Chapter Fourteen: True Friendship

Heavenly Arrangements hit its peak when spring rolled through Lawrence at the beginning of April. Flowers were blooming both inside and outside the shop, filling the town with the subtle scent of lavender and daisy.

And due to a stroke of genius from Gabriel, the lavender and daisy springtime bouquet ended up becoming the most requested arrangement. He placed the arrangement under the "Peace & Love" bouquet selections in the handbook the shop provided, which consisted of flowers that sent out an old school love vibe that excited the youth in Lawrence and left the older people in the community sentimental.

Castiel noticed a new edge to the way his brother did the more recent arrangements, which pleased him. The romantic vibe that the older Novak brother had was thanks to his blooming (pun intended) relationship with Kali. After she had chased after him, they had decided to start fresh with their relationship, which proved successful. Their bliss would be felt by anyone in the same room as them.

Bliss could also be felt by Jess, who was wore her pregnancy with an air of happiness and grace. Splitting her time between the shop and Winchester & Winchester left her with little free time, but that was spent with her family and friends. And recently, it revolved around getting all of them together to plan a surprise party for Sam's birthday, which was steadily approaching.

When Jess was too busy, Castiel picked up the slack with Dean, which meant the two men would often met up either at the shop or at Charlie's to discuss plans, invites, and other items.

"We haven't done this much planning since the wedding," Dean grumbled one late night, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

"It's fun," Castiel pointed out. "Plus, it's for your brother."

"All right. I'm going to need more coffee. You want more tea?"

Castiel nodded.

Dean picked up both of their empty mugs and walked towards the counter, where Charlie was talking with Kevin and Jo about the latest Star Wars movie.

"Hey Charlie, can Cas and I get a refill when you're done with your nerd talk?" Dean asked.

Castiel winced when Jo smacked him hard on the arm, leaving behind a red mark. He shook his head, not feeling any sympathy for his boyfriend, who was currently griping at Jo for "not taking a joke".

"Nerds are in, Dean. Plus, who doesn't like Star Wars?" Kevin asked.

"Aren't you the one who's the big Game of Thrones nerd?" Charlie challenged as she thrusted Castiel's herbal tea into Dean's hands.

"Me- what? No. Well. No?"

Jo rolled her dark eyes. "Puh-lease. We all know that you think Joffrey's a dick and Dany is awesome- your words exactly."

Dean spluttered, taking his coffee from Charlie. "Whatever," he shot back before walking back over to Cas.

"You walked into that trap," Cas said calmly before sipping his tea.

Dean glared.

Castiel lifted a brow at him.

Then, with a sharp sigh, Dean rolled his eyes. "Fine, you win. You're right. Happy?"

Castiel smiled, pleased. He reached over and patted Dean's arm. "I often am."

Ooo0ooO

Jess narrowed her eyes at the arrangement in front of her. "White carnation?"

Gabriel nodded.

"And yellow tulips?"

He nodded again.

"What are you calling it?"

"Not sure yet."

Jess studied the yellow and white arrangement for another moment. Then she nodded. "All right. How about adding in some ferns?"

Gabriel frowned consideringly. "Maybe. It does go well with the overall meaning."

"Hopeless puppy love?"

He snapped his fingers. "Exactly."

Jess smiled, shaking her head. "Go nuts, big guy."

"Aye aye, captain," Gabriel said with a mock salute.

The door bell rang.

Jess glanced over her shoulder and her expression warmed. "Hi, Mary."

Mary Winchester strolled into the shop with a soft smile on her face. "Hi, Jess. How are you feeling?"

Jess rubbed her slightly rounded stomach. "I'm all right. The morning sickness isn't too bad anymore."

"And you saw the doctor last week, yes?"

Jess nodded. "Everything is all right. The baby is healthy. Oh! Here," she said, motioning for her mother in law to follow her.

Both women walked into the back room, where they found Castiel sitting at the desk, checking the online orders.

He smiled broadly when Mary walked in. "Hello, Mary."

"Hello, Castiel," Mary said, leaning down to kiss his cheek.

"Here it is!" Jess exclaimed, thrusting a small black white photo into Mary's hands. She grinned.

Mary gasped softly at the image from the sonogram. "Oh," she sighed, holding the picture delicately.

"We decided to wait on finding out the sex," Jess explained. "We'd like it to be a surprise."

Mary smiled and hugged Jess. "I'm so happy for you and Sam." Suddenly, she turned back to Cas, arching a brow. "So what about you and Dean?"

This time, it was Cas who spluttered. "Oh, well, Dean and I- I and Dean, I mean, we… Ah, well, you see-,"

Jess and Mary burst out laughing. Jess shook her head. "Oh, Cas."

Castiel felt his face growing warm.

Mary reached out and rubbed Castiel's arm. "Relax, Cas. I was only teasing. Well, mostly."

Castiel swallowed. "Oh. Ah, very funny."

Mary chuckled. "Well, I have to go. I'll see both of you later."

"Bye, Mary," Jess said, still grinning at Castiel's expression.

"Yes, uh, goodbye, Mary."

Ooo0ooO

Sam's birthday started at 6 am for Cas and Jess, who began decorating the shop, which had been closed for the day, with décor that both Cas and Dean had picked out the week prior.

Flannel table cloth and napkins had been found as an ode to the shirts that Sam often wore when he was in his suits while at work.

Dean stumbled in a few hours later with hot coffee courtesy of Charlie, who followed him with Jo on her heels.

"We come bearing breakfast items," Charlie stated, lifting a bag of breakfast burritos, while Jo held up a small container of mini muffins.

"Thank God," Dean muttered before taking a long sip of coffee and snagging a burrito.

A few hours later, they were joined by Gabriel and Kali, who strolled in hand in hand, looking smug, like they had just robbed a bank and had gotten away with it.

Dean noticed Gabriel's expression first and narrowed his eyes at his longtime army friend. "What's with the Cheshire grin?"

"What- we can't talk Star Wars but you can make Alice in Wonderland references?" Charlie asked, looking peeved as she pointed a glue gun at Dean. "Seriously, dude?"

Jo smirked.

Dean ignored them both.

Gabriel shrugged.

Castiel was the one who answered. "They were supposed to be here when you got here. But, due to their tardiness, I believe you can imagine why my brother was otherwise… indisposed to arrive on time."

Dean made a face. "Gross."

Gabriel cocked an eyebrow at Dean, giving him a knowing look. "Like you and my brother wouldn't do the same thing."

Dean opened his mouth, looking offended, but again, it was Cas who answered. "No, Gabriel, because unlike you and Kali, Dean and I can have sex while balancing our lives at the same time."

Dean nearly turned beet red at his boyfriend's simple and brutally honest answer.

Kali laughed. "Where's the fun in that?"

"We- yeah, we- well you see- I mean, Cas and I, we- well, yes, we have- but-,"

Jess stepped forward and helped Dean by shoving the rest of his burrito in his mouth. "I figured this would taste better than your foot," she said sweetly.

Dean glared before chewing.

Ooo0ooO

Jess was sent out in the evening to retrieve Sam from work while the group was joined by John Winchester, who had been away for the past week on a business trip.

Castiel frowned slightly at the brief and distant way John greeted Dean, which was so different from the warm and loving way Mary would greet him, or anyone.

So when John met Castiel's gaze, Castiel stood his ground and met the older man's gaze levelly.

From the beginning of their relationship, John hasn't been very welcoming to Castiel or the idea of his son having a boyfriend. His lips had thinned when they had first announced it to the family, and that look of discontent had only grown stronger.

The situation had nearly come to a head back in January, when Castiel had come over to the Winchester's home for Dean's own birthday celebration, which had been a simple affair that had taken place in their backyard with barbeque and beer.

After a few drinks, John had approached Castiel and Dean, who had been talking off to the side with one another, hand in hand. He had stated how he didn't understand how Dean could have turned out this way, a man who wanted to mess around with woman as well as other men.

Dean had faltered under his father's stinging words, but with Sam being close by, his brother had heard the entire thing and went off on their father.

"It's called being bisexual, Dad. Get over it," Sam snapped. "I mean, you said the same thing when I dated Brody before I met Jess. Not everything is as black and white as you think it is. There's a lot of shades of gray out there. You're just going to have to get used to it. God forbid Dean's happy for a change instead of bending to your every whim."

Stunned, John had backed off and had distanced himself from both brothers for a long time.

Tonight was the first time they were all going to be in the same room since that day.

"Still dating my son?" John asked in lieu of saying hello.

Castiel squinted slightly. "Is that a problem?"

John frowned.

Suddenly, Cas felt a hand take his. He looked to the side and saw Dean, who was glaring daggers at his dad. "Yeah. Is it?"

John's jaw clenched. "No. I don't suppose it is."

With the air of calm she always carried, Mary walked over and placed her hand on John's arm. Her expression was both gentle and firm, with an underlying fire in her eyes. "John, leave them be. They're both happy and in love, there's no need to spoil that. Now, smile, because your other son is coming."

Stunned, Castiel glanced at Dean, who was also wide eyed. Dean leaned over and whispered in Castiel's ear, "I see where I get being a badass from."

Castiel nodded, still speechless.

Then the door opened, revealing a pink-cheeked Jess and Sam.

"Surprise!" everyone shouted in unison.

Sam's expression lit up with surprise and pleasure before he pulled Jess to his side, kissing her cheek. "You did all of this?" he asked, laughing.

"With some help from everyone," Jess said, leaning against Sam.

Everyone mingled with one another, filling the room with good conversation and lots of laughter.

Castiel found himself smiling as he looked around at everyone, and he felt his chest expand with everything he felt in that moment. And when Sam walked over, his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled.

"I have two gifts for you," he told Sam. "First, this." He handed the younger Winchester a wrapped box.

Sam opened it and burst out laughing. "What to Expect When You're Expecting?" he asked, lifting the brightly colored book.

"The chapters for fathers are marked," Castiel explained. "And this-," he gestured to the table, "are also for you."

Sitting in a clay pot were a small bunch of pink flowers, each with a dark smudge on their petals, and dark green, broadly shaped leaves.

"I have come to think of you as one of my truest friends, and these represent exactly that," Castiel said.

"Wow," Sam said, smiling again. "Thanks, Cas."

Both men embraced before Dean strolled over. "Hey bitch, you got a pregnant wife. No making any movies on my man," Dean warned.

Sam lifted his hands. "No problem, jerk. In fact, I think I'll go show these gifts to her right now."

Dean moved to Castiel's side so their arms were brushing. He leaned in close again. "Do you want to step outside for a moment?"

Castiel nodded.

Both of them slipped out the back door so they could sit on the bench in the small grassy area behind the shop. It was dark out and the stars were shining brightly in the clear sky.

"I'm sorry about my dad," Dean said, breaking the silence.

"Dean-,"

"No, let me finish. Look, I get he isn't exactly Father of the Year and he isn't the most open minded person. And I get if that gets under your skin, I know it gets under mine. But-,"

"Dean," Cas said firmly, taking Dean's hand. "I don't really care about what your father thinks. I care about you, deeply. Isn't that all that matters?"

Dean stared at Cas before smiling a little. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right."

Cas smirked, kissing Dean firmly. "I often am," he whispered against Dean's lips.

Ooo0ooO

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural.

Author's Note: Please review!

Lavender: Grace, serenity, calmness

Daisy: Innocence

White carnation: Endearment

Yellow tulips: Hopeless love

Fern: Sincerity

Oak-leaved geranium: True friendship