A/N: I apologize for my bad translation

Castiel was watching them through the window. Dean and Sam were decorating a small fake fir with small balls and glittering gold thread. Dean stumbled and the tree fell down onto the floor. They had to start all over again. Sam said him something, surely a reproach. Cas noticed that although Sam was physically bigger, Dean was the one who moved like a bull in a china shop.

Where have I learned this simile? I don't want to think about it.

Castiel watched them for another few minutes, then he decided to enter. In his own way of course.

"Did you know that this is a pagan tradition, guys?" The angel began, materializing behind the two young men who startled and quickly turned around.

"Cas, for God's sake! When are you going to stop behaving so? Could you knock like an ordinary person?" Dean snapped.

Castiel watched him carefully.

"Dean, if you had the power to enter the rooms without the use of doors, what would you do?"

Dean pondered, then smiled slyly.

"I never had thought before. Well, I guess not. I would paid gold to enter in girls' dressing room in this way, when I went at school!"

Castiel and Sam looked at each other shaking their head.

"I had no doubts. So I don't understand why I should not do it. And you know me since a lot of time now, why do I startle you? You have seen things worse than an angel." Castiel said.

"You don't startle us, Cas. I mean, not your appearance. For someone who is absent or concentrated, an apparition like yours is... uh... awful. Besides, I can't speak for Dean, but sometimes I forget that you're an angel and I think of you like one of us. Only when you open your wings, I remember that you are a heavenly messenger." explained Sam. Dean nodded.

Castiel did not know why, but he interpreted the speech of the young Winchester like a compliment. They considered him a friend, forgetting who he was.

"I'm sorry to startle you every time, it is not my intention." apologized the angel.

"Anyway, do you know that what you are doing is paganism and has nothing to do with Christmas?" Cas continued.

Dean made a face. "Of course we know, but it's tradition! That's why we call it "Christmas tree"!"

Sam nodded in agreement with his brother.

"Ah. So the fact that there is no connection with the Nativity is not in conflict with tradition. I see."

Verily, Castiel did not understand how humans could bring near Christianity and Paganism using symbols like that.

"You know that the Savior was not born on the night of December 24, do you?" asked the angel, hoping that they knew it.

"Sure Cas, no one knows when it happened, but certainly not on December 24." Sam responded.

Dean watched them both in silence: hey, they were two damned eggheads!

"And if you know it, why you celebrate this day? Tradition, I suppose." Castiel affirmed.

The angel took one ball, looked at it and threw it to Dean. The young man grabbed it quickly and stared at the angel quizzically.

"I wanted to see if you were attentive." Castiel told him innocently.

"What? Do you know that it could break one of my teeth?" Dean asked.

Castiel shrugged. "You've got thirty-two teeth." the angel said. Sam laughed loudly.

"Cas, are you taking the piss out of me?" Dean asked angrily.

"Oh no, it's just an observation. I don't think that people would notice the difference." Castiel insisted, trying to remain serious.

But he gave a mocking smile that they noticed.

"Did you see Sam? Castiel smiled! Good grief, this is a great day!" Dean chuckled.

"Well, actually I saw him smile many times. You are the one who never noticed, brother." Sam replied.

Castiel was surprised, he thought that nobody had noticed that he was easy prey of smiles and laughter.

"As I was saying Cas, I guess that all the people know that December 24 is not the true Jesus' birthdate, it's celebrated on this day because many centuries ago an old pagan festivity was replaced with this one." Sam explained.

Castiel knew it, but he wanted to hear what they had to say about it.

"Why have they replaced it and not abolished it? Haven't it created confusion in people's mind?"

"Yes, but people need time to absorb the changes. So I think in that way was easier to change habits. And the tree is one of those pagan traditions that have been absorbed by Christianity." Dean said looking at him.

The angel nodded. "I see. A side effect of free will. If someone imposes you something, you are inclined to rebel."

"Cas, no offense, but you have said no lately, have you?" Dean reminded him with a smirk on his lips.

"Yes, but not for hanging balls and lights on the tree branches." the angel remarked.

"Man, Cas gypped you again." Sam told to his older brother.

"Have you joined your forces against me?"

"Absolutely not." responded Castiel and Sam in unison, looking at each other. It was so funny make fun of Dean.

"Awesome, now you respond in unison. If Becky knows, she could write a beautiful story about you guys." Dean insinuated, amused.

The two concerned looked at each other alarmed, this idea terrified them both.

"Dean, your interest for this matter worries me. Make these thoughts?" asked Castiel.

Sam chuckled.

Dean snorted and went back to decorate the tree, helped by his brother who avoided to add something else.

Some minutes passed, while the Winchester were busy with "angel hair" and lights, Castiel watched them without commenting. Well, he wanted to know why those golden threads were called "angel hair", but he feared to kick off a complicated discussion and he did not care so much.

Finally they finished their work and Dean put the plug into the socket. Nothing happened. He took it off and put it again. Still nothing.

"Dammit!", Dean snarled angry, "The guy in the shop cheated me! He told me the lights worked!"

Sam shrugged resignedly. "It means that we will do without the twinkling lights. It's nice even so, isn't it?"

Dean looked at the tree, a shadow of sadness crossed his face, and the others noticed it. "You're right, it's nice even so." he agreed.

"What are you doing?" asked Castiel.

They turned around and looked at him. "We already have explained to you..." began Dean.

The angel shook his head. "I already knew everything you told me, I'm an angel. I meant, why do you want to celebrate Christmas with all that is happening?"

Good question. The Winchesters looked at each other without know what to say.

"You know Cas, this could be the last Christmas for everyone, so we want ... we need to celebrate it." Dean said finally.

Sam lowered his eyes: Dean was right, it really could be the last Christmas for humanity. Castiel looked in his eyes, then he looked at the tree.

"I see", Castiel nodded, "you're right, it's nice your tree. Even without twinkling lights."

"Thank you, but it doesn't matter, there is not need to lie." Dean replied with a half smile.

"I ain't lying", Castiel defended himself, "I didn't mean that I like it because it's beatiful, I like it for the meaning you give it."

"What?" Sam and Dean asked together.

"Hope."

The Winchesters looked at the tree and realized why they had done it: hope.

Deep inside their hearts, they hoped that it was not the last Christmas for the World.

"How can you be so, Castiel?" Sam asked admiringly.

"So how?" the angel replied frowning.

Sam tried to find the right word, but he found only one and he didn't know if it was the right one. "Special."

"Special? Maybe because I am an angel." Castiel tried to guess.

The younger Winchester shook his head with a smile. "No, you're much more than that. You are stronger than a human, but you are more good-hearted than an angel. You are unique."

"Yes, the missing link between an angel and a human!" Dean chuckled, then he regretted his words, Castiel didn't like being compared to a human. Instead, for the first time since he came to Earth, Castiel was happy to be among humans: no one had never treated him so warmly.

"Thank you guys." the angel said.

"Okay, now that this touching scene is over, why don't we go to buy some beer and then we get drunk in front of the TV, Sam? Obviously you're invited, Cas." Dean said resting a hand on his shoulder.

Then he remembered that his winged friend didn't like beer.

"Oh I'm sorry" Dean apologized, "I forgot that you're a good boy and don't drink!"

Castiel looked at him resentfully. "Dean, not to brag, but my nature allows me to drink at levels that you won't reach in twenty years, without suffering consequences. Don't defy me, boy." he said sarcastically.

Dean and Sam laughed. "Wow Cas, you become more and more awesome! Okay, tonight our little angel will drink with us until he will be stoned... or until we'll be stoned and he'll reproach us for our stupidity. ..."

"... And we'll reply with a belch!" Sam concluded laughing.

Dean laughed uncontrollably.

Castiel stared at them puzzled. "Boys, sometimes you really scare me." he confessed.

"Come on Cas, I know that deep down you love us. Whether you like it or not, we are a kind of family, all things considered." Dean said.

Castiel nodded. "Whether I like it or not .... I have only you." affirmed the angel.

He didn't mean to offend them. On the contrary, he was happy to have their friendship: often he felt alone, and the Winchesters were the only ones to be close to him.

"Okay Cas, we go out shopping, you can stay here if you like. We come back soon." Dean said.

Castiel nodded without responding. The two brothers left the motel room a few minutes later.

/-----/

When they left, Castiel decided to do something that only a few months before he would have considered stupid.

He disappeared and went .. in a mall.

There was a crush of people, Castiel felt stunned but he went on his way until he found what he wanted. In a toy store, there was a large Christmas tree, richly decorated and full of flashing lights.

It was a true fir. Castiel came in and when he was sure that there was no one next to him, he rested a hand on it and both disappeared. They reappeared in the motel room.

Castiel got rid of the little Christmas tree and he put his own in its place. He decided to switch it on in his own way, without electricity. Yes, it was wrong to use his powers for such frivolities like this, but for once he wanted to do that.

Even though those boys had often disappointed him, even though Dean had made him angry more than once, Castiel wanted made them happy for a while.

Castiel looked carefully at the tree. "I think this is a Christmas tree." he said proudly.

Then he sat and waited.

/-----/

"What the...?", Dean said entering in their room, "Have we come into the wrong room?" he asked to his brother.

Sam was literaly shocked. "No, I guess", he responded, "It was.... smaller, wasn't it?" he said pointing to the nine feet tall tree.

After a few moments of amazement, they realized that Castiel was sitting next to the window, he seemed... amused?

"Did you do it?" Dean asked astonished.

Castiel shrugged. "Apparently."

"Wow! Where did you find it?" Sam asked in awe.

Castiel was silent and Dean understood why. "Holy crap! You have stolen that!!" he exclaimed smiling with a kind of pride.

Sam gave him a reproachful look. "Mh.. I mean... it's not a good thing.. you.. you are an angel..." Dean mumbled.

Castiel frowned. "Dean? Don't you like it?"

"Hell, yes! Cas, your tree is awesome! I love it!" Dean answered and went towards the Christmas tree.

"Wait! The plug isn't in the socket! What the hell did you do, Cas?" Dean asked puzzled.

"A little magic." Castiel replied with a slight smile.

"Cas, you're really awesome!" Dean said nodding.

"I'm glad to know you like this .... present."

"And with that, you confirm us to be better than an ordinary man. I guess there are not many people so generous to do such a thing for their friends." Sam told him with sincerity.

The angel couldn't help but blushing "Now you're embarrassing me." he confessed.

"Besides", Cas continued, "I wanted to show you something."

"What?" Dean asked.

Castiel stared at the tree and said almost whispering: "My hope."

/-----/

Castiel had gone away without say where he was going. Dean and Sam were drinking and chattering on the sofa.

"Cas is changing, deeply. He wasn't like that when he saved my ass from hell." Dean said sipping a beer.

"Yeah, every day something changes in him. I think he's on the path to ultimate downfall." Sam replied gravely.

"You say that he's becoming human? I mean, like you and me?"

Sam shrugged. "It's the most obvious answer. For an angel disobeying orders can mean death ..."

".... or fall. I'm sorry for him" Dean concluded with a sigh.

" Me too." responded his brother.

"Where do you think he is gone?"

"I don't know", Sam responded, "but I can guess."

"Where?" Dean said frowning.

"Jimmy's daughter."

/-----/

He had gone crazy. He had done something very stupid, more stupid than what he had done for the Winchesters. Castiel didn't know why, but he had stolen something for Claire. Sam called it "iPod", he used it to listen the music. Castiel had found a pink iPod.

He sighed deeply and came in.

Claire was sleeping in her bed, A little lamp on the nightstand lit up the photo of her parents. He felt really guilty. Castiel rested his gift on the nightstand, smiled in the darkness and left.

As the angel went away, Claire open his eyes and smiled. She had felt his presence, maybe because she had been his vessel for few minutes. Claire sat up and looked at her nightstand, she took in her hands the box.

"An iPod?!" she exclaimed smiling. "I can't believe!"

Her father was dead, but at least his body belonged to a good angel. Castiel was clumsy, but sweet and gentle.

She got quickly out of bed and went to window, looked outside and saw him. Castiel felt her aura and turned around. He smiled when saw Claire.

The girl smiled too and greeted him with a wave of the hand.

"Merry Christmas, baby." Castiel whispered, sure that she would have heard.

"Merry Christmas, Castiel." Claire respondend and went back to her bed.

He felt almost happy. "This is Christmas" murmured to himself.

Almost, because there was something wrong, a void in his heart.

It began to snow, and the angel disappeared in a puff of wind.