THE END! Wow, it only took me a few months to finish this, during one of which I was in Madagascar with no internet access. I'm proud of myself. And you should all be proud of yourselves because you, everyone who read, favourite, followed and reviewed, are the reason I got here. So thank-you all so much for your support, you are all amazing and I'm so grateful. This is almost like an epilogue chapter, and there are several time jumps in it, but I think it rounds everything up nicely. I will write that promised one-shot with the M rated stuff in at some point, but probably not until after November due to the pressures of NaNoWriMo.

This chapter, like the last, is unbetaed so I can get it out faster. I'm sorry if there are mistakes, I did try to proof read it myself but I wouldn't be surprised if a few slipped through the radar.

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural, but I would like to thank the people who do for Slumber Party. That was one amazing episode. Although it gave me another ship, which probably isn't a good thing...

A few months ago, Dean would never have imagined that he would end up here.

Here meaning that Dean was sat in his ripped, slightly mucky jeans and sweaty t-shirt, straight from working at the garage at college, waiting outside a posh-looking art gallery for his boyfriend. His amazing, talented, sexy boyfriend who was being interviewed by one of the top artists in the world for a collaborative project. When Castiel had told Dean that Ezekiel Penikett had emailed Jess asking for his contact details, he had been absolutely ecstatic, and Dean didn't think he'd felt that proud since Sammy won his scholarship. Then, when Cas had received an email from 'Zeke' (as Ezekiel insisted Cas call him) requesting that they meet up to discuss a potential collaboration on a project for a new exhibition opening in a gallery in France next year, Cas had fallen out of his chair and Dean had thought that he was going to have to call an ambulance for both of them – Cas to treat his shock, and Dean because he felt like he'd torn a muscle in his cheek smiling so widely.

Dean had been almost as nervous as Cas in the run up to the interview, causing Cas to actually ban Dean from his apartment because Dean was acting so jumpy. Fortunately, Cas had withdrawn the ban two days later when Dean had turned up with pie and burgers and practically grovelled at the door for half an hour. Before, Dean would never have even considered doing such a thing for anyone else – Winchesters did not grovel – but Cas had changed everything in Dean's life.

At that moment, the door at the side of the gallery swung open and Cas stepped out, a smile on his face. Dean couldn't help the grin that spread across his own face in response, and he leant out the open window of his car and waved at Cas, ignoring the drizzle that was now falling on his bare arms and making him shiver.

"Cas!" He called.

Cas looked around for a moment then seemed to notice Dean, waving back before turning to an unseen figure in the doorway. He stood there for a few seconds with his head tilted in that adorable way of his, before shaking the figure's hand and wandering over to where Dean was sat in the Impala.

"So, how did it go?"

Cas hadn't even sat down properly before Dean was eagerly asking him questions.

"It went well. Very well. I am very happy." Cas's voice contained much more emotion than it normally did.

Grinning, Dean leant across to give Cas a quick kiss on the lips.

"Awesome! So you're doin' a collaboration then?"

Cas smiled, leaning back in his seat and looking at Dean.

"Provided that I can take the time away from the Academy, I will be spending two days a week with Zeke to assist him in his project. I imagine I will play a helper role rather than it being a full collaboration, but it's still the chance I need to break into the world of professional art." Cas sounded very proud.

"There's no way that the Academy would say no to you acceptin' that offer."

"No, I doubt they would."

His smile not leaving his face, Dean slung an arm over Cas's shoulders and started to drive away from the gallery. "Well, I don't know about you but I'm starvin'. Celebratory dinner at the Roadhouse?"

"That sounds excellent." Cas leant into Dean's arm and continued to stare unashamedly at Dean's face.

Turning briefly to face his boyfriend, Dean decided to ask the question that had been bugging him since he had first heard about the interview.

"So, does all this mean that we won't see each other as often?"

Cas's eyes widened. "Why, do you not want to see me anymore?"

Dean shook his head vehemently. "No, no, of course I want to see you! Just, if you're comin' up to work with Zeke all the time that cuts down the time we can be together, and I've got a bucketload of coursework coming up so I can get my distinctions from college. Plus, soon enough you'll be graduating the Academy and going off to be an artist, and I'll be getting a job as a mechanic or something, and you'll have to travel and I'll have to stay in one place – "

Dean was cut off by Cas's hand over his mouth, and only narrowly avoided swerving off the road.

"Dean." Cas admonished. "Stop worrying. I love you. I will only be spending two days a week with Zeke, the rest of the time that I am not at school I can spend with you. As for the future, I am not planning on letting you go, so I will find a way to be with you."

"I don't deserve you." This was why Dean tried to avoid chick-flick moments – he felt like he was about to cry in happiness.

"No, Dean. It is I who does not deserve you."

/ / / / / / / /

The arrival of the school and college holidays was like a godsend to Dean. He felt like he hadn't stopped working for weeks, and while he had spent plenty of time with Cas, most of that time had simply been them sitting in silence working. This was the first evening where neither of them had anything else to do for about a month, and Dean was extremely excited about it. Not because they had planned to do anything – in fact, Cas had specifically stated that he wanted to do nothing – but just because they could enjoy each other's company without work getting in the way.

A knock sounded on Dean's door, and he barely prevented himself from running over to it in his happiness.

"Cas!" He exclaimed, just before a pair of arms wrapped themselves around his waist and Dean found his surprisingly strong boyfriend pushing him back into his apartment and pressing his lips to Deans.

"I missed you." Cas grunted in between kisses, his voice deeper and gruffer than normal.

"Ditto." Dean replied, moaning slightly as Cas pushed him against the wall.

Cas pulled back slightly with a frown on his face.

"Ditto? I don't understand that expression."

Dean couldn't help but roll his eyes. After all this time, his boyfriend could still be an adorable and oblivious idiot.

"Don't worry about it, Cas." Dean tried to move in for another kiss but Cas was having none of it.

"Dean, I want to know the meaning of this 'ditto'. Is it a compliment?"

"Umm... yeah. That's it. It's a compliment." Dean really couldn't be bothered to explain anything to Cas properly right now.

"Ahh. I shall have to use that word more. It is a nice word. 'Ditto'."

Dean sighed. This was going to come back to bite him later, he was sure of it. But for now, he pushed all thoughts of it out of his mind as Cas finally leant in to kiss him again.

/ / / / / / / / /

When Cas graduated from the Academy, Dean was one of the only people who came along to offer support.

Most of the graduates there were surrounded by proud close and extended family, as well as an alarming number of old friends and their relatives, filling the whole area around the prestigious place with noise and happiness. Cas had looked quite lost in the middle of it until Dean had arrived, dragging Sam and Cas's brother Gabriel (who had become quite a good friend of Sam's) with him.

"Congratulations!" Dean grinned, giving Cas a hug.

Cas didn't seem as happy as Dean would have liked, but he still managed to smile weakly back.

"Thank-you, Dean."

"Yes, congratulations! Jess tells me you've done really well. Top of the class, with your references from Zeke!" Sam seemed just as proud of Cas as his brother was, but then he was probably just happy because Cas made Dean happy.

"Thank-you, Sam. I believe that Jess has overestimated my capabilities with naming me top of the class, but it was a nice compliment."

"Trust me, Jess can be pretty critical when she wants to. You can believe her when she says you're the best."

"Oi!" Jess interrupted Sam but poking him hard in the ribs. "What was that about me being critical?"

"It was a compliment, Jess." Sam leant in to kiss his girlfriend, causing Dean to turn away and pretend to gag.

"Dean? Are you not feeling well?" Cas's concern was so sincere it almost made Dean laugh.

"Don't worry, bro, he's messing around. And yeah, congrats and all that!" Gabriel seemed determined to join in the conversation.

"Thank-you, Gabriel. Your support means a lot to me."

Dean knew that he was talking about how the rest of his family wasn't here.

"Ahh, forget about all those douchebags. They're just jealous 'cause we're clearly the most talented of the bunch."

Cas smiled a little more, and Dean jumped in.

"Cas, really, don't worry about it. Family isn't about blood, it's about friendship, and love. Sam and I are your family now."

Dean smiled as Cas gazed up at him like he held the answer to all the questions in the universe, almost subconsciously stepping closer so they could stare into each other's eyes.

Gabriel stood awkwardly between the two embracing couples, his eyes flicking between them.

"Damnit. How did I manage to end up as the fifth wheel?"

"How, indeed? I cannot believe that a man as nice-looking as you could find himself without a date." A smooth voice sounded from behind Gabriel.

Gabriel turned around to see a taller (although that wasn't hard), blond, well dressed man standing with his hands in the pockets of his tailored suit.

"Possibly because every person on this planet only seems to want to date me based on looks, and then I chase them away because I can't stop talking and they want some kind of ornament that can keep quiet." Gabriel vented. "Sorry. That wasn't directed at you. I just generally have issues with relationships."

The man raised an eyebrow. "That seems to be a problem more often associated with women than men."

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Oh, probably, but objectification can go both ways. Forget about it. I'm rambling."

"On the contrary, I find listening to you fascinating." The man held out a hand. "Balthazar Roche. One of the teachers here."

Gabriel cocked his head to one side. "Balthazar Roche? I'm Gabriel Novak, Cas's older brother. I think I've heard him talking about you before."

"Only good things, I hope."

Gabriel laughed. "You're joking, right? This is Cas. He manages to find flaws in everybody. Except Dean, of course, but then he thinks the sun shines out of that guy's ass."

"Well, Cas has always been a bit of an oddball, if you don't mind me saying."

Gabriel shrugged. "Nahh, I don't mind. I know he's weird. I think he was abducted and replaced with some kind of socially inept robot at birth. But he's my brother, so I do love him."

"That's understandable." Balthazar glanced at an expensive looking watch on his wrist. "I need to go and talk to some parents. But I have very much enjoyed this conversation. I don't suppose you would like to meet up again at some point in the future?"

Gabriel's eyes widened. "Are you asking me on a date?"

"No, I'm asking you to join me in taking over the planet." Balthazar's voice filled with sudden sarcasm.

Gabriel grinned. "Well, I'm always up for ruling the world! I'm only down here for a few days to see Cas, but if you'd like to come to my hotel tomorrow we could... discuss this further."

"Excellent." Balthazar pulled a business card out of his pocket and handed it to Gabriel. "Here's my number. Call me with the details."

Balthazar walked away, leaving Gabriel standing there with a grin on his face.

"What was that about?" Dean suddenly appeared next to Gabriel, holding Cas's hand. "Why were you talking to the obnoxious teacher dude?"

Gabriel's grin widened with the realisation that Dean didn't seem to like Balthazar very much. This was an opportunity.

"Well, Dean-o, I have just got myself a date. I believe that you are going to be seeing a lot more of myself and, ahem, the 'obnoxious teacher dude' in the near future."

Dean groaned, burying his face into Cas's neck.

"Seriously? What is it with people I know and dating teachers?"

Gabriel just cackled evilly. This could be fun.

/ / / / / / / / /

Years later, Dean found himself looking back on that time with a fondness he would deny until his dying day. (He still didn't do chick-flick moments).

After finishing college, Dean had picked up a job as an apprentice at Singer's Auto Salvage and stayed there. Some people might find it strange that he had never even tried to get promoted, but Dean loved his job and, being married to the famous artist Castiel Novak, it wasn't like money was an issue.

Yes, Dean and Cas had married, gay marriage being finally legalised in England. It had been a small, intimate ceremony, with barely any people there, but they hadn't cared. In fact, it had almost been better that only the people they really cared about had been in attendance.

Cas had finished his collaboration with Zeke Penikett, an exhibition simply entitled 'Angels', and risen to almost overnight fame for his incredible images. After that, it had almost been laughably easy for Cas to get commissions for various art galleries and even private buyers, to the extent that Cas was able to pick and choose his favourites in a way that never happened for young, new artists. True, his fame dwindled a little over time, but he was still very much in demand in the art world and both him and Dean were thrilled about that.

Sam and Jess had got engaged shortly after Sam turned eighteen, to no-one's surprise – although Dean had insisted that they wait until Sam graduated university to get married. Sam had then proceeded to graduate from his first degree (in Law, the brainy kid) and return to do a Masters, meaning that him and Jess still weren't married despite having intended to do it ages ago. Dean didn't doubt that the two would be together forever though, especially as Jess had just revealed that she was pregnant with their first child.

Jess was still working at the Academy, as was Balthazar – who, to Dean's eternal annoyance, had started dating Gabriel seriously after Cas graduated. The two had broken up after two years together, but it had been an amicable breakup and Balthazar was still a very close friend of Jess and Cas, so was always there at family events. Balthazar was now dating a woman named Hester who he had met on holiday, although Dean hadn't actually met her yet.

Gabriel had moved to be closer to everyone when he started dating Balthazar, opening a new sweetshop in town that proved to be a moderate success. Following the breakup, he had returned to his previous ways of sleeping around and having short, fairly meaningless relationships with random men and women. Dean would feel sorry for him, except Gabriel annoyed him too much.

All in all, everything had turned out pretty well, and personally, Dean couldn't be happier.

Well, couldn't be happier unless Cas came home with pie.

Well, I hope that everyone enjoyed the story and thought that it ended well! Please, please review so that I know what you thought, and for the final time, thanks so much!