Content: In which there are new beginnings.
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Author's Note: Hey y'all!
Sorry for taking a tiny posting break, but the last few days at work were quite packed ^^' However, here I am, once again, figuring that the weekend might be a good time to finish this thing :D
Welcome to the last chapter before the epilogue! I'm thrilled you're having such a good time with my story and I seriously can't thank you enough for all your kind words, it means the world to me :)) So have fun with this chapter and tomorrow the epilogue will follow!
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Castiel feels a bit like in a daze when Jo leads him through the hallways and he actually needs embarrassingly long to realize she's not going back to the dressing rooms but the wedding venue outside under the pavilion.
Castiel curses himself as he notices how much time had actually passed yet. Granted, he's been emotionally overwhelmed by Dean's words and his everything, but that doesn't excuse to be late to your own brother's wedding. Both Gabriel and Kali deserve better than this.
Most of the wedding party already assembled when Castiel and Jo arrive at the scene, but thankfully nothing majorly had started yet. A few last guests are still trying to find their seats while Gabriel stands at the beginning of the aisles and fumbles with his bow tie.
Castiel immediately steps toward him and straightens the piece of cloth. "You've always been helpless without me."
Gabriel smiles brightly at him. "The same goes for you, too."
He looks excited, brimming with happiness, and a quick glance at his watch tells Castiel that it's only a manner of minutes now.
Castiel takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry for leaving –"
"Oh please," Gabriel cuts in. "All this drama was a wonderful distraction. I'm just devastated no one recorded it. It would've gone viral on youtube."
Castiel huffs both in annoyance and amusement before his eyes suddenly catch sight of Dean nearby standing next to Emma and his throat begins to tighten. Damn, he can't remember ever feeling so nervous and excited.
"You should go to him," Gabriel urges. "He wanted to run after you straightaway, you know, and set things right."
Castiel bites his bottom lip uncertainly. "But the wedding –"
"We still got a few minutes," Gabriel counters. "Don't let the poor guy think he ruined your special bond. I can't have sad faces on the wedding video."
And well, Castiel can't have that either. He couldn't stand Dean worrying and doubting himself throughout the whole ceremony, it would've been a tragedy.
So, for once in his life, he takes Gabriel's advice to heart and walks toward Dean like a man on a mission while Dean follows his motions with his eyes, his body tensing.
"Cas," Dean whispers instantly when Castiel stops in front of him, so many emotions swinging in his tone. "I'm really sorry –"
"I know, Dean," Castiel interjects, making an effort in letting his tone sound as tender as possible. He seriously doesn't want Dean to feel bad about this. He's got enough that weighing on him, he really doesn't need this as well. "I'm not mad."
Dean arches his brows, obviously not believing what he's been hearing. "You … you're not?"
Castiel steps closer. "Jo explained it to me," he says. "What an amazing friend you are for doing this. How could I be angry at you for supporting someone you care about?"
Dean still seems incredulous. "But …"
"It's okay, Dean," Castiel assures. "No harm done."
Dean begins to squirm. "But … I'm still so sorry –"
Castiel smiles softly. Dean is way too good a man, putting so much on his shoulders. Even too much, so it seems. His face is crestfallen, like he actually believes Castiel would turn his back on him now and never speak to him again. Like he destroyed everything by being part of the charade.
Like he just ruined every chance they had for something amazing.
"Dean, please," Castiel says. "I mean, you didn't steal my shoes and drop them on the bottom of a well. And you certainly didn't switch my toothpaste with depilatory cream."
Dean wrinkles his forehead in confusion. "What?"
"I'm just saying, Gabriel did all those things and I still love him," Castiel states, only to flush all over right after since he honestly didn't mean to use to L-word out of the blue. "Just, um … it's not the worst that ever happened to me. Not by far, actually."
Dean, however, doesn't seem thrilled by that. "Only 'cause it isn't the worst doesn't make it easily forgivable. I should never –"
"For Christ's sake, it's not your fault, Winchester!" Jo suddenly pipes in, apparently not all sheepish for listening into other people's conversations. "It's mine."
Dean grimaces at those words like they're causing him actual pain. "It's not your fault."
Jo opens her mouth, most likely ready to argue with him on that one, but then she blinks a few times, realization dawning on her. "You're right, we're not to blame here." She grinds her teeth. "He is!"
Dean's expression gets agonizing as he watches Jo glaring in Ethan's direction. "Oh please, don't start a fight now, Harvelle!"
Jo scoffs. "As if you wouldn't like to see that."
"I would," Dean agrees, a fleeting smile flickering over his features against his will. "But this is a freaking wedding and Kali … she scares me! I don't wanna ruin her day."
Castiel actually has to agree with him here.
Very wise words indeed.
"Ethan is a douche," Dean continues. "He treated you like shit back then and even now he tried to play his stupid mind games by messing with our heads, but it's still –"
Jo snaps to attention right away. "He did what?"
Dean winces. He obviously didn't mean to share this information right this instant. "Jo …"
"No, no, tell me what you mean by that!" she urges, her jaw clenching. "What did he do?"
Dean groans. He clearly would like to be anywhere else but here right now. "We really should postpone this –"
"No, carry on!" She folds her arms across her chest, looking actually a bit terrifying despite her slender frame. "What did he do to you? Because if that asshole seriously dared to get to you –"
She's apparently ready for murder, so it appears. Seemingly that huge protective instinct goes both ways.
"He attempted to insinuate that Dean would 'cheat' on you because of his close connection to me," Castiel offers in the end since Jo probably wouldn't let it go and Dean doesn't seem keen to share. "He feigned concern for you, but at the same time he tried to have everyone – me, you, the bridesmaids – overhear, most likely hoping for a scandal."
Dean narrows his eyes at him, probably not happy with Castiel for spilling the beans like that, but is soon enough distracted by Jo gritting her teeth so loudly even the people in the front row might hear it.
"Are you … are you serious?" she hisses.
"Jo –"
"This is going too far!"
"Nothing happened!" Dean tries to reason with her. "Well, okay, something, uh …" He glances sheepishly at Castiel. "No one became violent, so there is that. No one got hurt. Physically, at least."
Emotionally, that's a whole different department.
Jo huffs at that. "I don't care. He's got no right to mess with you!"
And then she all of a sudden rushes to the front, right where the minister stands, obviously preparing himself for the ceremony. He looks at Jo confused as she suddenly claims his spot in the spotlight instead of lining herself up with the other bridesmaids in the background.
"Hello, ladies and gents," she bellows, loud enough to get anyone's attention. "How are you doing on this beautiful day?"
Most of the guests just blink at her bewildered, probably wondering who the hell she even is, but some start to cheer and whoop like they're expecting a great show. Castiel notices Balthazar as one of them, most likely still a bit drunk from the night before and more than ready to party on.
"Well, that's good to hear." Jo smiles into the crowd. "We've got a bunch of awesome stuff ahead of us, so there's, without any doubt, more than enough reason to be excited. Weddings, cakes, sex in the closet …"
Dean grumbles underneath his breath as he simultaneously hurries to cover Emma's ears. He doesn't seem surprised at his friend's forwardness though, so it's fair to assume it isn't the first time Jo forgot she's in the presence of minors.
"But before we're getting to the fun part, there is just one tiny thing I've been dying to do for ages now," Jo says, her grin becoming strained now. "And maybe a wedding is the worst place to do this, but hell, there are some bastards in the world who just don't give a damn, am I right? Who think it's their fucking right to cheat on their girlfriends and afterwards mess with their heads and their new relationships."
Both Castiel and Dean immediately glance toward Ethan who looks rather uncomfortable all of a sudden. He sinks down further on his chair while obviously praying that Jo wouldn't call out any names.
"You know, I wanted to crush the guy's nuts when it happened," Jo continues, her eyes brimming as if she's picturing that specific scenario in vivid detail. "I wanted him to cry and bleed and regret his life choices. But hey, deep down I'm a reasonable girl, so I left my knife collection at home."
A few laugh, but the better part of the attendees still seem highly puzzled about what's happening right now.
Apart from Ethan, of course. He starts to get a bit pale while studying Jo as though he expects her to pull some sharp weapons out of her dress and throw them forcefully into his chest any second now.
"You know, some people are just scumbags," Jo says, rising her voice so that even the people in the last row can hear her perfectly. "They think they're allowed to do whatever they want without having to worry about consequences. They believe it's their fucking right to hurt others, once, twice, countless times." She takes a deep breath. "And unfortunately I let myself get affected by that."
Dean tenses beside Castiel, watching his friend intently while making sure that Emma wouldn't listen to a thing. The girl appears overly unperturbed by the current events and Castiel can't help wondering how often this has happened before.
"The guy who dumped me mercilessly after cheating on me for weeks decided to come to this wedding as well," Jo announces. "It's Ethan McCallan, by the way. Please give him a round of applause, ladies and gentlemen."
Every single pair of eyes lands on Ethan after that and Castiel has to stifle a laugh at the sight of his mortified face.
"He made me feel like shit so many times, even after we broke up," Jo says, anger wavering in her voice. "And I didn't even totally realize what he was doing, he's that good. He made me feel so inferior and less for being single that I saw myself compelled to make up a loving and healthy relationship. I asked my best friend Dean to pretend to be my freaking boyfriend 'cause I couldn't stand the thought of facing Ethan all on my own. He made me feel ashamed of being single. Of having no man by my side."
More glares are sent in Ethan's direction while he obviously prays to any deity he can think of to open the ground and swallow him whole.
"And Dean said yes since he's the most awesome guy ever, so please don't blame him for faking the whole thing in front of you." Jo's eyes fix on Castiel longer than anyone else, making it more than clear that she really hopes she didn't ruin everything with her charade. "He's good and sweet and head-over-heels for the best man apparently which caused a lot of drama in the last few days. Unnecessary drama, I might add, only because a douchebag got into my head.
"So I'm standing here, now, in front of you, to come clean. I'm single and I'm happy about that. Dean is single and I think he'd be rather happier if that would change sometime soon, at least according to the way he's looking at that dreamy, blue-eyed hottie over there."
Dean flushes deeply at her words, but he doesn't deny them in any way, and Castiel finds himself soaring.
He doesn't even give a fuck that the majority of the wedding party are looking at them now and both Balthazar and Gabriel are giving him a very enthusiastic thumbs up.
"And Ethan McGallan is a freaking asshole who deserves a good punch on the nose!" Jo states, an evil grin tugging at her lips. "So if you wanna kick his ass or spit in his drink, please do so." She sends Ethan a wink that doesn't promise anything good. "And just for the record, there is nothing embarrassing about being single. No one is lesser because of that! I know, media tells us constantly that we can't be happy without finding our true love or whatever, but that's bullshit! We are strong and independent and nobody has the right to tell us otherwise."
More people are loudly cheering now, obviously wholeheartedly agreeing with Jo while simultaneously glowering at Ethan. Jo smiles broadly, enjoying her well-deserved payback.
"This is all very empowering and I'm super proud of you," suddenly another voice exclaims from somewhere in the background who suspiciously sounds like Kali, "but this is a frigging wedding, for crying out loud, so please try to be at least a little romantic about it?"
The guests begin to laugh as Jo pulls a face.
"Ah yes, sorry, Kali," she apologizes. Turning toward the people she adds, "And though of course the individual is very important and we shouldn't feel pressured by society or stupid exes to feel like we're not whole, like we're missing something, sometimes there are two people who are just meant to be. Two strong individuals, amazing on their own, but even more amazing as a pair. So let's just get this party started!"
She gets an enthusiastic round of applause for that as she bows exaggeratedly and eventually rushes back to the back to line up with the other bridesmaid for the show to begin.
Castiel straightens himself, glancing at Gabriel who starts to get into position, looking nervous and anxious and so frigging happy Castiel's heart almost bursts.
And it doesn't stop as he looks back at Dean who is led to his seat by a rather excited Emma, though his eyes are still fixed on Castiel, as though he couldn't bring himself to avert his gaze.
And Castiel realizes he's got a lot to be thankful for today.
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The whole wedding ceremony is more or less a blur for Dean.
He sees colors and people and he hears some faint noises which might be voices, but mostly he's unable to take his eyes off Castiel. His gaze is fixed, glued on the spot, and nothing is able to break it.
(Okay, it's distracted for like a millisecond when Kali has her big entrance, somehow looking even more breathtaking than in the dressing room before, and Dean finds himself slaw-jacked while Gabriel apparently fights back some major happy tears at the sight of her.)
Castiel looks relaxed and soft, everything what Gabriel needs to not freak out and have a heart attack right there, and Dean can't help thinking that this is exactly what he needs in his life. Just a steady presence who is capable of calming him down and making his messy everyday life a little less messy. Someone warm and gentle, someone who has no problem bringing everyone around them back down to earth.
Dean had more than enough chaos in his life.
He seriously is ready for some Castiel now.
Preferably for a very long time.
Dean gets so lost in his daydreams that he totally misses the height of the ceremony and suddenly finds himself in the midst of an excited crowd while the bridal couple is kissing. Dean joins the clapping, absorbs the glee around him, and once again his eyes level on Castiel.
Who is staring right back at him.
It seems like a promise for a very good future.
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After the wedding is over Dean's more than ready to grab Castiel and finally settle everything straight. Get his well-prepared speech on the road and clear the air for good.
He's so ready.
And so frigging nervous.
But mostly ready.
He thinks, at least.
However, then the wedding party is wrapped up in the longest photo session in existence and Dean's anxiety level starts to rise again as time ticks by.
Thankfully he's got Emma by his side. Instead of playing with the pile of puppies all the other kids are gleefully occupied with, she simply took her father's hand and started to ramble about the most random stuff, obviously in an attempt to quiet him down.
And it actually helps. Knowing that whatever might happen, he'll always have his baby girl, is seriously the most soothing thing Dean could think of.
So he finds himself relaxing as he listens to her talking about her uncle's bad cooking skills (and she's totally right about that, Sam can't cook for shit) until he registers movement from the corner of his eyes, indicating people returning to the venue.
Dean holds his breath, however, it's Jo who arrives first. Apparently the photographer is finished with the bridesmaids (for now) and focuses on best man/maid of honor as well as close family.
Dean has no idea how long this will take, but he's starting to lose his nerves.
"Oh my God, look at you." Jo laughs as she pinches his cheek like he's a six-year-old and she's a grandma with candies in her pockets. "You're a wreck."
Dean grinds his teeth. "Jo –"
"Damn, you're really gone on the guy, huh?" She shakes her head in disbelief. "How did I not see this before? It's so obvious."
Dean takes a moment to realize she addressed her last question to Emma who's got a smug expression on her face which honestly looks a bit terrifying on a little child. "'Cause you're blind, Jo."
Jo snickers in delight. "And you, mylady … you've seen it coming a mile away, haven't you? All this matchmaking. You even made them have breakfast in bed together!" She throws her head back in laughter. "God, you're a genius! I need you as my wingwoman!"
Dean grimaces at the thought. "Really, Jo?"
"Oh c'mon, she's amazing!" Jo insists. "She got immediately that her dear old dad has the hots for a dude while the rest of us mere humans stayed oblivious – well, apart from Kali, obviously, but she's a Goddess, so that doesn't really count –"
"Again, I'm really sorry I never said anything, but there was honestly nothing to tell –"
"Hush, hush," Jo cuts in, waving her hand in front of his face to shut him up. "We talk about this later. About all your sweet, cute semi-crushes in the past – I mean, Dr. Sexy is probably right on top of that list, next to that Marine buddy of your dad's, am I right? I mean, I always thought you had been drooling over that nice uniform, but I guess you were more interested in the whole, muscly, godlike package –"
Dean's cheek are basically aflame. "Jo!" he hisses in warning.
"All right, all right." She rolls her eyes. "Don't get your panties in a twist, I'm just teasing a little bit. I'm actually really proud of you for standing up to your feelings."
Dean squints his eyes, waiting for the snarky remark that would have usually followed that statement, but when she just stays silent and simply smiles at him, he lifts a brow in suspicion. "Seriously?"
She shrugs. "What can I say? Weddings obviously make me emotional."
And then she hugs him, briefly, as if she's afraid someone might see, but Dean feels the warmth and sincerity anyway. He knows he will have a lot to answer to and most likely endure countless inappropriate comments and teasing, but he finds himself smiling nonetheless. They're good and that's all that matters to him right now.
"Cas!" Emma suddenly exclaims and Dean tenses up right away.
Castiel apparently managed to escape the photographer for the time being as he steps closer to them, his face so unreadable that Dean has no fucking clue if he anticipates or dreads further interactions with the other man. At least he seems a bit stiff, like he's not really sure how his limbs work anymore.
"My face hurts," he announces. "I hate smiling."
Dean merely frowns, not sure what to respond, but Jo takes over without further ado. "I feel you. I mean, all the "more, I need more, yes, more teeth, show me your teeth" – God, I wanted to punch that dude!"
Castiel and Jo continue to chat for a bit about their shared experience while Emma grabs his hand and squeezes it in a reassuring manner, apparently well aware of her father's anxiousness and eager to comfort him somehow.
Damn, he's got the best little girl in the whole wide world.
"How about we leave the two gentlemen alone for a bit?" Jo suddenly proposes, holding her hand out for Emma to take. "I guess they have a lot to talk about."
Emma eyes Jo for a moment before she leans closer to Dean, whispering, "Don't forget, he's an angel. Angels are watching over you, Daddy."
Dean's throat feels dry all of a sudden as he nods.
He watches both Emma and Jo leave and he wonders not for the first time how he could ever end up that lucky. It isn't so long ago, just a few years actually, when he never would've thought to feel like this. Content, whole. Loved.
It seemed like an utopia.
Granted, he always had love in his life, but still, there was a lot of crap too, and he never would've guessed that he could one day live without that constant dark cloud above his head.
But here he is now.
With the most amazing daughter, his favorite baby brother and wonderful friends.
And Castiel.
Whose whole face had softened at the little exchange between Emma and Dean. Like he couldn't imagine anything more valuable.
"How about we go inside?" Castiel suggests after a moment. "After Jo's impressive speech at the altar I feel like everyone is watching us."
Dean blinks. He didn't really pay attention before, way too squirmy about what to come, but now, as he lets his gaze wander around for a bit, he suddenly notices a bunch of people glancing in their direction, some subtly, some shamelessly.
"Though it's not entirely for the worst," Castiel continues, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Ethan seems highly uncomfortable by all the attention. I don't think he will stay for much longer."
Dean feels pride swelling in his chest at that. "Yeah, Jo got him real good."
He looks around, hoping to catch a last glimpse at the asshat before he'd chicken out and flee the scene, but unfortunately he only meets other people's gazes looking both at them standing so close together with interest.
Yeah, they should really relocate their conversation.
"How about we clear out then?" he suggests. "I seriously don't wanna put on a show for them."
Castiel doesn't hesitates after that. He gently takes Dean's hand in his – and Dean can't help his enormous blush – and leads him inside, toward the dressing room where Dean blurted out his feelings for the the entire world to hear just earlier.
As soon as Castiel closes the door behind them and Dean realizes that they're truly alone a new wave of nervousness washes over him, almost making him dizzy. Castiel seems to register his tension right away as he lets go of Dean's hand and takes a step back, most likely to give him the opportunity to collect his thoughts without overwhelming him too much.
"Uh …" Dean says eloquently as he fidgets all over the place.
Castiel, meanwhile, doesn't seem in any kind of hurry to fill the sudden silence between them. He merely stares at Dean, his gaze soft and full of hope, and he most likely would've been more than content to stay this way for hours on end, not even blinking.
And well, Dean isn't totally averse to getting lost in those amazing blue eyes of his, but still, he has some stuff to say.
"I'm sorry," he blurts out. "I know, you said you're not mad, but I still feel guilty as hell for this whole mess. I never meant …" He exhales loudly. "The very first minute I saw you I should've told you the truth right away. But I guess I freaked out and went with the lie and –"
"Dean," Castiel cuts in, his tone gentle. "I really don't blame you. Granted, it's not nice being somewhat deceived, but I understand your intentions. It's very sweet that you're supporting Jo in that way. I don't think I have a friend who would do such a thing for me."
Dean offers him a lopsided smile. "Besides me, of course."
Castiel lifts his eyebrows, his face undecipherable for a long moment, and Dean is already starting to panic that he said something wrong here, but then Castiel's features soften. "Well, I really hope we will never reach a point where we have to pretend to be in a relationship."
Dean's heart does a wild somersault at the indication in his voice. "Um …"
Damn, this is getting way too much.
"However, I appreciate your honesty and accept your apology," Castiel says, obviously realizing how important this is to Dean. "Though I'm fairly sure you never outright lied to me, am I right?"
Dean's eyes widen. "No, no, no, I didn't –"
He shakes his head so vigorously that his neck begins to hurt.
"I figured as much," Castiel tells him. "To be quite frank, I found it a bit odd that you barely mentioned Jo and never once called her your 'girlfriend', but I simply assumed that you very private in that matter."
Dean snorts. "Believe me, if I had an awesome girlfriend, I'd brag about it all the time." He swallows audibly and fights back the urge to drop his gaze. "Or … or a boyfriend."
Castiel seems rather pleased by that confession as he steps closer, making Dean shudder. He can't recall the last time the proximity of another person had such an effect on him that even the sensation of warm breath on his skin almost drives him crazy.
"So everything was true between us," Castiel says, almost in a whisper. "Your words, your actions …"
"Everything!" Dean confirms.
"Also all those lovely things you said," Castiel continues. "Right before I ran off. About me being funny and gorgeous …"
"Everything!" Dean states once more, with emphasis.
He won't take back anything he said. Admittedly, it hadn't been intentionally but more like his mouth running away from him and forgetting any kinds of filters, but seeing Castiel's eyes now, so bright and happy, Dean knows it's been worth it.
"And I can't help wondering …" Castiel chews his bottom lip as he tilts his head. "Is this … new? A new development?" He seems somewhat nervous now while he grabs Dean's sleeve and absently starts to play with it. "Because I remember … the story you told me, about your crush in high school –"
"You!" Dean interrupts because what the hell? It's obviously confession time and he won't hold back anymore! "It's been you!"
Though he most likely suspected as much, Castiel still appears surprised by Dean's words. "You … really?"
Dean begins to fidget. "You have no idea, right?" He shakes his head in disbelief. "The first time you smiled at me, I was a goner. I couldn't stop thinking about you and it kinda freaked me out 'cause I've never felt like that before – for a guy … or like anyone, really."
"So that's why you avoided me," Castiel realizes.
Dean winces at the reminder. "Not my finest hour. I was really stupid back then."
Castiel instantly squeezes his wrist. "You were never stupid, Dean."
Dean would like to argue on that, but damn, that conviction in Castiel's voice is hard to contradict.
"Well, maybe not dumb-stupid, but, well …" He shrugs. "I missed out on something amazing 'cause I was too blind to see what was right in front of my eyes. I only thought about the problems it might cause – getting to know you and dealing with my own feelings and all that –, but never about how awesome it might've become."
Castiel's demeanor gentles. "You were at a bad place back then. It's understandable that you would rather see the dark sides than the good ones."
Dean nods, once again astonished how well this guy seems to know him already. "Yeah," he mumbles. "That's why I'm actually glad all of this happened the way it did."
Castiel tilts his head. "What do you mean?"
"I was an ass back then," Dean says and instantly raises his hand in warning as Castiel opens his mouth, obviously keen to protest. "I was, Cas. I was fed up with my own problems and the only thing that mattered was making Sammy happy. And if we … if we would've become friends back then … or maybe even more …" He clears his throat awkwardly as he lowers his gaze. "I probably would've hurt you at some point. I was young and overstrained and constantly exhausted … yeah, I would've done or said something immensely stupid at some point, maybe even on purpose. To push you away or whatever. You would've hated me and likely never spoken to me again."
Castiel stays quiet after that, but his eyes, so intense and alive, say everything Dean needs to know.
"It's better we're meeting like this again," Dean continues, a smile pulling at his lips. "We're mature, we're settled, I've got an amazing daughter, you've got your dogs and your business …"
Castiel chuckles softly. "So you're saying we're responsible adults now who can make this between us last?"
Dean flushes as he rubs the back of his neck bashfully. "Um, kinda, yeah."
Castiel inclines his head and looks like he's seriously contemplating Dean's words. "You're not wrong," he admits eventually. "Though I still think you should give your younger self more credit. He may surprise you."
Warmth floods through Dean's entire system. "Perhaps you're right."
Dean has no idea who moves first, but suddenly they're merely inches apart, Castiel's nose brushing against his as they both try to drown in each other's eyes. Dean never felt so much anticipation before and his heart beats like crazy, on the verge of crushing through his ribcage.
"Are you finished?" Castiel asks, his voice so low and rough Dean can't help shuddering all over. "Did you get everything off your chest? Because I would really like to kiss you now, but if there's something else –"
"I'm good," Dean hurries to say, the blush on his cheeks so prominent it feels like it's burning his skin. "I'm totally good. We can … uh, do that … if you want, of course –"
Castiel doesn't hesitate even a second as he suddenly grabs Dean's collar and pulls him into a kiss.
Well, it's probably supposed to be a kiss, but their teeth clatter together and their foreheads connect in a very painful way and Dean finds himself rather laughing than doing anything else with his mouth. Damn, in movies this always looks so freaking smooth and romantic.
"God, we're so lame already," Dean says chuckling.
Castiel snickers as well, obviously not unsettled by his failed attempt at taking the initiative. "I don't know about you, but I sort of like lame."
Dean's goes fond. "Yeah," he whispers. "I like it, too."
The first brush of lips is tentative, exploring. They don't even shut their eyes but instead get a bit lost in one another's gazes, and Dean can't recall he's ever been that intimate with someone else before. Granted, he had his fair shade of close contact with other people, but damn, this feels so much different. On a whole new level.
Like there's nothing on earth than the two of them.
Eventually they deepen the kiss and Dean's lids fall closed as he saviors the sensation of pure bliss. Castiel's lips are chapped and soft at the same time and Dean can't imagine ever getting enough of them. His stomach is swooping, dancing, fluttering, churning as he wraps his arms around Castiel's body and pulls him closer.
Meanwhile, Castiel's hand finds its way to Dean's nape, playing with the short hair there, while he makes all those soft and pleased noises that Dean is quite sure he'll dream about tonight.
Yeah, he'll dream about a lot tonight.
He's gonna sleep like a baby, that's for sure.
At some point he can't contain his stupid grin and kissing gets suddenly kind of impossible. Dean tries, he truly does, but once he starts he's unable to wipe the smile off his face.
"We're really lame," he whispers, his voice so raw as if he hadn't used it in weeks.
Castiel's fingers run through Dean's hair, making him shiver from top to bottom. "I won't tell anyone."
Dean wants to say something witty and creative, but soon enough he finds himself lost in Castiel's stunning blue eyes again and he leans in once more, smiling into the kiss.
And the one after that.
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Dean doesn't know how long they take, but eventually they return back to the wedding.
He would've been perfectly happy with staying in that spare room for the rest of the day (the rest of the week, the month, all his life even), however, Castiel rightfully pointed out, after they finally managed to separate their lips from each other for more than a split second, that they would be missed at some point, especially with Castiel being the best man and all, and people would start looking for them.
And yeah, Dean honestly didn't want anyone accidentally stumble upon them pressed so close together, not an inch between them, their bodies radiating heat all over the place …
Yep, Dean seriously didn't need that.
It's bad enough that it's more than obvious what they have been up to. Castiel's hair is absolutely disheveled and his lips so kiss swollen it's impossible to miss and Dean figures he doesn't look much better himself. At least he notices a lot of knowing looks shooting his way as they return to the venue.
But dammit, he got himself the hottest guy present, so there's really nothing to be ashamed about!
So instead of blushing he winks at them, probably appearing like an overly happy puppy in the process.
"Daddy!" a familiar voice suddenly exclaims and before he knows it his daughter is rushing right toward him and stretching out her arms. "Up, up, up."
She hasn't done this since she was three years old, but damn, it still pushes all of Dean's buttons and he can't resist her sweet angel face. He instantly scoops her up while ignoring the stabbing pain in his back.
Emma beams as she wraps her arms around Dean's neck. "I've missed you."
"Aw, we haven't been away that long, right?" Dean wonders, glancing over his shoulder at Castiel who only shrugs his shoulders in response, apparently not the wiser. "But we totally missed you, too, of course."
Emma seems satisfied with that answer before leaning closer and whispering, "Did you do it? Did you kiss him?"
She's probably trying to be stealthy, but Castiel is seemingly able to hear her just fine as he smiles amused at her question.
Dean chuckles and squeezes her a bit tighter. "Well, he kissed me."
Emma squeals delighted at the information. "He did?"
Dean nods. "He did," he agrees. "And I liked it. Very much." Very much. Almost ridiculously so. "And I think he liked kissing me, too."
"I did," Castiel says. "Very much."
His warm expression as he looks at Dean like he's never seen anything more precious before makes Dean's insides melt. No one ever looked at him like that before. He didn't even know something like that actually happens outside of cheesy rom-coms.
Emma glances back and forth between them, her grin spreading her face, then she turns toward the rest of the wedding party and announces, "Cas kissed my daddy!"
She gets laughter and fond coos in response while both Dean and Castiel are busy not to blush too much.
A quite futile endeavor when he realizes that Gabriel obviously made sure that the guy who records the wedding got everything on camera.
"Are you boyfriends now?" Emma wonders, getting their attention back in no time at all.
"Uh …"
"So Cas can over to our place all the time," Emma says, radiant with joy. "And we can go to his house and meet his dogs. And we can make cookies and pie. And he can meet Uncle Sammy and Uncle Bobby …"
"Emma –"
"And he can meet Grandpa, too," she continues, like a force of nature. "And he can tell me bedtime stories and make me angel tea when I'm sick again. And he can come with us on the road trip, right, Daddy?"
Dean feels a bit like he's getting whiplash.
"Honey …"
"You wanna him come with us, right?" Emma asks, tightening her grip around his neck. "We can sing songs in Baby and you can buy us chocolate and we can sleep in a hotel and watch M*A*S*H together –"
Castiel steps forward and lays his hand on her head. "How about slowing it down for a bit?" he proposes, thankfully looking rather amused than freaked out by Dean's overenthusiastic daughter. "I love making vacation plans, but I haven't even danced with your father yet. One step at a time."
Emma's eyes widen as if the lack of any dancing is a serious crime. "Oh no, you have to dance with your boyfriend first. That's important."
Dean expects Castiel to correct her phrasing, but instead he simply smiles gently. "You're right, it's very important."
Dean's heart skips a beat at the indication.
Is this seriously his life right now?
"Um … I'm not really good at dancing," Dean admits after putting Emma back on the ground and turning toward Castiel. "Never have been, to be honest."
"That's okay," Emma pipes in. "Cas can teach you. He's a great teacher."
Warmth floods Dean's whole system as he recalls Castiel teaching his baby girl some dance moves just a few days ago. He's sure he'll remember this picture and the intense emotions it brought with it until his dying day.
Castiel takes his hand and leans closer, his lips brushing over Dean's earlobes as he whispers, "Don't worry, Dean. I'll watch over you."
Dean finds himself grinning brightly.
He doesn't doubt this even for a second.
Damn, he never thought, when Jo knocked on his door all these weeks ago and persuaded him to play her boyfriend, that he would end in the arms of the man he's been crazy over since forever and look into a hopefully bright and happy future.
But here they are.
And Dean doesn't want it any other way.