Eeep we're getting closer to the wedding bells!
Warnings: talk about past abuse, verbal bashing.
This chapter is a bit angsty but I swear it's worth it!
Thursday, October 23
Castiel stared up at his mother's house from his seat in the car. His thumbs drumming to his own beat. His father was supposed to be meeting them today and he really was not looking forward to it. Dean had tried to come but Cas said no...he didn't want his father around Dean. One little comment and he knew his fiance would flip...
He hesitated for another minute before he finally pulled himself out of the car. His mother gave him a grim smile when she opened the door, pulling it back for him to come inside the house.
"He's not here yet?" Cas asked. Anna sighed heavily, shaking her head.
"No...he should be here soon though. Cas...honey you should have just let me tell him to stay away," she said. Cas watched her slump down on the couch and he couldn't help but feel just a tiny bit guilty. He moved to sit next to her, laying his head on her shoulder. She chuckled, wrapping an around him to pull him in closer.
"I love you mom," Cas said, a soft sigh passing through his lips as her fingers carded through his hair.
Anna pressed her lips to his forehead and he felt her smile, "I love you too baby."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a long time, completely at ease and relaxed...until a sharp knock interrupted it all. Cas instantly tensed and sat up as his mother hurried to the door. He got to his feet and froze when his father entered the room. He looked so different...and old.
"Castiel...you look great son," Zachariah said with a forced smile, his hand reaching out. Cas swallowed against the dryness in his throat and took his hand.
"Thanks...so um...how are you father?" Cas asked sitting back down on the couch. Anna looked between them and started to turn to leave when Cas gave her a panicked look. She chewed on her lip before moving back to sit next to him. Zachariah watched them with calculating eyes, a tiny smirk on his face.
"Very well thank you, business is booming in New York," Zachariah answered leaning back into the chair. Silence surrounded them and it was so uncomfortable...well for Anna and Cas anyway. Zachariah seemed to feed off of it.
"So Castiel...tell me about your fiance?" he asked. Cas narrowed his eyes and tried to read his father's expression.
"Well...do you remember my best friend Dean Winchester?" Cas asked rubbing the back of his neck.
"Ah yes...the little boy you spent nearly every waking moment with," Zachariah said with a humorless laugh. Cas frowned at him and bit down on his tongue to keep from saying what he really wanted to.
"That little boy is his fiance now," Anna said with a bright smile, her hand squeezing his fingers. Cas smiled back at her.
"Well...that's...congratulations son," Zachariah said and it was rather obvious he was forcing the tight smile.
"Why are you here? The last time I saw you...you weren't exactly accepting of me..." Cas said. The smile faded from Zachariah's face and he fidgeted, his long fingers smoothing out his dress pants.
"You're my son Castiel..."
"Okay...and?"
"Cas," Anna said sternly. Cas stared at her and then back at his father.
"I'm sorry but I've been your son for 27 years...and you chose to miss 14 of them. Swim meets...my prom, My high school graduation,...college! I am just as gay as I was back then...what's changed?" Cas asked, slightly glaring at his father. Zachariah shook his head and leaned forward
"I know I haven't been exactly very, accepting of your life style but I want to make up for that. I missed a lot of important things in your life...I don't want to miss this one..." Zachariah said softly, the coldness in his eyes seemed to melt into something Cas had never seen before. Understanding...Cas swallowed hard and looked down at his hands...he wanted to believe it with every fiber of his being. But something was holding him back, not wanting to let go of the grudge burrowed deep in his heart.
"Father please! I'm...I'm so sorry!" Cas cried frantically backing away from his towering father. His large hand connected with the side of his face again as the other ripped the dress off of his body.
"My son will not be a faggot!" Zachariah screamed, his entire face red with rage. Cas took in a staggering breath, his hand shaking as he gingerly touched his face.
"This will end right now….go clean yourself up," Zachariah growled, turning and stomping out of his room. Cas crawled into his closet and hugged his knees close...trying to stay quiet as he sobbed into his arms.
Cas flinched at the memory and held his breath when he looked back up, his eyes meeting his father's confused expression.
"It's going to take me a little bit to be exactly...ok with you being around again...but, if you want….you can come with us to Bobby's house...it's where we'll be having the reception," Cas said softly. He felt a hand press on his lower back and he was grateful for the steadiness it brought. Zachariah nodded, a strained smile stretched on his lips.
"I'll be there...It was good seeing you son...and you too Anna. I should get going...I'll see you both tomorrow," Zachariah said with another nod before making his way to the door. Cas watched him leave, his breath catching in his chest before slumping over.
"Cas?" Anna asked, her fingers threading through his hair.
"I'm ok...can I lay down for a while?" Cas groaned. His mom laughed softly, leaning in to kiss his forehead.
"Of course you can baby...come on," she said helping him stand. Cas followed her to the guest room where he collapsed down on the bed, smiling when she sat down, letting him put his head on her lap.
"I'm so proud of you," She whispered just before he fell asleep.
"Dean! You're gonna get us in trouble!" Cas laughed as his best friend practically dragged him out onto the football field. The air was warm but it wasn't enough to make their tuxes uncomfortable. Dean turned excited green eyes to him and Cas swallowed hard, the smile on his face was beautiful.
"We did it Cas! We fucking did it...damn...I so could not have done this without you man," Dean laughed. Cas blushed and shrugged, pulling his suit jacket off and letting it fall on the grass. Dean followed suit and grinned at him.
"I'm serious...I would have never graduated if you weren't my best friend," Dean said softly.
"You would have just bullied someone else to do it," Cas teased punching his friend in the arm. Dean chuckled and nodded.
"Most likely...thank you Cas...and don't even try to argue...just accept it...probably won't happen again," Dean grinned. Cas rolled his eyes and laughed, turning his face up at the sky. there were only a few lights on, mostly by the gym, but Cas could still see the stars perfectly. Things grew quiet between them but it was comfortable. Cas found his eyes slowly closing at the gentle hum of happiness coursing through him.
"Cas...can I ask you something...but you have to promise not to judge me," Dean whispered, his voice mere inches from his ear. Cas turned to regard his friend, shocked to find him nervous and blushing.
"Of course Dean...what is it?" Cas asked.
"Will you um...god this is going to sound so…"
"Gay?" Cas asked with a smirk. Dean guffawed and pushed at his shoulder playfully.
"Just shut up," Dean sighed. He took in a deep breath and raised his eyes to meet Cas's, "Dance with me?"
Cas stared at him, his eyes widening when he realized he was being serious. His straight best friend..who he was utterly in love with...was asking him to dance. Was this real? Cas swallowed hard and looked towards the gym...he could faintly hear the music but that didn't really matter to him.
"I mean...well...I know you're kind of here with someone...I just thought...never mind..." Dean stammered, even in the dark Cas could clearly see how red his best friend's face was getting. Before Dean could get too far from him, his hand shot out to grab his wrist.
"Yes..." Cas said just above a whisper. Dean turned back to him, a smile slowly growing on his face.
"Not a word to Sammy," he growled as he moved in closer. Cas swallowed hard and nodded, his hands easily finding their place around Dean's shoulder's. He couldn't help laughing...of all the things to be worried about...he was more concerned of his little brother finding out just how soft his older brother was. Dean glared at him but it carried no heat; his hands moved slowly to wrap around his waist, pulling him in a little closer.
Cas knew this was not something you normally did with your best friend. Girls maybe...but not guys. Especially not straight ones. But he and Dean had always been close...which brought on a huge amount of teasing from their class mates. It only got worse when everyone found out he was gay. But Dean never left him...didn't even blink an eye when Cas told him, tears streaming down his face. He had been so scared Dean would hate him, find him disgusting like his father had.
Dean listened and shocked the hell out of him by pulling him into a tight hug, telling him over an over again he wasn't ever going to leave.
And now...here he was...dancing...slow dancing for that matter, with said best friend in the middle of the football field. It made his heart speed up and made him hope...but even if he never got Dean as his boyfriend...he had him regardless.
Cas bit his lip and hesitantly lowered his head to Dean's shoulder, relaxing when the arms around his waist just pulled him in tighter.
"Baby….come on...babe...wake up...Caaaaaaaaas," a voice was poking at him...wanting to pull him away from the amazing memory of his prom. He groaned loudly and slapped away the hand brushing through his hair.
"Oh my god you sleep like a rock...come on...open those pretty eyes for me." It was Dean...of course it was him. Cas smiled and opened his eyes, his teeth chewing on his bottom lip as Dean's face came into focus.
"There he is…" Dean hummed leaning down to brush his lips along his own.
"Hi...how long have you been here?" Cas asked. Dean shrugged as one of his hands rubbed up his side. Cas snuggled closer, moving to lay his head in Dean's lap, his face pressed against his stomach. His fiance chuckled, his hand picking up where it left off.
"Not long...just enough to get the story from your mom. You ok?" Dean asked. Cas sighed and rolled over on his back.
"Yes and no...I want to believe him...I really do. But I'm scared if I let my guard drop for just a second…"
"If he says or does anything to upset you tomorrow, he's gone. I won't put up with him being a douche so close to our wedding," Dean said softly bending over to kiss his forehead. Cas smiled up at him and bit his lip, pulling him down until his fiance was laying down, his arms wrapped around him tightly.
Friday, October 24th
Cas took Dean's hand and quickly pulled him towards Bobby's house. The land looked completely different...it was cleaned up and Cas felt a lump in his throat. The junkers that sat around the house had been sprayed down and Bobby had started to string lights around them.
"Hey boys! What you think?" The old man said with a small smile. Cas beamed up at him and couldn't help running to him, wrapping his arms around him tightly. Bobby huffed a laugh, his hand patting him on his shoulder.
"It looks wonderful Bobby...I can't believe you did all of this in such a short time!" Cas laughed pulling away. He remembered the very stressful task of asking his "uncle" to use his land for the reception. Cas had cooked dinner, made the man a cake...and tried his best to smooth over the request the best he could. Bobby had stared at him for a moment before laughing, nearly slapping him for being such and "idjit"
"Anything for you kiddo...and besides...the place needed to be cleaned up anyway. Come on, let me show you guys the back!" Bobby said gesturing for Dean and the others to follow. Cas bit his lip and watched as Mary, John, Dean, Anna, Gabe, Sam and Zachariah followed.
"Bobby! Oh my...it looks beautiful!" Mary exclaimed. The back of the house was completely cleared up...and the dirt had been leveled and hardened. There was now a wooden platform with beams on each corner sitting near the house. Lights were strung up the pillars and crossed over to create a little canopy of twinkling lights.
The most surprising...was the new gazebo...Cas's mouth dropped open and he stared up at Bobby, who was blushing just slightly.
"It's my wedding present to you guys...me, John and Benny have working on it non stop," Bobby said.
"Seriously? This...this is amazing," Dean said, green eyes wide as he approached the beautiful wooden structure.
"Yes...It was both of your mother's idea...it was a mere thought then...well...we kinda got a little carried away," John laughed. Cas's eyes welled up but he couldn't help it...it was gorgeous and more than he could have ever hoped for. Cas watched as Dean's nimble fingers traced the carvings, a small smiled stretched on his lips.
"Mom...this is amazing," Sam said joining his older brother in inspecting it. Cas grinned and continued to look around, seeing his vision for their wedding play out in his mind. It was going to be beautiful.
"So...is this where you...boys' will be getting married?" Zachariah asked, his eyes glancing around taking everything in. Cas felt his smile falter but cleared his throat, his fingers wringing together a bit. Before he could open his mouth Sam answered for him.
"Yes...the priest from our mothers' church agreed to officiate it," he said it with such sincerity it brought the smile back on Cas's face. Dean came a little closer, his hand rubbing the small of his back.
"Priest? A Priest actually agreed?" Zachariah said incredulously, his face pinched in a grimace. Cas felt his chest tighten and he tried to swallow it down.
"Yeah? And? Who else did you think would marry us?" Gabe laughed shaking his head. He took Sam's hand and pulled him closer to the gazebo. Zachariah's face turned a few different colors...from pale, to red, to purple before he barked out a laugh.
"This is insanity...no respected man of the cloth would agree to this blasphemy!" Zachariah growled, his hands moving up to massage his temples.
"Excuse me?"
"Why the hell did you even come?"
"I knew you were lying!"
"What is your problem?"
Cas closed his eyes as the chorus of voices belonging to people that he loved rang out. He should have known better than to invite his father here...but he had the slightest bit of hope that maybe...just maybe he hadn't been lying. But he had to be honest with himself, it was better for it to happen now then at the actual ceremony.
"You need to leave...now," John said taking slow steps towards his father. Zachariah sneered down at him, laughing in his face.
"You don't scare me John, you didn't back then and you don't know. Castiel...you are my son and I can help you from this path of sin...please just let me help you."
Cas gaped at him, he tried to pull away from Dean but his fiance just pulled him in closer. He didn't need to look up at him to know just how furious he was. His entire body had gone rigid, breathing coming out in harsh gasps.
"John's right, you need to leave," Cas said shaking his head, wanting nothing more than to just crawl into a hole.
"Castiel...son...don't let these...people, do this to you!"
"Oh my god just shut up Zach! You can't force or mold him into what you want! He's not you and he'll never be like you!"
"He's my son, Anna," Zachariah argued. Castiel's stomach churned every time he said it, he was about to scream shut up but his mother beat him to it.
"He's not your son!" Anna shouted. Everyone froze, eyes widening as they stared at his mother. All except Mary, who he could have sworn had a very small smile on her face.
"What did you say?" Zach bellowed, taking a few steps towards his mom. John and Bobby moved to stand in between them.
"You heard me! He's not your son!" Anna said, her eyes welling with tears.
"I knew it...as soon as I saw him...I should have left you the moment after you gave birth...whore!" Zach cried. Cas wrenched away from Dean, hurrying closer to his mother when John swung, knocking Zach hard on his ass.
"Don't you ever talk to her that way you son of a bitch!" John shouted, struggling against Bobby's arms.
"You'll regret that Winchester!" Zach cried, struggling to his feet. He staggered back and stared at them all, his face turning an even darker shade of purple. He brushed the dirt off his pants and grumbled something under his breath.
"What was that?" John barked.
"I said..."
"Oh please Zachariah...do put a cork in it and shut the hell up," Cas stilled...that voice. It was unfamiliar but yet he knew exactly who it belonged to. Slowly he spun around and his breath caught in his chest. The 16 year old quiet version of his older brother morphed into the well dressed blond man smiling snarkly at Zach.
"Is that...who I think it is?" Dean asked softly. Cas couldn't answer, his eyes were glued to the man standing a few feet from them.
"Luc...oh my god," Anna whispered, her hands covering her mouth. Luc turned cold blue eyes to her and his entire face melted into a soft smile.
"Hiya mom..." he said gently, holding his arms out. Anna choked back a sob and ran to him, hugging him tightly. His older brother laughed, pressing his lips to her red hair.
"Oh Luc...I'm so glad you came," she said, laughing quietly when Luc wiped at her tears. Cas swallowed hard and started walking over. Luc looked up at him and bit on his bottom lip, his arm reaching out to him slowly.
"You should not be here Lucifer..." Zach growled making Cas stop in his tracks.. Luc gently moved their mom to his side and the coldness slid back onto his face.
"Why father? Afraid I'd corrupt my baby brother more than I already had? You blamed me for years for him turning into a boy lover. You thought taking me away from him would help Castiel find the 'path'...but the only reason why I really left with you and stayed away from them so long...is so that you wouldn't come near them. You had to keep a close eye on me didn't you father? Didn't help in the long run did it?" Luc laughed, his eyes casting over to where their cars were parked. Cas looked over and gasped when he saw a very good looking man sauntering over. He was impeccably dressed with slicked back dark hair and light eyes.
Castiel knew instantly who he was and he covered his mouth in shock as a long forgotten memory dislodged itself. He remembered being 13 and walking into the kitchen where a much younger Luc and his best friend were standing extremely close to the other. The dark haired boy had jerked away while Luc just smiled at Cas, telling him to go back upstairs.
"It's ok...I don't think he saw anything...and if he did, he won't tell," Luc had whispered. Cas had no idea what it meant but when he looked around the corner, Luc was hugging the boy tightly. He had shared similar hugs with Dean all the time...it's what best friends did!
That had been the same day Zach had found him in that dress...and the last day he really saw his older brother.
"Dean...that's Michael..." Cas gasped, swallowing almost convulsively to keep down the onslaught of feelings and need to just break down and cry. Dean wrapped his arms around him, anchoring him and he felt a little stronger.
"If you had just kept your sinful ways locked up, Castiel would have never seen you two together!" Zach yelled taking two steps closer to Luc. Michael let out a laugh that echoed through out the yard. He stepped in front of Luc and grinned, his hand going out to block Zach.
"You can't hurt him or Castiel anymore...you're a miserable old man with only your beliefs to sustain you. I'm sorry you can't see your children for the beautiful and remarkable men they have become...I truly pity you Zachariah...now leave. Or I'll have to embarrass you...again," Michael said. Luc looked at the man before him proudly, his hand reaching out to weave their fingers together. He could hear Dean's breath hitch, his own fingers being squeezed by his fiance's. Zachariah huffed one last time before he finally stormed off, the tension quickly melting the second they heard the car start and tear out of the driveway.
"I'm so sorry for the intrusion but I can't stand that man," Michael stated with a small laugh. Cas couldn't hold back anymore, he tore away from Dean and crashed into his older brother.
"Thank you, thank you for coming...I honestly didn't think you would," Cas said clinging just a little bit to his brother's jacket. Luc chuckled and kissed his cheek, pulling away just enough to look into his face.
"I'm so sorry I stayed away...I should have come back much sooner...I just didn't want that man following and disrupting your life," Luc said cupping the side of his face. Cas sniffled and hugged him again while fingers combed through his hair.
"Well...that was...eventful...I need a beer," Bobby sighed. Cas laughed and watched him, John, Mary, Gabe and Sam all make their way into the house. Gabe gave him a worried look that only vanished when Cas nodded with a smile. Sam must have given the same to Dean because he hesitated on the porch as well.
"Castiel...I want you to officially meet my husband...Michael...Mike, you remember my little brother and his best friend Dean?" Luc said turning to look at him. Michael smiled brightly and nodded, his arm circling around Luc's waist.
"Of course...you two constantly scared the shit out of me with how quiet you sneaked around the house," Michael laughed. Dean snickered and moved up next to him, his lips pressing to the side of his head.
"Oh my...you got married?" Anna asked, her throat tight. Luc's smile vanished and he hurried to pull her into his arms.
"Mom...I wanted so badly to invite you...both of you...but we had to marry in secret 6 months ago. Then when I got Cas's invite in the mail...I knew it was time to finally cut ties with father...I had Michael and soon Cas would have Dean...then he wouldn't be able to really touch either of us. I never though he'd actually come here...how did he even find out?" Luc asked, fingers combing through Anna's hair.
"Probably read it on facebook or something," Dean sighed.
"I don't care...as much as it sucked I'm glad it happened the way it did," Cas said. He raised his eyes to his mother and gave her a knowing look. She blushed and pulled away from her eldest son to grasp at his hands.
"Cas...I'm so sorry,"
"Mom...I'm not mad...I kinda...already knew," Cas laughed.
"What? How?" Anna squeaked, her entire face going red.
"It was a long time ago...you came home after going out with Mary...and you were a bit inebriated..." Cas grinned. Anna covered her face with a groan.
"Still...I should have told you a long time ago. I just never wanted to upset you...you were so happy and in love...I couldn't take that away from you," Anna said cupping his face. Cas smiled and touched their foreheads together.
"It's ok Mom...I promise," he whispered. Anna nodded and pulled away to look up at him.
"He's here baby..." Anna said, a fresh stream of tears sliding down her cheeks, "And he really wants to meet you..."
"He's...my real...my dad wants to meet me?" Cas gasped, he nearly lost his balance but strong hands held him steady.
"Of course he wants to meet you...do you?" she asked. He felt himself nod eagerly, his own tears trailing down. Anna laughed softly and kissed his cheek.
