Wow, I just read fragments of the fic and just wanted to thank you for reading it despite the mistakes. I swear these are not caused by my laziness. I will reread the whole thing again and try to correct what I can find. Thanks again to all the people who read it. And again, a shout out to the guests for your reviews.
And still don't own anything.
So it was a good thing that Cas actually woke up earlier than planned cause with the time they had spent in the shower it was late enough for them to leave the house.
Not that they had any chance at keeping their relationship a secretive one, even if they'd care to try. Between Cas not spending night at home and Lisa witnessing them testing the Impala's suspension the jig was pretty much up. It was up and probably stood tall enough for Jack to climb it to reach the giant's lair.
So they've decided not to hide it which would probably ensue a lot more chaos and ending in someone assuming Gabriel was Cas and Balthazar' love child. Or something like that. That's why they've made the first big step in untangling the giant web of misunderstandings by introducing Dean to Cas' family. Preferably for Dean, with birth certificates and some hand-held version of their family tree.
"So, who am I'm gonna meet there?" Dean asked as he was driving them to the Novaks' house.
"Gabe would probably be off already, so I guess Balth. My cousin." Cas emphasized, as if that wasn't abundantly clear already.
"Yeah, yeah. Can we drop it, Mr I'm-Married-To-My-Sister-In-Law?" Dean teased, still baffled how could anyone think Sarah could be his wife. It was like thinking Jo would be. And that's just disgusting and wrong.
"What was I supposed to think? You said Winchester!" Cas would defend his brain cells to the very end. Especially when Dean could cause them a semi-stoke just by flashing that cocky smile of his. "Sarah is a Winchester. It was a perfectly logical assumption. Unlike thinking me and Balth could be together."
"Oh yeah? And what's Balthazar last name?" Dean retorted.
"Novak" Cas mumbled under his nose. "But from what I understood he didn't gave you his last name." the man stood his ground.
"Oh, no. He just strolled out of his car like he owned the place, opened the door with his keys, called you 'darling' and went upstairs. I'm sorry for not assuming he was your postman." Cas snorted at that, cause how can one be righteously indignant at Dean Winchester.
"Besides," the man continued "he was the kind of man I could picture yourself with." He could feel Cas' questioning stare so he elaborated. "You know, posh, probably highly educated and British."
Cas chuckled "Dean, British is not a character trait."
"No, then what is it?" He decided to defuse the atmosphere with teasing.
"A state of mind." They both laughed at that. "And you're so wrong."
"About what?"
"The man I would want to be with." Cas stated simply.
"Yeah? So you don't want to be with successful, sophisticated guy who can understand your artsy references?"
"No, I want to be with warm, kind and honest man who can understand my artsy references... And it seems that luck is on my side on that." He finished, focusing his gaze on Dean one more time.
And Dean didn't know what was in this man next to him, but Cas made him want to be all that things and more. He so needed to borrow some art albums from Sarah, he thought as putting his car to halt in front of Cas' house.
"OK, so I'll just change quickly and we can go." the man said as he moved to get out of the car. Dean was right behind him, but he managed to notice two cars standing in the driveway. Before Cas had time to retrieve his house keys, the door had swung open revealing a grinning Gabriel. Dean noticed that a grin wasn't the most appropriate expression cause Gabe's face was adorned with something that could put Cheshire Cat to shame. Then it faltered a little when he saw the man his brother was with.
"Now, now, baby brother. I thought you said he's married." Dean could hear a slight disapproval in the man's voice which made him respect the short man a little more.
"No!" Cas exclaimed. "It was just a slight misunderstanding." He said as he pushed past by his brother, dragging Dean along.
"What sort of misunderstanding could cause you assuming such a thing?" Upon entering the kitchen Cas and Dean were greeted by Balthazar's question.
Cas, still holding Dean's hand, cast his eyes down and mumbled something unintelligibly.
"Sorry, not that familiar with American slang." Balthazar teased. "Who or what is a marinated dew?"
Cas glared daggers at his cousin. "Dean thought I was married to you." Cas repeated quickly in order to put the whole thing behind them.
There was a short silence followed by a burst of laughter from the two Novaks. "I'm sorry, he thought what?" Balthazar laughed looking incredulously at Dean.
"What? It wasn't that impossible." Dean said petulantly. "And not married. Together. That's a difference." He made a lame attempt at defending his case. Not that anyone was listening to him right now.
"Wait, wait. And what about you?" Gabe glared a little, still not convinced the other man was single.
"Yeah, Cas mistook my pregnant sister-in-law for my wife." He revealed, looking fondly at the blushing man.
"Oh, that's priceless. What are you? Contemporary Shakespearean characters? Romeo and Julian?" Balthazar asked, still giggling. "You should give the rights to the story to Anna. She could do her research from the comfort of her own house."
"Anna is our sister. Balth's cousin" Cas reminded Dean, dead set on identifying everyone from now on.
"I'm going to go upstairs and change. You OK here?" Cas asked as he pecked Dean in a cheek.
"Sure, don't worry." Dean squeezed his hand in retaliation.
"OK." Cas moved towards the stairs. "And try not to embarrass me to much, assbutts." He glared at the two other men.
Dean followed him with his gaze until Cas disappeared upstairs. Only then he turned towards his companions. "Assbutts?"
When Cas went back downstairs he was greeted with a sight of his new I-think-boyfriend, his brother and cousin sitting at the counter, obviously plotting something.
"...so, that's what I would do." Gabriel apparently finished his thought.
"Oh, great, man. I would appreciate it." said Dean and then he looked up and grinned at Cas.
"Gabriel is gonna do the catering at Sammy's birthday party." he boasted, obviously looking for the same enthusiasm in Cas' features.
Cas only groaned. "Are you sure? You want it to be a grown ups' party don't you?"
"Oh, don't be a spoil sport, baby brother." Gabriel protested. "I could prepare a fancy ass party, if I wanted to." And then he decided to add for the sake of full disclosure. "Which I don't. But you're handsome prince over here doesn't seem to mind." He pointed at Dean.
"He's right, Cas. It's Sammy's birthday, so I want to make it light and funny, and as humiliating for my baby brother as I can." He grinned. Cas wondered if making their siblings uncomfortable was in all older brothers' DNA. But he couldn't help returning the smile. "OK, ready to go?" He asked Dean, as he putted the wallet into his back pocket. A motion that didn't go unnoticed.
"Sure, let's roll." Dean finished his coffee in one gulp and moved towards the door. "Thanks for the coffee, guys."
"No worries, Deano. Here, for the road." He gave Dean a plate filled with long rolls. "Be careful with the filling. It's another Novak' delight that could explode in your mouth." He winked at the taller man.
And, after watching Dean take the first bite he added lightly "See how easy it would be for me to put something in your food? Remember that when you deal with my baby brother."
"Gabriel!" Cas shouted an Dean made a loud swallowing sound.
"I'm sorry for Gabe and Balth." Cas said as they were back in the car, driving to Dean's shop. "I want to say they're not always like that, but it would be a big, fat lie."
"Don't worry man. It will be my turn to be embarrassed when you meet my family. I swear, that bunch has it out for me. So don't believe a word they say about me." Dean warned
"Of course, Dean. Why would I? They've only been in your life for the significant part of it and probably are the walking multi-volume encyclopedia of your deepest, darkest secrets."
"That's not reassuring, man." Dean warned.
To be perfectly honest Cas wasn't that afraid to meet Dean's family as his boyfriend was. They've turned out to be a nice bunch of people, and now Cas could even understand some of the looks they'd gave him the day before. Not even the man's father and his friends, who, given their age could be more traditional when it came to Dean's partners, made Cas anxious.
He had to say he dreaded meeting with Lisa the most, though. Not only she was Dean's ex, she also met him when he was a blabbering mess of lust and want, who threaten to claim her ex boyfriend on her current lawn.
To ease his nerves a little he decided to imagine some worse circumstances for their first meeting. He had to admit that the runner up was the image of Lisa flinging herself at Dean, confessing her never ending love for the man and begging him to leave Cas for the sake of her and Ben. And then the three of them driving off into the sunset together. So yeah, her smiling slyly at Cas' embarrassment wasn't that bad. He'd take it.
"So listen." Dean shook him out of his reverie. "As much as I enjoy driving with you, what do you say you work at the shop today? I have space you could set up in, and all the supplies I think you would need. You could start the project there, and then we could transport the furniture to your workshop in the evening when I'll be dropping you off anyway?"
Dean wanted nothing more than to ask Cas to spend another night at his place. He would offer, but Cas didn't take any clothes to change into. Maybe he should make some space in his draw... What? He knew that guy for less than a week and was kinda-trying-a-relationship for under a day and he already wanted to move him to his house?
"Unless you have other plans for the evening?" Dean asked lamely, trying to guess where Cas' mind was.
Cas offered him a small smile and apparently decided to save him a little bit. "What? You want me to make another attempt at breakfast?
"Oh, I think we should try for a hat-trick next time. Dinner, breakfast and lunch. And then repeat it." Dean grinned slyly, shooting a quick glance at Cas.
Cas would also happily spend another night at Dean's tonight, but he wanted to make it right. And have a chance to know the man a little bit more. Now when the awkwardness wasn't as palpable he had an opportunity.
"Tell you what. If you don't have any other plans we could do that during the weekend. Let's say, start Friday, after work? We're scheduled to paint the nursery at you're brother's then, aren't we?"
"Yes, we are."
"So I would like to do it this way. Today we're going to work at your shop, and then if I'm not finished we'll take the furniture to my place. Tomorrow I'm gonna work on the crib and on Friday, if you can still retrieve me I'd take an overnight bag, we'd go to Sam and Sarah's and then back to your place..." Cas wanted to kick himself for making assumptions. "I mean... we could go to mine, but with Gabe and Balthazar I'm not sure it's gonna be as comfortable."
"Nah, man. My place is OK. And I like your plan. It's a good plan." Dean thought and instantly planned a few unplanned grab-ass sessions in between the ones they were already planning.
They arrived at the shop around 12, so everyone else were already inside. When they entered the shop they bumped into Pamela who smiled knowingly at them. Freakish mutant psychic.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in. It's Debauched and Debaucheder." She stood in front of them, taking in their appearances, surely looking for any indication they're doing the walk of shame.
"What?" Dean opted for innocence and motioned for Cas to do the same. And it was the first time he was introduced to Cas' head tilt combined with wide-eyed expression that made even Pam hesitate.
"Oh, give it up. Sarah called, she said Lisa swung by your Mom's dropping Ben off. So we know the whole story." she winked at them and moved towards the canteen.
"You're the Debaucheder one." Dean murmured in Cas' ear.
"What!" Cas shrieked indignantly. "No way!"
"Oh, come on. It was Lisa telling the story." Dean said as he smacked Cas' ass lightly and moved to his station.
"That's not even a word anyway." Cas accused, just for the sake of it and he followed Dean inside.
"So that's going to be your kingdom, brotha," said Benny as he, Dean and Rufus finished clearing out the area that was most suitable for Cas. And it was perfect. The amount of light that got through the skylight, the supplies they'd prepared for him and the best part – he was only isolated from Dean by a low – only reaching his belt – separating wall that outlined working stations in the shop, above that there was a plexiglas window that could be slid open or close. It could be used in order to avoid scraps and splinters falling into the neighbor area, especially when the paint was still wet. For now Cas didn't intent to close it.
"Thanks guys. You didn't have to go through all this trouble. I'm only gonna be here one day, so..."
"It's OK, boy." Rufus chimed in. "Dean is thinking about adding a painter to the crew anyway. So see if it's a comfortable working area and does it meet all your needs. It's good enough for carpentry but I can't tell about painting."
"Dean wants to employ painters?" That was a new information for Castiel.
"Yeah. You know to decorate and make ornamental details. People nowadays often want some decorative accents on their furniture and he wants our business to be able to provide the service in house rather that send it somewhere else."
"I see. I'd be happy to share my opinion when I test it." Cas smiled and immediately changed his mind about location. It was one thing for him to be able to gawk at Dean, other people were a whole different story.
"All right people, lunch time." said Ellen as she stepped into the shop.
"Right, Burger Wednesday." Dean exclaimed happily.
"You've just got here, you slob." said Charlie as she raced to get to the canteen first.
"It's called being a boss. I'm overseeing your work, Red!" Dean shouted back at her. "Come on, Cas. You've gotta try aunt Ellen's burgers. She taught me most of the cooking."
"Yeah, when I was babysitting the kids, Dean would spend his whole time in the Roadhouse kitchen observing and annoying us with his questions." Ellen smiled at them as she removed the food from containers and onto the plates.
"And now we have a standing order of Wednesday's lunch at hers." And then he face palmed himself. "Maaaan, I forgot to tell you Cas is gonna be here." And before Cas could make a calming gesture and decline the invite, Dean added. "That's OK. He can have half of my burger and fries."
Cas smiled, but suddenly felt really uncomfortable. It was caused by the silence in the room. Everyone was looking at Dean, frozen. Then Ellen flashed him a smile he started getting accustomed to since recently. "Don't worry, Dean. Sarah told me Castiel could be here today. I got him covered."
"But thanks for the offer Dean." he smiled at the man as he blushed slightly.
"Oh, Handsome, you have no idea." Pam patted his shoulder a little bit condescendingly.
The dinner and the rest of the work day was a blast for Castiel. He usually worked by himself so he was a little wary how he'd managed to work with the office atmosphere. But it was different than he imagined. Although he shouldn't be that surprised learning about his co-workers what he knew.
He actually made quite a progress finishing with the chair, leaving it at Dean's station for the other man to lacquer it. The chest of drawers would take him longer but he didn't mind. Actually he would do a lot more progress if Dean wouldn't sneak to his, rather spacious, cubical to steal a kiss or just chat a little bit. He even half-heartedly scolded Dean for not letting him doing his job, but Dean admitted shamelessly that he included the cuddling time into their timetable for today.
Dean was also observing his co-workers, especially Charlie and Pam, like a hawk, every time they wandered into their new colleague's working area. After all he needed to make sure no unrequired stories were revealed.
All in all it was a good day, and after chatting a little with Dean's employers he could tell he was starting to make new friends. And he'd choose the long make out session in the Impala as a goodbye over the proverbial icing on a cake any day.
He was to go back to the shop in the afternoon of the next day, as Dean would arrive to load the crib he had still to finish.
OK, at least managed to push the plot a little further, and next chapter would be the two last days of working together. Then it would be socializing.
Thanks for reading. If you have an opinion, please share it. Reviews make my day and fuel my enthusiasm for the story.