I felt like being nice today as a reward for all your praise, (Thank you by the way) So I did a double upload. Enjoy my darlin's! Happy Friday!

Chapter Eight: Seasons of Love

Castiel:

They all stood backstage. Castiel could hear the audience like a deafening roar. He had felt nervous plenty of times in his life, about 90% of those times were something to do with this show, but now he wasn't nervous. He was terrified. He stood with Meg, everyone was in their costumes for the opening number, a theatrical piece to Seasons of Love by the cast of the movie Rent. They were all dressed like the cast, grungy poor Chicago people. Castiel had on a beanie and fingerless gloves with a jacket. He had never danced in so many clothes before. He wasn't even thinking conscious thoughts, all he could feel was his trepidation quaking inside of him as if it were his blood, pumping through his veins and taking over his body. Then there was Dean. Dean entering his field of vision, saying something.

"What?" Castiel asked him, causing the other man to roll his eyes.

"I said we're going on soon. You doing that breathing thing I taught you?"

"No." Castiel mumbled, glancing towards the stage.

"Breathe damn it Cas. You can't keep locking up like this, how are you going to get through this show?" Castiel just shook his head, unknowing. Dean took hold of both of his shoulders, shaking him a little bit, bringing the world back into focus. "Wake up, c'mon buddy. Breathe." Castiel did as he was told, the little, tiny ball of light went in, and billows of black smoke came out. "You are going to be amazing out there." Dean told him, hugging him close. Castiel nodded, too afraid to speak for if he did, he feared he might vomit. Meg took his hand and squeezed it and smiled at him.

"Let's go gettum." Meg told him. Castiel took a deep breath, waiting for the cue. The lights blacked out, and they all took their places on stage. Then the song started, and his fear melted away.

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes,

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred moments so dear

how do we measure, measure a year?

The group rushed across the stage, flinging their bodies. They each got about a two second cameo in the middle of the stage, when it was Castiel's turn he found himself grinning from ear to ear. He really did love the meaning of this song, that a life should be measured in love. He felt love, right at that moment, watching Dean do his cameo, spinning Meg around.

It's time now, to sing out, though the story never ends

let's celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends

remember the loveeeeeee

Castiel rushed up and jumped into the air, kicking his legs out and lifting his arms, soaring like a bird. Applause poured over him like hot water in the shower. When the dance was over they went backstage, he was grinning still, unable to wash the smile from his face. Dean patted him on the back.

"See, it wasn't that bad right?" Dean asked him, his eyes kind. Castiel hugged him.

"Thank you Dean. I wouldn't be able to do half the things I need to if it weren't for you." Dean hugged him and patted his back before releasing him.

"No problem man, you're always here for me, it's the least I can do. We should probably both go get changed." Castiel nodded and gave Dean one last smile before disappearing off the stage. Castiel didn't get to see the other dances, he had to rush to prepare for his, Meg practicing with him in the wings of the stage before going on. Their piece was fun to dance to, Castiel had seemingly conquered his nerves once and for all, as soon as he started to feel nervous he thought of how he felt dancing to Seasons of Love and the nerves faded away. If that didn't work, he thought of Dean's warm hands on his shoulders, shaking him, his green eyes large and intent. Dean anchored him. The judges gave plenty of commentary about how much they loved their routine, talking about how amazing it was they were able to master Bollywood on their first week, there were comments about how attractive they both were, how pretty Meg was and how dazzling she looked in her costume, how handsome Castiel himself was, causing him to blush.

"Aww I think he's blushing!" Kat commented, causing him to blush further. They ran off the stage waving, Castiel leading Meg by the hand and celebrated backstage, hugging each other.

"You were amazing out there Meg."

"Likewise angel." She replied, grinning.

"Oh no, don't tell me you're starting that now too?" Castiel groaned, Meg shrugged.

"It fits, you really are like an angel Castiel."

Later that night Dean and Castiel sat in their beds, marinating in a high they got from performing.

"That was amazing." Dean said for hardly any reason at all.

"It was the best." Castiel said back. They both turned and grinned at each other.

"I could get used to this. Dancing on stage . . . with you." Dean said. Castiel felt himself blush.

"I don't know, one of these days I might get hurt."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you're so damn distracting I can't focus on my own dance moves you ass." Castiel told him jokingly.

"Ah well, it is a price I have to pay for being this handsome." Dean retorted. Castiel chuckled and the pair slipped off to sleep.

Dean:

They both stood on stage with Balthazar and Adam. This was it, one of them was getting sent home. Dean chanced a glance over at Cas and saw that he looked almost . . . pleading up at the judges.

"Castiel and Dean please step forward." They did so, Cas looked at him now. His look said no! There was a pause.

"You are both in the top for this week, congratulations, you may now exit the stage." They both sagged with relief and power walked off stage before the judges could change their minds. In the wings they turned and shared a look before hugging each other.

"Congrats man!" Dean said, clapping him on the back as was becoming customary.

"You too Dean." Cas told him, fondness leaking through his voice.

"Get a room!" Alistair shouted from somewhere in the distance. The two broke apart, Cas looking at the ground blushing, and Dean powering up for a fight, his fists clenched.

"Get a soul!" Dean shouted back. Cas's head snapped up as Dean started to charge forward. He felt a cool hand on his shoulder and allowed himself to be pulled away by Cas.

"It's okay Dean, just ignore him. Breathe." Castiel told him, looking him deep in the eye. "He's just an assbutt, let him be miserable all by himself." Dean relaxed a bit and nodded. It was announced that Adam and Hannah got voted off. Everyone hugged them and wished them good luck and said goodbye. Hannah didn't cry, she didn't show any emotion. Adam just looked very sad. When they were gone Dean turned back to Cas.

"Let's go out tonight and celebrate!" Dean told him.

"But we have to be up early again tomorrow to start rehearsing our new routines-,"

"So? We'll just get a little less sleep. We deserve a night off. I have an idea. You said you like to read right?" Cas nodded. Dean had thought this over long and hard, and come up with this idea that Cas would love. "Let's go to a bookstore. We won't be out super late, and it'll be fun." Cas's eyes lit up with an excitement Dean had never seen before.

"Okay!"

Later when they both got home, showered, and changed they piled into a taxi, just the two of them. Cas wore a soft muted green sweater that rubbed against Dean's arm and Dean smiled fondly, clutching the notebook in his lap.

"What's the notebook for?" Cas asked him.

"You'll see Cas." Dean's leg bounced up and down. He felt like he couldn't stop breathing super fast, he felt like his face was warm, like there were butterflies in his stomach.

"Dean . . . are you . . . nervous?" Cas asked him in disbelief.

"No! What? Of course not." Dean answered all too quickly. Cas did his signature head tilt as if exclaiming the fact that he knew Dean was lying, but didn't understand what he had to be nervous about. They arrived at the bookstore and walked inside. It was a book lover's dream. A two story, shining utopia of paperbacks all fresh off the press and with that new book smell wafting through the air, mixing with the coffee and scones from the cafe. Cas seemed to be lost in his mind, and instantly started to wonder off, his mouth hanging open in awe. Dean reached out and grabbed at him, catching his hand. For a moment time stood still, and Dean just stared at their intertwined hands, feeling again like he might slip out of his skin. "Cas wait." He said, smiling nervously. "What is your favorite book?"

"That's easy, East of Eden by John Steinbeck." Dean had never heard of it. "Where is it?" Cas looked down at their hands and then seemed to inwardly shrug as he led Dean by the hand to the fiction section, and picked up a large book.

"Okay, this is what the notebook is for." Dean told him, unable to help the grin that spread across his face like butter over hot toast. Cas raised an eyebrow. "Write a note to the person who is going to read that book next telling them why you love it, and tuck it inside." Cas smiled.

"That . . . how did you come up with this?" Cas asked him, looking for all the world like he had been given a Christmas present. Dean squeezed his hand, still refusing to let go even though he felt like he might throw up.

"Cas you are a wonderful person, and sometimes you refuse to share that with the world. I thought this would be a great way to share a little bit of yourself without having to be in front of a camera." Dean picked up another copy of the book. "Plus, I've been looking for a good book to read, maybe I'll give this one a go. Why's it a good book?" Dean asked. Cas led them over to some couches and then looked down at their hands bashfully.

"Dean?" He asked.

"Yeah?"

"I'm left handed."

"Oh. Yeah. Right." Castiel smiled that wonderful smile where only one side of his mouth quirked up and when Dean released his hand he took the notepad and started to write. While Dean waited he flipped through the book and read the first couple pages. When he was done Cas held up the note for Dean to read. He had written:

Dear future reader,

I love this book for many reasons. One reason is that it's easy to read, and that is always helpful in a book. Another reason is it changed the way I viewed my life. Life isn't a preconceived destiny set out by God, life is the choices you make. You are free to choose what you will. So when you make bad decisions, you can't blame it on the nature you were born with. This book teaches us that while we were all born with a little bit of bad in us, it is up to us to choose to be good. Choose the right thing, and your freedom can give you wings.

Enjoy,

~ Angel Face

"Dang, it's that good huh, Angel Face?" Dean asked him. Cas grinned and hugged the book to his chest.

"It is the best." Dean decided right then he would have to buy the book and read it. Cas tucked the note into the front of the book and put it back on the shelf. "What about you Dean, what's your favorite book?" Cas asked him. Dean did his best to look as serious as possible.

"Twilight." He responded, deadpanned. Cas only looked horrified for a second before realizing Dean was joking and he started to crack up. When he was done he wiped at his eyes, wiping away tears that had formed from him laughing.

"No but really though, what is your favorite book?" Dean looked around the shelves, wondering. What was his favorite book? He hadn't read much, really, that was always Sammy.

"There was this one series I got kind of into back in the day, I think it's over now though . . . the author died or something."

"What was it called?"

"Supernatural, by Carver Edlund."

"I read those!" Cas replied, sounding enthusiastic.

"No way! You read them too?" Cas nodded.

"Yeah right up until the end, they were great. Maybe we should leave a note in them too . . ."

"Nah, those readers already have to suffer enough without having to read my terrible hand writing. How about we just look around for now?" Cas laughed in agreement and they wondered around the bookshelves for what seemed like eons. By the end of the trip, Cas had a whole armful of books.

"You want help carrying those?" Dean asked him, still with his one copy of East of Eden. Cas threw him a mock look of surprise.

"Why, Dean Winchester, are you offerin' to help carry my books?" Cas asked him in his best southern bell impersonation. Dean rolled his eyes and grabbed some books out of Cas's hand.

"Don't get used to it Angel Face." They bought the books, and went home, both settling down in bed and reading. Cas wore reading glasses, which made him look more nerdy and impossibly more endearing than he already did. Dean smiled over at him before continuing to read his new book. As the clutches of sleep started to wrap around Dean, a low voice broke through.

"Dean?" Cas inquired.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for tonight." Cas mumbled happily.

"You're welcome Cas." Dean fell asleep feeling comfortable-, no, downright cozy, like he was wrapped up in one of Cas's sweaters.

Yes, Adam got voted off first week. BECAUSE HE'S GONE AND NO ONE CARES. So on a real note though, East of Eden is my favorite book of all time. I was thinking about what book Cas would love, and I started to go through the list of books I know and . . . of course my favorite popped into my head. And then I thought about why it was my favorite, and it sounded so much like season 4/5 Cas, choosing team free will and deciding to stab destiny, right in the face, and I couldn't help but making it Cas's favorite book too. If you haven't read it yet, you should for sure give it a go. :) And again, thank you for all your wonderful reviews, it's just getting to the good stuff, so stay tuned!