Castiel quietly opened Claire's bedroom door and turned on the light, "Claire, it's time to get up."
The only response he got was a groan from under the covers and Claire throwing her pillow over her head, "Don't want to!"
Castiel sighed and sat next to her by the bed, trying to tug the pillow away, but she grasped tight, "Claire, you have to get ready for school. Don't you want to see your friends?"
Claire shook her head from under the pillow, "I don't have a lot of friends, anyway."
Castiel looked at her sadly. Claire was more comfortable around older people than children her own age. She had trouble making friends in her class. Castiel didn't know what to do about it, but there wasn't really anything he could do. Claire had told him that she couldn't connect with kids she went to school with, because they didn't read as much as she did and made fun of her for it. Castiel learned from her teacher that the class had pegged her as the "nerd". Though, she did have a few friends, Castiel didn't think Claire felt as close to them as she wanted to.
Castiel shook her shoulder, "Okay, Claire. What about the nanny?"
Claire peeked out from under her pillow, "The nanny?"
"Yeah," Castiel nodded, "He's coming this morning to meet you and then he'll make your lunch and take you to school."
Claire thought for a minute, "What's his name?"
"Dean Winchester."
Claire made a face, "Is he old?"
"He's about the same age as me. I think you'll like him."
"Do you like him?"
"Yes, I do. I'm sure you two will be great friends."
Claire smiled and jumped out of bed, "When will he get here?"
Castiel chuckled at her enthusiasm and looked down at his watch, "In ten minutes, so you better get ready."
Claire ran to her closet and pulled out her favorite sundress, "Can I wear this?"
"Sure, sweetie. Now, go brush your hair and teeth. Then, make your bed and come down for breakfast."
Claire saluted at him and proceeded to look for shoes that would match her blue dress. Castiel smiled at her and walked down the stairs.
Castiel was placing pancakes on Claire's plate when the doorbell rang. He wiped his hands on his apron, and went through the kitchen door. Claire stared at the closed door excitedly, not even touching her food or juice as she waited.
"Good morning," Castiel answered the door, greeting his new nanny on the door step.
"Morning, Mr. Novak," Dean smiled and gestured to Castiel, "Nice apron."
Castiel looked down, realizing how ridiculous he must look with a paint smeared "Best Dad Ever" apron over his black suit. "Oh, well, I have work in an hour so, uh," Castiel looked up at Dean with a nervous laugh.
Dean waved him off, "Don't worry about it."
Castiel stepped aside, "Well, come on in. Claire's in the kitchen. She's been excited all morning about meeting you."
Dean walked with him down the hall, "Yeah? Me too."
Castiel opened the door with a trailing Dean behind him, "Claire, this is Dean Winchester. Mr. Winchester, this is my daughter, Claire."
Dean knelt down in front of Claire where she was still sitting at the table, so he was eye level with her and held out his hand, "Hello, Claire. It's nice to meet you."
Claire glanced at Castiel before giving Dean a toothy grin and shaking his hand, "You, too, Mr. Winchester."
"You can call me Dean if you want," Dean looked over at Castiel, "You too, Mr. Novak. I don't really like the Mr. Winchester thing, makes me feel old."
Castiel smiled as he cleaned up the scattered dishes, "Then, call me Castiel."
Dean looked back at Claire and sat in the chair next to her, "So, what's for breakfast?"
"Pancakes with chocolate chips," Claire said smugly.
Dean laughed, "Yeah, those are pretty good, but have you tried them with blueberries?"
Claire made a face, "Blueberries? In pancakes?"
"Oh, yeah, they're delicious. I'll make you some some time. You'll love 'em. No one says no to my famous pancakes."
Claire turned back to her pancakes, "If you say so."
Castiel grabbed his coat from the chair and slipped it on, "You know Claire's schedule and my number, right?"
Dean nodded, pulling out his phone and checking, "Yeah, I got everything."
Castiel ruffled Claire's hair, "Okay, well I'll be heading to work then. Goodbye, Claire, Dean."
Castiel walked through the door as Dean called out, "Have a good day at work, Cas!" and Claire, "Bye, Daddy!"
Cas. As Castiel was driving to work, the nickname kept bouncing around his head. He liked the sound of it and was surprised no one had ever came up with it before.
"Hello?" Castiel called as he walked through the front door.
"In here!" Dean answered from the living room. Castiel followed his voice and found Dean and Claire on the floor playing Operation.
There was a buzz and Claire laughed smugly at Dean, "Ha ha, I'm won."
"Well, I'm a car doctor not a people one," Dean retorted.
Castiel laughed and collapsed on the couch behind them, shrugging off his coat. "How was your day?"
"It was great. Daddy, did you know Dean can sing the whole song of Hot Blooded?"
Dean pointed his finger at her accusingly, "Hey, that was between you and me. I'm never singing for you again."
"But you have such a pretty voice!"
Dean shook his head, "Never again, Claire."
"Dean, I'm sorry," Claire pouted.
"Don't you give me those puppy dog eyes. My brother used to do that."
Claire deepened her face and clasped her hands together. Dean sighed, "Fine."
Castiel smiled watching them, glad Claire liked Dean. They seemed to get along well. Dean glanced at him and Castiel smirked, "You sang Foreigner to my child?"
Dean's cheeks turned slightly pink, "Foreigner's a classic, Cas. I was educating her."
Castiel smiled, "Oh, well, then, thank you, Dean."
"Sure thing," Dean stood up, "Well, I think I'll be going home, then."
Claire frowned and hugged Dean's leg, "Bye, Dean."
"Bye, kiddo. I'll see you tomorrow," Dean ruffled her hair.
Dean waved at Castiel and started heading for the door. Castiel found himself asking, "Hey, Dean, why don't you stay for dinner?"
Dean turned around surprised, "You sure?"
Castiel shrugged, "Yeah, it's just me and Claire. There's always plenty of food."
Dean smiled, "Well, okay, then. Yeah, thanks, I'd love to."
Castiel got off the couch, "Then, I guess I should go start it."
Dean followed after him, "I'll help."
Claire piped up, "Me, too!"
Castiel looked down at her, "Have you finished your homework?"
Claire looked at her shoes, "I did my math and reading. We took a break to play a game before I had to do my science."
"Alright, then, I think you should go do your science."
Claire groaned, "Okay," and trudged up the stairs with a pout.
Dean chuckled as they entered the kitchen, "She's quite the character."
Castiel pulled out the ingredients for spaghetti from the fridge, "She gets that from her mother."
"Oh, yeah? She spend a lot of time with Claire," Dean asked as he realized what the meal was and started getting out the pots and pans.
"She did. She recently moved to California for her work. It's why I needed help so urgently."
Dean nodded, not knowing if he could continue the conversation or not, since they had just met and he was his nanny. He set the water to boil as Castiel thawed out the meat. He leaned against the counter with nothing else to do and then he saw the small radio near the sink. He walked over to it curious. It looked over a decade old. Dean grabbed it and tried to get a signal.
Castiel glanced at him, "I haven't used that in a while. I'm surprised it still works."
Dean found a classic rock station and smirked as he turned it up, "Now, this is good music."
Castiel laughed, "Maybe a Foreigner song will come on and I can hear you sing."
Dean felt heat crawl up his neck, "Yeah, well, we'll see. They may not play any Foreigner tonight. You never know."
To Castiel's disappointment, they didn't play any Foreigner that night by the time dinner was ready. But he enjoyed cooking with Dean humming along to the radio, nevertheless. Claire came running down after he called up to her. They sat around the small kitchen table with Claire asking Dean a billion questions.
"Claire, why don't you let Dean breathe for a minute?" Castiel laughed as Dean tried to keep up with his interview.
"I'm just trying to get to know him," Claire said innocently.
"Well, you don't have to be in a rush, there's plenty of time for that."
Claire was quiet a minute and turned to Dean again, "So, what's your biggest fear?"
Castiel sighed, while Dean answered with a small smile, "Planes."
"Planes? That's silly."
"Is not," Dean defended himself, "They crash into things all the time. They're death machines"
Claire giggled, "No, they aren't."
"Well, what are you scared of?"
Claire put her finger to her lip, thinking for a minute before answering, "Lilith."
"Lilith?" Dean glanced at Castiel, who had a frown on his face.
"She's this really mean girl at school," Claire stabbed her noodles.
Dean put his fork down, "Does she bully you?"
Claire shrugged, "She doesn't hit me or anything. She just says mean things."
"Like what?"
"Like I'm a nerd or a freak know-it-all," Claire glared at her plate.
"Well, she's just jealous, Claire," Dean told her, grabbing his glass of water.
Claire looked up at him, "What?"
"She just wishes she was as smart as you. Don't let her bother you."
A small smile tugged on Claire's lips, "Really?"
"Oh, yeah. Bullies are just reflectors."
"Reflectors?"
"Yeah. It's like she doesn't have smarts like you so she takes it out on you. Or like a kid with no parents beating up the guy with a loving family. Bullies are just mad at themselves or their situation. It's not a reflection on you."
Claire stared at him wide eyed and then looked back down at her plate, "I never thought that could be why."
"You understand it's not your fault now, right?"
Claire smiled and muttered a small yes before digging into her food. Castiel gave Dean a grateful grin and he winked back at him.
It was a few minutes before Claire started her questions again, "So, what's your favorite color?"
"Blue."
"Favorite food?"
"Pie."
Claire paused, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
Dean stuttered at the unexpected question, "Uh, no."
"Okay," Claire nodded and immediately asked, "What about a boyfriend?"
Dean cheeks tinted red, "No, Claire, I don't."
Claire giggled, "You're blushing!"
The color in Dean's face deepened and Castiel held back a laugh as to not embarrass him further. Claire just looked at him smugly.
"What about you, huh, princess? Do you have a little partner in crime?"
"No!" Claire shook her head.
"But you have a crush on somebody, don't you, Claire?" Dean smirked and poked her side playfully.
Claire turned into a bright tomato and huffed, "N-no."
"Sure, okay, Claire. I believe you," Dean said sarcastically.
Claire crossed her arms and turned away from him. Castiel couldn't help it anymore and started laughing. Dean chuckled along with him and Claire tried to stay mad, but began laughing as well.
