Author's Note: I know I've been out of the game for awhile! I'm sorry guys, I had some medical issues and stuff, but I'm back. It's gonna be a slow progression, but I'll be here! After this chapter - we get some content from here on out! Michael comes to dinner tomorrow! 8-12-2018

Wednesday, December 20th

"Castiel, I'm sure Michael isn't gonna care about how clean the house is."

The fallen angel grunted, his voice echoing in the fireplace as he swept out ash. "You haven't met my brother."

Dean rolled his eyes and gently pulled on Castiel's hips, tugging him out of the fireplace and up to his feet. "Cas," He chided, softly. "What Michael thinks of the fireplace isn't going to change anything between me and you." He kissed the side of the angel's face and Castiel gave him a reluctant smile. "Now," He murmured against his skin. "I've had a long day at work," He kissed him again. "Had a delicious meal from my incredible husband." He pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "And now, I think I've earned myself some dessert."

Castiel chuckled and turned his head to meet Dean's lips.

"Alright baby bro," They broke apart as Gabriel and Sam entered the dining room. The archangel dumped himself onto the couch, pulling Sam beside him. "I've rearranged the house to accommodate all our guests. You and Dean got your room upstairs, Sammy and I will bunk together in the spare one, Amelia, Jimmy and Claire fit comfortably in the office, Michael can have the bedroom downstairs and I've added another spare room upstairs to fit Balthazar." He nodded to the Winchester beside him. "And I let Sammy here choose all the décor like you asked." He scoffed. "I don't know why you didn't trust me."

Sam gave him a pointed look. "You really don't know why he didn't trust you?"

Castiel rolled his eyes and smiled. "Thank you, Sam."

Dean chuckled and caught Castiel's lips in a kiss. "Alright, babe. Everything is done. Sit down. Take a break." He ushered the angel to the couch and gently pushed him into a seated position. "Sammy and I have some more Christmas shopping to do." He bent down, his lips hovering close to the angel's ear. "You still owe me dessert." He nipped gently and stood up straight. "Ready to go Sammy?"

The younger Winchester stood up. "Ready."

As they left, Dean called back, "Jimmy's here!"

The door shut and Jimmy appeared in the living room, dropping a duffle bag. "Cas! Gabe!" He plopped on the couch between them. "What's on the agenda tonight?"

"What are you doin' here, Jimmy?" Gabriel smiled.

"It's tradition!" He exclaimed throwing his arm around his twin's shoulder.

"Tradition?"

Jimmy laughed. "Every year before Michael visits we have a brother catch up session and emotionally prepare each other to see him again."

Castiel smiled at his brother. "It is quite a relief to be able to talk to someone."

Jimmy's face turned serious. "And I'm pretty sure we have a lot of catching up to do."

The fallen angel shifted uncomfortably. "Jimmy, I've already told you about Dean-,"

"Dean?" His twin furrowed his eyebrow. "I'm here to talk about Balthazar."

Castiel groaned and stood to his feet to gather the dirty mugs from the coffee table. "There's nothing to talk about.

Jimmy ignored him and followed his movement. "Was it weird seeing him again?"

Gabriel laughed haughtily. "Oh my Father! I totally forgot about you and Balth!"

"Gabriel!" He admonished as he moved into the kitchen.

"Relax, bro. Dean-O's not here. Let's talk about it." Jimmy and Gabriel followed him into the kitchen.

Castiel shrugged and put the dirty dishes from the sink into the dishwasher. "It was fine."

"Fine?" Jimmy asked skeptically. "It had to be a little weird. I mean-," He shrugged. "Michael chose him to be your soul mate." He leaned against the kitchen island.

"Michael didn't choose him to be my soulmate." He stopped and frowned. "He simply thought that Balthazar and I would be able to form a bond." He rifled under the sink for the dishwasher soap.

"Our brother was molding him for you, Cassie!" Gabriel argued back.

Castiel rolled his eyes and started up the dishwasher leaning against it. "It doesn't matter anyway. Balthazar and I mutually split up. Besides, we're brothers."

"Oh my Father!" Gabriel shouted. "Brothers?" Castiel didn't respond as he started wiping down the countertops. "By that logic, I've banged a ton of our brothers." Castiel snorted. "Hell, I've fucked a few gods too – so what's that – like our aunts?"

"Gabriel." Cas groaned and scrubbed a hand over his face.

Jimmy shrugged. "I'm just saying, Cassie. Balth was crazy about you. And the only reason why he didn't bond with you is because you told Michael you wanted to search for a mate yourself. The way that angel looks at you -," He opened up the fridge and grabbed a beer. "He's totally smitten with you." He shrugged. "You might wanna say something to Dean about it."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow and snapped his finger conjuring up a fruity drink. "Especially after that fiasco at the diner."

Castiel dropped his head against the fridge. "Don't remind me."

"Well if you wanna forget-," Gabriel let his sentence linger before he snapped his fingers and placed a fruity drink in Castiel's hand. "Let's get insanely drunk."

"Hey, where's mine?" Jimmy whined.

-[]-

"Do you really think Gabe will like this?" Sam and Dean were walking up the driveway, shopping bags in hand as the younger Winchester halted at the front door and held up his shopping bag.

Dean snorted. "Sam, you got him all his favorite nerdy things on t-shirts, as well as like all his favorite candy – I think it's gonna be fine." Sam let out a little sigh of relief. Dean hesitated with the key over the doorknob. "Why do you care so much anyway?"

He noticed the blush fade into Sam's cheeks. "I just wanna get him something good."

Dean stood up straighter. "Dude, you got a crush on Gabe?"

Sam shifted his feet and readjusted the bags in his hands. "Maybe just a little bit." Before Dean could respond, Sam inhaled deeply. "Dean, do you smell that?"

He crinkled up his nose. "It's super sugary, what is that?" He unlocked the front door and they pushed in, Castiel's voice carrying from the kitchen.

"Gabey." He whined. "You're still getting the color all wrong!"

They heard snorting laughter and a voice similar to Cas's filtering through. "Cassie, don't be mean to Gabey-," His voice lowered conspiratorially. "-he's a archangel!"

The twins laughed loudly. The Winchesters shared a look and dropped their bags entering the kitchen. They gasped in unison. The kitchen was covered in trays of red and green cookies. Gabriel was sitting cross legged on the counter, a concentrated look on his face, and across from him sat the twins, arms interlocked staring angrily at Gabriel's latest tray of cookies.

"Try it again!" Jimmy insisted. Gabriel's eyebrows furrowed and he stared at the stovetop in front of him intently. He stuck his tongue out and snapped his fingers, creating another tray of red and green cookies.

"Oh Father Dammit!" Castiel exclaimed frustratedly. "They're still not red and green!"

Dean and Sam stepped into the kitchen. Sam rubbed his lips together. "Um guys?"

The three of them looked up curiously, each of them wearing a paper pair of red and blue 3D glasses. "Sam!" They exclaimed in unison excitedly. They shifted their eyes to Dean. "Dean!" Castiel threw his arms up and surged forward launching himself at the hunter.

"Uomfh!" Dean exclaimed catching him tightly. "Glad to see you too, Cas!" He held him by his shoulders at an arm's distance. "Cas-," He raised an eyebrow. "Are you drunk?"

"Dean!" Jimmy pushed forward and put his arm on Dean's shoulder to steady himself. "Can you help Gabriel figure out this cookie emergency?"

Sam scrubbed a hand over his face. "Cookie emergency?"

Castiel pushed away from Dean and glared at the archangel. "He's supposed to be making red and green cookies! But they're all coming out red and blue."

Gabriel jumped off the counter and stumbled forward. "I can't figure it out!" He glared up at the ceiling. "Michael must be tampering with my angel mojo!"

Dean chuckled. "Take off the 3D glasses guys."

"We can't!" Castiel gave him an abashed look. "We're watching a movie!"

Sam folded his arms over his chest. "In the kitchen?"

"Yeah!" Jimmy pointed to the stove. "Look!" The three brothers lined up and stared at the stove. Gabriel snapping his fingers repeatedly to open and close the door.

"Whoooooaaaaaa…." They awed.

Dean and Sam burst into a fit of laughter, the older brother shaking his head affectionately.

"Novaks, man…"