I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry! I had actually forgotten about that fic when nearly a month ago I received an email in which the site informed me that someone had put this on Story Alert. Truthfully, the first few seconds I just stared and thought- "I have a story named like that?" And then realization hit me and I wanted to crawl under a rock... But, hey, at least this is one long, looong chapter! And I swear I'll never do that again (well, maybe if my muse leave me again but then we'll talk) Anyway, I'll let you read now. Have fun!

Chapter 3

Day Three

a.k.a

Denial And Dreams

The first thing Castiel noticed was the cold metal beneath him and around his ankles and wrists. The room was pitch dark, he couldn't see anything, even a shadow to help him recognize the place. He heard a distant scream for help but before he could react it vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. Probably it had been a product of his own imagination. Silence stretched again, so heavy and as if suffocating him. He tried to say something just so his ears would stop ringing but it seemed like the silence swallowed his words.

Another sound broke the silence, too quiet for Castiel to identify what it was, and he turned towards it, blinking rapidly to force his eyes to adjust to the darkness. It didn't work and on top of that he, now, couldn't tell if his eyes were closed or open which made him uneasy. It came again. Tap, tap, tap- rhythmical and loud. Castiel knew that sound, it was from footsteps. Someone was coming!

"Hello?" he asked and his voice sounded so small and foreign in the stillness of the room.

Castiel saw a pair of green eyes flash in the darkness, familiar like the sun and the sky, and calmness washed trough his body. There was nothing to worry about because Dean was here and he would never hurt him. Ignoring the tiny voice that told him to be careful, he smiled happily and tugged at his bonds. Not that he didn't trust the other man- he would and had put his life in his hands, he just wanted to be able to touch him, to run his hands across those firm muscles and then trace them with his tongue. To kiss, and bite, and mark.

Cas caught the sight of a blade and it made him stiffen before he composed himself. Really, he thought, Dean should stop caring weapons everywhere he went, and whispered, "Let me go, I want to touch you."

Green eyes turned pitch black, another colour familiar to Castiel but one that didn't make him relax. "Did I allow you to speak, you scum?" was hissed in his face and seconds later he felt the first of many blows to come. He cried, more in surprise than pain. Being a warrior of God they had taught him how to swallow the physical pain... but no one had told him how to ease the one in his heart.

Castiel woke up with a start, sweating yet cold and shivering. He tried to remember his dream, even though he knew that there was no use, and like every morning in nearly a month he got only darkness. But that was okay because deep down he knew that he didn't want to remember.

The former angel looked around tentatively as if half-expecting Dean to pop out from nowhere and jump him. Although that was something Cas was specializi... What was that?He shook his head as if to clear it from all those random and crazy thoughts that appeared from nowhere and instead went to make Dean's bed. He idly noted that the sheets were far too tangled and the mattress- too cold and his heart panged at the realization. He didn't want Dean to be restless, the man needed to relax. Cas had seen the tiredness in those far-too-old-for-his-age eyes and as a good servant of God he was nearly obligated to be concerned. He missed the voice that told him it was a bit more than that.

Half an hour later, after he had showered, prayed and changed his pajamas with soft brown pants and a sweeter, he headed toward the kitchen. As soon as he opened the door, the sweet aroma of freshly cooked pancakes hit him and he gulped down. He really had to watch what he ate, he didn't want to return to the church looking like the only thing he had done that week had been eating. Cas looked around, searching for Dean, and when he saw him popping out of the kitchen he jumped in surprise and a small whimper broke from his lips.

He took a little step backward, eyes fixed on Dean's face. The skin looked like molten wax, deep wrinkles crossing the face and making everything except the pitch black eyes indefinable.

"What's wrong?" asked Dean, voice lacking the usual cockiness and full with concern. It lessened Cas panic and the former angel shook his head, then rubbed his eyes and just like that the vision was gone- the only thing marring Dean's sun-kissed skin now were his freckles and forest green eyes were starring at him.

"I'm just sleepy, that's all," the priest murmured and shook his head again. "When I first saw you I could have sworn there was something weird with your face"

He settled on his chair and thanked Him for the food but his mind was still on what he'd seen. Surely, it had been just a play of his mind but that wasn't the first time it had happened. The other day, with father Tom it had been the same, only that time it had been just for a second. Everyone had told him that his imagination would cause him troubles but no one had meant it that way, he was sure. Maybe he was going mad...? Too busy with his thoughts he missed the horrified look that Dean send his way.

Dean gulped. If he had doubted it before, now he was sure. Castiel, the man he had once loved, was turning into an angel. And pretty fast, too. He watched as the other man ate and had to clench his fist a few times to stop himself from leaning forward and licking the small drops of strawberry syrup that sometimes clung to the priest's full lips. But he couldn't. Seducing him was like approaching a wild animal- he had to be careful and gentle and attack him when he least expected it.

Or not. They had been separated for 500 years, maybe, just maybe Cas didn't need taming but a little push in the right direction. He had to test that theory and he knew the perfect way to do so.

"I know what we're going to do later," he proclaimed, dark excitement twinkling in his eyes.

Castiel cast him a side-way glance and his insides twisted when he saw the smirk playing on his lips. That made him remember- he wasn't here on a vacation with a friend, he was here on a mission. He had to save the corrupted soul of a man, who, the Lord only knew why, wanted to get him in his bed. Cas gulped down the piece of pancake which all of a sudden was tasteless and dry and asked tentatively, "And what is that?"

"You'll see. Now hurry up with your breakfast." If possible the other's smirk widened.

After that Cas' appetite vanished. It was as if his stomach had tied itself in a knot and simply refused to take anymore food inside. It took the young priest a total of five tries before he admitted defeat, put his fork down and glanced at Dean, indicating that he was ready.

"To the living room then," exclaimed the demon and Cas found out that a voice could be simultaneously terrifying and cheerful.

Once in the living room, Dean settled on the sofa and pulled Castiel on his lap. The former angel was about to protest before he remembered- he had to do everything non-sexual the other wanted and sitting on him wasn't something immoral. He waited silently as Dean grabbed the remote control and pushed the power button. The screen lit and seconds later Castiel received his question as to why the other man had been smirking so darkly.

There were two men on the screen, wrapped around each other. They were kissing, roughly and all saliva and teeth while undressing themselves. One of them had died red hair and sparkling green eyes and the other was blond with dark blue, almost violet, eyes. Both of them were muscular and sported huge erection, which made Cas squirm uncomfortably when he saw them but he immediately stopped when he heard a soft moan fall from the man bellow him.

The next hour they spend like that- on the sofa, eyes glued to the TV- one pair shining with lust and the other- with determination. It was time for Dean to attack. He toyed a little with the idea to slow down the time but that would take too much energy and he had to saviour it. But then he could just play with the clock hanging behind them? No, it was too risky. How was hr going to explain it if Cas caught him?

Two things happened at once- the black haired man on the screen (the previous movie had long since finished) pushed his erection inside his partner and Cas realized that something equally hard was pushing his cheeks apart and going far too deeper than he was comfortable with. The former angel, who until now had been staying completely still and watching obediently, jumped and cried out, "What do you think you are doing!?"

"You don't like it?" It was said so innocently and if Cas didn't know any better he would have said that the other man truly didn't know he was doing something wrong. But nothing was a tad innocent about the other man and that was proven by his next actions. Dean slid his hands across Castiel stomach and then dipped it down to grasp the other's... soft cock. Huh? No reaction, whatsoever, after an hour of porn? What had happened for those 500 years they had been apart? Had the former angel turned asexual? Dean's mind was suddenly filled with previously forgotten memories of their last day together. Cas had been so responsive to everything he did to him, teasing, kissing and touching in return. Those thoughts caused his cock to twitch, which made the man on top of him fidget again.

"You don't like it?" Dean asked again but this time his voice sounded confused and sincere. He withdrew his hand, just in time because, although Cas wouldn't have admit it even if his life depended on it, the priest was starting to respond to the touch.

"They show something that is meant to be private and turn an intimate act into something bestial and dirty. Therefore, no, I do not like it!"

Dean opened his mouth to reply something, though even he wasn't sure what exactly, but the ringing of the doorbell stopped him. Glad to use it as an excuse, Castiel immediately jumped off the demon's lap and headed toward the front door. Dean followed him, stealthily adjusting his pants and cursing whoever had dared to interrupt them.

It turned out to be a man in his late twenties, tall and muscular but not in the intimidating, all-I-drink-is-stereoids way. His wavy blond hair was brushing against his broad shoulders, his eyes shone with warmness and Dean already hated him.

"Hello, I'm Ryan," the stranger grinned, showing his perfectly white teeth, and thrust a covered baking dish in Cas' hands. "This is from my wife to welcome you in the neighbourhood. Funny, though, we always thought this house is unnoc..."

"Is that a pie?" cut him out Dean before he could say something out of place. The last thing he needed was for Castiel to get suspicious.

"Yeah," mumbled the former angel after peaking behind the material covering it."And apple, on top of it, your favourite. Thank you, Ryan. I'm Castiel and this is Dean, by the way."

Castiel smiled politely at the man who grinned in return. Dean was about to growl and slam the door in his face when his mind picked up what the priest had said and a fond smile lit up on his face, maybe the first true one in half a millennium.

"Nice to meet you. Are you two a couple?" Ryan's voice was light and teasing as if he didn't realize what he was accusing them of. As if what he was suggesting wasn't a sin punished with death.

"No, just friends on a vacation," answered Castiel, unaware that he'd cut short a rather rude and colourful response from Dean." Excuse me, I'll go put this in the fridge."

The other men nodded and watched his retreat. As soon as the door of the kitchen closed behind him, Dean turned toward the intruder on his threshold, a feral look on his face. He didn't like that man- he was too polite, too easy going, too... too everything! And the fact that he looked at Cas like that, or so it looked to Dean, had nothing to do with it. Because he wasn't jealous, he couldn't be. Even if there had been some leftover feelings toward Cas they wouldn't work because his angel was different... or was he? He shook himself, he could dwell on that thought later, now he had to chase away that Ryan.

"Get the hell out of here and don't ever look back."

"What happened to that smile and the "only friends" thing," Ryan cocked his head and stared confusedly at the practically growling man.

"Flew out of the window just like you would if you step inside."

Maybe it's from the light but Ryan could swear his new neighbour's eyes flashed dark. But illusion or not it still made his limbs freeze and his subconscious- scream 'Danger!'

"Do you want to come in?" the low, polite voice of Castiel broke into his fear fogged mind and he scratched his neck, making a point of avoiding eye-contact with both of the other men. In the end his self-preserving instincts won and he mumbled,

"No. I came here only to say hi. Well, goodbye."

He turned around and left with a fast step. Cas and Dean shared a look, the later faking innocence.

"So, what do you want to do?" the demon broke the silence first, glancing expectantly at his companion.

"I don't know. I thought you were making the rules?"

Dean thought for a second what would be the smartest move. Pushing him hadn't worked so he had to go back to his previous tactics, charming him nice and slowly. He wasn't sure it would work now, after the whole fiasco in the living room. But he had to hope- it was his only way to win this thing. Maybe they could take a walk around the village, surely being around people would make Cas relax and open up.

As soon as he had shared his idea he realized this hadn't been the right thing to do. A dark cloud passed through Cas' face and suddenly Dean remembered that the other hadn't liked crowds or being around people in general before. He had always been a little awkward and uneasy in those kind of situations. But what bothered him the most was that he cared too much whether the former angel liked his decision. And, yes, he knew that keeping Cas content was a part of his mission because a happy and relaxed priest was more likely to fall in love with him than a scared and disgusted one but deep down he felt it was more.

But, of course, he was Dean Winchester and some things in him hadn't changed, like for example his true gift to ignore "chick-flick" thoughts and to act like a complete jerk. He pulled out the you-have-to-follow-my-wishes card and, completely ignoring the scared expression on Cas' face or the pang in his heart that it caused, almost ordered the priest to get ready for going out. Because he was a demon and demons didn't seek approval from anyone, even their past almost-lovers.

The moment they had stepped out of the house, Dean realized he had made a big, no, make that a terrible, mistake. Cas had immediately stiffened beside him and for the few meters they had walked he had slowed his steps so he could walk behind Dean and not next to him twice. On the third time, Dean knew that he had to do something, he had to calm down Castiel or he would have to pay through his nose for his little whim. He stopped and waited until Cas and him were shoulder to shoulder before he gripped the other's hand in his. The street was deserted and no one saw them but the demon was aware that Castiel knew it was a matter of minutes before they were on the main street.

"Please, let me go," Cas whimpered as he tried to tug his hand out of the older man's gasp. He fucking whimpered! When just a day ago he had been hissing those words. But now, being outside, it made him an entirely different person- all distant and nervous.

"I will, just calm down," Dean's voice was quiet but confident, the same one he had used on frightened children when he had been a hunter. He gripped Cas' hand in both of his and turned him toward himself."Listen to me. Take a deep breath." He smiled inwardly when he saw the former angel doing as he'd been told."That's it. Now, there is nothing wrong with us taking a walk around the town, okay?"

"You don't get it! Behind closed doors you can do whatever you want but outside... We could be killed just for holding hands! I'm worried that..." you can get hurt. He never said it, he didn't even remember thinking it after a few seconds. It was like one of those thoughts you forget in a blink of an eye if something interrupted it. But now that wasn't the case. The truth was that Cas' subconscious had started to recognize Dean and the first thing that had been awaken had been protectiveness, just like all those decades ago that had been his first emotion toward the hunter. Alas, the priest's mind was slower and a lot of time had to pass before it had caught up with it.

Dean dropped Cas' hands, the only thing on his mind being the fact that the former angel was scared and he could do something to ease him. He didn't know how much of what Castiel had said was true, he hadn't been in this age a lot. He was a demon, after all, and which self-respecting Devil's spawn would come to the only era when the human kind was overly religious and united. It would pass of course- that post-Apocalyptic dizziness- and they would return to their sinful ways. Dean knew that, he had seen it. But for now? He didn't know anything and he mentally cursed himself for not researching. Where was that geeky boy when you needed him?

Sam... he hadn't thought of him for years! When he had first become what he was now he didn't even let himself think of his brother because every time he remembered that goofy smile and those dimples or the annoyed frown guilt clasped his heart. He wasn't worthy to even think of Sam, of an angel. Literally, of course. To call your brother an angel and mean it in any other way was just wrong.

He knew Sam was an angel. After he had gained some rank he had searched every nook and corner of Hell for Sam, but he hadn't been there. Later on, he had learnt that his little brother had been turned into an angel and given to Michael to be his apprentice.

"Dean?" Cas' tentative voice broke him from his musings.

"Yeah, sorry for spacing out. There is nothing to be afraid of, I'll take care of you. Now let's go." Completely ignoring the little voice that told him he really meant it, Dean pressed a hand on the small of Castiel's back and urged him to keep walking.

Everything was fine, they were walking so close their shoulders were almost touching. However, the moment they stepped foot on the main street and people surrounded them, Castiel oh so subtly put an arm distance between them. But at least he wasn't walking behind or ahead of him, pretending they were strangers and Dean considered it an improvement.

They continued walking in perfect silence, both of them deep in thoughts. Castiel was enjoying the sight of the valley that was revealed from the side of the road. An almost transparent fog was covering gently the ground that looked like an old blanket torn and sown too many times. It was simply beautiful and it made him relax and dull the sound of the people surrounding him. Dean's thoughts, however, were focused on something more earthly and close. Something that had caught his eye in their 20 minutes walk.

"Don't you find it strange that we've been walking so much and we've passed three churches and no schools at all?" he voiced his concern and he watched with his peripheral vision his companion's reaction. Cas' eyes shot toward him and a small smile played on his lips.

"Yes, this is one of the side effects of having too much fate. People now believe that all they need to do is be righteous and everything they want will be served to them on a silver plate. They no longer feel the need to educate themselves and to progress."

"But that's wrong," Dean nodded, catching the other's train of thoughts.

"Of course, a life without any progress is no life at all, it's like someone had hit the pause button on the planet. People had forgotten that no matter how fertile the ground is, nothing will grow there if you don't plant a seed."

"You know, Castiel, you are way more clever than you look."

"Thank you." The former angel tilted his head, a confused expression on his face. "Although, there is a case in which you are actually insulting me."

Dean laughed. "I'm just saying that for a man your age and a priest on top of everything you have a unique and refreshing view of the world."

"Thank you," Cas mumbled and ducked his head, trying to hide his blush. He had always been told he had different a view of the world but it'd never been a compliment. All those people who pointed it out were sure it was the Satan's curse and it was something a priest shouldn't have. It was almost like they believed that if you were thinking you were no good.

They reached a small park and decided to sit on one of the benches there with both of them being already tired. It was beautiful, Cas decided, not like the one in Dean's grandfather's house but it was still nice. It was constructed as a more or less a cross, with a marvelous statue of an angel where the two paths should have been crossing but instead were bending and forming a circle around it. The statue itself was surrounded by a pond in which golden fishes were swimming. Around the paths colourful flowers were planted.

There Castiel and Dean spend their time, sitting on a bench around the pond and talking. Well, mostly Castiel talked- about his childhood and his training as a servant of God. Once or twice he tried to pull some details about Dean's life from him, too, but the man quickly changed the subject. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice when it turned noon and realized they had lost track of time when an hour later Castiel's stomach growled, interrupting a story about him falling into the mud as a kid .

"Come on, we should find somewhere to eat," Dean said as he stood up. He offered his hand to Cas, who took it without a second thought even though he felt so stupid afterwards. It wasn't like he needed help in getting up! He was about to jokingly point that out to Dean (when had they gotten so close to each other that he didn't find it strange to joke with him?) when he realized that the other man wasn't paying him any attention at all. His head was turned toward a couple that had passed them a few seconds ago and, now when the priest thought about it, had looked at them with strangely. He waited patiently for Dean to look at him and when he finally did Cas could swear that for a second his eyes were completely dark.

"Let's go and you could finish your story on our way." Dean's voice was falsely sweet and Cas guessed he was still mad at that couple.

They walked around as Castiel continued talking, unconsciously letting the other man decide where they were going to have lunch.

"Here we are," suddenly said Dean and pointed at a little restaurant a couple of feet away from them. It was an old, beige building with large windows that revealed the almost empty insides and pots with flowers hanging from the walls.

The couple entered the restaurant and Dean guided them toward a table in the far corner of it, away from prying eyes. They settled down, Cas immediately relaxing because of the calming atmosphere and the realization that no one seemed to pay them mind. A waiter came soon after to take their order and shot them a suspicious look but it completely disappeared the moment his eyes met Dean's. The demon just had to show him his real self and the poor man was cowering in fear. That fear had wormed its way in human's subconscious when they had been first created. They didn't even realize why they were scared, blaming the lights for the surreal sight, but deep inside they knew they were in mortal danger.

This was the last person to bother them. Not when they were eating, the only sound coming from the table being the soft moaning as they enjoyed their food and not even when they were walking, or more likely creeping, down the street, so full they thought they would burst. At least in Dean's case. Cas was a servant of God and knew that gluttony is a sin. No, he had a completely different reason to sway. When they had left the restaurant he'd suddenly felt so ill and weak, he'd felt like he couldn't stand on his feet. He managed to hold himself until they reached the insides of the house but once in that park the priest nearly collapsed on the ground. Luckily, Dean was close enough to catch him.

"Are you okay?" the demon asked unusually tender as he straightened the other man but still held him close.

"Yeah, I'm just not used to such long walks, I guess. My body feels so weak," the former angel mumbled and tried to get out of Dean's hold but the demon was having none of it.

"Hold tight," was the only warning Cas got before Dean lifted him in his arms, bridal style. He tried to make the green-eyed man let him down and secretly he was glad that he refused because deep down he knew that he wouldn't be able to take a step on his own.

What he didn't know, however, was that Dean, too, was aware of that. He knew that Castiel's body was like a sake of potatoes right now and he had to do something to hide it was because his 21th birthday was coming and his body was slowly stopping to function. Pretty soon his appetite would disappear, even though Dean held hopes that it wouldn't be so soon seeing as how much the former angel ate, and then the sickness that wouldn't let him get out of bed would follow. It had been that way every time, Alastair himself had told him, it was inevitable. Then why did the single thought of seeing Castiel suffer made his heart clench painfully in his chest?

Cas let himself be held like that, even if he was a little tense the whole time. It wasn't that he believed the man would drop him, it was just too intimate for his taste. And even if he'd tried to snuggle (and he had not) there was something stopping him from moving his body. The former angel wrote it off as tiredness but deep down he knew better.

"Here you go," Dean chuckled as he placed the priest on the bed. Then he teased," Now, do you want me to tuck you in and sing you a lullaby?"

"No, but I won't refuse a glass of water," answered Cas with a little smile as he made himself comfortable on the bed, still faintly smelling of Dean.

"Your wish is my command, princess."

After he gave the former angel a glass of water and actually tucked him in, despite his protests, Dean was left to wonder what to do. He had a few hours judging by how tired Cas'd been. The demon was about to go down in the living room and spend some quality time with the TV and his right hand, after all some habits stayed the same no matter how many years had passed. But then he felt a tug in his chest which he immediately recognized as Alastair's way of telling him that he needed to talk to him. The other demon probably wanted him to use the goblet, neatly hidden in the kitchen, but there was nothing to kill, except, of course, Castiel but that thought never crossed his mind.

"Oh, hello, Dean-o," Alastair exclaimed, as soon as Dean stepped inside his office, in his annoyingly sweet voice, opening his arms as if urging the other demon to leap in them. The younger only snorted.

"What do you want?"

"I just wanted to see how is it going. From here it seemed like you were getting attached to your asset and I decided to warn you before it was too late. You know I can just kill the little scum with wings and see what happens if you screw up, right?" the voice was still dripping sweet but Alastair's eyes were cold and showed that he wouldn't hesitate in getting his apprentice in the right track by force if it was needed.

"Don't push me, Alastair," he growled, taking a threatening step toward the other.

"Ah, don't you remember when you used to call me Master. You were so cute, all writhing in blood and moaning in p..."

"I'll be leaving then," Dean snapped and disappeared.

A second later he found himself outside the house. He had taken his body with him in Hell, he hadn't known how much earth hours he would be gone and he really didn't want to freak Castiel out by presenting him his lifeless corpse. Dean made a simple calculation and he realized that give or take 3 hours had passed since he had left. He cursed inwardly, Cas would be awake by now and there was no way he could pass as having been asleep in one of the vacant rooms because 1) Cas most definitely had already checked the rooms and 2) he was outside the house and not inside. He felt trapped.

He opened the little red door that stood alongside the one designed for a car and was never locked, entered the house and walked down the marble path as quickly and silently as he could. He had just grabbed the doorknob when a low cough made him spin around so fast he felt dizzy. Immediately, he saw Castiel lying on the hammock, a book resting beside him and his face showing curiosity and concern.

"Where were you?" the former angel asked, lifting himself a little and thus causing the hammock to sway slightly, threateningly. Dean, who was next to him in a matter of seconds, pushed him back slightly. For all he knew, if Cas tried to stand up the hammock would turn and he would find himself way closer to the ground than he should have been.

"Just walking around." He quickly went through his memories and grinned when he found something that would do. "I went to the forest. I thought we might have a picnic there or something." That was actually a pretty good idea, now when he thought about it. Chicks liked those stuff, right? Not that Cas was a chick but he had never tried to woo another man so he had to use what he knew about women. All of a sudden he was anticipating the other's answer and hoping he would say yes. But not because he wanted to have a picnic with the former angel... not at all! He just wanted this to end already!

"That sounds great." Cas smiled slightly and glanced toward his book. He didn't want to appear rude but he really wanted to continue reading it.

Dean followed his eyes and lifted the red book."Oh 'The Da Vinci Code'? Interesting choice," he teased lightly. It was one of those forbidden books because it used the Bible outside the cannon.

"Yes, I wanted to find something to read and I seemed to be drawn to that one. And the more I read it the more familiar it feels." It had been gnawing at him since he started reading it and his subconscious had picked his former habit- when you don't know something ask Dean. Even if he is grumpy, he knows a lot of things about humanity.

"Hm," was Dean's only answer. As far as he knew, Cas had never been reborn near this time, because it was too much of a risk- he could meet one of the Winchesters or even himself. The future then? After the Apocalypse was far behind them people quickly returned to their ways so it was possible.

"I was meaning to ask you," Cas piped up, breaking Dean out of his thoughts, "Why does a priest have a house with porn on the television and a bunch of forbidden books in his library?"

"It is only formally my grandfather's, he hadn't come here for years," Dean explained, he had prepared himself for such a question. Cas nodded and glanced again at his book, which the demon had placed next to him earlier.

"You stay here and read and I'll fix some diner, okay?" asked Dean, having caught the longing look, and when the priest nodded he turned around and quickly went to the house.

He rummaged the fridge and the cupboards, trying to figure out what to cook. He barely remembered how to make anything except of pasta and they couldn't eat it everyday. It had been a sheer miracle that this morning when he had walked in the kitchen he had remembered all of a sudden how to make pancakes. Well, not really that surprising because when he was a kid, which was the only time he had cooked for himself and his brother, this had been Sammy's second favourite breakfast, the first being the last bowl of cereal, of course.

Sam had also liked tuna casserole. It had been one of his favourite dishes but because the ingredients cost a lot they couldn't have it frequently. The ingredients... Dean remembered them and when he forced himself to think he was able to recall how to do it, too. He opened the drawer above the stove where he had spotted the pasta noodles, put some water in a pot and added them. He sauted the onions and the celery in the saucepan and then added the mushroom soup and the can of tuna he had found in the fridge, some water, peas and black pepper. He let it cook, stirring it from time to time and when he was ready he poured it inside of a casserole alongside the pasta. Now, he only had to wait 30 minutes.

Dean knew some lower demon would turn up in the house at night and wash the dishes so he didn't find the need to do its job. So left with nothing to do, he decided to see what Cas was doing. He walked toward the window and glanced at the former angel. Cas was lying on his side, reading, his forehead wrinkled in concentration, his head tilted to a side. A lone sun-ray had sneaked between the tree's leaves and was now gently stroking the priest's cheek. Cas, so engrossed in his book, didn't even notice it. The only thing that was missing were warbling birds around Cas' head and it would have been the perfect scene from a fairy tail.

As if sensing that he was being watched, Cas lifted his head and looked around and Dean quickly hid behind the curtains. The moment he did that he realized how stupid and creepy he was acting, not to mention how ridiculously love-stuck he might have looked from an outsider's point of view. The demon quickly walked away from the window and started making the portions, all the while reminding himself that he did not care what his former almost-lover was doing.

When he had served their food and a glass of wine for both of them Dean called the priest, who immediately sensed that something was off and came as soon as he could. They ate in silence, with Cas trying to start a conversation a few times but stopping when Dean answered him half-heartedly and with one word. The former angel also caught him staring out of the window a few times but he didn't know what to make of that. It kinda hurt, being ignored like that and maybe he had showed it because the moment Dean glanced at him their conversation turned into a lot more lively one even if a little forced by the green-eyed man.

When they finished dinner, Dean and Cas moved to the living room. Cas curled on the sofa and started reading, his book on top of his legs that were pressed against his chest. Dean settled next to him and surfed through the channels. Ten minutes later he wanted to scream or throw up, or both. There was nothing except of religion and porn. Religion he wouldn't have watched even if he wasn't a demon, he had dignity after all, and porn... well, let's just say that there was no use of porn if he knew that he would be spending the night in his own bed, alone. He glanced at Cas who looked up and smiled faintly at him when he felt his gaze.

Dean sighed and turned toward the TV. No, there was no way he was watching anything that involved Jesus, prays, heaven or any other bullshit. Maybe he could read a book. The demon went to the library and after he looked around he discovered a pile of DVDs with action films. Real action films! He took a note to himself to ask for the names of the demons who had prepared the house. He could reward them by not killing them the next time he saw them.

Dean walked back, his full lips stretched into a smile, and plopped on the sofa after putting the disk in the DVD, which was yet another thing he should thank those demons for. Two hours later he switched off the TV, stretched his muscles and yawned. He glanced at his side where Cas was softly snoring, his head resting on top of his legs and his book- nowhere in sight. He hadn't expected him to be knocked out so easily but maybe the wine had played some part in this, relaxed him a bit.

He tried to wake him up but it proved to be nearly impossible and after all he received from his shakes were a few louder snorts Dean gathered the former angel in his hands and headed for their bedroom. Once there, he gently placed Cas on his own bed and covered him. He thought about dressing Cas in his pajamas but he just knew that the former angel would throw a fit next thing tomorrow if he did such a thing so he changed only his own clothes and then laid down on the mattress the other had sneaked in the room yesterday. It proved to be comfortable, not like the bed but it wasn't like sleeping on the floor, either, and Dean thought that they could take turns using it. It simply didn't seem right to make Cas sleep on it every night.

The last thing that crossed his mind as he was falling asleep was how much his pillow smelt of Cas.