Sorry this took so long... there were people here that wanted to hang out with me and do stuff... things... I had to participate since they came from Louisiana to see me. Friends, man... always so needy.

Enjoy!

Dean gives himself a once over in the mirror one last time. He's just going over to his parents for dinner, but this wasn't just any dinner. Cas was going to be introduced to his family. Though, technically, his dad was the only one that hadn't met Cas, but it was still a very important dinner.

"Babe, your hair looks fine. Would you come on?"

"Are you sure? Are you sure I look okay?" Cas asked as he walked out of Dean's bathroom. Cas had come straight to Dean's house after work to get ready for tonight and he'd spent the last two hours getting ready. Dean had to move around him to get dressed for tonight.

Dean looked up to find his boyfriend standing there in a dark blue long sleeved shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He wore a black vest, a black tie, and blue jeans. Dean smiled at Cas. "You look amazing," Dean told him as he walked up to him, grabbing his hips and pulling him against him.

"Don't," Cas told him. "I just finished fixing my hair again thanks to you."

Dean smirked. "I can't help it, Cas. This tie and vest combination is fucking hot. Remember the bachelor party?"

Cas chuckled, remembering the black shirt and vest combo he wore with his red tie. Dean attacked him. Of course, Cas attacked Dean as well, but that wasn't the point. That clothing combination is what broke the straight man standing in front of him. "I remember. It was only two weeks ago."

"Feels like we've been together longer than that."

"That bad, huh?"

Dean smirked at Cas, shaking his head. "Hardly. It just feels like I've known you forever."

Cas rolled his eyes. "Stop being such a girl," he said, playfully shoving Dean's shoulder.

Dean laughed, throwing his head back as he stepped away from Cas. "You like it." Cas nodded. "But I'm serious. Maybe not forever, but for longer than two weeks."

Cas stepped up to Dean, wrapping his arms around the taller man's shoulders. "Some things just go together, Dean. We share a… profound bond." Dean gave him a look that told Cas he was being the girl now as Dean wrapped his arms around him. "I wasn't going to mention it, but you started it."

Dean leaned forward and kissed Cas. Cas pulled out of the kiss and started kissing across Dean's bearded jaw line and down his neck. "God, you smell so good," Cas mumbled against his skin.

"Cas, if you don't stop, I'm going to end up messing up your hair again," Dean warned him. He didn't want Cas to stop, but they were going to be late and Cas would be arriving with a smile on his face that told everyone why.

Cas chuckled and pulled away from Dean. "You'll have to excuse me. I'm trying to make up for the four days you were at work."

Dean grinned at him. "Later," he said, winking at him as he took his hand. "Let's get out of here."

^O^

Dean took Cas' hand as they walked up onto his parents' front porch. He knocked on the door and walked in, leading Cas. "We're here!"

John hurried out of the kitchen to greet his son. "So, this is Cas!" John said, completely ignoring his son. "It's nice to meet you, son. Mary hasn't stopped talking about how attractive you are."

Dean frowned. "Of course he's attractive. Do you realize who you have for a son?"

John smiled at Cas. "Arrogant son-of-a-bitch, ain't he? He gets that shit from his mother."

Dean rolled his eyes as Cas laughed. John laid his hand on Cas' shoulder. "Seriously, Cas. It's nice to meet you," John said as he stuck his hand out for Cas to shake.

Cas shook John's hand. "Thank you, Mr. Winchester. It's a pleasure to meet you, too."

"Please, call me John. You guys come on into the kitchen. Sam and Jess are on their way," he told them as he motioned for them to follow him.

Dean looked over at Cas to find him smiling from ear to ear. Cas turned his grin to Dean and Dean couldn't help but smile back at him, letting go of his hand to snake his arm around Cas' waist.

Mary turned to see them. "Hello, boys!" Mary greeted them as she walked around the island to give them a hug. "I made some appetizers to snack on while I finish dinner. I started a little later than I planned."

John set some small plates in front of where they stood at the island. There were various cut up fruits and vegetables and cheese and crackers. Dean grabbed a couple of cherry tomatoes and cheese blocks while Cas got some celery sticks and ranch dip. John smiled at how close Dean and Cas stood. Dean was leaning against the island sideways, facing Cas. Dean's hand was sitting on Cas' lower back, his fingers hanging on his back belt loop.

Dean dipped his tomatoes in Cas' ranch dip. "You know there's a whole bowl of it right there."

Dean looked Cas in the eyes as he popped the tomatoes into his mouth. "Mmhmm."

"Do you want me to get you some?" Cas asked, motioning to the dip.

Dean shook his head. "No, I'll just use yours."

Cas blinked a couple of times before he sighed and spooned some more dip onto his plate. Dean smiled at him, big and dorky. Cas chuckled and rolled his eyes as he went back to munching on his celery. John smiled at them. He was happy for his son. He wasn't like Mary. He couldn't see whatever it was she saw when people were in love, but he could see that his son was happy and that's all that mattered to John.

"So, Cas, have you heard anything out of the school board about this music teacher bitch?"

Cas looked a little shocked at Mary's language but Dean and John chuckled softly. "Um, no. I – uh – I haven't heard anything yet. She's been giving me the stink eye all week though. I've had a couple of the other teachers tell me they're on my side." Cas smirked. "One even told me I had good taste in men," he said, looking sideways at Dean. Dean smirked and shrugged, nodding proudly at Cas. Cas threw a piece of celery at Dean as he rolled his eyes. "But so far, everything's okay."

"That's great," Mary said. "I was so worried when Dean told me. Haley talks about you all the time, and if it's not Dean or food or cartoons, she doesn't care. So, you're obviously doing something right."

Cas chuckled. "I'm trying. The kids seem to have fun. Which reminds me," Cas said, looking at Dean, "we're going to be having career day next week. You need to be at the school next Thursday at eleven. I made sure to schedule it on your day off so you wouldn't have to miss work."

Dean gave Cas a blank look. He was just like his mother: sweet smile, telling you what you were doing without even asking first, but you're going to say yes because that's what they make you do. "Okay," Dean said. What was he going to do? Argue? Cas would just turn on his puppy eyes and Dean would agree to it then. Might as well cut out the bullshit in the middle and just go as he asked.

"Thanks, Dean," Cas said with a wink.

Dean just nodded his head and went back to eating his tomatoes. John and Mary looked at one another and John mouthed the word whipped to her, making her turn away from him to hide her smile and giggle. Dean looked up when he heard his mother's laugh but before he could ask what she was laughing at, Sam , Jess, and Haley came through the door.

"We're here!" Haley announced as they walked into the kitchen. "Mr. Novak!" she said before running up to him and hugging him. "Mr. Novak, I'm so sorry about telling Brittany and Molly what I saw."

"What exactly did you see, Haley? That's what I want to know," Dean asked. "We didn't even hold hands in front of you."

Haley chewed on her bottom lip as she looked up at her parents. Jess motioned for her to tell them. "Go ahead."

Haley took a deep breath and said, "I snuck into the kitchen that morning to scare you, but you and Mr. Novak were kissing. I didn't want to get in trouble for sneaking around."

"So you went back and slammed your door so we would hear you before you walked back into the kitchen? You sneaky little shit," Dean said.

Sam, Jess, John, and Mary all hollered, "Dean!" as Cas just smacked the back of his head. Haley covered her smile with her hand as she giggled at her uncle.

"Well, she is!" Dean insisted.

Cas shook his head. "I can't be mad at her," he told everyone. He looked down at Haley. "You didn't know people would have a problem with Dean and me kissing, but it would be better if anything you saw Dean and I do you kept to yourself."

Dean picked up Haley. "It's okay, Haley. Next time you stay the night when Cas is there don't sneak around."

"Yes, sir."

Dean pressed a kiss to her temple before setting her down. "Now, we're all here. Where's the food, Mom? You had one job…"

"I guess I'll just throw that pie away and we won't have dessert."

Dean points at his mother. "Not funny…"

Mary rolled her eyes at her son. "It's almost ready. Eat some more tomatoes."

"What's up there?" Haley asked, looking over the island, but only seeing bowls and plates. Dean picked her up and sat her on the other side of him so he could stand beside Cas. "What are you eating?" she asked Dean.

"Tomatoes and cheese."

She scrunching her nose up at the mention of tomatoes. "Ew."

"They're good, Haley."

Haley shook her head. "Can I just have some cheese?"

Jess fixed Haley a plate with cheese and crackers on it and handed it to Dean. "You don't know what you're missing out on, Twitterbug."

"Cheese!" she said as she popped a block into her mouth and smiled at Dean. Dean shook his head as he popped a tomato into his mouth. Her smile fell. "Gross."

^O^

Once dinner was over and dessert had been had, the family sat around the table talking for a moment. "I've got some good news for everyone," Dean announced.

"You won the lottery?" John asked.

"You're pregnant?" Mary added.

"Pregnant? Really, Mom? Did I ask anyone to guess? Are you going to let me tell you?" Dean asked them. Everyone laughed as Dean sat up straighter. He laid his hand on Cas' thigh as he look at his parents. "I know how much you guys want me to stop working at the station and after realizing I have something to come home to every night," he said squeezing Cas' thigh gently as he glanced at him. "I decided to find another job, and as luck would have it there's an opening to be a State Fire Marshal. I talked to Rufus Turner, one of the other marshals, and he told me he would put in a good word for me."

"That's the best news I've heard in a really long time," Mary said, grabbing John's hand as she looked up at her husband.

John nodded his head. "It'll be nice going to bed not worrying about you, Dean."

"That's not all."

"So you are pregnant," Sam stated.

Dean gave him a bitchface before continuing. "I have an interview," Dean said. "Next Friday. If I get the job, it'll still be another month, though. The reason there's an opening is because one of the marshals is moving, but he's not moving until the end of the month."

Mary shook her head. "That's still great news. I have every ounce of faith in you. You'll get the job."

Cas squeezed Dean's hand, making Dean look at Cas, whom he found smiling at him. "I hope so," Dean said, winking at Cas.

Cas smiled a little brighter. "Me, too."

^O^

Once it got late, Sam and Jess took the sleeping Haley home. She'd fallen asleep on Dean a half hour before they finally decided to go. Mary started cleaning the kitchen and Cas immediately started to help her. John grabbed two beers out of the fridge and opened them up, handing one to Dean. "Come stand outside with me, Dean."

"That's fine," Mary told John. "Cas and I will clean the kitchen."

"Thanks, babe," John said as he escorted his son out the back door. Dean winked at Cas who smiled back at him.

John walked over to the stairs that led out into the backyard and took a seat. Dean followed him, sitting beside his father and looking up at the night sky.

"So, fire marshal, huh?"

Dean nodded, taking a swig of his beer. "Yup."

"Because you have something to come home to?"

Dean looked over at his father. "What?"

"How long have you and Cas been seeing one another?"

"A couple of weeks."

"And you're ready to change your life for him? I mean, don't get me wrong, son. I'm thrilled you're getting yourself out of danger, but… well, don't you think you're moving a little too fast?"

Dean chuckled and took another drink of his beer as he looked back up at the sky. "As corny and stupid as it sounds, being with Cas feels right. It's easy, like we don't have to try to make it work. It just works. I spent all last weekend with him. If he wasn't at work, we were together. It was like it's always been that way, like it was a normal weekend for us."

Dean looked over at his dad to find him smirking at him. "That's the same thing I told your uncle Bobby when I met your mother."

"Yeah, who are you to lecture me on moving too fast Mr. I-Slept-with-My-Girlfriend-on-the-First-Date."

John chuckled. "I just want to make sure you're doing the right thing for the right reasons, Dean. If this doesn't work out with Cas, are you still going to want to be a fire marshal?"

Dean shrugged. "I don't see why I wouldn't. I'd actually be able to talk about my job around you guys without Mom freaking out on me. I'd get my nights and weekends off like a normal person. I'd get the hell out of that fucking station. Those guys get a little weird on ya after a few days."

John chuckled. "I'm happy for you, Dean. I like the way he makes you smile," he said before taking a drink of his beer. "And I know you're mother isn't going to shut up about him for at least a couple of days."

Dean nodded. "He's pretty awesome, Dad. You should get on the Cas bandwagon."

"I'm on it, I just don't want to steer it."

"It's funner at the front."

"Funner? You're dating a teacher, Dean. Don't embarrass him."

"Shut the hell up, Dad," Dean told him as John threw his head back and laughed.

^O^

It was around midnight when Dean and Cas finally left his parents' house. Mary wasn't ready to let them go, but Dean was yawning and he was ready to crawl in bed with Cas. After hugs and promises to do dinner again soon, Dean and Cas got into the Impala and left. Cas sat right beside Dean with his arm on the back of the seat.

"So, what do you think?"

Cas smiled at the road ahead of him, watching as it passed underneath the car. "I'm jealous," Cas said softly.

Dean rested his hand on Cas' thigh. "Jealous?"

"I wish my parents were still around so I could bring you home to them. You would've loved my mom. She could bake a mean apple pie."

He knew Cas' parents were dead. He'd mentioned it in passing, but it didn't seem like the time to ask him for further details. He didn't even think about it tonight and he felt bad for not saying something. "I'm sorry, Cas. I didn't even… I should've made sure you were okay – "

"No, no," Cas quickly stopped him from apologizing. "Don't apologize for this, Dean. It was a great night and I love your family. I had a lot of fun and your parents are great."

Dean nodded, accepting Cas' reassurance. "What happened to them?" Dean asked softly.

Cas pressed his face against Dean's shoulder as he gathered his words. "It was a robbery. Some assholes broke into their house and my dad tried to defend them, but they shot him and then shot my mother. They tried to burn the house down, but… the cops caught them. They're in jail for the rest of their lives."

"When did it happen?"

"Nine years ago. Charlie and I were both at college. We both took a semester off to handle everything. I don't know what I would've done without her there. When she moved down here to Kansas, it was understood that I was to follow her. There wasn't anything in Illinois for us but heartbreak and tainted memories."

Dean grabbed Cas' hand and kissed the back of it. "I'm sorry, Cas."

Cas laid his head on Dean's shoulder. "Things are better, easier. Tonight just made me wish they could meet you. They would've liked you."

Dean rested his head on top of Cas'. "Well, if it's any consolation, my mom looked like she would love to adopt you."

Cas chuckled. "I don't know about dating my brother…"

"… well, I mean… we wouldn't be blood," Dean tried to rationalize it.

Cas shook his head. "Still, I'd have to introduce you as Dean, my foster-brother-slash-boyfriend. I don't think we live far enough south for that."

Dean laughed. "We could always move."

Cas laughed loudly, throwing his head back. "No!" he cried out, trying to get the horrible images of incest out of his mind.

Dean just laughed harder as he pulled up into his driveway. As he put it in park, he looked over at Cas, who was trying to catch his breath. Dean smiled at him. He cheeks were flushed and he looked like he had tears in his eyes from laughing so hard. Dean loved him. Dean loved Cas. This wasn't some infatuation or misinterpreting the honeymoon phase of the relationship. Dean was honestly and truly in love with Castiel Novak.

Cas looked over and saw Dean staring at him. He had a strange look of realization on his face and Cas frowned, slightly confused. "What?" Cas asked him. "What is it?"

Dean just shook his head, smiling crookedly at the man sitting beside him. "Nothing," he told Cas. "Come on. I'm ready to get you into my bed."

Cas' frown turned into a grin as he followed Dean out of the car and into the house. He was ready to get into Dean's bed, too.

Just so everyone is clear, that was not a crack at Wincest. If you ship, you ship it. I care not.

Anyway, so there ya go. Family dinner, Cas back story... what more do you people want from me? Jeezus... :P

Thanks for all the great reviews, guys. You all sure know how to make a girl feel special. ;) Leave some more love if you'd like. I'm going to go work on the next chapter! Until next time!