Castiel watched the lake come into view, stretching to the horizon, looking as endless as a sea.

His old town wasn't that far now. Dean had driven faster than they had planned.

So, they had agreed to keep traveling until the last day, so that they could still pretend this was a vacation. And to Cas, it felt like one, almost.

He took in the fresh, soft wind, the birds gliding lazily above him, the little purple flowers bent towards the waters on little rocky creeks. He exhaled, letting the stress leave him. He relaxed so much that he fell on the sand, eyes closed, lying on his trench coat as if it was a towel, his shoes' soles covered in sand. It was heavenly.

Dean had joined him it seemed. He felt a hand on his arm, lightly pressed, as if to say he was here if needed. Cas knew he was. Right now, he was just letting himself be.

When he finally sat up, he looked around in awe. He had forgotten this. All this beauty. It was there for him to replenish, to focus.

He took Dean's hand in his and gestured to the nature around them:

"This I needed. I wish I could take it back with me."

Dean nodded, thoughtful.

"Yeah... Why don't we make it further? There's a dock and I think you can rent a boat."

Cas smiled. He followed Dean at his own pace, enjoying the look of excitation on his boyfriend's face.

He realized Dean needed a vacation too, even though he didn't show it as much.

Cas had so much to give back.

But it was easy. Dean had simple tastes, which was why he was happy with Castiel. Because even though his self-confidence had been plundered repeatedly, Cas had to admit he was a quiet soul.

The fact that Dean was content with that meant the world to him.

They hauled the wooden bark to the shore by themselves. It was getting late. The sun was setting, igniting the blue clouds that lingered at the end of the sky.

Dean hopped in the boat and helped Cas join him with a tender hand.

They both looked ridiculous with their orange life jackets on but Cas had insisted. He trusted Dean with his life but the waters could be traitorous.

As he sat still, watching the clouds take possession of the whole heavens, painting it in strokes of purple and orange, his own thoughts from earlier came echoing in his mind.

He trusted Dean.

Entirely.

The feeling had been fleeting, going back and forth when he had thought Dean was cheating on him, million of years ago, or when he had witnessed Dean's anger.

But now, he realized, he knew Dean. Not perfectly, there were still secrets hidden in his boyfriend's head, as well as silly little things he hadn't noted yet, like the way Dean's eyes rolled from right to left when he was nervous. It was fascinating to watch someone so secret and proud open up to him and only him. And that was because Dean trusted Castiel too.

His heart almost exploded. Here, with no ceremony, no signatures or approvals, here he felt united to Dean. The strength it gave him was overwhelming and he exhaled heavily.

"Gorgeous, isn't it?"

He turned his head a fraction and answered with a smile:

"Yes, Dean."

That night, he kissed Dean's freckles with an enthusiasm he didn't recognize. Dean was laughing, trying to wriggle himself away:

"Stop, it tickles, you jerk! You haven't shaved this morning, haven't you?"

The fond look he casted Cas didn't convince him and he continued, slowly replacing his lips with his tongue until Dean moaned in delight.

"Don't move..."

He traveled down Dean's stomach, suckling and teasing. Dean kept as still as he could, showing Cas how right he had been at the lake. At least until Cas took him in his mouth. His head was almost dislodged from his neck as Dean's leg sprung out, in a dangerous reflex.

"Oh, fuck, are you okay, honey? Caaas?"

Castiel was laughing too hard to answer right away. He caught Dean's hand and pressed it softly.

The next day, they drove in circles around the town they were staying at when a sight made Dean hit the brake.

"What's going on, Dean? Did an animal cross the road?"

"What? No... It's just... I don't..."

A few feet away was the remain of a brick wall, shrouded by wild vegetation. Castiel was puzzled.

"I don't see anything, Dean."

"It's that car..."

Oh.

Underneath various planks that looked like they had belonged on the roof or the windows, he saw a beat-up rusting car. He looked back at Dean, ready to joke, but stopped when he saw his eyes.

Instead he reached his hand. Dean followed him out.

"It looks very old. Not as old as the Impala though. Do you think it was a garage?"

There was a red toolbox under the rumbles. Dean nodded distractedly:

"I don't like ruins."

He was shivering. Cas searched his memory feverishly, looking for a clue...

"Dean?"

"What?" His voice sounded broken.

"How did your mother die again?"

Dean gulped. Castiel knew the answer now, but he let Dean manage it.

"House fire. I don't think about it but now ruins scare me. It's like I'm four again."

Cas hugged him as tight as he could. Dean thanked him but he wasn't really back yet.

"Why don't you call your brother?

"No. He's working."

"I think he'll answer."

But Dean was pouting, shaking his head with tears in his eyes.

"Dean" Castiel said, as patiently as he could "If you were four at the time, it means Sam was just a baby. And you've taken care of him since then. I think he'll always be willing to repay your kindness. You are important too. Especially to me."

It took a long time, but he finally allowed Cas to call and explain. Sam's tone was incisive:

"Of course, he wouldn't ask. Stubborn jerk! Let me speak to him."

Dean was busy patting the dismantled car and fought Cas' hand for a second. They both heard Sam saying softly:

"Dean..."

He went back to the car, waiting for the conversation to be over, feeling lonely all of a sudden. He didn't like it when Dean broke down and this was over something so innocuous. He smirked. As if he could talk.

They drove again in silence. The day was ruined, like the car had been. When they walked to the motel, Cas whispered:

"When I become rich as Croesus, I'd like us to travel to Rome. They have ruins there, real, big, ancient ones, not like this mediocre shack. If you got to be upset, at least let it be by something with class."

It was a shot in the dark. He crossed his fingers but Dean didn't get angry. He took Cas' fingers to his lips, then said:

"When we become rich, Cas, I'll go wherever you want me to."

Castiel's chest ached. But it was a good pain.