Dean slowly wakes. He doesn't remember the last time he didn't bolt awake from a nightmare. Things gradually come into awareness. The mattress beneath him. The blankets wrapped around him. He's not in the bunker, that much he can tell. There's a heartbeat, and Dean feels like it's too loud to be his. The sound is coming right by his ear. He curls his arms around his pillow, but his pillow doesn't feel like a pillow. It feels like a person. Oh. That's why he can hear a heartbeat. He's in bed with someone. He tenses. When was the last time he did this?
Someone's hand gently runs through Dean's hair, and it would feel quite nice if he wasn't trying to rack his brain as to who the fuck he's in bed with. Years of waking up in different towns every other week has sometimes made it difficult for Dean to remember where he is when he wakes up.
"Dean, it's alright," Cas says quietly.
Oh. That's right. Cas is back. Cas is alive. And Cas is his. Dean calms down and melts under Cas' touch.
"Jack is texting me," Cas tells him.
"What? What time is it?"
"Almost 7am."
Dean groans and holds onto Cas a little tighter.
"Today's beach day, remember? You promised him we'd wake up early."
Dean groans again. "I did, didn't I?"
"Mmhmm."
Dean lets himself enjoy the quiet moment between him and Cas. He focuses on Cas' fingers carding through his hair. The steady beat of his heart. His warmth. Dean rolls over and scrubs his face with his hands. He blinks.
"Alright, I'm awake," Dean says.
The bed shifts, and Cas comes into his field of view. Dean smiles and reaches up for him, hooking his hands around Cas' neck.
Cas smiles back. "Good morning."
He leans down and gently kisses Dean. He starts to pull away, but Dean chases after him and brings him back down. Dean tangles his hands in Cas' hair and one of Cas' hands rests on Dean's chest. Dean kisses Cas slowly but won't let Cas pull away. He finally has to break away to breathe.
"I love you," Cas murmurs.
Dean feels his smile grow wider. "I love you, too."