"I'm not doing that," Piers says flatly.

"Oh, yes you are," Dean says with confidence.

"No. No I am not. Not even if you bribe me with sex."

"Oh, love. We both know by now that I wouldn't bribe, I would threaten. But no. I don't even need to, because I've already talked to Max about it, and you're both coming."

Piers groans. "He's my cousin; that does not make him the boss of me!"

Dean just gives him a look showing exactly how little he believes that, because they both know Max is the only reliable parental figure Piers has ever had and that Piers loves him to death.

"I've already told my mum you're coming. She's so excited. C'mon, Piers. You wouldn't disappoint my mum, would you?"

This is a low blow, because they both know exactly how much it meant to Piers that he had Mrs. Thomas' approval. He'd come home from their first meeting, sat on a couch, stared vacantly at a wall, and said in a stunned tone, "I didn't think people like that existed outside of fairytales."

Dean remembers the pure shock in his voice like it was yesterday. He remembers how much it made his heart ache, to think about all the love and support he got from both his parents and to remember that Piers had only ever had Max, and that he's only had Max since he was seven.

Dean had vowed then and there to make sure his mother loved Piers as much as he did.

That's why they're even having this discussion.

"I'm not going caroling, Dean!"

"It's a Thomas family tradition!"

"I'm not a Thomas!"

Dean pauses, tips his head.

"Is that what you think?" he asks, quiet where he was just yelling.

"What?"

"That you're not part of our family?"

"...I'm not," Piers says slowly.

"Of course you are." Dean's voice is soft and intent and forceful. "Piers, we've been dating four years. My mum has like seven gifts under her tree with your name on them already. When she calls me, the first thing she does is ask about you. Do you really not know this?"

Piers is staring at him, stunned. His face looks broken open in a way that it hasn't for so long, but in a way that is achingly familiar to Dean from when they first started dating. It's a look that means he doesn't understand the affection being shown to him, a look that means he's just waiting for it to be stripped away. It's not joy as Dean knows it. It's a hesitant happiness that doesn't dare express itself.

They don't talk about Piers' parents much, but Dean knows enough. Knows they never cared, never wanted Piers in the first place, never stuck around.

Sometimes he forgets that.

Sometimes, in moments like this, he feels that knowledge settle into his bones. It's not poetic. It's raw. It's painful.

"Come caroling," Dean says. "With our family."

Piers' face cracks wide open as he finally agrees.


Disney C6: Lumiere - Write about someone on the light side of the war. Alt, write about someone funny.

CCC9: Quality Street: Write about doing something because it's traditional, rather than enjoyable.

Showtime: 36. Halloween: (word) poetic

Buttons P3: DeanPiers

Bex's Basement: 3. Lo - Lo is amaze. That is fact. And Lo loves Piers. So. Write a fic about Pier Polkiss. (Bonus)

Advent: Day 1: caroling AU.

Fortnightly: Bake cookies together. Prompt: (character) Piers Polkiss

Present wrapping (funfair south): word: joy

Build a Snowman (funfair north) ribbon: action, shouting

Paper snowflakes (funfair east): emotion: insecure