Author's Note: 12-6-2018
Friday, December 22nd
The following morning, Dean sat up, stretching lazily in bed and let the blankets pool at his waist. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and turned to the side, finally noticing the loss of warmth beside him. He glanced at the clock.
10AM
He inhaled deeply, and the smell of bacon and potatoes wafted up the steps and into the room.
Mmmm..
Of course, Cas would be making breakfast this early in the morning.
Twenty-three minutes later he was jogging down the steps and into the kitchen, freshly showered, changed and teeth brushed. He halted his movements in the entryway. Sam was sitting at the table, sipping a cup of coffee and reading through the paper, no doubt checking for any potential hunts and Cas was busy piling a ton of cooked bacon into a tray and slipping it into the oven… only-
He wasn't staring at the back of Castiel, he was staring at the back of Jimmy. He was wearing similar clothing to his own Novak – sweatpants albeit slightly baggier than Cas's, a fitted University hoodie and hair an unruly mess.
"Jimmy?"
He turned around and gave Dean a gummy smile. "Mornin' Dean-O!" He moved his attention back to the stove. "Breakfast should be ready soon."
Dean furrowed his eyebrows and glanced around. He didn't imagine a house full of angels would be this quiet… too quiet. He pulled out the chair beside Sam and sat down.
"How did you know it was Jimmy?"
"What?"
Sam placed the paper down in front of him. "How did you know that was Jimmy? I thought it was Cas."
Dean snorted. "Come on, Sam. They look completely different." His brother gaped at him. "Hey, Jimmy. Where is Cas? I kinda didn't expect the house to be this quiet."
Jimmy just chuckled. "Oh that's right. I forget this is your first Christmas with angels." He turned off the different burners and began portioning out food into nicer dining plates and bowls. "Every year, Michael and any other angels he brought down with him would lock out their powers to prevent other supernatural beings from sensing their presence." He pulled silverware from the cabinets and set up breakfast buffet style along the counter. "So, just imagine," He turned to face them and leaned against the counter. "Imagine running on a treadmill constantly. No breaks, no nothing, just a constant stream of energy that you're putting off 24/7. Then imagine someone presses an off switch and just like that, you're no longer running on a treadmill." He shrugged. "It's sort of the same for them. The moment their angel juice is drained from then, they sort of power down like a robot and go into a deep sleep."
Dean frowned. "But Cas wasn't in bed."
"Gabe wasn't either."
Dean glanced over at Sam. Okay, he'd address the fact that Gabe and Sam were obviously sleeping together. He frowned. In more ways than one.
Jimmy just chuckled. "Follow me. They should be getting up soon." Sam and Dean pushed away from the table. "Most supernatural creatures are just that – creatures. You've got beings such as vampires and werewolves that tend to travel in packs. They have pack like mentalities – they stick together, they watch each other's backs, and they have a sort of hierarchy." He lowered his voice and they paused outside Cas's library. "Angels are the same. They're more intelligent than any other supernatural being, but they too have a hierarchy and pack mentality." He gently twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open, voice dropping even lower. "So when they lose their powers they instinctively gravitate towards one another and well-," He stepped aside to let the brothers enter. "They sort of start nesting."
The seats, tables and lamps were pushed against the bookshelves and settled in front of a dying fire were a pile of blankets and grown men curled tightly in a huddle. Michael and Castiel were wrapped in blankets near the fire, and Gadreel, Uriel, Gabriel and Balthazar were nestled surrounding them.
Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone and took a picture. "This is-,"
Dean pulled out his own phone to snap one himself. "-cute." Sam cocked an eyebrow at him. "What?" Dean whispered harshly. "It's kind of adorable. I mean I know they're a bunch of grown men, but they are angels." He shrugged. "It's cute."
Jimmy chuckled. "Let's wake them up for breakfast."
-[]-
"I'm a little bit nervous. Is it alright, that I'm nervous?" Castiel angled his body towards the mirror. Him and Jimmy were wearing matching deep blue sweaters with the letter N knitted in gold in the front with fitted black jeans and a pair of clean crisp black and white Chuck Taylors.
Jimmy placed his hands on his shoulders behind him and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "It will be fine. Dean explained to your brothers that his family is unaware of that they're angels and Michael is still unaware of their professions." He fixed a misplaced hair on Castiel's head. "Alright. Ready to play who's who?"
The fallen angel gave a reassuring smile and nodded once. "Yes. Yes. I'm ready let's head downstairs."
As they padded down the stairs and into the living room, guests started filing into the house. Christmas music was playing lightly in the background, there were clusters of people shaking hands, sharing appetizers and sipping from red cups.
The brothers schooled their features to try to mask their identities. A moment later, Michael appeared beside Jimmy and gently placed a hand on his upper back. "Your husband left with his brother – seems they forgot to get some stuff to make eggnog – something of a family tradition. He will return shortly."
Jimmy cocked an eyebrow. "That's nice."
-[]-
Michael's hand fell and he grunted. "Dammit. Can't believe I was first to lose this year." Jimmy threw his head back and laughed. The angel rolled his eyes. He lifted his hands in the air, whiskey tumbler in his left hand to catch the crowd's attention. "Alright! I'm out! I lost." He gestured to Jimmy. "This one is James. And this one is Castiel. Good luck!"
The brothers shared a look and Castiel interlocked his arm with Michael's. "Have you been properly introduced to any of the guests yet?"
"A few." He replied.
"Alright, follow me."
They glided seamlessly around the room, Michael already knowing the few workers from the diner – Sammandriel, Hannah and the prophets.
"And of course you know Benny."
Michael shook hands with the vampire. "Yes, yes of course."
"How are you doing, brotha'?"
"Always well, my friend." Michael replied. "How about you? Adaptation to the human world from purgatory, mustn't be easy."
The vampire shrugged. "It's got its ups and downs. Cas and Gabe have made it easier."
The archangel hummed thoughtfully. "I have to admit, I was weary when Castiel chose to hire you, but if my brother Lucifer can fall so far, there isn't anything to say that you can't lift yourself up."
Benny's eyes widened in surprise. "Thank you, Michael."
A knock was heard at the front door and Castiel instantly schooled his features to look as similar to Jimmy as possible as he made his way to the front door.
"Hello, Amelia."
She gave him a quick once over and rolled her eyes, kissing him lightly on the cheek. "Nice try, Jimmy. I know it's you."
The human Novak twin poked his head around the corner. "Gotcha!"
She blushed instantly. "Gosh darn it!"
"Hurry up, Sammy." Dean bounced impatiently on the balls of his feet as they filled up the Impala. Sam left the gas station/liquor store with several bottles of brandy in a large paper bag. He approached the Impala and placed the bottles in the back seat. "Fuck!" Dean rubbed his hands together in front of his lips and puffed out a few breaths of hot air. "It's cold."
Sam rolled his eyes and leaned against the Impala to glare at him. "We could have just had eggnog without alcohol. Could have avoided the cold and being late?"
Dean snorted. "And stop a family tradition? I don't think so." He placed a hand over his chest in mock shock. "What would Bobby say if he could hear you right now?"
The younger Winchester pushed off the Impala, walking to the other side towards the passenger door. "I'm just saying~" He sang mockingly. "We didn't have to get alcohol."
Dean smirked. "Come on, Sammy." The pump popped and he placed it back in his holder. "That isn't the Winchester Way."
"Did you say Winchester?"
Sam closed the car door and looked over Dean's shoulder to see a man dressed warmly standing in front of an Escalade at the pump beside them.
Dean cocked an eyebrow. "Yeah, do we know you?"
The guy chuckled lowly. "Oh, no, no. But-," five more men appeared around the Escalade standing beside him. "-we definitely know you." His eyes gleam black and Dean groaned.
"You gotta be fucking kidding me."