I Think That I'm Happy I Think That I'm Blessed

*6 Months Later*

Dean woke up to a sweaty, sticky toddler attached to his head like a lemur. All four limbs were somehow wrapped around his upper body and head.

"Jack," Dean murmured as he tried to unentangle himself from the clingopotomous in dinosaur pajamas. As soon as he had one arm removed and attempted to remove a leg, Jack rolled closer and snuggled into Dean's neck.

"He sleeps like you," Castiel said from the doorway, looking fondly at the two most important men in his life. "You're more of a full-body orangutang, though."

"It's really hot for this," Dean whispered, still trying to get away without waking Jack. He had his feet on the floor and was slithering out of the boy's embrace to the ground.

Castiel held out a cup of coffee and kissed Dean sweetly, glad he was up and they had a few moments of quiet together. It was something they didn't have much anymore between Jack and watching Sam and Eileen's daughter most days and some evenings so Eileen could work. Castiel loved it, though. All the time he'd missed with Jack, he was soaking up with baby Roberta, reveling in every new amazing thing she could do. And Jack had proven himself to be a careful and nurturing helper, which made Cas's heart soar.

They stepped into the living room and Castiel stopped, looking at the wall above the couch where two framed certificates hung. One was their marriage certificate and the other was Dean's official adoption of Jack. Cas always found himself stopping to gaze at them when he came into the living room. This was the evidence of their family. He couldn't imagine a day when just the sight of them wouldn't take his breath away.

Their wedding had been a small affair, just them, Bobby and Ellen, Sam and Eileen, and of course Charlie. Simple and perfect with a small party in Bobby's yard for whoever wanted to show up and brought some food to share. It ended up being a massive gathering, loud and boisterous, the kind of thing Castiel usually avoided. But that night, Castiel loved every moment of it. Kissing his husband while dancing under the moonlight surrounded by their friends and family was a reality he'd never let himself hope for, and to have his son there… Castiel couldn't think about it too much or he'd start to cry again, just standing in the living room on a random Saturday morning.

This was home, where he was loved and accepted. Castiel's only regret was that Hannah couldn't be there, but he sent her a letter telling her all about it. If anyone else read it, well, that was fine. He was never going back to that place anyway. He sent her letters regularly, trying for once a week. Part of him assumed she never saw them, that they were either burned or read by Ishim, but he kept writing to her, hoping someday he'd see her again.

"Hey, dreamer, I'm talkin' to you," Dean teased, poking Castiel in the ribs. "What were you thinking about?"

"Hannah."

"Yeah."

"I miss her so much. I wish there was something I could do to help her get out of there. Her kids too." Cas frowned, regret washing over his features.

"I know, baby," Dean wrapped an arm around Castiel's waist, who slid into position easily, resting his head on Dean's shoulder. "Maybe someday. She knows we're here whenever she's ready."

Castiel nodded. It was a common conversation topic but it always helped him to say it out loud and hear Dean be the voice of reason and hope. Every time they discussed it, he worried Dean would be annoyed with him for needing to talk it through again like a mantra, but he never was. Dean always understood.

They stepped outside and Dean closed the door behind them as they headed out to sit on the porch swing with their coffee and enjoy the morning breeze.

"So, what time are we supposed to get there?" Castiel asked.

"Why are you asking me? This is your thing." Dean teased, drinking his coffee and tangling his ankle with Cas's

"I thought you were supposed to handle my social calendar like a good wife." Castiel teased, looking up at Dean in hopes of a kiss.

"Ha!" Kiss rebuffed. "If anyone here is the wife, it's you."

"Why's that now?" Cas teases, leaning further into the warmth and comfort of Dean.

"Well, I work full time."

"I work and go to school. That takes a lot of time." Cas glared playfully at his husband.

"Yeah, but I earn all the money, you make what, a buck fifty an hour?" Dean kisses Castiel on the head to make sure he knows it's a joke, not a dig.

"Maybe, but you do all the cooking," Cas counters.

"But you are home most days with Jack or taking care of Roberta. That's definitely wife work." Dean laughed, leaning in to place a kiss against Cas's smiling lips.

"Don't you bring our niece into this. Watching Roberta is uncle work, not wife work."

"Hmm," Dean's eyes twinkle, "Ok, husband, when's the last time you changed the oil in any of the cars or fixed something like, let's say, the shower spigot in the outside shower you broke."

Cas glares again. "I fix shit," he growled before cracking a mischievous smile. "You have some good points, but I still win," He lowered his voice so it was barely a growl, leaned in, and said against Dean's lips, "because you take my cock so prettily…"

Dean blushed and shut Cas up by completing the kiss. "You're a cheater," he said when he pulled away without a bit of anger.

Castiel shrugged and took another sip of his coffee, a smug gleam to his eyes.

"Your stupid event is at 11 and you know it," Dean laughed, kissing Castiel on the shoulder before dropping his head to rest there, enjoying the stillness of the summer heat. These moments of quiet togetherness might be rare these days but are only more precious for it.

Dean and Cas held hands all the way to the Church while Jack sat in the back seat singing along to ACDC as if it were a Kidz Bop album. They parked in Cas's spot with the sign "Interim Minister" on display. Everyone knew Dean's car now, no chance of them getting towed this time. Especially now that Duma worked in the office full time.

They hopped out of the car and made their way to the grassy area next to the rectory. Jack sat happily on Dean's shoulders, still singing quietly to himself.

"Ohh, you kept me waiting, boy!" Missouri said when she saw them and rushed over, taking Cas by the hand and pulling him away.

"Go be godly and shit!" Dean called out after them, earning a warning scowl from Cas. Dean could behave when he wanted to, but he didn't have to yet and it was too much fun to watch that look come across Cas's face to give up pushing his buttons.

At a quarter to 11, the yard was full. Most of the locals had shown up, even those not a part of the church. What Cas had done here, what he had put into motion, affected them all. For Dean's part, he was happily watching Jack make peekaboo faces at Roberta in her baby carrier attached to Sam's chest and basking in the fact that this was his life now. Everyone from Bobby and Ellen, to Charlie and their movie night friends, to Claire and the other gaybees, to Duma were there. The guys from Bobby's shop had come out, and Charlie passed out flyers in the comic book store all week like it was a fire sale.

But instead, it was the official opening of Mary's House.

The small rectory now had two entrances, one for the boys' dorms and one for the girls'. The sleeping and small sitting area for each were separate and then the shared kitchen and common space was in the middle. Trans and non-binary folks were allowed to self-identify which dorm they would prefer; something Cas had fought hard for and won.

It took Dean and Rufus a lot of sweat and blood, and Rufus might have shed some tears, although he'd never admit it, to finish. Sam and Charlie pitched in when they had the time and a few other people from the church did the painting and searched for furniture donations so it would be ready for today. Now, the Rectory's exterior was painted white and between the two doors was a large sign with Red Script that read:

Mary's House
"I was a stranger and you welcomed me."
Matthew 25:35

Cas had done this. He'd done it for people like him, who didn't have a home when he so desperately needed one. He'd done it for kids like Max, who didn't have the safety every child should know. He'd done it for everyone, to bring them together, to show that caring about each other was so much more powerful than ripping people apart.

And Dean loved him so fucking much for it. This place represented more than just housing to him. It represented all the goodness that defined Cas. All the love and selflessness that he saw when he looked into those earnest blue eyes was made manifest here before a crowd too big for the space but vibrating with joy.

As Dean started to get misty-eyed, Bobby and Ellen approached and Jack squealed.

"Papa!" He said, jumping into Bobby's arms, who lifted him up above his head and set the boy over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Where's that boy? Did anyone see where Jack went?" Bobby asked, turning around every which way while Jack squealed with delight, giggling and calling out for his Papa over and over.

Dean had never been sure if he'd get this and seeing Bobby taking in Jack as family, the same way he'd taken in him and Sam, with nothing but love and complete devotion, would make a weaker man tear up. And the evidence may suggest that Dean wasn't as strong as he thought, but he'd never admit that.

At the sound of Missouri's voice, booming over the speakers he and Rufus had set up last night, everyone settled down. He settled in next to Sam and wrapped an arm around Charlie, who smiled up at him with bright shining eyes. This was no small victory for her too. Having the LGTBQ restriction removed from the Charter of Mary's House had been personal for her, and Cas had won. He'd moved the mountain and said, Mohammad, get your ass up here where we can see the big picture.

"I'd like to thank ya'll for comin' out here today. I'm Missouri Mosley, the Board President of Divine Light Church and I know it's plenty hot and you're all ready for some of that food on the table. Especially for some of Ellen Hargraves Deviled Eggs. But it's important sometimes to take a moment and recognize when a great thing has come into being. I'll let our handsome Reverend Castiel talk about the mission and our hopes as a faith community for Mary's House. Oh, but I would like to take a quick minute if ya'll don't mind - Kevin Tran, I can see you, boy, stop rolling your eyes at me - a quick minute to announce that our current interim minister has completed his ministerial program and will be promoted to Full Minister at the beginning of September!"

A cheer rose up and Dean's jaw dropped. Cas hadn't told him he'd finished his thesis, let alone that he'd defended it. It made sense now how crabby and tense he'd been the last month but Dean had assumed it was growing pains of any relationship and tried to ride it out.

"He finished?" Sam whispered as Cas took the mic and started talking about Mary's House as an inclusive transitional housing option for teens and early 20s in need of community support so they could start their adult lives without already being a step behind.

"Yeah, I guess so." Dean shrugged and took Roberta's little hand in his own. She wrapped it around his pointer finger and brought it directly to her wet little mouth.

"What did he end up writing on?"

Dean kept an eye on Cas as he stood so confidently in his black slacks, black button-up shirt, and white cleric collar. "Biblical evidence against Conversion Therapy for LGTBQ youth and the unchristian outcome of such programs." Dean had the phrasing memorized. He had been beyond proud when Cas finally settled on a topic. The thesis had practically written itself between Cas's life experience and his near memorization of the Bible.

"Heavy," Sam nodded.

"I haven't read it. He talks about it all the time, though, sounds intense."

"Really? Why not?"

"Cas didn't want me to. I think he's shy about it. Some day."

Castiel finished speaking and worked his way through the crowd, his height and dark hair making it easy for Dean to spot where he was.

"You good?" He asked Bobby, who was sitting on the ground with Jack in his lap while Eileen played pattycake games with him.

"I'm a pig in mud, son. A pig in mud."

Dean chuckled and clapped Bobby on the shoulder as he walked by.

He stood back for a moment, watching as congregants and friends alike swarmed Cas, congratulating him on Mary's House and on the job. He stood straight, his back relaxed but strong, his shoulders back and confident. He'd filled out since coming home, more muscular, and some needed weight packed on and he was a vision. Strong and commanding with those blue eyes. Dean could understand how he commanded the attention of a whole congregation. He was mesmerizing. This was the Cas he always knew was under the layers of guilt and shame, the one he'd fallen in love with, the one he always knew the man could be, and fuck did it feel good to see him out in his element, happy.

He approached from behind but instead of wrapping his arms around Cas's waist and spinning him like he wanted to, Dean remembered to be a grownup for at least a few hours and slipped his hand into his husband's with a wide smile.

"Dean," Cas's face lit up and he leaned up to kiss Dean on the cheek. "Meet Duma's friend Gadreel."

Dean smiled at the tall, square-faced man and reached out to shake his hand.

"Oh, so you two are…" Gadreel asked with a shy smile, looking at their hands.

"Gay as Christmas," Dean pumped the man's hand with a wide toothy smile as Castiel rolled his eyes and answered, "Married. Adults say married at this point."

Dean could hear the smile in Cas's voice, though. "Nice to meet you, Gadreel."

"You as well, as I understand it, I have you to thank for taking Castiel off the market. Otherwise, I'm not sure I would have stood a chance with Duma."

"Gadreel!" she scolded, blushing but looking at him fondly.

"Anytime, man, happy I could help a brother out," Dean laughed, earning himself another eye roll from Cas.

They wandered away and Dean leaned down to kiss Cas gently on the lips. "Congratulations on the thesis, man. Why didn't you tell me?"

Cas's cheeks flushed. "I don't know, really, somehow, it was too big. Like the last puzzle piece slipping into place and I didn't want to jinx it until the board approved the job."

"I get it," Dean smiled. "I'm so fucking proud of you. Really. I can't wait for Jack to start kindergarten and you to start this new job. Sometimes, I feel like this can't all be real, like it's gotta be some greater entity's idea of a joke."

"God doesn't play tricks, and you know Dean, good things do happen."

They gazed at each other a little longer than appropriate in public, unable to turn away from the quiet, intimate moment they shared.

Too soon, a piercing voice with a Scottish accent interrupted them.

"Reverend Castiel?" A petite red-headed woman said a tab too loudly but with a friendly smile. She had an arm wrapped around a surly teenager dressed in too much black clothes that didn't quite fit. His round face had some peach fuzz on his upper lip and jaw and his cheeks were pink as if simply standing next to his mother might set him on fire.

"Yes, hello." Cas turned and Dean stepped back just a bit, letting Cas own the moment but not wanting to leave his side.

"I was wondering, Reverent, do you do counseling for those in your congregation?"

"It depends on the issue, but yes, I'm always happy to offer comfort or counsel. At the very least, I can help find someone who can if I can't. Is there something you need to discuss? I don't take confession, you know, this isn't a catholic church."

"Oh no, nothing like that," the red-head shook her head and her long curls moved like medusa's snakes. There was something about her that put Dean on edge, but then she smiled and her green eyes lit up and she melted all his concerns. "You see, Reverend, my son, Fergus, he's a homosexual."

"Mother…" The boy groaned, staring at his boots as his blush deepened.

"Well, I should be upfront. We aren't the kind of community that counsels against homosexuality. In fact, I'm gay. This is my husband, Dean." Cas reached out and took Dean's hand, pulling him up next to his side.

"Oh, no, I don't mean anything like… I'm so sorry, dearie. I didn't mean that his homosexuality was a problem."

Crowly groaned and rolled his eyes when his mother said homosexual again.

"You see, the boy just can't seem to make any friends and he's surly. I worry he's being bullied or having relationships I don't know about and he just won't tell me anything. I thought, with you being a homosexual as well, and one so close to God, that maybe you could offer him a little guidance."

Cas smiled, "Well, it sounds like Fergus is a normal teenage boy, but I'd be happy to chat if that's what you want, Fergus."

The boy frowned. "Crowley. Call me Crowley. And if you can convince my mother to stop telling every single person, car, and horse that I'm gay and removed the word homosexual from her vocabulary, I'm pretty much willing to sell my soul."

Cas laughed and dropped Dean's hand to clap the boy on the shoulder. "I don't think we need to resort to such drastic measures at this point, Crowley."

He turned to the redhead. "Call the office on Monday and Duma will set something up. I'm glad to meet you…" he held out his hand.

"Rowena, Rowena MacLeod." She flashed a brilliant white smile surrounded by bright red lipstick that somehow didn't clash with her hair. "And thank you, Reverend Castiel."

"You can just call me Castiel or some of the kids have started calling me Reverend Cas."

"Alright, thank you," she said, ushering her son away whispering, "Well now, if the new reverend isn't a cutie patootie, don't you think, Fergus?"

"Mother…" Crowley groaned, making Cas and Dean chuckle.

"So this is our life now," Dean said, like a fact he was testing out how it tasted in his mouth.

"This is our life now, yes." Cas beamed at him, his gaze only broken by the squealing of Jack as he ran toward them, followed by the gaggle of misfits who were now his family.

THE END

THE END