Late January

1297

Winter had come quickly that year, the entire region suffered damages from the horrible storms that accompanied the annual snowfall. The past few months before had been rough, Robert's farm hadn't made enough food to keep them going the entire winter and they had nothing more they could take into the city to trade for food. The farm just eventually ran out of food and was running low on wood for their fire which meant Dean had to go in search of help. He had been turned away by many people in the city and surrounding farms and the last place he knew he could turn to was Castiel. Or so he prayed he could.

Dean sighed as he looked up at the castle that had once been his home. Snow blanketed the castle and surrounding forest, the temperature so cold that his breath came out as clouds. He shook in his wool mantle, but he couldn't do much more than stand the snow up to his knees. He shuddered at the realization he had to face the monster that lived here.

He led his horse carefully through the snow, his legs dragging markings in it. It took him much longer to reach the doors of the castle than he had first thought but he soon was knocking on the large wooden doors. He knew Castiel may not hear him and he quieted his horse who was fretting a little before clearing his throat to yell.

"Castiel! I need to talk!" Dean yelled. His voice seemed to sound so much louder than it was thanks to the blanket of silence the snow had laid across the woodland. But nothing responded, only the dead quiet.

Dean whimpered under his breath as he stood there more, the snow and cold air freezing him to the bone. Snow dusted up past his legs all the way to his chest, his gloved hands numb. He didn't dare lick his dry and cracking lips out of fear that his saliva would freeze as well. He fought back the tears that wanted to form, in case they too froze before leaving his eyes. He felt lost, he didn't want to beg for Castiel to help him and everyone back at the farm and yet he knew if he didn't they would all die of starvation.

"Castiel!" Dean cried out once more before an idea formed in his mind. "Master!" He yelled.

Dean felt his heart sink when he still wasn't answered after a few seconds. He stumbled back against his horse who was still for once. He let his head drop and stared at the blinding white ground.

"I haven't heard that in a while." Castiel's voice called from behind Dean.

The human turned in surprise and nearly fell back seeing Castiel standing close beside the horse. The large black beast tried to pull away from the vampire but was held firm by Dean's hold on the lead. Dean barely had time to react before Castiel was invading his personal space, the vampires hands on his body. Castiel grabbed Dean's arms to pull him closer. Dean could feel Castiel's breath on his skin and it felt colder than the air around them.

It wasn't long before Castiel was pulling back away from him, Dean let out a breath of relief as he did so. Castiel gave him a scolding look and Dean had an idea of why. He let his head drop as he heard Castiel let out a frustrated sigh.

"What do you need?" Castiel finally asked. Dean looked up to him surprised but before he could answer Castiel held a hand up to have him stay quiet. "Don't...not right now. You look like you are close to death. You need to come inside."

Dean stayed quiet as he followed Castiel to the stables so he could put his horse somewhere warm. Once she was tied up in the stables with fresh hay Dean followed Castiel into the castle. The halls were warm, most likely heated by fires in the large fireplaces. The castle was just like Dean had left it almost a year before, except it seemed dustier and less lived in. He supposed this was due to him no longer living there and cleaning for Castiel. They entered the dining room and Dean found it to be just as unused as he had left it.

"What did you need? I know you came here for a reason." Castiel stated as he sat down at the large wooden table.

Dean stood beside the table and stared down at the floor. He only shrugged, the courage he had before arriving suddenly gone when he realized he was all alone with Castiel and no way to escape. He let his eyes wander the large room, he tried his best to ignore the beating of his heart which Castiel surely could hear, he thought.

"Dean."

Dean looked to Castiel when he heard his name. He gulped seeing Castiel stare at him with a calm expression, his heart picking up it's pace. He shook as Castiel raised a hand and motioned for him to come closer. Dean slowly approached, fear rising up in his body. Despite this however he wanted to do nothing more than run to Castiel and beg for his forgiveness.

"Dean..." Castiel repeated, his hand taking Dean's arm and pulling him closer. His touches were gentle, caring and Dean felt safe and secure in the vampire's presence.

"We...are starving." Dean finally spoke up. "I went and moved in with a hunter. On his farm. But we are out of food. We need food or money to buy food."

"I can help him. But there will be a price. You know this." Castiel smiled a little and tilted his head to the side. Dean looked away from the blue gaze of the vampire, he gulped and shuddered a bit at the feeling of the hand moving up his arm. It was just when Castiel's hand reached his shoulder that he finally snapped out of it.

"No. I'm not going to be your whore or whatever you were thinking." Dean spat trying to pull away.

He realized his mistake as Castiel hissed and grabbed his upper arm, yanking him down. Dean hit his knee on the chair and collapsed to the floor with a groan. Castiel's hand found it's way into his hair and his head was being pushed back so he had to look up to Castiel.

"I never said that you would be paying me with sexual favors. But since you have brought it up..." Castiel trailed off.

Dean knew that he didn't hate the idea as much as he had originally led Castiel to think, it was really just his pride that wouldn't allow him to accept any sexual advances from the vampire. He had left this castle and any possible relations with Castiel on his own, and he hated to admit that maybe it had been the wrong thing to do. He gasped as Castiel pulled him up closer, the human's hands going to the vampires legs to steady himself.

"What do you want?" Dean asked looking up to Castiel.

"I want you to return here, for things to go back to as they were. Back to you being mine." Castiel said. He truly seemed sad and Dean found himself reaching up to touch Castiel's face. Flashes of the stranger in the field touching him came back and his eyes widened.

"That was you in the field wasn't it?" Dean asked. Castiel nodded slowly, worried that perhaps Dean would wish to leave after finding out he had been watching him.

Dean pulled his hand away but didn't move from his position. He shifted to have his legs under his body, the position he had been sitting in before growing uncomfortable, but otherwise he didn't move. His mind was racing as he thought about all the times he had dreamt about Castiel, if perhaps it really had been messages from the vampire. Dean wondered if Castiel had been watching the entire time.

"Will you still help?" Dean asked.

Castiel nodded. He could never say no to Dean. He knew that even if Dean wanted to leave again he would let him and still help. He couldn't watch Dean be upset or have the human watch his friends and loved ones die. Castiel was not heartless, or so he kept telling himself.

Dean smiled and let out a shaky breath. "Alright. I'll stay. I'll be back to being your servant, or whatever I was."

"You were more than a servant to me Dean. You know this." Castiel whispered. "I...I still care greatly about you." I love you still. You are my human. Castiel added in his mind, although those words would never come out, at least not at that time. He didn't want to scare away Dean again. He had to treat Dean like he was a wounded animal and slowly bring back his trust.

Dean moved up to rest on his knees as he gazed into Castiel's eyes, waiting for them to turn. When they didn't he realized that there was no possessiveness, no ulterior motive to those words. They were truly spoken from Castiel's heart, not out of lust or hunger. Dean wasn't sure how he felt about that, he knew he cared about Castiel to the point of even love perhaps...the time they spent apart hadn't destroyed those feelings.

"I'm still just your servant." Dean finally said as he stood up, Castiel's grasp loosening. "I assume my room is still mine?"

"Yes...I haven't touched it." Castiel lied. In truth he had spent many nights just laying on Dean's bed, often times crying. He felt guilty to admit there were times were he had sent dreams to Dean while pleasuring himself in Dean's room.

"Thank you." Dean smiled. "I should go dry off. Is there a way we can send a message to Robert?"

"Yes I can ask Gabriel to run out there with money and a message." Castiel said. "But...are you not worried about Lisa? Or did you think I didn't know about her?"

Dean froze, his eyes wide. He had thought about Lisa, but he had planned to send her a message in secret. His heart sank as he realized Castiel would never allow him to continue his relationship with her. He turned to Castiel, silently begging him. Castiel either didn't see or didn't care as he stood up, the chair making a loud noise as it rubbed against the stone floor as it was pushed back violently. Dean let his eyes fall to the floor in submission as Castiel drew closer.

"I will send extra money for her as well. But you can't see her again. You may right a letter to her, but that is all." Castiel said pushing past him.

Dean sighed and closed his eyes, keeping himself calm and to stop from lashing out in anger. He had just been taken back by Castiel, he didn't want to gain a punishment so soon. Somewhere in the back of his mind he figured that if he caused too much trouble so soon that Castiel may actually go back on his word. He couldn't do that. He was fooling himself when he said this was all for Robert and Lisa...in reality coming back to Castiel was all for him. He needed to be beside Castiel, he would do anything to stay beside him.