Something that Cas had said before stuck with Dean. Well, a lot of what Cas said stuck with Dean. This though, was something else. Cas had said that he thought that doing something new everyday was important. Dean wondered how much there was out there that could be new to an ancient angel, but as it turned out, there was quite a lot. Dean had considered other domestic activities for around the bunker, but in the end, when Cas showed up, they found themselves leaving instead.

Their trek out began with a flyer and some gentle ribbing from Sam. "So it is a thing called a singing Christmas tree." Cas handed over the flyer.

Dean took it and looked at the hand drawn Christmas tree. Apparently, there would be singing today. "Why do you want to go to this?" Dean looked at him, trying to read the expression on his face. It was also a moment that was odd to Dean. It was another shift in the predictable. A deviation from what he had planned around.

"You seem to like singing. It sounded like something that would be interesting." Cas looked like he was having a hard time explaining this desire. Dean handed the flyer back. "Plus, Sam seems to think that the holiday music is a bit important. He made me a mix tape that he basically said was required listening."

"Okay, then. I just don't think that I have been in a church since, man, I don't even remember. I think that the last time was when we met the Whore of Babylon. Not exactly a quality religious experience."

"This is just about the singing. From what I understand, a group of people practice the songs and they take the stage. They lead the audience through various traditional pieces." Cas smiled. "You can sing along."

"So, you are encouraging me to sing along?" Dean smiled back.

"Yes, I think that you have a pleasing voice."

Sam walked in then and laughed so hard that he nearly doubled over. When he finally got control of his body back, he stood up and through a few wheezes said, "Why on God's green earth would you encourage my brother? He has the vocals of a dying cow." He started laughing again, and Dean slugged him in the shoulder. "Oww, you know it is true. Seriously, you should not sing."

Cas glared at him a little. "Here." He passed him the flyer and said, "We are going to this and Dean is singing. You are going to be nice." He looked a little like he was trying to be intimidating. "You are going to sing too. We are all going to sing, and it will be new and fun. So, let's go." He turned and headed for the door, not waiting for them to join him, but they did just the same.

Dean gave Sam a look as they fell in behind Cas on the way to his car. "What?" Sam laughed at him. "You know that your singing is only meant for the shower, right?"

Dean said, "The acoustics in there are pretty good." He smiled over at Sam.

He shoulder bumped Sam and Sam returned the move. "When did Cas get all of this holiday spirit? I thought that we were going to take care of a case today, and then he shows up with holiday music and church."

"Who knows. Like I've said before, he's a weird little dude." Dean smiled at Cas' back admiring him a little too obviously given that Sam was at his side.

"Yeah, but he's your weird little dude, so there's that." Sam said with good humor.

Without thinking Dean replied, "That he is, that he is." Then he turned and caught the look on Sam's face. He realized then that he had shared something rather new with Sam. Sam had no memories of all the little moments that he had shared with Cas, so this little tidbit seemed to surprise him a little. They got to the car and got in while Cas rounded the car for the driver's seat.

The moment that they were both in, Sam started, "So, Dean."

"No."

"What?"

"Just no, Sammy. I can tell where you are going and just, no." Dean was sitting in the front seat Cas got into the driver's seat in the midst of Dean's protest. Sam was smirking in the back seat.

"I'm just saying, first he's claiming that you have a pleasing voice, and next you are saying that he is your angel. I just want to know whether or not I should give Cas the talk." Sam was wearing his big doofus grin in the back.

Cas turned to Dean, and Dean just shrugged. Then Cas turned to Sam and said, "If anyone is going to," he made air quotes, "give me the talk, it will be Dean. Now stop pestering him."

"Geesh, defensive Cas."

"Really, Cas, Sam's just being Sam. No big." Dean turned to Sam and said, "I gotta admit that seeing you give Cas the talk might be entertaining."

Sam laughed a little. Cas turned back and started to drive off. "So, Cas, when an angel has feelings for a human, sometimes things happen…"

"Shut-up, Sam," Cas said. Dean turned back to Sam and laughed at him. He was surprised by how much he was okay with this line of humor. Dean reached over to Cas' stereo and cranked up the volume. Sam's mix tape was in the deck and it was in the midst of "Jingle Bell Rock." Dean smiled a little and started singing along. Cas smiled next to him and hummed along too.

"God, must you start warming up now, Dean." Dean just sang louder and turned to Sam to give him the full effect.

"Hey, Cas, sing along." Dean reached out to him.

"No, I'll just wait until we get to the church." They pulled into a near full parking lot and made their way into the church. The place was packed. They found a space in a pew near the back. There were little song booklets on each pew for the attendees to use in case they didn't know the music.

A hush descended on the crowd as the side doors near the front of the church opened and two long lines of green and red robed choir members walked out to the stage. They arranged themselves on the risers that were placed on the stage, and they took on the shape of a Christmas tree. One of the members of the choir stepped forward from the bottom tier of the tree and spoke in a loud and luminous voice. "Welcome, one and all to our annual holiday performance. We will begin tonight with a piece that will be sung by just our choir. After this song is complete, we kindly ask that you join us in our singing. The booklets on the pews should be your guide. Sing loud, sing gloriously, sing out with your whole hearts and feel the spirit of Christmas upon you. May all your days be merry and bright. Merry Christmas." With that he stepped back to his original position and the low hum of a song began.

It was odd, perhaps to begin with Handel's "Messiah" but it was still beautifully sung. And the energy of it was invigorating. When they finished, the audience cheered. The choir swiftly moved into the next piece, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Dean sang along quietly at Cas' side. He glanced over from time to time and saw Cas' lips moving to the music. He looked over at Sam, and saw him singing too. None of their voices rose out enough to be heard individually. They all just blended in with the masses, one giant communal song of holiday joy.

Sam reached behind Cas to Dean and gave him a little pat at the end of the song. Dean looked at him and smiled. Cas seemed to be unaware of the moment going on around him and just turned to the next song in the booklet. Dean leaned close and shared the booklet with him. The next song was "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Dean wanted to hear Cas' voice so he leaned in closer to him as the song progressed. He felt the now familiar press of Cas' hand on his back and glanced at his face. He just smiled and kept singing. He could hear him now, as if the contact between them had made it easier to tune out the other voices.

Cas' voice was low and rich, a deep molasses sweet to Dean's ears. As the notes rose, Cas' voice did too, but in a way that maintained his somewhat melancholy tone. Dean found himself just mouthing the words, not wanting to override Cas' sound. He also found himself just staring at him, taking in the way that his eyes shone in the dim light of the church. Cas turned to him a little as the last lines were falling from his mouth, "If only in my dreams…" He heard Sam clear his throat and he broke his gaze with Cas to look at him. Sam was grinning again. Dean reached behind Cas and gave Sam a little pat that said, yeah, I know, and maybe I love you too.

He watched as Cas turned the page to the next song and they were suddenly singing a rollicking version of "Angels We Have Heard on High." Cas leaned in closer to Dean and despite the closeness, Dean could hardly hear him. It was as though he was just mouthing the words. Dean sang a little louder and noticed Cas smiling over at him. This song was not in his range, by even a long shot. He powered through it though. He felt Cas' hand pressed to his back and he moved his own hand up to cradle Cas' back too. He didn't care if this lead to Sam being, well, Sam. It hardly mattered anymore when the day would just repeat. While he sang he also thought that it likely didn't matter even it tomorrow was another day and not the same day. He was happy, and Cas was happy, and it seemed like even Sam was happy. So he let himself have this. This moment, this warmth, this happiness, it could be his.

The songs poured out around them. They played out and in the end everyone was flushed with the joy of it all. They left the church together. Dean stepped over to Sam and gave him an unexpected hug. "Merry Christmas, Sammy."

Sam seemed startled at first with this outpouring of affection. He hugged him back and said, "Same to you, Dean." Cas stood off to the side and then he hugged them both so that now they were in a funny little hug knot of sorts. "We should end this before everyone thinks that we are quite strange."

Now Dean kind of wanted to keep hugging his people, especially if it made Sam feel awkward, but instead he let go, and they all walked back to the car. They got back to the bunker and eased out of the car. "You're coming in, right Cas?" Dean asked when he saw Cas hesitating by the car. Sam was already at the door.

"Yes, in a moment." Cas said as he stared off away from the bunker. The first flakes of snow were starting to fall.

"I wouldn't stay out here too long, Cas. Looks like it's going to get rather snowy." Sam offered up as he opened the door.

"We'll be in in a minute, Sam," Dean said. Sam gave him a look and went into the bunker.

The door closed and Dean walked over to Cas. "You don't have to stay out here. It is getting cold." Cas offered.

"I kind of thought that you wanted the company." Dean edged over to him. It was funny to him how, no matter how many times they played out these little moments, he still felt nervous. It was odd that he could imagine rejection or a way in which he could screw this up, when, in fact, they had managed to successfully be near each other for sometime now.

Cas slipped an arm around Dean's waist. "I did, but not if it means that you freeze to death."

"I'm not that weak and frail, Cas." He wrapped his arms around Cas now too. "Besides, you can help with that." His lips raised in a half grin. Cas moved his hands about on Dean's back as if he were coaxing warmth into him. Then Dean thought of a question that he wanted answered. "Why did you stop singing during the angels' song?"

"I wanted to hear you sing." Cas' simple response came with a duck of his head. It looked like shyness, but Cas had been anything but shy lately, Dean thought.

"Oh, so you like the sounds of dying cows?"

"Like I said before, I find your voice pleasing." He looked sincere when he said it, so Dean accepted it. "Why did you stop singing the song about going home for Christmas?"

"I wanted to hear you sing." Now it was Dean's turn to dip his head, then he looked back into Cas' eyes. The snow was falling on them and Cas had flakes of it in his hair. Dean brushed them away. "You have a nice voice. It was hard to hear you though over the crowd. I'd like to hear you again." They stood in the snow, the world silent around them and Cas started to hum a little tune. They swayed about with it in a kind of dance. It was "White Christmas" and Cas started singing out the lyrics. His voice sent warmth through Dean. He didn't know if he would be able to just listen. He wanted to kiss him. He wanted to crush his mouth to Cas and never let up. He pushed it down though, because the sound of his song was stirring him. He felt the tune like clothes from the dryer put on quickly before they could cool. He felt Cas' song like the few times that he had felt kindness and love.

He felt special. He looked at the angel in front of him and thought, not for the first time, what made you decide to throw all of this devotion my way? Why do I get to be so special? Cas brushed aside the snow from Dean's hair. It was the end of the song. Dean did not need to hold back. He leaned into a kiss that was already coming his way from Cas. They lingered, warm in the snowy evening. Dean knew that there would be cider inside, because that was what Sam would likely be doing in there. He also knew that his would be scorchingly hot. He knew these things, just like he knew that his life had turned a corner the other night. The loop of days and nights had given him much. He finally knew what it meant to love, truly love, and be loved in return. Yeah, it has probably been going on for longer, but accepting it and recognizing it makes it all the more real. And it was real, and merry, and bright. And Dean was determined to hold onto it for as long as he could.

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AN: So, I hope that I have enough fluffy moments to get through 25 days. I think that I have hit all of the big ones, like snowball fights, songs, baking, and decorating. Now I just have to see if I can dig up some more stuff. Suggestions, would be lovely. Thanks for the Review Love.