A/N- So sorry guys, I know this is late. I've been super busy with packing and stuff since I'm moving.
I promise though I'm seeing this story through to the end!
Also thanks so so much to my new beta reader InThePalmOfMyHand. You're an absolute life saver!


Dean hummed softly, shifting himself deeper into the soft pillows and cushions around him. He was so damn comfortable. There was something heavy weighing in on his back, but he didn't pay it much mind. It wasn't hurting him or anything. It was just a ball of warmth and it made Dean feel cozy. Then it dawned on him: his brother's couch was not this pleasant to sleep on.

Annoyed, he blinked open an eye to be met with blinding white. He noticed that his face felt congested and his eyes were itchy. He sneezed. The hell?

Pushing himself up, he realized he was currently still in Castiel's apartment. He also realized there was a small sharp pain in his back as tiny little claws dug into his skin through the fabric of his shirt. Dean reached behind him and his hand met with soft fur and sharp teeth.

"You little shit. Did you just bite me?" Standing up, the fuzzy menace fell to the couch. Dean turned to look at the cat who was now happily arranging himself where Dean had once laid, soaking in the leftover warmth.

Oh right, Castiel has a cat.

Dean raised a brow. Even his cat was white. It was a beautiful Angora breed with long, soft, white hair and bright blue eyes that almost reminded Dean of it's owners own eyes. These eyes were currently looking at him with a look that clearly stated that this was his house and Dean had been in his spot.

Dean sighed and walked out to the kitchen. Castiel had told him to make himself at home and that was exactly what he was going to do. Plus he didn't know the next time he'd ever be in a kitchen like this. It was definitely a chef's kitchen. The stainless steel shining bright and Dean was probably pretty sure Castiel had never really used it to it's full potential.

He was shuffling through the cabinets looking for bread to go with the sausage and eggs he found in the cooler, when he came across cans of Fancy Feast. He pulled it out raising a brow at it. "Elegant Medleys White Meat Chicken Florentine." Dean snorted" Damn cat eats better than most people."

Dean jumped slightly at the feeling of something passing by his leg. Looking down he saw the angora weaving in and out of his legs, meowing up at him hopefully. The little shit knew. It knew exactly where his food was and who was in control of it.

"Yeah who's in charge now? You monster."

The white fuzzball meowed up at him again and Dean rolled his eyes. He looked around before spotting a small dish with little fish bones on it. Guessing that belonged to the cat. Either that or his boyfriend had a weird habit of eating out of small fish decorated dishes that said 'MEOW' across them. It was Castiel though. Dean wouldn't put it past the crazy artist.

Carefully he opened the can, spooning the food into the dish, before setting it on the ground where the the cat happily sat down to eat.

Dean went back to cooking his food, humming softly to himself. This was oddly domestic, cooking in his boyfriends house and feeding his cat. He wasn't sure if he liked it or not. It felt odd, definitely, but it also felt right, almost like he belonged here, despite the ninety four thousand dollar piano in the corner. It all just felt. . . comfortable.

Dean sneezed.

Ah, except for the cat allergies. That kinda sucked.

Dean pushed the sausage onto his plate and sat down at the island. He ate the breakfast and checked his phone, shooting off texts to his brother who'd sent quite a few worried messages to him when he hadn't come home last night. He was about to bite into the sausage when we felt eyes on him. He turned to find the cat again staring longingly at his plate.

"Did I not just feed you, cat?" The animal just stared back at him calmly. Dean sighed and pulled off a piece of sausage holding his hand out to it. The cat sniffed it curiously before snatching it up and running off with it.

"Are you feeding Mew people food!? Don't feed him people food! He'll get fat!"

Dean smiled sheepishly at his boyfriend, who was shrugging of his coat. "Mew? You named your cat Mew? Original."

"His name is Doctor Mew. Mew for short."

Dean laughed loudly. "You bought at cat solely for the purpose of using that Doctor Who pun didn't you?"

Castiel let out a half-hearted frustrated groan but walked over to wrap his arms around Dean pressing his face against Dean's neck happily. "I'm glad you're still here..." Castiel blinked at the empty can on the counter. "Did you feed Mew too? You fed him his food and then proceeded to give him yours?"

Castiel glared down at the small cat who mewed happily up at him, glad that his owner was home. "Dean is going to spoil you and you're going to get fat."

"Aw but he looked up at me with those big sad blue eyes that reminded me of yours!" Dean smirked. "I'd feed you cat food if you looked at me like that too!"

Castiel rolled his eyes and Dean chuckled, pressing his lips to the stubbled chin of his boyfriend. "Hungry? I can make you something that's not cat food, I promise. And how's your sister?"

Castiel nodded and sat down in Dean's chair when the other man got up. Doctor Mew curled up happily on his owner, purring loudly as Castiel pet him. Dean listened intently to his boyfriend as he told him about Anna and how he now had another beautiful niece. He laughed when Castiel told him about how Gabriel ate Anna's congratulatory meal that the hospital gives out to new mothers, and about how the baby threw up on her grandma.

The artist praised Dean's cooking and gave him affectionate kisses against his temple. Dean thought that just maybe, this wasn't so bad. Just maybe it would all be okay.

Just this once, he'd let himself fall in love.

~.~

The next few weeks were a flurry of activity. It was the second week of December and The Gardens' business has picked up with the holidays approaching. Jess had created decorative wreaths with pine and holly and it seemed like they were a hit. Orders were coming in left and right for bouquets and holiday arrangements and it was definitely taking more than just one person to keep the store going now, much to Dean's annoyance, he found himself more often than not spending time in the shop's back room putting together orders. Jess had hired on a peppy young girl named Charlie to replace Sam since all of his time was taken up by Luc Novak's internship.

Charlie needed the extra money for college and she was pleasant and kind. The customers seemed to enjoy her, so she seemed like a good fit. She was geeky, funny and incredibly brilliant and Dean had taken an instant liking to her. She enjoyed deep conversations about Harry Potter and Star Wars, and she seemed to enjoy picking on Dean about his crush on Han Solo. All in all, working with Charlie had made his time at the flower shop a little less agonizing.

The worst, though, was how this was all bleeding into his time with Castiel. It's been almost three weeks since he had last seen his boyfriend, and that had just been in passing at Gabriel's bakery. It had been almost a month and half since he'd spent the night.

Castiel had started helping out Gabriel at his shop since the bakery had also picked up with business. People apparently needed their coffee and sweets fix while Christmas shopping. Between running a business, helping Gabriel, and Dean working overtime at The Garden they hardly ever saw each other, just a series of conversations through text, and once in a while an actual phone call.

Dean carried another stack of wreaths out of the back and dropped them on the table Jess had set up for them. He'd been making stupid wreaths all day long and his fingers were raw and sore. He was pretty sure he had multiple splinters too.

He dragged his feet back behind the counter and flopped down on a chair, watching as Charlie finished up jotting down another order. She smiled and dismissed the woman with a cheerful wave before turning on Dean.

"She was seriously upset that Jess wasn't here to take her order. Said she thought I'd screw it up." Charlie let out an annoyed puff of air which rustled her bangs. "I hacked Google for fun. I can freaking take a damn order."

Dean just chuckled, shoving his phone back in his pocket.

"Who you so eagerly texting? Is it Sexy McDreamy?" Charlie let out an airy sigh. "When am I gonna meet this Castiel."

Dean opened his mouth to reply with something smart, along the lines of 'Never' when the door bells chimed alerting them to a new customer. They both groaned quietly.

"Not it." Charlie took the seat beside him and pulled out her own phone.

Dean sighed and stood up stepping over to the counter to take her place. Dean was about to plaster that fake smile onto his face, but his breath caught in his throat as he found himself staring into those intense blue eyes he fell so hard for.

"Hello, Dean."

Immediately Charlie had flung herself over the counter curiously. "Who's this? Is this Castiel? Dean?" She nudged him.

Dean narrowed his eyes slightly. No, something was definitely off. Try as he might, this wasn't Castiel. Despite the fact that he was dressed in his boyfriends clothing, had the same hair that looked like he had just gotten royally sexed up against a concrete wall, and he even saw the peek of the tattoo on his lower stomach that was in a strange lettering. Castiel had once told him was in Enochian, the language of the angels. But this wasn't Castiel before him. And that tattoo must be the one he shared with Jimmy. He cleared his throat and shook his head.

"No...No this is Jimmy, Castiel's brother."

Jimmy's mouth dropped open in surprise. "You knew."

"Of course I knew."

Jimmy actually fucking pouted. "I even took my coat off so you'd see the tattoo."

"I know you and Cas have got matching tattoos dude." Dean twitched. They'd fucking planned this and it pissed him off. Was Castiel trying to get him to slip up? What if he wanted an easy out? What if Castiel wanted him to fuck up with his twin so he could easily end the relationship. Dean swallowed hard as the familiar 'what ifs' started racing through his head again.

Jimmy must have noticed Dean's panicked look though and raised his hand to get the other mans attention. "Hey, he doesn't know I tried to trick you. Stop worrying."

Dean narrowed his eyes, he was pissed. "So what? You're trying to break us up then?"

Jimmy snorted. "Clam yourself Dean, If you'd kissed me by accident thinking it was Castiel. He wouldn't have been mad..." Jimmy made a thoughtful face. "...I might have been though. Either way, you think it's the first time a lover has mixed us up? We're used to it. Hell my wife pinned Castiel to wall once thinking it was me. We'd been married for 2 years." The twin shrugged. "But you have nothing to worry about. You knew...How did you know by the way?"

Dean raised a brow. How did he know? He just knew. "I suppose...you carry yourselves differently. Castiel carries himself like he wants the world to notice him and give him attention. You... No offense dude, but you're kinda closed off. You don't act like you want to be noticed at all."

"You're not wrong." Jimmy shrugged and stepped up to the counter placing a small, long package on it. "From my brother. Gabriel has him slaving away in the bakery whenever Benny is available to run the shop. I'm just here to play delivery boy."

Dean raised a brow and grabbed for the box. A gift? God, he was so the chick in this relationship and he knew it. By the smirk on Jimmy's face he also knew it. And hell, maybe even Charlie knew it now. He sighed feeling his cheeks start to heat up with a flush. He grabbed the scissors on the counter, slicing open the tape holding the box shut and peeked inside. He flushed darker.

"Is it a vibrator?"

"Fuck off Jimmy."

"So it is a vibrator?" This time it was Charlie. Both of them were leaning on the counter curious as to what was in the box. Rolling his eyes Dean opened the box the rest of the way.

Laying scattered inside where the peddles of a a fragrant violet flower. Lilacs. Dean knew them, Jess and Sam's entire apartment reeked of lilac. It was Jess' favorite fragrance. Not to mention working in a flower shop and all, he's managed to get down at least the basics in floral identification.

Underneath the dusting of lilacs though was an envelope he looked it over curiously. If it's a fucking love poem Dean might just go over there and punch Castiel in the face. He opened the envelope pulling out a folder piece of paper. Opening it up he saw Castiel's messy scrawl at the top of a flyer. 'I've cleared this with Jess already.' He glanced down at the rest of the paper. He had to read it about four times just to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

"What is it?" Charlie was leaning into Dean's space trying to catch a glimpse of the paper but Dean just folded it back up sticking it in his pocket.

"Hold down the fort for a second. I'll be right back." He grinned at Charlie.

Running across the street (Without looking and almost getting hit by a fucking Prius), Dean burst into the bakery looking around quickly to make sure no one of great importance would see as he threw himself over the counter, surprising the life out of Castiel, then backing him up against the counter for a heated kiss.

Castiel made a surprised noise in the back of his throat, but gave in fairly quickly his hands tangling in Dean's hair.

Breaking the kiss, but not pulling away, Castiel smiled against Dean's lips. "So you got my gift?"

"I did, the flowers were kinda gay and half of me was tempted to come over and punch you, just to feel manly again."

Castiel chuckled, nuzzling his nose against Dean's cheek. A sign of affection from his boyfriend he's gotten so used too. Gabriel had also emerged from the back of the store and was currently trying nudge them apart with a broom bitching something about 'unsanitary work conditions' but they both ignored him.

"So you accept my date?"

"Of course. But to be honest I'm going with or without you." Dean grinned at Castiel who just rolled his eyes.

"To be honest, I'm just trying to get us away from here. We've been together for about. what, 3 and half months and we haven't actually had the chance to have sex. I feel like a saint. It's disgusting."

"Oh you are so going to get lucky too."

"Thank God."

There was an offended gasp of 'Well, I never!' from a lady at the front counter. Gabriel just groaned in frustration and apologized to the customer profusely and promising her that he was definitely going to fire Castiel (Which he did not.).

But since everyone was being so honest today, Dean was finding it hard to care much as Gabriel continued to beat them with a broom. His boyfriend had asked him on a date. He was taking him out of town, overnight, to a Classic Car Show.

And just like that Dean let it slip. "God, I love you."

A surprised look flitted quickly passed Castiel's eyes. It was too soon for I love you's. Hell, Dean didn't even do I love you's in general. But Castiel knew Dean. He could sense the anxiety start to rise up in boyfriend. The fear and uncertainty in Dean's own realization that he's letting himself fall for the artist. So Castiel lets him pretend. Pretend that it was never said, so he doesn't panic or shut down. Instead he just kisses him. And that slip of the tongue 'I love you' filtered out to the back of their minds as they just enjoyed being wrapped up in each other.

And that... that ability to read him, to sense that Castiel needed to make the younger man feel comfortable and safe again. That is exactly why Dean meant every word he said.