Dean sat up quietly, focusing exclusively on Castiel as they both adjusted how they sat. In passing, Dean noticed the constant pressure of the trench coat on his wings but the lack of a shirt he was pretty sure he had put on did not go unnoticed. What was with his life and its sudden affinity with having him shirtless?

"I remember everything, Dean. With Gabriel's help, I now remember the day I was born."

Briefly, Castiel allowed his eyes to drift to the empty space his brother had once occupied and silently thanked Gabriel for his understanding of the need for privacy.

"You know, I've been here for a very long time. And I remember many things. I remember the Tower of Babel - all 37 feet of it, which I suppose was impressive at the time. And when it fell, they howled divine wrath. But come on, dried dung can only be stacked so high."

Castiel chuckled softly at the memory, sending small shivers down Dean's spine.

"I remember the birth of the universe, the first breeze and smelling the ocean for the first time. I can recall the faces of the first children, the faces of the Neanderthals and the first Thursday to have come to pass."

Castiel allowed his eyes to turn fondly to Dean then, gracing the winged man with a small up turning of his lips.

"My given name is truly Castiel, Dean. I am –"

He lost himself for a second.

"– was an Angel of Thursday."

"Oh…wait, wasn't –"

"Yes, Dean. The day you came to me, the day you first manifested your wings, was a Thursday."

"…Huh."

"That night… But I'm getting ahead of myself. It was not our first meeting, Dean."

"I know."

Dean's voice was soft like he was telling a secret to an unfelt breeze. Castiel wasn't sure if he should be terrified or relieved.

"What do you remember, Dean?"

"Heaven…at least, I think it is. I'm pretty sure what – who – I'm remembering is you. You're huge and you've got all these heads and wings but your eyes…fuck, your eyes are the same. You carried me, didn't you? I mean, before I was me – before I was born."

"…I held your soul, yes."

Castiel felt guilty for being distraught that Dean didn't remember everything, afraid that he would have to be the one to tell him and yet relieved that he didn't remember everything because it meant that they would have a little more time together. He found himself enjoying human emotions less and less.

"Man, that's…"

"A lot to take in, I unders-"

"I'm glad it was you."

"…what?"

He couldn't hide his surprise when Dean's hand touched his own, looking him in the eyes as he spoke.

"I'm glad it was you, Cass. I wouldn't have wanted it to be anyone else. I just…"

Dean pulled away then, gently scratching the back of his neck. Castiel couldn't read the emotion on Dean's face.

"I figured you should know."

"I am glad it was me as well."

There was a moment of silence the two of them basking in it. Jarring them from that, an obnoxious throat clearing directed their attention to the adjoining room.

"I hate to break up this touching moment, really I do, but you knuckleheads can bone after we no longer have an angry Archangel breathing down our necks."

Castiel felt Dean tense up, waiting to see what the winged man would do. He never ceased to surprise him.

"Alright, chuckles, then what do you propose we do?"

A flutter of wings and the smaller man was standing directly in front of them, placing his palms on their exposed chests. Dean yelped while Castiel simply grit his teeth as a simultaneous scratching and burning sensation spread through them. It didn't last long, leaving a residual tingling in its wake. Dean jerked back, placing a hand on his chest while shooting an accusatory glare at Gabriel.

"What the fuck was that?!"

"Dean-o, relax! I was just giving the two of you Angel Invisibility Cloaks."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Seriously? You've never watched Harry Potter? Talk about a deprived-"

"Gabriel."

Castiel was losing his patience. He knew what the Archangel had done, but Dean was asking him the question, not Castiel.

"Geez, don't get your panties in a twist just because I'm teasing your boyfriend."

"We're not-"

"He is not-"

"You guys are too easy! Look, I just scratched some Enochian on your ribs. Angels can't find you, not even me."

"That's the best news I've heard all day."

Castiel watched Dean stand, offering out a hand to the priest.

"C'mon, Cass."

"Now wait just a second!"

Castiel allowed Dean to pull him up to his feet, the rush of blood to his head making his vision dance and his grip on Dean to tighten.

"I just saved your butted! Then I break open Castiel's little memory vault, make you guys Top Secret and this is the thanks I get? You ditch me? Dude, harsh."

"Look, we don't know you. As far as we know you're working for Raphael!"

Castiel did not bother trying to correct Dean as he continued, knowing full well that the voices that warned him belonged to Balthazar and Gabriel. More than likely, he was part of the reason they'd lasted this long.

"You mean all of those examples just went in one ear and out the other?"

"Well, what do you get out of all of this? What do you gain by helping us?"

"You mean other than the awesome membership pass for Team Free Will and bragging rights?"

"We are not calling us that."

Dean looked at Castiel then, pointing at him with a stern face.

"We're not calling this that."

"Has it ever occurred to you that Raphael, Castiel and all of the other Angels are my siblings? I never wanted the Apocalypse, Dean! I-"

"Whoa, back up – Apocalypse? Like Rapture the world is coming to an end Apocalypse?"

"Like there's another one?"

Gabriel shifted so that he was beside Castiel now, talking behind his hand in a hushed tone that Castiel knew Dean could still hear.

"Your man is a little slow if you ask me."

"What the fuck!?"

"I'm kidding! You're not slow, just-"

"I'm not talking about that! Since when was the Apocalypse on the table?"

"Oh, that's right! We were talking about you while you were out for the count, huh Cassie?"

"Do not call me that."

Castiel felt Dean bristle under his touch, his muscles tensing. Turning to face him as Gabriel returned to his spot in front of the two, he thought better of waiting for the winged man to ask.

"There are a few things that I need to tell you, Dean. It may…change your opinion of me, but it will explain everything."

He turned to Castiel at last.

"Tell me."

Castiel in turn could no longer look at him, turning to face Gabriel instead.

"I want you to take us somewhere else for a moment, somewhere safe but not here. It does not feel right relying the story in this place."

"The story? You don't mean-"

"Yes."

"Are you-"

"Yes."

"Alright, but you should probably get some clothes on first."

Looking down at himself, he moved a couple of steps away from Dean and flushed. He had completely forgotten about his state of undress, circumstances being what they were. Looking over Dean, he chuckled lightly.

"Perhaps you can supply use both with some clothing?"

Dean's eyes lit up instantly.

"And food! It has been way too long since I've eaten."

Gabriel visibly balked, sending Castiel into another fit of giggles.

"Wait, first you don't trust me and now I'm your manservant!? You sure do change your tune quick."

"Gabriel."

"Alright, alright, I gotcha."

The smaller man held up his hands in a casual surrender.

"Wait!"

Dean's outburst surprised both of them, drawing their attention to the winged man. Again, he rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact while he mumbled.

"Look, it's been a while since I've had any, so…"

"Look, bucko, I'm not buying you a hooker, lube or candy underwear. That is just not happening."

"Ew, God no! Er…"

A sheepish look to both Castiel and Gabriel.

"Sorry. I was gonna ask if you could get some pie."

"Pie? Really?"

"Yeah! Dude, pie's awesome."

"I prefer cake."

"Blasphemy!"

Castiel zoned out while the two discussed the merits of each dessert, their voices and body language getting more energetic as the conversation continued. What would Dean think of him after he knew all of the details about their time together? This closeness…He resented his human emotions, resented how complicated they made everything.

Dean had prepared a pretty damn good retort until he stole a glance at Castiel and visibly deflated. He looked so…lost, somehow, and upset. Dean didn't really want to address anything important while Gabriel was in the room, so he silently shooed him with one final reminder of "Don't forget the pie!" Disappearing in an instant with only the sound of rustling feathers left behind. He momentarily wondered if he could ever do that. Dismissing it, he turned to Castiel and attempted to make light of the situation.

"So, what crawled up your butt?"

Nothing.

"Dude, Cass? Come in, Cass."

The priest, ex-Angel, whatever still seemed lost somewhere far off; snapping his fingers in front of his face a couple of times, Cass jumped and turned a startled eye to him.

"Cass, you okay? What's eating you?"

Castiel really wished he was better at lying. Averting his eyes, he tried to brush him off.

"It is nothing, Dean."

"No, don't you pull that crap with me, Cass! Look at me."

Castiel kept his eyes trained to the floor.

"Look-"

Then Dean's hand was there, forcing his face to turn on his own.

"Look at me, Cass! I don't care about the Apocalypse. I don't care about some dick Angels sitting around with their thumbs up their asses."

Dean didn't release him even as he gestures between them.

"You and me? We're gonna be fine, everything is gonna be fine. We'll figure it out."

"What if we can't?"

Castiel stared into Dean's eyes waiting for an answer he knew would never come.