"C'mon Cas, you can't go in a suit." Dean sighed, eyeing the squirming child he needed to change.

"Why not? I'm comfortable in this." Castiel frowned.

"You're the one who wants us to act normal and normal people don't wear suits to barbecues. Besides, we got you some jeans and tees this past week. Just put some of that on." Dean was wrestling to get pants onto Deziela.

"But I don't want to." The angel pouted.

"And I don't want to go, but I am." The human argued.

"Fine." Castiel grumbled as he walked to the closet. He pulled it open and snatched up the bag of new clothes before heading into the bathroom. The door closed with probably more force than Cas had intended.

Dean sighed again and shook his head. Finally, the Righteous Man managed to get Deziela into her pants. He held her up as he grabbed a shirt for the little one. In a swift moment, the dark green tee was on the girl. Dean smiled in triumph. Dezi frowned, crossed her arms and plopped back into a sitting position. Dean leaned over and raspberried her cheek, getting squeals and giggles from the little one.

The bathroom door opened back up and Castiel stepped out. Dean looked up and over. Cas was wearing a plain gray polo and some blue jeans. The angel met Dean's eye, "Will this do?"

"Yeah, lookin' good, Cas." The human sent him a smile.

"The clothes are stiff." Castiel complained.

"Well, yeah, they're brand new." Dean picked up Dezi, "They're gonna be like that til you wear them down."

"Very well." Castiel moved closer to Dean. Deziela looked up at her dads as they watched one another. The angel took the child from him, "Looks like Papa forgot your shoes and socks, dove."

"Had to get the clothes on her first. And we need to brush her hair." Dean stated, eyes studying the wall.

"I'll get to it then." Castiel turned and picked up some footwear for Dezi.

Dean cleared his throat, "I'll see what the others are up to."

The angel sighed after the Hunter, settling down for the fight of footwear. When Castiel managed to get the shoes on his daughter, he leaned over and grabbed her hairbrush. Gentle strokes unknotted her hair as he let his thoughts drift.

He should tell them.

But how would Dean react? What if Dean hated him for it? What if they kicked he and Deziela out? What if it would rip away the happy peace that had resided over the extended Winchester family? What if it tore down any hope or faith in the universe from the people who needed such the most?

As he looked down at his beaming daughter, Castiel knew what his decision was. The angel pulled his daughter into a bear hug, warmth causing him to close his eyes.

He would not tell them. He would not risk the safety and happiness of his child. Were it only him that was at risk of being thrown out to fend for himself, the decision would be different. But nothing would make him put his daughter at risk.

Not after all the complications that had occurred to threaten the girl's birth.

A hand was placed on his shoulder as worried whispers slipped into his ears, "Cas? Bud? What's wrong? What happened?"

Castiel could do nothing but shake his head and hold unto the child in his arms.

"Okay, it's okay, Cas. Whatever it is, it's gonna be okay. No matter what, I'm here for you, okay bud? Nothing will ever change that."

"I…" Castiel struggled to manage to words through his tears, "I'm s-so grateful th-that she's safe."

"And she always be safe, Cas. I'd do anything and everything to keep that true." Dean soothed, pulling the angel and Nephilim into a hug.

"She… she almost d-didn't survive… I… I-it was a very hard pr-pregnancy…" Castiel confessed.

"Do you…" Dean paused, as if trying to collect the thought he actually wanted to speak, "Do you want to talk about it or?"

Cas shook his head. Dezi looked so confused at the fact that her Daddy was crying.

"Okay." The Hunter took a breath, still holding the angel, "Well, she's here and she's safe and I swear to you that I'll never let anything happen to her. Never."

"I know." Castiel whispered.

After a few minutes of them sitting like that, Dean spoke, "Um, would it be okay if Sam took Dezi out of the room for a few minutes to finish doing her hair?"

Castiel looked up to see Sam standing in the doorway, eyes full of concern. The angel met the younger Hunter's eye before nodding. Sam walked over quietly and was passed Deziela.

"We'll be back in just a few, okay?" Sam's gentle tones meant for Cas.

"Thank you." Castiel whispered.

The younger Winchester nodded and left the room.

There were a few moments of silence before Castiel turned. The two hugged one another for what felt like a long time. When Cas was calm, he pulled away from the embrace. Dean watched him. The angel wiped his own face free of tears, not looking at the human.

"Any better?" Dean asked.

Castiel nodded, eyes turning back to him.

"Do you still want to go? If not, we can stay here and just watch a movie or something."

"No, I want to go."

"Okay, bud."

"Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

[|]

The extended Winchester-Novak clan arrived at the park about thirty minutes late. The grounds were blanketed with people. Children played in the sandbox and jungle gym, shrieks of joy filling the air above the hushed gossip of their parents. Plenty of eyes dashed to see their entrance. The noobs of the neighborhood.

David approached them – the only familiar face in a sea of strangers. Their neighbor grinned at them, arms spread in welcome, "It's so nice to see all of you again. Let me introduce you to the rest of the neighborhood."

David Bandain led them through the park, introducing the lot to every person they passed. It was monotonous, boring and mundane. Dean was growing ever twitchier with each new human. The older Hunter felt about to shoot the next person he had to make small talk with when he felt a hand take hold of his.

A sudden calm crashed over him. So gentle. So peaceful.

Dean looked to the person holding his hand.

Castiel gave him a small smile.

The painfully heterosexual Winchester did not blush and look away like a foolish schoolgirl who was falling in love for the first time. Not at all. And Sammy and Charlie totally weren't smirking at him. Nope. Did not happen.

However, David did finally introduced them to the last couple and Dean and Cas were still holding hands. Like they were actually married.

"It's so nice to meet you." The husband – Harold? – smiled.

"And, Dean, Castiel, can I just say you two are so adorable together?" The wife – Wendy? – beamed.

"Um, thanks?" Dean blinked.

"I apologize in advance, Wendy and I haven't met any gay couples before, so we hope we won't offend you." Harold said.

Dean rubbed the back of his neck. Castiel flashed them an understanding smile, "It's okay, we know you have no knowledge in the matter, so it will not offend us."

"Yeah, but just treat us like any other couple. Just cuz we're two guys doesn't mean we act off the walls different from straight couples or anything." Dean found himself saying.

The couple smiled brightly at that and nodded, "Absolutely."

"So," Wendy began, "How are you liking the house?"

"It's pretty good, it's got enough space for when our brothers and sister visit." Dean shrugged. In the corner of his eye, he noticed that Charlie had taken Deziela off of Cas' hands.

"Or if we decide Deziela needs siblings." Castiel smiled gently at Dean, almost as if he was teasing his husband.

"You planning on us having five kids, Cas?" Dean raised his brows at his angel.

"Mm, I think that depends a bit on you." The angel hummed, eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Well, I think five's a bit much. We still need a room for guests."

"So four's an okay number?"

"How about we have this conversation when our daughter's a bit older?"

"Oh, if you insist."

"I do." Dean chuckled, squeezing Cas' hand.

Castiel smiled brightly at Dean.

[|]

Dean relaxed on a park bench at one end of an oval of lawn chairs, his arm lounging about his husband's shoulders. Unlike Castiel, Dean wasn't pretending to pay attention to the conversation around him. The Righteous Man was too busy watching his daughter play in the grass with her aunt. It was probably the cutest thing ever.

"Dean?" Sam's voice called from his left.

"Mm?" Dean turned his head, surprised when he found his lips grazing Cas' cheek. It took the older Hunter a second for his brain to reboot and then he pulled back, clearing his throat and looking to his brother, "You were saying, Sam?"

"I was going to ask if you could believe that Dezi will be two in a couple months, but perhaps I should ask if you and Cas need to get a room?" Sam wore a cheeky grin.

Dean threw a nearby beach ball at his brother.

Sam managed to get his hands up just as it hit him, laughing.

Dean opened his mouth to say something when a child's scream ripped through the peace.

Deziela's scream.