Hey guys, I'm so sorry it took me this long to upload this chapter, but I wasn't really in a good headspace for a long time and incidents kept happening that just made it worse. It's a miracle I'm still here. Tbh. So while I genuinely sorry for the delay, for me, my health comes before my fics. Sorry again.

Anyway, as always this is unbeta'ed and all mistakes are mine. English isn't my first language so feel free to point out any and all mistakes. Constructive criticism is welcome.

Happy reading :)

Dean and Cas had been best friends for so many years now, that Dean was running out of ideas about what to do for Cas' birthday. Every year, for his birthday, Dean would do something special, not only because Cas deserved it, but also because Cas absolutely hated the attention, but because it was Dean, he went along with even the most outrageous ideas.

Dean had taken Cas on a cross-country road trip for his 16th birthday when he got his driver's permit. Of course it wasn't cross country, it was only two states from theirs but cross country sounded cooler. For his 18th birthday, Dean had hidden 18 gifts all around the town, such as condoms and lube (those were Gabe's ideas, in his defence) and created a mini treasure hunt for Cas to find the gifts.

Although it wasn't just the milestone birthdays that Dean made special for Cas, for instance, on his 12th birthday, Dean had made Cas an apple pie from scratch, and introduced Cas to the wonderful world of pie. Because how could Cas have not known about how wonderfully amazing pie was? Now that Cas had tasted pie, he loved it just as much as Dean did.

So here Dean was, two weeks before Cas' 21st birthday, planning a surprise party for his best friend.

He had already invited Sam and Gabe, they were going to come the day before the party and stay in a hotel for the night, before staying the rest of the week with them. Dean wasn't sure is he was more excited for Cas' birthday or for meeting his brother after such a long time.

Dean had even gone to Cas' classes when Cas wasn't there to invite some of his friends from there. Turned out Cas didn't have many friends. Of course he didn't. The guy was about as social as a moody toddler. He did find a black haired girl from one of Cas' classes who said that she was a sort of friend, which was as close to a friend as Cas got. She even pointed out a couple of other guys who Cas talked to. One of them was an Asian kid named Kevin with lanky limbs and long shaggy hair that reminded him of Sam. He was also a nerd, like Sam and Dean took an instant liking to him.

The other kid was so timid looking that it seemed that he would pass out if Dean spoke too loudly. His name was Sama- something but everyone called him Alfie.

By the time Dean had invited all of Cas' very few friends, the word about the party had spread and nearly all the people in Cas' department were coming. Everywhere Dean went, he heard people talking about what was going to be the biggest, greatest party of the year. People also knew it was a surprise for Cas so no one mentioned it in front of him. Dean didn't know planning a surprise party with so many guests would be this easy to co-ordinate.

More number of guests, however, posed one problem. How would Dean fit them all into his place. His place was big enough for just a few guests but the entire department would never be able to fit in there. So he had only one option on his hand. Balthazar.

Balthazar apparently came from old money and lived in a mansion like house just outside the campus. When Dean went to ask him about hosting a party at his place, of course he agreed. Why couldn't Cas have dated a douche? It would be so much easier to hate him if he was a douche.

When only a week was left for Cas' big birthday bash, almost everything had been arranged. The booze, the food, the birthday pie (a tradition of theirs ever since Dean had made Cas the pie), the guests, and the strippers (don't ask. That was all Gabe and Dean knew it would do no good to try and stop him). The only thing remaining was making sure Cas got to Douche-thazar's house in time for the party.

For that, of course Balthazar had the amazing idea that they should let people collect at his place while Cas had a small celebration with him, Dean, Gabe, Sam, Charlie, Meg, Kevin and Alfie. Then Balthazar would take hum to his place for a 'private celebration' (the thought of which made Dean very uncomfortable even though he knew there wouldn't be time fir a private celebration until later). Despite his hatred for Balthazar, Dean had to admit that was a very good plan.

So with all the details planned and double checked, all that there was left to do was wait for the day to arrive.

...

A couple of days later, Dean decided to take Cas out for dinner, along with Charlie. It had been a long time since the three of them had gone out together. Of course that led to a lot of teasing on behalf of Charlie about how she didn't want to be third wheeling and she invited along Gilda, who she had finally gotten serious with. They decided to go out for dinner on the Friday before Cas' birthday, which was falling on a Sunday.

They all met at the restaurant and had a light conversation, teasing each other and laughing at each other's expense. Gilda seemed like a really nice girl and Dean was sure Charlie was lucky to have her. That didn't stop him from giving her the typical big brother hurt her and I'll hurt you speech. She, in her defence, took it all in good spirit and promised to not hurt Charlie.

When Cas had gone for a bathroom break, Gilda leaned forward and asked when he was planning to ask him out.

"I – what?" Dean exclaimed. "I'm not asking him out! He's already in a relationship!"

Charlie gave Gilda a look which was very similar to her I told you so look.

"Oh my God, Charlie didn't tell me that!" Gilda looked at Charlie accusingly. "But Dean, Cas really likes you. I mean before you told me he was in a relationship, I just figured you were dancing around each other. I'm so sorry. But you really should ask him out, Dean. I've just met you guys once but even I can see how much he cares about you, in a more than just friends way."

Dean glanced behind him to make sure Cas wasn't back before he said, "I'm not going to break up my best friend with his boyfriend just because I have the hots for him. He deserves to be happy and if that Blond Douche makes him happy then I'll keep quiet."

Before Gilda or Charlie could reply, Cas came back and the conversation shifted to other topics.

That night when Dean was lying in bed, he replayed every memory of him and Cas, going through the details of Cas and his interactions with a fine tooth comb, that's when he realized, maybe Cas did indeed like him more than just a friend. With the realization came a feeling of lightness, because CAS liked DEAN back, as well as a sense of heaviness because Cas was already in a relationship. It was a bittersweet feeling that didn't leave Dean's mind until the day of the party, when the Incidentâ„¢ happened.