AN: Behold! A chapter in which nothing really happens!... Don't forget to review though (:

Dean and Castiel stood side by side, awkwardly, watching Gabriel and Balthazar climb in to their car and drive away, blaring the horn as they pulled out on to the road. Castiel smiled meekly at Dean and scuffed his shoes on the floor.

"That's restrained, for them."

Dean laughed and grabbed Cas' shoulder; "I like your crazy family Cas. It's fun."

"Well, I'm glad you do, I can't stand them most of the time!"

"I suppose I don't have to live with them... So... What shall we do? Or more specifically, how do you wish to be initiated in to Metallica?"

Castiel smiled and followed Dean across the parking lot to his car; "I don't mind, Dean. So long as we start with your recommendation."

"Dude, Metallica is my recommendation!"

Once again, Dean opened the passenger side door for Castiel, smiling as the smaller boy slid in to the car before running around to the driver's side. Still smiling, Castiel belted up and rest his hands in his lap, watching Dean fuss about with his stereo.

"There's no better way to get in to a band than to just drive around, windows rolled down and to just listen to them. In the glove compartment, there's a load of tapes, grab me Ride the Lightening?"

Castiel nodded and complied with Dean's wishes, pausing to look at the artwork on the front before pushing it into Dean's open hand.

"So, before we start this lesson, anywhere we should go?"

"No, I'm happy just driving around with you Dean. But if you do feel the need to stop, if you turn left at the library and keep on, there's a lake..."

Dean nodded and turned the keys in the ignition; "let's get moving then!"

As soon as the car started, so did the stereo, and the soft (for Metallica) opening of Fight Fire With Fire began playing.

"This isn't that bad," Castiel mused. Dean grinned.

"Give it a moment..."

Forty seconds in to the song, the guitars stopped being soft and melodic, and all Castiel heard was noise. He frowned up at Dean, who was having a hard time restraining his head-banging.

"How can you listen to this?"

Dean laughed and shrugged; "each to their own, Cas! Besides, not all songs are like this. Most, but... Maybe you'd like Fade to Black? That's kind of softer..."

Castiel shrugged and tried to keep an open mind; if he could find at least one Metallica song to like, maybe Dean would like him more - things always worked better when there was common ground, and currently Castiel had nothing in his favour. Sure, they had things in common - they went to the same school, they lived in the same town, they were alive - but they were hardly conversation material.

As they drove, Castiel tried to listen to the lyrics of the song, hoping maybe they would help him get in to the band, even if the music made him feel like his ears would bleed. At least Metallica had the decency to make their lyrics audible, instead of the screaming he'd heard in Gabriel's music.

Castiel chanced a look at Dean, who looked the epitome of cool; his left arm balancing nonchalantly on the window-sill, his elbow sticking out of the car, his right arm extended as he leant back in his seat, his right hand clenched around the steering wheel and an almost bored look on his face, as if he could drive with his eyes closed. He'd loosened his tie so the knot was resting in the cavity between his rib-cage, the top three buttons of his shirt undone, his collar ruffling in the breeze. He bit his lip when the guitar solo started, moving his left arm from the window so he could air-guitar and steer at the same time. Castiel smiled at how passionate Dean was about his music. If there was ever a good reason to like Metallica, it would be because Dean loved them.

Dean noticed Castiel's contemplative look and grinned; "so?"

"They're, not so bad? The lyrics aren't so... Poetic?"

"Nah, there's like, a song on every album that has kick-ass lyrics. All the rest are just awesome solos and Lars going mental on the drums!"

Castiel smiled; "would one song per album be acceptable?"

"Dude, one song out of their entire back catalogue is awesome! The fact you're willing to listen to it all is more than acceptable!"

"I'd listen to anything you ask me to."

Dean smiled and looked over at Castiel, who smiled in return; "seriously?"

Castiel shrugged innocently and looked ahead; "yes. I trust your judgement, in music, and films... Anything..."

Smiling even more, Dean went to reply, but couldn't find the right words, and instead resorting to patting Castiel's leg, squeezing his knee. Castiel eyed the hand as if it was a poisonous snake, ready to bite if he made the slightest move. Dean's hand lingered for a few moments before going back to it's place on the steering wheel; Castiel kept his eyes on it, wishing it would rest back on his leg again, missing the warmth it provided.

As the two boys drove circles through the town, they noticed all the Halloween decorations in shop windows. It was only mid-October, but it was cool to drive and see glowing pumpkins and skeletons in windows. Dean smirked and tried to imagine what Castiel would dress up as for Halloween, knowing he probably didn't, and if he did it'd be pointless because he'd probably dress as some obscure literary character. His thoughts wandered to the last Halloween he'd celebrated; he and Sam had dressed as Han and Luke, and they'd managed to persuade their dad to dress as Chewbacca for just an hour until his throat got sore. He chuckled at the memories of John Winchester greeting trick-or-treaters with loud growls, scaring a large deal away before they got their candy. Some of the older kids lapped up the Star Wars theme, quoting lines and re-enacting scenes, a couple of kids were even dressed up as R2 and C3PO. Their accompanying adult didn't hesitate in filming them re-enacting a scene, sending it to Dean and promising John that they'd get a drink some time in celebration of raising their kids proper.

Castiel smiled at Dean; "what's funny?"

Dean grinned and looked over at Cas; "just, memories of my last Halloween, it was... Awesome! ...What happens here for Halloween?"

"Oh, um, there's a school dance, party, thing at school."

"Ah, let me guess, you never go?"

Cas shrugged; "why would I?"

"Hatred of parties? Or hatred of dressing up?"

"Both. We always have a family party after, and I always get shouted at for not being imaginative, so I go hide in my room."

Dean laughed; "unimaginative how?"

"I never go 'all out'. Whilst Gabriel gets the most elaborate costume's I've ever seen."

"Would you go this year?"

Castiel chewed on his lip and shrugged again; "are you asking me to?"

"Maybe?"

"...Maybe."

Dean grinned and began drumming on the steering wheel. They'd driven around for so long the album was nearly finished. Castiel had approved of 'For Whom The Bell Tolls', deciding the song could very well be about the Spanish Civil War and promised to Google it when he got home. He also decided he liked 'Fade to Black', which Dean had grinned about for the next two songs.

The album finally came to an end; Dean blindly grabbed another tape from the glove compartment and swapped it, deciding he'd had enough of driving. Black Sabbath began playing through the speakers as he meandered his way through the streets to find the library, adopting Cas' idea of sitting by the lake. When they finally pulled up, Dean debated leaving the stereo on, but didn't want to drain the battery.

"You know what, dude. We should do this a lot. Just, drive, listen to music, chat..."

Castiel nodded, watching Dean switch off the car and slide out of the car, He got out too and copied Dean in perching on the front of the hood. Dean grinned.

"Give her a few minutes before sitting on her, or else you'll burn your ass."

Castiel smiled and looked out across the lake; "...So, is my musical education over for now?"

"For now. I don't want to disturb the peace with Ozzy Osbourne."

"Thank you, for tonight, Dean."

"Cas, you don't need to thank me every time we go out. I know this whole, being outside thing is new to you, but... It's cool..."

Cas nodded and looked down at his feet; "I just, want to let you know I'm appreciative of what you're doing, for me."

"I'm not doing anything Cas. I'm being your friend, and this is what friends do. You buy me coffee, I take you on drives. You take me to dinner, I let you make me do homework."

"In my defence, I didn't really take you to dinner."

Dean chuckled; "you were there, and it was pretty much the two of us for the night, seeing as we weren't allowed in on their conversation."

"They're insufferable."

"They're all right... I suppose it made us talk more..."

"It's been the two of us all day."

"And you're not sick of me! I'm going to have to rub it in Sammy's face I'm not the most annoying person on the face of the planet."

"Clearly Sam hasn't been around Gabriel enough."

Dean laughed and shoved Castiel playfully, before checking the hood of the Impala had cooled down enough for them to sit on. He shrugged and hoisted himself up, shuffling back and propping himself up against the windscreen. He patted the space next to him, grinning as Castiel copied.

Just in time to ruin the nice quiet moment they were having, Castiel's phone went off in his jacket pocket. Sighing, he pulled it out and flipped it open.

"Don't bother coming home until you've kissed! You're not welcome with your virginity in tact!"

Castiel sighed at Gabriel and flipped the lid shut. Dean frowned.

"What's up?"

"Nothing, just Gabriel being... Gabriel."

"Right... Hey, how come you don't have a fancy, iPhone or something?"

Castiel shrugged and slipped his phone in to his pocket; "I've had that phone for a while now, I don't want a new one. Plus, I don't see the point in having a smart phone, I just need a phone, not a miniaturised computer. People only use them for Facebook and Twitter anyway, I have neither, so..."

"Fair enough... But, you could always use Google at your fingertips! You could have that Metallica song figured by now."

"I have a good enough memory to know to do it when I get home."

"But-"

"-I just, don't want one. I need a phone that works, not some brand to prove how much money I have. I keep getting them for Christmas and birthdays, I keep giving them away, and I just get another one the year after."

"...You give iPhones away?"

Castiel laughed; "too frivolous? I gave one to the History teacher when her's broke... I gave one to this homeless guy I saw everyday, told him to pawn it or something."

"...You give iPhone's away?"

"To people I think need or deserve them, yes. I think if Apple caught wind of what I did with their products they'd either kill me or sponsor me!"

Dean laughed and gripped Castiel's shoulder; "you're insane!"

Castiel smiled; "do you want one? I have three sitting in a drawer at home. And the latest iPod and iPod Nano. I have one, why do I need another?"

"Dude, do your family own shares in Apple or something?"

"Probably, but they just, really like Apple."

"Ah, more of a Microsoft guy myself."

"Me too. I find it to be more reliable."

"I can't believe we're having this debate!"

"At least we agree. I've had the argument too many times with Anna."

Dean grinned; "let me guess, she likes the shiny sexiness of Apple?"

"Yes."

"Same with Sam, but, he uses Microsoft anyway, for his games."

Castiel nodded and stared up at the sky, thinking of a new topic of conversation. Dean beat him too it.

"So if I were to ask you to come to the Halloween thing, would you come?"

"Would you have me dress up?"

"Of course! But, I have an awesome idea for costumes."

Castiel frowned sceptically; "right?"

"It only really works if I'm there, but, I think it's awesome anyway."

"Yes? Go on..."

"You go as Henry Jones, Junior. I go as Indianna Jones."

Cas bit his lip; "I don't... What?"

"You go as Indianna when he's all, Professor Jones. The three-piece suit and what not. I'll go in the whole, leather jacket, hat, whip, everything."

Castiel smiled; "that is a good idea... Two sides of the same person..."

"So, you up for it?"

"...Perhaps, you may be able to persuade me."

"Is that a yes, in your language?"

Castiel laughed and hit Dean's arm playfully; "yes. It's a yes. But it had better be good."

"Oh it'll be awesome!"

Cas looked up at the sky again and smiled, recognising the tune Dean was humming quietly to himself. He played with his fingers aimlessly in his lap, wondering if anything but Dean would ever enter his mind again, especially seeing as he had some pretty important work to be doing before Thanksgiving.

Dean cleared his throat and glanced over at Cas, smiling. Castiel looked back, still smiling himself.

"So uh, anything you want to do? Don't want to bore you..."

"You're not boring, Dean."

"...Thanks Cas... But really."

Castiel shrugged; "I'm not too bothered. What time is it?"

Dean tried to get his watch-face in to the light and shrugged; "just gone eleven... How long will it take to get back? We don't want the ugly step-sisters worrying!"

Castiel chuckled and sat up properly; "we can do whatever you want... We could go back to mine, watch another film or something? You could... Stay over again... That is if Mr Singer doesn't mind-"

"-Dude, Bobby doesn't care! You sure though?"

"Yes? What else would you be doing?"

Dean shrugged and began sliding off the hood of the Impala; "how could I say no? Shall we?"

Castiel smiled and copied Dean, sliding off the hood and going around to the passenger side.

Unfortunately, everyone was awake and milling about the house, watching TV, creating some large sandwich or reading. Castiel tried to lead Dean through the house and go unnoticed, but Gabriel ran in to them, literally. He and Dean lay on the floor, momentarily confounded whilst Castiel watched, horrified to have been discovered.

"...DEAN! What are you doing here!"

Dean grimaced slightly; "um, Cas invited me over to watch some films..."

"At half eleven at night? Oh really?"

Gabriel grinned and pulled himself to his feet, offering Dean his hand. Dean took it and brushed himself down, shifting over to stand next to Castiel.

"We had nothing else to do..." Castiel admitted, scuffing his shoes on the floor. Gabriel grinned.

"So what film are you going to watch? Are you going down to the rec room? Because the twins are down there having a pretty intense match of Gears!"

Castiel frowned; "we could just watch it... In my room?"

Gabriel's grin almost doubled in size; "well, you two have fun!"

Before anyone else could say something, Gabriel skipped off, humming a song Castiel didn't recognise. Dean played with his jacket sleeve awkwardly, looking at Cas' feet.

"Um, shall we pick a film, then?"

Castiel nodded and led the way down to the rec room to pick a DVD. As Gabriel had said, Lucifer and Michael were playing Gears of War, and fighting viciously about it. Both had the other in some kind of hold whilst trying to play at the same time, shouting abuse at each other. Castiel mouthed sorry and shrugged whilst quietly walking over to the shelves of DVDs.

"Any preference?" he asked quietly, not wanting to draw attention to him and Dean, fearful of the abuse they'd get for disturbing them. Dean shrugged and quickly grabbed a couple of films, letting Castiel drag him back out of the room.

"You go, get comfy, you remember where my room is?"

Dean nodded and read the back of the films for a distraction.

"I'll get us something to eat, you go on up."

"Right..."

The two boys stood and stared at each other, unable to move. Their intense gazing stopped when there was a loud shout from behind them in the rec room. Castiel cleared his throat and motioned to the stair case before slinking off to the kitchen. Dean sighed and rubbed his face as he made his way up the stairs. Gabriel had kept on giving him suggestive looks, and when he thought about it he'd been doing it all night, as had Balthazar, and Castiel always looked uncomfortable when they were there. Gabriel walking off humming Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me" had been the last hint he needed. He trudged along the landing, thinking, when someone cleared their throat in front of him. Looking up, Balthazar was leaning on Castiel's bedroom door, grinning.

"A little hyperactive birdie told me you were here. To watch films with Cas, in the privacy in his bedroom. What happened on your drive?"

Dean eyed the eldest Novak suspiciously; "nothing... Why?"

Balthazar shrugged and pushed himself off the door; "oh, no reason... So, you and Cas, huh?"

"...Yeah?"

"Yeah...?"

Dean shrugged; "what?"

Balthazar sighed frustratedly; "do I need to spell it out to you too?"

"Look, Balthazar, I don't know what you're trying to do but... Stop it, yeah?"

Balthazar opened his mouth to say something else, but no sound came out. His jaw snapped shut and he smirked.

"Have a good evening you two."

Dean spun around, Castiel was stood behind him looking uncomfortable as Balthazar grinned at him.

"Thank you, Balthazar..."

Dean managed to get around to the door and dive inside, waiting for Cas to join him. He could hear the two brothers talking outside in hushed voices, but couldn't make out most of what they were saying.

"Just don't, please. Dean isn't interested!"

Balthazar scoffed; "he will be if you tell him you are!"

Dean swallowed around a large lump that had formed in his throat and scurried over to Castiel's bed, trying to think of what Cas and Balthazar could have been talking about, other than... That. He dropped his head on to his hands, looking up when he heard the door click shut. Castiel smiled meekly.

"So... What film shall we watch first?"

Dean smiled back in an attempt to mask his discomfort and shrugged; "whatever. I've seen them all, we're teaching you about pop culture..."

"Ok..."

Castiel took the films and set the food and drink down on the desk and he turned his computer on. Dean shuffled about, taking his shoes off crossing his legs.

"Which film is it imperative I watch?"

"Um... American Psycho! You just, have to!"

Castiel frowned and logged in to his computer, opening the disc tray; "it's not... 'Scary' is it? I don't like to think of myself as a wimp, but... I am."

Dean grinned; "well, it's awesome! Just read the back."

Slipping the disc in to the computer, Castiel quickly skimmed over the back of the DVD box, shrugging once he'd finished; "maybe I should read the book."

"Read it after! Come on, let's watch!"

Castiel nodded and set up the film, lounging back in his desk chair, trying to get comfy. Dean frowned.

"You're seriously going to sit there for the entire film? You'll throw your back out or something!"

"It's fine, Dean... You make yourself at home."

Dean folded his arms across his chest; "no Cas, come on, sit here."

Castiel and Dean argued via intense looks and raised eyebrows until Cas gave in; sighing loudly he flopped down on the bed, as far away from Dean as possible without seeming suspicious. He knew bringing him back home would be a bad idea, and in all honesty it could have been worse, but what had happened between Dean entering the house and Dean sitting on his bed now had been pretty bad by itself. He glanced over at Dean as the film started, frowning at how uncomfortable Dean seemed to be. He'd been fine until he came here, obviously he'd picked up on something Gabriel or Balthazar had said, or not said. Those two could dictate an entire story without using the given words, suggestive looks, winks, loaded statements and a suspicious amount of body language seemed to have finally made sense in the Winchester's brain. It was only a matter of time until Dean left and never returned.

Castiel had hoped Dean would think his peculiar behaviour was just how he was, just a weird kid. But his brother and cousin leave that opinion in Dean's head, making it know that whilst Cas was in fact a weird kid, he wasn't that weird, and there was a reason for his behaviour.

If Dean did know, he was doing a good job of not letting on.

"Cas, you all right?"

Castiel looked up and shook his head; "huh?"

"...Are you watching, or?"

"Sorry, just, a lot on my mind..."

Dean nodded sceptically and went back to watching the film himself, reaching over to grab the box of cookies. After shoving one in his mouth he held the box out in front of Castiel, who politely declined, instead pointing an odd looking bag of green things. Dean reached out and looked at them, frowning.

"Mange-tout? What the hell is that?"

"Pea pods," Cas responded, taking the packet from Dean; "they're usually found in stir-frys and things, but they're pretty nice raw."

"...It's a vegetable? We're watching one of the greatest thrillers, and you're munching on veg?"

Castiel shrugged and popped one of the green pods in to his mouth; "yes?"

"You get weirder by the minute!" Dean laughed, patting Cas' leg. Castiel smiled and turned back to the film.

Maybe Dean didn't know after all.

Dean awoke, feeling groggy, with a very warm left side and an unnatural weight on his stomach. Rubbing his eyes, he looked don to find Castiel asleep beside him, cuddling his side and his head resting on Dean's stomach, rising and falling with Dean's breathing. He didn't expect the first thought to run through his mind to be; "how cute, I just want to keep him! Let's keep him!". Without thinking of possible consequences, he carded his fingers through Castiel's messy hair, smiling at how soft it felt. The smile was wiped off his face when Cas began stirring; Dean threw his arms up and began fidgeting, not wanting to be found by Cas, touching him inappropriately, Castiel lifted his head and looked up at Dean sleepily. It took his afew moments to process where he was; his face feel and he began scrambling away from Dean.

"Oh my God, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I... Sorry! Sorry!"

Dean couldn't help but smile, he sat up and raised his hands defensively; "Cas! Cas, it's fine! Seriously! You fell asleep, I don't care."

"I fell asleep, on you!"

"It's not the worst thing to have happened, Cas. Seriously, one guy fell asleep next to me, started humping my leg in his sleep! Now, as much as I can't stand cuddling - damn chick-flick moments - I really, don't care!"

Castiel smiled meekly and scratched the back of his head; "still, I apologise."

"Apology not accepted Cas. There's nothing to apologise for."

The smaller boy sighed but still smiled at Dean; "whatever Dean. If you're not going to accept my apology I'll just have to tell everyone you like to spoon."

Dean's face fell; "you, dare!"

"I only have to tell Meg, the entire school will know in five minutes, give it ten and the town will-"

Cas was cut short by Dean pouncing on him, sending them both tumbling off the bed. Laughing, Dean managed to pin Castiel to the floor, it not being such a difficult task with Castiel's tiny body and Dean's abundance of muscle.

"You need a teeth to talk, Cas!"

"Are you threatening me? Fine, I'll just write it down!"

"I'll cut off your hands!"

"I'll tap it out in Morse code!"

"I'll... You'll be dead before people know I cuddle!"

Castiel laughed and squirmed underneath Dean's weight, trying to get out from underneath. Dean hovered a few inches above him, staring in to his eyes and he struggled underneath. A few moments later his brain clicked back in to action, he let go and sat back on his feet, Cas sliding out from underneath. They were both dragged back in to another round of intense stares until once again, they were brought back out by Castiel's phone going off. Sighing, he pulled himself over to his desk, grabbing it. And once again, it was Gabriel doing the interrupting.

"Heard a pretty impressive bang up there, still got your virginity? Here, have a commemorative picture of the nights events!"

Attached was a picture of Dean and Castiel asleep together, cuddling. Castiel frowned, hating his cousin's disregard for his privacy. Dean waved in front of him, trying to get his attention.

"What is it?"

Castiel shook his head and shoved his phone in to his pocket; "nothing, just Gabriel being..."

"Being Gabriel... Does that mean something different to you than it does to me?"

"A little, you're not related to him, he doesn't try to torment you every waking moment."

Dean nodded and pulled himself to his feet, trying to straighten out his shirt.