AN: Thanks for sticking with me. Things are going to progress more quickly form here. I haven't really gotten down to fully writing the ending out yet, but we're in the home stretch. I'm thinking maybe 3-5 more chapters?

Chapter 10- Plaza Lights

Dean paced around his room but kept stopping in front of the mirror every few steps to check his reflection. He smoothed down the black button-up he was wearing and tucked in the pockets of his dark denim jeans before he turned to look over his shoulder. He strained up on the tips of his toes to ensure that his calves looked nice and then bent forward a bit, before adjusting his pants so they best hugged his ass(et). He glanced down at his watch. It was five o'clock. The ceremony he was taking Cas to was to begin at seven and traffic was going to be hell. They needed to get a move on. After checking his butt out from different angles and deciding it was satisfactory, he faced his reflection in the mirror for a pre-date pep talk.

"All right Winchester, you can do this. You're young, manly, and super-hot. You (well Sam really, but he wasn't going to admit that) planned this totally kick ass date and Cas is gonna eat it up." He smirked at himself and his reflection winked back at him, "You look good man. You've got this." Dean made a few last minute adjustments to his hair and then stepped back, taking a final overall look and appreciating the view. "Winchester, you're so hot, I'm about to fall in love with you." He told himself with a smile and then exited the room, moving downstairs where Cas was sitting with his eyes closed, head resting on his arm while Sam stretched out across the couch with his feet in Cas' lap in a full-on food coma. He was snoring slightly and Dean had to resist the urge to knock him on his ass. Instead, he crept up to Cas and lightly shook him. Cas' eyes opened and Dean placed his hand on his cheek, rubbing the scruffy skin lightly with his thumb.

"You ready to go?" he whispered and Cas nodded. Dean carefully lifted Sam's feet and Cas slid out from underneath them, glancing around for a blanket to cover Sam with. When that was done, they headed outside and into Dean's car. They had been on the road for about five minutes when Dean's cell phone vibrated and he slid the screen lock off to find a message from Sam.

Have fun. It said, P.S. I put a blanket in the trunk.

Dean smiled. He really did need to start being nicer to his little brother.

Dean groaned, he hated traffic, they should have left the house sooner. It was already six fifteen and they still had almost a ten mile drive outside the city and traffic was nearly at a standstill. Dean knew that when they passed this next stop light, it would be smooth sailing, but getting there was the problem and driving through the heart of the city was unavoidable in order to get where they were going.

~Four days before Thanksgiving~

It was over Skype a few days before Sam flew in that Dean had told him that he wanted to take Cas out.

He didn't have a clue as to what Cas liked to do in his free time and his dates usually consisted of burgers and sex, so he swallowed his pride and turned to his little brother for help.

"I mean, I could take him to a bookstore or something, but I don't see how I can turn that into a valid date."

"Bookstores are totally date worthy, but we wouldn't want you to be too out of your element here." Sam commented unhelpfully, "You could always take him to the Plaza on Thanksgiving." he suggested with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Why the hell would I do that?" Dean asked genuinely confused.

"Seriously? We've lived in Kansas all our lives and you've somehow managed to miss the biggest celebration of the year. Good lord, you're an idiot."

"Watch it Sammy…" Dean warned but Sam just rolled his eyes and continued.

"The Plaza Lighting Ceremony?" Sam prompted, eyebrow raised in disbelief at Dean's blank stare, "Just Google it. I'll wait." Sam said and Dean did. Every year, in downtown Kansas City, the Plaza held a massive Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Thanksgiving night. Thousands of people were always in attendance and the whole town was lit up in holiday lights, but it seemed like one huge mess to Dean. He switched the main screen back to Sam's impatient face.

"Looks like it sucks." Dean said referring to the crowds that he knew for a fact Cas wasn't overly fond of.

"It's amazing. You wouldn't think it would be so exciting, but it is. When all those lights go up, it's like daytime. It's kind of…powerful in a way." Dean rolled his eyes at Sam.

"You're such a fucking girl."

"And you're a dick. What else is new?" Sam retorted and glared at Dean before continuing, "Listen, I know a kid that goes here. He's from Kansas City and we've kind of become friends. He told me that his grandparents have a house down on the Plaza. I bet I can convince him to talk to them about letting you use their backyard."

"And how would you do that?" Dean asked skeptically and Sam looked shyly away.

"Well, we've gotten kind of…close recently." He said in a soft sort of voice, like he was breaking the news to a very angry bear.

"Sam Winchester. Are you telling me that you've got a boyfriend?" Dean said with a smile but Sam glanced quickly around, appearing a bit shifty.

"Shut up Dean and no, I don't. I'm in study hall by the way." Sam informed him, but Dean's smile just got wider.

"But you do like him then?" he pressed on and Sam actually blushed casting quick glances to his immediate right.

"I'm so not getting into this right now." Sam said with a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Is he there now?" Dean asked and Sam was silent, face in full-on bitch mode, "Alright, alright Sammy. Please continue."

Dean let it drop for the moment, mostly because he wanted to hear why this old dude's back yard was so important and he knew that Sam would refuse to help if Dean annoyed him too much. "Anyway…" Sam pointedly changed the subject, "Gabe said that his grandparent's live up in The Hills. The view is incomparable, especially at this time of year. It over-looks the entire city, I could talk to him and see if he could talk them into letting you use their yard for your date."

"Ugh, Sammy. Don't use that word."

"Well what else would you call it?"

"Fuck, I don't know. Something not as girly." Dean grumbled rubbing his face in exasperation.

"Alright, I'll ask Gabe what he can do to help out with your Special Manly Hang Out Time."

"My what?" Dean asked and Sam sighed.

"I'll call you soon." He said and signed off. Dean snapped his computer shut and almost immediately, he received a text from Sam.

Gabe said it was fine. You'll need to meet with them tomorrow before noon. Bring $200 cash.

~Present Day~

This view better be worth it. Dean grumbled to himself, but he'd checked it out yesterday and knew that it was. The driveway that led up to the multi-million dollar palace replica curved out and around the house and then out into its own private road that wound around a small lake and a wooded area and rounded out on the edge of a cliff that was high enough to enable the viewer to see passed the Plaza and out into downtown Kansas City. Dean had been impressed with the view, but the old guy was kind of a dick. He rolled his eyes at the memory.

"I'm seriously put upon letting you youngsters run around all willy-nilly on my property. You're very lucky Gabriel is my only grandson or else this would not be happening."

"I understand sir. We'll only stay for the ceremony and then we'll be out of your…uhm… hair." Dean said with a grimace as the man was almost entirely bald.

"Quite." The man said staring at Dean with the stink-eye. Dean left the property two-hundred dollars short, but with buzzed with the anticipation of brining Cas here in a couple days.

Now, he glanced across the seat at Cas who was staring out the window in obvious confusion. Dean grinned, he wasn't going to know what hit him.

He made a promise to himself to really, really be nice to Sam in the future.

"What's up?" Dean asked knowing perfectly well why Cas looked so confused.

"At first I thought we were staying for the lights, but you're driving us further out of town. Where are we going?" Cas asked turning to face Dean.

"What kind of date would I be if I ruined the surprise?" he asked and Cas looked demurely away, a grin playing out over his lips. Dean reached over and pulled Cas' hand into his and it was with a satisfied feeling that he pulled off onto the private road leading to the cliff.

Dean rounded the bend and parked the car as close to the edge of the cliff as was safely possible. He made sure there would be enough room to move around and walk out further if they wanted, but Dean was planning on sticking close to the car in case things got…cold. It was November after all.

"We're here." Dean declared as he stepped out of the car. Cas followed him and walked up to the guardrail, placing his hands on the cool metal an expression of awe on his face.

"Dean…" his voice was quiet, "this is…amazing." Cas turned to look at him. "How did you find this place?" he asked and Dean shrugged.

"I did have help." He admitted leaning against the hood of the Impala.

"We'll be able to see everything." Cas said coming to rest against the car next to Dean.

"Yeah."

"I can't wait." Cas told him with a smile, "I've actually never been to this. I've lived in Kansas all my life and never once have I come here."

"Me either." Dean said with a small chuckle.

"How much longer before the lights come on?" Cas asked and Dean checked his phone for the time.

"About ten minutes." Dean answered getting up off the hood to fetch the blanket Sam said had packed, "I'll be back in a sec." popping open his trunk, he found not only a blanket, but also a six-pack of Dean's favorite beer. He really did need to appreciate Sam more. He pulled out the blanket and two beers before making his way back over to Cas. He tossed the blanket in Cas' lap before twisting off the lids of the beers and shoving the metal into his pocket. He handed one to Cas and put the other to his lips, taking a large gulp before sliding back up on the hood of his car. The next few minutes passed in companionable silence, the two just listening to the echoes of the massive choir singing carols below.

"Is it almost time?" Cas asked impatiently and Dean checked his phone again.

"Three minutes." He said and Cas hopped off the hood, taking Dean's bottle from him and finding it empty.

"Another?" he asked and Dean nodded.

"You know me so well." He smiled and Cas came back with two beers and a disappointed look on his face. "What's wrong?"

"I can't get the tops off." He pouted and Dean barked out a breath of laughter, taking the beers from Cas, opening them and handing one back. Cas accepted it and then shivered, bringing his arms around himself as he leaned his hip against the right fender. Dean looked at Cas and then down at the blanket. He set the beer in between his thighs before picking up the blanket and unfolding it. Gathering his courage, he looked back up at Cas, fear in his eyes, but a steely determination making its presence known as well. Cas was still fairly close to him and it didn't take much for Dean to lean over and slide his hand around Cas' wrist.

"Come here." Dean voiced quietly and was proud of how steady it sounded, regardless of his jumbled nerves. Cas walked over to him without hesitation and moved easily in front of him and Dean's hands went slowly from Cas' wrist to his waist, turning him so he would be facing the ceremony. Dean pulled the beer from his lap and set it to the side before adding a gentle squeeze of his hands to encourage Cas to settle back against him. Cas did and Dean could have sighed in relief as he reluctantly released his hold on Cas in favor of wrapping the blanket around them both.

Dean searched out Cas' hands and passed the corners of the blanket into them before sliding his hands slowly over Cas' wrists, down his arms, and back around his waist, resting them gently on Cas' stomach. Dean couldn't deny how perfectly Cas fit against him as he leaned forward and placed his chin on his shoulder, gingerly nuzzling his nose into the warm skin of Cas' neck. He closed his eyes, letting himself become lost in the feel of having Cas so close to him and moved his mouth close to Cas' ear.

"Tell me this is okay, Cas. Please." He whispered desperately and Cas turned to look at him just as the lights lit up below. Dean watched the lights illuminate through Cas' eyes and found he couldn't hold back anymore. He didn't even want to try.

Dean tilted his head up and claimed Cas' lips in a soft embrace, applying a slight pressure that was more than reciprocated. Cas' mouth opened beneath his and his tongue plundered through as he turned in Dean's arms, dropping his beer and the blanket in favor of wrapping his own arms around Dean's shoulders. Dean tightened his grip around Cas as his hands flattened themselves over his back, pressing his body closer. A low moan fell from Cas' lips that Dean greedily caught up as he deepened the kiss. Cas' mouth was so hot and Dean couldn't help it when he slid his hands back to Cas' waist, this time slipping under the hem of his shirt.

Cas sucked in a breath of air through their kiss as Dean's thumbs circled on his hips and Dean felt him bite down on his bottom lip, tugging gently before delving full force back into the kiss. Cas' skin was lava underneath his fingers as his hands ghosted over his stomach, his ribs, his back, just anywhere he could reach without pushing both of them too far. He wouldn't scare Cas away, not now that Dean had just become brave enough to bridge the gap between them and he refused to let Cas go now that he knew what it was like to have him in his arms.

Reluctantly and too soon for them both, Dean pulled away, ending the intense kiss with a soft peck to Cas' lips. Cas' eyes were at half-mast and a hazy grin graced his face.

"We missed the lights." He stated and Dean could tell he felt bad for losing control. Cas ducked his head but Dean caught his chin in his hands and pushed it back up, making his expression as serious as he could while fighting his extreme arousal.

"I didn't." he said clearly and Cas surged forward, stealing Dean's breath as they delved into each other again.

Dean really had to remember to thank Sam.

AN: And sometimes, I like my slash served with a side of cheese. I don't usually do fluffy, cheese ball scenes like this date so don't ask me why I did it this time, I can't give you an answer. It just felt…right. I don't know. Also, just a bit of side info…extortionist old people in KC that live right on the plaza will really let you sit in their driveways to watch the ceremony, for a price. The views really are spectacular and the Lighting Ceremony is always so cool. Hope you liked! Thanks for reading!