Dean chewed on the end of his pen, staring down at the paper in front of him; "hey Jess?"

Jess didn't look up from the oven where she was cooking dinner; "yeah?"

"What rhymes with, 'I'm a monumental prick, please forgive me'?"

"Poetry now?"

"Sam suggested I try all mediums... It's been five days, and I haven't heard from him."

"Look sweetie. The boy's distraught. His heart's been ripped out of his chest, he needs some time! Plus he's really busy with work."

Dean grumbled and hit his head on the table; "what can I do, Jess? I need him back."

Jess sighed, finally turning around to face Dean; "how do you want him back?"

"...What?"

"As a friend or... Lover?"

Dean frowned; "...Well, as a friend at least. But... I want the chance to love him back! Maybe if he'd told me earlier we could've... But... I don't know, Jess. All I do know, is that this sucks! I actually, physically need him back!"

Sighing again, Jess pulled out the chair opposite Dean and sat down; "do something romantic then. A big gesture. And not crappy poetry, you know he won't appreciate your inability to rhyme."

"Ok... Like what then? Flowers? Chocolate? A fucking ring?"

Jess stared at Dean wide-eyed; "all right, calm down... I think the two of us can come up with some kind of idea... Maybe ask Sam. He knows Cas pretty well now..."

"Just twist the knife, Jess, thanks."

"Don't get snappy with me, Dean!"

"Sorry... Sorry... It's just..."

"I know... He'll be home soon, let's wait until after dinner?"

"Yeah, thanks Jess."

With a small smile, Jess pulled herself up and went back to cooking. Dean began doodling idly on the paper in front of him, drawing squiggles and colouring in the blocks to take his mind off the horrible situation he'd gotten himself in to.
When Sam eventually got home he forewent his ritual after-work-shower to talk to Dean.

"He's busy a lot after his promotion, he has his own department to babysit - and I mean that as literally as I can, the people he works with are just fucking idiots. So he doesn't actually get much time to do anything. The only time he has a proper meal is when one of us drags him out or goes over there. He's fueled pretty much entirely by coffee. He could do with a decent night's sleep... And he really does need to get laid, man. It's been way too long. Any normal human would have cracked and bought a hooker by now!"

Dean grimaced; "I'm not ready for sex with him, Sam. I need to get him talking to me first! Anyway... What time does he get off work?"

"It's usually about six? Home for half-past at the latest."

"Good. I've got an idea..."

Sam smiled tentatively; "yeah?"

"He needs taking care of. He used to do the same for me after a long day at work so... I'll cook him dinner."

"How're you going to get in?"

"Are you kidding? I know where he keeps the spare key!"

Sam paused; "wait... So why did you always knock?"

Dean shrugged; "manners. A man needs his privacy, I'm not just going to barge in to his home."

"Fair enough... Anyway, good luck."

"Thanks, Sammy. Thanks for keeping an eye on him."

"You'd have killed me if I hadn't."

The next day, Dean found Cas' spare key taped to the underside of the potted plant in the corridor outside his door and let himself in to his old friend's apartment with a bag of groceries. Castiel was due home in half an hour, plenty of time for Dean to cook dinner and give the place a once over. Since living with Lisa, he'd become quite the domestic goddess, easily chopping ingredients and throwing them together as if he was a gourmet chef. Whilst the pasta boiled, Dean ran around the apartment, sighing at the state of disarray it had fallen in to and began tidying. Putting Cas' dirty clothes in the basket, putting his clean ones away, emptying the fridge of gone-off food, making his bed, taking the rubbish out. For some reason he didn't feel like he was overstepping his bounds, even though he had barely interacted with him for a year. When Castiel finally arrived home, he did a double-take at the sight before him.

"Dean? What are you doing here?"

Dean smiled broadly and marched over to Cas, taking his bag and jacket; "a gargantuan birdie told me you're not eating properly, and you're stressed, and you need to relax... So I came over. Cooked you dinner. Did a bit of tidying... You get changed, take a shower or whatever. Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes."

Cas eyed his old friend sceptically; "Dean?"

"Just let me do this for you, Cas," Dean sighed, holding on to Cas' shoulders; "you need taking care of, and I need to make it up to you. I know it's going to take more than dinner but... You've got to give me the chance, man. Please?"

Cas sighed in defeat; "what's for dinner?"

A grin spread across Dean's face; "Thai-style pork noodles! And I have it on good authority you haven't watched Iron Man 2?"

"I wanted to watch it with you."

"I'm here now... Go, get changed, I'll finish dinner."

Castiel nodded, padding through to his bedroom. Dean quickly hung up Cas' jacket, put his bag on the table and hurried back in to the kitchen to finish the food. He'd just finished plating it up when Cas wandered back in to the living area, scrubbing his hair dry with a towel, wearing an AC/DC t-shirt Dean remembered never getting back from him several years ago. He grinned, quickly grabbing two beers from the fridge, uncapping them and thrusting them in to Cas' hands.

"It looks nice, Dean. Thank you."

"Don't speak too soon, it could taste like shit."

Cas smiled meekly and went to sit on the sofa, Dean following with the food and DVD. They sat on opposite ends on the sofa - to Dean's dismay - and settled in to watch the film.

"This is very good, Dean. It's been too long since I've had a proper meal..."

Dean managed a small smile; "s'alright, Cas. I've found I quite like cooking..."

"You're welcome to come over tomorrow and cook if you like. I'm tired of ready meals and take-out..."

"I was already planning on it."

Cas gave Dean a bigger smile, turning back to watch the adventures of Tony Stark. After a few moments Cas chuckled to himself.

"You always reminded me of Tony a bit... Apart from the genius billionaire bit."

Dean smirked; "you mean the womanising bit?"

"And the voluntary isolation. I always felt like I was Pepper, and Sam was Rhodey."

Dean laughed; "you're not wrong there. You called me out on my shit, Sammy gave my ass a good kicking when it needed to be kicked..."

They smiled at each other, prolonging their stare until Dean began to feel a little awkward, looking back at the screen. Once they'd finished eating, Dean took the plates back in to the kitchen, dumping them in the sink to be washed later. He looked back over to the sofa, smiling at the back of Cas's head, suddenly remembering the head rubs he used to get from his friend, and remembering Castiel had a strange love for having his feet rubbed. Grabbing two more beers, Dean marched back over to the sofa, putting the beers on the table and flopping down on the sofa, grabbing his friend's foot and placing it in his lap. Castiel frowned, lips pursed to ask what Dean was doing, when Dean gripped his foot softly, digging his thumbs in to the soft flesh. Cas' eyes fluttered closed at the amazing feeling of pressure being rubbed out of his foot; Dean's thumbs pushing in to the arch of his foot to the tender muscles before his toes. Dean noticed Cas' lips part when he rubbed the ball of his foot, a small smile playing on his lips as he paid it special attention, feeling the bumps of muscle and bone and he pushed his thumbs harder in to the flesh. Cas gave a quick twitch when Dean softly rubbed the webbing between the toes before rubbing each toe individually.

After ten minutes, Dean moved on to Cas' other foot, ignoring the ache in his hands. Castiel looked like he'd stopped watching the film in favour of enjoying the foot rub, his eyes closed, fingers playing over the bottle in his hands. Dean smiled.

"You all right, Cas?"

"'M good," he mumbled; "thank you, Dean."

Dean just smiled again, grabbing his beer once he'd finished; "you all relaxed?"

"Very much so."

They sat in a content silence, blankly looking at the screen but not paying any attention to the film playing.

"I got some pie too. Cherry, your favourite."

Cas smiled; "go heat it up, I'll be right back."

Both pulled themselves up, Dean going to the kitchen to take the pie from the fridge, Castiel wandering to the bathroom. Dean quickly cut away some pie, sticking it in the microwave, getting the cream from the fridge. Dean liked his pie as was, no cream or extras to taint it; but Castiel liked it in a bowl swimming in double cream, so that's what he was getting it. He sat back down on the sofa, the pie sitting on the coffee table in front of them. Castiel returned, and before he got a chance to sit down, Dean grabbed his wrist, forcing him to sit next to him instead of on the opposite side of the sofa as he was planning. Smiling meekly, Dean leant over to pass Cas his dessert, getting a smile in return. Once Dean had finished his pie, he casually rest his arm over the back of the sofa, behind Cas, waiting for the opportune moment. The arm didn't go unnoticed by Castiel, who eyed it suspiciously as he ate his pie. The moment Castiel leant over to put his bowl on the coffee table, Dean decided to ignore his inhibitions, quickly lifting his leg on to the sofa, slipping it around Cas and pulling his friend to lie against his chest, carding his fingers through his messy hair. Cas stiffened at the sudden display of affection, but quickly melted in to it, enjoying the feeling of Dean's warm body surrounding him.

After a while, Castiel fell asleep against Dean's chest, snoring lightly. Dean smiled affectionately, stroking his fingers through Cas' hair, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. He gently roused the sleeping man, still stroking his hair.

"Cas, c'mon, get up, you need to go to bed."

Castiel moaned, burying his face further in to Dean's chest; "no, 'm comfy."

"Don't make me carry you. You know I will."

Still moaning, Cas pulled himself up, slowly getting to his feet. Dean jumped up too, taking Cas' arm, helping him take his first few wobbly steps.

"You go get in bed. I'll do the dishes and let myself out."

Cas smiled sleepily; "thank you, Dean."

"Oh, and I got you some food in. So have a proper breakfast, Cas, not just coffee."

"All right... G'night, Dean."

"Night Cas."

He pulled Castiel in to a warm hug, pressing another kiss to his forehead before he let him go to bed.

Dean went around to Castiel's for the rest of the week, cooking him dinner and doing his chores so he could let go of some of the stress. After the first couple of days, they'd fallen back in to their old friendship, as if they hadn't had a tense year previously. Dean would pick a film Cas had never seen to watch as they ate. After eating Dean would pull Castiel in to his arms and hold him against his body until he fell asleep from his long day. Kissing and hand-holding became a natural thing between them, that they never talked about. They were never proper kisses, just a soft press of the lips against the temple, back of the neck or forehead. Their hands would always gravitate towards each other's, their fingers lacing together.

They were curled up on the sofa watching Ghostbusters, Dean's fingers softly trading up and down Cas' waist, Cas occasionally pressing kisses to Dean's knuckles.

"Do you not have a job, Dean?" Cas mused. Dean smirked, pressing a quick kiss to the back of Cas' neck.

"I quit a while ago. Starting back up at the garage on Monday."

"Oh, that's good."

Dean hummed; "getting my old life back how I like it."

"You wouldn't change anything?"

"Well... I'd change a few things."

Cas turned in Dean's arms to get a better look at him; "hmm?"

Dean smiled, opening his mouth to answer when his phone began ringing. Sighing at the ruined moment, he fished his phone from his jeans pocket and pressed it to his ear.

"Hello?"

Sam was breathing frantically down the phone; "Dean! Uh... Dean they... They've found dad."

Dean sat bolt upright, nearly sending Cas to the floor; "what? Where?"

"Manhatten."

"New York?"

"No, Kansas... He was... He was in a car crash, Dean. He's not in a good way."

"What?"

"They don't think he's going to make it..."

Dean almost began hyperventilating; "Sammy, no..."

"Sorry, Dean. I know you were close, closer than I was with him, anyway... I can get some time off work, we can go up and see him?"

"Um... I uh... I'll ring you back, Sam. I've got to... Uh... Let it sink in."

"Sure, man. I'll talk to you later..."

Dean hung up, staring blankly at the wall in front of him. Castiel sat up, softly cuppnig Dean's face in his hand.

"Dean?"

"It's... My dad's turned up... In uh... A hospital in Manhatten."

Castiel frowned, taking Dean's hand; "I'm sorry."

"He was in a car accident... They don't think he's going to make it..."

Cas could tell how in shock Dean was, pulling him in to a warm hug; "it'll be all right, Dean. You've got me. And Sam, Jess, Ash... I'm not going anywhere, Dean."

Dean let out a deep breath, clinging on to Cas' shoulders; "why does my life suck? I lose Ben, I lose you... I finally get you back and now I lose my dad..."

"The only way is up. Soon good things will start happening, they have to... Even if I have to do it myself."

"No, Cas, I'm supposed to be making it up to you, here. You shouldn't be looking after me."

"I love you, Dean. And you're my friend. I'm not letting you go through this alone. You'd do the same for me."

"I don't deserve you, Cas. Just... I should go, leave you to-"

"-Don't you dare, Dean Winchester. I'm not losing you again."

He grabbed the sides of Dean's face, forcing him to look him in the eye. Dean whimpered, tears beginning to form, prickling his eyes. He reached up tentatively, curling his hand around the back of Cas' neck.

"I can't lose you, Dean. Please don't go."

Dean let out a long sigh; "ask me."

"...Ask you what?"

"To be with you. Forever."

Castiel let out a nervous chuckle, pressing his forehead against Dean's; "will you be mine, forever, Dean? Please?"

Dean smiled sheepishly, his eyes fluttering closed; "I'll never leave you, Cas."

Forcing a quick smile, Cas boldly leant forward, pushing his lips against Dean's. Dean's lips quirked slightly as he let out a long breath through his nose, fisting his hand in Cas' shirt. Their lips moved together languidly, shining with spit, tongues flicking out in to the other's mouth. Cas slid his arms around Dean, pulling their bodies closer together, his heart almost thumping out of his chest. Dean scraped his nails softly against Cas' scalp, moaning in to his mouth as he pulled the smaller man on top of him, his other hand finding a sliver of skin where his shirt hitched up; the scratch of Cas' stubble didn't bother him, neither did the lack of soft curves being replaced with hard angles. Cas hummed appreciatively, trying to comprehend his love of five years was kissing him, willingly. After a long while, they eventually parted to breath, staring longingly in to each other's eyes.

"I get to keep you now, right?" Dean sighed, stroking his thumb against Cas' pulse point. Cas nodded biting his lip.

"God yes."

Dean chuckled, pulling his now boyfriend in to a tight hug, burying his face in to his neck.

Dean stood stark still, his hand gripping Cas' tightly as they watched the coffin containing John Winchester travel through the hatch to be burned. Castiel just held his head high, not caring his hand was losing blood, knowing he had to be strong for Dean. Sam was stood next to them, Jess in his arms crying quietly. Sam turned to Cas, smiling meekly.

"Thanks, Cas. For being here."

Castiel smiled back; "of course."

"We'll meet you at the Roadhouse."

Cas nodded and turned back to Dean; his eyes had glazed over as he stared at where the coffin had been. He waited until he heard the doors click shut behind Sam and Jess before talking.

"Dean?"

Dean hummed in acknowledgement.

"Are you all right? Would you like a moment alone?"

"Hmm? No. It's just sinking in... I'm never going to see him again. I barely saw him when he was alive, and now..."

Cas nodded, letting go of Dean's hand and pulling him in to his arms. Dean let out a deep breath, burying his face in Cas' neck.

"Thanks for being here with me," he mumbled, holding on to Cas like a life-raft. Castiel pressed a soft kiss to Dean's neck.

"I'll always be here for you. I always have been."

"Come on. Let's get drunk."

Cas smiled, holding out his hand; "I'm not letting you get drunk, Dean. You can have a couple of drinks then I'm taking you home."

"Very well, dear!"

The mood was very sombre at the Roadhouse. Everyone who knew John were sat around a large table with drinks in front of them. Ellen and Bobby jumped up to greet Dean when he walked in. Ellen was the first to pull him in to a tight hug.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. Come. Sit. Have a drink."

Dean forced a smile, giving Bobby a quick hug before settling in next to Sam, Castiel squeezing on the seat beside him. The conversation turned to happier subjects after a while, remembering John's good times, instead of mourning his loss. Dean kept to his word and didn't drink too much. Castiel kept a reassuring hand on his thigh, squeezing occasionally whenever Dean drifted off.

"I'm going to get this one home," Cas declared after a few hours, standing up. Everyone smiled, standing up to see them off. Sam jumped to Cas, pulling him in to a tight hug.

"Thanks for everything, Cas. He needs someone like you, it's about time you were welcomed in to the family."

Cas chuckled, giving Sam a pat on the back; "um, thanks."

"Looks like all your patience paid off though, huh?"

"It seems so, yes."

"Tell him to look after you, or I'm going to kick his ass!"

Ellen cut in, giving Cas a huge hug of her own; "see you round, Cas. Don't let idiot take advantage."

"I wouldn't dream of it," Dean smirked, throwing his arm over his boyfriend's shoulders. Everyone said goodbye to one another, and soon Dean was back at Cas' apartment. Also his apartment once he'd moved all his things in.

"Boxes. Boxes everywhere," Dean grumbled, trying to make his way in to the kitchen. Cas chuckled and leant against the back of the sofa.

"Maybe you should unpack instead of watching Rocky all day."

"It's not my fault. I had every intention of unpacking, then a Rocky marathon was announced, next I know it's night time... What can I do?"

Cas scratched the back of his neck awkwardly; "well, I can think of something..."

"Yeah?

"...Make love to me, Dean."

"Huh? What? Really?"

"Yes. Please?"

"Right... You know I've never done it-"

"-I trust you'll look after me... You will, won't you?"

Dean swallowed around a lump that appeared in his throat; "of course."

He took Cas' hand, leading him through to the bedroom. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled, he felt as if the temperature of the room had tripled as Cas turned to face him, slowly sliding his hands up around his neck. Dean latched his hands on the smaller man's waist, feeling the warm skin radiate through the thin shirt he was wearing. Taking a second to process his thoughts, Dean quickly licked his lips and ducked his head, Castiel meeting him half-way; their lips softly pressing together, sliding against each other's slowly, experimentally. Tentatively, Dean licked at Cas' lips, almost moaning when in response Cas' tongue pushed in to his mouth, tangling with his. He fisted a hand in to Cas' shirt, pulling it out from his trousers before sliding his hand underneath; Cas' warm skin feeling burning hot against his own. Castiel let out a soft moan in to Dean's mouth, it quickly became a trigger. Dean pushed Castiel backwards until the back of his knees hit the bed. He was pushed down on to his back, Dean's lips moving away from his own and down his neck, softly nipping and licking at his skin whilst his hands trailed up his chest, undoing buttons as they went. He pulled away for a moment to pull his own t shirt over his head and pushed Cas' from his shoulders, beginning to litter his chest with kisses and experimental nips to see where Cas was most sensitive. He flicked his tongue against a nipple as he popped open the button on Cas' black dress trousers, clamping his lips around it as he undid the zip. Castiel moaned and arched his back under his friend-turned-lover, feeling overly sensitive from not being touched in so long. Dean groaned against Cas' chest as his erection rubbed against Cas' leg. He pulled himself back up to eye-level, rolling their hips together and moaning as he pressed more kisses to his lover's lips.

"Fuck Cas! I can't... Can't do this... By myself... Need... Need you!"

Cas groaned, stroking his hand down Dean's chest to the waistband of his jeans, stroking a finger along the top before quickly popping open the buttons and pulling them down so they pooled around Dean's feet. Dean gasped, stepping out of them, toeing off his socks before grabbing the legs of Cas' trousers, quickly slipping them off.

"Come on, Dean. It's already been too long, I can't wait any longer!"

Dean's mind glazed over as he took in the sight of the man he loved splayed out half-naked before him; breathing heavily and looking up at him as if he'd hung the moon.

"Damnit, Cas, you're so beautiful! So... Fucking... Beautiful!"

"Dean please!"

"Yeah, yeah... Have you got... Anything?"

Cas pulled himself further up the bed, resting against the pillows; "bottom drawer... I still have the birthday present you got me."

Dean chuckled, quickly yanking open the bottom drawer of Cas' bedside table, rifling under some blankets before pulling out the gift bag he'd given to Castiel the other year. Inside were three various bottles of lube and a box of condoms - a joke Dean found hilarious, Cas didn't find it as funny though. Dropping them on the bed, Dean quickly climbed back up Castiel, kissing up his chest as he hooked his fingers in to his boxers, dragging them down his thighs.

"Here goes," he mumbled, stroking a hand across Cas' hip; "let me know if I'm... Well, doing it wrong."

Cas chuckled; "don't worry, you'll be fine."

Dean nodded, dipping his head to kiss along Cas' hips as he took a soft grip around the base of his dick, stroking softly, Castiel groaning as he did so. Tightening his grip, he pumped a couple of times, grabbing and flicking open the cap of the lube, pouring a generous amount on to his fingers. He nudged Cas' legs further open, settling in between; continuing to stroke Cas and kiss his hips and thighs, he began gently probing with a slicked finger. Cas hissed, rocking his hips forwards.

"You're doing fine, Dean, come on!"

Dean hummed in acknowledgement, biting softly on Cas' hip as he pushed in with one finger, Cas groaning loudly. He waited a few moments for any sign from Cas to stop before sliding in and out, coaxing pleasured mumbles and moans from Castiel who began pushing back against Dean, sucking in a large gulp of air when Dean thrust in a second finger. Two soon became three and Dean found himself admiring the way Castiel writhed and groaned under his ministrations, covered in a slight sheen of sweat, breathing heavily.

"Fuck, Cas, look at you!"

Cas forced his eyes open, managing to smirk at Dean; "stop looking and get doing, will you?"

Dean grinned; "don't need to be told twice..."

Shucking his boxers off, Dean crawled up Cas' body, reaching for the condoms but was stopped by Cas' hand clamping around his wrist.

"No, I want to feel you!"

Dean nodded, gulping down a deep breath; "all right..."

Propping himself up on his elbow, he grabbed the bottle and poured a generous amount on to his hand, slicking up his cock as he pressed soft kisses up and down Cas' neck. Pulling his legs up around his waist, Dean positioned himself at Cas' hole, softly pushing forward slightly.

"Slow first, right?"

Cas nodded, biting his lip and screwing his eyes shut; "at first, yeah... But if you don't speed up I won't be responsible for whatever I do."

Smirking, Dean pushed forward even more, Cas' tight heat enveloping him, eliciting low groans from both men, as Dean pushed further until he was fully sheathed. He rest his forehead against the smaller man's, the two of them panting in to each other's mouths.

"Cas! Fuck!"

Castiel nodded, cracking his eyes open; "I love you, Dean."

"I love you too!"

He pressed a quick kiss to Cas' soft lips. Castiel smirked.

"Move, please."

Nodding, he slowly began pulling out, before thrusting back in, slowly, trying to get used to the sensation, savouring and ensuring he doesn't hurt Castiel in the process. He sped up when Cas gripped his ass tightly, pulling him deeper. Pulling his legs up higher, Dean readjusted his angling, to make it easier to quicken the pace and hit the ball of nerves he knew was in there. With his first thrust, he hit it, causing Cas to arch up off the bed, groaning loudly. Smirking, he kept his lover in place, his hands clamped tightly on his hips as he thrust hard and quick. Castiel writhed underneath him, groaning and grabbing at Dean, trying to keep some kind of purchase as his body was subjected to overwhelming pleasure. He began chanting Dean's name like a mantra. Dean groaned, hearing his name falling from Cas' lips like it was a dirty word, loving the effect he was having on the smaller man.

"Dean! ...Dean, I! ...Dean!"

His eyes fluttered open in time to see Castiel arch up again, crying out his name as he came, untouched, strips of white painting his chest. The sight of Cas' blissed out face and the tight clenching around his cock had Dean following straight away, groaning loudly as his hips stuttered, holding on to Cas' hips so tight there was bound to be a bruise. Letting out a deep breath, he collapsed down on to the man underneath him, smiling dumbly.

"Cas..."

Castiel squirmed out from under Dean, rolling on to his side, the same silly smile on his face. He raised a hand, cupping Dean's cheek, stroking it with his thumb. Dean put his hand on top of Cas', staring in to his blue eyes.

"You're amazing, you know that?"

Cas laughed, resting his forehead against Dean's; "not as much as you..."

"...So how did I do?"

"Not bad for a first-timer," Cas smirked, stretching out, a few bones cracking. Dean scowled.

"Not bad?"

Laughing, he pounced on to Cas, pinning his arms above his head as he assaulted his neck with a barrage of kisses and nips with his teeth. Castiel laughed, managing to free his arms, wrapping them lovingly around Dean's back, stroking softly.

"I fucking love you. So damn much," Dean sighed against Cas' shoulder, pressing a soft kiss to the skin. Castiel smiled.

"I know... I love you too."

EPILOGUE

Dean sat at his table with a huge grin, watching the celebrations around him. The newly appointed Mr and Mrs Sam Winchester were swaying slowly in each others arms on the dance-floor, friends and family snapping pictures and cooing happily at the couple. He suddenly felt someone sit beside him.

"Hello, Dean."

Dean smiled meekly; "Lisa..."

He turned to look at the brunette beside him, small boy on her knee, smiling and sucking on his fingers.

"You look good."

"I am... How are you? And Ben?"

Lisa sighed wistfully; "struggling along..."

"How's...?"

"Matt? I don't know. He stuck around for two weeks then left town."

Dean frowned; "oh... I'm sorry."

"No, I'm sorry, Dean. I shouldn't have led you along for so long. I should have had the test done the moment he was born... I'm sorry I let you get attached."

"It's fine... He's a good kid... He's got your eyes!"

Lisa paused, looking around the room before focusing his eyes back on Dean; "he still needs a father figure, Dean. I worry about him not getting the right influences... I'd like it if you took the job. I mean, you don't have to pretend to be his father or anything... He just needs a male role model."

Dean grimaced; "I'm not sure, Lis."

"I promise it won't be any hassle! You could just be... Uncle Dean. You could take him out sometimes... Babysit... Anything. He needs a good man in his life... I'd hoped you were the father because of that... You'll make a great dad one day."

Dean chuckled, looking down at Ben; "I highly doubt I'll have kids..."

"Oh?"

At that moment, Castiel returned from taking a call outside, slipping in to the seat on the other side of Dean, pressing a kiss against his boyfriend's temple. Dean smiled.

"Lisa, you remember Cas, right?"

Lisa looked between the two men incredulously; "...Yeah! You're his best friend."

"And a little more," Cas smirked, lacing his fingers with Dean's, squeezing tightly. Dean smiled at how defensive Castiel was becoming in Lisa's presence.

"Really Dean? You and Cas?"

Dean shrugged; "it was always Cas..."

"So you're... Gay now?"

"Oh, no. It's just him."

"Oh..."

"Anyway... I'd actually love to be Uncle Dean, if that's all right? Unless, me and Cas are a problem...?"

Lisa stared blankly at everything around her, still trying to digest the new information as her son babbled to himself on her knee; "huh? No... Just... A shock I suppose... Do you want to look after him? I'm going to go uh... Powder my nose or... Whatever it is women do..."

Before Dean could answer, Lisa pushed the boy on to Dean's knee and stalked out of the room. Dean chuckled and held Ben up to look at him.

"Hey dude. Remember me? ...I think I broke your mom, sorry."

Castiel smiled, holding on to Dean's arm softly.

"I'm your weird Uncle Dean! This is boring Uncle Cas - he'll try to make you eat sprouts!" he whispered loudly. Castiel laughed and waved awkwardly at the boy in front of him. Ben just laughed and flapped his arms, making grabby gestures at Dean.

"Shall we go see Uncle Moose?" Dean laughed, standing up, pulling Ben to sit against his hip. Castiel followed at his side as they walked on to the dance-floor, cutting in on Sam and Jess dancing. Sam smirked.

"Dean?"

"Ben, meet Uncle Moose, Uncle Moose, meet Ben."

Sam laughed; "hey Ben."

"He's worse than Cas, he'll try to make you eat rabbit food!"

Sam grabbed Jess' arm and pulled her to his side; "Jess, this is Ben. Ben, this is the most beautiful woman in the world."

Dean chuckled and bounced Ben in his arms; "she's a real princess. When you're older you'll have to protect her!"

Jess smiled widely, taking a gentle hold of the infant's hand as he babbled happily. Sam smiled too, clapping his brother on the back.

"So, what's all this?"

Dean shrugged; "I've been given permission to be Uncle Dean. Ben needs a good male influence."

Sam laughed; "and Lisa chose you?"

"Hey! I did a good job with you!"

"That's true... Anyway, mommy's back."

Dean spun around to see Lisa walking over to them, a smile finally on her face. Ben threw himself in her direction, Dean struggling to stop the boy falling out of his arms, handing him back to his mother.

"He's awesome, Lis. Really."

Lisa smiled at her son, pressing a quick kiss to the top of his head; "he is... I know this is short notice, but do you want to look after him next Thursday? My girlfriend's having a bachelorette party."

Dean grinned; "sure. You still got the same number?"

"Yes... I'll give you a ring."

Smiling, they gave each other a kiss on the cheek and Lisa left, a big grin refusing to leave Dean's face. Smiling, Castiel hooked his arm through Dean's, pulling his gaze to him.

"You ok?"

Dean swooped down, pressing a searing kiss to his lover's lips; "I'm fucking, amazing."

It was Dean's day off, and he planned on enjoying it lounging on the sofa watching Tarantino films with a cold beer, when his phone rang. Sighing, he flipped the lid and pressed it to his ear.

"This is Dean."

"Hey Dean, it's Lisa. I hate to ask this of you, but my car's just died, and I won't be back for a good few hours... You couldn't pick Ben up from kindergarten, could you?"

Dean grinned, loving spending time with his unofficial nephew; "sure, Lis. What time does he get out?"

"Two."

"Yep, no problems. I love looking after the little guy."

"He loves spending time with you Dean. It's all he talks about... Anyway, the mechanic's just gotten here. Thank you so much, I owe you one!"

"Don't worry about it. See you later."

Still grinning, Dean shut the TV off and set about planning things to do with Ben instead. Just before two, he climbed in to the Impala and set off to Ben's school, knowing he loved being picked up in Dean's awesome car. He pulled up in the playground, waiting for the rush of children to run outside. He climbed out, searching the crowd of tiny people for Ben. The small dark-haired boy threw himself at Dean's legs, grinning up at him.

"Dean!"

"Hey kid, your mom's got car troubles."

"So I get to hang out with you today?"

"Yeah you do! First thing, we go see Cas on his break."

Ben fist-pumped the air; "can we get ice-cream on the way? Can I sit in his chair?"

Dean chuckled and ushered Ben in to the car; "I'm sure if you ask him nicely he'll take you take a spin in it!"

"Awesome!"

AN: Ah-hah! There we go! That was the ending I initially had in mind... And the John bit was something I forgot to put in the first time around, so... I prefer this one! I hope you do too (: