I apologize for the long wait, but I was busy getting married. =) This one's short, but after making you wait almost a month, I figured a short chapter was better than no chapter. Hopefully I will now be back to a once a week update schedule.

Many thanks to Damaged Emerald, Kathy, superchiwo, and gnbrules for taking the time to share their thoughts. Happy reading and please leave a review if you like it =)

Chapter Five

Missouri Moseley looked like she was made of pillows and chocolate and comfort, but there was a core of steel beneath the soft, welcoming exterior. Castiel could easily believe that she would kill with her bare hands to protect the children in her care, or indeed any child anywhere. Calling her motherly was like calling Mount Everest a big rock. She was the quintessential personification of mother-ness, and from the moment he met her Castiel began to feel like everything just might be okay.

Claire was disappointed that she wouldn't get to go to the restaurant every night, and since it was the only thing she'd shown enthusiasm for in weeks, Castiel relented a little and promised she could still come with him on weekends provided she behaved for Missouri and went to bed on time every school night.

"I doubt she'll give you any trouble," he told Missouri when Claire was out of earshot. "Honestly, she's so well behaved that it's starting to worry me. I almost wish she'd throw one good tantrum so I know she's still a kid underneath it all. I know, I know," he added quickly. "Be careful what you wish for."

"That's not what I was thinking," Missouri said, her dark eyes twinkling at him. "Want to guess again?"

Castiel knew a trick question when he heard one. "No. What were you thinking?"

"That you've learned something a lot of parents never figure out. Kids ain't supposed to be well behaved all the time. They're not little angels. They're human beings with feelings and opinions." She reached up and patted his cheek, and even though he usually didn't like to be touched by strangers, this felt as natural as if she was his own grandmother. "She'll come back to herself eventually, sugar, and when she does, you remember to thank the Lord for every sulk and every slammed door."

He smiled. "I haven't believed in God for a very long time, but I take your meaning, and I'll try to remember."

~o0o~

In December Anna gave birth to a healthy baby girl, and Dean officially stepped into the role of sous chef at Paradis. The transition was remarkably smooth, and much as he hated to give Naomi credit, Castiel had to admit that having Dean and Anna overlap for a few weeks had been a good idea. Now Dean knew the menu back to front and was comfortable enough with the kitchen and the staff to wear his new authority with confidence. The only remaining problem was Castiel's unabating attraction to his handsome new assistant.

He had hoped that prolonged exposure to Dean would cure him of that, but it seemed to be having the opposite effect. The more time he spent with the man, the more he wanted him, and his fantasies were no longer purely sexual either. He caught himself imagining lazy Saturday mornings, cooking breakfast together, Dean barefoot and possibly wearing one of Castiel's shirts, sunlight slanting through the kitchen window and highlighting the golden scruff on his strong jaw, the cute dusting of freckles on his nose. Castiel knew that those kinds of thoughts were far more dangerous than just wanting to bed Dean, but he couldn't seem to convince his subconscious of that.

By some miracle Dean seemed completely oblivious to his boss's extremely unprofessional feelings, and their interactions remained easy and friendly. He continued to help Castiel brainstorm new things to feed Claire, and together they painstakingly built a list of meals that were both healthy and kid friendly. Dean was good with Claire in more than just the food department too. Most adults found her silence and her solemn stares off putting, but he talked to her the same way he talked to everyone else except that he was careful to phrase his questions so that she could respond with a simple nod or head shake. He even made her laugh occasionally with funny stories about the various restaurants he'd worked in and the people he'd met.

"Dean, can I ask your opinion on something?" Castiel said during a quiet moment after closing one night when they were the last ones left in the kitchen.

"Sure. Need more kid food advice?"

"No, although it is child related." He took out his phone, pulled up the Amazon link he had saved, and showed it to Dean. "I'm thinking of getting this for Claire for Christmas. Is it too much? I don't want to seem like I'm bribing her to like me, but this is her first Christmas with me and I really want it to be a good memory, and she's so fascinated by the restaurant —"

"Cas," Dean gently cut off his babbling. "It's perfect. And she already likes you, you know. You're a great dad."

Castiel felt himself blushing at the praise. "I don't know about that," he said. "I feel like I'm failing eighty percent of the time."

"Pretty sure all parents feel that way. Trust me. I know from bad fathers, and you are not."

Once again, even though it was said casually enough, Castiel somehow knew that he had just been offered a glimpse of a piece of Dean very few people got to see. He had an instinctive urge to share something personal in return, and before he had really thought about it, he found himself saying, "My brother was a wonderful father. Claire's mother died when she was a baby, and Jimmy …"

It was the first time he had spoken his twin's name aloud since the accident, and it didn't hurt as much as he'd expected. It was a relief to find that he could allow himself to remember without risking his sanity.

"Jimmy made Claire his whole world. He somehow managed to dote on her without spoiling her, and she adored him just as much. He was her best friend."

He felt a warm hand squeeze his arm, but Dean didn't say anything, and Castiel liked the man a little more for knowing when words were inadequate and a human presence was enough.

"Do you have any plans for Christmas?" Castiel asked as they put on their coats and turned out the lights.

"No, nothing special. My brother was gonna come visit, but he, um … He can't make it, so I'll probably just cook something for myself and have a Die Hard marathon."

That sounded so unbearably depressing that Castiel again found himself speaking without thinking. "You could join us for dinner."

Something bright and hopeful flared up in Dean's eyes, but then it was stifled, and he said, "That's okay. I don't want to intrude."

"You're not intruding. I'm inviting you. You can cook something if it'll make you feel better."

Dean looked very tempted, but he still hesitated. It was Castiel's turn to reach out and touch the other man's arm.

"This isn't pity, Dean. We're friends, remember? And I really would appreciate some adult company. Someone I can have an actual conversation with."

Dean smiled gratefully. "Okay, fine. What should I make?"

"Whatever you want. Surprise me."