A/N: May I present to you, the end. A chapter packed with fluff and love so sweet that it'll clog your arteries. Seriously, prepare yourself.
There will be an epilogue, as requested. But for now, enjoy the last chapter. It's been a wild ride.
Chapter Ten
November
Dean was beginning to sweat under the lamp light. He thought laying down would make this whole ordeal easier, but it had been over an hour and his arm was asleep. "How much longer do I need to hold still?" he asked, trying not to move his stretched neck.
Cas had one pastel clenched in his teeth and another in one hand, swiping fiercely at a spot on the canvas. "Don't you dare move," Cas muttered around the pastel.
Dean was draped on Cas' couch, stark naked, in a pose similar to Adam's in Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam. He was laid out on his right side, elbow propping him up. He was looking over to the window as Cas had instructed to show off the column of his throat. Unlike Adam, Dean's right leg was bent, simultaneously hiding his manhood and making him more uncomfortable.
"Beautiful," the Novak murmured, meeting Dean's eyes. Cas had called him beautiful before, but it never failed to turn his face bright red and leave him fidgeting.
Even laying awkwardly on the couch in the chilling air, Dean loved every ounce of this man. Castiel Novak, who shouldered his pain and accepted his comfort and cuddled like an octopus when they woke in the mornings. Castiel Novak, who had fought tooth and nail to atone for his alleged wrongs in Dean's family's eyes, even when he was already forgiven. Castiel Novak, who was honest about his own flaws and took all of Dean's in stride.
"What are you grinning about?" Cas asked, eyes barely peeking above the canvas.
Dean didn't even know he'd been smiling. "I love you," he said without thinking.
Cas set down his pastels and climbed onto his tiny couch beside Dean, who scooted back to make room. "I love you," Cas' voice was soft, and his lips even softer.
Dean rolled Cas under him, and pastel-stained fingers twined through Dean's growing hair. He could feel Cas smile into their kisses, and he couldn't help but squeeze the man tightly.
Dean pulled away after a few minutes, breathing ragged. "This... won't be in the gallery, right?" he nipped at the skin of Cas' throat.
"It's- ahh- just for me," he pressed himself tighter to Dean, and the two forgot about the piece of art in favor of Cas shedding his clothes.
The next day, it was up in the gallery.
It received more praise than any other piece in the building, and the Novak had offers to buy it for ridiculous amounts of money. Dean was a tiny bit pissed to have his naked self literally on display for everyone, but he had to admit that Cas was a beautiful painter. He was drawn in a field of long grass right at sunset, which explained the lamp. He looked at peace, and Cas was so proud that Dean forgave him at once.
"Maybe I'll draw you naked next time," Dean whispered from the corner of the gallery.
Cas could only laugh.
December
"Baby, it's cold outside!" James Taylor's smooth voice echoed around Cas' house at six o'clock AM. Christmas morning found Dean, already dressed and awake, simply vibrating with Christmas spirit.
"Cas-ti-EL!" Dean sang to the curled up form in their bed. "Wakey wakey! Time for presents!"
Cas moaned and buried his head under the covers. He was not a morning person. "Cas!"
"Dean, I appreciate your Yuletide enthusiasm, but can't it wait until after the ass-crack of dawn?" Cas' voice was gravelly and only made Dean smile more.
"Nope!" he reached under the thick covers and scooped the blue-eyed man up into his arms. Cas cried out in surprise, clinging to Dean's neck like a barnacle.
"Dean Johnathan Winchester!" he yelled. "You put me down this instant!"
Dean dropped him unceremoniously onto the couch, then ran back to the bedroom to grab the duvet. Cas was still pouting when Dean tucked the down comforter back around him and presented him with hot coffee and sugar cookies.
"I'm still pissed," Cas grumbled, but sipped the coffee anyway.
Several members of the family were away this Christmas, so Dean and Cas were alone for a little while. Bobby, Ellen, Jo, Sam, and Gabe, as well as a few others had delivered presents to Cas' house a week earlier, and the two tore into them now.
"Why'd Gabe give me such a huge box?" Dean asked absently. "It's not even heavy. I wonder-" Dean stopped as the box came open. It was filled with colorful condoms and bottles of flavored lube. Of course.
"Is it as bad as candy thongs?" Cas snorted, holding up a plastic package that had a surprisingly small amount of candy in it. "There are ten in there."
Sam got them tickets to a Pearl Jam concert in January, Jo got them each a bottle of twenty-five-year-old scotch, Bobby gifted Dean a coffee table book about old cars and Cas one about Renaissance art, and Ellen gave both boys a two month free tab at the Roadhouse with a note that said, "Do not abuse this privilege."
Castiel had woken up, and the two were both giddy by the time they got to open each other's presents. "You open yours first," Dean said, dropping a tiny box onto Cas' lap and settling next to him on the couch.
The Novak peeled away the Santa wrapping paper carefully, a tiny rattling noise creasing his brow. It was a little box, and Cas drew out a long black string with a pendant at the end. "Sammy gave it to me for Christmas when we were real little," Dean watched Cas turn the Egyptian-like face over in his hands. "It's always been a big symbol of family for me, and I..." Dean rubbed his neck. "I want you to have it. You're my family now."
Cas looked up at Dean with watery, awe-filled eyes. "Was your intention to make me cry?" he asked, sniffing. "I love it." He put it on, and every few minutes, he'd touch it, as if making sure it was real.
"Now, your turn," he said after more coffee. "I hid it, actually. It's behind the broom in the laundry room, so I knew you wouldn't find it." He smirked, and Dean swatted at him before running to get the surprisingly long, heavy box.
"What the hell did you get me?" Dean maneuvered himself and the green paper-wrapped box onto the couch. It was a few feet long and flat, and Dean tore at the paper like there was no tomorrow.
It was a guitar. Dean loved guitars, and he beamed. But upon closer inspection... It was a Gibson Flying V, white, and it looked a little beat up. Definitely an older version, and- holy shit. In faded black ink was a signature. Dean could make out a "J" and an "H". "Is this...?"
Cas nodded his head eagerly. "James Hetfield's flying V, from Metallica's 1985 concert in Oakland." Dean's mouth fell open.
"What... How..." He cradled the precious instrument in his hands, running his fingers over the wood and metal. "Cas, this must have cost a fortune."
The blue-eyed man shrugged. "I know a guy who likes guitars. He also likes rare art pieces. The trade was more than worth it."
Dean laughed in astonishment. He set the guitar down carefully and then launched himself at his boyfriend. "Thank you," he kissed his jaw. "Thank you," he kissed his forehead. "Thank you," he kissed his mouth, hard.
They made out like horny teenagers under the duvet on the couch, with the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree casting a soft glow around the two.
"Merry Christmas," Dean breathed.
"Merry Christmas," Cas whispered.
January
The new year was ushered in with a huge party at the Roadhouse. Everyone that Dean had ever met was there. Ash and Kevin from the garage were there, frequent customers Charlie, Garth, Bela, and Meg made an appearance. Even Cas' sister Anna and cousin Balthazar came into town. Rufus and Bobby grilled, Ellen and Jody Mills fussed over the decorations, and everyone was soon smashingly drunk.
A silver party hat perched in Cas' unruly dark hair, and he was currently sitting in Dean's lap, singing loudly to a song Dean didn't know. "Dean!" he exclaimed as if he'd forgotten Dean was there.
Dean was significantly less drunk than Cas, but he kind of liked watching his child-like behavior. "Yeah?"
"I made a decision," he said seriously. "You're the most attractive person at this party."
The Winchester laughed. "That award belongs to you, sweetheart." Cas squirmed when Dean nosed at his jaw.
"When are we leaving?" Cas asked after a moment.
Dean frowned. "The ball hasn't even dropped yet. Is something wrong?"
The Novak sighed dramatically. "I just really want to take your pants off, but it probably wouldn't be prudent to do it in front of all these people."
Dean's frown disappeared, and he kissed Cas. "Just a few more hours and we can both take everything off." The blue-eyed man giggled, and hiccuped.
An hour later, they were counting down.
"10! 9! 8! 7!" everyone yelled together.
"Dean?"
"6! 5!"
"Yeah, Cas?"
"4! 3!"
"I love you."
"2! 1!"
"I love you too."
"Happy New Year!" Cas cupped Dean's cheek and kissed him, lips surprisingly tender. They didn't see Jo pull Ash in, or Pamela sneak one on Charlie, or Bobby flush red under his beard from Ellen's. They didn't even hear the crash of falling chairs when Gabe attacked Sam. It was just the two of them, alone in a sea of friends.
"I love you," Cas repeated after a moment.
"I love you too," Came Dean's reply. "I heard you the first time, you know."
"I know," Cas leaned back against Dean's shoulder. "I just wanted it to be the first thing you heard this year."
Dean couldn't stop the alcohol-induced giggle. "Fuckin' adorable."
February
"This is supposed to be fun, Dean," Cas complained as Dean darted around. "I'm getting secondhand stress because of you."
"I swear I'm almost ready," Dean called from Cas' kitchen. He was whispering into his phone, and the only thing Cas could hear was a soft, "Thanks, Gabe, you're a life saver."
Cas tilted his head at Dean, confused. They were just going out to regular dinner for Valentines Day. Cas had assured him that whatever Dean did would be wonderful. They stepped out onto Cas' street and there was Gabe in his car, idling by the curb.
"Get in, Cassie!" the older Novak called.
"What...?" Cas turned to Dean, who saluted him and stepped into the Impala, taking off immediately.
Cas sighed and slid into Gabe's passenger seat. "Should I be worried?" he asked his brother.
"Only for your dick," Gabe drove off. "I swear, Dean's grown a vagina. Don't worry bro, you'll be fine." Cas shook his head.
Gabe drove all the way to Lafitte's, where he kicked Cas out. "See you later!" he called, already around the corner.
Lafitte's wasn't exactly the "Valentines Day" type, but there were still a lot of people crowding the room. Cas scanned the throng of people and quickly picked out the back of Dean's head. He was sitting at the bar, oblivious to everything around him.
Cas grinned and sat at the end of the bar, just like he had the night they met.
Dean saw Cas come in and sit down out of the corner of his eye, but he waited a moment before looking over. When he did, he saw Cas' big blue eyes and the flashbacks to that night were vivid.
Dean walked through the crowd like they weren't even there, coming to stand in front of the beautiful blue-eyed man.
"Let's hear it," Cas smirked. Dean grinned. He was playing along.
"Hear what?"
"The cheesy one-liner you're about to give me."
Dean chuckled. "That usually works, but for you..." He let his eyes roam shamelessly down Cas' figure. "I'm going to buy you a drink and ask how you are."
Cas schooled his expression into something a bit more serious. "Well, I still have troubles in my life. Nothing will ever be perfect. But," his eyes darted around. "Want to hear a secret?"
Dean leaned forward eagerly.
"I'm dating this amazing guy. He knows the shit I've been through and I know what he's been through, and he loves me anyway." Dean was grinning stupidly, but he didn't care. "What about you?" Cas asked.
"Well," Dean leaned back. "I've got an even better guy. He's the greatest person I've ever met. The beginning was rough, but I'd go through hell and back to be with him."
Cas kissed him, he couldn't help himself.
"Want to take a walk?" Dean asked.
"Yes."
The reminiscent facade was dropped the second they were out the door, giggling like children. They held hands and talked about what they always talked about- everything and nothing. Cas' hand was familiar in Dean's now, but it never failed to give him the warm fuzzies.
After about twenty minutes, they came upon Dean's apartment building. Cas knew where they were going immediately, but when they got to the roof, he was still surprised. "Wow," he breathed. The roof was decorated with tasteful lights, a fluffy blanket spread out on the ground. There were two picnic baskets waiting to be unpacked. Dean enthusiastically pulled the Novak to the ground and begun removing all of Cas' known favorite foods.
"So that's what Gabe meant," he murmured.
Dean paused. "Huh?"
"Gabe told me that you might have grown a vagina." He chuckled, and Dean pouted.
"Well, he's a vagina," Dean retorted lamely. Castiel only laughed more.
They ate and talked and laughed, and Dean thought he was going to throw up from the happy butterflies in his stomach. Then Cas grew quiet.
"I got you a present," he looked away, shy.
"We said no presents," Dean admonished. Castiel held out a tiny box anyway, and Dean took it. He never said no to presents.
Inside was a key. Just a plain brassy key, unmarked. "Would you like to move in with me?" Cas asked nervously.
The butterflies started doing somersaults, and Dean pulled Cas to him. "Of course," he crushed the man to him, and they immediately went about recreating the mind-blowing sex from the night they met.
Dean stared at his ceiling, Cas breathing deeply on his chest, and knew that he wouldn't miss this room at all.
Early March
"So, it's all okay then?" Dean fidgeted across from Gabe and Sam.
"Yes, it's all okay," Gabe patted the older Winchester on the back. "Just don't fuck up."
"Relax, Dean, this is good!" Sam reassured him.
"Right, yeah," Dean swallowed a nervous lump in his throat. "I'll be fine."
Late March
Dean didn't exactly know how it was going to happen. He just needed to open his mouth and say words. He was a little worried, though. He wanted it to be special, romantic. He had become quite the softie during his and Cas' relationship. Had he really run out of ideas?
No, he'd think of something. Maybe he'd take Cas to an amusement park. Yeah, Cas liked amusement parks. But there weren't any good ones in town. A nice restaurant wasn't very creative.
The blue-eyed man stirred next to him. He had maybe five minutes before Cas woke up, and in that time, he needed a plan. Okay, so they would go to some restaurant, not too nice or anything. Then they'd walk along the lake, something simple like that. That would be fine.
Dean fingered the little box hidden behind the lamp on his night stand. His hand closed around it. Maybe-
"Morning," Cas stretched, and Dean shoved his hand under his pillow.
"Morning, sweetheart," Dean rolled to look at his boyfriend, and his breath caught in his throat. Cas was beautiful, that much was obvious, but right now he looked so relaxed, one arm tucked casually behind his head. His sleepy blue eyes glittered in the Saturday morning sunlight.
Every time Dean saw Cas like that, he fell in love all over again.
"I think I love you," Dean murmured.
Cas chuckled. "I'd hope so."
"For the rest of my life," Dean swiped a thumb across Cas' cheekbone. The Novak's head tilted adorably. "For the rest of my life," Dean repeated, drawing his other hand out from under the pillow. To hell with the plan. This was it.
He opened the little velvety box, a simple silver band nestled into the silk lining. "Will you love me for the rest of yours?"
Cas' mouth fell open. His eyes darted from the ring to Dean's face and back, and they began to fill with unshed tears. "Yes!" he choked out, throwing his arms around Dean. "Yes!"
Cas gripped him tight, and he squeezed right back. This is where Dean was meant to be, right here in Cas' arms. Dean couldn't help but think that their story was so abnormal, to have found something like this that transcended every boundary Dean set for himself. It had been love at first sin, and it was perfect. Dean wouldn't change it for the world.
A/N: Thank you everyone for reading!