When the Impala pulled up in the driveway, Daniel cried, "DEAN! Daddy, Papa's home Papa's home!" Danny jumped from his lookout spot at the window to run to his daddy and uncles. Danny ran in circles around Castiel's legs as he walked towards the door. Castiel was just about to open to door to greet the Winchesters when it was practically thrown open. His smile fell when he saw a furious Dean Winchester in the doorway. Daniel didn't like his papa's scary face. His papa was angry and hurt and it confounded the little fledgling. He had waited so long for Dean to come home to tell him about everything that had happened when he was gone, but Dean didn't look like he was in the mood to listen. Danny hid behind Castiel's legs.

Castiel asked calmly, "What is it Dean?"

Dean shook his head seemly speechless. Castiel and Dean were in such proximity on regular terms Dean would ask him to remove himself from his personal space, but not today. Dean's eyes were filled with not only anger, but hurt, sadness, and betrayal. Dean whispered, "What the hell do you think it is Cas?"

"Dean I cannot know wha-"

Dean yelled, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK IT IS CAS!"

Daniel cowered behind Cas. Castiel instinctively puffed out his chest slightly and moved his shoulders as if to spread his wings even though they were not manifested at the moment. He warned, "Dean it would be best if you did not yell while in Daniel's presence."

Dean scoffed, "Daniel's presence! You don't think this isn't about Danny! I don't like being lied to Cas and this is one pretty big lie! You didn't even… I cannot believe you…Damn it. Damn it. How the hell could this happen anyway it's just- it pisses me off you didn't even bother to try telling me. I'm sick of the lies. I thought we weren't going to do the whole lying thing anymore. Don't you trust me, why would you keep this whole god damn thing a secret?"

Castiel couldn't tear his eyes away from looking into Dean's soul. It was sporadic at the moment from all the painful emotions Dean was experiencing. Dean had somehow found out about Danny, and he was furious about it. Castiel had a hope that Dean would experience the same joy he had felt when he learned about Danny; that hope had been shattered, "Dean if you will allow me to explain I -"

"Castiel save it! I'm too god damn pissed right now and I can't- I just can't."

As Dean turned to leave Daniel peeked out from behind Castiel, he asked "Papa where are you going?"

Dean just shook his head and walked out the door. Tears were forming in Danny's eyes. Papa was going somewhere probably far away and he didn't know when or if he would come back. He looked to his daddy for answers, but Daddy was just glaring at the door. Sobs escaped his lips even though he had tried to his best to be a big boy it was no use. He ran into the living room crying, "Uncle Gabey! Dad—Dad- Daddy and Papa are fighting. Pa—Pa left!"

Balthazar said, "The whole street could of heard Dean's rampage. Looks like Dean didn't take the whole Danny secret that well."

Castiel yelled, "BROTHER, IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS HE DID NOT TAKE IT WELL!"

Gabriel walked over to Castiel with Danny in his arms and clapped his hand on his little brother's shoulder, "It's okay Cassie. Dean-o just needs some time. I saw this on a soap opera so I'm hoping this is the right thing to say in a time like this."

Castiel asked, "Gabriel can you watch Daniel. I am going out."

Gabriel nodded, "Do what you need to do."

Castiel had flown off in a blink of an eye. Danny was now really confused. Papa was gone, Daddy was gone, and Johnny had not come home. He cuddled up closer Gabriel and he cried.

Dean met Sam in the driveway as he angrily walked back to the Impala. Sam asked, "Hey Dean what happened?"

"Shut up Sam; get in the car we're staying in a motel."

"Dean what happened with Cas?"

"I said shut up we're not discussing this now. Get in the car!"

Sam sighed. His brother had probably marched in there, yelled, and probably not said a word about what he was really feeling. Sam got into the car anyway. They stopped at the same motel they had checked into when they first arrived in Kearney. Sam practically pounced out of the car to get the room key. Dean parked the Impala and went to get John out of the back. John had stayed asleep the whole ride. Dean felt his anger simmer seeing his son sleeping peacefully in the back of the Impala. It reminded him of a time when his dad had been furious but he calmed after seeing Sam sleeping. It was weird that he was now in that role.

He had plans to carefully carry John into the motel room then put him to bed, but once he touched John it didn't look like it was going that way. John had Dean's hair clenched in his hand with a knife to Dean's neck. Dean said, "John, wake up it's me. It's Dean."

John's eyelashes fluttered. He mumbled, "What the hell Dean? I'm sleeping."

Dean chuckled, "Yeah well I was just going to carry you in so you could sleep more, but I wasn't expecting to have a knife to my throat. Those are some reflexes you've got there kid"

John put the knife behind his back, "Sorry I just… I didn't know it was you so and you startled me."

"Remind me not to 'startle' you next time. Do you want me to carry you in or do you want to walk?"

John yawned, "Tired. Carry. If you tell anyone…"

"Yeah, I know you'll kill me." Dean answered

As Dean walked with John in his arms, John asked "Why are we at a motel?"

Dean replied, "It's late and we're all tired."

John found this to be a suitable enough reply, and snuggled himself closer to Dean's body for warmth; away from the chilly late November air. John didn't protest to sharing a bed with Dean, but Dean kept his distance on the other side just in case. Sam walked out of the bathroom hesitant to start questioning his brother, but it had to be done. He asked, "Dean, do you want to talk about Cas?"

Dean glanced at the peacefully sleeping John; he'd keep calm for the kid. He didn't want to deal with all the girly emotional crap, but Sammy wasn't about to let sleeping dogs lie. Dean sighed, "There isn't much to talk about Sammy. Cas totally lied to us about Danny, he and the angel brigade kept it a secret, and it sucks."

Sam asked, "Are you mad about Cas lying or that there's a weird angel mojo baby composed from part of your soul."

Dean muttered, "Well I'm not mad Danny exist he's a great kid, cute, sweet, and awesome. Kind reminds me how you were when you were little, and not a gigantic stick in the mud."

"So you're mostly mad about Cas not telling you?"

"Hell yeah I'm mad about Cas not telling me! Who does something like that?

"Dean, do you actually love Cas?"

"Shut up Sammy."

Sam rolled his eyes, "Dean, that's why Danny even exists: Cas loves you… It must be reproached to work right?"

"I don't hate the guy." Dean replied

Sam yawned. Dean was being as stubborn as ever and there was one person in the universe who hopefully might make him budge. He hoped that person just might fly in at some point. Rolling over Sam said, "Fine I'm done, Goodnight."

Dean mumbled a quick goodnight and tried to settle in for the night. It wasn't working: Sam's snoring, John's steady breath, and the occasional passing car where the only things to be heard in the room. It was getting late and Dean wasn't any closer to being asleep as he had been when they checked in. He wasn't angry anymore he'd had time to cool down. It also helped just occasionally facing John and watching him even if it was a tad creeperish since it's his son he deemed it okay. Touching was out, but watching didn't seem to put the kid into ninja mode.

He had tried to relax his muscles enough to fall into a deep slumber, but none would come. His thoughts kept racing faster and faster. Cas and Danny were two main aspects of those thoughts. He really liked Danny. He always had a thing for kids and Danny was such a, dare he say sweetie, he couldn't help it. The prospect of having not only one son but two was awesome. It was just the circumstances of Danny's existence that bugged him. It apparently took place on some soul-grace spiritual level that said Dean and Cas had an ultimate love thing going on. Dean wasn't sure. He had never had a connection with someone like he had with Cas; it was different with Sammy then with Cas. They'd been literally Hell and back with each other. Cas had done a hell of a lot for humanity; for Dean. Dean would die for Cas in a heartbeat; Cas had died for Dean. It just seemed all so surreal.

Dean would sometimes look at Cas and think 'Why?' Why in the world would this ancient, powerful, wise being do all this for someone like me? There were times Dean has completely forgotten Cas was an all mighty angel Castiel and not just his buddy Cas. Cas was Dean's best friend. Dean hadn't had many best friends, let alone friends, due to their life style. Cas was different. There had been times when Dean felt sudden 'urges' about the resident angel. He liked his hot busty women sure, but there was just something about Castiel even if the angel wasn't exactly his mainstream material. He ignored them thinking about how innocent, naïve, and childlike that angel could be sometimes. That angelic part came to his mind a lot. He didn't want to corrupt the guy more than he already had. The guy probably wouldn't get sensuality if it bitch slapped him into submission.

But loving Castiel? He loved Sammy, pie, the Impala, his kids, his dead mother and even his dead slight bastard of a father, but those were all different kinds of love in their own rights. He thought he and Cas had a platonic family type of love too, but that just didn't seem to be the case. It somehow felt stronger, and he hadn't really experienced something that strong before. He never took up roots or built relationships long enough to do so. Cas was an expectation.

He'd put his trust in Cas, he'd prayed to him, he cared about him and worried about him on a level close to Sammy. The apocalypse, War on Heaven, Leviathan, Purgatory they had been through so much together. Dean jolted up when he heard the soft flutter of wings. Castiel's gravelly voice sounded lower in the quiet sleeping room, "I apologize I had not intended to wake you."

"So' Kay wasn't sleeping anyway."

"I see Samuel and John are both asleep. I should leave."

"No, it's okay. You and Me should probably talk outside anyway."

Castiel nodded and went outside as Dean pulled on a pair of discarded jeans. He had the nerve to tell Cas to stay; he could handle a little talk. He had to man up. Taking a deep breath he walked out the door nearly crashing straight into Castiel. Dean was able to bite his lip to avoid shouting and waking his sleeping son and brother. He hissed, "Damn it Cas, don't stand right in front of the door!"

Castiel growled, "I apologize."

Dean coughed, "No I'm sorry that came out kind of mean."

Castiel nodded finding the apology fairly suitable coming from Dean. He asked, "What is it you wished to discuss?"

Dean chuckled dryly, "You're gonna make me do all the work huh?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, took a deep breath, then began, "Look Cas, I'm not upset about Danny existing alright. It's not that. He's such a great kid and I couldn't fathom how crazy I'd be about the little guy. I started getting a little attached after I found the little one sleeping on my chest you know. He's awesome. I actually kind of like the idea. I didn't even mind him calling me 'Mama' although Papa is a lot better."

Castiel tilted his head slightly confused, "Then what caused you to be angry?"

Dean kept his voice steady not wanting to yell anymore, "That you didn't tell me Cas: that you and Gabriel, Michael, and Balthazar all decided to not tell me. That kind of secret isn't good to keep me and Sammy have had our fair share of secrets we really should have told to each other sooner. This is one of those instances. You don't just keep from someone they apparently don't just have one son but two."

"I believed that telling you might have caused you turmoil. Gabriel figured the same. He said we would notify you when the time was right."

"And what time would that be Cas?"

"I do not know."

"Well now's a good time as any I suppose?"

"Have you ingested mass quantities of alcoholic beverages?"

"No Cas, there's a kid in the car, so I'm sober."

Dean sat on the hood of the Impala and sighed, "John kind of explained how all this happened, but the kid didn't really know all that much. I'm still trying to work it all out in my head, and I just don't know."

"What is it you do not know?" Castiel asked

Dean replied, "This whole love soul mate thingy-ma-bob. The whole grace-soul thing too, all that stuff is confusing."

Castiel stared up at the sky and said, "I am a creature of love Dean. I have grown to be a soldier, but originally I was to love the heavenly host, Father, and humanity." His gaze returned to Dean's, "Yet there's an odd difference between those things I love, and how I am 'in love with you' as Gabriel had put it. When I first saw you're soul in hell it was radiant a beacon of light in that dark place. It did not belong there and I faithfully carried out my mission by carrying your bare scarred soul out of hell. Then somehow that soul started to affect me after I returned it to Earth. You became precious to me. I fought heaven, destiny, everything for you. Why might I do that if I did not love you Dean Winchester."

Dean tore his eyes away from Castiel's bearing celestial clue ones. "You're making me blush Cas."

"It is all the truth Dean."

"You really love me that much?"

"Yes I do."

"I don't think anyone's said anything like that to me before."

"I am glad."

Dean couldn't help but grin, "Always so blunt. That was a love confession to smite all love confessions and it doesn't make you a little embarrassed?"

Castiel's brow furrowed in concentration, after a moment of deep thought he replied, "I believe at one point before flying to you there was a feeling in the pit of my stomach composed of worry and fret. Is that it?"

Dean howled with laughter. He caught his breath then said, "I guess it could be categorized as that. Before you got here I couldn't sleep because I was thinking about everything. About Danny, and about you and I was kind of starting to think I really do lo—"

"Yes, Dean?"

Dean quickly cleared his throat, 'Well I don't know for sure. We're family and you're like my best friend. I really like you man I really do. I'm cool with Danny and everything, but I don't know if I can say I lo…. Well you know what I mean. I can't say it yet. Not yet. But there's something there I'll admit that. Everything you and me have been through I'm not denying that. I'm gonna try Cas alright I'm seriously going to try."

Castiel smiled softly, "I understand." It wasn't like his usual 'Yes Dean, I understand.' Where he meant he understood the instructions, but couldn't grasp the weirdo little human meaning. Castiel placed his hand on Dean's shoulder as he looked admirably into Dean's eyes as he always did; like the answers to everything lay there. His hand rested on the same shoulder that had once held his own handprint. Dean had said he was going to try right? In return Dean placed his hand on Castiel's scuffle and ran his thumb across his jaw. It was like the whole eye thing they usual shared had gotten tangible. It was nearly 3am, Dean was completely sober, and they were in the middle of a motel parking lot but Dean was going to go for it.

Ever so slowly Dean edged his face closer and closer to Castiel's. Their lips barely touched at first they only brushed slightly, until Dean closed his eyes and gently kissed Cas' dry chapped lips. It was short and pretty damn chaste for one guy who was a known womanizer, and the other learning how to kiss from a porno. It was also uptight and awkward to the point where Dean felt like he was a teenager again getting his first kiss. Pulling away Dean shrugged, hoping he wasn't looking like a red faced school girl, "I kinda liked that too."

Castiel felt a chuckle rise to his lips. He left it escape for Dean's surprised amusement. He asked, "Will you be returning home tomorrow?"

Dean jumped off the hood and headed for the motel room. He nodded, "Yeah, tell Little One Papa's going to be home tomorrow."

Castiel smiled at the hunter, and flew off. They weren't all that good at goodbyes. It wasn't even really a goodbye anyway. They weren't saying goodbye. It was more like a half hazard hello to domestic Angels, their vacation, and the thing Dean felt with Castiel that just might not be too one sided. Dean did not want to screw any of it up. He was going to try his damn well best.

I'll admit I'm a hopeless romantic, but I'm also a tad emotionally stunted/detached so please bear with me. Thanks for reading. If you so please review and tell me what you thought.