AN: I heard that it was Jensen Ackles birthday on the First of March so I thought this would be a cool fic to write. Dedicated to him I wish him a Happy Birthday and thank him for making Dean Winchester as we know him. Plus my sister bugged me to do this!

SUCCUMBING TO JOY

Sam stared at the shiny red bike. The paint was glistening and the wheels were brand new. The frame wasn't bent or crooked and there was hardly a scratch on it. It was as if it was never used. Perfect, he thought to himself as he walked over to the register ready to purchase Dean's birthday present. He knew that they couldn't keep it, but after all the crap they went through a bit of the childhood they never got would be a perfect way to celebrate.

"Good Morning!" The salesperson said cheerily. A plump little woman sat on a stool behind the counter. Sam pointed to the bike in the window. "Beautiful thing ain't it and in fantastic condition." He stared at her gesturing and listened as her voice tinkled in his ears. It was a soothing, comforting sound that he hadn't heard from anyone in so long. "How long do you want it sweetie?" She asked as she dragged it carefully from the display.

Sam immediately moved to help her, "I was thinking a few days. My brother and I are just passing by. I thought some childhood reminders wouldn't go astray." He set the bike against a table and handed over the money.

"Such a sweet boy," she cooed giving Sam the change. "Would you like me to keep it until you can pick it up?" She asked as she watched the thought pass through his mind.

"That be great..." he paused waiting for her to tell him her name.

"It's Olivia," she inserted.

"Thanks Olivia, I'll come by soon and pick it up," Sam said as he started walking out the door.

Castiel watched Sam walk out the door, his eyes moving to the red bike leaning against the table. Sam turned down the street and stopped when he saw the tan trench coat standing in front of the window.

"Hi Cas," he said uncertainly, "What's up? Saving the world?"

"What is that?" Castiel asked pointing to the bike as if it was going to bite him.

"What? Oh, it's a bike," Sam replied as he told Castiel to watch a group of people suddenly whiz by on bikes. The angel looked horrified, as the two wheeled machines went by him with a buzz and several sharp rings from their bells.

"Why do you want one? They look dangerous and they have only this much space to hold you up," Castiel said horrified as he pinched his fingers together to show Sam the width of the wheels.

Sam gave a snort of laughter at the angel's petrified look. "They are pretty cool and really fun. It's not for me anyways its Dean's birthday the day after tomorrow."

Castiel's eyes widened. "Dean's birthday, the day he was born, came into the world?" He asked looking at Sam. "Human's normally give presents as a sign of affection?'

"Yeah we try to give presents; it doesn't have to mean a sign of affection. I thought it would be nice, plus Dean's out of the pit so I thought it could signify something great or yeah…" his voice trailed off.

"I haven't gotten him anything, can I share with you?" Castiel asked gazing at the bike with his bright blue eyes.

"No way!" Sam said quickly, "This is from me to Dean, I have to give him something good. You know I've hurt him a lot recently; I need him to know that I'm still the same baby brother he remembers. Dean won't mind you didn't get him anything. You don't know about birthdays properly." Sam finished as he turned to walk back to the motel. "I have to go, Dean will get sus. Don't tell him anything." Sam said shaking his finger in warning.

?_?

Dean looked up as he heard Sam come through the front door. "Hey Sam, where you been all morning?" He lay down on the bed, belly side down watching TV.

"I had a headache," Sam lied, ignoring how quickly Dean suddenly sat up. "No, it wasn't a vision," Sam continued, answering Dean's unasked question. Dean slowly lay down again, throwing quick glances at Sam.

"How does it feel Dean, you're nearly thirty," Sam asked smugly, knowing this might rile Dean up.

"Getting old and loving it," Dean bit back sarcastically, not going for the bait. "Seriously dude," he started getting up, "I can't wait til the damn apocalypse comes and goes." He walked over to the table and sat across Sam. He looked at Sam scrutinising his appearance. Sam's hair was long in need of a haircut, and it looked like it had been brushed. Since when had they owned a frickin brush? His forehead had worry lines and he looked hardened. Sighing he put his head on the table.

Maybe that wasn't the best idea. Sam thought as he saw Dean rest his head. Something to cheer him up… Sam frantically searched him mind for anything to make his big brother laugh. "Your birthday isn't actually for months you know?" Sam blurted out before thinking about what he was going to say.

"Huh?" Dean said removing his head from the table. "You're stupid," he said getting ready to put his head back on the table.

"No, no, no it makes sense, well sort of… I think?" Sam tried, attempting to find a logical scenario to fit his situation. "You died over four months ago-".

"Thanks for the new flash Sammy, I was there, remember?" Leaning his head in the palms of his hands he listened to Sammy's reasoning.

"Yeah Dean I know," Sam spoke softly. "You died four months ago, absolutely dead. So your body stopped ageing, weirdly speaking. Imagine you were wiped out from the world for four months. That's you. All of the sudden you come back, into existence totally fine. It's like starting and stopping. You died at the age of twenty-nine and four months so you stopped completely. Then you came back and those four months haven't happened to you yet. It's still May for you. You're still twenty-nine and four months," he finished off looking at Dean's confused expression.

"I'm still twenty-nine?" Dean asked, as he looked at Sam's hopeful expression.

"According to your body, yes, according to what you've know for twenty-nine years, no." Sam looked at Dean's face, his brows were creased, forehead scrunched up, mouth pulled tight across his face as he processed the information.

Dean suddenly, let out a little giggle. "I'm good, so good," he said to himself looking up to see Sam's worried grin.

Look what you did now Sam? You idiot, you sent Dean over the edge. Sam plastered a grin on his face, but couldn't hide the fact that this was unnerving him. "Care to explain the joke Dean?"

"I found the secret to not getting older. We're not four years difference anymore. It like three and something, plus the hundred days you lived over and over again is like four months. So you aged eight months more than I did. You're old." Dean suddenly roared in laughter at Sam's expression. Like Dean's earlier, Sam forehead was scrunched together as he tried to figure the latest revelation.

Suddenly he stopped. Dean was laughing! The sound was music to Sam's ears, it had been months since he heard Dean's deep throaty laugh that always made Sam want to jump around and laugh with him. The corners of his lips twitched desperately wanting to turn upwards. Watching Dean for a few more seconds, wanting to imprint the image of Dean, happy, laughing and alive in his mind, he succumbed to the sudden joy of Dean's laughter and joined in. Dean moving his hand to cover Sam's as he watched his baby brother, finally letting go of something other than anger.

Castiel suddenly appeared behind Dean and Sam quickly turned sombre. Dean's face fell as he saw Sam, clearing his throat Sam tipped his head back watching Dean turn around. "Jesus!" Dean whispered.

"What? Where?" Castiel said frantically turning his head from side to side, scanning the room for Jesus.

"Figure of speech Cas," Sam amended before the angel snapped his own neck.

"Right, okay," Castiel said calming down a little bit. "I just wanted to come by and tell you that everything seems to be going fine. So there will be no need for you this week unless something comes up." The angel finished off hastily as Dean stood up and stretched lazily. "That's awesome Cas," he turned to Sam. "Me, hungry want to grab something to eat?"

"Sure." Sam stood up and grabbed his jacket and opened the door for Dean. "Want anything Cas?"

"No thank you Sam." Castiel nodded his head as they departed to go find lunch. Turning around he surveyed their latest room. A collage of green and brown paint was slashed on the walls. Vomit, Castiel said as he shuddered at the thought, How do they live with this? Sudden images from the TV suddenly caught his attention.

'Want to live a full life? How would you like to wear white?' Castiel thought about this. He had never ever seen Dean wear white. Sam on occasion wore white shirts but Dean always wore dark clothing. 'How would you like to swim in the sea or ride a bike?' Castiel's ears perked up.

"Finally." He breathed a sigh of relief as he looked up. "Thank you God I have a present for Dean." He watched the rest of the commercial then switched the channel. He saw a man buying exactly what was advertised on the channel before. "So it's not only for women." That's it Castiel had made his mind up. He found Dean a birthday present and was sure that it was the right thing that would tie in perfectly with Sam's present.

?_?

Dean's senses woke up to the smell of waffles and pancakes enticing his nose. Opening his eyes slowly he saw Sam standing in the small kitchenette. As he became more aware of his surroundings he saw the brightly coloured balloons and the banner above the door way. "Sam?" He questioned, when Sam turned around Dean cracked up tears streaming down his face. Sam was standing in the door way of the kitchenette, blue flannel pyjamas and white fluffy slippers on his feet. He was wearing a small pink apron with bright blue daisies that only went up to his stomach and tied only behind his neck because Sam was too big to have it tied around his waist. Sam's hair was tousled, dusted with flour as was the rest of Sam's face.

"Morning Dean!" Sam said coming over to wish his big brother a happy birthday.

"Have you seen yourself?!" Dean laughed staring at Sam's nose which had traces of maple syrup on it. Sam shook his head and grinned.

"Happy birthday Dean," Sam said kissing the top of Dean's head ignoring the yelp.

"What the hell Sam?" Dean said in shock.

"Sorry. Force of habit caught it from Jess," Sam said sadly. Shaking his head, this was no time to make Dean sad on his birthday. "C'mon breakfast is getting cold."

Dean sat up and grabbed Sam's shoulder. "Hey Sammy, thanks." He pulled Sam into the biggest bear hug he could muster, breathing in the scent of baked goods, from Sam's hair. Sam sat there quietly, feeling like they were kids who shared a common bond of just being brothers and nothing else. Not hunters, not partners, just brothers who would die for each other and hurt anyone who came between them.

The sudden beep of the fire alarm had that moment destroyed as Sam jumped from the bed turning off the stove and throwing away the burnt pancake. Dean finally got up and stared at just how comical Sam looked. "Where the hell did you get the apron from?" He asked as he entered the bathroom.

"Found it under the bathroom sink."

"Figures." Dean snorted as he shut the door behind him…

AN: So what do you think? Celebrity worthy. Will have a second chapter. Please review, first humor fic. Luv Scare