked in silence, she had no idea what to say to him. Besides, he was just like any other guest, right?
She walked down the corridor to a door at the end marked '204' in gold lettering, realizing he was following close on her heels. Did he know anything about personal space? Celeste wondered if he could hear her heart thumping excitedly in her chest.

She put the key in the lock and opened the door to a dark, but clean-smelling room. Celeste and her dad prided themselves on running a well-organized and well-taken-care-of inn here in their small, wooded town. She flipped on the lights to reveal a comfy room with one queen-sized bed against the far wall, a nightstand to the left of it, a small table with two chairs propped against the nearest wall, a large flat screen TV in the upper corner of that wall, a kitchenette below it, and a bathroom beyond it.

"I...hope you enjoy your stay, Mr...what was it again?" She fumbled.

"Castiel," he pronounced "Cas-tee-El". "Just Castiel." It was a beautiful name and though strange, it suited him.

"Right. Well, 'Just Castiel', I hope you enjoy your stay with us at Shady Pines. And if you need anything, I'm usually at the front desk. My name is Celeste."

Suddenly, but gently, he grabbed her hand in his and stepped closer, inches from her face. Her heart skipped a beat.
"Celeste," He said. It sounded so good when he said it. "That's a beautiful name. I believe it means 'heavenly'."

"Uh...Eh..I...don't know," she stammered, lost for words.

"Well, it was wonderful to meet you, Celeste. I hope I see you again soon. Thank you for all your help," with this he smiled, and his smile was just as beautiful as the rest of him. She realized she was staring again.

"Oh! Uh...yes. Nice to m-meet you too...Castiel. Uh...like I said, I'm usually at the front desk so I'm sure I'll see you around!" She giggled nervously.

"Well, if you don't mind, Celeste," there it was, her name on his tongue was music to her ears, "I've had a very long day and I am very tired. I'll have to bid you 'Good night'."

"Oh! Sorry...uh, yes. Good night to you too!" With that she forced herself to walk out the door before she embarrassed herself further, but not before one last friendly, albeit goofy, smile at the new guest. He smiled back at her, that beautiful, bright smile.

Taking a deep breath once she was outside his room, she gathered herself. 'Calm down, Celeste. He's just a guest. He'll probably be out of here in no time just like everyone else. Don't get your hopes up just because he's good-looking and happened to be nice to you.' Walking down the hallway, she mentally kicked herself.

At least she would be seeing him again tomorrow. And if that was all she could ask for, then that was enough for now. Little did she know then that she would be seeing much more of Castiel, long after tomorrow.