Forty-Four Years and a Thirty Minute Drive

A/N: So for those who do not know, Castiel's family is based off of Westboro Baptist Church people. They started protesting solider's funerals, in the mid 2000's and yes it is horrible. They also rewrite songs to be full of hate and anger which they then sing at their protests. So I thought wouldn't it be brilliant if people were to go there and only sing songs of love. Play musical instruments and just drown out the anger. Thus this story was born. Which makes me laugh that they inspired me to write my first slash story ever.

2011

When Castiel was 34 years old, he was listening to the radio at his job. DJ Tamara was talking about how there was that "family" protesting a solider. This time it was not a fallen solider but a living one. She was California solider named Madison who had just returned home; after being hurt in Afghanistan. But due to the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, she was getting married to her longtime girlfriend Jessica in Iowa, since they missed the window in California. And according to Tamara they, meaning the people who had raised him, were going to be across from the church on the wedding day. He flinched every time he heard about these events, he wondered just how far their fall would be.

And even though it broke his heart to see it, he would be there.

He drove through the small town, and could already see those who were there to go against the church. He followed cars into a public parking lot and parked in a spot under some birch trees.

That's when he heard him.

"Hey Sammy yeah I just pulled in…Where are you guys?...Oh okay."

Castiel couldn't believe it, okay he could, but still it was him.

"Dean?"

The man looked over and his face crossed from curious to wary.

"Castiel."

He did remember him, which he was not sure if that made it worse. Suddenly he had no idea what to say, his tongue was heavy. Dean however seemed to notice something.

"You do know you have a rainbow flag sticker on your car."

"What?"

"The rainbow flag."

"Yes. I put that there."

"You do know what it means."

"Yes, I do," he said trying to remember every single thing he wanted to say to this man for the past ten years.

Castiel had expected shouting from Dean, maybe a punch but a discussion about a rainbow sticker never even occurred to him.

"Listen I'm sorry for all that stuff years ago," said Castiel.

"What you mean saying I'm sin incarnate and going to hell. I know I shouldn't be angry," said Dean his voice laced with sarcasm, "But as a person I was a little offended and…"

"I'm gay."

"That doesn't change anything the fact of the matter is…" and suddenly his statement must have caught up with Dean. "Okay that changes things... Well I knew you were; but the fact that you're saying it aloud and have a rainbow sticker on what looks like a Prius along with an: Obama, Coexist and Green Party stickers. Hmm, wow, when you do a 180 you go for the whole shebang."

"Yeah," said Castiel with a laugh, "By acknowledging it, it did change me quite a bit. And you have to admit, me kissing you back all those years ago was a strong indicator I imagine."

"True. So you're here…"

"To play trumpet with you guys," said Castiel holding up his case. "You know if you're doing what you normally do."

Dean started to laugh and gestured to the guitar case and amp he was pulling out of his trunk.

They walked over to where the protests and counter-protests were taking place. Both men even though they shared one kiss, had an easy chemistry and Dean wondered if only things had not ended like they had all those years ago. Not knowing that Castiel over the years occasionally thought the same thing.

There were shocked looks from the tall man who Castiel remembered as Sam. He was leading the singers. His girlfriend Jo was holding a saxophone and talking with a group of four people. She smiled and shook his hand when introduced. Mary welcomed him with a hug and John gave him a hearty handshake. That's when he heard the people who raised him start to sing one of their made up songs about God hating people.

Mary stood at the front of the large crowd, assembled in front of the church and called for everyone's attention. She explained the ceremony would not be for a few more hours but still they would be playing music so the couple and their guests while they entered and got ready would not have to listen to the people across the street. Everyone had to organize by instruments and the singers to be behind the musicians.

Castiel was in a group with two other trumpeters. A teenage girl named Lucy and an older man named Wynton. The song, the one he learned this instrument for, is first on their set and he sees the group buzzing. He quietly confers with the other two and they tell him he can take lead for it.

"Okay, trumpets, you are going to start us off."

A brilliant conductor, Mary started by pointing at the three and so the song began. With each breath he expelled and note produced Castiel felt elated. Then the singers joined in he put down his instrument and sang along softly the one word he was always looking for; love.

When a few clear voices took the lead of the lyrics. He hit his marks and then the loud sound of Dean's electric guitar cut through. He looked over to see Dean looking at him, he didn't blush instead he smiled back at him. They held the look, and the strings joined in and Castiel had to get ready for his cue.

Castiel couldn't look back for the next few moments.

And then his moment to shine. He played his solo and when he sat his trumpet down next to his body he looked over and saw Dean smiling. Castiel couldn't help but smile back at him, biting his lip and continuing to look at him.

Unobserved by both of them was Sam who smiled and caught eyes with Jo. They had one of their silent couple conversations, there was to be a change to the schedule of music.

Sam sang, "Duh-de-duh-de-duh." and started clapping. Jo's sax joined in with him.

Mary started laughing and said to the assembled group, "Okay change in plans, 'I'm in Heaven When You Smile.' Ready Dean? Castiel?" she said with a mischievous smile catching them looking at one another.

Both men broke eye contact and blushed.

The next day when he let Dean into his apartment the man walked around admiring his artwork. Castiel felt embarrassed and looked down when Dean finally got to what Castiel considered the thing that started it all. The copied sheet of lyrics of The Beatles, "All You Need is Love", he had received all those years before. Blue eyes looked up to see green eyes staring at him with a smile on his freckled face.

This time Castiel took the lead and kissed Dean first.