Castiel put a full day in at the shop before putting in a solid three hours at home. He winced at a nagging ache in his lower back as he walked across the lawn. He hoped Dean had eaten a decent meal, he often couldn't be bothered to do much in the kitchen after spending his days at the bakery. Cas was shocked to find a pot tomato soup simmering on the stove and the ingredients for grilled cheese sitting on the counter. Dean was trying to hold Emily while he rummaged through the diaper bag on the kitchen table.
"What is she doing here this late?" He asked before pressing a kiss to Dean's cheek, and holding the bag more open to make the search easier.
"Sam is still out of town for that lawyer bull shi-ah... Stuff. Lawyer stuff." he glanced down at his niece, and shot Cas a sheepish look. "Anyway, he's still out of town and Jess got a call from this lady she used to help out. Poor woman fell down and it looks like she dislocated her shoulder. She doesn't have any kids or family so Jess was the only one she knew that could go to the hospital with her."
"Wow, I hope she's alright."
"Jess was a nurse there for four years, she knows how to pull the strings."
"I forgot she used to work there."
"Yeah. I think she'd go back if the hours they wanted her to work weren't so insane. She wasn't sure how long she would be at the hospital, so I offered to just keep the kid over night." He pulled out a pair of footed pajamas and waved them in triumph. Castiel smiled.
"Like she had to give you a reason to keep her for the night." Dean blushed slightly as he began to get Emily changed for bed. She kicked her chubby legs happily while her uncle gently wrestled her into the pink and purple fleece.
"Go take a shower and stop making fun of me. I'll make some grilled cheese when you aren't gross anymore." Cas feigned offense.
"Gross? I am covered with the blood, sweat, and tears of hard work!"
"Yeah, yeah, you smell like a gym sock." He picked Emily up and she immediately rested her head on his shoulder. "Shower, food, bed. Go." Cas chuckled to himself and left Dean to get the baby down for bed.
…
When Cas came back down the stairs, Emily was fast asleep in Dean's arms. He was still gently swaying her and humming something that sounded vaguely like a Kansas song. Castiel's heart swelled with love and affection.
"I think she's down for the count." He murmered. Dean nodded.
"Yeah, I just wanted to make sure she was really asleep before I took her up to the crib." He started for the steps. "I'll be right down to cook the sandwiches."
Cas poured himself a glass of milk and took a deep gulp. His tired muscles felt lose and relaxed after his shower, but he was grateful the Dean was offering to cook. He stretched and rolled his neck. All the projects he had lined up were either finished and needed to dry before being picked up or delivered; or on time to be finished within the next day or so. He was looking forward to being able to put all his concentration on Emily's birthday gift and other small items for the shop. Custom furniture was his bread and butter, but he relished the smaller, more intricate projects.
"Didn't even stir, man. She sleeps like a champ." Dean's voice broke Cas out of his reverie. "It's hard to believe she's gonna be one in a few weeks," he continued and started putting the sandwiches together. "Has Kat showed you the drawings of the cake she's making?"
"Not yet." Cas replied with a small smile. He rested his chin on his hands and listened to Dean describe Kat's wild plans.
"Of course I'm making the cake for the only guest that matters," Dean wrapped up the story and slid a plate and a bowl full of soup in front of Castiel. "I know, I'm getting all chick flick-y." He grinned self consciously and started slurping his soup.
"You're adorable with that baby." Dean's ears burned bright red. He shrugged and stuffed a quarter of his sandwich into his mouth. "Alright, I won't gush. But you are." Cas dipped his grilled cheese into the soup and took a healthy bite. "I know you're all about Emily's birthday bash right now, but Charlie asked me about the Halloween party at The Roadhouse."
"Oh, what about it?"
"Well, about what we were dressing up as."
"We're doing what now?"
"It could be fun!" Cas scratched the back of his head nervously.
"Yeah... Kat was talking about it the other day. I mean, she was talking more to Garth about it, but if Charlie and Jo are going too it would be fun. But nothing like, fruity."
"'Fruity'?"
"Like... No Batman and Robin couples theme... thing." Castiel barked out a laugh. "I'm serious ! I will not subscribe to the idea that Batman and Robin wanted to bang!"
"Okay Dean, no Batman and Robin. The dark knight shall remain decidedly heterosexual. Any other restrictions?"
"Uh, no tights. Just, no."
"No tights, I wholeheartedly agree." He reached over and squeezed Dean's hand. "I'm sure we can come up with something. Thank you for making dinner." The other man's green eyes twinkled with mischief.
"No problem. Of course that means you get to do dishes." Cas grimaced and huffed an annoyed sigh.
"Somehow you always manage to get out of dish duty, but deal."
…
"So Kat and Garth have been here for a while now." Cas blinked and looked up from the jewelry box he was working on.
"Charlie, we talked about this. You can't start a conversation with me when you've had the first half in your head."
"I just don't get them. They live together, which isn't really all that strange, but they have this weird... Thing." Castiel carefully set the wood burner down and pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"Are you trying to ask me if I think they are dating?"
"Who's dating?" Both siblings started as Jess banged into the shop, somehow balancing the baby, a diaper bag, a drink carrier, and a paper bag from Dean's bakery.
"The problem is we don't know if they're dating or not." Charlie replied, and jumped up to help Jess.
"Ah. You must mean Kat and Garth."
"How on earth did you know that's who she was talking about?" Jess raised and eyebrow at Cas and shifted Emily to her other hip.
"Because everybody's been talking about it?" She gestured at the drinks and bag. "I brought you guys breakfast. Or lunch, I have no idea what time it is. It's a thank you for taking Em last night." Cas pulled the bag out of Charlie's reach before his sister could dig in.
"She didn't do anything."
"That doesn't mean I don't get goodies!"
"I misspoke. It's a thank you and a bribe," Jess set Emily down by her feet and grabbed Charlie's hands. "Please take Em tonight. Sam gets back in this afternoon and I really want to have dinner with my husband with adult conversation."
"Aw, Sam won't mind? He's been gone for a week."
"Sam can spend all weekend with Emily. I need a grown up night. With grown up food. And grown up activities." Charlie barked a laugh.
"I get you, Mama. I can take the tiny human for the night."
"Thank you! Cas, give your sister a scone." Charlie accepted it and took a bite, looking very smug. "Alright guys, I have groceries in the car and Em needs lunch. And a nap."
"I can pick her up on my way home. All you'll have to do is put in the car seat."
"You are literally my favorite person right now." Jess hugged Charlie, leaned over to kiss Castiel's cheek. "Thank you again for last night, I know Dean did most of the work, but I'm glad you don't mind when she stays over."
"Don't worry about it, she's never any trouble." Jess scooped the baby into her arms, and the little girl squealed in delight.
"Okay, I love you guys. Thank you both again. Charlie, I'll see you later." Jess swept out of the shop, Emily babbling happily at them over her mother's shoulder.
"That lady needs to get LAID. I hope Sam isn't too tired after the drive back."
"Geez, Charlie." Cas sputtered.
"What? Like you don't agree with me. She's been flying solo with the kid all week. Except for last night, which she spent in the emergency room. I hope they eat some steak, knock back a nice bottle of wine and make some sweet, sweet love." Her brother cringed.
"It's not that I don't agree with you, it's just that they're family and it's a little weird picturing your family having sex."
"Alright so can we go back to wondering if Kat and Garth are hooking up? They've only been here a few months, and while we adore both of them I don't know if we've spent enough time together for them to be 'family'." Charlie ended her statement with air quotes. Castiel sighed and picked the wood burner back up.
"Wonder away..."
…
Dean picked up a pizza on his way home so the two of them spent their Friday night cuddling (a word Dean still hated using) on the couch with the greasy food and a bad movie on Netflix. Cas tried to forget that he still had to open the shop at eight o'clock the next morning.
"Do you think Kat and Garth are having sex?" He asked, his interest in the movie waning. Dean nearly choked on a bite of pizza.
"What?!"
"Apparently everyone is trying to figure out if they're a couple or not."
"Damn, why couldn't you have asked that? I work with them!"
"Well?"
"What?"
"Do you think they're having se-"
"Cas! I don't know!"
"Oh. Okay." He nudged Dean's arm to snuggle back under it.
"You're fucking weird, you know that?"