Claire was passed out on the padded bench in the RV's dining area while Castiel and Dean enjoyed each other's company outside. The canvas chairs were comfortable, the lit punks gave off a citronella scent and kept the mosquitos at bay, and the mead was sweet yet dry.
"So how was Claire's first day?"
Castiel chuckled and took a pull from his bottle. "Alfie says she'll probably want to start practicing lancing rings as soon as we get home. I don't doubt him."
"She's an awesome kid. Do you think she likes me?" Dean asked tentatively.
"Well, she agreed to come here for dinner, and I think as long as you keep her in chainmail, you'll stay off her shit list," Castiel chuckled. "I swear, I think she liked the coif more than the necklace. That was an inspired piece of bribery."
"She's definitely a Shurley, that's for sure," Dean tipped his bottle in Castiel's direction in thanks before taking a swallow. "I missed you in my bed last night," he said, picking at the paper label on the bottle with a nail. "I know in the scheme of things, we haven't been seeing one another for very long, and I know you're a father first and foremost, but…"
Castiel glanced back at the trailer and shrugged. "The idea of me dating is too new for Claire, and Jack doesn't even know yet. I think it's too soon for her to know we're sleeping together, and that you're more than Poppa's friend. I'm sorry, Dean."
"No need to apologize, elskan*," Dean said with a smile. "Your kids are your priority, I get that. What I was doing a crap job of trying to say is, I'm surprised at how quickly I've grown to expect you in my RV's bed. Somewhat embarrassed, to be honest"
"I know what you mean," Castiel said, returning the smile but then frowning. "In two weeks is the season close of Bristol faire. And it's a three-day weekend. I'm not sure if Claire can deal with 3 days, so maybe I'll keep her home."
"Good luck with that" Dean said, right before taking a swig of mead.
"Then I'll find out if Anael can come and stay with Claire in the evenings of that weekend so I can spend evenings with you."
"Sounds like a plan," Dean remarked.
Castiel took a pull from his own bottle of mead and glanced at Dean. "How would you feel about coming out to Lexington the weekend after Bristol closes? Get to meet Jack, see the ranch… I mean, don't feel press -"
"I think I'd like that, Cas," Dean said, nodding. "Yeah, I'd like that very much."
"Poppa?" Claire called out sleepily, the door to the RV creaking as she opened it.
"That's my cue," Castiel said to Dean, as he pulled himself out of the canvas chair and took a final pull of mead from the bottle. "Hey, sunshine. Let's get you into your bed at our camp, okay?"
Claire tiredly lifted her arms and Castiel swept her into his arms where she snuggled against his shoulder and neck. Dean smiled as he collected the burning punks. He glanced at Claire, and seeing her asleep against Castiel, he leaned in and gave Castiel a quick kiss on the lips. He watched father and daughter walk away before heading into his RV and the empty bed.
Dean was in his demo clothes, getting ready for his 2:00 demonstration. Ash had the front of the stall and was showing a potential client the various options for a knife handle to go onto the Bowie knife he was in the process of ordering. Dean set the hammer onto the anvil and stuck a mostly finished knife blank into the forge to heat. He made sure the quenching barrel was handy and not too close to the logs laid out as seating. Then he lined up several different hammers on his work table for any kids to lift if they wanted to rest their strength.
"Hello, Dean."
Once again - no, as usual, his body had that visceral response to that voice. He turned, smiling.
"Hello, Cas…" he stuttered to a stop and coughed, seeing Castiel with Claire. "Hello Castiel, it's good to see you."
"I suppose I should call you Bastian for now?" Castiel asked with a grin.
"It's fine," the smith said, and then turned his attention to Claire. He made a grand bow to her. "My lady Claire, it is good to see you. Are you enjoying your time here so far?"
Castiel and Claire were both dressed in their fancier progress garb and she dropped into a curtsey. "I'm having a wonderful time," the eight-year old gushed. "I can't wait 'til I'm big enough to perform!"
Dean glanced at Castiel and chuckled at the helpless look Castiel had on his face. "That she'd join the company was never in doubt, Cas, it was only a matter of when."
Before Castiel could reply, guests arrived for the demonstration. Castiel and Claire found seats on a log, and Dean began his demo/performance. Castiel took the time to admire Dean's showmanship and workmanship. He smiled as Claire ran up to try and lift a hammer along with three other kids, a couple moms, and a couple teenage boys trying to impress the girls they were with. And then he got distracted by the muscles. That started glistening with sweat as Dean went between standing next to the burning hot forge to get the metal pliable and then working the glowing hot metal with a heavy hammer on the anvil. He mentally shook his head and glanced at the people around him. And noticed several members of the audience giving Dean the same scrutiny Castiel had been. He felt a twinge of jealousy and a stronger wave of self-satisfaction rolled off him that all but bellowed MINE.
The demo was over all too soon, and Castiel and Claire had to get back to the Horde encampment to change for the upcoming joust. Dean waved goodbye to them as guests who had attended the demo came up to him and wanted more information about forging in general, while others went around to the front of the stall for some shopping.
Monday
Claire had slept through the entire ride from Kenosha to Lexington, and she jumped out of the cab of the horse trailer with the kind of energy only a well-rested eight-year old could have. Castiel was slower getting out of the driver's seat and he began giving directions to the ranch hands who started unloading Gaston and Ladyhawke.
"Ishim, make sure to check the horseshoes on Gaston, Michael said he was walking funny toward the end of the day," Castiel ordered. Ishim made some notes on the tablet and then watched as Oren led the large horse into the stables before making further notes.
"Welcome home, Claire!"
"Anael!" Claire yelled and raced to give her babysitter a hug. "I got a necklace and my very own coif! And I got to ride in the parade, and I helped Alfie on the field! And my gown was so pretty!"
"That's wonderful, Claire," Anael said with a smile, taking the youngster's hand. "How about we head to the house, you can take a shower, and then we'll head to your gran's and you can tell us all about it? This way your pops can get some sleep, okay?"
Castiel gave Anael a look of gratitude and the three headed to the Shurley-Novak house in a commandeered golf cart. Claire ran into the house and headed for the kids' bathroom while Anael went into Claire's room to get clothing for the little girl to change into, and Castiel trudged into his bedroom, pulling his shirt off as the door was closing.
He looked around the room, at the cream-colored walls, the dark wood blades and brass fixtures on the ceiling fan, the pale wood dressers and armoire, and the king-sized platform bed that still had the pillows Jimmy had used. Castiel swayed and broke out in a cold sweat, and could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He closed his eyes against the dizziness and staggered to the bed, sitting heavily and fighting to catch his breath.
He took his phone out of his pocket with a shaking hand.
"Clarence, have you just gotten home?"
"Meg, I think I'm having a heart attack," Castiel gasped.
"Then why are you calling me instead of 9-1-1? Does your left arm hurt?" she asked.
"No…"
"Chest pains?"
"Not really. My heart is going a mile a minute and I broke out in a cold sweat, and I can't catch my breath."
"What were you doing when it started?" Meg asked.
"Just got to my bedroom, was looking around at it, and then… just…" Castiel was beginning to hyperventilate.
"Okay, Clarence, you need to breathe slower, let's do it together," Meg instructed, and began to inhale and exhale slowly but loudly for Castiel to match. After five minutes of breathing in tandem, Castiel was getting himself under control. "It sounds like you're having a panic attack, Castiel. Is everything okay?"
"Yes," Castiel insisted. "Claire had an amazing weekend, she hasn't expressed a dislike for Dean, and I even… oh."
"Clarence?"
"I invited Dean to the ranch for the weekend after Bristol closes."
"And now you've walked into your bedroom - your's and Jimmy's bedroom - the bedroom you both put together and had years of love together. The bedroom you haven't changed since he died. The bed you're probably going to share with someone else in a few weeks?"
"Yes," Castiel exhaled. His eyes filled with tears and he blinked them back. "This is so stupid."
"It's not stupid," Meg said. "Okay, we're going to do a bit of a room makeover. I'll be over at 4 and we're going to make plans. In the meantime, get some sleep."
"Okay," he said in a small voice. He ended the call, set the alarm for 3, placed the phone on the nightstand, changed into a pair of sweatpants, and crawled into bed. If he hadn't been so thoroughly exhausted, he probably would have tossed and turned instead of falling asleep.
The alarm pulled him from sleep and he groaned after shutting it off. Then the routine of a summer Monday kicked in and he rolled out of bed,showered, dressed, stripped the bed, and tossed the sheets and towel into the washing machine. He debated making coffee, when he remembered Meg would be coming over, and he set up the coffee maker once he got to the kitchen. He'd need caffeine to handle whatever Meg was planning.
She arrived as Castiel was taking his first slurp of the bitter, hot drink. He slid an empty mug on the kitchen island as she came into the kitchen, which she caught and filled with coffee.
"Are you feeling less out of sorts?" she asked, watching Castiel over the rim of her mug.
"I didn't realize I was out of sorts until I stepped into my bedroom," Castiel observed. "So what's your plan?"
"Two words, Clarence, room makeover."
"Is makeover one word or two?"
Meg rolled her eyes, shook her head, and set her mug on the kitchen island. "Let's go take a look and make a plan."
The two surveyed the bedroom, Meg with a critical eye, Castiel with a nostalgic one.
"The bed is definitely going to have to be changed. And we'll get new pillows for sure, and a couple new sets of linen," Meg decided. She walked around the room some more. "Couple of rugs, and I think we'll paint the walls a slate blue, add some decorative molding along the top of the walls in either a navy blue or something to match whatever the bed will be. I think maybe a cherry or oak wood bed stained a dark brown, it'll go perfectly with the ceiling fan and won't clash with the dressers and armoire. And instead of a platform bed, it'll have a headboard and footboard."
Castiel simply stood there dazed. Nothing Meg suggested was unappealing because she knew him so well, and he knew the changes to the room needed to be different enough from what he and Jimmy had together, but still have a sense of familiarity. He nodded. "Can I at least pick the bed frame?"
Meg smiled and kissed his cheek. "Of course, Clarence. I'll show you some links. What do you think about getting the room painted on Thursday, and try to get the bed delivered on Monday? This way you'll be out of the house anyway."
The two headed back to the kitchen and Castiel booted up his laptop. He knew if he didn't get the new bed chosen and ordered immediately, he'd forget, or take too long deciding which bed. Having Meg with him sped up the process. An hour and about $5,000 later, he was paying for a new king-sized dark cherry wood bed frame with a slatted wood headboard and matching footboard, a new mattress, and four new pillows. A click to a different website, and 30 minutes later, Castiel had three new sets of fine bed linen. He closed his laptop with a click and Meg gave him a tight hug.
"I'm very proud of you, Castiel," she said. "Now, let's head over to your mom's, I'm starving."
* Elskan - Babe
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