No pairings here...Just cuteness.
Christmas
Castiel tilted his head, letting the confusion spread across his face, as he stared at the wrapped box sitting in his lap. "I don't understand..." He eventually said, shifting the box to examine it closely. He was sitting on one of the two motel beds, the place the boys were calling home for the next few weeks, and Dean sat on the opposite bed; messing with a small tree sitting on the nightstand between the beds. "We give each other offerings that can not be opened until a certain day...?"
The older Winchester took the gift he had given Cas to hold while he arranged the other presents under the tree. "Sounds like you got the idea to me." He responded with a smile at the confused angel. He sat the box under/beside the small tree, one he'd bought at the store for 10 bucks, and waited for Castiel to continue. There was no way that was all...Castiel usually ended up making both of them confused before he was done.
"Will we be punished for opening them before the set date?" Cas pondered, looking at the little pile of presents around the tiny fake pine tree.
"Well, by Sammy, maybe..." Dean huffed out a laugh. "It's just...it's tradition."
"Is this another ritual, like the giving of thanks over food?" Humans had a lot of odd rituals...
Dean chuckled with a slight nod. "Sort of. It's supposed to be a day you show your love and appreciation for the ones you care about...or something." Explaining was really Sam's area Dean thought, giving the hotel door a hopeful look. His giant of a brother had stepped out to wrap his gifts in the car.
"Should humans not do that everyday?" Cas asked, confused by the assigned dates to show love and care.
"Sometimes humans, like me, get a little too busy...and we forget what is important...uh...those days help remind us...That people still care." Dean really wanted Sam to come back now...This was getting too close to 'feelings' territory.
"Oh..." Cas looked as if he was processing the information given for a moment, then he reached over and touched Dean's shoulder. "You are important to me Dean, and you are important to so many others."
Dean tried not to jump at the sudden contact, or feel too uncomfortable at the admission. He put on his best smile, reaching over to awkwardly return the gesture. "Right...right back at ya. You're...you're family Cas." It was the Winchester way of saying 'I love you', and he hoped Cas knew him long enough to get it. Castiel's smile said he had as Dean was released.
"If you ever need reminding of your importance, I will be glad to tell you." Castiel nodded, his head turning toward the door right before Sam opened it. He was carrying two wrapped boxes and nearly dropped them when Castiel stood to grip his shoulders. He repeated similar lines to Sam, that he had just said to Dean.
"Uh...ditto?" Sam managed, looking at his brother for an answer at the sudden admission. Dean grinned wide, giving his brother a shrug. "Yo-You're family Castiel." Cas only smiled again, letting Sam go so he could put the presents around the tiny tree.
"Eight days until we can open these puppies!" Dean changed the subject, looking at his gifts with child-like excitement.