A/N: I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for reading my fanfic. I'm truly falling in love with this story as I write it and I really appreciate those of you who left me reviews. I'm going on a cruise for my spring break, so I will not be able to post chapters as much as I would like to. But I will be continuing to write during the week, and updating whenever possible. The story is about half way done at this point, and I have a lot of ideas for these two. I hope you all keep reading to see what happens next for Dean and Cas.

Dean awoke the next morning. His mind was still playing the scene of him and Cas together the night before, like a movie on repeat. He wondered if it had been nothing more than a dream. He was awake, but his eyes were still closed, and his mind lagged behind. As he came to, he felt his temple resting upon something soft, but it wasn't the pillow. As he grew more aware of his surroundings, he heard a deep thudding by his ear, and gentle fingers running through the sandy brown hair on the back of his head. The surface he was laying on moved slightly beneath him. He looked up sleepily and smiled when he was Castiel's tender eyes softening on his face. His silky black hair was piled on top of his head in messy wisps.

"Mornin' baby," Dean spoke, his voice like sandpaper. He slid up Cas' warm chest and pulled his neck close to his mouth while he parted his chapped lips. He blew warm breaths on the angel's tongue, and pressed their lips together. Cas smiled into the kiss and titled the hunter's chin up, wrapping his free hand around the Dean's naked waist.

"I'm sorry if I woke you," Cas whispered between loving pecks. "You look so very peaceful while you sleep."

Dean had always been annoyed when Cas watched him sleep, even found it creepy. But as he grew to understand the angel, he knew it was a caring gesture.

Cas didn't want to move. He wanted to lie with his hunter in a tangled mess beneath the sheets. The sun shone through a crack in the blinds, and bounced off Dean's exposed shoulder. He watched the dust swirl in the space around him, and started stroking the freckles along Dean's arm. He had lived most of his life in heaven, but it had never even come close to this.

"Dean, did you really mean what you said last night?" Cas asked cautiously. He wasn't sure whether Dean's admission had been a lie induced by a sensual high.

"What, that I-"

"That you love me." Castiel cut him off.

"Cas, you know I've never been one to discuss my feelings. I've avoided the subject constantly, with everyone. But I meant what I said. I've never been so sure about anything. It took me a while to realize it, but I love you," he said lifting his head to look the angel sternly in the eye.

But-but what you said about Lisa before…" he trailed off.

"You're different." Dean's voice loudened, and his face was serious.

Dean retrieved his iPod from the bedside table, and scrolled through his library, searching for a song. He smiled when he found the one he wanted, and clicked play. The music filled the quiet of the room. It was the song Castiel had showed him, "I Will Follow You into the Dark."

"You like this song?" Cas asked, smiling as Dean pressed his lips together and hummed along to the tune.

"Yeah," he laughed, "You know, it's no Zeppelin, but when you were gone, I listened to it a lot, and it made me think of you."

The very idea of Dean thinking of him when he was away made Cas' cheeks turn the color of roses. He rolled on top of the hunter, tucking his arm under his neck. The angel pressed his dry lips against Dean's chin, their naked bodies moving together. Castiel's other hand traced down Dean's side, searching for the hardness that dug into his stomach, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Alright you two, enough morning sex. I'm ready to ditch this town," chuckled Sam from the other side of the door.

Cas rolled off, and started to blush. He realized the two had been moaning while their passions grew, not quietly enough to stop it from traveling to the other side of the motel room.

"Dammit Sammy," Dean groaned. "We were just getting to the good part," he said with a smile, and dove in for a last kiss. Cas was surprised at Dean's reaction. Sam knew what was going on, but then again, it was their unconditional love that the angel had always admired so much.

They were ready to set off and return to Bobby's. Their first hunt after the hiatus had been a success, minus the injuries. In more ways than one, Dean thought as he grinned at his angel.

As they grabbed their duffle bags to head out the door, Cas stopped in his tracks. He frowned, his blue eyes filling with concern. He stared at the space in front of him, listening to only something he could hear.

The brothers watched Cas with concern as his eyes shifted in their sockets.

"Dean…" the angel stated as he snapped out of his trance. "I have to leave."

"What? Why? What's going on Cas?" the hunter asked rapidly, fear in his voice at the thought of being separated from his angel.

"Something's happening in Heaven. It's… Raphael. He's starting a rebellion, to kill all the rebels, and rule Heaven himself. I've been absent lately. This is my fault, and I have to stop him."

"Raphael? Wait, kill the rebels? Aren't you a rebel?" Dean asked, his voice raising in volume.

"Yes."

"Well that settles it. We'll help you. Right Sammy?"

"Of course we will!" Sam chimed in, flickering his eyes between the angel and his brother.

"I refuse to put either of you in that kind of danger. I have to do this alone." the angel protested stubbornly

"Shut up, Cas. We're coming with you." Dean snapped. "We're stronger together and you know that. I will not leave you." Dean eyes squinted, his voice did not waiver. He wasn't taking no for an answer.

The angel finally sighed. What was the point? He wouldn't win this argument. "Fine. But we must leave now. Raphael is heading to Chicago. We'll try to intersect him there."

The brother's nodded and hurried out the door with their bags in tow, grabbing the keys to the Impala from the coffee table. As Dean neared the door, he turned around, letting Sam walk ahead. He held up his palm and rested it just below Castiel's collar bone. His green eyes bore deeply into Cas' blue, and he clenched his jaw before speaking.

"Don't you ever try to get me to abandon you again, alright? I love you, Cas. And I will follow you. Wherever."

His voice sounded almost angry, but his words were dripping with so much sincerity and love that it forced Cas' stomach to churn. He nodded, making promises he could never keep. His main priority was protecting Dean, over heaven, over other angel's, over God's will. He would keep him safe until his last breath. He promised that to himself silently, knowing it was a vow he would keep.

The angel leaned in and softly pecked the hunter on the lips, before reaching down to intertwine their fingers. Cas feared what was waiting for them out on the road, what may happen on their journey. But as he looked over at the hunter next to him, knowing he held his heart, Castiel felt alive.

And this beautiful human would follow him, no matter where fate took them.