Pray (Reprise)/Some People/The Ball/Castiel's Dance

"Rumors had begun to fly around the Winchester mansion. Dean Winchester had a peasant in his room and a boy no less. His father hadn't said a word yet against the gender of his new lover, but Dean had been waiting for retaliation. Most of the rumors that were flying were completely out of context and some were even being spread by the Gods themselves." Michael explained.

"Now what could he want with a peasant like him?" Agwe in disguise as one of the city folk in a group he was in.

"Out of the fields and low as dirt." Asaka, in disguise as well as a beautiful rich debutant, commented as she passed by.

"He could have the world would takes a peasant," Papa Ge was dressed rather nicely in a white tux of all colors. "Perhaps his brain was hurt?"

"The boy believes he can make him well." Agwe snickered.

"And he has him in a spell..." the other Gods added, earning gasps and giggled from gossipers that were staying all over the mansion's grounds.

Dean; however, ignored the rumors for the latter of the time he spent in his room with Castiel. He called him his 'charm' as a term of affection. He told him of the events that were going on around them. Such as an important ball that would be coming up a few short weeks. At the mention of dancing, Castiel jumped up immediately and excitedly claiming he'd never been to such a lavish thing before in his young life. Dean merely smiled and nodded in response, claiming that when he was healed it would be his pleasure to bring Castiel to his father's ball. Castiel smiled in response and cuddled back up next to Dean in his bed. His leg still had a bit of healing to do.

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

One Week Later

"Now what do you make of a peasant like him?" Agwe asked the gossipers again, this week their exchanging of words had heightened as the ball grew nearer.

"Putting on heirs without a doubt," Papa Ge joined the group and slid in next to Agwe.

"When the boy is well and does not need him," Asaka was already within the circle. "How soon he'll throw him out."

Dean had begun to be able to walk. Castiel had taken small trips with him around the garden. One day though as Dean had made jokes about catching Castiel and tickling him Dean was caught by his father John Winchester. Dean motioned for Castiel to keep walking as he spoke to the older man and once Castiel was out of earshot Dean greeted his father.

"Father," Dean nodded.

"How long do you think you'll be playing this game Dean?" John pointed a finger at his son, coming a bit closer. Dean couldn't back up because of his leg.

"This isn't a game father." Dean said in defense.

"Surely you can't—"

"I'm in love with Castiel," Dean admitted to his father, fists clenched, heart pounding, and knees shaking. "I'm not afraid to admit it."

"You are not the first of our people to want a peasant," Join stared at Castiel like he was the dirt below his shoes. Dean looked too, but only for a second. Castiel was luckily distracted by the bees and flowers in the garden. "I too know their appeal. But you are my son and you will do what I want done, no matter what you feel for anyone else. Lisa has come all this way to unite our families. You will not disappoint me."

"Yes," Dean was afraid to deny his father any more. He feared the worst would come for Castiel if he did. "Father I will not disappoint you."

"Good," John started to walk away. "I take it you'll have the problem dealt with by the end of the ball tonight."

"It's tonight?!" Dean half exclaimed. He had forgotten until now.

"Yes," John repeated. "And like I said do not disappoint me."

Dean turned away from his father as the man's back turned to him and vanished into the house. He then turned to look at Castiel who was still deeply interested in the flowers nearby. Dean sighed. He hated to break Castiel's heart, but there were things beyond his control at work. When Castiel looked back over at him with his beautiful smile though Dean felt his trouble's melt away for a moment, Castiel seemed to have that effect on him. Dean quickly took Castiel back to his room, explaining the ball on the way and how everyone would be preparing for it that day until the moment arrived. Castiel's eyes grew wider and wider in excitement as the hours ticked on until Dean told him to get ready in another room. Dean couldn't be seen by anyone in his suit until the moment was right. It was his big night after all and he had yet to break anything to Castiel.

His father's words rang in his head as he got ready that night. He hadn't seen Lisa Braden since they were children and surely she had grown up as nicely as he had. She was nice, one of his old playmates, but his heart did not lie with her. He had grown to love Castiel, the boy who had saved him from near death, the most Lisa had done was not laugh for hours after he'd wet his pants in front of her when they were both about five years old. Dean wondered nervously if she remembered that as he continued to get ready.

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

The Winchesters, Mary and John and their distinguished friends had all gathered in the ball room for the upcoming dance, the drapery and lights matched the mood, they were white and dimmed. Dean was nervously sipping on champagne and looking around, hoping Castiel would arrive soon. Dean tried to avoid the running mouths of others for he feared they were talking about him. Dean was suddenly tapped on the shoulder and to his right was a woman about his age. Her hair was dark brown, long, and wavy. Her dress was a beautiful white and her shoes matched. Her nails were painted perfectly and her teeth were sparkling white like the moon. Her deep brown eyes looked familiar.

"Lisa?" Dean asked, truly shocked. Lisa was indeed beautiful.

"Dean," Lisa nodded and took a flute of champagne. She stood near him while many other people proceeded through the doors, including Castiel himself. Dean's eyes were fixated on the attire Castiel was wearing. It was from his side of the island, but it clearly wasn't worn like his other clothes. Dean could only wonder where he'd gotten it from on such short notice, but he was more baffled by how good Castiel looked. Lisa took notice. She looked around at her posh friends that were staring at her in hopes she'd say something against Dean instead of encouraging him.

"Some girls are saying he's as simple as any child." Lisa said, a little too loudly for Dean's comfort. He didn't want Castiel hearing.

"Please Lisa..." Dean pleaded with her to keep her voice low as she walked closer and closer still to Castiel. Dean followed close behind. Lisa smirked without Dean seeing, purposely speaking so that others could hear and the rumors would spread.

"Barefoot and praying and running these halls quite wild," Lisa continued. She knew what she'd been brought here for and she wasn't about to lose her future fortune over a simple island peasant. "And is he as handsome as we've all heard, your own handsome...oh what's the word?"

Dean, Lisa, and Castiel were all face to face now. Castiel's arms roamed over Dean, checking him out. Dean was wearing a new suit that had been tailored just for the evening. Lisa inspected Castiel like he was some rejected toy off a shelf at a children's store and Castiel just put on a smile and politely greeted both of them. A little extra smile was sent towards Dean and Dean wanted so badly to send one back.

"Castiel," Dean interjected before Lisa could say a word. "I'd like you to meet Lisa Braden."

"Hello..." Castiel nervously shook Lisa's hand.

"I was not aware of your tendencies before now Dean," Lisa said so that only he could hear. "Perhaps we'll have to clear that matter up before the next few weeks."

Dean swallowed hard. The Gods, in disguise again, were among the rich folk attending the ball. Papa Ge smirked and nudged Agwe and Asaka. They left Erzulie out of it. She was there as well, but only in hopes that she would win the bet. The other three couldn't let that happen. Papa Ge told the others to send some sort of message throughout the ball that Castiel was going to put on a little performance. The whispers started almost immediately and eventually they assaulted Lisa's ears. She smirked at the idea and went along with it.

"I'm so happy to meet you my dear Castiel," Lisa said. "I've heard you're a healer and a dancer as well..."

Dean felt his stomach drop, but once his parents saw that Castiel supposedly meant nothing more than a good show to everyone, to him. Maybe then they'd leave him be?

"Won't you dance for us now," Lisa said, as loudly as she could muster, encouraging the others to cheer on Castiel into hopefully embarrass himself in front of the group. "Won't you give us a show? Please Castiel don't say no?"

Castiel felt cornered, like an animal. All eyes were on him and even the music was starting to slow down in hopes that he would do something. His eyes fell on Dean's first and Dean came over to him and whispered something before walking aside.

"You can do it Castiel," Dean said. "Dance as you have been, just for me."

Castiel's eyes looked over at Lisa, who was smirking and crossing her arms, hoping Castiel would fail. Castiel may have been naïve of the world outside of his village, but he had always known deceit when he saw it.

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

The slow music started. He knew the song immediately. He didn't know how the band did, the work of the Gods maybe, but the band started to play the first few notes of a traditional song of his people. It had a dance to go with it. The dance had been engrained into his head since he'd been a small child and it was tradition for every one of his people to know it. Castiel's nerves started to take over as he did the first few steps, but then eventually every time his eyes landed on Lisa he felt this overwhelming confidence overtake him. He remembered how the song honored where he'd come from even though he'd left it behind for a rich boy. If he did not perform it well now it made his people look bad. The movements suddenly flooded through Castiel like the waves in the ocean nearby. He felt the rhythm and heard the cries of his people though he did not make any himself. He saw his mother's and father's faces as he closed his eyes and did the last part of the dance. He could not let them down. The music intensified and Castiel spun around once...

He could not let them down.

He spun around two times...

Three...

He saw Dean's face last and then after his final spin at the peak and end of the song he saw Lisa's face as he opened his eyes and stood in front of her, his hands up and a smug look on his face. The rest of the ball's attendants' cheered and clapped. Dean smiled and did the same. And in those rare few minutes, Castiel felt on top of the world. Seeing the recoiling look on Lisa's face was enough to make his smirk just a bit too big for his face.

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