Dean, Cas, Sam and Anna made it back to Bobby's house in a few days.
"It's damn good to see you all," Bobby said as he let them in the front door. "Come in, I've got lunch made."
They followed Bobby to the kitchen to see a giant pepperoni pizza laid out on the table. Dean looked around the room while Sam whistled through his teeth, impressed.
"You made this, Bobby?" Sam asked.
"Oh, yeah. Got bored, and I thought you'd like something homemade."
"Did you now?" Dean asked, holding up a pizza delivery box and grinning.
Sam burst out laughing.
"I could make pizza!" Bobby insisted, and everyone grabbed a slice.
"Sure you could. Thanks for lunch," Dean said. "Look, after this, Cas and I are going to cut out for a bit. We'll be gone a few days, but if a case comes up, call me."
"Where are you going?" Anna asked.
"I've got an idea, but I'm not telling him. You all just enjoy a few days together," Dean answered, ignoring Cas' confused glances.
When the pizza was gone, which took a surprisingly short amount of time for one its size, Dean and Cas said their goodbyes and climbed into the Impala.
"Where are we going?" Cas asked.
"A place I think you'll love. It's about two hours from here," Dean said, and he sat back comfortably in his seat and pulled the Impala out onto the road.
Cas took Dean's hand, and the pair rode for over an hour in the silence, with the windows down and the music cranked up, blasting AC/DC, Queen, and Aerosmith on rotation. Cas held one hand out of the window, weaving it with the currents of the air. He squinted his eyes against the wind and sun.
"Doesn't that hurt your eyes?" Dean asked.
"It stings a little," Cas admitted, making no effort to close his eyes.
"Then close your eyes, Cas," Dean said, as though explaining to a child.
"No. I only get to live this life once. I want to feel the wind and the sun, and everything that comes with that."
"You are all kinds of wacked up. It's perfect," Dean said, and he held onto Cas' hand tighter. "Let's run to the grocery store here in town. We've only got about thirty minutes to go."
"Why not wait until we reach our destination to eat?" Cas asked.
"Getting to the store might be kind of hard. It's better to go now, especially since it's supposed to start raining tonight."
"Why does that matter?"
"You'll see," Dean said secretively.
They pulled into a grocery store parking lot a few miles later, and Dean eagerly grabbed a cart to shop with. Shopping was usually a chore, but with Cas it was entertainment.
"Why have these children stolen this little man's trinkets?" Cas asked in the cereal aisle.
Dean laughed out loud at the sight of Cas staring, bewildered, at an ad next to a box of Lucky Charms.
"It's just an ad, Cas. They didn't really steal anything. I guess it's their slogan, making people think it's good enough to steal."
"Oh…stealing is wrong, though," Cas said, and frowned at the box. "I will not steal you, even if you say you're delicious."
Dean shook his head and took the box of cereal off the shelf. He placed it in the cart and continued along, stopping to answer random questions Cas had.
"No, Cas, chocolate milk doesn't come from chocolate cows…have you been listening to Sam again?"
"Cas, don't look so confused. Some eggs are brown and some are white."
"Cabbage and lettuce are two different vegetables. They just look the same."
"It's just called an angel food cake. I don't think angels have anything to do with it."
By the time Dean and Cas reached the checkout line, the cart was half full with items Cas had been curious about, and Dean wanted him to try. They paid for their groceries, and Dean pushed the cart out the door and to the Impala. Soon they were back on the road.
A few miles later, Dean pulled off onto a gravel road. They drove up a winding mountain road, and turned off onto other roads, eventually pulling onto one that was simply dirt and led up a mountain at a very steep angle.
"See why I said the rain was bad? When it rains, this whole road turns to mud and you can't get out of here until it dries," Dean explained.
"Why are we up here?" Cas said, and Dean grinned broadly.
"Look up there," Dean said, pointing to a curve in the road.
As he and Cas passed the curve, a cabin came into view, sitting peacefully atop the mountain, lush green yard sprawling for at least two acres around it. Dean pulled in next to the cabin and turned off the car.
"It is beautiful. How did you know about this place?" Cas asked.
"Bobby's friend used to own it. He was a hunter, but got killed back in the nineties. Bobby used to bring us up here all the time when Dad would leave us with him. I don't think anyone even knows it's here besides us."
Dean popped the trunk and he and Cas carried the groceries to the door. Dean fumbled with his keys and opened the door to the cabin. The downstairs consisted of a living room with an old couch, coffee table, and television, and a kitchen with a scrubbed wooden table, stove, refrigerator, and sink. They put the food on the table and set to putting it away. Dean hummed while they worked, all smiles.
"What's this?" Cas asked, holding up a small square box he pulled out of one of the bags.
"It's a disposable camera. They take better pictures than a cell phone," Dean said.
Cas set it down and finished putting the groceries away. He looked around the cabin, taking in the rest of the two rooms he'd seen when he walked in.
"What is upstairs?" Cas asked, noticing the winding staircase in the corner of the living room.
"That's a surprise for later," Dean said, and pushed Cas gently toward the living room. "I don't want to sound all homey here, but go sit down. I want to cook you dinner."
"I think I'll sit on the steps outside, if that is fine," Cas said.
"Dude, you don't need my permission to do anything. Free will and all that. I'll yell for you when I'm done."
Cas made his way out onto the front porch to sit in the late afternoon sun. It was quiet except for the sounds of birds and other forest animals in the woods. He could hear the slight buzzing sound that indicated a bee hive was nearby, and it made him happy to think of them all. A breeze blew frequently, and Cas noticed some clouds gathering on the horizon. Big, fluffy, white ones that usually meant a storm would be rolling in soon. He rested his head backward against the cabin wall, and closed his eyes at the myriad of sensations rolling over him.
He must have fallen asleep, because soon he could hear Dean's voice.
"Hey, man, you okay?" Dean asked.
"Fine. Just sleepy," Cas answered with a wide yawn.
"Well, come inside. Dinner is done."
Cas followed Dean into the cabin, where the smell of something delicious wafted out into the living room. They went in to sit at the table, and Cas was impressed with the number of things Dean had managed to cook while he'd been asleep.
"What is all this?" Cas asked, and he and Dean took a seat.
"Those brown things are steaks. Meat. And this is a type of vegetable called broccoli. I don't normally like it, but my mom used to make it like this, and hers was always good. I guess if you put cheese on something, though, it makes anything good. Those over there are baked potatoes. You put butter and sour cream on them and they're awesome. I made you a glass of chocolate milk to drink too."
"Dean...thank you," Cas said, and he kissed Dean on the cheek gently.
"It's just dinner, Cas," Dean said, his cheeks reddening.
They ate like they hadn't had a meal in years, Cas closing his eyes at every new flavor. He couldn't decide his favorite part of the meal, but he knew he loved chocolate milk. After his third glass, Dean cut him off.
"Dude, you drink that much and you'll be puking in an hour. Time for some water."
After dinner, Dean surprised Cas by telling him he'd made dessert.
"And it isn't pie. You owe me for that, by the way," he said, and produced a spongy-looking mass from the refrigerator. "Angel food cake."
He sliced a piece off for Cas, and one for himself. Cas took a big bite and leaned back in his chair.
"Angel food is the perfect name for that cake."
Dean laughed and ate his as well. They finished their desserts and cleaned up the table, piling the dishes in the sink to be dealt with later. Soon they were collapsed on the couch, rubbing their full stomachs and trying to find something to watch on television. After an hour of reality tv, which Dean vehemently denied liking, Cas stretched.
"You never told me what was upstairs."
Dean looked at Cas with a glint in his eye.
"Do you want to go find out?"
A/N So heads up, shameless smut coming in the next chapter along with some serious fluff. I watched Meta Fiction last night, and it gave me some hardcore Destiel feels. I need to get it out somehow, so writing it is!