Haha you know what I noticed? Every time this story is updated, it's the same day one of my favorite stories is updated on this site...haha connection? Probably. Every time that story is updated it puts me in a really good mood, haha. So, if you want this story to get updated soon, go pester them, yeah? lol.

Haha anywho...

Sorry for the wait, I guess.

This chapter came out differently than I would have thought, but I guess it's still okay, lol. Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews! I really appreciate it and it makes me want to write more!

Onward!

Chapter Nine

"Sit down," Castiel said with a scowl as he grabbed his cousin's arm and tugged him down so he would sit properly on the bed next to him. The two of them were waiting for Dean to arrive, and Gabriel was being his usual hyper-active self. He wouldn't sit still and even though Castiel was sure he had some chocolate stashed somewhere on his person, he wasn't pulling it out and he wasn't sharing.

"Sorry," Gabriel said with a wide grin. "I'm just excited to meet your boyfriend! This is like your first relationship ever, right, Cassie?"

Castiel shifted a little uncomfortably because that was mostly true. Unless the girl in first grade counted when she'd kissed him on the cheek and had stated that they were going to be wed by the second grade. Of course that had failed to happen, but still. He was sure it didn't count, and that did mean that this was his first real relationship.

"Aw, don't be embarrassed about it," Gabriel chuckled, lightly nudging him with his elbow. "So, tell me, how awesome are the sexy times, exactly?"

Castiel quickly flushed red. "Gabe!" he hissed, shoving at him lightly.

"What? I'm curious! It's not often I see you this interested in someone, Cassie!"

"God, you're just like a teenage girl," Castiel grumbled, scrubbing a hand over his face as he tried to hide his embarrassment. He couldn't wait for Dean to arrive, but he hoped that his face would go back to its original pale color by then. He didn't even want to think about what would happen if Dean were to find out about his embarrassment.

"What's to be embarrassed about?" Gabriel asked with a casual roll of his shoulders. "You love him, right?"

"I am not talking to you about this," Castiel muttered, crossing his arms over his chest in an effort to show his stubbornness so Gabriel would end this conversation.

But if there was one word to describe Gabriel, it was 'determined'. He didn't stop until he got what he wanted.

"Why not? I'm your favorite cousin, right?"

"Michael's looking pretty good to me right now," Castiel told him with a sigh.

"Aw, that hurts, Cassie," Gabriel said with mock hurt, placing a hand over his heart. "It stabs right here. You wound me."

"I can't believe I'm introducing the two of you…" Castiel collapsed backward on his bed, sighing as he stared up at the ceiling. "This is going to be a disaster."

"Nah, I doubt that," Gabriel said, smirking as he leaned over Castiel and poked him in the chest. "Get up. We have much to discuss before lover-boy gets here."

Castiel glared up at the ceiling. "Can't we just wait in silence like normal cousins?"

"Pfft, since when is that normal? And if it is, since when are we normal? Me? I'm shocked, Cassie. C'mon, let's talk and gossip."

"Only you would think that was interesting," Castiel grumbled as he sat up finally, knowing a losing battle when he saw one. It was pretty obvious that Gabriel wasn't going to be giving in any time soon.

Soldier stood from where he'd been laying on the floor and approached them, wagging his tail as Castiel put a hand down to trail across his head.

"So, I hear Dean gave you dog for Christmas, yeah?" Gabriel inquired, hiding a smirk but Castiel could see it nevertheless.

"Um. Yeah."

"Aw, how cute."

Castiel shook his head. "Are you sure you're not some teenage girl in a guy's body?"

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "So, are you going to start talking or what?"

"Or what."

"Cassie."

"Don't call me that."

"C'mon. Otherwise I will just have to bring this up while Dean's here and embarrass the both of you."

Castiel narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't."

"I would," Gabriel said smugly. "So talk."

Castiel sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine," he mumbled.

"Goody." Gabriel whipped out a candy bar and tore at the wrapper, quickly opening it to gnaw on the fine chocolate. As usual, he didn't offer any to Castiel.

Figures.

"What do you want me to talk about?" Castiel asked uneasily, feeling nervous. He didn't want to talk to Gabriel about Dean. It felt strange. His relationship with Dean just was and rehashing over small details wasn't going to change anything, right? So why talk?

But it was clear Gabriel wasn't going to be giving up any time soon, and he also knew his cousin meant what he said. He would do whatever it took to get his way. And thus he would certainly bring it up when Dean was there, so it was better to just go ahead and get it over with before his boyfriend arrived.

He couldn't wait to see Dean - he had been acting strangely the past few days, almost a little distant, like he had something heavy on his mind. He'd always been fine in Drama Club, though, almost as though he could relax there or something. Castiel wanted to ask him about it, of course, but he also didn't want to intrude. Dean had been through a lot lately, what with his uncle dying and having to help Castiel whenever his parents started arguing too loudly, and so he just figured he'd give Dean a little time until things settled down. But if things continued, he was certainly going to talk to Dean about it.

"Details," Gabriel said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Castiel rolled his eyes. "Absolutely not."

That was one thing he was certainly not going to talk about, and especially not with his over-eager cousin.

"Fine. How often do you two talk?"

"Uh…on the phone usually every night and then at school and Drama Club, I guess," Castiel said, frowning at him. "Why?"

"No reason," Gabriel said, grinning as he finished his candy bar. He licked his fingers clean. "What's he look like?"

Castiel flushed. "Why?"

"Well, I want to know what I'm getting myself into when he comes over. I don't want to be shocked, do I? Why? Is he hideous?" He grinned.

"No," Castiel said with a scowl.

"Well then?"

"Why do I have to do this?"

"Because I'm your favorite cousin," Gabriel teased.

"He, um…has blonde hair. Green Eyes. Freckles." Castiel shrugged. "So there."

"That's it? You've been dating this guy for like a year and that's all you have to say about his looks?" Gabriel sighed. "Tsk. I have much to teach you, grasshopper."

Castiel narrowed his eyes at him. "What do you mean?"

"Can you not describe him any better?"

"Does it matter? You're going to see him soon anyway. He should be here any time."

Gabriel shrugged. "So? C'mon."

Castiel scowled at him again. "Can't you just leave this alone?" he complained, scratching Soldier behind the ear. Soldier suddenly perked up and ran toward the window, wagging his tail. Castiel heard the sound of the Impala pulling up outside, and smiled to himself, knowing the questioning would end now. Plus Dean was here, and that was always a bonus in his mind. "He's here."

Gabriel stood and looked out the window, smirking. "Impala, eh?"

"Yeah, he loves the car. Don't trash it," Castiel warned, not wanting the two of them to get off to a bad start. If they didn't get along, then there would be some awkward conversations here tonight. Then again, with Gabriel there, things could get awkward either way, really.

Gabriel was supposed to be staying here tonight. It was Friday, after all. Dean was supposed to be staying, too, if things turned out well. Castiel hid a smirk at the thought. He missed sharing a bed with Dean, after all. He liked waking to that warmth.

Sadly, they'd had to push back the date of when they were going to get their own place. They had agreed to wait for the time being, until things with Justin's death died down and they had more money. It just seemed easier that way. Castiel couldn't wait to move in with Dean, though. To him, it couldn't come soon enough.

"Wait here," Castiel sighed as he slipped out of the room and down the stairs to greet Dean. No one else was down there, thankfully. Michael, his aunt and uncle weren't staying here at the moment and his parents were in the kitchen, he believed. And Jimmy? He was probably in his room playing video games or something, he wasn't sure.

He opened the door as Dean approached the porch. Dean looked up and smiled at him, which in turn caused Castiel to smile back just as warmly. He couldn't help it - it was contagious. He slipped his arms around his boyfriend as Dean entered the house and kicked the door closed behind him. Soldier came barking down the stairs, his tail wagging happily as he jumped up to greet Dean. Dean chuckled and scratched at the dog's furry head.

"Nice to see you too," Dean said with a smirk to the dog, and then he shifted his gaze toward Castiel, letting him know the words were for him as well. Castiel smiled.

"Glad you could make it," Castiel said.

Dean nodded. "So…where's your cousin?"

"My room," Castiel sighed. "I have to warn you, he's a little…um…eccentric…and strange…and he hordes chocolate."

Dean smirked. "So you've said. Let's see if we can make him fork over some of that chocolate, eh?" He winked and moved toward the stairs, carrying his overnight duffel across his shoulder. Castiel quickly followed after him, with Soldier taking the rear as they traveled up the stairs and down the hallway toward his room.

Dean rapped his knuckles twice against the door and then entered the room, tossing his duffel down next to the door like he always did. Castiel entered behind him and found Gabriel sitting happily on his bed.

"You must be Dean," Gabriel said with a grin, holding his hand out to be shaken. "I'm Gabriel, Cassie's cousin."

Dean's lips twitched in a faint smirk as he held his hand out as well and clasped it to Gabriel's. "I'm Dean. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Gabriel said, chuckling. "Cassie has told me much about you…though not as much as I would have liked to know." He sent a look toward Castiel which made him flush as he quickly averted his gaze.

Dean noticed and chuckled, rubbing awkwardly at the back of his neck. "Um…well then," he said slowly. "Do I even want to know?" This he directed at Castiel.

Castiel quickly shook his head. "No. No, you don't. Gabriel's just being his usual self, that's all."

"Right." Dean nodded like he understand, and Castiel thought that maybe he did.

"So, is the Impala yours?" Gabriel asked casually.

Castiel bit down on his lower lip, hoping Gabriel didn't say something wrong that set Dean off about his car. Dean was protective of that thing, after all, and he wanted tonight to go smoothly.

"Yeah," Dean said with a nod.

"I see. '67 was a good year," Gabriel commented.

Dean smirked. "Yeah it was. Nice to see you know your cars. I've tried teaching Cas but he seems to enjoy being ignorant about cars."

Castiel scowled while Gabriel grinned. "Yeah, Cassie's always been like that. Him and cars don't mix."

Dean nodded. "I've noticed," he said with a chuckle.

"I'm still here," Castiel grumbled. Dean chuckled again and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. That was actually a more massive sentiment than Gabriel probably realized, because Dean wasn't much of a touchy-feely person when other people were around. Sometimes in Drama Club and at lunch, sure, but that was around people they basically knew fairly well. To Dean, Gabriel was still mostly a stranger. So the sentiment meant a lot to him and made Castiel smile.

"So, Dean, any siblings?" Gabriel asked as he whipped out a candy bar. Dean and Castiel shared looks and grinned at each other while Gabriel watched them in confusion.

"Uh, yeah, a little brother," Dean told him. "You?"

"Older brother."

"Ah."

"Parents?"

"Just…my dad," Dean said, looking a little confused at the questions.

Castiel rolled his eyes. "Just wait and soon he'll be asking you what your blood type is," he promised.

"Lies!" Gabriel said while munching happily at his candy bar. "Any pets?"

"Nope."

"You got Cassie Soldier." It wasn't a question but a statement.

Dean shrugged and nodded. "Yeah…"

"Enough questions," Castiel said with a scowl. Cousin interrogations were lengthy. Was there soon going to be a cousin-lecture as well? First the brother-lecture and now this? "Who's up for ordering pizza?"

"Dude, do you even have to ask?" Dean said with a warm smile.

Castiel chuckled and grabbed the phone to dial. "I guess not."

Dean lay awake in bed the next morning, looking up at the ceiling. Mostly it was because he couldn't get back to sleep, but also his thoughts were kind of racing at the moment. Absently, he rubbed his thumb across the hand that was held in his as Castiel lay curled against him, nuzzling into him in his sleep. His breath was warm and welcome against Dean's neck.

Waking like this with Cas was always a treat, he had to admit. He enjoyed it, maybe even more than he enjoyed admiring his car. A faint smile crossed his face before it disappeared. He wished he and Cas could just move in together now or something, because he could really get used to waking like this every morning. However, money was an issue, as was the whole deal with Justin and the murderer.

Dean hadn't told Castiel about the murderer yet, or that they might potentially go after Dean and his family. He didn't want to worry him, after all. Plus he didn't really want to tell Cas that maybe they would have to leave. Dean would do whatever he could to stay, he vowed to himself as he listened to Castiel's deep breaths. He would do whatever it took to stay here with Cas, because leaving wasn't an option. Ever since Cas had come into his life that one day in Drama Club, he hadn't been able to imagine himself without him there. The thought took his breath away.

Sighing, he decided not to think on it too much right now. He wanted to just enjoy the moment.

Gabriel had been quirky last night. Eccentric, as Castiel had said, but he didn't seem like a bad guy or anything. In fact, Dean kind of liked him - he was amusing…and the dude always had chocolate stashed in various places on his person, and that could certainly come in handy.

Gabriel had finally been drawn away by the allure of Jimmy's video games across the hall, which had left Dean and Cas alone together, which was just nice.

Dean pressed a light kiss on Castiel's forehead, smirking as Cas nuzzled into him all the more, giving into a contented sigh.

Yeah, he decided.

He could definitely get used to this.

Haha quirky Gabe, eh? Lol anyway. Thanks for reading and please continue to review!

~Muffy the Dough Slayer~