A/N 1: So, I totally wrote this chapter while I was heading back home. We drove to my home state and I was too lazy to type this up while we were heading there. We were on the road for 19 hrs so agh. I was so damn bored while we were driving back home. I was extremely antsy and my ADHD doesn't help at all. xD WELP, ENOUGH OF MY GOSH DARN RANTIN', on with the chapter! :D

Chapter was inspired by the song Iris by Sleeping With Sirens. I know, the song was originally by the Goo Goo Dolls, but with Sleeping With Sirens singing the song, it sparked this inspiration.

It was in the middle of the night and Castiel was wide awake. He had another nightmare. He couldn't get those malicious eyes out of his head and that grin, that feral grin, would send unpleasant shudders through his body. He was too scared to go back to sleep. His thoughts then wandered to Dean. He felt himself smile at the thought of the hazel-eyed man. Dean was a kind man and he seemed a bit silly, almost like he never really grew up, but he also seemed mature at the same time.

He fell asleep thinking about Dean and with a smile on his face.

Castiel woke up to the smell of bacon, eggs, and pancakes. He stretched with a yawn and realized that he didn't have another nightmare. He smiled before getting out of bed and made his way down to the kitchen.

"Good morning," Castiel said joyfully as he walked into the kitchen.

Gabriel turned to look at his little brother and eyed him carefully before saying, "Morning."

Castiel sat down at the table, smiled, and waited for Gabriel to be done cooking breakfast.

"Thank you," Castiel said when Gabriel put the food on the plate that was in front of him and started to eat.

"You seem... happy today," Gabriel said, eyeing his brother carefully again.

Castiel shrugged. "I guess," he mumbled and continued eating.

Gabriel rolled his eyes and went back to cooking breakfast for himself. "I hope you'll be okay while I'm at work."

Castiel snorted. "I am 17, Gabe. I can take care of myself."

Gabriel sighed as he put the spatula down and leaned heavily on the counter next to the stove. "I know," he said softly.

Castiel gave his brother a gloomy and knowing look. "I will be safe here, Gabe."

Gabriel turned his attention from the kitchen floor to his little brother and gave him a solemn look. "I hope so."

Gabriel had just opened the shop for the day and was leaning against the counter, thinking about his experiences when he was living back home in Lawrence, Kansas. They were not pleasant experiences at all. When he had the chance to run, he certainly ran.

Gabriel jumped slightly when he heard the familiar ding of the bell and knew it was Dean.

"Hey, Dean-o," he said softly as he turned to the man.

"Hey," Dean said, smiling but the smile turned to a frown when he noticed the dejected expression on the face of a man who was always smiling. "You okay there, Gabe?"

Gabriel gave him a halfhearted smile and nodded, trying his best to assure Dean that he was alright. Dean knew something wasn't right, but he thought better and didn't push the situation.

"The usual," Dean said softly.

Gabriel nodded and slowly put the candy into the bag and handed it to Dean. Dean put the two dollar bills on the counter and smiled as he grabbed the bag.

Before Dean walked out of the store, he asked, "Hey, would you and Castiel like to go ice skating with my brother, Sam, and I on Saturday?" He really wanted them to go, so he had to try to convince Gabriel, he continued, "Sam really wants to go, but it would feel really awkward if it was just him and I, so I thought I could ask if you and Castiel wanted to go."

That seemed to brighten Gabriel up a bit. He smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'd love to go," he answered. "I'll have to ask Castiel, though."

Dean nodded. "Okay," he said with a smile. "Well, see you later, Gabe. Hope you have a better day."

"Thanks," Gabriel murmured once Dean walked out of the store.

He immediately went back to brooding about the past.

Once Gabriel got home, he immediately sought out his little brother and found him sitting in the livingroom watching TV.

"Dean wants to know if you'd like to go ice skating with him and his brother on Saturday?" he asked as he sat down next to Castiel. "He already asked me and I said yes."

Castiel thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Yeah, sure. It'll be fun."

Gabriel smiled and nodded. "So.. what'd you have for dinner?" he asked curiously. "I'm hungry."

Castiel shrugged. "I had pizza."

"Okie dokie!" Gabriel said as he jumped up from the couch and walked into the kitchen to find four pizza slices left on the pan. He grabbed two slices and put them on a plate and walked back into the livingroom, stuffing a piece of pizza in his mouth as he sat back down next to his brother.

They sat quietly as they watched TV. Gabriel sat on the couch, eating his pizza, debating if he should tell Castiel what he's been thinking about. He thought about it for a few moments and deemed his thoughts to be said.

"Cas, I have something to say," he said quietly. His hands started to shake so he put the plate down and turned to his brother who was giving him a questioning look. "I've been thinking about the past... our past."

Castiel's face distorted to pure sadness and let out a shaky breath. "Please, Gabe. Don't regret anything. You couldn't have done anything to help it. You were just as scared as I was. You were not a coward for running away," he assured him. "What we experienced was something that no one should go through. I don't even wish it upon my worst enemies." Castiel's eyes started to water and he let out a small, soft sob. "Just know that I don't blame you for anything and that I don't call you a coward for running."

"Thanks, bro," he said, eyes watering with unshed tears.

He felt a lot better now that Castiel had told him all of that so he embraced his little brother and they cried together.

The next day, Castiel was standing behind the counter, waiting impatiently for Dean to walk in the door. He woke up that morning and smiled at the fact that he didn't have any nightmares that night.

The ding of the bell made Castiel look toward the door and smiled when he saw it was Dean.

"Hey," Castiel said, still smiling.

Dean smiled causing Castiel's heart to skip a beat. "Hey," he said. "So... you gonna come with ice skating with us?"

Castiel chuckled at the enthusiasm Dean put into the question and nodded. "Yep."

Dean's smile widened. "Cool. Oh and wear jeans, a sweater, and thin gloves. You're gonna need 'em."

Castiel nodded. "Okay," he said as he grabbed the candy scooper and a bag and scooped up some Hot Tamales and Mike and Ikes. He stood up and put the bag on the counter. "Anything else?"

Dean nodded. "Yeah, that lollipop that I got Tuesday."

Castiel nodded and turned to the wall of candy and found the lollipop and he had to stretch once again to reach the candy, but froze when he felt eyes on him and smirked.

"Are you looking at my ass?" he asked, turning his head to look at Dean. His smirk widened when he saw Dean avert his eyes and internally chuckled when he saw Dean's cheeks redden.

Castiel shook his head and grabbed the candy and put it in the bag and watched as Dean pulled out three dollar bills and took the bag in his hand.

"See you later, Cas," Dean murmured and walked toward the door but stopped. "Don't forget to tell your brother to wear jeans, a sweater, and thin gloves also."

"Okay. See you later."

Castiel watched Dean walk out of the store and smiled. Can't wait till Saturday.

A/N 2: WOOT! Chapter three is up! Sorry for the long wait everyone. Like I said in the first authors note, I was on a 12 day vacation. I wrote most of this during the ride back home. I was just too lazy to finish it until today. xD Hope you like the chapter and review! :)