Dean digs into his meatloaf. His family dinner table is a soft din of chewing noises and pleased hums. His mom had been bugging him and Sam to come to dinner for the last couple of weeks and it finally got to a point where they couldn't avoid it. So he, Sam and Jess had all piled in the Impala and drove the three and a half hours to St. Petersburg. Cas is already working tonight, and as much as Dean is ashamed to admit it, he was relieved.
Although he wants his family to meet and, more importantly, accept Cas, Dean doesn't think surprising them is the way to go. They have to ease into the situation.
He breaks apart a crusty roll and takes a bite while his mom and Jess discuss her new job. He can feel Sam sending him questioning looks. The entire drive down, Sam kept returning to the question of if or when the elusive "Cas" would make an appearance.
"So Dean," his mother says, catching him mid-chew, "how's school going?" Dean nods and swallows.
"S'good," he says. "We just made it through mid-terms, so that's done and a lot of my seniors are taking their AP exams in the next few weeks. They are pretty on edge about that." Mary and John both nod, satisfied with the answer. Dean takes another bite of his food.
"Your mom says you're seeing someone," John says. Dean stops chewing momentarily and swallows thickly.
"Ah, yeah. I am," he answers. He catches Sam's concerned gaze out of the corner of his eye and shrugs minutely.
"So?" John asks, putting down his fork and focusing his gaze on Dean.
"What?" Dean asks.
"Tell us about her," he says. "What's her name? What's she like? What does she do?" Dean hears Jess' sharp intake of breath.
"We've, uh, been dating a little over a month," Dean answers simply. "Not very long."
"Long time for you, Dean," Mary teases with a giggle.
"So what else?" John continues. Dean bites at his lip and weighs his options. He knows he should just bite the bullet and lay the situation out as it is, but at the same time, what if this thing with Cas isn't meant to be? What if Dean is just stirring up drama for no reason? He sighs internally, knowing that, even if things with Cas don't work out, there's always the (likely) chance of there being another guy in his life.
Might as well face the music.
"There's something I have to tell you guys," Dean says somberly. Everyone's head rises and turns toward him. Sam and Jess gives him a sympathetic looks.
"What's going on?" Mary asks with some concern.
"This person I'm seeing," Dean starts. He takes a deep breath. "It's a guy." John and Mary's expressions are blank and it takes a few seconds for Mary's brows to furrow in confusion.
"But… But you're straight, Dean," she says. It's not offended or accusing, but simply stating a fact, like she's pointing out that the sky is blue. John looks at Dean critically but doesn't say anything, taking a bite of his food instead.
"Um, well… uh, mom, I guess I'm not." Dean admits quietly.
"So… you're gay now?" She asks, the barest trace of disappointment in her voice. Dean shakes his head adamantly.
"Not gay," Dean clarifies. "I'm still attracted to women just… men, too."
"Bisexual," Jess pipes up. Dean smiles at her and nods, but still catches his father's glare in her direction.
"I don't understand, Dean," Mary says. "Did… Did something happen?" Dean looks at his mom and shakes his head.
"It's not something that happened, Mom," he says. "Well, I take that back: Yes, something happened. I met a man I was attracted to and we started seeing each other." Dean can see the struggle across her expression.
"I don't understand," John says, his voice much calmer than Dean would've expected. "You just decided to switch teams?" Dean shakes his head, struggling with how to explain this.
"It's nothing I decided, Dad," Dean answers. "I've… I've always known what I liked, ok? From puberty on, I've known. Sam can vouch for that." He jerks a thumb in Sam's direction, who perks up uncomfortably at the sudden focus.
"So what? Women just aren't good enough anymore?" John says, calm demeanor slowly turning gruffer.
"It's not like that," Dean says, mustering as much fortitude as he can manage. "I like this person. I'm attracted to them and I like being around them. They just happen to be a guy, alright?" John looks away, clearly not satisfied with the explanation.
"I don't get what you're trying to accomplish, Dean," John says dismissively.
"What I want," Dean counters, "is to introduce my boyfriend to my family without a lot of friction." John looks up from his plate and glares at Dean harshly.
"Look, I know you may not understand. You may not want to accept it," Dean sighs. "But… I care for Cas and I would like you to meet him and him to meet you too." John refocuses on his food, but Mary reaches across the table and takes Dean's hand in her's.
"We would love to have your… Cas over for dinner, Dean," She nudges her husband indelicately. "Wouldn't we, John?" John grunts in the affirmative but doesn't say anything further.
After Dinner, John walks Sam and Jess around the back of their property, showing where they are going to install a greenhouse for the coming winter. Mary volunteered Dean to help her clean up and put away leftovers, but Dean knows this is her chance to talk to him one on one.
"Dean," she says quietly. "Please be honest with me: When…?" She trails off but Dean understands the question. He takes a deep breath and puffs out his cheeks as he thinks back.
"I don't know… 14 probably. I don't know. It started so gradually. Probably was something I always knew, y'know?" Mary nods, but Dean thinks she only doing it for his benefit.
"All this time," she says, expression pained, "you kept it from us?" Dean comes to stand next to her.
"It's not like I was keeping it from you guys, it's just…" Dean runs a hand through his hair as he struggles to find the words. "This is the first guy I've had any sort of… well, anything with. Up until this point, mentioning to you that I liked men as well would be like… mentioning my porn habits!" Mary snorts as he rushes the last part out.
"Alright, alright, I see what you mean," she laughs. It quickly fades as she dries her hands. "I'm sorry about your Dad. He's not… trying to be that way."
"That honestly went a whole lot better than I expected," Dean admits. "He didn't throw me out of the house, so that's a big plus."
"Oh, pishaw," Mary admonishes. "Your Dad wouldn't throw you out of the house! He loves you boys, no matter what. And he doesn't hate gay people either." Dean looks at his mom, unconvinced.
"Yeah, but, there's that whole…" Dean trails off, waving his hand in the air non-committedly.
"The whole what?" Mary asks, putting down the towel she was using, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter.
"The whole Marine thing," Dean says. "It goes against all of that, right?" Mary chuckles and considers this, rocking her head side to side.
"I don't think so." Mary says as she picks up a covered pyrex dish and slips it into the fridge. "And anyway, who gives a shit what he thinks?" Dean laughs in surprise at the unexpected language and Mary smiles warmly at him.
"So tell me more about Cas?" She asks. "Is that short for something?"
"Castiel," Dean says, incapable of controlling his grin. "He's… He's awesome, Mom." He pulls his phone out of his pocket and flips through his pictures until he finds a photo of Cas. He flips his phone toward Mary.
"Oh, he's cute," Mary says. "So when are you bringing him by?" She hands his phone back to him.
"Next time I see him, I'll ask," Dean says. Mary nods and looks at Dean curiously with a mixture of both warmth and sadness.
"Does this mean you'll never give me grandchildren?" She asks. Dean nearly spits out the sip of beer he just took, coughing fitfully.
"Ah, wow, um... Well, first, we've only been going out a month. It's a little soon to talk about kids," Dean stammers out. "And secondly, I'm bisexual, not sterile." Mary laughs lightly and nods again. They finish putting away the leftovers and Dean goes to wipe down the counter. He notices his mom watching him carefully.
"You know, Dean, I really don't have an issue with all of this," she says. "I mean I had my own share of …. experiences in college." Dean's eyes widen and he chuckles awkwardly.
"Really… you don't need to explain that, mom," he mutters.
"My roommate and I would get so high…" Mary continues. "then we'd-"
"Really don't need to hear that, Mom," Dean says, quickly cutting her off. He thanks God that at that moment, John, Sam and Jess come back in through the kitchen door, pulling Mary into a conversation about her summer gardening plans.
Castiel's eyes droop as he sits in the staff meeting, listening to Chuck drone on about something. He was at Dean's house much too late and is paying for it sorely now. He shakes his head, trying to wake himself up but, it's no excuse.
He glances to his right where Gabriel is busy drawing cartoon genatalia (male and female) into the margins of his ledger pad.
"What are you doing?" Cas hisses.
"Trying to stay awake," Gabriel mutters, "which you are not having much success in doing." He yawns wide, causing Cas to as well.
"Alright, guys, I think that's all I have outside your next assignments," Chuck says as he passes out a stack of manilla envelopes. He gives one to Castiel, whose eyes drop down to see Bartholomew written above his name again. He frowns. Although true to his word, working with Bartholomew had been trying. The man hadn't made any overt sexual overtures toward Cas, but some strange instinct kept him wary of the man. When they were working together in the darkened editing bay, Bartholomew's chair always seemed to move closer to Castiel to the point where he could feel his body heat radiating off of him.
There were also some things he said to Cas. He'd bring up moments from their former relationship or the circumstances that led to him moving to New York. A few times, Bartholomew tried to offer some sort of apology, but Castiel stopped him carefully before he could. He didn't want his apology, because that meant that Bartholomew was searching for Cas' forgiveness and that is something Cas wasn't ready to give.
Maybe if Bartholomew were different, but he was still the same cocky, self-assured guy he'd always been and that was the real problem.
Gabriel nudges Cas hard in the arm.
"Up and at 'em sunshine," Gabe hisses. Castiel jerks his head up noticing everyone rising from their seat. He walks over to Chuck, who is carefully sorting his paper.
'Uh, Chuck?" he says.
"Yeah, Cas?" Chuck replies.
"I, uh… I think I might have a story lead." Chuck stops what he is doing and considers him.
"Really?" he replies. Cas nods.
"Yeah, um… Carver Edlund High School is denying the students wanting to form a Gay Straight Alliance under false regulations."
"False regulations?"
"Yeah, the principal says it's too governmental," he explains, "but the school has political student organizations already in place." Chuck's brows draw together tightly.
"And you think this is news?"
"Well, with the marriage-equality ban is on the verge of lifting in the state of Florida, I'd say this is a pretty relevant news story, yes." Cas argues. Chuck nods as he thinks.
"The students want this and the school is denying them?" He clarifies.
"I've gotten the information second hand, but yes I believe so," Cas responds hesitantly. Chuck glances down at the folder in his hand.
"Tell you what? Hand that there off to Gabriel. You and Bartholomew can work on your lead." Chuck says, "Might make an interesting segment." Cas' eyes brighten.
"Really?" He can't wait to tell Dean.
"Sure. Why not?" Chuck says, moving past Cas and out of the conference room door. Cas stands there for a moment in disbelief before fist-pumping into the air and rushing out of the room.
He drops the manilla folder at Gabriel's cubicle before setting off to find Bartholomew.
Bartholomew is less than enthused about the story.
"There's nothing here, Castiel," He says. "A school is within its rights to say whether a student organization can exist or not."
"Yeah, but it's the lie that is important here," Cas argues, "You can't say you won't allow a club because it's 'political' but at the same time have two very blatant political groups."
"What are these political groups?" Bartholomew asks.
"Young democrats and young republicans clubs," Cas answers. Bartholomew leans his head back and thinks.
"I just don't see it," he says. Cas frowns; He knows he just being obtuse in response to Castiel rebuffing him repeatedly.
"Fine," Cas says curtly, "I'll just pass all of this along to Naomi. I bet she would love to do this story." Bartholomew's eyes go wide and Cas knows he's got him. He will take any opportunity to one-up Naomi.
"No, no, we can do the story," He says, sitting up straight in his desk chair, "Find me the contacts and we'll go there on Monday."
"Great," Castiel says with a wide grin, "I'll get on that." He hurries away from Bartholomew's office and back to his cubicle. Once there he pulls out his cell phone. He knows Dean went to his parent's today and doesn't want to interrupt their meal. He unlocks his phone and opens his text messages.
Tell Charlie we'll have a reporter there to talk to her on Monday.
Dean and Sam are saying good-bye to their parents when he hears his textone ring from his pocket. He pulls out his phone, smiling when he sees Cas' name, followed by his jaw dropping open when he reads the message.
Sam and Jess are getting in the car when Dean tells them to wait.
"I need to make a call real quick, ok?" He walks off about 20 feet before dialing the number.
"Hello, Dean," Cas answers and, goddammit, if that isn't just the sexiest sound on Earth.
"Hey Cas," Dean says. "I got your message. So… a real reporter, huh? This is actually going to become a story?"
"Possibly," Cas answers. "One of the reporters and I are looking into it. I'm not getting a lot of confidence from him or my producer, but they like it enough to explore it."
"Well that's great. I'm sure Charlie will be thrilled." Dean shifts the phone to the other ear and holds up a couple fingers to indicate 'two minutes' to Sam and Jess.
"Glad to hear that," Cas says. "Are you still in St. Petersburg?"
"Yeah, about to leave actually," Dean says. "Should be home in a couple hours." Dean debates telling Cas that he told his folks about him, but decides it's better to wait for face to face.
"What time do you get off of work?" Dean asks.
"12:30," he answers.
"You know… I should be home by then," Dean says flirtatiously. "If you want to come over, spend the night, I'd be all for that." There is a second of hesitation on the other line and Dean thinks for a moment he asked too much.
"It sounds perfect, Dean," Cas says. "I'll text you when I'm leaving."
"Sure thing, Cas," Dean says, now smiling ear to ear. "See you then."
"Good-bye Dean," Cas says right before hanging up. Dean stares at his darkened phone for a minute, trying to wipe the perma-grin he's currently wearing from his face. The horn of the Impala blares loudly and he turns to see Sam waiting impatiently in the front seat.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," he grumbles as he walks back to the car. "Where's the fire, Sam?"
He turns the ignition and shifts into gear, driving down his parents winding, unpaved driveway. He doesn't know how the hell he got so lucky to end up with a guy as amazing as Cas, but it feels pretty good.
Dean is barely awake when his message tone pings.
Cas: I'm leaving the office now. Still want me to come over? Dean smiles to himself and taps a reply.
Of Course. I'm just watching TV. He sets his phone on the coffee table and flips the channel to something that might keep him awake.
A short while later there is a knock at his door. He stands, stretches with a groan and goes to answer it. Dean's face lights up the moment he sees a tired, but happy-looking Cas.
"Hey there," Dean says, pulling him in by the arm and kissing him.
"Hello Dean," Cas mumbles against his lips. They stand in the doorway, kissing lazily until Cas steps back to break them apart.
"You look tired," he says with a sympathetic smile. Dean shrugs.
"Too much of my mom's home cooking," he offers, patting his stomach. "What time is it anyway?" Cas pulls his phone out of his jacket pocket.
"Quarter after one," he answers. Dean groans and scrubs a hand down his face. "C'mon, let's get you to bed." Dean smiles and takes Cas' hand. He flips off the light in the living room and pulls Cas down the hall to his bedroom. It occurs to Dean that this is the first time Cas will be seeing his room. Until now, they've always remained in the neutral area of his living room, getting frisky on the couch.
Dean is all at once nervous about what this means for the physical side of their relationship. While he's enjoyed what they've done so far, he's still unsure of himself going further. Sure, he's done his research, but practical application is an entirely different matter.
Cas must feel him tense up, because he squeezes his hand warmly. Dean smiles and leans over, placing a soft kiss on his cheek. They walk into the bedroom, and Dean takes a mental note of whether or not he's cleaned in the last month. He frowns, not being able to recall if he did or not, and prays at least the sheets are decent. They strip down to t-shirts and boxers and slip beneath Dean's comforter, facing each other.
Dean presses forward, kissing Cas passionately. He lets his hand wander down Cas' arm, over his side, and feels a giddy little thrill as he wraps a hand over the globe of Cas' ass. Cas inhales sharply and moans into Dean's mouth. He moves in closer, slotting their legs together until Dean can feel his own hardened shaft brush against Cas'.
Fuck, he wants this man so much.
He was exhausted before, but the sudden rush of arousal is like a shot of caffeine right to his brain. His hands move up, hiking Cas' shirt up over his belly. Before he can get it up over Cas' chest though, he places a hand on Dean's arm, stilling him.
"Dean," he mumbles breathily, "I hate to stop the fun, but I know I'm tired and you look dead on your feet." Dean nods, sobered by Cas' words. He wonders if Cas is saying them for his benefit, but doesn't dwell on the question.
Cas flips to his other side so that Dean is spooned around him. He presses his nose into the back of the thick, dark mess of hair and inhales deeply, catching a heady whiff of Cas's shampoo, cologne, and musk. Cas hums happily and pulls Dean's outer arm around his middle.
"I told my parents today," Dean mumbles, remembering what he was supposed to tell him. Cas gives a questioning hum. "About you?" He twists his head awkwardly to look at Dean.
"You told them?" Dean nods.
"Yeah," Dean says, absently kissing at soft skin at the back of Cas' neck.
"How'd they take it?" Cas asks hesitantly after a moment.
"Better than expected," Dean answers. "I think they're more confused than anything. My dad wasn't happy about it, but he didn't yell. That's a win in my book." Cas twists his head back and kisses him.
"I'm glad," Cas says.
"They want to meet you," Dean says. Cas' eyes brighten minutely and he smiles.
"Ok." He snuggles back down into Dean's arms and soon they are both fast asleep. In the moments before Dean drifts off, the question crosses his mind whether it is too soon to say he is in love with Cas.
