All the guests were seated, and Claire was with Castiel, in a small room off the side of where they were holding the ceremony. Somewhere on the other side, Dean was with his brother. Castiel was standing almost statue still in the room, his eyes closed and his breathing controlled. Claire watched him, holding a small bag that contained her phone, and their rings.

"I thought you were excited about getting married to Dean?" Claire said gently. Castiel nodded without opening his eyes.

"I am, I'm just trying to control it. Otherwise all anyone will see is the cartoon dust cloud that follows my sprint at him. I can't wait, Claire. I'm trying to force myself to do it."

"Just remember," Claire grinned, "if you miss anything out, it's not legal."

Castiel moaned softly.

"Don't put that in my head." He finally opened his eyes, gazing at his daughter. "I feel so lucky you know. To have you back in my life, to be about to exchange vows with my soul mate. I don't know what I did to deserve this."

Claire didn't respond. She could see what her dad was saying, but she also felt like they had been through plenty. The fact that he couldn't see how he had already paid his penance and was getting his reward now baffled her, but she knew she couldn't make that argument. Instead, she tweaked the handkerchief in his breast pocket and smiled at him.

"Doesn't everyone deserve happiness?"

The door opened, and one of the staff signalled that it was time. Castiel sucked in another deep breath and nodded, holding his arm out for Claire to link through. She did, giving him a smile and a squeeze, but he was already gazing out of the door and across the room to where Dean was standing, gazing intently at him. The music began, and everyone looked towards the back of the room, making Dean grin, and even Sam beside him looked amused.

"Let's go," Castiel murmured, and started walking towards the front of the room as Dean and Sam did the same. The guests all seemed to realise at the same time where Castiel and Dean were, and turned back to watch. Claire stopped when Sam did, the way they had rehearsed, and turned to the person standing at the front of the room, who Claire had only met the night before but seemed to get on well with her two fathers. She quickly glanced at Sam, and then at Castiel and Dean, who were whispering to each other, too low for anyone else to pick up. They straightened up at the same time and looked to the person marrying them too.

"Welcome, everyone, to a truly happy day, when these two men in love are going to commit that love to each other in law."

Claire carried on watching her father as the officiant talked on about love lasting, and poetry, watching as he flexed his fingers towards Dean, impatient to get to the crux of the ceremony. She watched as well, as Dean kept glancing at her father, doe-eyed and oblivious to anything but Castiel. She wondered how it felt, to be that devoted to someone, to constantly want contact, to be side-by-side and not close enough. To want to spend time together always, to have something to say that could only be said to that one person, to be able to bear the silences too because somehow, the silence held an intimacy too.

It felt strange, to want something like that with someone, and to know you weren't quite capable of doing it. Alex had clearly wanted something like that with her, and her dreams kept spinning a narrative that she could have the same connection with Jack, but neither of those situations were real. And she could tell that few people experienced love in the same way Castiel and Dean did. They had something rare, something like the poetry that the officiant was talking about. No wonder Castiel had been forcing himself to calm down.

"And now, I believe, Castiel and Dean would like to say the vows they have written?"

Claire could hear the attention in the room shifting, the creak of chairs as people sat up straighter and silenced sighs that shows it wasn't just her attention wondering. Dean and Castiel faced each other, and Claire saw Dean smiling as they exchanged a few more near-silent words. And then Dean began speaking.

"Castiel, before you came into my life, I thought I had it made. I had a good job, a younger brother I get on well with, friends all around. If anyone had suggested a relationship to me, I would've bolted. But then we met and it was like a lightning strike. I've never felt this pull to anyone, never thought it was meant for someone like me. And knowing you felt the same way, it was," Dean shook his head, unable to carry on with the thought. "You've always tried to pace us, to enjoy what we have while we have it, but I feel like I'll never have enough of you. Like we met so much later than we should have and I need to make up for all that lost time. The thought of not having you is ridiculous to me, and I'm so glad I don't have to face that. I can't wait to spend all my life with you."

Claire felt tears prickling at her eyes. She could only see Dean, see his expression as he poured his heart out. There was no teasing expression as there was so often for her, but that same doe-eyed look where his pupils looked as though they were melting, a small smile playing on his lips. She heard her father sniff, and saw him swipe at his eyes, and watched as Dean mouthed something else at him, causing another loud sniff from her father.

"I'm meant to follow that?" Castiel croaked out loud enough for those nearest to hear. There were a few chuckles in the crowd, and Dean winked. "Okay, um," Castiel stood even straighter, and cleared his throat, still wiping his eyes. "I never used to question where my life was headed, what was expected of me. I went to college, met a nice girl, and settled down. Had a wonderful daughter."

Dean peered around at Claire momentarily, and she shook her head, aware her father was clearing his throat once again. Dean looked right back at Castiel, and brushed another tear away with his thumb. When Castiel started speaking again, it was clear he was crying, his voice had taken on a shaky quality, and was slightly nasal.

"When we had Claire, I felt a blast of love like I'd never had before. It was then I was starting to realise I wasn't in love with my wife, as good a person as she was. It took me years to figure out why, and even longer to act on what I knew in my gut was real. There was a long period in my life where all I had was my truth, until the night I met you. I was scared, by the strength of emotion you set off in me. To know you even remotely felt the same way was a truth I found difficult to get my head around. To see the way you and Claire get along, even from the earliest days, and know that she loves you in her own way too; I feel like the luckiest person. Like I have everything I could ever want. I love you an overwhelming amount, Dean. I always will."

Even Dean's eyes looked glassy by the time Castiel finished speaking, and Claire was wiping away her own tears, trying to dab them so she wouldn't ruin her make up. The officiant gave everyone a moment to collect themselves.

"Could we please have the rings?"

Claire stepped closer, reaching in to her bag for the two rings, passing one to Dean, and the other to Castiel. She gave her father a tight hug.

"You'll never know what your approval means, Bear," he whispered.

"Well, he's my dad too now, right?"

He kissed by her temple before they separated, and she went to stand back where she had been, catching Jack's eye in the crowd as she did so. He was beaming at her, and she looked away quickly. With all the talk of love, and the dream the night before, Jack's easy-going manner was too much. She watched as Dean and Castiel promised to love each other in sickness and health, through riches and poverty, and all the standard exchanges as they placed the rings on each other's fingers, clasping each other closely as they did so. When the officiant declared they were married and could kiss, they pressed together to loud cheers, and Claire found herself smiling. They didn't keep the kiss as chaste as they did when there was speculation that it was Claire herself seeing Dean, but it was thankfully not as bad as it could have been. She knew when the party wound down much later, they would be even worse, wrapping around each other the second no one else was present. When they came up for air, music started to play, and they walked down the aisle between the seats, Claire and Sam following. They went into a separate room again, where the officiant went through the marriage licence with Claire and Sam witnessing it, and Dean wound an arm around Claire's shoulder, offering her a tissue. She took it and dabbed her face carefully, leaning in to her new stepfather.

"I thought I'd bring some tissues for you, I didn't realise Cas would need them too," Dean grinned. Castiel grabbed one from the pack to sort himself out as well. They took turns signing the certificate, and then Sam passed a small tumbler of whiskey around, and a tumbler of apple juice for Claire.

"Congratulations, guys," Sam held his glass out. They all clicked their glasses together.

"To the Novak-Winchesters," Dean grinned.

"The Novak-Winchesters." They recited, and drank their drinks in one, Castiel coughing from the burn of his whiskey. And then they went back to the wedding guests, ready to pose for pictures. There wasn't an official photographer, but Dean and Castiel had wanted guests to take pictures instead. They began posing on their own, and Jack approached Claire to watch.

"Uncle Cas looks so happy," he noted. Claire nodded as she watched her dads.

"Yeah, Dean brings that out in him."

"You looked so grown up up there too. I know Uncle Cas is so proud of you."

She looked away from her dads to smile at her cousin.

"Thanks, Jack."

They were both called over then, by Castiel, and Jack guided her over to them with a hand to the small of her back. She had a moment of concern that one of her dreams would find its way into real life, but it was very different. She was in her real dress, a lot of people were hanging around, taking pictures, and Jack separated from her at the last moment, standing the other side of Dean as Claire stood by her father. And then Jack moved away, out of shot, and Dean and Castiel surrounded Claire, their arms around her, both of them kissing her cheeks or holding close. Sam appeared not long after, encircling them all as he stood at the back, still visible. Jack came back with Eileen for some more pictures, and soon more and more people were joining their little group to pose for pictures - Dean's extended family, Claire and Castiel's estranged one, friends, co-workers, Claire lose count. When she was finally free to escape the posed pictures, Patience grabbed her to pose with Kaia and Alex as well, to document the four of them reunited. Jack offered to take the pictures for them, and then pulled his own phone out of a breast pocket.

"I think I need a couple with my cousin," he smiled as he stepped closer for a selfie. Claire tried to ignore the buzzing feeling that overtook her body as he slipped an arm around her and forced herself to think of what her face was doing, to try and look relaxed and happy beside him. They didn't immediately separate as Jack put his phone away, and Claire held hers up.

"Mine too?" She asked, feeling self-conscious. Jack grinned, posing as Claire clicked the shutter this time, though all too soon, Alex was trying to pose as well, and Jack headed off to talk to more relatives he knew.

"Jack's so cute," Patience noted. Kaia gave her a skeptical look. "What, he is? You know I'm an ally. And single. Claire, is Jack single?"

Claire felt completely poleaxed. She hadn't asked him, too scared to have to face the feelings she had swirling around and process them accordingly. She gave the little she knew about her cousin's love life.

"He was seeing someone at high school, Maggie, but I think he's still a little bit in love with her. He doesn't mention anyone else. If he talks about college, it's about his studying and his placement." Claire gave a shrug, and put her phone in her bag as she was called away again. She went willingly, glad to not have to listen to Patience fawn over Jack. Castiel had been talking to a couple of men who looked vaguely familiar, though Claire couldn't immediately place why.

"Claire, do you remember Gabe and Balthazar? My much older brothers?"

"Cassie, we're all older than you. Did your dad ever tell you he was born when most of us were adults already?" Gabe-or-Balthazar smiled at her. Claire shook her head, feeling like she was the butt of some joke.

"Nothing worse than finding out your parents are still shagging. No offence, Cassie."

"Tell me about it," Claire rolled her eyes. Castiel cleared his throat.

"Anyway, you should both meet Dean, he's probably a better audience for your sense of humour."

"Cassie, no!" Balthazar-or-Gabe protested. "We'll be good around your precious teenager. Remember the scavenger hunts we used to do?"

A spark of a memory came to Claire, but not of her childhood.

"I don't, but Jack does. It was one of the first things he said to me when he moved in. Apparently I climbed a lot?"

They both laughed at the memory, as Dean materialised at Castiel's side, kissing him softly.

"Mr Novak-Winchester," He purred.

"Dean," Castiel gave back, pulling him closer. It was sweet how loved up they were. "Two of my older brothers, Gabriel, and Balthazar." For his husband, he gestured at which brother was which. Balthazar was the one to talk about shagging parents. "Neither of them are Jack's father."

"Ugh, is he here?" Gabriel asked.

"No, Jack asked that I not invite him. He also asked for his mother to come." Castiel looked over Gabriel's head for Jack, but clearly didn't spot him, as he looked disappointed. Claire felt a little bit of relief, just as a staff member called that dinner was being served in the dining room and for everyone to find their table. Gabriel and Balthazar said goodbye and walked away, and Claire walked into the dining room with her fathers. It was beautifully set up, with fresh cream linen and blue and green accents. The head table stretched out on a small stage, though only Dean, Castiel, Sam, Eileen, Claire, and Jack would be sitting up there. Claire's seat was between Dean and Jack, but they didn't stop there, they were ushered into another room to be announced. It was another small room, where Sam and Eileen were already waiting, signing at each other silently. Claire wasn't good enough yet to know every sign they swapped or keep up much, but what she did know made her eyebrows shoot up. Sam and Eileen seemed so tame, but they were definitely talking about what they were going to do in the bedroom that night. Jack appeared, closing the door behind him as he did.

"Everyone must be hungry, it's filling up quickly out there," he grinned.

"Did you find your mom?" Claire asked him. He beamed.

"Yeah, she said it was a wonderful ceremony. She hadn't seen Uncle Cas looking so happy."

"Kelly was always a kind woman," Castiel nodded, leaning in to Dean. They began kissing, and Claire looked away, catching Sam and Eileen in a similar embrace. The only other place to look was at her cousin, who seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"My mom would love to meet you again."

"Same. I mean, I don't remember her, but I know she's cool, she made you."

Jack beamed, and Claire couldn't help the surge of affection that engulfed her. Why did they have to be related? Would she even feel like this about him if they weren't? They fell quiet, waiting for their names to be read out. Luckily, it didn't take too long, and when Claire was called out, she couldn't get out of the room fast enough. Dean and Castiel came last, being announced for the first time as a married couple, and they entered the room looking completely loved up. Claire wouldn't have been surprised if they had no idea they were in the dining room. She thought she had seen them loved up before, but they were so wrapped up in each other, heads together, whispering quietly. They separated at the table and everyone sat down, the noise in the room low but full of happiness.

"Hey, Claire," Dean turned to her. "You look amazing today."

"Thanks, Other Dad."

"From Fake Dad to Other Dad. I'm honoured, Donut."

"Donut. That's the nickname you're settling on?"

"Call it a wedding present," Dean grinned, and sipped from his champagne glass.

"Are you doing a speech?" Jack asked. Claire shook her head.

"Nah, we struck a deal. Claire looked after the rings and Sam gets the speech," Dean grinned. "Besides, I don't think there's any dirt to have on Cas. It's just my shame that'll get out. Glad I have some students here."

Jack laughed, and Claire smiled too. She didn't know what Sam would talk about in his speech, but it couldn't be that bad when they were both professionals. It would be Dean who was more likely to embarrass Sam than the other way around.

The food was soon served, and they fell on their meals like they'd been starved. Claire barely looked up from her plate as she practically inhaled the steak dinner her fathers had chosen, and as the murmur of chatter picked back up Jack nudged her arm.

"Hey, so, when it gets a little later, we're going to dance, right?"

Claire felt her steak churning in her stomach uncomfortably. Dancing with Jack would be a dream come true, but it would also be way too tempting. She tried to bluff her way out of giving an answer.

"That's what normally happens at weddings."

"I meant you and me. Everyone else I know is a lot older, and apart from Mom, I don't really want to dance with anyone else. Can you imagine Uncle Balthazar on the dance floor?" He cringed, and Claire laughed, just as Sam stood up and tapped his glass with his fork. Claire looked at her new Uncle as the room settled around them, aware she hadn't answered Jack. She wasn't really sure what to answer, so she was glad that Sam was about to make his speech.

"Hi everyone, I hope you've enjoyed dinner. I don't know about you, but I'm relieved it wasn't cheeseburgers. I'm pretty sure Dean would live off them if he could," there was some polite laughter, and Sam waited for it to subside, but Claire didn't think it was a joke. Cheeseburgers had been a close second option. "When Dean and Castiel first told me about the wedding, and Dean asked me to be his best man, we had a talk about how some things would go. With Castiel choosing his daughter Claire as his best person, there was a question of who would get the rings, and who would get the speeches. I drew the short straw."

There was another chuckle, and Claire shook her head emphatically, letting the other guests know that she thought the rings were the bigger responsibilities. There was yet another laugh, one Sam led, and then started talking again.

"So, it's down to me to give a speech about my brother, and somehow Castiel gets away without the embarrassing stories. Claire, you have some, right?"

She knew he was going to ask that, he'd told her during his preparations. Rather than address the six years she didn't see her father, instead she merely tapped her nose at the question.

"I guess that just means I have to think of some good ones about Dean to make up for it. What you don't know about Dean, is that after we lost our mom when I was a baby, Dean pretty much raised me. Along with a little help from Dad, and a lot from Uncle Bobby. So Castiel, I can tell you this - Dean makes a great mother."

There was an awkward laugh this time, as though people weren't sure that Sam was making a joke.

"Of course, as good a stand-in Mom as Dean makes, he was raised by two very grizzly men himself, so expect romantic gestures to come in the form of a six pack or motor oil."

"Or comic books," Castiel shrugged easily, playing along.

"Hey, if you want to wear your underwear outside your clothes, that's between the two of you." There was yet more laughter. "Dean also will try and fix any scrapes with duct tape and a stern look. Although, since you're not a five-year-old kid who grazed his knees, there's probably less chance of that. Dean's a pretty creative person when it comes to free time as well. Sorry to those of you know know this story, but one time when I was about five and Dean was about nine, he decided he would teach me some baseball. We were living with Uncle Bobby then, and a lot of our free time was spent playing in the junker yard Bobby would work on at weekends and in the holidays. We didn't have a tee ball set, so we improvised. Dean found a wrench that was about the right size, and the nearby apple tree had left a whole bunch of tiny sour apples on the floor. Perfect for a learner for baseball. We found a spot in the junk yard to practice my swing, with Dean throwing as many apples at me as he did at the wrench. Bobby came out of nowhere, after I hit one and nearly took his eye out. Dean dropped his apple, and I threw the wrench. Right into Bobby's truck window. Or when we were a little older, and Bobby gave us a curfew, Dean thought he was smart enough to work around it. He did the old pillow trick and shimmied out our bedroom window to go hustle the local pool dives. He found out recently he got sold out right away by Bobby's friend Rufus, but didn't know Bobby bribed me to give him info too. So, sorry Dean, but peanut butter cups and nachos with marshmallows were just too tempting."

Dean shifted in his seat beside Claire, but when she looked at him, he was just inching closer to Castiel, watching his brother with a glint in his eyes and no real expression on his face.

"But one thing I will promise you, Castiel, is that my brother has a big heart. He never once questioned the role he took on in helping to raise me, never once complained when I was being a brat at his expense, not knowing what he was giving up for me at the time. And as good a brother as he has been, everything is amped up when he's with you. My brother has never been the kind of person to look for a longstanding relationship, but the moment you met it was like he could only see a future with you in it. Cas, you have softened my brother's rough edges, and brought him happiness I don't think he's ever experienced before. I have no doubt that years from now, you'll look at each other with the same amount of devotion as you have today. To Dean and Castiel." Sam raised his glass, and everyone followed through in the toast, Claire clinking her glass against Jack's before taking a sip. Sam sat down and Dean leaned over to speak to him quietly. Castiel caught his daughter's eye and grinned, and she stood up before she realised what she was doing. The room grew quiet, and she cleared her throat.

"Um, so like Sam said, we had a deal where I did the rings and he gave a speech. But I think I want to say something about my dad and Dean, if that's okay?"

Everyone else was quiet, watching her, and she heard, very quietly, her father say, "Go on, Bear."

"So, for those who don't know, my mom and dad got divorced when I was nine, and I didn't see my dad until my mom died. Coming to live with my dad was a new experience for both of us, and my first school out here didn't go great. When I came to the new one, and my dad met Dean there, that was pretty much it. It was kind of weird, having my dad flirt with my brand new principal, but it kind of didn't take long for it to make sense to see Dean at our place every day. He helped me and my dad bond again, and he's helped me a lot, getting over my mom. And I don't have any funny stories like Sam does, but I can tell you that my dad with Dean? It's a pretty good combo. Dean makes my dad happier than I've ever seen him, and Dean makes me laugh. I'm happy for you both. So I want to do a toast for my two dads."

Everyone joined in, calling out "Claire's two dads" as both Castiel and Dean stood and enveloped her in a hug.

"Thank you, Bear." Castiel whispered, dropping a kiss onto her forehead. Dean said nothing, but lingered in the hug before they took their seats again, just before a desert of pie was brought out. Claire shook her head at the sight of the tiny pies on her plate, knowing this was Dean's influence. Jack was already tucking in, and Claire didn't hesitate to start on her plate of pies, fending Dean off from sneaking the mini cherry pie from her dish. After desert, a few other people made speeches, like Bobby and Charlie, and Claire watched Dean and Castiel absorbing the stories, still sat so close together they were practically on the same seat. And still, she was aware of her cousin, still snacking slowly on his pies, one of his hands resting on the back of her seat, brushing against the nape of her neck. It was almost uncomfortable, pretending she didn't feel it there while feeling a creeping sensation all over her skin at his touch.

Eventually, the live band set up, and Dean led Castiel onto the square of dance floor between the head table and the other tables, and they began swaying together as the band started playing Led Zeppelin's All My Love. Claire rested her head in her hands, leaning forward on the table and watching them. They had clearly been rehearsing for this moment at a time Claire hadn't been present for, because they moved with the beat, holding each other close. Dean's lips were moving, and it took Claire a moment to realise he was singing softly. It took her a moment to realise Castiel was doing the same. It was sweet, and totally them to do so. As the singer stopped, and the instrumental section kicked in, they turned to Claire, and gestured her over. She beamed, and made her way to her dads, not knowing the steps but joining in as best she could. When the lyrics started again, they were singing again, and this time she could hear them. They ended up in a tight three-person hug, Claire inadvertently being serenaded by the two of them for the duration of the song. The next song began, and more people filtered through onto the dance floor, and Claire gave her two fathers one last hug.

"Thanks for the daddy-daughter dance, but you should carry on being sickeningly in love. I'll go find my friends."

"Okay, Bear," Castiel sounded so happy.

"Love you, Donut!" Dean called as she stepped away. It seemed Donut was going to stick with him. She looked back, but they were already dancing together again, less coordinated than before. She was quickly surrounded by Kaia, Patience, and Alex as the tempo of the music picked up, and the four of them lost themselves in the music. Claire felt lighter than she had in months, laughing as Kaia and Alex ended up in a strange dance off that required stupid moves to win. Time blurred, and moments started to gather together. There was the moment Sam and Eileen joined them, using their knowledge of ASL to outdo Kaia's best moves before shimmying off, and another moment where several uncles on Castiel's side descended and whirled them all around as though they were in a ballroom. Alex had been stuck with Gabriel, and Claire found herself with Balthazar, but she found it so much fun to pretend to be dancing some fancy two-step with him through a particularly energetic song. They were both laughing hard by the end of the song, and Balthazar kissed her hand in a wide sweeping gesture before prancing away as the music slowed down again. In a panic, Claire headed to the bar, wanting a diet coke in her hand before Alex or Jack could stop her for a dance. She didn't want to raise Alex's hopes just to dash them down, and she didn't want to give herself away to her cousin. Kaia joined her at the bar, giving her a small smile.

"Your uncles are insane," Kaia acknowledged.

"Tell me about it. I'm so out of breath now."

"Same girl, same." Kaia nodded, and looked around at the dance floor. "Oooh, Patience is dancing with your cousin."

Claire looked despite herself, and sure enough, Jack was holding Patience gently as they swayed. Like Dean and Castiel, their lips were moving, but Claire didn't think they were singing to each other. It hit in her gut, watching them though. Jack was smiling that same sweet smile Claire always saw, and his hold was respectful, the way it always was with Claire too. It was just the way he was, a gentle guy who had a big heart. They were cousins and he loved her because they were family. That was all.

It must have shown on her face, because Kaia nudged her gently.

"I know."

"You know what?" Claire couldn't tear her eyes away.

"Why you don't want to be back with Alex. Why you haven't come looking for us after school. I haven't said anything to Alex, don't worry."

Claire finally looked at her friend, who pursed her lips and shrugged.

"I know you're ace and all, Claire, but love is love. If you find it, shouldn't you protect it? It's fragile. Look at your parents, they get it. And for what it's worth? He'd rather be dancing with you right now. He looks at you the way you look at him."

"Are you talking about Jack?" Claire asked sharply. Kaia merely looked back at her, as Alex materialised beside them.

"What about your cousin?" She asked.

"Dancing with Patience," Kaia nodded in their direction. "We're worn out by all the dancing though. Want a drink too?"

"Sure. I just shook your uncle Gabriel, Claire. He's little but he has moves."

Kaia's expression at that comment was comical, and Claire smothered a laugh. Luckily, Alex saw the funny side too.

"Not like that, you perve! I meant as a dancer!" Alex swatted Kaia, then looked at Claire. "Would have rather been dancing with you."

"Oh, don't be fooled, that was like, ninety percent Uncle Balthazar." Claire sipped from her drink, as Alex shook her head.

"I know you understood what I meant. Come on, it's a wedding, a dance won't hurt."

Claire swapped a quick glance with Kaia, and handed her the glass.

"Look after that, please?"

Kaia nodded, and Claire walked with Alex to the dance floor, holding her waist gently as Alex stood close, and they began to shuffle closer.

"Thanks," Alex murmured.

"Well, like you said, it's a wedding." Claire acknowledged. "And we care about each other, right?"

Alex smiled.

"I'm glad to hear you say that. It feels like you've moved on."

Claire looked at their feet.

"Maybe we shouldn't talk about this here."

"When will we? I think we need to." Alex defended herself. Claire met her eye. She heard the change in tone that implied that maybe, just maybe, Alex was starting to accept they were over.

"After this dance?" Claire suggested. "We'll go somewhere and talk. But for now, just enjoy the rest of the song."

So they carried on swaying together, watching each other as they did, until the next track started, faster than the one they had been swaying to. Alex nodded to the door leading to a patio, and Claire followed her. They walked past Charlie and Jody drinking and chatting with Jody's friend Donna, and out into the grounds were fewer people were. They held hands as they walked, but Claire didn't mind. It in a way reminded her of their disastrous double date, when she was curious about what might have been between them.

"We're over, aren't we?" Alex asked quietly when there was no one else nearby. Claire squeezed her hand.

"I've been trying to tell you that for a while. I didn't think you were ready to hear it."

"I guess not. I just feel like we haven't given it a fair shot."

"I know." Claire felt awful, having to have this talk with her. "But we fought so much when we were dating, and I hated that. I think you wanted more than I can give. And I tried, I did Alex. But it's never come easy to me. And when I look at Dad and Dean, they're so effortless together. That's what you deserve, someone who doesn't have to try to kiss you, who doesn't freak out when things start to go that way. And I care about you, and I miss you, but I don't miss that stuff. I miss talking with you, sharing stuff. I want to be your friend, you know? I don't know how to be anything else."

Alex wasn't looking at her, but Claire could tell she was beginning to cry.

"I think I knew for a while. I think that's why I'd get mad when you warned me you couldn't do something and I pushed for it anyway. Like when they did that stupid school council to see if Dean would get fired. I guess I just got so used to the way things were in my life before I found Jody, I expect it in my life constantly. Jody and I talk about it all the time, she's been slowly getting me to see, it's better to have you as a friend than not have you at all."

Claire wrapped her in a hug, feeling the dewy tears that had stuck to Alex's eyelashes splash on her arm.

"I promise you Alex, I love you in every way I can."

"I know. You just can't love me the way I want. I'm learning to live with that."

Claire tightened the hug. She felt like, as hard a time as Alex was having, they were getting to a place where Claire could have her back in her life the way she used to be. So yes the conversation was raw, but she felt oddly uplifted, and just glad to be able to hug her ex-girlfriend again. When Castiel returned from his honeymoon, she would thank him for the surprise of Alex, Kaia, and Patience.