The Monday morning after Dean's birthday, three pharmacies in Sioux Falls were completely sold out of aspirin. Weekend homework had been uncollected in more than half the classes at Samuel Colt High School, and even more classes were playing "educational" films for their lesson plans. The bell had to be disconnected by fourth period due to popular demand by the staff. Instead, teachers would assign one student a period to let them know when class was over, but more often than not students would simply trickle in within a ten minute period, signaling teachers to end their classes. Needless to say, this Monday was a wreck.

The only period that began on time was lunch.

Teachers zoomed out of their classrooms, making bee lines for the cafeteria. The entire staff was eager to relive the amazing festivities from Saturday all the way through Sunday morning.

"I got so wasted," Sam heard a pretty art teacher he once spilled coffee all over on the way to an SAT prep class whisper to an algebra teacher Dean dated a couple of years ago for a week. In fact, each table he passed were full of excited laughter, and hushed retelling of the weekend. Sam smiled to himself as he took his seat next to Ruby.

"Somebody's happy today," observed Meg, grabbing his lunch before he even put it down on the table.

"Meg, Dean' birthday was amazing. You're amazing!" Sam gushed.

"Yeah, I am." Meg pulled out Sam's carrot sticks and began munching on them.

"She is," Ruby agreed.

"So, Sammy, we have some questions for you," started Lilith. She took a French fry from Ruby's plate, and ripped it apart with her bright white, front teeth.

"Yeah? Meg, you have to leave me at least a little something to eat," Sam whined.

"Your brother and Novak? They're screwing around or what?" Sam sputtered the water he was drinking.

"What?" Some sophomores a table over looked over at their table. Sam cleared his throat, consciously making it deeper as he spoke the next words. "What are you talking about?"

All three women rolled their eyes in a sort of synchronized choreography.

"Look, after work we're going to go to the Cage. Come and we can talk about this in a more private setting," whispered Ruby to Sam. All he could do was nod.

"You still hungover, Sammy?" Dean asked as he plopped himself and his lunch down at the table. "Could you scoot over a little, Meg?"

"Are you calling my ass fat?" Meg countered.

"Well if the pants don't fit!"

"You should talk, Winchester. Another year, another notch farther down that belt? Everyone's noticed. How many invitations did you get to the Valentine's Day dance?" Meg shot at Dean.

"Almost every female and a few male students have already asked Dean," Castiel inserted, sitting between the two like a Berlin Wall.

"Yeah, but how many moms? What was it last year?"

"37 mothers, 51 aunts, and 2 grandmothers," recited Lilith.

"Arts and Sciences had a bet to see who would nab more invites between the Winchester brothers," explained Meg to Cas.

"You did?" Sammy asked.

"You clocked in at 21 mothers, 17 aunts, and 10 grandmothers," Ruby informed him as she stole his last carrot stick.

"Who did you bet on?"

"You, of course, Sammy," cooed Lilith.

"And damn it if we didn't lose," muttered Ruby. "We had to give those Science bastards $500 out of our budget." Dean and Sam stared at her, questions clearly drawn on their faces.

"We took it out of the Drama department," Meg remembered. She and the other two women burst into laughter.

"Torturing Crowley is my favorite hobby," Ruby sputtered through her giggles.

"Mine is torturing closeted English teachers," whispered Meg so low Dean missed it. He was the only one in the table that did. The table erupted in laughter like a 9 year old's baking soda volcano. Dean squinted at Meg and the other women as he bit into his ham on rye.

…

Lunch ran late of course, mostly because the teachers just didn't want to go back to class. In fact it was due to the incessant imploring of the student body that the teachers dragged themselves back to class. As Dean rewinded and set The Sandlot back to start, he took out his buzzing phone out of his pocket.

Why aren't we combining our classes?

Dean smacked his forehead. He turned around and found Castiel was already standing there, leaning against the frame, looking quite picturesque as he was lit from behind.

"Are we going inside?" A cracking voice asked behind Cas. Both of their classes filed inside, the students already knowing to push the desks aside to make room for two classes. More than fifty freshmen sat on the floor as Dean played the movie. He and Cas stood in the back of the classroom in order to "supervise" the children. They sat next to each other in those hard backed, paint chipped, plastic and metal chairs. Maybe their knees were touching, but just barely. Once the chatter died down and the first few scenes played on screen, Dean pulled out his phone again.

I love this movie.

I've never seen it.

What?! How are you a teacher?

Castiel tilted his squinting eyes at Dean before replying.

I got accepted into college and received my bachelor's degree, then my master's, then my phD, then received my credentials.

"You're a doctor?!" Dean blurted out. The students turned towards him. "You guys are missing some prime screen time." The class chuckled and turned their attention back to projection screen. Dean's phone buzzed again.

I have a doctorate, but I am not a medical doctor. Though I am up to date with my CPR certification as should every active educator.

You're amazing. How do you exist? And no bullshit replies about evolution or some shit.

Okay. Tonight? Dinner? We could drive somewhere no one knows us.

It doesn't have to be like that. Let's go to the Roadhouse?

I was hoping we could go somewhere no one would care how we acted.

Okay. I'll work something out. Be prepared to be swept off your feet!

Already am.

Dean smiled to himself, looking up from his phone to Cas. They stared at each other for the rest of the period like the pair of goofballs they are.

…

Castiel showered and then realized he had no clean clothes at the house. His stuff was still in that sad little room in his sad little house he was still paying rent for. He looked at himself in the fogged up mirror and smiled at the thought of going through Dean's clothes.

"So where are we having dinner tonight?" Sam asked as Dean shrugged on his fitted red leather jacket. He smirked when Dean wasn't looking.

"Uh, yeah. You know, Sam, we, I think the place doesn't have vegetables or something," Dean fumbled.

"Oh, shoot! Well, I actually just remembered I'm meeting Ruby, Meg, and Lilith tonight!" Sam announced with all the feigned surprised of an artichoke.

"Ah, well watch your drink. I wouldn't put it pass any of them to put something in there. And no dope! Knowing them they'd lace it with something that'll destroy your life or something," Dean warned.

"Dean, they're public school arts teachers, not Satan worshipers." Dean opened his mouth to argue, but was interrupted by Cas.

"Hello," Cas announced. Dean choked a little, momentarily drowning of air. He shifted in his chair Castiel wore Dean's jeans, just a little loose around his hips, which Dean zeroed in on how it hung just right over the Vs of his hips. Castiel was raising his hands as he put on a motorcycle jacket that belonged to some guy Jo dated a couple of years ago, that she gifted to Dean for Christmas one year. He also wore a textured green shirt that Dean hated until tonight.

Sam smiled to himself then pretended to be reading a text. Dean cleared his throat, hoping to find his words.

"You ready, Cas?" Dean managed to push out. Cas nodded. "See ya, Sammy. Seriously, don't leave your drink unattended!"

…

The Impala roared to life some dragon waking up to defend its loot. There was a soft haze of snow floating down onto Sioux Falls, and nothing but the sweet hum of the Impala's engine could be heard. Dean and Castiel held hands as he drove them down the road. They stayed silent, content in their private moment.

It was about ten minutes later when Dean pulled into a driveway with an overgrown lawn.

"I assume you want me to return your clothing?" Castiel mused as he got out of the Impala and stared at his lonely would be home. Dean simply chuckled.

"Stop your jibber jabber and let's get inside where it's warmer!" They raced to the front door, Dean slipping before he reached the porch, and Castiel helping him up. He laughed loud into the dark night air, and they both tumbled together into the house.

Dean watched Castiel as he took in his surroundings. All the boxes were cleared out. What remained was one table set for two. There was a black table cloth draped over the table, and three candles burning light. There was even soft music playing.

"Is this Highway to Hell?" Castiel asked.

"Yeah, I found this orchestra that covers classic rock. Thought is kinda suited us," Dean replied looking down, one hand behind his neck.

"Yes. It certainly does," Castiel agreed. Dean looked up and smiled at him.

"Your nose is all red from the cold," Dean observed.

"You've got a snowflake on your eye lashes," Castiel countered. They were awfully close to each other again, and Dean wasn't sure how they got there. He could feel Castiel's body heat, and he could hear his own heart beating in his ears. He leaned in.

"Cas, will you be my date to the Valentine's Day dance?" Dean asked. Castiel's chuckle burst from his mouth like a geyser.

"Yes, Dean."

"I'm starving! I can hear our stomach from here, so I guess you are, too! Food should be here soon. Speak of the devil." Dean opened the door at the sound of a knock.

"Hi, Dean. Hi, Cas. Sorry I'm late, but the pie took a long time!" Jo whizzed past them and into Castiel's never used kitchen. She carried a pink box tied up with string.

"What is going on?" Cas asked. Dean looked at him sheepishly.

"Jo wanted to mend fences. Come on, Cas! Please let her! She inherited Ellen's way around a stove! Not that she would ever admit that." Jo came back out.

"Dinner is served!" She carried two plates and a basket of breadsticks with her an set them down on the dining table. "Wine will be right out."

"Very professional," Castiel observed. Jo winked at him as she disappeared into the kitchen.

"Hey, so Jo's sorry about everything. I guess she was just worried about me when she figured everything out between us. And it's weird, but it's kinda nice that someone knows, you know?"

"You're babbling, Dean."

"Like a goddamn brook, I know. I just want you to be okay with this."

"I am 'okay,'" Cas replied. Dean filed away the look on Cas' face as he used air quotes on the last word.

"She's family. So are you," Dean announced.

"It seems everyone in Sioux Falls is family to you. I have always wanted to be part of a large family myself." Castiel helped himself to a buttered roll. He pulled it apart and Dean made out shapes n his head from the steam that was let loose.

"You eat like a chipmunk," Dean teased. Cas looked up at him with both cheeks full.

"These make me very happy!"

"Yeah, I can tell," Dean replied. Jo came out and poured him and Cas a glass of white wine each. She left the bottle in a silver bucket filled with ice next to the candles. Dean waited until she was out of the room to speak again. "So you were part of a small family, I take it?"

"Yes, it was my father and me. That was it. He often travelled for work, so we spent quite a lot of time apart during my childhood. What about your father?"

"My dad crawled into a bottle when my mom died, and he couldn't crawl out. God, Sam and I tried to pull him out, but you know, we just couldn't. I couldn't. Dean smiled and shoveled some pasta in his mouth. "My mom died six months after Sammy was born. Electrical fire. It was completely out of the blue. It crushed my dad. Then about five years ago he was on this hunting trip, and he disappeared. He was getting clean. Bobby was his sponsor.

"There was a this storm that hit harder than anyone thought, lots of lightning, thunder, power went out in half the state. My dad was never found, not even his stuff. It was like he vanished. Bobby was supposed to go with him that night, but he got hit with a car and they rushed him to the hospital. Fucking luck, right? You'll never guess who hit him. Rufus! Swear to god. I didn't know Rufus back then, but god it's sure a hoot now."

Dean kept pushing his pasta around on his plate, eyes glued to the swirl of alfredo and angel hair.

"I remember that storm. I lived in South Dakota at the time as well."

"The odds, right? Sam was in California, I was in Boston."

"I'm sorry, Dean." Castiel took Dean by the hand and held his gaze.

"What's your name?" Dean asked. He blinked himself awake, shocked by his own question. "I'm sorry, Cas. You don't have to. I just, I really want to know."

"James. I went by Jimmy. Jimmy Collins."

"Oh god, Jimmy Collins? Nah, Castiel suits you." Dean smiled at him, ignoring the tightening of his chest.

"My full birth name is James Henry Collins."

"Hey! My middle name is Henry, too! Here's a toast," Dean started. He and Cas took their wine and held it in the air. "To amazing men with the middle name Henry!" The clinked their glasses and drank.

"So, you're a little mysterious, now, Cas."

"Is my allure fading?"

"Never. But you gotta tell me more about this doctorate thing. That's amazing!" Dean gushed.

"Thank you. My father was a professor with tenure at Harvard. I received my bachelor's degree in English there, transferred to Yale for my master's, and then to Notre Dame for my doctorate." Dean whistled.

"Wow, Cas. Those are some top notch schools. I went to Boston University."

"A very respectable school," Castiel encouraged.

"Thanks. Maybe we saw each other around when you went to Harvard?"

"I would have remembered."

"Maybe you didn't notice me," Dean pondered aloud.

"I would have noticed you, Dean." A streak of heat shot up to Dean's face.

"Tell me one more thing about you that I don't know," Dean implored.

"I was married," Castiel replied so quickly he almost ran over Dean's question.

"What?" Castiel took a breath and like a rushing river, the words spilled out.

"I was married. To a woman named Amelia. She got pregnant with our child. Now that I tell this story it's as if it happened to someone else. She was supportive.

"We met at Yale. She was studying Philosophy, with a minor in Poetry. You would have liked her, Dean. It's strange, but I do believe you two would have liked each other. She was a strong, and beautiful, and elegant. And she was pregnant.

"My father had passed away the year before, and I met her the day of the funeral. She was like a godsend, Dean. She took all of my grief, swallowed it, and turned into something else." Castiel fell silent like a shadow falls to the ground.

"What happened?" Dean whispered.

"She, and the baby, died."

"God, Cas. I'm so sorry."

"We were just about to find out the sex of the baby. I still have the sonogram." Castiel smiled at some distant memory Dean could not see. "I think I've always wanted a family. I was so happy to hear Amelia was pregnant. We got married right away. We weren't married for more than three weeks before she…" Castiel trailed off. It was another few minutes before he could speak again.

"I've said too much. This is too much. I'm too much, Dean."

"No! Cas, I want to know it all. I want to know you." Castiel swallowed hard, refusing to look Dean in the eyes. Finally he returned Dean's stare.

"Then you should know. Amelia was murdered. I don't have proof, but I know."

"It was him, right?"

"Yes. My father mentored…him. He saw my father like his own. And when my father died, I don't know. He thought it meant I belonged to him somehow. Like I was his, something to posses. He grew obsessed with knowing where I was at all times, who I spent my time with, and I think he saw Amelia as an intruder? A thief stealing his rightful time with me? I don't know. I can't understand it. For years he's haunted me, hunted me, really. He's powerful with strong connetions. Smaller towns are better for me, easier to blend in."

"Cas, buddy, I hate to break it to, but you don't blend in at all." Castiel burst into laughter, and Dean felt a heavy weight lift from his chest. They spent the rest of the night talking about their college days, and Boston, Dean giving his best effort to make Castiel laugh every couple of minutes. But in the pit of his stomach, in the back of his mind, in the deepest recess of his soul, Dean felt a piercing. It was as if this new fear had come to life. It was as if something dark and scary hung over him. But all he could see was Castiel.

…

Sam locked the door behind him, twisting the knob despite the honking. A white, freshly waxed sedan waited for him in his driveway. He hopped into the backseat with Meg. Ruby was fiddling with the cd player, and Lilith stared at him unblinkingly like he was some sort of meal.

"Hi, guys," Sam greeted. He didn't even finish putting on his seatbelt before Lilith peeled out.

"How's your neck?" asked Ruby. She caught his eye through the rearview mirror.

"It's fine," he replied, rubbing it. There was a lot of switching CDs on the way to the bar. Meg didn't like a song, Ruby didn't feel like listening to this one, Lilith said that band reminds her of an ex, so on and so forth. They finally setled on a song and Sam couldn't help but smile as the three of them sang along as loud as they could:

I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other way!

Meg pinched Sam until he joined along. When they finally got out of the car, they were still singing. They walked onto the Cage, a smaller bar a town away. It was run down with chipped paint and dust over the surfaces. They piled into a corner booth.

"I'll get the first round," Sam volunteered. "What do you guys want?"

A balding man stopped by their table with a round of beers.

"I guess I'll get next round, then," Sam finished. He took a swig of the pale ale.

"I'd rather you get French fries or onion rings," mumbled Ruby.

"So, Winchester," Lilith let the syllables play on her tongue.

"Yeah?"

"Your brother. Our little angel, Castiel?"

"I'm not sure what you're asking," Sam lied. Meg and Ruby rolled their eyes.

"Sammy," Ruby whispered. She stroked his hair and tucked it behind one ear. Sam felt a jolt go through him, but not a chilly one like Meg in the wings during the play. He sputtered some beer down his front.

"Smooth," Meg commented. "Just admit they're fucking and let's move on to how to embarrass your brother more than he thought would be humanly possible."

"I—" Sam couldn't find the words.

"That's a yes," Meg responded for him.

"Stop! This is Dean's life!"

"Turn down the dramatics, Sam," Ruby waived off. "We're not going to out your brother. We certainly wouldn't do that to Cas. Meg's taken a real liking to him."

"He's my unicorn," she sang.

"Okay," Sam accepted.

"You're Ruby's elephant," Meg informed him. Sam raised his eyebrows.

"My Dumbo," Ruby corrected. Meg shrugged.

"So where are those onion rings?" Lilith asked. Sam made his way to the bar to order what he was going to burn off later that night.