Thank you guys so much for your favorites, follows, and reviews ( and Mary W). I'm glad you all are enjoying the story!

Castiel took a sip of his whiskey at the bar. It was the night before he was supposed to be leaving for Wisconsin and he was supposed be meeting this "Den" person there. He had seen Dean's picture on the website. It listed his height as 6'2, so slightly taller than Castiel. He had gorgeous green eyes that even Castiel was drawn to, and his short, dirty blond hair looked neat. He was a good-looking man. Castiel had to admit that.

They were supposed to be meeting to set up a story of how they met, how long they had been dating, things like that. He was over thirty minutes late. Castiel felt his phone vibrate in his jacket pocket. He quickly pulled it out to see that he had a text message.

Sorry. Won't be able to make it tonight. Will be at your house at nine tomorrow morning to drive to Wisconsin. -Dean

Castiel continued to look at his screen in shock. Dean was supposed to providing a service to Castiel. Castiel had paid for him to make this whole thing believable and now Dean wasn't here? What kind of service is that? Castiel should file a complaint to this Crowley that runs the establishment. However, he supposed that would have to wait.

Okay. -Castiel

Castiel wasn't sure what else he could say. All he knew was that he was that he had to get through this weekend. He paid his tab and quickly left the bar.

Castiel got very little sleep that night. He had debated aborting the whole idea multiple times that evening. Was impressing her so important that he was actually going to go through with this whole deception? Castiel heaved a heavy sigh thinking about why he actually was that desperate and why he couldn't call the whole thing off.

It wasn't just going alone that he was worried about. Normally, returning home alone wouldn't bother him, but Hannah was going to be there. Hannah was Castiel's ex-fiancé. They had dated nearly all through high school and then after their senior year of college, Castiel proposed. Almost one year afterwards, things had become strained. Instead of talking about their problems and possibly making their relationship work, Hannah had simply left. She left a note saying that she couldn't handle it anymore and wanted to leave, so she did. All her things were out of their apartment when Castiel came home from work one day. He found her at her mother's house, but Hannah had no interest in fixing their problems, so Castiel left. Not just the apartment, but the city. He took his half of the money they had saved for their wedding and moved from Grantsburg, Wisconsin to Chicago, a big city that he could be anonymous. He found a job, an apartment, and started to move on with his life. He had stayed in touch with some friends from home, including Bess, whom he had known since he was five years old. He was so happy that she had found somebody. The only problem was that in a small town, everybody was friends with everybody, so Hannah and Bess had been friends too.

Seven AM came far too soon. Castiel had fallen asleep around two, but five hours was not nearly enough time to be calm yet alert for what he was about to do. He pulled himself out of bed and looked outside. The sun was already completely up and shining through the window. Castiel proceeded to take a shower, dress in a pair of jeans and a white button up (the drinks that evening were casual and they began just after they were scheduled to arrive in Wisconsin), and made sure that his suit was still in the bag, even though he hadn't taken it out since he'd gotten it back from the dry cleaners. He also counted out the seven thousand dollars that he had taken out of his savings account to pay for his date for the weekend.

Castiel had just finished packing when he heard a knock at his front door. He checked his watch. 8:45 it read. Well, at least he came at all this time, early even. Castiel walked down his stairs and opened the door and was greeted by a man a couple inches taller than himself, wearing jeans, a black t-shirt, and aviator sunglasses. He had two cups of coffee from Starbucks in his hands.

"Good morning, I'm Dean. I'd shake your hand, but," Dean shrugged as he held up one of the cups. Castiel took it and then offered his now free hand to Dean's. Dean took it with a smile.

"Thank you. I'm Castiel."

"Yeah, I figured that much." Castiel didn't like his attitude already.

"Well, come inside." Castiel took a step to the side, allowing Dean in. Once Dean was inside, Castiel shut the door and lead him to the kitchen.

"I didn't know what you'd want, so I just went with black coffee. Sorry about last night by the way, I…" Dean looked around the kitchen, appearing fascinated by it.

"Black coffee is just fine, thank you." Castiel took a sip, cutting off Dean. He really didn't care why he was didn't show last night, he was still a little irritated about it to be honest.

"So," Dean looked at Castiel and Castiel realized that he had taken off his sunglasses. His eyes were very green. Castiel had figured that the photos of the escorts had been altered, but when it came to Dean, that appeared to not be the case. "We're going to Wisconsin you said?" Dean brought his own Starbucks cup to his lips, not moving his eyes.

"Y…yes. Grantsburg, Wisconsin. It's my hometown." Dean hummed, showing he was listening. "I…my family doesn't think I'm gay or anything like that."

"We can work with that. Have you ever thought about being ya know…with another guy?" Dean still hadn't looked away from Castiel, and Castiel's face suddenly felt very warm.

"Well…I…I haven't…I mean, I had dated the same girl for most of high school and college." Dean quirked a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"That wasn't the question I asked. However, assuming by your stuttering and red face, I am going to go ahead and guess that yes, you have thought about it. You may not have acted on it, but you certainly have," Dean paused and moved his eyes up and down Castiel's body. Castiel felt like he was being objectified. "Thought about it. Now this girl that you mentioned, is she going to be there?" Castiel nodded. "And are we trying to win her back?" Castiel nearly choked on his coffee. He stared at Dean for a few seconds. Dean held up his hands. "Sorry, didn't mean to cross a line."

"No it's not that, it's just that I really haven't thought about getting her back."

"We can figure it out on the way. We should probably get going, though. Drinks are at six, and it's about a seven-hour car ride."

"I am aware of that. Would you like to put your items in my car or…?"

"Oh, well I was thinking we could take my car. It's the least I could do after bailing last night." Dean didn't try to give an excuse this time. As much as Castiel appreciated the gesture, he didn't want to know the kinds of things that had happened in that car.

"Thank you, but I think it would be better if I drive." Dean scoffed.

"Look, man, I'm sure there's some sentimental value to the car, but I have some standards about them and I am not showing up in a crappy, '78 Continental." Now Castiel was downright offended.

"It's not crappy. For your information that was my father's favorite car. Besides, that isn't what we would be taking. We would be taking my Prius." Dean laughed this time.

"Oh that's even worse! No, we're taking my car, end of discussion."

"Are you really in any position to be giving orders?" Castiel cocked an eyebrow of his own. He didn't much like taking orders. Dean started walking closer.

"I'm in a great position to be giving orders. You see, you haven't paid yet." Dean and Castiel were practically touching when Dean bent down to whisper into Castiel's ear. "So, I still hold a little bit of power, but after that, I'm completely at your mercy." Dean had almost purred the last two words. And no, Castiel didn't find it arousing at all. There was nothing about Dean's warm breath in his ear or his body heat radiating from the closeness that made Castiel suddenly weak in the knees. Before Castiel could come to terms with what he was experiencing, Dean stepped away with a smirk.

"I still do not understand why you want to drive." Dean shrugged.

"It makes me feel safe and I just really owe you for last night." Castiel did think it was nice that Dean had offered to drive.

"Okay. I suppose that's fine." Dean smiled.

"Then let me show you my baby." Baby…? Had Castiel heard him right? Who brings a baby along on something like this? Dean turned around and headed back out the front door. Castiel followed quickly, slightly nervous that he would have to explain not only that he was gay to his family, but his boyfriend had a child.

In Castiel's driveway was a car that looked like it was from the sixties, maybe seventies. Castiel had no idea. It was black and had sleek lines. It did look good, but Castiel didn't see a child in the backseat, or even a car seat . Dean held out his arms and then turned back towards Castiel.

"This is Baby. I've had her since I was seventeen. Built her from the ground up twice." Dean was beaming. Meanwhile, Castiel breathed a sigh of relief. It was just his car.

"Great. So we should get our things packed up and leave shortly." Dean looked a little hurt that Castiel hadn't been impressed with the rebuilding of the car, but he really didn't care. Cars weren't in Castiel's wheelhouse. Castiel turned around and began to walk inside. Dean followed him. Castiel was about to grab his luggage when he remembered the stack of money on his dining room table. He continued into the dining room and came back to the kitchen with his envelope.

"Seven thousand. Count it." Dean started to tuck the money into his back pocket.

"I trust you."

"Count it. Please." Dean shrugged and began counting.

"…sixty-nine, seventy." Dean held up the money. "All here. Thanks. Now, I know you said that you weren't gay or anything, but if things were to get intimate, we'll talk about money again."

"Oh I am quite sure that we won't need to have that conversation." Castiel didn't even attempt to keep the disgust out of his voice.

"That's what most people say, but we'll see I suppose." Dean ran his eyes up and down Castiel again. "Welp, we should probably get packed up and head out." Castiel tried to push down the blush he could feel at the back of his neck. He really didn't understand why the feelings were hitting him. Maybe he just wasn't used to being in a relationship (real or pretend), so he was getting used to somebody looking at him like that again. The way Dean was looking at him though, he couldn't even remember Hannah looking at him like that. Ever. Or perhaps he had been turned bitter to even the happy memories with her. Yes, that had to be it. Castiel tried to shake the feelings that made him think this was any more than a business transaction.

Castiel gave a nod before going into the living room to grab his luggage. He took a deep breath and tried to focus while he was alone. He had just been thrown off guard by Dean and his attitude. That was all. He could do this. He had time to sort himself out.

"Castiel?" Dean appeared near the doorway. "Are you okay?" Castiel picked up his bags.

"Fine, thank you. Let's get going." Castiel looked at Dean. Dean nodded once and lead the way out the door.