It was a modest sized mansion decorated with 1930s art deco styles. The foyer, where they stood, sat in between a large living room to their right and a dining area to their left. A staircase snaked around in front of them, leaving part of the second floor visible via balcony.
Castiel had to wonder why this place, of all places was Gabriel's house of choice. He spotted some old paintings, renaissance style, and chuckled. Famous paintings of Gabriel, Michael, and other religious artwork displayed throughout.
The wide open windows let in the ocean air, slightly moving the light flowy curtains, and it smelled wonderful. Castiel inhaled, deeply, letting the salty breeze fill his lungs. He glanced outside and noticed the beach view they had and he made a mental note to ask Dean to take a stroll on the beach with him later.
"This, my lovelies, will be our new batcave," Gabriel said, waving his hands.
Castiel reached out for Dean, making sure he wasn't dizzy from Gabriel teleporting them there. Memories of Dean and how uncomfortable he'd get from zapping around, usually leaving the hunter disoriented for a while afterwards.
Dean smiled at the angel and then barked at Gabriel. "It's nice, but it's hardly a batcave." His words drifted as his eyes landed on an enormous flat screen t.v. "Never mind, I think this place will do."
Sam and Castiel shared a laugh as the group collected into the main living room. The couches hugged the walls and each side came stuck out, in chaise style seating. There was not one, but two fireplaces on either side of the room and even more couches and tables set back against the other wall. He leaned over to a lamp and switched it on, welcoming the warm glow that it gave off.
Gabriel smiled smugly as he and Castiel made eye contact.
"The bedrooms are upstairs," he said with a wink.
Castiel made himself comfortable next to Dean, while Sam and Chuck settled in next to them. Gabriel pulled a lollipop out of his pocket and Castiel chuckled at how there had always seemed to be a never ending supply of candy for the archangel.
Gabriel pulled out the sucker with a wet popping sound and said, "Well, this is gonna be fun. Going to Hell, talking to Michael…"
"Yeah, I'm not entirely sure he'd be too happy to see us." Dean looked at Cas. "It wasn't like we all split on good terms."
Castiel nodded, thinking of the last time he'd seen Michael. It was on the battlefield and he had molotov'd him with holy fire. When he had gone down to get Sam, he remembered trying not to make eye contact with Michael at all.
That was a time he rarely thought of or talked about. It had led to such a disaster, he knew that bringing it up again would had been a bad idea. Sam's soul had been trapped in that cage and Castiel had been unaware. He and Sam were close, but they weren't as close as he and Dean. If that had been Dean, soulless, Castiel would have known it right away.
But with Sam, there had been no way to tell. Castiel felt horrible and guilty about it. So, he'd be sure to keep his mouth shut. No need opening up old wounds, especially for the boys.
There had always been much regret about bad choices, horribly orchestrated plans, poorly made decisions, but as each of them faltered, they had also been here to help pick up the pieces. To accept it, move on, and make it better. That is what the Winchesters had taught Cas over the years, that no one was beyond redemption. With each error, also came room for forgiveness. Always.
There were lessons the angels could have learned from humans. There was a reason they had been sent to earth to watch over them. For some angels, they did learn from humanity, but for others, they had only grown to resent them. Either wanting for themselves, what they thought was impossible, or seeing it all as an utter waste of time.
Anna, for example, wanted more than what she was. Uriel wanted nothing to do with the lot. He saw humans as insects, rodents, and Castiel had always seen that as pure blasphemy.
Then they had angels like Balthazar and Gabriel who had indulged a little too much in it all. They'd left Heaven, for one reason or another. Balthazar was just plain bored while Gabriel didn't agree with the politics, or the hierarchy was more like it. He ran away like a teen would run away from his family, to avoid all the bullshit and live among the very beings that he was taught were beneath him.
Castiel felt a pang of regret thinking about Daniel and Adina and what a mess that had turned into. Hannah had been seeking help in rounding up the angels who forbade to return to Heaven and it had been almost impossible for Castiel to make Hannah understand why they had wanted to remain here, on earth. He was torn between his duty and his heart and he had wished he listened more with his heart back then. Adina and Daniel deserved to be happy, to be here without Heaven's politics and now they were both dead.
That felt like a million years ago. He remembered wanting to care about Heaven's problems yet the only real concern he had at that time was Dean, who'd been a demon and was running around with Crowley (and doing a lot more he'd later found out) to which he swore he'd let go of because really, Dean didn't need to be reminded about his dark days, just as much as Castiel didn't need to reminded of his own.
Castiel looked at Dean and took a deep breath, knowing just how much he had almost lost. Dean leaned back, placing his hand on Cas' knee. Castiel smiled, loving the fact that Dean didn't care about showing him affection in front of Gabriel and Chuck. He knew Dean was already comfortable around his brother, and around strangers, well, Dean had never really cared about the thoughts of people he didn't know. But this was a whole new step.
Chuck sighed. "I suppose this isn't going to be easy, or quick."
Cas didn't notice Gabriel had left but when he returned, he had a platter of burgers, nachos, and drinks. Castiel chuckled at Dean's eyes widening at the sight.
"Wow, I actually didn't even realize I was hungry till now," Dean said, practically salivating.
"Yeah, I figured you'd be starving after being, well, dead and all," Gabriel mused. "Dig in," he said while setting the tray down on the coffee table.
Dean and Sam were the first to make a plate and Castiel glanced briefly at Chuck and assumed he probably didn't need to eat. But then Chuck reached over and picked up a burger for himself, humming and moaning as he took a bite.
"Mmm, thanks Gabe." Chuck opened his eyes and noticed Castiel staring at him. "Oh, yeah, I don't need it but come on, this shit is awesome."
Castiel laughed, nodding in agreement. Chuck continued, "Why not bask in it, right? I mean, while being human, sort of."
"Hey, no arguments, there," Castiel said and eyed Dean as he too appeared to be making love to his burger. Never before had he felt jealous of piece of food before, but the way he opened his mouth, and let his lips wrap around the meat and bread, and how he chewed, groaning like it was pleasing him in more ways than one. It was when he saw Dean start licking his lips and using his finger to soak up the juices that dripped down his chin that Cas was ready to check out those rooms upstairs.
They made eye contact and Dean stopped in mid chew and smiled at Cas. "What?"
"I say we check out those bedrooms."
Dean grinned and Cas stood, pulling Dean up with him. They smiled at the rest of the guys and then headed upstairs. As much as sitting around and planning their next line of attack was crucial, being alone with Dean and in his embrace sounded a lot more appealing to him.
The bedroom was huge, as expected in a place like this. The walls were decorated with a dark burgundy wallpaper with thin golden lines running down it. A king sized bed sat against the wall in the center. The plush down comforter drew Castiel in and he jumped on the bed, letting his body fall down into the softness.
"Oh this bed, Dean."
Dean smirked at him and walked over to the bathroom. His eyebrows raised as he turned to Castiel, grinning mischievously. "Oh, this bathroom, Cas."
Castiel hopped off of the bed and padded over to Dean. He threw his arm around him and rested his head on his shoulder. "So, bath?"
Dean nodded and soon they were both naked and filling the tub. Once the water was high enough, Dean turned the knob and stepped inside. He sighed with pleasure, looking at Cas, holding out his hand. "Come in."
The water was perfect as Castiel slipped in, facing Dean. Dean slid his legs under Castiel's, moving the angel's body to straddle him. They kissed, tenderly and Castiel moved his face to Dean's neck.
"Being without you was unbearable," he said against Dean's warm skin.
Dean pulled back. "Same."
He tried to push back the images of Dean's lifeless body laying across his lap in the backseat of the Impala. He tried not to think about how utterly empty he was, without hope, without the thrill of being alive, and how all he wanted to do was die so he could be with his beloved.
He was sure to never bring that up to Dean, for he knew how upset he'd be at knowing that Cas would have been happy to end his life once Dean was taken away from him. Dean was a fighter, he would have scolded Cas for thinking of such a thing. He recalled how surprised Dean had been when he had admitted that going back to Heaven after Purgatory might have led Cas to want to kill himself. He also remembered how devastated Dean had been knowing Cas wanted to remain in that land of abominations as penance, knowing it would have meant a certain death for sure.
No, he'd keep that to himself and he hoped Sam or Gabriel would never bring it up. It wasn't theirs to tell anyway. That was something Cas said out of desperation. Despair. Grief.
Furthermore, Dean was alive now, in the flesh, underneath him, holding him, showering him with kisses, and there would not reason to ever bring up his death ever again.
He kissed his lips again but this time, more hungrily. Castiel placed his hands on Dean's shoulders and started moving his hips, grinding. Dean moaned in his mouth, grabbing Castiel's ass and squeezed it.
"Cas." He stopped kissing him and pulled back a bit.
"Yeah?" Cas said, half out of breath.
Dean cupped his face in his hands and kissed him softly on the lips. "I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to… be this way with you."
Castiel thought about their history together and in no way was Dean the only one at fault for delaying their affair. Castiel could have revealed his feelings a thousand times, but he didn't. He kept it as hidden as possible, and now that he thought about it, the both of them had done pretty awful jobs concealing their feelings. He had to giggle at that.
Castiel smiled, kissing his forehead. "Don't be sorry. We were both idiots."
Dean chuckled.
"We could have had… when I was dead, all I kept thinking about was the time I wasted. With you."
"It wasn't a waste, Dean. It was our foundation. We had to build up to it."
He kissed Dean's nose and continued, "Yes, it would have been great to have started this years ago, but it's not like we don't have something to look forward to, right?"
Castiel kissed him again on the cheek, running his hands through Dean's wet hair. His lips brushed his cheek, his nose, then his closed eyelids. Dean pulled him closer and hugged him tightly.
"Cas," Dean grabbed the angel's shoulders and pulled him off of him a little, searching his eyes. "It's the future I want to talk about."
Dean's expression was thoughtful, and his lower lip started quivering as if he was suddenly nervous. Castiel tilted his head, unsure of what to make of it.
"Dean?"
"I," Dean's mouth was moving but no words came out. Castiel placed his hand on his cheek and gently caressed it, urging him to continue. "I don't ever want to lose you. I want us to be, " Dean's mouth twitched into a small smile. "Together forever."
Castiel inhaled, offering another kiss. Dean accepted and continued, "What I'm trying to say is, let's like… uh, let's make some kind of promise, something we can vow to-"
"Like wedding vows?" Cas interrupted, playfully.
Dean blushed even more so than he already was. "Y-yeah, something like that."
"Okay," Castiel straightened his spine. "Like, in front of people? A ceremony?"
Castiel could see the beginning of tears in Dean's eyes and he had to admit that he felt the emotion overflowing through him as well. Dean kissed him and then he cleared his throat. "If- if you want, but-"
"So a wedding," Cas said, smirking at the nervous hunter.
His playfulness was hiding his own nervousness, unsure as to where this conversation was going, and a million thoughts ran through his head. The biggest one was, will this topic ruin everything or make it better?
"Cas…"
"I'm kidding, Dean. I know, uh, that would be…"
Castiel thought of their conversation again that they had back in the bunker's shower and he was struck with an overwhelming feeling of hope. Dean was not asking to marry him, he knew that. Dean was far too reserved to openly discuss something like that, now. He was aware that Dean probably wanted it, he was probably thinking about it right now but Castiel had to remember that teasing him would only push him away and that was the last thing he wanted.
"We can promise here, right now. Okay?" Castiel added.
Dean smiled, slightly. "I'm not saying I don't want to... I mean, we could someday. If-if things calm down and… maybe we could."
Castiel wished he could stop the damn flipping in his stomach. This conversation was so intense and so awkward, he tried to think of what to say to change the subject. He wasn't good at this. Not at all.
"I would like that, someday." Castiel had managed to say that, at least.
"Wait, really? You would… like for real?" Dean's eyes were wide and his lips were trying to conceal a smile. Oh, he was confusing the hell out of Castiel right now, but he couldn't help but see this as totally adorable.
"Get married? Yes. Of course." Oh my god, I really just said that, didn't I?
Castiel thought back to the days when all he would do was observe. For so long, his only duty as an angel was to watch and be invisible. Don't interfere. Watch the animals, the humans, the weather, Earth. For many angels, it was a tedious task. Especially for Anna, as he recalled. While being his superior, he did as she said but he remembered how impatient she had become, complaining about their orders and for some reason, it had irked her to not be able to interact with humans.
But Castiel had always found himself enthralled. He would watch young couples fall in love, get married, and it was all so beautiful to him. Even then, he often thought about what it would be like if he had that. To fall in love with that one person he was meant to be with and have a life like that.
'A crack in his chassis', as Naomi so indelicately put it. Yeah, he wasn't made like the other angels and knowing that is exactly what God had intended made Castiel feel so differently now about those times. A satisfied smile crept over his lips and he sighed.
Yes, he was exactly who he was supposed to be and all of those years questioning himself and being plagued with self loathing were nothing but a fleeting memory. He had wasted energy on hating himself when all the while, he had been doing everything right.
Dean exhaled the breath he'd been holding in. "Wow. Okay. Uh, in that case, will you?"
Castiel tilted his head, trying to read Dean's face. Was he being serious right now? "Are you-are you asking me to marry you?"
All Dean did was nod and Castiel smiled wide, bringing his arms around the hunter's neck. He could not believe this was happening. He wanted to scream hoping that would let out some of the excitement building in his gut. "Yes, Dean. Yes, I will marry you. A thousand times yes."
"Well, I hope just the once." Dean laughed a little and kissed Cas.
Suddenly images of domestic bliss filled his head. He saw that scene again of Dean grilling, and then pulling Cas onto the grass, the warm sun hitting them as Dean looked down at him as if he was the most important being in the universe. Then the kisses would begin and soon they would be making love under the sky. Bodies becoming one with the moist earth beneath them, pulling and grabbing, clothes off and their heat consuming them.
Dean in the kitchen, preparing dinner and the pure joy in his eyes when he was in front of that stove, well nothing compared to it. Dean loved to cook, he enjoyed trying out new recipes, watching the agreeable looks on their as they tried his new experiment. It made Cas smile to see Dean enjoy such simple things in life, that didn't involve monsters or hunting. To be able to relish in the mundane, that was important. Very important.
He saw them shopping, picking out clothes for Cas to fill up his closet, Dean's closet because they would undoubtedly be sharing a room now, officially. He imagined their closet, one side filled with flannels and henleys while the other would have Cas' stuff, a modest collection of shirts and jeans, yet he still saw himself in Dean's rock band t-shirts, that Dean loved to see him in.
And Dean, as much as he loved seeing Cas in his clothes, he loved removing them even more so.
Cas' head swam as the two exited the bathtub and made their way to the bed, remaining lip locked the entire time. Dean, with Cas on top of him slid across the bed into a sitting position, his back leaning comfortably against the headboard. The kisses became hotter and wetter and their tongues moved around, dancing.
Castiel straddled Dean, keeping his thighs taught, squeezing and moving, cocks pressed firmly together. They were both throbbing and Dean reached behind and dug his fingers into the flesh of Cas' ass.
"Mm," Castiel hummed, staring into Dean's hungry eyes. "I want you inside me,"
Dean looked around, probably for something to make Castiel slick so the angel hopped off of his quickly and skipped to the bathroom where he remembered seeing a small bottle of massage oil on the counter next to the bathtub. The smile on Dean's face when Castiel swaggered back to the bed was priceless.
Castiel went back to straddling Dean and he handed Dean the bottle of oil, hinting for him to get the angel ready. Dean flipped the top open and poured some in his hands, rubbing them together and then massaging Cas' ass. He moved his fingers in between, spreading the oil and slipped a finger in, slowly. Castiel inhaled, sharply and leaned forward to allow Dean more room to play with him.
They kissed as Dean fingered Cas, adding another finger and Cas moved with him, taking it in. He moaned as Dean's fingers slipped out and was replaced with the head of his cock at Cas' opening. Castiel let out a heavy sigh when Dean pushed into him. He was so slow, and so careful, Castiel began to rock, letting him deeper inside.
Dean sprang up and wrapped his arms around the angel, holding him tightly as he thrust in and out of him. Castiel returned the hug and let his chin rest on Dean's shoulder as they moved. He held tightly onto Dean and their chests were now pressing. This position was so intimate and perfect, Castiel had to pull away briefly just to get a look at Dean's face.
His cheeks were flushed and most of the green in his eyes had been occupied by pupil. Castiel smiled as he kissed him, their lips hot with passion. Really, Castiel could do this all day and night. Sure, it was highly irresponsible and unlikely they'd be able to, but he loved to imagine it anyway. It was as if all those years they had been too scared to take this leap was suddenly poking at him, telling him that they needed to make up for all that lost time.
Yet he knew the best was yet to come. Their lives weren't ending, they were beginning. An entire new world awaited them, one in which they were together, as lovers, as they should have always been. This world was uncertain and Castiel understood that before peace, they'd have a hell of a journey, but it would be there waiting for him. That life, that perfect existence that was there, just for them, to grab and enjoy.
Looking down at Dean, seeing all that love in his eyes, that love that had always been there, but didn't have to be hidden anymore, Castiel knew that the word forever never had more meaning than it did right now. Dean rested his forehead against Castiel's and that was when the angel felt Dean fill him up, throbbing inside him.
That was all it took to bring Castiel to orgasm, moving against Dean's pelvis was enough for to bring him over the edge and he came as Dean slowed his movement. His head was dizzy and he hadn't even noticed that he'd been chanting in Enochian before he heard Dean gasping. Castiel lifted his dazed head and noticed Dean staring at him, wide eyed.
"What is it, Dean?"
Dean had an amazed look on his face, with the beginnings of a smile. "You, you're glowing. Like literally."
Castiel straightened his back and looked down at his body. He noticed the light surrounding them now, enveloping them both in a bubble of brilliant energy. Castiel chuckled, realizing it was his grace. This had never happened to him before, as he had never been at full power with Dean in this way.
"My grace, it's protecting us."
Dean grinned. "That's, uh, really cool. What were you saying?"
Castiel slid off of Dean and the two spread out on the bed next to each other, Dean pulling the sheets and blanket over them. They laid on their sides facing each other, Dean's arm lying across Cas.
"I hadn't even realized I was saying it aloud. It was Enochian."
Dean watched him, awaiting him to finish. Castiel blushed and he grew giddy at the feeling. "I am his and he is mine. We are eternal and our hearts are one."
Dean's jaw dropped, slightly. Castiel kissed his cheek and added, "Part of my vow, I guess."
They were silent for a while as they stared into each other's eyes.
Cas had no idea what to expect. With talk of marriage, of course that was the first thing on his mind, but he had to remind himself that they still had so much to deal with, ahead of them. Finding the Hand of God, which consisted of going down into Hell and talking to Michael, then what happened after that? They enlist the help of Michael and Lucifer to help bring down the Darkness again?
Would God-Chuck have to make another mark? Another key? Would they figure out another way to defeat the Darkness without putting such a curse on someone? There were many questions and the answers seemed far too out of reach. He was amazed at the fact that after all this time, all these years, he did find God, his father, and in the most unlikely way. The story of how God was trapped here left him with an uneasy feeling in his gut. Michael had really screwed things up and he wasn't sure the archangel would be too eager to makes things right. Not with them.
Regardless. These were things Castiel could tackle another day, for now, Dean Winchester was lying beside him, staring at him with his sparkling green eyes that were so full of love, and warmth, and Heaven. Some day, all of these dark times will be behind them and maybe they will get married and start a whole new life together. Maybe with God back, things won't have to be so difficult for them anymore. Maybe Sam could have the life he always wanted, find himself a women to settle down with. Life could be simpler, easier for the brothers, and him. He wouldn't have to worry about losing Dean, or some horrible event tearing them apart. He could bask in his love for everyday they were together and maybe their life together could take a whole new turn.
Maybe, just maybe.
Part 2: A Sky Full of Stars