Ch. 28. A very special birthday

The following week Michael signed a few contracts with Dick Roman.

Cas went to the Council offices to deliver a commission and met Samandriel for lunch and a walk in the park. They also saw each other after Castiel's art classes in very public places.

Those outings went on for three weeks till Samandriel and Hael eloped and disappear, leaving a much 'consternated' Castiel. He was so 'upset' he had to go to his uncle's for comfort, and stay there a week or so, to wait for Michael's 'consternation' to wear off. Castiel wasn't stupid.

A few days into his visit, Castiel quietly celebrated what remained of his birthday at his uncle's parlor, drinking brandy and eating chocolate cake, the latter definitely for Gabriel's benefit.

"So Cassie, a little bird told me you were well aware of Samandriel's true intentions all along… If it's so, I'll recommend you keep it to yourself, your father was more than pissed when he found out your boyfriend eloped with his girlfriend, he even wanted me to look into the official records for a chance to ask for an annulment…" Gabriel had a playful smirk on his face all along, he was amused by the whole situation since the moment Castiel showed up at his door in a poorly acted distress.

Cas was pensive though, Tom cheating on him on his previous birthday led him to understand a bit better where he was standing, how things worked in his world so far. A year later the situation kind of repeated, with the difference he was the one pulling a stunt on his father instead of being the other way around, but either way, it all circled around the same subject. "I don't get it, Gabe, how can he ask for me to blindly give myself to someone just for the sake of some business deals…?"

Gabriel ate another chocolate covered strawberry he snatched from the cake top before he attempted to give an answer. "Well Cassie, think about it, that's the way he was raised, and if he passed it to his own children maybe he doesn't know better, I mean, look at your siblings, none of them have a very healthy romantic relationship…"

"You're right on that, but that's exactly what I mean, they're utterly unhappy…"

Gabriel went for yet another strawberry. "Yes, they are… but their unhappiness is the result of their cowardice. They're slaves to the ideal selves they think they ought to be"

Chocolate gave Gabriel a deeper comprehension on things apparently, he had a good point, Zacharia's marriage with Hannah was arranged as a business expansion, his sister was married to Raphael while keeping a badly hidden relationship with Inias, and his father had a hand on both of those marriages.

"Someone told me once that I was free to do as I pleased since I was the sole owner of myself…" Dean's words came to him all of the sudden.

"Those are wise words" Gabriel refilled his glass, it was an excellent brandy they were having.

Cas made the Brandy swirl inside his glass, absently following the movement of the golden liquid. "I didn't quite understand him then… He also suggested I should move out of the Manor, live my life away from my family's impositions"

"That's not a bad idea, if you want me to, I could help you find a place you could call your own"

"… I… I don't know if I could…" Since that night the idea of living on his own had been coming back and forth in his mind, shaping into something more and more plausible every time he came back to it, but he still wasn't sure enough.

"Castiel, look at me, you're strong enough to do whatever you want, you just have to focus on yourself, on what you really want" Gabriel's warm eyes were fixed on him in a reassuring way and Cas chuckled, those were Dean's words almost to the point

"He told me exactly that, and that if I really set myself a goal, that nobody could ever stop me…" his eyes flickered for a moment and Gabriel saw right through them to his soul.

"Well, I hope you'll introduce me to your wise friend sometime, I mean, I can tell he's someone special… Is he Cassie, someone special to you?"

"I… He… I don't know… I really like him but… I don't know if he feels the same…"

"I'm telling you, he must care deeply for you to be telling you that…"

Castiel smiled softly, his mind went to the night Samandriel interrupted them, he was sure they shared a moment there, and perhaps, if the young angel wouldn't have interrupted them, Dean could have said something…

Gabriel allowed him a moment to get lost on his reveries, but he wanted to make a point. His voice became a bit stern when he faced him again. "Tell me Castiel, why is it you fight your father's ways?"

The question snapped Cas out of his daydreaming, it was unexpected and sounded a bit too serious. "I… I don't want to be forced to be with someone who doesn't love me. I want to wake up every day knowing that the person who shares my life is doing so because he chooses to, chooses me… Is it silly to have such a soft heart?"

The older angel couldn't help the soft smile that twitched his lips. "Having a soft heart in a cruel world like ours is courage, not weakness. And I think your heart has already made a choice" Gabriel looked intently into Castiel's eyes, wanting to see understanding, wanting to see the click needed to break him free. "I helped you before to find a job you like, and I can help you find a place to live, but you're the only one that has to decide where you're going in life, and who is it you want at your side. Whenever you're ready I'll help you, but I won't ever push you in one direction or another"

Cas' eyes were shimmering with emotion "Thank you, Gabe… thank you so much!" they hugged for a moment and when parted Gabriel casually whipped a tear, he loved his big, little nephew.