Notes:

I am so, so, so so so SO very sorry for how long this took to get up! I'm not even finished the chapter. So I decided to cut it off around half way (maybe just under half actually) just so that I can get something up to you guys! And then, hopefully, the second part of this chapter will be up by Friday. Hopefully. Maybe Saturday. I'm not sure. Also, I started working last Monday, so that is part of the reason why this has taken so long to get put up. With my first paycheck I'm hoping to get a laptop so that when I have an idea I can quickly type it out. Main reason for this taking so long is because writers block is a bitch and the words just didn't want to flow for me. Let me know what ya'll think. Like I said, next art will hopefully be up soon!

Chapter 14: Save that for the black and white (part1)

It was still December 14th. The town was mourning the lost of the game. No one but the Harvelle/Winchester/Singer family cared about the track meet.

After the end of the game, Dean met up with his family outside the school. After all the stress of the past three and a half months, he was finally free. Free of plays. Free of annoying teammates. And free of his douche of a half brother.

It was while he was outside, being 'comforted' from his family for the lost and congratulating Cas for his win, that he realized it was December 14th. He was walking at the time his brain caught up with the date, so naturally, he stopped mid-stride to the confused glances of his family.

It was December 14th. The last time he visited his mothers grave was two days after Halloween. He would have hit himself, if only he weren't in public. He quickly walked to the Impala, throwing over his shoulder to Jo to take Sam with her, and drove off.

The ride to the cemetery passed in a blur. Within minutes he was kneeling in front of Mary's tombstone.

"Hey, Mom." He scratched the back of his neck, a nervous habit of his. "Um, happy belated birthday?" he said half sheepish, half guilty. "So I know that I'm late, like majorly late, getting here. Sorry. I know, I know." He held up his hands in defense. "Sorry doesn't cut it. But it's not my fault! Not really at least!"

He sighed. Would it be pointless to tell her about Adam and Kate? Wouldn't she already know?

A moment passed in silence. He knelt there, on the cold, hard ground. Harsh December wind whipped his face while he contemplated saying anything.

"Ok, so I know you probably already know about this, and you're probably rolling around down there... up there?" He shook his head. "Never mind. You know what I mean." He sighed again. This was a lot harder than he thought it would be. He took a deep, steadying breath. "I found out last month that I have another brother, Mom." He paused. His eyes stung with unwelcome tears. He blinked them back.

He sighed again. In the back of his mind was a nagging feeling that he would be doing a lot of that this visit.

"Mom." A tear slid passed his eye. "Dad cheated on you." The words caught in his throat. He cleared it before speaking again, though the words still struggled to get out. "He still treats us like shit, Mom. And yet Adam," he spat the name out, a foul taste lingered on his tongue, "gets treated like fucking royalty."

He scrunched his face up. Tears fell freely, no longer being held back. One hand came up to his face, wiping the wetness away. The other reached out for the angel statue. He clenched his hand around it. The coolness of the porcelain sent a chill up his arm, yet the heat of his skin warmed it up, despite the chilly weather. The angel, so similar to his own at home, acted like an anchor. He sighed and squeezed it again.

His eyes, which were squeezed shut, blinked open. Pale blue eyes stared up at him. A soft smile slowly formed on his face.

"Cas joined the track team," he said. "His first meet was today." A soft chuckle escaped his lips. "He won. I wish I could have seen it. Wish I could have seen him." He sighed softly this time. Thinking about Cas warmed his chest. His eyes glazed over as an image of a sweaty Cas running ahead of other faceless people formed in his mind. "I've never felt like this before." He paused. A moment later, "I think I love him, Mom. But I don't know what love feels like. At least not this type." He stared down at the angel still in his hand. Instead of the pale blue he was expecting, electric blue stared up at him. The light brown hair turned into messy dark brown. The soft closed mouth smile was instead a wide, full mouth and teeth baring grin. Soft crows feet formed around the wide eyes.

Dean didn't realize how hard he was smiling until his face was hurting from it. His body hummed with the warmth thinking of Cas caused. He looked at the gravestone again. Fresh tears slid down his face. "Yeah," he said, "I love him, Mom." He placed the statue on the gravestone again. "I promise my next visit will be on time." He leaned forward and kissed Mary's name before standing up and walking to the exit.

He didn't notice John standing ten yards away, anger and disgust clear as day on his face and in his eyes.

Dean pulled into the Roadhouse's parking lot ten minutes later. Even though the football team lost, there was still reason to celebrate. Since no one else was celebrating, however, the lot was nearly empty. High schoolers were probably at some house party, drinking away their misery.

Dean found their table easily enough. Everyone was there; Cas, Sam, Bobby, Ellen, and Jo. What he was expecting was for everyone to be sitting and having a good time. What he witness, though, was Ellen and Jo in Roadhouse uniform while his surrogate father, little brother, and angel sat at a small table with an empty chair.

"Since when did Jo work here," he said in way of greeting.

"Since you made it obvious that you were the only one working, dipshit," Jo retorted.

"Joanna Beth Harvelle!" Ellen scolded, smacking Jo upside the head. "Language!"

Jo glared at Dean before hanging her head in defeat. Rules of the house and rules of the Roadhouse were the same. No yelling and no cursing.

Dean held back a chuckle, just barely.

He joined the table, sitting down next to Cas, while Jo took orders. She didn't bother taking his.

The night went on with chatter and laughter. Every time he looked at Cas, that warm feeling came back, hotter than ever before.

About an hour into their dinner, Jo's laughter from a few tables down caught Deans' attention. She was talking to a fellow high schooler. The kid looked rather familiar, but he couldn't place where he's seen him before.

A nudge in Cas' side with his elbow got the blue eyed boys' attention. He quirked an eyebrow. "What?" he whispered.

"Who's the kid Jo is talking to?" Dean asked, just as quietly.

Cas directed his attention to the table Jo was currently at. His brows furrowed in confusion. "You mean Alfie Johnston?" he asked.

Deans' eyebrows rose in surprise. "You know the kid?"

"Well, yeah," Cas said. "He's a junior on the track team."

The memory came back to Dean. The day he spooked Cas in the gym. It was just after he tagged someone to sprint. The other student became clearer. Alfie was the kid he tagged.

Jo laughed again. A private smirk formed on his face. Jo was finally interested in someone.

Deans' hours at the garage picked up. With the lack of football practice, he had more free time to work. Everyday after school he would head over to Bobby's, work until break, pick Cas up from practice, then finish the next three hours before heading home to do homework. Jo would pick Sam up after school and take him to Bobby's before heading to her own shift. On the weekends, if there wasn't a track meet at least, Dean would work from eight to four, patiently waiting for the day he would turn 18 and be able to work overtime.

Cas' next track meet was a week after his first. Dean finally got to see his angel in action. When Cas crossed the finish line first, it was hard to hold back his pride.

In celebration of Cas' second win, Ellen allowed Dean and Sam to spend the night. It was while Dean and Cas were laying down for bed that Dean realized he may not be able to do what he wanted for Cas' Christmas present. Not everyone likes needles after all.

They were laying under the covers, curled into each other to ward off the cold, when Dean realized this.

He leaned over and tried to kiss Cas' nose, but missed and made contact with one of his eyes instead. It was dark and he couldn't see, give him a break.

"Ow, Dean. What the hell was that for?" he asked. Dean saw movement and assumed that Cas was now rubbing at his eye.

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "I was aiming for your nose."

Cas' aim, as it would seem, was much better in the dark. His lips pressed slightly against Deans' before retreating.

Dean huffed. "You're such a tease, Angel." he grumbled.

Cas was quiet for a moment. "Why do you call me 'angel'?" he asked, so quietly Dean almost missed it.

"You mean other than because of your name?" he asked, amusement clear in the sound of his voice.

"Well... yeah."

Dean moved closer to Cas in the dark until the slightly shorter man was nothing more than a curled up ball wrapped in his embrace.

He kissed the top of Cas' head and buried his nose in the soft strands. The warm feeling came back. "Because you saved me," he said into the hair. "You're like my saving grace." He smirk. It's not everyday something that girly comes out of his mouth.

Cas huffed. "I'm no angel."

He pulled away, trying his damnest to see in the dark. His hand reached under Cas' chin. Tilting his head up, Dean gave Cas a soft kiss. "And why is that?" he asked.

"Because I'm such a demon in bed," he deadpanned.

Dean let out a bark of a laugh and nodded his head. He has had his fair share of sex, but nothing compared to sex with Castiel.

After he gained control of his laughter he asked, "but seriously, Cas. Why aren't you an angel?"

Cas sighed. "Because I don't have wings. An angel isn't an angel if they don't have wings."

A tiny bubble of hope formed in Deans' chest. Maybe, just maybe, his Christmas present can really happen.

"Oh yeah? And how do you plan on fixing that?" he asked.

"Well, I assume I would have to get a tattoo."

The bubble grew. "Would you oppose to getting a tattoo?"

He shook his head. "No. I wouldn't mind. I think I'd be able to handle the pain."

The bubble burst. New warmth spread through his body. A smile spread wide on his face. His only response was to nod. "Bedtime now. Gotta get up early. Work in the morning."

They slept peacefully that night.

The following Monday was Christmas Eve's Eve, otherwise known as December 23rd. It was also a half day. The high school was dismissed at twelve thirty that afternoon; middle school at one.

Dean waited in the schools' parking lot until Cas' short team meeting ended, then the two of them drove down the street to get Sam.

After dropping them off at Ellen's house, Dean went to the garage. It was only an extra hour of work than usual, but it was more money in his pocket, so he wasn't complaining.

With Christmas just two days away, everyone was excite and on edge at the same time. Dean especially, since he still had no idea if Cas would really like his present, despite the moment of hope a few nights previous.

All excitement in Dean drained once he arrived at Bobby's. John was just clocking out when Dean walked through the door. The tension in the room was so thick, you actually couldn't cut it with a knife. This was the first time since Thanksgiving that the two Winchesters were in the same room.

Thankfully, Bobby walked in a moment later, snapping the two men out of their glaring contest. The fact that Bobby was still able to be professional enough not to let his new found hatred to the older Winchester affect work caused a new rush of respect to run through Dean.

It was during Deans' first break, two hours into the shift, when Bobby brought it up.

Dean was sitting in the office, a cold soda can rolled between his hands, when Bobby walked in with a 'no attitude, this is how it's going to be' look. He sat down across from Dean, hands folded on the table and stared at Deans' head until he looked up.

"What's up, Bobby?" he asked. Unlike Ellen, Bobby didn't mind the older Winchester brother forgoing his 'Uncle' title and just calling him Bobby.

"You're not going to like this, kid." He was still called 'kid' though.

Dean sat up straight, giving Bobby his full attention. He searched his surrogate fathers face, looking for any hint of what the old man was thinking. After finding nothing, he stayed quiet.

A moment of silence followed. Bobby sighed, gathering his strength for the oncoming argument that was sure to follow his next words. "I talked to your dad."

Dean raised a skeptical eyebrow. "What the ass have to say?" he asked.

"Let me just start by saying that nothing is definite yet. He hasn't made a decision."

"What is it, Bobby?" he asked, annoyed.

"I guess Kate," he swallowed thickly, a look of disgust on his face. "I guess she talked to him after the fiasco on Thanksgiving. He said that he feels bad about how he's been treating the other boy differently and wants to make up for it."

"And you believe him?" A chill ran down Deans' back. Something didn't feel right.

"It seems odd, I'll give you that."

Another moment of silence passed while both men sat in their thoughts.

Dean cleared his throat. "So how does the bastard intend to make everything right?" he asked, skeptically.

"Christmas isn't a definite. He said he'll probably spend that time with the Milligans'. However," he continued sharply, cutting off the retort on Deans' tongue. "However, he said he wanted everyone to spend New Years Eve at the house. He'll bring Kate, but the boy will go out to a friends house or something."

Dean huffed and leaned back in his chair, the soda forgotten on the table. He crossed his arms and glared at the wall. "I think it sounds sketchy."

Bobby nodded in agreement. "I agree. I talked to Ellen about it."

"Yeah?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah. She said that we should let it play out. See what happens."

Deans' brows dropped. He felt numbed. None of this felt good. He shrugged a shoulder and got up.

There was nothing he could do on the matter.

He got home late that night, after having to pick Sam up from Ellen's. There were still presents to be wrapped, so the two boys went their separate ways to their respective rooms.

Two hours later the living room was packed with multicolored boxes of various sizes. Opting to wait until morning to pack the Impala with the gifts, the two Winchester boys went to bed, excited to the days to come.

Christmas Eve night found Dean in bed with Cas, snuggled up together to keep warm despite the heat being on in the house.

Legs entangled, hands held tight, Dean thought nothing could be better than this. After confessing to Mary a few days before of his love for Cas, the warm feeling in his chest grew with each passing glance at the dark haired man laying next to him.

He snuggled closer, his nose nuzzled into the dark soft hair that laid atop his angels' head. Cas' chest rose and fell gently as he snored softly beside Dean.

The alarm clock next to the bed glowed red. The numbers indicated it was just after midnight.

He kissed Cas' temple, nuzzled his hair one last time, before allowing the soft breathes to lull him to sleep.

Dean and Cas were snuggled against each other when two heavy bodies jumped on top of them.

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE. UP!"

A heavy hand made contact with Deans' shoulder. He squeezed his eyes shut. Next to him he felt Cas' body be shook awake.

"DEAN! CAS! WAKE UP! IT'S CHRISTMAS!" came the squeaky shout of Sam. The poor boys voice was doing all different things recently. The wonders of puberty.

Dean wiggled into a sitting position and hung his head in his hands. He took a deep breath before opening his eyes to the too bright light of the bedroom.

He growled. "Guys. Seriously? It's only," he looked at the alarm clock next to him and growled again. "Guys! It's only six in the morning! WHAT THE HELL?" he shouted.

"What's going on?" Cas mumbled beside him, still half asleep and fighting the abrupt wake up call.

"Yeah, but!" Jo began.

"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Sam squeaked again.

Cas finally opened his eyes and glared at the first person he saw, which happened to be Dean.

"Dude. Don't give me that look. I wasn't the one to wake you."

Jo and Sam looked at each other, and a moment later stood up simultaneously and began jumping on the bed.

"Fine!" Cas growled out. "We're getting up! Happy?"

Sam jumped up and again, folded his legs, and landed indian style on top of Cas. "YES!" he shouted, throwing his hands in the air in triumph.

Jo jumped off the bed and started tugging on Deans' arm.

"What are you? A little kid or something?" he asked

"Come oooon!" she said, adding emphasis on the 'o' and still tugging his arm. Sam did the same to Cas, whose hair was sticking up more than normal. The sleepy glare he sent Sams' way had Dean doubled over in laughter.

Once he calmed down, Dean was able to speak clear enough to suggest that Jo and Sam let them dress in something other than just boxers and t-shirts.

Ten minutes later, the four teenagers were impatiently waiting outside the locked living room door. On the other side of the wood, they heard the last minute movement of Bobby and Ellen arranging gifts.

Jo and Cas were in a heated, though silent, argument in regards to the rude wake up call when the door opened suddenly. Cas' glare smoothed into a fond expression at the sight of a disheveled Ellen Harvelle.

Ellen stepped to the side to allow the teenagers access to the living room, and thus, the presents under the tree.

The multicolored lights strung on the tree blinked in peaceful harmony, casting shadows on three medium sized boxes with holes on the tops beneath the branches. Surrounding the unique and unwrapped boxes were multiple bags of kitten food, cat litter, three different colored litter boxes with matching scoops, and three bags the same color as the boxes and scoops.

Dean, Jo, and Sam gave each other confused looks, which grew even more confused when they caught Cas' expression. Cas looked equal parts worried, fond, and excited. He gave them each a small smile before silently gesturing to the display.

Dean, being the last to walk forward, heard Cas silently thank Bobby and Ellen for setting everything up for him.

The three teenagers knelt in front of their respective boxes (their names were in front of the one intended for them) with hesitant looks on their faces. Jo's box shook a little as whatever was in it moved. Sam heard faint scratching from one side of his box. Deans' box made a noise, one which had him look up at Jo and Sam in shock. Did it just meow?

The noise came again, this time from Jo's box and a moment later from Sams'. Dean glanced to his side when Cas sat down. He didn't quite know what his face looked like, but Cas found it amusing. "Go on," he said. He looked at Sam and Jo's faces before adding, "open them."

Dean looked down at his box again. Cautiously, he lifted the lid. A smile broke across his face, for inside of his box sat a small, white kitten with it's bright blue eyes, which looked identical to Cas', staring up at him. It's small mouth opened wide as a giant yawn escaped it's body.

Cas stared at Dean. Dean stared at the kitten. The kitten stared back.

Then the kitten moved. It leaned back and scrunched up it's tiny legs before pouncing at Dean. Dean, with his fast reflexes from four years of playing football, caught it as it collided with his chest. A small, rough tongue reached out and licked at Deans' lips. The body vibrated as the kitten purred loudly. Beside him, he heard two similar purrs join the air. He lifted his head to look at Jo and Sam, who each had a small bundle of fur in their arms as well.

Dean finally blinked. It was impossible not to. The laughter broke through his body, causing him to shake in both disbelief and joy. He nuzzled the soft fur on top of his kittens head with his nose before turning his attention to Cas, who still sat beside him.

He chuckled again. "You got us cats?" he asked through the laughter, as the little pink tongue licked his face again.

"I think I'm going to call him Garfield," Sam said from his spot five feet away.

"Why Garfield?" Jo asked.

"Because he can't be more than ten weeks old, yet he's already passed out in my arms. Plus, he's orange and has gray eyes!"

"Well, I'm naming mine Luci!" Jo said, holding her own kitten above her head. It's tiny black paws swatted at her nose eagerly. "Because he's such a little devil!"

"What about you, Dean?" Sam asked, voice squeaky yet again from the excitement the day has brought so far.

He looked down again, into the blue eyes that were so familiar yet so different. "Angel," he said, without hesitation. He didn't need to see the look on Cas' face to know he was in awe.

It only took five minutes before Bobby made a comment that there were still presents to unwrap. As it turned out, Bobby and Ellen's gifts to the three were all of the accessories for the kittens. The bags that were next to the boxes the kittens were in had numerous cat toys. Sam, Dean, and Jo tossed a few around and let the pets have their own fun.

After the excitement calmed down, Bobby unwrapped his presents. From Ellen, he got a fifth of Jack Daniels, which as long as he kept it away from John, would last at least two weeks. Dean and Sam got Bobby different sets of tools. The ones he had at home kept being left at the shop. Jo gave him a new grilling utensil set, complete with tongs, three different sized basting brushes, a two pronged fork, slotted spatula, and a grill cleaning brush. Finally, Cas' gift to him was a gold wrist watch.

Ellen was next. Similar to Bobby's gift, Cas gave her a wrist watch with sapphire gemstones encrusted around it. Dean gave her a matching sapphire necklace and earrings set. When asked why sapphire and if they shopped together, they both replied that sapphire was her birthstone and they were just as surprised as everyone else to see the matching gifts. Sam and Jo gave her a box of Godiva chocolates each. It was a well known secret that Godiva was her favorite.

Bobby's gift was last. Back in 1973, there was a wine competition in Paris between French wine and Californian wine. The french taste testers tasted blindly at the multiple red and white wines. Everyone attending were surprised to find out that in both categories a California wine won. Bobby gave Ellen a bottle of each of the winning wines; Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.

Ellen almost burst into tears.

Along with the kittens and their accessories, Dean received the Star Trek TOS trilogy on VHS via Jo and a gold amulet on a black leather cord via Sam, which he automatically looped over his head and tucked into his shirt. Dean gave Sam the Lord of the Rings trilogy book set and the Hobbit, and Jo gave him the books To Kill a Mocking Bird and Catcher in the Rye. Jo got a new knife for her knife collection from Sam. Dean gave her a matching earring and necklace set, similar to Ellen's. The only difference was that Jo's gemstones were diamonds instead of sapphires.

Cas was the last to open his presents. Bobby and Ellen split the cost to buy him a tan trench coat. When he tried it on, it hung loosely to his frame. They then went on the explain that they got it a size big so that he could grow into it. Despite being 17, Cas was still growing, and with being on the track team, his slowly growing muscles would help fill it out. Jo gave him a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope, explaining that he can use it once he gets to his clinical classes in college. Sam's present was next. When he opened it he discovered the book Wuthering Heights. Rumor had it that their English class next semester would be reading it, and since Dean was least likely of the two to actually read it (which earned a 'HEY!' from Dean), he figured Cas would like a copy of his own.

After Sam finished explaining why he got Cas the book, everyone noticed that there weren't any more gifts under the tree. Five sets of eyes landed on Dean, who was promptly looking at the three playing kittens across the room.

"Dean," Ellen said. Dean blinked up at her and tried his best at an innocent look.

"Yes?" he answered. Inside his head he was smirking.

Bobby crossed his arms and spoke next, gold watch reflecting the Christmas lights. "With all the time you boys spend around each other, why are you the only one who didn't give Cas a gift?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh." He looked at Cas and smirk. "Cas gets his present tomorrow."

"Why?" Cas asked, blue eyes barely visible through his skeptical glare.

Dean shrugged. "Because I can't give it to you today." He looked down as a black fur ball attacked his hand. "You just have to wait until tomorrow."

After all the presents were opened and wrapping paper cleaned up, Ellen and Bobby headed for the kitchen to continue working on dinner. Jo set up her litter box for the kittens, Sam played with the kittens, and Dean and Cas took all presents to their respective rooms.

The last stop for the two were their bedroom. After dropping their gifts onto the bed carelessly (they were still in boxes, ok?), Dean hollered down the stairs that Sam and Jo better get changed or else they weren't going to the cemetery.

Ten minutes later, the four of them were in the Impala, heading south. Cas wore his trench coat. Dean wore his amulet. The kittens were locked in Jo's room until they returned.

The visit to Mary's grave was rather short and uneventful. Sam, Jo, and Cas talked about their gifts. Dean made sure Mary knew that he kept his promise to visit on time. They talked about their kittens, Dean added emphasis on Angels' name when he said it, though only Cas noticed.

John didn't show for dinner, much to everyone's appreciation.

When nine rolled around, Dean and Cas got ready for bed to ensure they got up early enough for Cas' gift the next day.

By ten, they were passed out, snuggled under their heavy comforter, wrapped in each others' embrace, with content smiles on their faces. Angel hopped onto the bed and curled up in a ball on top of their conjoined hips, purring loudly as she fell asleep with her humans.

Dean woke first the next morning by means of his face being attacked by tiny paws and a wet tongue. After disentangling himself from Cas' tight embrace, climbing out of bed, and cuddling Angel in his arms, he prepared himself for the light that he was about to switch on. However, no amount of preparation can prevent the onslaught of brightness from attacking the eyes at six in the morning.

He cursed, blinded by the light, dropped Angel and tripped over a still slightly damp towel on the floor. Angel pounced at his feet playfully, causing him to bump into the bed and land on top of Cas. Both boys let out an 'umph' at the contact.

"Dean? What the hell are you doing?" Cas asked, voice muffled through the blanket over his head.

"Um... Waking you up?" Angel pounced on the lump that was Cas' head. Dean chuckled, "With a little help."

Cas groaned. "Why do we have to get up?" he whined.

Dean propped himself on his elbows and tried to pull the blanket off of Cas' head. When that failed, he glared at his boyfriend. "Fine." He sat up and crossed his arms. "I guess you don't want your Christmas present then."

For someone who was just complaining about getting up, Cas jumped out of bed quickly. In fact, the momentum caused Dean to fall backwards and off the bed. By the time he gained his bearings and sat up, Cas was already half way dressed, Angel at his feet pawing at the frayed bottoms of his jeans. Dean chuckled before standing up.

The two made it out the door within twenty minutes, delayed by sneaky kisses and a white fur ball that found fascination with their toes. Within thirty minutes of waking up, Angel was locked in their room, Dean pulled the car out the driveway, and the heat blasted through the cold morning air.