I've been wanting to write a story comprised of little snapshots of moments in Dean and Cas' relationship. They're little vignette's of fluff, I know... But there's a point to the fluff, I promise.

2014

"You've only known her for, what-"

"Two years Dean!"

"Exactly! Two years Sam. Two years is nothing! Two years is like...a blip! I'm just saying, maybe take it easy with the whole marriage and picket fence thing."

"Dean, I love her-"

"Yeah, and when has that ever made anything work out!"

Sam took a deep breath, pulling himself together and looking at his brother hard. "Dean," he started in a calm, but warning tone, "I know that you're scared of me ducking out on you."

"What! That's not-"

"Wait." And the tone of demand Sam's voice made Dean shut up. "I know you tried this once, and it didn't work for you. And I know how much it hurt you when it didn't."

Dean winced at even the vaguest mention of Lisa and Ben, now blissfully ignorant of him and living their lives like normal people.

Sam let that wash over his brother before continuing, "I've spent enough time being tentative, and playing it safe. And I don't even think I've been doing it for me. Or her, really. I've been doing it for you."

Dean stared at his brother, at a complete loss for words. How could this too be his fault?

"Dean," Sam made his voice a little softer, pleading, "we're all but out of the job. We take a case, what? Once a month? And easy stuff. Light weight. That desperation to be the ones who save everyone... it's gone. I don't want to carry the world on my shoulders anymore. I want to settle down. And so do you."

Sam watched the wheels turn in Dean's head, knowing he was right, and knowing Dean knew it. Damn he'd have made a great lawyer. He had a perfectly-tuned sense of when he'd broken through. And he knew he'd gotten to Dean. He could all but see the resignation in his face. Sam had known for awhile that Dean was ready to get out of the life. And Sam had been patient for two years while Dean tried desperately to work through the possibility of he and Sammy moving on, and them growing apart.

Sam was well aware that Hunting was the only life Dean knew.

But Sam didn't want to wait anymore. And neither did his future wife. And he'd daresay, neither did Cas.

He wasn't at all surprised when Dean turned on his heel and walked out. Dean needed to work through this once and for all. He'd be back. Hopefully, after talking to Cas. But he'd be back.

Dean felt a dip in the park bench's near-rotted wood as the weight of another body settled down next to him. He didn't need to look to know it was Cas, but he did, out of habit.

Cas sat, hands clasped between his knees, looking sagely out at the fields before him, squinting through the sunlight. He was in his usual jeans and collared button-up. Cas never did like the informality of a T-shirt. He said it made him feel lowly, to which Dean always snarked a Thanks or something of the like. Nevertheless, the former angel was still most comfortable in something akin to Jimmy Novak's Sunday best. And to his credit, he managed to keep those white shirts impeccably pressed and clean.

For the record, Dean liked the crispness of them. They brought out the blue of his eyes, made his dark hair seem even darker. Cas wearing starched white seemed... right. But Dean couldn't think about that right now.

"He's running away with her," Dean all but growled, like a spoiled little boy.

"It's been more than two years. They're hardly running away."

Dean rolled his eyes.

"He loves her very much," Cas stated.

And Dean's "I know" was a little too defensive.

Cas sighed and then was quiet for a moment. "You and your brother are as similar as you are different."

"Get to the point Confucius."

Cas gave Dean a warning look and the man backed down. "I'm sure Sam was nervous, jealous, maybe even afraid when you and I started courting."

"I have told you before and I'll tell you again - people do not say courting in 2014. It's actually kind of creepy-"

"Regardless, whatever Sam's negative feelings were, he kept them to himself. For our sake. And he's been easing all of us into this ever since he met her. Perhaps you owe it to him to give him the same sacrifice."

Dean thought for a long moment. He knew Cas was right. He knew this chick was perfect for Sam, and try as he might he couldn't find one damnable thing about her. Even Bobby liked her - she beat him at Checkers on the first try and nearly drank him under the table, much to Sam's surprise.

But Dean's big fear - losing the family - was all he could see when Sam said he wanted out of the business and into suburbia. And Dean had let that panic him. But when Cas spoke, he seemed to clear that all away. He always could do that.

Dean knocked his leg against Cas', and the former anger looked at him. It was an almost playful gesture on Dean's part, but he wanted it to say Thanks so he didn't have to do so out loud. Cas simply nodded, recognizing the behavior.

The wedding that Sam had always wanted to a beautiful girl who entirely "got" him was a small event - just the brothers, Castiel, Bobby and the bride to be. Her family was mostly gone - a straggler just like the rest of them. One more way she was perfect.

Dean was the Best Man, of course. Sam didn't have many other options really, but Dean was honored nonetheless. Bobby walked the bride down the aisle - even blushed when she kissed him on the cheek.

All the necessary things were said and promised and Sam held in his man-tears appropriately, even if Dean barely could. He coughed it away, knowing he had to man-up or Sam would never let him live it down. It wasn't so much seeing his little brother take the leap that made him want to cry like a little girl, but the way Sam's as-good-as wife looked at him, eyes shining, smile so big. She really did love him. Sam deserved that. Dean knew now it was right to let him go.

And he looked over at Cas, who was watching with such rapt fascination and sincere interest in every word, Dean had to put forth a real effort to tear his eyes away from him and look back at the altar.

There was the kiss and the rowdy procession out of the room. But Dean lagged behind. For a moment, he thought he might panic and he wasn't sure why - but it had nothing to do with the wedding. It was something else he couldn't quite put his finger on... There was something tugging at him, like there was something very important that he forgot and his brain chose this moment to say hold up...

A hand gripped his shoulder and he jumped.

"Cas! Sorry..." he laughed it off.

"Are you alright Dean?"

"Yeah. Yeah Cas. I'm good. Everything's good."

Cas shyly slipped his hand into Dean's, not meeting his eyes, almost as if he was trying to get away with public affection without Dean noticing. A warmth spread through Dean, calming him, leaving all of his worries and delusions behind. All he needed was here. It felt good to know that, to succumb to it.