"He said yes," Jess said softly. "Sam, he said yes!"
Sam turned to her. His eyes were full of tears and there were more sliding down his face. "He did it," Sam choked out, laughing but crying.
"We should leave now,"Jess told him, tugging on his sleeve. "Give them time."
"Yeah." Sam allowed himself to be lead away gently by Jess, casting on last look at his brother and the Angel, both of whom had their eyes cast far up into the sky.
Dean glanced down at the ring. In the light of stars and the moon you couldn't tell many of the physical features on it but he felt the soft cravings of feathers. "Cas," he said softly.
"Yeah?"
"Are there... are there wings on this?" Dean held up his hand for Cas to see.
"Yes." Cas ran his hand over the ring, then threaded his fingers through Dean's. "Wait until you see it in full light."
"Alright." Dean leaned closer to Cas. "I can't believe you just...I mean, I had been planning to go out and get a ring soon."
Cas turned to look at him. "Really?"
"Yeah," Dean said with a snort. "I'm glad I didn't get it yet."
"I love you," Cas whispered, eyes following the trail of a shooting star. "I didn't know I could love someone that much."
Dean didn't say anything. He didn't have to, he knew that Cas was perfectly aware of how much he was loved. Dean gently kissed the top his head, easy to reach as Cas had been slouched against him. They stayed like that, eyes on the stars, leaning together as the pink light began to penetrate the blue horizon, simply content to be there, to be with each other.
When they finally walked into the house and lay down in their room, Dean finally got a good look at the ring. It was a hard silver color, an incredibly detailed wing wrapping around his finger, curling up at the end where two tiny stones were set. One green and one blue.
"Cas, it's stunning," Dean whispered in amazement. "It's..."
"I glad you like it," Cas said softly.
"Where did you get it?"
"Heaven."
Dean didn't even ask, he simply pressed himself more against Cas, until he heard his heart beating gently under his skin. Cas ran a hand through Dean's hair, comforting him, lulling him to sleep. When his breathing leveled out and his body went slack against Cas's, that was the only time the Angel allowed himself to close his eyes and drift into a sleep-like state.
They slept until around ten thirty when Dean stirred, opening his eyes to check the time. "Shit," he murmured, realizing how late it was. Cas groaned beside him, blinking blurry eyes. "Morning Babe."
"It's late," Cas noted. "How'd you sleep?"
"Fine. You?"
"Fine." Cas stretched and yawned, looking so incredibly human that Dean had to remind himself the man was still an Angel. His hair was wavy and stuck up, his eyes were blurry and sleepy. Dean gently kissed his cheek. "What was that for?" Cas asked.
Dean shrugged. "Just because," he said. He glanced down at his hand where the ring was. "So I didn't dream that."
"Nope," Cas said softly. "I'm assuming I didn't dream you saying 'yes' to marry me either then."
Dean tilted his head and smiled. "You know you're the only Angel I'll say yes to,"
Cas brushed his lips over the man's. "I love you," he said into that bright smile.
"I know."
The second Dean entered the kitchen, Cas trailing behind him, Sam stood up. "Dean!" he called.
"Heya Sammy," Dean said, an unusually cheerful air lingering around him. "Hi Jess."
"Oh my God, Dean," Sam said, his voicing breaking as he pulled his brother into a hug. "Congratulations."
Dean closed his eyes, grinning into his little brother's shoulder. "Thanks," he said softly, feeling tears prick behind his eyes. "You watched the entire thing, didn't you?"
Sam stepped away, looking flustered. "No!" he exclaimed. "Maybe...yeah."
"And I'm assuming Cas told you before he did it, correct?"
"No." Dean arched an eyebrow. "Yes," Sam added. "Cas?"
"Go ahead, Sam," Cas said softly, taking Dean's hand.
"He told Jess and I before you were even awake, just asked permission." Sam glanced away, feeling slightly uncomfortable under his brother's unwavering green gaze. "He didn't show us the ring. What does it look like?"
Dean grinned and held out his hand. Jess moved forwards to see it. "Wow," she said after a moment. "It's beautiful."
"Yeah. Cas, where the Hell did you find that?" Sam asked, eyes full of awe.
"Heaven," Cas answered. "The Angels helped me make it."
Dean stared at Cas. "You made this?" he exclaimed. "How? When?"
"It's hard to explain. Gabriel and Lucifer helped me make it about three, four, days ago."
"Oh! Is that when you were gone for, like, ten hours?" Dean asked, recalling how bored he had been surfing the Internet and picking through several of the books in their library.
Cas nodded. "I believe that was the time."
"Wow."
"Okay," Sam said, clapping once. "I have food, if anyone wants any."
Even though Dean's eyes snapped to Sam, Cas remained staring softly at the older Winchester. His eyes were full of the most tender love. "That sounds great, Sammy," Dean said. "What did you make?"
"Eggs, pancakes, and bacon," Sam replied. "Jess and I already ate." His eyes flicked to Cas who had not moved, gaze still on Dean, a smile on his lips.
"Okay," Dean said. "Thanks. Come on Cas." He gently pulled Cas towards the table.
"Actually, I need to talk to Sam. I'll catch up with you in a moment," Cas replied. "Promise, it'll just be in minute."
"Okay," Dean said, eyes flickering between Cas and Sam for a moment. "Take as long as you need." He turned and moved towards the table to serve himself breakfast.
Cas turned to Sam. "You wanted to talk with me?"
Sam looked stunned. "How'd you know?"
"You thought about it, I'm still an Angel, Sam." Cas glanced towards Dean. "Come out." He headed towards the hallway, Sam and Jess followed him. "What is it?"
"I'm kinda worried," Sam said softly. At Cas's look of confusion, he added, "not because of you. But Dean, you know he needs to be doing something."
"Yes?"
"I don't know how he'll cope with staying cooped up, I worried he'll take off, try and track some monster by himself and get hurt- or killed."
Cas's hard gaze turned Sam's blood to ice. "Do you honestly think I'd let that happen?" he asked, calm voice suddenly powerful, angelic.
"He knows how to ward himself against Angels," Sam said quietly. "Look, Cas, I know you love him, I know he loves you but understand where I'm coming from. I don't want anything to happen to him, I'm worried."
"Yeah, Cas, Dean's a restless spirit. He needs to move, he needs to save people, kill the monsters," Jess piped up. "You can't keep him cooped up."
"I won't," Cas said softly, his voice still carried all it's former power. "Dean won't leave, if he wants to hunt a case, I'll let him. I'm not a guard; he's not my prisoner. But if it concerns you I can tell you that if he leaves, I will find him and make sure he's safe. But I won't interfere with a hunt unless I have to."
"You might not be able to find him," Sam pointed out.
"I know he can ward himself against Angels," Cas replied calmly. "I've found you both before when you were warded. If you've forgotten, you have warding carved into your ribs."
"How then?" Sam asked. "How can you find us?"
"Prayer," Cas said. "The conscious way to reach me. Then longing, the subconscious trying to contact me in some way. How I found you after Purgatory, Dean needed me there so I was able to pinpoint where you were."
Jess's eyes widened. "Wow."
Sam nodded tersely. "I trust you."
"There is no higher compliment you could give," Cas said honestly. It was completely true, knowing Sam trusted him with the single thing he loved the very most in the entire world, the one thing he would do anything for was an honor Cas did not feel worthy of. But he knew he could do it, as long he drew breath Dean was safe.
And that was all that mattered.
