The last threads of sleep drifted away and Dean's mind floated towards consciousness. The smell of fresh coffee and bacon teased him even further away from slumber. And what was that with it? He inhaled a bit more, waffles. Sweet. It was going to be a good day.
Smiling contentedly to himself, he peeked first one sleepy eye open, and then the other. The bedroom was awash in pink and gold light, sunrise coming up over the trees and across the lake that could be seen from the two giant glass windows that were on either side of the large stone fireplace that still had a few glowing embers left from the night before. He would never get used to this, not in a million years. This really was heaven.
At the foot of the bed Miracle was curled up into a shaggy little circle by his feet. Meeting Dean's eye, his little tail thumped the thick down filled comforter twice, his furry little way of saying good morning. "You smell the bacon too don't ya? Don't worry, I'll share it with you"
The tail wagged once more.
Bacon or no, Dean wasn't ready to get out of bed. He stretched contentedly, like a cat after napping in the sun. He was happy, deep into his bones, this afterlife, was so much more than he had ever thought he deserved. Yet here he was. He curled his arm possessively across Cas's bare chest and swung his leg across and over, tangling their bodies together. Warm lips and stubble grazed his forehead. Neither said anything, they just lay in each others arms and watched the sun continue to rise and break into full daylight. This may have been the ten thousandth sunrise they had shared like this, and it still overwhelmed him. Happy tears – something Dean had never had the luxury in life to experience – rolled down his cheek and dripped onto Cas's chest.
"Are you going to cry every morning forever?"
"I just might, you make me so happy."
"And you, me." Cas bent to kiss his forehead again, but Dean stretched up to meet his mouth instead.
The kiss started out a gentle homecoming, an affirmation of a love that had literally survived hell and death, only to burn continuously brighter. As always, the sweetness of that greeting was easily followed by heat and a different kind of promise. Dean groaned slightly, already feeling breathless. He would never get tired of this man. He started to sit up, placing a hand on each of Cas's shoulders, intending to roll him onto his back and climb on top.
Unlike every other morning though, Cas broke the kiss off and stopped Dean. His eyes had already darkened to an ever deeper blue from passion. It took a lot of self discipline to break that kiss, and that was saying something for an angel. Dean looked a little confused, in his heaven every morning included a sweet and satisfying coupling where he gave, and Cas received. It would take an eternity for Dean to feel like he could amend for all the unconditional love Cas had given, unreciprocated while they were on earth. This was his self-imposed penance, albeit a very sweet one.
"Hey Sunshine, you know I'm not finished with you yet." Heat flickered in Dean's eye, he pushed into Cas again.
Cas kissed once more, but only briefly. "Believe me, there is nothing I want more than to stay here with you all day, but we can't. Tomorrow, I promise we'll stay here in bed from sun up to sun down if you want to, but there's too much to do today and we've got to get started."
Dean paused, trying to put the pieces together. Did Cas mean?
"Today?"
"Today."
"Jack coming too?"
"He says he wouldn't miss it."
The last piece of Dean's heaven was about to fall into place. Sam was coming home. Dean smiled and one more of those happy tears leaked from the corner of his eye. He got out of bed and started to get dressed. His baby brother was coming and there was going to be a party like heaven had never seen before- Winchester style. Big BBQ out back, everyone they had ever loved there to celebrate, everyone who had helped along the way, and Jack. With any luck the four of them, he, Cas, Sam, and Jack would get some time together, his family. He had been waiting a long time for this particular celebration. But there was one more thing, a special request to ask from Cas who had already given him so very much.
"Cas, you wouldn't mind if I went to meet him at the bridge? Alone?"
Castiel smiled at Dean and used his thumb to brush the side of his cheek before moving in for another kiss, just a brief one. Then he folded him into his arms for a hug.
"All of this started with the two of you on your own, it seems only fitting that it should finish that way."
Dean still wasn't sure that he deserved this much goodness, but he'd take it.
"I love you Cas."
"I know Dean, and I love you. Now go, I will be here when you get back."