(STORGE – an affectionate love that slowly develops from friendship, based on similarity)
Castiel looked up at the stars and breathed out, his breath fogging in front of his face. It was a beautiful clear night.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Sam said softly, taking a sip of his beer.
"It is," Castiel agreed. "Do you and Dean do this often?"
"Not often enough," Dean offered, coming around from the back of the Impala with a freshly-made sandwich in one hand and a bottle in the other. "Saving the world tends to take a big chunk out of our agenda." He climbed onto the Impala's hood and leaned back against the windshield, taking a bite out of his midnight snack.
Castiel turned back to the sky. It was strange to think that these boys had only ever seen this side of Heaven. He found himself thinking of ways that he could take them with him to witness the other side, the side where rainbows connected each star and angels sang to make them glow brighter. They would like that.
But there was something to this side of Heaven – the stillness, the absence of color, the calmness – that was just as beautiful. Maybe even more so. "I realize that you regard this as a somewhat sacred familial tradition," Castiel said suddenly. "I'm honored you decided to invite me. Thank you."
"Hey, no problem, Cas," Sam said.
"You're one of the gang now," Dean added. "Consider this initiation."
Castiel didn't smile, because that wasn't something angels did. But as he looked at them, he felt his heart grow warmer, even as the night got colder. He was one of them. He belonged.
Yes, he definitely liked this side of Heaven better.