So, uhhh, here it is!...

Castiel was hesitant to say yes, but with Dean's endearing and soft look, as well as his gentle touches, he finally agreed.

Dean had called Sam after charging his phone, asking if he and Jessica could leave the hotel, and if it were possible for them to meet up.

"Meet us?" Sam questioned from the other end of the line as Castiel stood behind Dean, kneading his shoulder muscles.

"Yeah, us."

"Who's us? Wait, did you meet up with that guy? Cas, or whatever? The one in the store..."

"Yeah, Sammy."

"Didn't you guys break up?"

"Back together."

"…As long as he makes you happy," Sam replied, and Dean rolled his eyes.

"Oh, he does, Sam. Very happy." Castiel pressed a kiss to the base of Dean's neck, working his lips up and down. Dean sighed. "So, can you meet us for like, dinner, or something?"

There was murmuring on the other line, then Sam was back. "Jess says she wants Italian, if that's okay."

"That's fine." Dean looked back at Castiel, getting the name of the best Italian place around, repeating it for Sam, making plans for 6 p.m.

Castiel was beginning to freak out. Dean had him dressed in a long shirt and his leather jacket, paired with jeans. "Dean, I'm not ready to meet your family."

"They're ready to meet you."

"Dean," Castiel said, grabbing Dean's arms. "We just got back together. Are you sure it's the right time?"

"I'm never letting you go again. I think any time is the right time."

"What if they don't like me?"

"They will, Cas."

"How do you know?"

"I love them because they love me, and they'll love you because I love you."

"But what if they don't?"

Dean stepped in, twisting his arms to grab Castiel's hands. He kissed his forehead. "Don't worry about it, Cas. They'll love you. And if for some reason they don't, it won't change how I feel about you."

"Dean…"

"Cas." Castiel was quiet, so Dean brought their linked hands up, cupping his face, pulling him in to kiss him. "I promise nothing bad will happen. Now come on, we've gotta go to dinner."

Castiel pulled away from Dean, letting the other go and grab the jacket he had been wearing but Castiel stopped him out in the living room, where he was pulling it on. Castiel held the bunched up chest of Dean's leather jacket in his hand. He pushed it out to him, waving it until Dean grabbed it.

"This is mine?"

Castiel nodded. "You need a warmer jacket, and… Well, it doesn't smell like you anymore."

Dean took his jacket, dropping his previous one as he slipped on the leather. He handed over his fleece jacket, the one he was originally wearing. "You can have this one for a while." He turned his head, smelling his leather jacket. "This one smells like you."

"I'd imagine. I slept with it more than a few times."

"Is it still your safety blanket?"

Castiel nodded, stepping forward to grab the lapels of Dean's jacket, rubbing the well-worn leather between his fingers. "Let's go to dinner."

They held hands as they left Castiel's apartment building, standing close together as the freezing air whipped around them. The sidewalks had a light powdering of snow over them, but it was completely walkable, and they got to their restaurant a few minutes before Sam and Jess.

"Sammy!" Dean grinned as the huge man lumbered in, his bright-haired girlfriend at his side. Dean yanked his brother down in to a hug as he stood from the table they'd been seated at, gaining a laugh from the other man.

"Dean, I saw you like, two days ago."

"Yeah, but you're safe," Dean said, dropping from the hug. He stepped around to hug Jess, who was standing behind Sam, and Sam smiled at Castiel.

"Hey," he said, stepping to him. Castiel shrunk at the mere size of Sam. "Heard you're the heartbreaker my brother's in love with." Castiel stared up at Sam with large eyes, and Sam stuck his hand out for Castiel to shake. "Nice to meet you."

"You too," Castiel replied, dropping Sam's hand and sitting back at their table. Dean followed shortly after. "I thought you said he was your baby brother?"

All three at the table laughed. "He is," Dean replied, grinning at Sam. "Always will be."

"I'm taller than you! You can't call me baby brother anymore."

"Sure I can, Sammy."

"Nuh-uh."

"Yeah-huh."

Sam and Dean continued arguing and Jessica looked at Castiel, grinning at him. "You just gotta love those Winchesters."

"It's hard not to," Castiel agreed, smiling at Dean for a moment before returning his attention back to Jessica. "So how did you two meet?"

The boys turned their attention to Jessica as she began telling the story of how they'd met in college. Dean was grinning as he reached over to grab Castiel's hand. Castiel threaded their fingers together, though kept his eyes on Jessica as she spoke.

She looked to Castiel when she finished. "And how'd you meet Dean?"

"In a movie theater."

"What?"

Castiel was gaping at Jessica, surprised at her surprise, so Dean continued. "Yeah. He was being really loud and talking so I shut him up by kissing him."

Castiel glared at Dean. "No."

"That's what happened, babe. Don't try to hide it."

"Dean!"

Jessica was laughing quietly, and Sam was rolling his eyes. "So, what really happened?"

"We were talking in a children's movie, and we were told to shut up. Thank god Dean had a sharpie."

"You wrote on each other in a movie theater?" Castiel nodded, and Jessica aww'd. "That's so sweet. When did you guys get together?"

"Three days after we met."

"We didn't really even get together officially," Dean added. "We just sorta… Knew."

"Knew that you belonged together?" Jessica aww'd again, and Sam rolled his eyes. Dean kicked him under the table.

"Ow, Dean. What was that about?" Sam asked, squinting his eyes at Dean.

"Stop rolling your eyes."

"What? It's cheesy."

"It's sweet," Jessica said, reaching over to hold Sam's hand.

"So, what?" Sam asked. "You two met, and after three days knew you were made for each other?"

"Yeah," Dean nodded. "I mean, I don't know about Cas, but I knew that I'd end up loving him, whether he wanted me to or not."

"Obviously he didn't feel the same way or he wouldn't have pulled such a dick move, leaving you alone with no contact after you told him you loved him."

"Sam!"

"It's true!" Dean had tightened his hold on Castiel's hand, scooting closer to him. Castiel was trying to scoot away, and Dean was trying to get Sam to stop, but he continued. "I mean, really? Why would you run at love? What, were you abused or something? Taught that love would never come to you? You fucked up, or something?"

Castiel was staring at Sam with hurt and horrified eyes, shaking lightly. He shoved himself away from the table and out of Dean's hold, heading to the exit of the restaurant.

Dean watched him walk away for a moment, gaping at him before glaring at Sam. "Damn it, Sam!" Dean shoved himself back from the table, racing after Castiel. "Cas. Baby, wait." Dean caught up to him just outside the restaurant. He grabbed his arm, tugging him to a stop.

Castiel looked back at him, looking as though he were on the verge of tears. "Why, Dean? I can't go back in there."

Dean grabbed his hands. "Cas, baby, yes you can."

"Not if he's going to act like that!"

"He didn't know any better!"

"He's a grown man, Dean!" Castiel said, voice cracking, though he didn't try to pull or break away from Dean.

"He didn't know you'd been through any of that!"

"He should know better than to bring it up, though! Dean…"

"Cas," Dean started, stepping closer. He brought both of their hands up as he cupped Castiel's face. "Cas." He took another step in and kissed him. "I love you, baby. Please come back in."

Castiel shook his head, though still didn't try to break away. "Dean…"

"Cas." He kissed him again. "Jess is talking to Sam. She'll talk some sense in to him. Cas, baby, please."

Castiel was hesitant, but he finally nodded. "Okay."

"Okay?"

Castiel nodded again. "Okay."

"Okay," Dean said with a slight grin, kissing Castiel again. "Okay, baby. Let's go back in."

Dean kissed Castiel's forehead before dropping their hands from Castiel's face, letting go of one of them as he led Castiel in to the restaurant. Jessica was lecturing Sam quietly under her breath. She stopped when she spotted the men coming in. She smiled apologetically at Castiel.

She elbowed Sam once the men sat down, and Sam grumbled. "I'm sorry," he said to Castiel. "I was… Over my bounds."

"It's okay," Castiel muttered, and Dean leaned in to kiss his cheekbone. Castiel shifted his chair closer to him, and Dean took hold of his hand again.

The conversation passed the time, but it was tight and strained between Sam and Castiel. Their food finally showed up, however, and that seemed to ease the tension, though it picked right back up again as the bar across the restaurant opened up, and Jessica asked Dean to join her in getting a few beers for the table.

Castiel stared at Dean with wide eyes, unwilling to let go of his hand. Dean sent him a look, however, and Castiel backed off. He refused to meet Sam's eye until the other gave up with a sigh. "Listen, man, I'm sorry for earlier." Castiel looked up and Sam continued. "But, I mean, you broke my brother, and his heart. And he sees you again out of nowhere, and suddenly he's right back in love with you. What kind of shit is that?" Castiel was beginning to look hurt again, so Sam took it back. "I mean, he clearly loves you, so it's not just an illusion, but you can understand why it's hard for me to trust you, right? You hurt him so bad…"

"I know. But you have to understand that at the time I left him, I thought he had been playing me. That was… hard to go through, Sam. Very hard…"

"So why didn't you just talk to him about it?"

"I didn't want him to lie."

Sam was quiet for a minute, and then nodded. "I can see that. Just… Promise you won't hurt my brother again, okay?"

"I promise."

Sam grinned at him. "Good.

Dean and Jessica returned shortly after, handing beers to their respective boyfriends. Castiel leaned in and kissed Dean's cheek, thanking him as he took a gulp of his beer.

The rest of the evening passed nicely, the four of them drinking and talking, Castiel and Jessica eventually fading out to talk to each other or just listen to Sam and Dean catch up. They parted ways when they were done with their night, Sam hugging Castiel, which shocked him.

Castiel grabbed Dean's hand once they were outside of the restaurant, heading in the opposite direction of Sam and Jessica. Dean looked at him. "You and Sam seemed to get along after a while."

"Yeah, we talked when you and Jessica were gone."

"We hoped you would."

Castiel bumped his shoulder against Dean's. "And what if we had argued more?"

Dean shrugged. "I'd smack him? Call him a bitch?"

Castiel laughed. "I'm sure you would."

They walked in silence for the rest of the trip back to Castiel's apartment, and began stripping each other the moment they were in it and the door was shut behind them.

Dean had Castiel pinned up against the wall beside the door, both of their shirts and pants off, kissing up his neck. "God, Cas. I've been wanting to do this since you walked out of the restaurant."

"Why?" Castiel asked, bringing a hand up to thread in Dean's hair.

"You looked so hurt. I just wanted to fuck it out of you."

"Oh, you know that I want that, Dean. God, do I want that…" he started, knocking Dean's lips away from his neck to attach his own to Dean's shoulder.

"But you're too tired?" Dean supplied, sliding his hands up Castiel's hips, tilting his head back, enjoying the feeling of his lips on his skin.

"Mhmm," Castiel hummed, turning his head to kiss Dean's neck. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, baby. It's not your fault. I'm actually proud of you."

"What for?" Castiel asked, pulling back from Dean's neck to look at him.

"You went out even though you were nervous, and you ate all of your food."

"You're proud of that?"

"So proud." Dean brought his hands up to cup Castiel's face, leaning in to kiss him. "So proud."

"Why?"

"You're improving, Cas. Already. That's so amazing, baby." Dean kissed him again.

Castiel brought his hands up to cover Dean's. "Can we go to bed?"

"Yeah, yeah. I was actually hoping we could talk, though…"

"Can we do it in bed?" Dean nodded. "Then we can talk."

Dean led Castiel back into his room, letting him crawl into bed first before joining him, grabbing his hands as he twined their legs together. He kissed him. "You sure you're okay to talk? Not too tired, right?"

"I'm fine, Dean. What do you want to talk about?"

"You. Cas, why did you lose so much weight?"

"What do you mean, 'why'?"

"I mean," Dean started to explain, rolling his eyes as he thought of how to phrase it. "I mean, did you… starve, or-"

"Dean, you think I'm starving myself?"

Dean snapped his eyes to Castiel. "No, no. I mean… Kinda…"

"Dean," Castiel said, shaking his head lightly. "I'm not doing it on purpose. I'm not punishing myself. I just… Don't have much of an appetite."

"Because you're depressed?"

Castiel stiffened at the term, but nodded. "Yeah."

Dean frowned. "Why don't you like admitting you're depressed?"

"It makes me feel weak," Castiel muttered.

"You're not weak, Cas. Baby, you're so strong."

"Doesn't make me feel that way, Dean. Can we drop it?"

Dean kissed Castiel. "Of course."

"Anything else you'd like to talk about?" Castiel asked, yawning quietly.

"What did you do while we were apart?"

Castiel sighed. "I went to school, and slept. I mean, I tried to be with a few other guys, but… But none of them were you, Dean. I couldn't even kiss them. It felt weird just to touch them. And that made me hate you so much. I mean, you fucked up my possible future relationships before they could even start!"

"But it's best they didn't work out."

"I would have gone back to you anyway," Castiel said. "Even if I was with someone else. If you'd have asked me to kiss you… I would've been gone again, Dean. So gone."

"I love you."

Castiel pressed forward, nuzzling his head against Dean's shoulder, causing the other to roll on to his back. He scooted closer, placing his head on top of Dean's chest. "Thank you, Dean."

"Of course. Baby, when do you go back to school?"

"Two days."

Dean nodded once. "What are we going to do once I'm back in LA? I wanna stay, Cas, but I don't want to distract you."

Castiel took a deep breath. "We'll see each other ever other weekend? I'll come visit you over spring break, and then you'll come here for my graduation."

"And then?"

"I don't know. I get a job?"

"You can move in with me in LA."

"You want me to?"

"Of course I do."

"We'll talk some more about it when the time comes, okay?"

"Okay," Dean agreed. "You tired?"

"Very."

"Let's go to sleep then, baby."

"Okay. Goodnight, Dean."

"Goodnight, Cas. I love you."

Castiel hugged Dean goodbye at the airport the day before he started school again, jumping up on to him as they kissed in the security line, Sam and Jessica rolling their eyes with slight smiles as they walked ahead of the pair through the line.

"I don't want you to go," Castiel breathed, breaking the kiss.

"I don't want to go, either," Dean replied, kissing Castiel again, holding him close.

Castiel tightened his legs around him when he got near the front of the line, and the security man told him he'd have to leave. He swallowed hard, hopping off of Dean, slipping under the security rope. "I don't want to say goodbye."

"You'll see me in a month, Cas. It'll be okay." He kissed him. "We'll make it." He kissed him once more, holding on to his face. "I love you, baby. Okay? I love you."

Castiel kissed Dean one last time, waving goodbye weakly as Dean stepped through the security, walking away from him.

Even though he said they'd talk about it another time, Castiel had taken advantage of visiting Dean over spring break, using the time to bring some of his things over. Every weekend Dean came to see Castiel, he'd take home a bit more of his things, slowly moving the other out of his apartment. His lease ended a few days after he graduated, but it wasn't an issue. None of his stuff was there anymore.

When Castiel graduated, Dean was sitting there right beside Castiel's mother and father, as well as his grandparents. All had been shocked to see Castiel run up to him first, kissing him deeply, his graduation cap falling off his head as Dean cupped the back of his head.

Dean published a picture to twitter that evening, both he and Castiel smiling at the camera, Castiel in his gown, holding up his diploma. "Gotta love him. Congrats, baby. #congratscastiel" read the caption, and within 30 minutes, the servers were flooded with congrats sent to Castiel, getting the topic trending.

They moved the last of Castiel's things the next day, also marking the start of them living together.

They'd finally unpacked all of Castiel's things, merging them nicely into Dean's monster of an apartment. They collapsed down on Dean couch, flicking on the TV, Castiel curling in to Dean's side.

"Thank you," Castiel said, kissing Dean's cheek.

"For what?"

"Everything."

Dean smiled and kissed Castiel's lips softly, doing so a few times, grin widening each time. "I love you."

Castiel smiled. "I know."

I'm sorry this took so long. I'm still not satisfied with it, but endings are... well, kinda hard. And don't fret, there's one more chapter that'll hopefully wrap this up.

I'm sorta freaking out. It's like I'm letting go of my baby. This feels weird.

That being said, the next chapter should be the last, and if there is absolutely anything you'd like to see or for me to address, please let me know. I don't want to leave you unsatisfied with this, so, really. Let me know.

Anyway, until next time!

:)