I'm so sorry this took so long but life just went "Here have a bunch of responsibilities and a sort of social life on top of it" and I just haven't had the time since. I pre-warn you the next chapter will probably take a few months too but I'm determined to finish this story, so even if I forget all about it for a whole year and then just randomly add a new chapter, I will finish this!

The next day Cas wakes up and goes about his morning routine. He can't help but feel oddly lonely, despite usually having the house to himself. Spending the evening with Sam and Dean had him longing for something that spending time with Gabriel and Samandriel hadn't. Company. Except that's not quite it, it's the feeling of being accepted with no pity. Feeling normal.

Milk sloshing over the side of his bowl snaps Cas out of his thoughts. He stares at the milk leaking across the counter top, and dripping on to the floor, with a pained expression. That's a good percentage of his library wage wasted.

Cas sighs as he reaches for the dish cloth to clean his mess. At least father isn't home. The thought only lifts his spirits a little because his father will return eventually, and like clockwork that day always seems to be Friday.

It's pretty ridiculous that his father only comes home one day a week. After all these years Cas is no wiser to where his father stays almost every night, the likely explanation would be that he stays passed out at a bar until the early hours of the morning. But Cas will never truly know for certain.

Upon arriving at school Cas is greeted by Sam, and shuffled over to Sam's group of friends. Jess, Charlie and Kevin.

Jess and Kevin greet him politely while Charlie throws her arms around him. Cas goes rigid, shocked by the sudden display of affection. He's spoken to Charlie a few times in Math but never had an actual conversation outside of discussing fractions, so this sort of behaviour was quite a surprise.

Sam practically has to pry her off of Cas. "Yeah, sorry she's a hugger"

"It's true" Charlie shrugs.

Cas musters a small smile "That's quite alright." And it is, because despite Castile's slight discomfort at first, he found he quite enjoyed receiving such affection, something which he has had very little of in his life. Gabriel isn't much of a hugger, he prefers to show his affection in other, more annoying, ways.

The group falls into light conversation regarding classes and upcoming weekend plans. Cas joins the conversations occasionally but mostly just listens. It feels...good.

Cas spends the Christmas holidays switching between Gabriel's Apartment and the Winchester's place. Even on the Friday a week before Christmas Cas is able to sneak out of his house when his father turns up with a woman, paying no attention to Cas what so ever.

It's the happiest Cas has been for a long time when he stays over Sam's and Dean's that Friday night.

"You want a drink, Cas" Dean says as he pulls out a bottle of beer from the fridge.

"I'm underage" Cas tilts his head to the side, regarding Dean carefully.

"I have more than beer in the fridge, you know" Dean smirks "Besides I told Sammy he's not allowed to drink 'til he's 18, so you're in the same boat"

"Which is hypocritical 'cause he started drinking at 15" Sam pipes up.

Cas frowns looking between the brothers "but the legal age to drink is 21"

"Yeah here, but the legal age to drink in England is 18" Dean winks.

"You've been to England?" Cas tilts his head curiously.

"No, but they're age to drink is more reasonable" Dean grins cheekily.

Cas squints at Dean "I see" he says slowly.

Later that night the three of them sit curled up on the couch watching The Hobbit.

"I don't understand how having large feet makes him stealthy. Surely it should do the opposite." Cas squints at the TV.

"Well technically-"

"Shhh. Both of you, I'm tryna watch." Dean cuts Sam off and leans forward in seat to hear the TV better.

Sam and Cas share a smile at Dean's behaviour, before returning their attention to the movie.

Before long Sam and Cas have fallen a sleep. Sam resting between the arm rest and backrest arms flung across each one, with a leg propped up on Cas' knee and the other resting on the floor. Cas remains half sitting up half laying on Dean, head resting on Dean's shoulder.

Dean carefully removes his phone from his pocket to snap a picture of the two of them before waking them up to get ready for bed.

Cas let's out a groan as Dean gently shakes his shoulder, before burying his head further into Dean's arm.

Dean chuckles as he shifts to get up leaving Cas to fall face first into the couch cushion. Yet another groan. Except Cas is moving this time, slowly, but he's moving.

Dean moves on to Sam and goes straight for his feet sliding him half way of the couch and gently setting him on the cold floor, Sam let's out a whine when his exposed lower back comes into contact with what feels like ice at that very moment.

Dean continues to chuckle at the two sleepy morons "Alright, sleepy heads. Time to get off my bed and into your own"

Groans emanate from the two piles of limbs before they start sitting up and heading towards Sam's room. Dean chuckles to himself while preparing the couch for him to sleep on.