Chapter 4

The rest of the week passes by quickly. I get up in the morning, take a shower, have breakfast, go to school, avoid Dean, go home, do my homework, have dinner, think about Dean, go to sleep, and basically do it all again the next day. My anger vanishes completely, and leaves me with a longing for Dean; for a chance to turn back time and fix everything.

Before I know it, it's Friday and I'd just finished last period. "Cas" I hear Dean's voice calling my name and I turn around.

"What do you want Dean?" I sound a lot stronger than I feel. Dean grabs my hand, in the middle of the parking lot of the school and looks me straight in the eye.

He takes a deep breath and starts talking. "Castiel, listen to me. I know I was a total douche, and I honest to God would do anything- anything at all- to take it back."

A small crowd starts gathering around us, people listening to these two guys who are holding hands. Dean doesn't seem to care, and that makes my heart swell a little. He continues talking. "If I could, I would take it all away; the things I said, the things Michael said, and all the things you've gone through. I'd take it all away, because I love you. I know it probably doesn't mean much, because we're young and we haven't known each other for long, Cas, but I feel like I love you. And I really think we could be something- are something special. Just give me a second chance. Please?"

The crowd starts to cheer. Someone I can't see yells "yeah, give him a chance!"

I stare at Dean, biting my bottom lip, and I hear someone say "Oh my God that's Dean Winchester. I always knew he was gay! It's so brave that he's doing this in front of everyone." And people start to clap. I don't say a word, but Dean is still holding my hands, and the crowd slowly starts to disperse. A few people wink at me while they walk away; others clap Dean on his back.

When we're almost alone, I speak up. "Dean that was… wow… but why did you do this? People are going to talk and it's not all going to be cheers and handshakes and someone's going to, and it's, you're going to regret it"

He cuts me off with a kiss. I hear a whistle from a distance, then it's quite again. "Shush, Cas don't. It'll be fine. I don't give a shit about what anyone thinks anymore. You were right, I was a coward, but I'm not anymore and I'm not afraid of standing up for the people I love and the things I care about." He smiles and I fall for him all over again. He pulls me to the impala and we drive away, all the while smiling and singing along to Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi.

We get to my apartment and Dean says he has a surprise for me. I raise my eyebrows, unlock the front door and walk in, Dean behind me.

I get to the living room and gasp. Sitting on the couch are four people, out of which I only know one person; Alfie. I look at the dining table and there's a feast fit for 16 people. In the middle of the table, there's a cake that has "sorry" written on it with caramel sauce; my favorite thing in the world.

I feel my heart beating a little too fast inside my chest and I hug Dean as tight as I can. "I love you, too." I whisper so that only he can hear. He laughs, pulls away from the hug and turns me towards the other people in the room.

First, I shake hands with Sam Winchester, who is the tallest guy I have ever seen. I have to tilt my head back to get a look at his face when I'm standing at a close distance. He has long brown hair and a childish goofy smile.

Then, there's Jess; blonde, drop-dead gorgeous, and a polite smile. Sam puts his hand on her back and introduces her as his girlfriend.

Finally, there's Meg, who I already knew all about because Alfie never stops talking about her and her dark silky hair and her leather jacket and her cunning smile. He hadn't told me that she finally agreed to go out with him though, and he smiles shyly at me when I ruffle his hair.

Apparently, Dean called Alfie and Sam for help, so they'd all skipped school today- all except Dean- to prepare this.

I'd tell you all about the dinner and how much we ate and the things we talked about and how we laughed so hard we almost threw up, but none of those things matter. This is what matters. Family doesn't end with blood, and I finally had a family. The five people sitting around the table that evening; those ended up being my family. They were everything I needed.

Me and Dean, well, we figured out how to make things work. He made me happier than I'd ever been, and eventually, even Michael could accept that. He didn't like it at all, mind you, but he accepted it. We went to college, and we got jobs, and we lost friends and we made new ones, but through it all, Dean and I stuck together, hand in hand, just the two of us against the world. Well, Alfie and Sammy were always around too, of course, but they were more than welcome.

Every morning I woke up beside him, I fell in love with him all over again. I fell more in love with him with every kiss, and every smile, and every joke, and even every time we had a fight. And at night, when he'd reach out to touch me, my heart would rise in my throat and I'd moan silently, like a prayer for which no words exist.

I knew it would be lovely.