Sorry my lovelies. I was sick and dying. And then fanfiction wouldn't load for a while... Anyway, here's the next chapter.
Thank you cherrytops82, chillywinterbreeze, SilentHowler and pryde23 for your support on last chapter.
This chapter is the dinner, a fight and the family dinner.
Chapter Twelve:
The preparations that they all had made for the big dinner was pretty extreme. Even Dean found himself cleaning odd parts of the apartment. (His dad could notice that the ceiling in one spot is tinged yellow and ruin his day, maybe. And chaos would erupt and Dean would be taken from Castiel because he couldn't properly clean his ceiling.)
Castiel still didn't find the perfect recipe, Sam was currently sick (he blamed Dean) and Jess finally found a job so she was out most of the time.
"Hey angel, can you pass me that stuff you usually use in the bathroom?" Dean asked from the ladder and Castiel walked over and urged Dean to get down. He finally did, somewhat huffy. "What? I'm trying to clean."
"I know and I admire the great lengths you've gone to, making sure that the house looks respectable. However, I would really like some time with you. You've been cleaning, and at work and I've been reading and at work. Can I please spend some time with you?" Dean's annoyed look quickly vanished and he gave Castiel a sickly sweet smile and kissed him lightly and cupped his cheek.
"Of course, angel. I'm sorry. I'm totally freaked right now. I want everyone to like each other. We're a group, ya' know? We need to stay one." Castiel nodded, his eyes appraising Dean as if he were made of gold.
"I understand Dean. I do. And this dinner will be as painless as we can make it.. But for now, let's go." Dean sent Castiel a wink.
"Oh, now you're getting frisky. I like it when you take charge." Castiel rolled his eyes.
)*^%)($
"No... I think it's that way." Castiel pointed and Dean groaned. They've been in the car, lost for the better part of 40 minutes. He shouldn't have trusted Castiel with figuring out where they were going. "You know what? Dean just park in this lot, I want to stretch my legs."
Dean's stomach growled and he almost followed. But he parked the car and he was starving. Castiel quickly exited the vehicle and he got out too.
"Where are you going?" Dean asked and Castiel shrugged.
"Might as well walk for a minute. I used to live down here, I want to see if there's still this chocolate store I was very fond of." Dean perked up slightly at the promise of chocolate and walked by Castiel's side. They walked for a couple minutes and Dean's stomach growled again and Dean started whining.
"Can we go-" Before he could finish, Castiel shoved him into a door. When Dean looked around he saw a very fancy restaurant. "This place is nice." He mused and they walked over to the line. That's when Dean overheard the wait time was nearly two hours. "Let's go, I'm not waiting..." Dean paused as Castiel walked over to the hostess stand.
"Two for Nocak, Castiel." He stated formally and she scanned the list and smiled.
"Yup, come on. Right this way." Dean couldn't help the blush from crawling to his face. He just gawked at the back of Castiel as the hostess led them to their table. When they took their seats, Castiel started scanning the menu and Dean still couldn't believe it.
"Are you well?" Castiel asked with concern after finally looking at Dean's face.
"You... surprised me. You... made reservations?" He didn't even know Castiel knew how to do that sort of thing.
"Yes. I rather like this place... And um..." Castiel turned pinkish and scratched his neck. "It's our.. uh.. half year mark." Dean smiled widely.
"I can't believe you. You're such a sap." Dean pat Castiel on the arm and Castiel glared at him. "Thank you, Cas. This is awesome. No one's ever taken me out to a fancy restaurant... And I don't think I've ever made reservations for anything ever. So that's fun."
"No one's been with me. Especially for this long. Thank you." The look in Castiel's eyes showed that he was really sincere. Like Dean needed to be thanked for loving him. And that put a slight damper on Dean's mood. He clutched Castiel's hand in his own.
"Cass, man... I love you, okay? And I've definitely had a thing for you since the second I saw you, so don't think you aren't awesome. I'm just the only one to admit you're awesome. Other people were probably intimidated by it. Lucky me, you're here with me and not with them. Sucks for you. You're stuck with me." Dean winked and Castiel tilted his head in confusion.
"I am not stuck with you. I willingly stay with you and I will for as long as you'll let me."
"I don't plan on letting go of you easily." Dean said seriously and then gave Castiel a soft smile.
"I will have to be taken away kicking and screaming." Dean loved when Castiel would tease him like that.
"Kinky."
*)%^()#$
This was it. He found it. The perfect family dinner. It took days but Castiel planned on getting started right away. Dinner was tomorrow and he needed to make sure he had his mise en place. But first he had to talk to Dean.
Dean had been in this weird state today. He seemed nervous for tomorrow but Castiel had no idea why. It didn't occur to him that Dean was waiting on John's verdict for if he approved of Castiel or not. So it didn't bother him. And if he knew, Castiel wouldn't be bothered anyway. He was very happy where he was and Dean assured him he wasn't going anywhere.
"Dean." Castiel poked his head from the library to the living room. Dean looked over. He was currently dusting the entertainment center.
"Yes?" He was on edge. Castiel could tell and it made him nervous.
"I found the recipe. I'm going to make a cured ham. And then for the sides..." Castiel trailed off when he saw that strange look in Dean's eye. Why was he mad? "Are you okay, Dean?"
"Are you kidding me?" He scowled. Castiel took a subtle step backwards.
"No..?"
"My dad hates cured ham. Are you TRYING to piss him off? Are you serious right now, Cass? Need I remind you? I already told you this. Don't be fucking stupid. I don't need to deal with this right now." Dean said harshly and Castiel slumped. He looked at Dean with nothing in mind to say. Dean had never told him that his father didn't like cured ham. How was he supposed to know? Despite that, Castiel looked at his feet and offered an apology.
"I am sorry. I wasn't thinking. I'll keep looking for something." He said quietly.
"Yeah. And don't fucking waste my time again, okay? Thanks." The scathing tone Dean had made Castiel close the door between them. He sat down on the chair and stared at the floor. He didn't understand. He also had no idea why it made him feel so guilty.
*)^%($
"Dinner smells fantastic, sweetie!" Jess called out to Castiel as she walked in the door. So far she was the only one home besides Castiel. They had another two hours until the family started arriving. Dean and Sam would be home shortly to shower and shave. Castiel was already nice and clean, close shave which Jess didn't think she ever saw. His hair was brushed, which was odd since it was usually all over god's creation. "you okay?" She touched his arm and he flinched away from her.
"Sorry... I wasn't.. paying attention. Hello, Jess." He nodded at her and she frowned and narrowed her eyes. "Yes?"
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing." Castiel said slowly and turned away and continued cutting up vegetables.
"Are you nervous? It's okay. I am. We're all going to be under one roof. That's going to be crazy." Castiel made a noise insisting he listened to her comment but stayed stoic. "Okay... Well you better get out of your head, and we're going to talk before Sam and Dean get back. But I have to get ready." She walked away and even the part of Castiel that felt thankful that he had such a sweet friend like Jess, was beaten down by the fact that Dean hadn't talked to him since he yelled at him. Castiel sighed, with an ache in his heart.
*)^%($()
"What are you making in here?" Sam asked from the doorway. By the sound of it, Dean was with him. "Because it smells fantastic."
"Chicken parm." Castiel said, rather quietly. "With garlic bread, linguine, and a salad."
"Wow Cass. You outdid yourself. It smells great." When Castiel stared at Sam, and Sam smiled that big smile, he could've cried. He didn't. But he felt like it. Sam was in here complimenting him and Dean still didn't say hello. "You good?"
"Yes. Just... nervous." Castiel said with a strange sense of certainty.
"No big deal. Everything will be great." Dean walked in and Castiel's heart thudded. It was a weird combination of him wanting to ignore Dean and have Dean apologize for being rude, and him begging Dean to not be mad at him anymore. Castiel chose to stay silent.
"You make dessert?" Dean asked and Castiel gave him a curt nod. "What did you make?"
"Apple and Pecan pie." Castiel said quietly and noticed the grin on Dean's face from his peripherals.
"Awesome, I lucked out, huh?" Dean kissed Castiel's cheek, it felt like electricity shot through his body from the kiss and his mind, body, everything urged him to be close to Dean. Everything was forgotten. He just wanted Dean to kiss him again.
"I guess so." Castiel sent him a shy smile and met with Dean's gorgeous green eyes. He could stare at them all day.
"I'm going to go shower. You look good by the way." Dean raised his eyebrow suggestively and kissed Castiel quickly. "Be right back."
Castiel's mood was significantly better from then.
*)^%(
"Aw, Castiel. Your apartment is so cute!" Anael cooed and attacked Castiel in a crushing hug. "It's been so long since I've seen you!" Castiel looked at Michael who was awkwardly standing behind her. He gave a wave and Castiel waved back as Anael continued crushing his life force. "Okay! So, where is the boyfriend?" She asked as Sam walked into the room. "Oh he's so cute!" Castiel turned around and his face turned red.
"No. No. That's Sam." Castiel said like it meant something to her. "That's Dean's brother. He's dating Jess. Dean is still downstairs." Anael smiled apologetically at Sam like she was saying 'sorry, didn't mean to think you were gay.'
Jess' parents showed up before Dean came upstairs and now the living room was pretty noisy. Castiel was getting impatient. He wanted Dean to meet his family.
"I heard there was a family party and I was not invited. I am hurt." By the look on Michael's face, that could only be one person.
"Lucifer." Michael gritted his teeth and turned around to glare at him. Castiel looked distressed. Today was already going downhill.
"Guys. Not right now." Anael said with a glare. Lucifer chose to look by Michael and grin deviously and Sam looked up at the same time, looking more distressed than Castiel.
"Seriously?" He whined and Lucifer walked over to Sam as he groaned, very childishly, in front of Jess' parents. Luckily they just seemed amused.
"Sorry guys. I'm here." Dean announced from the doorway to the basement and Anael watched Castiel perk up at the sound of Dean's voice. Castiel waved Dean over and Dean complied.
"This is my sister, Anael and this is my brother, Michael." Castiel said sounding oddly proud.
"Nice to meet you." Dean put on one of his best smiles and Castiel could tell that Anael fell for it. She seemed flustered. Michael really didn't say much, his mood dampened by the fact that Lucifer showed up. But honestly, he expected as much.
"Dad!" Sam called out and Dean's eyes darted to the door. He looked desperate.
John walked in and greeted everyone with a smile. Castiel couldn't tell why Dean was so nervous. His father seemed pleasant enough. The part that had Castiel nervous was if everyone was going to enjoy dinner. He worked really hard on it. And now he noticed that after all the table setting, they were now one short thanks to a certain devil.
()%(^)*
"My compliments to the chef!" Jess' mom said happily. "It looks fantastic." It should look perfect. Castiel plated them excellently.
"Thank you." Castiel nodded his head in her direction.
"Aww, Cassie. You're the housewife? That's adorable." Lucifer teased and Castiel glared at him.
"I swear to god, Lucifer. If you don't shut up." Michael threatened and Anael sighed.
"Why don't you make me, daddy's boy?" Lucifer scowled and Castiel sent Dean a sad look and Dean just chuckled quietly as he shoved more food in his mouth. Lucifer and Michael continued to argue and everyone else attempted to ignore them.
"So, Dean. What do you do for a living?" Anael asked with a smile. She just really wanted to know more about this really cute stranger (even though it's her brother's boyfriend, it's okay to look... right?)
"I'm a mechanic." Dean said after (thankfully) swallowing before speaking. "What do you do?"
"I'm a nurse." Dean nodded as to say 'cool' but his mouth was full again.
"What about you, Michael? What do you do?" Dean asked and Michael stopped fighting long enough to answer.
"I'm a lawyer." He said stiffly and continued glaring at Lucifer.
"A lawyer? No way. That's what I'm going to be. I'm still interning at this place though." Sam said excitedly and Michael smiled at him, which pissed off Lucifer to no end.
"Really? How long are you going to be interning, do you know?"
"Um.. I think for another year or so. It's kind of hard to get out there, you know?" Michael nodded and pulled out his wallet and handed Sam a business card.
"This is my firm and my number. Why don't you give me a call. We can chat and I'm sure I can find you a job better than an intern." Sam couldn't smile any wider and Lucifer didn't think he could glare harder.
"Are you serious? That's awesome. Thank you so much." Sam graciously accepted the card and held it like it was valuable.
"You're very welcome, Sam. A friend of Castiel's is a friend of mine, right?" Castiel gave him a weak smile, still slightly put off that he was fighting with Lucifer for a solid ten minutes.
Sam rose to take the plates and Jess followed. Dean was still eating so he didn't move and Castiel was in an awkward transition where he wanted to help clear the table but he was scared to move because he didn't think Michael and Lucifer would be kept at bay. Jess shook her head at him and mouthed 'you cooked' and Castiel sat back down and nervously looked at his brothers. Dean also looked at Castiel's face and the arguing men at the end of the table and quickly stood up.
"So who wants some pie?" He excused himself to the kitchen and Castiel sighed and put his head in his hand and watched his brothers fight.
I'm beginning to run low on cute ideas for them to bond with. So maybe the fighting starts sooner than later. I don't know.
Review if you want.