Castiel tilted his head at the machine. He had seen the Winchesters, Bobby and Sera work similar ones several times before but he had never tried. He didn't drink coffee, or anything, so he'd never had to, but today it seemed like the thing to do. He opened the top and took out the built-in filter, dumping the old coffee grounds into the side of the sink that had the disposal in it. He rinsed the last bits out of it and then put it back in its place, removing the glass pot and rinsing it out as well, then filling it up with water. Every movement was slow, purposeful, because he was honestly scared he was going to break something or set it on fire.
Somehow, though, he figured it out, and finally flipped the switch and the bottom, jumping at the noise it started to make. He turned around and Dean was in the doorway, still in his pajamas, leaning against the jamb with his arms crossed. He lifted his eyes and had a rather bemused look on his face.
"How long have you been standing there?" Castiel asked.
"Long enough." He looked past the angel to the dripping coffee machine, "What made you decide to do this?"
"It's Christmas." Castiel said, as if that explained everything. Dean knew he wouldn't be able to get any other answers out of him by the look on his face. It was still pretty early, so much the sky outside was only the steely blue-gray that preceded the sun. Dean glanced back over his shoulder then back at Cas. "Want to go ahead and exchange gifts? I really don't want to sit through Sera's snarky comments."
Castiel shrugged, then Dean gave that smile he only ever gave Castiel, and turned on his heel to walk into the library, picking up the newspaper-wrapped package he had wrapped himself very carefully just the day before. Castiel walked in and searched around, finally finding his gift for Dean and picking it up. They looked at each other then exchanged the packages. Dean just ripped the paper off but Castiel was careful, meticulous, like he wanted to save the newspaper wrapping.
Dean opened the wooden box, and there were two necklaces inside, one he recognized. It was one he had thrown away long ago but had always regretted losing, the amulet that Sam gave him all that time ago that he had thrown away in a fit. The other was something on a leather cord, some sort of small disc made of clay with Enochian letters painted on it. When he picked up up and felt how light it was he realized it was hollow, he shook it. There was the whispering sound of some sort of powder inside.
He looked up at Cas, who was popping open the wooden case to reveal a Colt .45 with ivory grips that matched the one he had been carrying for years, only engraved with angel wings, and multiple types of bullets he had made to fit them, full of rock salt, black salt and borax, as well as regular bullets, and he had marked them all. Castiel looked up.
"It's for, you know, when we're hunting together." Dean said, then lifted the talisman up. "Can I ask….?"
"It belonged to one of your ancestors. Actually, the origin of your bloodline. His name was Agathon, he was a Nephilim, born in Ancient Greece, and a very prolific hunter. That talisman is of his creation, and as far as I know it is the only one like it. Inside is the collected ash from the wings of his father."
"So…he…" Dean looked at it, realizing that his ancestor had committed patricide, but considering the probable circumstances he didn't blame him. "Wow."
"As long as you wear it, nothing can pierce your skin." Castiel said, setting the case that had his new gun on the arm of the couch so he could step forward and take it from him, putting the talisman around his neck. He was behind him, tying the leather cord in a knot, and Dean closed his eyes and took in a sharp breath as Castiel's fingers grazed the back of his neck.
"There," Castiel said, pulling his hands away. Dean looked down at it as he turned around to face him. Castiel was really close, the tips of their toes were touching, Dean realized, as well as the fact they were both bare foot. He glanced up and caught Castiel's impossibly blue eyes. Seriously, the guy's irises were the deepest shade he had ever seen on anyone. It seemed unnatural. If any woman he had ever met had had eyes like that…Dean bit his bottom lip at the thought.
Sera came downstairs and started to head into the library, but stopped when she saw Dean and Castiel standing less than six inches away from each other looking into each other's eyes like…well, like they always do. She had the fleeting hope that something was going to happen and she didn't want to spoil it so she began to back away quietly. Of course she was given away by a creaky floorboard. Dean looked over at the noise and Sera did one of her stupid grins. "Morning boys," she said, walking straight into the room and hugging Castiel. "Merry Christmas, she said quietly, before backing away some and planting a kiss on his cheek before turning and hugging Dean.
"Merry Christmas," Dean said as she pulled away. She took a step back from them. "I'm not interrupting anything am I?"
"What?" Dean said, his voice going up an octave, causing Sera to snort. He cleared his throat, "I mean, no, of course not. What could you possibly be interrupting? We already exchanged our gifts…" He realized he was rambling, so he just stopped talking and turned around to pick up two boxes. "One's for you, the other's for my niece."
"Thanks," Sera said with complete sincerity. "You really didn't have to get me anything." She sat down and started unwrapping the top one as Sam came down, the only one of them who had decided to get completely dressed before coming down stairs. He looked at Dean and Cas, sensing a really weird vibe. He noticed that Dean was putting on the amulet he had believed to be lost forever, but didn't say anything about it. Despite everything he still got all defensive and snarky when Sam brought up anything the slightest bit emotional.
"Morning," He said, ruffling his hair, Sera looked up and smiled before going back to unwrapping her gift. She opened the shoe box and pulled out a bundle wrapped in tissue paper. She looked quizzically at Dean, and then started to peel the layers back. "Jeez, Dean, you wrap presents like you dress."
"Sorry?"
"Sloppily, with a lot of unnecessary layers."
Castiel snorted, causing Dean to look at him like he'd lost his mind. "What? She's right." Sam was over by the tree, looking for his gifts to everyone. Sera finished getting the tissue paper off and smiled at the crystal angel. "Aww, this is so cute," she said, laying it carefully back in the box and picking up the next one that was meant for Thalia. She opened it as Sam handed his to Dean and Cas.
Inside the box were three CDs he had burned, a black baby blanket with the letter W and some musical notes monogrammed in green and gold on one of the corners, and a couple of framed pictures of Sam and Dean as kids, and one of John and Mary. She was so busy getting girly over it that she missed Sam's reaction to getting the knife, and the gifts that Dean and Sam exchanged, which as always were just simple things you could buy at a gas station, because really they didn't need anything else.
Sam had bought a bunch of stuff for Thalia and that made up most of the presents that were left. Besides the lingerie he didn't get anything for Sera, but then again she hadn't asked for anything and there was nothing she really wanted. She had his love, that was more than enough for her. Their daughter needed material things more than she did.
Castiel's presents made up a basic Hunter's kit. Things like holy water and different kinds of knives and wooden stakes. Things he would need while he was with them. Sera was loving the look on his face. He didn't know how to feel about this new level of acceptance.
Sam had taken all of the newspapers and cardboard and was tossing it into the fire place and Castiel was packing all of the things he had gotten into his very own duffle bag. Sera set the crystal angel on the desk and then went upstairs, coming back down with the now empty camera, snapping pictures of every one and every thing.
Suddenly Crowley appeared, a gift in his hands wrapped in bright green paper. It was obviously for Seraphiel. She smiled at him and snapped a picture. "Good Morning, Crowley," She said, knowing better than to say Merry Christmas.
"Hello Sera," He said, that coy little smile on his face. She walked towards him. "Is that for me?"
"Who else would I get a present for?" He said, handing the gift over. She took it and put the strap of the camera around her neck so she could free her hands and open it. Inside were two jewelry cases, she opened them both up, they were matching charm bracelets, with the same beginning charms of a heart carved out of peridot and a musical note. It was obvious that one was for her and the other for Thalia. She smiled at Crowley, then shut the boxes and put them back in the package, handing it off to Sam to hold while she stepped forward and hugged him. When she stepped back Dean thought Crowley's face had never looked more human, but he soon got his bearing back then vanished.
"Well that wasn't awkward at all," Dean said, Sam opened the boxes to look at the bracelets and then set them back.
Castiel looked at Sera, "Can I put my regular clothes back on now?" He said, he was obviously perturbed at wearing the pajamas. He'd been pulling at them all morning. Sera laughed, "Sure."
Castiel vanished, but the pjs didn't. He vanished from out of them, and they collapsed to the floor. Dean glanced up at the ceiling and realized Castiel was up there, in the bedroom that was kind of his, completely and totally naked. When he moved his eyes back down and tried to look at anything else, he caught Sera's gaze, and saw that she was grinning like an idiot. He turned around and walked into the kitchen, making himself some coffee. He paused halfway through filling up his mug to look at the pot of coffee, remembering Castiel had brewed it. He cursed to himself then put the pot back in its place, turning around to take a drink.
Sera had walked in to the kitchen. He could see Sam in the other room putting the gifts away. She started making herself some tea, standing next to him to fill up the kettle at the sink. "You know, if you want to keep things secret, you really should not make everything you want to say obvious on your face. Trust the expert secret keeper."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Dean said, attempting to be nonchalant after he gulped down his coffee.
"Uh huh, right. Because I'm being completely ridiculous. I can't sense your emotions or look inside your head any time I please. I didn't pick up that incredibly loud thought you had a second ago that was practically screaming at me so loud we wouldn't need a blood bond for me to hear it. I'm sure I'm just imagining all of it.
She stepped over to the stove, turning on one of the burners and setting the kettle on it.
Dean rolled his eyes. He opened his mouth like he was about to say something, something really important, but then Castiel appeared, and Sera knew she wouldn't have another chance to get him to admit it again, at least not today.
"Feel better, Cas?" He asked before taking another sip.
"I am much more comfortable in these clothes, yes."
"Yeah seeing you in anything but the trench coat is always weird."
"Technically it's an overcoat."
"Yeah, whatever Cas."
