Hello my darlings. I would like to thank and Perdition Raiser for the lovely reviews. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
Sorry for the absence, but I was at a supernatural convention getting my Jensen, Jared and Richard hugs. But I'm back now, and what better way to fight the con blues than doing some writing? I hope you like this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
The sun had long since set, but still Castiel and Dean were sat on their blanket on the side of the hill, silently taking in the others company. Dean with his head back against Castiel's shoulder so he could study the stars above them, and Castiel with his resting against Dean's as he watched the light come on in the valley below. It was peaceful and perfect and Dean never wanted to move. But then he felt a slight shiver run through the man behind him, the man whose warmth was keeping him toasty.
"We should probably go." He said with a sigh into the silence. He didn't want Cas to be cold after all.
"Probably." Castiel agreed, though rather than let go of Dean he just held him closer, as if he didn't want to lose what he had found. And in truth Castiel didn't. There was something so special about the peace he had with Dean, a time that did not need feeling with useless words. A time to just be.
"Come on Cas, don't want you getting ill." Dean replied when Castiel shivered once more, even if he did try to hide it by holding Dean even tighter.
"I'm fine Dean." Castiel responded, though in truth the night air had started to seep through his coat and touch his skin. He just didn't want the night to end. Their first date.
"Don't make me drag you away Cas." Dean replied turning in his arms so he could lay his warm hand against Cas' chilled cheek.
"Very well, I'll move… for a price." Castiel replied smirking at the man who was still in his arms even if he was now sitting in a sideways position.
"And what price would that be?" Dean asked with a smirk of his own and a raise of his eyebrow. He would happily pay whatever Cas wanted, and he had a feeling he would really enjoy doing so.
"Kiss me Dean." Castiel said simply, his tone going from jokey to sincere. That would make the perfect end to the evening. To share a proper kiss, a kiss that held hints of what could be.
And Dean hearing Cas' tone knew that he had no words to reply to that request. Instead he did as Cas asked and pressed his lips to the other man's, sharing a kiss that was both gentle and tender, as well as holding the passion they both felt for each other, even if that passion was new to one and like coming home to the other.
Dean pulled his car up outside the house he still felt was home and turned to his passenger.
"I had a great time tonight Dean." Castiel said before Dean could say a word.
"Yeah, me too." Dean nodded in agreement before they once more fell into silence and they both sat there staring at each other, both trying to decide what should happen next. They both wanted Dean to go inside with Cas, to spend the night in the bed he knew so well, but there was also a hesitance at such a thing. Because this was still so very new, this version of them. This version of Cas. It really was too soon to even think of returning to that sort of intimacy with each other, even if it was what both their bodies craved from the other.
"I should go in." Castiel finally said, breaking the tension which was starting to build between them. He couldn't ask Dean to accompany him. He wasn't ready for that, and he doubted Dean was either.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow?" Dean asked nodding his head in agreement and not even suggesting he join Cas. It really was too soon, he needed for this Cas to know how much he cared about him before they made love. He was going to do this the right way round this time.
"I would like that." Castiel responded smiling at Dean as he leaned over and kissed him chastely before climbing out of the car and walking up the path to the front door. He didn't turn around until he was standing under the porch light, a place he could watch Dean drive away from.
Once the impala had disappeared from view Castiel turned and let himself through the door only to be greeted by his brother's dulcet tones.
"I would have thought Dean-o would have at least walked you to the door."
"He didn't need to. The night was perfect." Castiel replied coming into the livingroom and collapsing onto the couch with a dreamy smile on his face.
"You left any stars in the sky Cassie? Cos it seems they've taken up residence in your eyes." Gabriel asked with a cheeky grin making Castiel roll his eyes at him.
"Really? That sounds like a chat up line." Castiel responded smirking as he saw Gabriel's exaggerated shiver at the suggestion.
"I'll leave Dean-o to climbing into your pants thanks." Gabriel replied turning his eyes back to the TV while trying really hard not to picture his brother and brother-in-law together. There were certain things it was definitely best for him not to think about.
Castiel decided that that comment didn't really deserve a reply and instead turned his mind back to his date, remembering every little thing that had happened, everything that had been said and done, cementing it into his mind so he would never forget his time Dean, not again.
The next morning Castiel rose late, Gabriel had already left for work and so he had the house to himself. He had no plans for that day and so, after last evening, he decided it was time to take a walk. Time to visit his special place upon the hill. Time to return to the views he loved.
It didn't take him long to get where he wanted to go. He remembered the old paths well enough, and it seemed that they were still used, or maybe the other Cas had been still be using them. Still been visiting this inconspicuous piece of grass on the hillside of the valley. To most people it would seem like nothing special. But to him, he knew exactly where to sit so he would be comfortable, knew the exact piece of earth to rest so he could see his town and the view beyond. And sitting there he once more turned his mind to the thing that seemed to have grabbed his thoughts the most. He turned his mind to Dean. He wondered what he would make of this place, if he would see the difference he did or not. But of course he would. He had been here with the other Cas no doubt. In fact Castiel realised that there was probably no place in this town that the other him had not taken the man he loved.
It was then it hit him. He would never get to see that look on Dean's face as he showed him somewhere close to his heart for the first time. Because while it would be a first for him, a momentous event to share such a piece of himself with the other man, it wouldn't be for Dean. For him it would just be a repeat of what had happened before. And that thought hurt. That he would never be able to be the one who shared the secrets of his town with Dean. He was Cas 2.0, he wasn't the first, and he would never have those kind of firsts with Dean. If he brought Dean up here now, he would see recognition in his eyes. No doubt Dean also knew just where to sit so he was comfortable, no doubt he and Cas had spent many hours sitting here as he was now. Being together, happily at peace with each other. Sharing what he and Dean had shared the previous evening. Sharing what he wanted from the other man. Castiel clenched his fists as he felt the surge of jealously going through himself. He knew it was ridiculous to be jealous of the former version of himself, but he still was. No. He had to stop thinking about all the things Dean and Cas had done together, he needed to think of the things he and Dean could do together. Things and places they could make their own. With that thought his eyes automatically went to the hillside opposite him, trying to find the place he and Dean had spent the previous evening. Trying to find the spot that they had had their first date. It took a while, and much longer than he wished it did, but he finally found the gate Dean had driven through, and found the space they had sat to watch the sunset. The place which looking at it he felt in his heart was now his and Dean's place. His and Dean's special piece earth.