It's finally here – the next chapter of Life Starts Now! Thank-you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and wished me luck for Madagascar, I had an amazing time and got a lot of inspiration for my writing, which is awesome. I'm sorry that you had to wait for so long to get this chapter, I hope it isn't too much of a disappointment after all that time! Thanks to everyone who has stuck with this story, and don't worry, the next update should be much, much quicker!

A huge, huge thank you to my beta rdmnss for beta'ing this so quickly!

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or any of the characters. If I did, Destiel would be canon, Gabriel would be alive and Metatron would never have gotten away with expelling all of the angels from Heaven... *sob*

Dean nervously brushed his hands down over his shirt, trying to smooth out all the stubborn creases and make it look slightly less like he had just picked it up off the floor of his closet. Today was the day that he and Cas had arranged to meet each other's families (aka their siblings), and Dean was really worried. What if this Gabriel didn't like him? It was obvious that Cas and his brother were close, and Dean wasn't exactly the ideal boyfriend for a super-talented but socially-inept eighteen year old – and if Gabriel had a problem with that, Dean doubted that he would be able to stay with Cas. Even though they hadn't been together that long, the possibility of that was terrifying.

Deciding that his shirt was a lost cause, Dean stepped backwards and started to hunt around for a pair of smart shoes. Glancing around his mess of a bedroom, he eventually located a pair that only looked slightly scuffed and grinned triumphantly, pulling them on and quickly tying the laces. Grabbing his wallet and car keys from where they had been abandoned on his bed, he looked at his reflection one last time before walking out of the room.

The drive to pick up Cas took longer than it should have due to traffic, and Dean found his nerves increasing as he drove. Trying his hardest not to think about all the ways in which this could go wrong, Dean turned up his speakers until his ears were hurting and the car was vibrating with AC/DC and began to drum his fingers to the rhythm of the music. When he finally pulled into the car park outside Cas's apartment block, Dean took a few moments to try and collect himself before getting out and walking over to the heavy glass doors that were becoming more familiar.

It was the same receptionist as before, and Dean had to suppress a laugh at the way her entire face caved into a frown at the sight of Dean.

"Mr. Novak told me to send you directly up." Her tone of voice made it quite clear exactly what she thought of this request.

Dean smirked at her, leaning forwards slightly and resting his arms on the desk. "Well then, would you mind telling me what his apartment number is?"

The receptionist sat up straighter. "You know, I don't believe you are acting with the correct attitude for someone in a relationship with a man like Mr. Novak. If you don't start behaving appropriately I am perfectly within my rights to refuse you access."

Dean's eyebrows shot up, and he couldn't help but think that this lady was a seriously invasive bitch.

"Look, lady, my relationship with Cas is none of your business. I've had enough of people tryin' to interfere. Just give me his flat number and I don't need to bother you again."

For a moment it looked like she wasn't going to give it to him, but then she sat back and picked up her pen.

"Twelve. I will inform Mr. Novak you have arrived."

Relieved, Dean attempted to smile slightly gratefully at her before turning and heading towards and sculpted staircase. As he walked, his nerves started to return, and he rolled his eyes at himself.

"Get it together, Winchester." He muttered.

Soon enough, he had arrived outside the smartly painted door of number twelve. The shining brass number and curved doorknocker only served to remind him how Cas was at a much higher place in society than Dean. It was quite intimidating, and Dean really started to feel that he didn't belong here, in such a classy area. It didn't even occur to Dean that Cas was just as out of place in high-class society as he was – he just felt incredibly uncomfortable and unworthy.

Breathing in deeply, Dean reached up with one slightly sweaty, calloused hand and rapped a few times with the doorknocker. He couldn't hear any sounds from inside, so he just stood there awkwardly, picking at the seams of his jacket. The entire block was virtually silent, which was strange for Dean – his own block was always full of music and shouting and general life. He might live in a shady area, but it almost seemed more attractive than a nicer place that was so still it was almost like a ghost town.

Finally, the door rattled and there was the sound of a chain being clipped back. Dean smiled. Of course Cas was the sort of person to be security-conscious enough that he actually used the chain on his door.

The door swung open, and Dean took a moment to allow his eyes to brush over the awkward figure of Cas in the doorway. His normally rumpled hair had been combed back – Dean kind of missed the sex-hair look – and he was wearing a smart suit that looked like it had been pressed. Typical Cas, dressing up for the occasion. Dean felt just a little underdressed.

"Wow, Cas, you look awesome!"

Cas gave a very small smile. "Thank-you, Dean. You look as handsome as always."

Dean raised his eyebrows. "Don't lie, Cas. I couldn't look 'handsome' if I tried. But whatever. Are you nearly ready to go?"

Cas looked like he wanted to dispute Dean's statement, but he refrained. "Almost. If you'd like to step in, I won't be a moment. I just need to finish sorting some things out."

Dean nodded. "Sure. We've got plenty of time."

Cas stepped back, holding the door open, and Dean smiled at him again before stepping in.

The place was so clean. Dean was standing in a sitting area – presumably this flat had a similar layout to his own – but it looked like it was a sitting room at a showroom, not one that was being lived in. A smart, cream leather couch was set against one immaculately painted wall, with a dark wooden coffee table set in front of it on a perfectly clean fluffy cream rug. The coffee table had only two things on it, an electronic chessboard and a smart black sketchbook, and both were placed carefully, as though they were just part of the decor of the room. The walls were adorned with a couple of paintings, one an abstract landscape and the other an absolutely beautiful rendering of an angel, yet even with those subtle touches that spoke of Cas, the place seemed remarkably impersonal.

Dean remained standing by the doorway, scared that his probably mucky shoes would make a mark on the clean carpet.

"You can sit down." Cas commented from where he was standing in the kitchen area adjacent to the sitting room. Dean wasn't even going to get into how strangely organised that kitchen was. Cas didn't even have any dirty dishes or random mugs lying around, for goodness sake...

"It's ok. I wouldn't want to mess up your flat." Dean decided honesty was best here. "I don't even know how you keep it so clean..."

"I like my things to be ordered. Besides, I do not spend very much time in any area of this flat except my bedroom, as that is where most of my art equipment is located. I have no reason to spend time in a sitting room when I have a perfectly comfortable bed to sit on, and the only reason I would use this kitchen is if I actually knew how to cook, which I do not."

"You don't know how to cook?" Dean was surprised – he would have thought that Cas was the sort of person who would prefer home-cooked meals.

"I have never had occasion to learn." Cas seemed entirely unperturbed by his lack of cooking skills.

"I could teach you, if you wanted? I mean, I'm not great, I tend to get takeout, but I can cook some mean stuff if I try."

Cas looked up and tilted his head to one side. "Is it likely to go as badly as your attempts to teach me to drive are?"

Dean burst out laughing, leaning back against the door. "They're not goin' that badly! I'll admit you need to work on what speed is appropriate in certain situations, but you're much better than you used to be. You didn't stall once during our last 'lesson'!"

Cas didn't look convinced, and Dean continued to laugh. "Seriously, I've seen much worse. You don't wanna know what Sammy's like behind the wheel."

Cas frowned. "I did not think that Sam was old enough to drive."

Dean shrugged. "On the road, he's not – he's got another year before that. But I've let him drive round the back of the garage a few times, just to show him the ropes – and let me tell you, once he is old enough to drive I'm moving countries. I don't wanna be anywhere near him on the road."

Silence fell for a few minutes, and Dean watched as Cas resumed what he had been doing – recording something in a journal on the kitchen table. He tried to work out what Cas could be doing – writing a diary? That was a little teenage-girly, but then again, Cas wasn't exactly a normal eighteen year old boy. Recording something? Dean really had no idea, and he doubted Cas would tell him if he asked, but he continued to mull a few increasingly ridiculous ideas in his mind (of course Cas wouldn't have a Deathnote!) until Cas snapped the notebook shut and tucked it into an organiser in the corner of the kitchen.

"I'm ready now." He stated.

"Great!" Dean smiled. "Let's go play meet the family!"

Cas looked momentarily confused, but walked over anyway, ducking into a room on the side to grab his trenchcoat on the way.

When he reached Dean, Dean put one arm out to stop him and gently pull him in closer. Cas looked at him slightly inquisitively, and Dean just smiled, before leaning down and brushing his lips over Cas's.

"I didn't really greet you properly earlier." He breathed, taking in the way Cas's eyes had fluttered closed and his breathing had increased slightly.

Cas sighed gently, before tilting his head up to reclaim Dean's lips in a slightly more forceful kiss.

Dean was a little surprised – Cas didn't normally initiate anything, that was Dean's job – but nonetheless he was pleased, and he kissed back with equal vigour, moving his hands so one rested on Cas's back and the other kept his head in place. Cas made a small noise of approval that went straight to Dean's groin, and Dean hurriedly tried to think of anything else to try and collect himself. This was really not the moment to get turned on. Both fortunately and unfortunately, Cas broke the kiss a moment later and stepped back, his incredibly blue eyes shining.

"We shouldn't keep the others waiting." Cas's voice had lowered, and Dean sucked in a breath at the hotness of it.

"Yeah. Right. Um." Dean was reluctant to step away, and Cas wasn't moving either.

There were a few moments of intense eye contact, during which Dean felt like he was drowning in the sea of blue that was Cas's eyes, before the moment was suddenly broken by the ringing of Dean's mobile.

"Damn." He whispered as he turned away and fished in his pocket to retrieve the annoying device.

"Yeah?"

"It's Sam, jerk. Where the hell are you?"

Oops. It must be later than Dean had thought. "On our way, bitch, keep your hair on. Actually, on second thoughts, don't – you could do with losing some of that mane anyway."

"Shut up."

"See you in a few." Dean hung up quickly and turned back to Cas.

"We need to go." Dean didn't think that he managed to keep all the disappointment and irritation out of his voice as he said that.

Cas nodded and walked towards the door, Dean following him. It made Dean smirk slightly as Cas carefully locked the door behind him, ensuring everything was perfectly safe before leaving. In an apartment block like this, Dean was surprised that locking the door was even necessary, but Cas's attention to detail was quite adorable.

They made their way outside quietly, Dean scurrying ahead slightly so that he could hold the car door open for Cas like a proper gentleman. Once he had done that, he slipped into the driver's seat quickly and, ignoring his seatbelt, turned the key and stuck the car in reverse.

AC/DC blared out of the speakers at full volume so suddenly Dean almost crashed, and he fumbled to turn it down to a slightly more bearable level, laughing at how Cas had pressed both hands over his ears.

"Sorry, Cas, I forgot I had it up that loud!" The ringing in his ears forced him to shout.

"You are going to be deaf in a few years." Cas commented.

Dean laughed. "If I go deaf because of too much rock music it'll all be worth it."

Cas gave him a condescending look, which amused Dean even more, before noticing that Dean wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

"Dean, you don't have your seatbelt on."

Dean shrugged. "Don't I? Ah well. It's ten minutes up the road, no biggie."

"Dean, you should out your seatbelt on. What happens if you crash?"

"I won't crash, Cas. It's fine. It's not the first time."

"I would feel more comfortable if you had your seatbelt on."

Dean sighed at Cas's persistence. "Well, I can't exactly put it on when I'm driving. If we stop at the traffic lights I'll put it on then. Happy?"

Cas paused for a moment, then suddenly reached over Dean, causing him to swerve.

"What are you...?"

Determinedly, Cas grabbed Dean's seatbelt and pulled it over, brushing down Dean's chest as he did so, before clipping it in and sitting back almost smugly.

Dean had felt a warm sensation run through him as Cas's hand brushed across his chest, and he found himself glancing across at Cas rather than at the road for a few seconds before realising what he was doing. Damn, Cas was going to be the death of him. He really was.

It wasn't long before they pulled up outside the Roadhouse where they had agreed to have their 'meet the family' meal, and Dean could feel his nerves returning. He had no idea what to expect. What would happen if everything went wrong?

He felt a hand on his shoulder and noticed Cas looking at him in confusion and concern.

"Are you alright, Dean?"

Dean plastered a smile onto his face. "Yeah, course I am. Right, shall we go in?"

This will be continued in the next chapter, but obviously from Cas's POV. Once again, I'm sorry that my Madagascar trip and subsequent events meant you had to wait so long for this... please write a review so that I know what you think, and I promise the next update will be quicker!