A/N: Here we are at last at the end of this story. Thank you all for reading this story, thank you for commenting and favoriting and generally being the awesome people you are. I have two other projects I'm working on and that will be posted soon-ish (on top of the other story I'm publishing) It would be nice to see a few of you there ;) Have fun with the epilogue ;)
After the trial is over, Castiel flings himself into his arms, without any regards to the people around them. Dean doesn't care though, he's had a close brush with death again, and Cas has every right to reassure himself of his wellbeing. He doubts he has ever hugged so many people in one day. And just this once, he doesn't fight it; lets Sam crush him in yet another bear hug, followed by Jess who thankfully eases up on him this time.
He's aware of the cameras flashing around him. The marshal who had caught his bullet had been dead instantly, and two others had died, one instantly, the other had succumbed to his injuries. The deaths weigh heavy on Dean's heart and he feels a sharp contempt coil in his chest for the media people who seem to forget that so easily.
But it's over now and Dean is too exhausted to throw a fit.
It feels weird now that it's over. Dean has come to accept the fact that this might be the end of the rope for him and he'll end up behind bars, but after his contribution along with Meg's to the case, the judge had acquitted him without so much as a second thought. A formality at this point, but to Dean it's everything.
Meg has been acquitted too, but he doesn't get the chance to talk to her, or even to thank her for quite literally saving his life. But there's nothing he can do about that, and when Jody finally gives them the clear for leaving, Dean drops in the back of Jess' car and refuses to move for at least the time it takes to get home.
Castiel has similar ideas and refuses to let go of him for the drive's duration and Dean is glad for it. It's over, but to him it still feels like he has been run over by a truck. And although his family has made it quite clear that they still accept him despite his crimes, he can't help but feel weary. He just needs rest and probably a bit of time to find back into his life. And come to terms with the fact that a) his crimes are out for the world to judge and b) that his crimes are out and can never come back to bite him in the ass.
But that means he can focus all his energy on getting his life together now. He could find an apartment or even a small house for him and Cas to live in, finally get on his own two feet and give Cas the life he deserves. It certainly won't be easy; he would have to invest a lot of work, but looking at Cas curled protectively around his arm, a soft smile on his lips as he keeps staring up at Dean, makes him think that it would all be worth it.
And that brings him back to something he wanted to do for a very long time now. But now is not the right time.
It's later on the same day, after an excessive barbecue hosted by Ellen and Bobby in Bobby's backyard, and Dean and Cas have retreated to their room. The others are still down there and celebrating, very loudly so, but Dean is tired and so he bids everyone goodnight. It takes another round of very drunken hugs before he's allowed to leave.
He's exhausted, tired to his bones, too tired to do more than brush his teeth and fall into Cas' waiting arms. But he still has the strength to do one more thing before he falls asleep.
"Goodnight Dean." Cas says solemnly, but he's smiling softly, eyes bright with something that takes Dean's breath away. Dean just had one beer that night, but he feels like he's drunk on the sensation of just being with Cas. It's like someone has poured liquid light into his body, he feels warm, almost glowing with it and incredibly comfortable.
Maybe that's why the next words come so easily.
"I love you Cas."
Cas entire face seems to light up with the same sensation that's flooding through Dean's system. He's smiling, soft and warm and Dean feels himself drift off, buoyed by the warmth inside and around him.
"I love you too."
He doesn't know if he really heard the words or if they're spoken in his dream, but either way, he falls asleep with a smile.
He'd thought the confession would be ground shattering; change the very fabric of their relationship, but all that happens is that he wakes up with a face that hurts from smiling. There had been no nightmare like in the weeks before the trial, only peace. He feels more rested like he felt in a long while and when he opens his eyes, it's to the sight of Castiel smiling.
They don't say a word; they don't need to. There's just the drag of skin over skin, the slight scratch of stubble and the intimate sensation of kissing that speaks for them. All the tension of the past weeks is gone. They're okay. It hits Dean then that for the duration of their relationship, there had always been an obstacle, some kind of trouble on the horizon, but now, for the first time, there is nothing ahead but the future.
And it has never looked brighter.
Six months later
"What do you think?" Dean leans against the doorframe, a small grin playing on his lips. Cas looks around himself, eyes wide and unbelieving.
"Dean, how did you…?"
"Hard work, lots of extra hours and a loan that I'll have to work my ass off for." Dean steps inside to stand next to Cas and entwine their fingers, earning a bright smile and eyes that seem to glow. "So?"
"It is amazing." Cas breathes, looking around once again before he pulls Dean into a lingering kiss. "I. Love. It." Every word is accentuated by another kiss and it becomes clear pretty quickly that Cas intends to break in their new apartment with wild furniture sex. Or maybe that's just Dean.
Dean hadn't told Cas of his plans to buy them something of their own. He wanted a house first, but there are limits to what he can afford and so he bought a condo instead. It took another month to acquire the rest of the furniture and furnish the rooms properly, but the wait was very well worth it. Although he and Cas had more than one fallout when it came to Dean's long working hours and all the additional late nights he pulled at the bar.
"Dean." Cas pushes him on the brand new sofa in front of the flat screen that isn't as brand new but nevertheless awesome.
"Whoa there cowboy. Don't you want to check out the rest of the rooms first? You know there's a bed in the bedroom."
"No." Cas answer flatly, straddling him with unwavering enthusiasm. "Later." He amends after thoroughly kissing Dean until he's breathless.
"Okay." Dean smirks and sneaks his hands under Cas' shirt.
And when Cas is buried deep inside of him, breath heavy and eyes glazed over, it settles with Dean that this is really their home now. For all intents and purposes. He'll miss Bobby and he'll miss Sam. But he's home now.
After that there's not much thinking anymore, only the steadily increasing rhythm of Cas fucking into him while gasping out Dean's name.
Cas is insatiable. They get as far as the kitchen before Cas pushes him against the counter and drops down to his knees in front of him. He hooks his fingers into his pants and pulls them down. Dean has barely the time to brace himself against the counter before Cas has his mouth on him.
Dean tangles one hand in Cas' messy hair, head thrown back in ecstasy as Cas works him back to hardness in what must be record time. It doesn't take long for Dean to become an incoherent mess, not with Cas taking advantage of the fact that he doesn't possess a gag reflex. He comes with a scream on his lips, the pleasure crashing through him like waves on a shoreline, fingers tangled in Cas' hair and his pulls must be uncomfortable but Cas only seems to be spurred on by it. His knees buckle almost immediately afterwards, but Cas is there to catch him. And Dean can't resist kissing him right then, lips still shiny with saliva, and the faint taste of Dean on his tongue.
"Are you planning on baptizing every room like this?" Dean's voice is still husky from his recent orgasm and he can feel the light shudder that runs through Cas' body at the sound.
"Maybe." Cas grins what Dean can only describe as lewdly.
"Kinky." Dean smirks back and pushes Cas back against the kitchen table. He drops down to his knees just as Cas had earlier, and hooks a thumb under the hem of Cas' pants. Cas sucks in air and closes his eyes, when the cool air hits his heated skin. He's half hard already, panting and anticipating. Dean doesn't need any more prompting.
Even after all this time Dean hasn't grown tired of Cas' taste. It's faint, as always, but Dean has become a master of chasing it with his tongue. He presses his lips to the tip and sucks, uses his tongue to add pressure right where he knows Cas loves it and it doesn't take long for him to be completely hard.
Dean knows Cas by now. Knows every little twist, every little motion that makes him gasp or moan and he knows each and every one of his tells. The way his fingers tighten almost imperceptibly in his hair, how the muscles in his stomach start trembling and how his breathing changes just slightly. Cas moans out Dean's name, a broken sound that sends a tingle down Dean's spine. He goes quite for a moment then, Cas' whole body relaxes up to the point of slackness almost. Cas' sways then, imperceptibly, but then he tenses with a startled gasp, whole body locking up as he comes.
Cas isn't a screamer, but the sounds he makes are just as delicious. Dean keeps his lips on Cas' dick, applying pressure until the end. It still feels strange to have nothing spill out on his tongue after what looks to be one mind blowing orgasm, but Dean can't really say he misses it. Cas doesn't collapse but he leans back heavily on the table, panting and face flushed a deep sated red.
He mirrors Dean's smirk right back at him.
They move on to the bed after Cas has inspected every detail of his new home. He's especially fond of the set of flower pots that Dean bought for their balcony. He also made sure to show his gratitude right there on the balcony, for all the world to see.
Dean stopped caring sometime around the point when Cas had started to suck on his nipples. They hadn't put on more than their underwear after the kitchen so getting rid of those hadn't taken long and then Dean was bent over the railing, getting a nice view of the neighborhood while Cas pounded into him. Once they had been finished, one pair of underwear was missing however, and Dean has the slight suspicion that it might have fallen off the balcony.
Well, the world is one pair of Captain America boxers richer.
Ironically enough, after fucking their way through every room, they are too exhausted to continue in their actual bed. Dean is, at least. Cas could probably go on for the rest of eternity.
"I take it you like the apartment?" Dean asks with a content and lazy smile on his face. He's naked and sated and he has the man he loves in his arms. There's nothing more he could wish for right now.
"I'm not sure." Cas replies, a thoughtful frown on his face. "I think I need to check the couch again."
"How about the shower?" Dean asks. "Tomorrow." He adds after a yawn.
"Preferably."
"Glad you like it." Dean mumbles. He nuzzles his face deeper into Cas' neck, soaking in his scent and the warmth that radiates from his skin. Their feet are tangled and Cas' arm is thrown over his waist, hands curled on his lower back.
"Of course I like it." Cas says softly, rubbing soft circles into Dean's skin with his thumb. "It's perfect."
Dean is half asleep by the time Cas speaks again.
"Thank you Dean."
He falls asleep with a smile.
