The next morning, Castiel surprised Dean at his locker, a wide smile on his face. Dean smiled back and put his morning lesson' books in his bag.

"Morning."

"Good morning, Dean."

The two boys began walking slowly to home-room, discussing Balthazar's reaction to their changed relationship status.

"Obviously he was overjoyed. And he'd like a word with you."

"Not the big brother speech?"

"Something of the sort."

"But we discussed everything last night!"

Castiel smiled and gave Dean's arm a squeeze; "I know. And thank you for being so understanding."

"Stop thanking me, Cas! I mean it!"

"Sorry."

Home-room was nearly empty, aside from a couple of students, Chuck wasn't yet in, so Dean pulled Cas over to his seat.

"Dean?"

"Mmm?"

"You're definitely ok with these arrangements, aren't you?"

Dean smiled and covered Cas' hand with his own; "of course I am. I'd rather have you than any of that frivolous relationship stuff."

"You're sure I'm taking all the fun out of it?"

The larger boy laughed; "no! Look Cas, this is the last time I'm explaining this to you: you are in charge, you choose how fast we take this, what we do and don't do... If sex is off the table, it's off the table. If, hugging you in public is off the table then it's off the table! You decide what we do, and when. I'm not going to force you in to anything."

Castiel smiled; "that makes me feel better."

Dean smiled back and raised Cas' knuckled to his lips, kissing them softly; "good. I plan on making this work."

They sat smiling at each other when Chuck walked in, stopping abruptly when he saw Castiel in his seat. He walked over hesitantly.

"Um, hi?"

Castiel jumped up; "oh, sorry Chuck. Sit down!"

"Nah, it's all right."

"Sit here," Dean compromised, pulling Cas down to sit on his knee. A flush of pink filled Castiel's cheeks, a lighter shade than usual, as he allowed Dean to slip an arm around his waist. Chuck smiled awkwardly and sat down.

"Don't get used to this Dean, I won't be allowing you to man-handle me as much in the future. It's only because I'm so smitten with you right now I'm still here!"

Dean smirked and squeezed him softly; "understood."

Chuck pulled his notepad and pen from his bag; "you decided to, take the plunge then?"

"We didn't really have a choice!" Dean laughed. Castiel smiled and nodded.

"Wow, you wait until Becky finds out!"

"Oh God! You couldn't ask her to keep it quiet could you? We don't really want anyone knowing!"

"By keep quiet you mean not tell anyone? Because she's going to squeal the roof down!"

Dean chuckled; "maybe we shouldn't tell her?"

When the class began filling, Cas took his usual seat, leaving Dean to be interrogated by Chuck.

"So, what happened?"

Dean grinned an retold the previous day's events, smiling over at Castiel as he spoke. Chuck smiled, nearly finding himself taking the Becky-approach to realising their love.

"Well, you two make quite a handsome pair. I hope it works."

"Thanks man"

That evening, Dean had gone round to Castiel's for a "talk" with Balthazar; Gabriel sat in on the conversation.

"I trust you not to hurt him, you know you won't live to tell the tale! But I'm just going to throw it out there right now. Do not expect sex from him!"

Dean groaned and hid his face in his hands; "yes, Balthazar. I know! The first thing we did was talk about boundaries!"

"Good! But I'm letting you know, you'll be lucky to get him to sleep in his boxers! ...I don't think he's ever had a boner! He's not that kind of boy."

Gabriel nodded; "not even a stray one, that's nothing to do with you! And come at the most inappropriate times, like in the middle of a maths lesson!"

Balthazar laughed; "maths? Really? ...You really like those theorems, don't you!"

Gabriel laughed; "damn straight I do! Anyway Dean, I hope you don't mind being restricted to hand-holding and closed-mouth kisses!"

Dean sighed; "I don't! Can I get back to Cas now?"

Balthazar rolled his eyes and waved his hand; "fine, go make my little brother happy!"

Dean dragged himself from Gabriel's room, across the corridor nto Castiel's room. His door was open and he was sat at his desk typing up an assignment.

"I'm back!" Dean huffed, collapsing down on Cas' bed. Castiel smiled and turned around.

"Was it...?"

"Yes, it was 'the talk'... Again!"

"I don't really understand why everyone's warding you off me, though."

"I told you. I'm a man-whore. They expect me to force you and corrupt you!"

"But, you wouldn't!"

"Yeah, I know' I know that, you know that, no one else seems to trust me though."

"Well, no one else matters."

Dean smiled; "very true."

Cas quickly switched from his desk chair to the bed, putting his hand in Dean's. Dean's smile got bigger, he squeezed Cas' hand affectionately.

"Dean... Do you think we have a song?"

"A song?"

"You know... A lot of couples have a song significant to their relationship... Do you think we do?"

"...I don't know, I'd have to think about it. Why, do you?"

Castiel looked down at his lap, feeling his cheeks burning; "Nothing Else Matters. I really like the lyrics, I think they apply to us, and, Metallica are sort of 'our band'... You know?"

Dean grinned; "Cas, it's perfect!"

Cas' face broke in to a smile; "really?"

"Yeah! Put it on."

Castiel scurried over to the computer to put the song on, before laying next to Dean on the bed, lacing their fingers together and staring up at the ceiling. As the song played, Dean hummed along, occasionally squeezing Cas' fingers between his. Both boys had a love-sick grin on their face. When the song ended, it started again a few moments later; Dean smirked at his boyfriend.

"You put it on repeat?"

Castiel smiled sheepishly; "yeah..."

Still smirking, Dean rolled on to his side, facing Cas, resting a hand on his chest, over his heart; "Cas?"

The smaller boy look up in to his eyes; "yes?"

"Cas I... Try something?"

"...What?"

"I want to... Can I kiss you? ...Just a small normal- ...No funny-"

"-Yes."

Dean grinned; "really?"

Cas smiled earnestly; "yeah..."

Dean suddenly began to feel nervous; "all right then... Um..."

Leaning up on his elbow, he raised his other hand and cupped Castiel's cheek, stroking it softly with his thumb. Castiel sucked in a breath when Dean's stroking tickled.

"Cas... Close your eyes."

Dean's voice had lowered to a near-whisper, Castiel did as was requested and closed his eyes, anticipating Dean's lips on his own. After swallowing down a dry gulp, Dean leant closer, closing his own eyes; he nearly gasped when his nose brushed against Cas', before softly capturing his lips with his own. Cas' lips were chapped but soft, and Dean found himself willing to kiss him forever. Their kiss lingered for what felt like forever, until Dean pulled away. Castiel's eyes fluttered open, a shy smile playing on his lips. Dean returned the smile, stroking Cas' cheek again with his thumb.

"Dean..."

"Cas..."

Castiel raised a hand and thread his fingers through Dean's short hair, softly resting them on his neck, feeling his pulse throb under the skin. Still smiling, Dean gently carded his fingers through Cas' hair.

"I'd like to do that again," Cas admitted, reaching his hand around to play with the tips of Dean's hair at the back of his head. Dean nodded, not saying a word and leaning down again to press another soft kiss to his boyfriend's lips. The kiss lingered again, until Castiel's lips began moving against his, his hand gripping the scruff of Dean's neck softly. To account for the new depth of the kiss, Dean put his hand by the side of Cas' head, using it to hold himself up, as his body slowly slid on top. Castiel's other hand found Dean's waist; he gripped it softly, trying to get used to the weight on top of him. They lay together, holding each other and sharing a string of soft but passionate kisses until Castiel began to feel light-headed from the lack of oxygen. Dean instantly rolled off, giving Cas his space but grabbed his hand, entwining their fingers. Cas smiled and rolled on to his side, draping an arm around Dean's waist and resting his head on his chest, listening to his smiled too, softly threading his fingers through Castiel's hair. Cas sighed contentedly and glanced up at Dean, still smiling.

"I um, liked that."

Dean chuckled and pressed a kiss to Cas' forehead; "I noticed."

"Perhaps, it could be added to the list of things we do... In privacy, though."

"Sure."

Both boys lay in each others' arms for a long while until they got sick of Metallica playing on repeat. Castiel decided to get back on with his assignment, leaving Dean to occupy himself.

"You can go see if Gabriel is doing anything, there's plenty to do in the house."

"I'd rather be with you."

Castiel smiled; "I don't mind, Dean. I've got to get this done, and could really do without the distraction... Go see if anyone wants to play video games."

"Cas-"

"-Go on, Dean. I'll come find you when I'm done."

Dean sighed; "fine."

He gave Cas a peck on the cheek before trudging along the corridor to Gabriel's room. He went to knock when the door swung open, Gabriel grinning at him inanely.

"Dean-O! What can I do you for?"

Dean dug his hands in to his pocket; "Cas has chucked me out whilst he does some work?"

"Aww! Cut off already! Fancy some X-box?"

Shrugging, Dean followed Gabe down to the rec-room; the twins were sat at the table with their laptops, shouting orders at each other and clicking furiously.

"What do you want to play?" Gabriel asked, bounding over to the wall of games. Dean shrugged.

"Halo?"

"Which one?"

"Not bothered, are we doing PvP?"

"Yeah."

"Any then."

Dean spent the majority of his evening playing X-box games with Gabriel, Lucifer and Michael eventually joining in. The four of them were laughing so hard at how angry their enemy team were getting, they didn't notice Castiel come down. He quietly sat at the table, watching his boyfriend and cousins play violent games and laugh. Gabriel was the first to notice him, when the game ended, he turned and nearly jumped from the sofa.

"Shit! Cas! When did you get here?"

Dean spun around and grinned, dropping his controller on to the sofa and going over. Castiel stood and joined Dean in a warm embrace, burying his face in to his neck.

"Man down guys! Come on! Let's fuck shit up!" Gabriel laughed, starting another game without Dean. Dean pulled away enough to be able to look at Cas without straining his eyes. Castiel smiled up at him, twisting his fingers in Dean's t-shirt.

"I love your eyes," Dean murmured, staring in to Cas' big blue orbs, seeing himself reflected. The skin around his eyes crinkled as his smile got broader.

"They're nothing compared to yours. Blue is so common."

"Shut up, Cas. You know you've got beautiful eyes."

Castiel chuckled and pulled Dean back in to another hug, again burying his face in to his neck, inhaling his scent. Dean softly carded his fingers through Cas' hair, rubbing his back soothingly.

"Let's go upstairs, this moment is being ruined by people's heads being blown off."

Cas nodded and let Dean take his hand and pull him upstairs.

"Do you want a drink?" Cas asked as they passed the kitchen. Dean shrugged, smirking. Anna was sat at the table, on the phone and picking at a fruit salad. She smiled when Dean and Castiel walked in to the kitchen holding hands.

"I'll call you back Pam... Cas! Dean!"

Dean grinned and went to join Anna at the table whilst Cas began making their drinks.

"So... You two... Told you you were adorable!"

Dean laughed; "yeah yeah, so did everyone else... Were you in on the plan?"

"I was. I was going to have a girly chat with Cas about how dreamy you are but... I guess you beat me to the punch."

"You can still chat about how dreamy I am when I've gone."

Anna giggled; "I plan to... Have you been given the talk?"

"I have."

"Just as my own addition, please don't hurt him. He's not a very trusting person, don't betray him."

"I don't plan to."

"Good!"

The two of them looked up at Cas, busy making himself and Dean a warm drink. Anna smiled at the gooey-eyed smile Dean gave Cas; Cas turned around and smiled back.

"Would you like marshmallows in your drink?"

Dean took a moment to realise he was being spoken to before nodding; "please."

"You've got it bad!" Anna giggled, elbowing Dean lightly.

"...Yeah? Your point is?"

"It's cute."

Dean laughed to himself and shrugged, slipping off his seat and walking over to Cas. He slid an arm around his waist and rest his chin on his shoulder; Castiel smiled and rest his head against Dean's, slipping his arm around his waist.

"Everything ok?"

Dean grinned; "everything's, perfect... Like you."

Castiel laughed and squeezed him softly; "I know I'm not well-versed on social acceptabilities, but even I know that that was... Horrible."

Dean laughed too and quickly kissed Cas on the cheek; "sorry, I hoped you wouldn't know."

"Well, too bad... Your drink's ready."

"Thanks."

Castiel stared in to Dean's eyes, still smiling; "you're welcome."

Dean stared and smiled back, tensing his grip around his boyfriend; "...Shall we go back upstairs then?"

"...Yes."

The two boys paused before grabbing their drinks and heading upstairs, ignoring Anna grinning at them from the table.

Castiel padded in to the kitchen to get another drink, when he was ambushed by Anna.

"Lover-boy left?"

Cas frowned; "Dean has gone, yes."

"Oh good, we can chat then."

"Chat? What about?"

Anna grabbed her brother's arm and dragged him over to the table, pushing him down in to a chair before sitting next to him, bringing her chair closer.

"Dean. Tell me, how happy does he make you?"

Cas couldn't help the smile that spread across his face; "I can't even start to explain."

"How sweet! ...You look pretty comfortable with him, too."

"Well... I am... I don't know how it happened so quickly, but... I guess there's just something about him."

Anna grinned; "so... How long does he have to put up with just hand-holding and hugging?"

Cas' forehead furrowed; "I don't... He doesn't have to... What are you saying?"

"I'm saying... How long until he gives you your first kiss?"

Castiel's cheeks went bright pink; "oh, um, well-"

"-Oh my God! When? Was it nice?"

"Um. Earlier, we were just, lay next to each other and... I enjoyed it, yes?"

"Aww! How did it happen? Did he just jump you or...?"

"What? No! He uh, asked if he could. And I said yes."

"...He asked you permission?"

Castiel shrugged; "he always asks if he can, do things."

"Things being?"

"...Hugs, mainly. He understands I'm a bit, uncomfortable with physical displays of affection and so, checks to make sure that I'm ok with it, and usually it's just more of a forewarning because I think he knows I'll always say yes."

Anna's grin got bigger; "you two have no idea how adorable you are... I'm going to tell Gabriel!"

Before Castiel could say anything else Anna sprinted out of the kitchen and down to the rec-room; sighing, Cas slid down from his seat and went to retrieve the drink he'd originally come down for.

Bobby eyed Dean suspiciously as he all but danced around the kitchen, doing his chores, humming upbeat songs as he washed the dishes. He quietly slipped out of the kitchen, and went to find Sam, sat watching a documentary about tsunamis in the living room. He slumped down in to his arm chair and cleared his throat.

"All right, what's up with your brother?"

Sam glanced over at Bobby and shrugged; "what do you mean?"

"He's dancing about the kitchen, singing pop songs! About love, and unicorns and rainbows!"

Sam laughed and pulled himself up so he was sitting properly; "really?"

"What's going on with him? He's never been this happy before."

"Well... He's in love."

Bobby groaned and rubbed his face with his hand; "seriously, kid. Don't keep toying with me!"

"I'm serious! He's actually found someone who'll put up with him!"

"Is that where he keeps going? Who is it?"

Sam frowned; "um... Just a minute..."

He jumped up from the sofa and scurried in to the kitchen, hitting Dean on the shoulder. Instead of his usual reaction of turning round and punching Sam back, Dean simply looked back to him and grinned.

"Sammy!"

Sam eyed his elder brother suspiciously; "wow, you are happy! Did you score some weed before you got home?"

"Hmm? What are you talking about Sam? I'm not high!"

"Well it fucking seems like it!"

Dean shrugged and turned back to the dishes; "I'm just happy, Sam. Does Jess not make you happy?"

"Yeah... But I'm straight, so I don't do the whole, dancing, waving a rainbow flag about-"

That comment earned him a punch in the arm. Dean scowled.

"I'm not gay."

"You're dating a dude!"

"I think you'll find the term that explains me is 'pansexual', and Cas isn't a 'dude', he's, he's-"

"-He's a dude! He's a guy, a man - well, boy - he's male!"

"Still not gay, Sammy."

Sam sighed, giving up on the argument; "fine. I actually came to ask why you're so happy, you're freaking Bobby out."

"What, how? And I'm just happy, I can't help it. Cas is just... Awesome."

"Uh-huh? That's lovely. Can I tell Bobby it's Cas you're dating?"

Dean frowned; "uh... I don't think he'd like to know, really. You know how he feels about the Novaks. Fuck knows what he thinks about same-sex relationships!"

"Well... Maybe he won't care so long as you're happy?"

"I don't know... He seems like the type to not like it..."

"Type to not like what? Who?"

Dean and Sam spun around, Bobby was stood in the doorway to the kitchen, brow furrowed, a look of annoyed confusion on his face. Dean swallowed his breath, not knowing what to say.

"Dean's got a boyfriend!" Sam blurted out; Dean glared.

"Thanks Sam!"

"He's not sure if you'd be ok with it or not."

Bobby frowned; "...Not ok with what? Him being gay?"

"I'm not gay! For fucks-"

"-Whatever you are, boy, I don't care. So long as it's legal."

Dean stared blankly at Bobby for a few moments; "...Really? You don't mind?"

"Of course not, why would I? Besides, this boy has got you doing chores without a word of complaint, he seems to be good for you... Who is he, anyway?"

Dean and Sam glanced uneasily at each other; Sam shrugged and tried to shrink back in to the background. Dean cleared his throat and began fiddling with his fingers behind his back.

"Um... It's... Cas."

Bobby frowned; "Cas? Cas who?"

"Cas...-Tiel Novak?"

"...Castiel? The one with the stick up his ass, wears suits all the time? That Castiel?"

Dean nodded; "that Cas."

Bobby stared in bewilderment; "...How on God's Earth did you get him to say yes, to you?"

Dean scowled; "thanks Bobby. What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means, out of every student I've ever taught, he is the one who's never shown any interest in sex or relationships. And then you, with all your messing about, and one-night-stands, and, don't think I don't know about you! You two are polar opposites!"

"Well... Maybe he's changed."

"Maybe he's been corrupted!"

"Oh come on! I've hardly touched him!"

Sam's eyes widened; "hardly? What have you done?"

Dean scowled; "nothing that's any of your damn business!"

Bobby rolled his eyes; "whatever. This conversation has already gone on for longer than I like, just, Dean?"

"...Yeah?"

"Not under my roof."

Sam bit his lip to stop himself laughing, whilst Dean's ears went pink.

"What? I wasn't-... What the-..."

Bobby quickly turned around and went back in to the front room; Dean looked at Sam, his eyes wide. The youngest Winchester couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, clutching his side as he bent over. Dean scowled.

"Screw you, you can finish the dishes."

He threw the tea-towel from the table at Sam's head and stomped up the stairs, remembering to slam the door shut behind him. Grabbing his phone from the desk, Dean flopped down on to his bed and pulled up Castiel's number, hitting "call". It only rang three times before Cas picked up.

"Hello, Dean."

"Hey Cas."

The call went silent for a few moments before Cas cleared his throat.

"Did you call for any reason?"

"No, no, just to, talk... I told Bobby."

"Told him what?"

"About... Us..."

"Oh. How did he take it?"

"Well, I suppose? He thinks I've corrupted you. He also fucking warned me not to do it in the house, I've never been so mortified."

"...Do what?"

"...You know? ...Have sex?"

"Oh! Oh right, well... He doesn't have to worry about that, I mean-"

"-Yeah, I know. But he doesn't. He seems to think if I can get you to go out with me I can get you to take your pants off when I click my fingers, or something."

"But you didn't get me to go out with you. I elected to, of my own free will, because I wanted to."

"Yeah? Tell him that. He probably thinks I've brainwashed you or something... Anyway!"

"...Everyone knows."

Dean frowned, sitting up and grabbing Sam's stress-ball from the bedside table, givving it a hard squeeze; "everyone knows what?"

"That we kissed."

"Oh... Who's everyone?"

"Everyone. Anna, Gabriel... Balthazar called me a few minutes ago to congratulate me..."

Dean chuckled and threw the ball at the wall, catching it when it bounced off; "I'd prefer that reaction to our doings that what I've been getting! Threats and mockery."

Castiel chuckled; "doings? Dean, you make it sound illegal!"

"You'd think it was! It's like there's a 'no trespassing' sign around your neck I'm not aware of."

"Well, there was figuratively for a while... But Balthazar got you around that."

Dean grinned; "yeah, and now there's a 'Dean Winchester you touch one hair on that boy's head and you won't live to tell the tale', sign."

Castiel laughed; "no there's not. I wouldn't allow it."

Dean laughed too; "well, could you tell people that? Right now people treat me like I'm some kind of predator!"

"They're just being protective. They'll come to realise soon enough."

"Gee, that reassures me."

"Don't worry Dean, I won't let them hurt you."

Dean smiled genuinely; "you? You going to beat up anyone who looks at me funny?"

Castiel chuckled; "of course not. There's no need for violence, if a problem can be resolved it can be resolved with words."

"Ahh, so you'll be having harsh words with anyone who looks at me funny?"

"If they deserve harsh words, then yes."

"...But I thought you were too shy for all that."

"Not when it comes to people I care about."

Dean let out a deep breath and squeezed the stress-ball again; "wow. Everyone's right."

"...About what?"

"I don't deserve you."

Castiel sighed; "really Dean? You think that?"

"It's hard not to sometimes."

"Dean. I'm not to be 'deserved', you've not been rewarded with me like some trophy. If anything I've been gifted to you, and you to me."

"...Gifted? By who?"

Dean could almost hear the shrug on the other end.

"God?"

"God? You believe in him?"

"I'm from a very religious family, Dean, of course I do... I mean, I don't actively go to church or pray, and I'm not a very good Christian but, I do believe that, there is a higher being in the Universe."

"...Oh."

"It's not a problem, is it?"

"What? No! I mean, you're not some crazy religious nut... I have no problems with you, believing, it's not like you're enforcing it on me or anything..."

"Well, I also believe everything happens for a reason. So, we've come together for a reason Dean; it may yet to be clear, but I don't think it's because the Divine has made a mistake and rewarded you with me when he shouldn't."

"...Right, yeah..."

Castiel chuckled; "sorry, I rambled quite a lot there. And I'm also sorry, I have to go now. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see-ya, Cas."

Dean had just hung up when Sam wandered in to the room, grinning at Dean and flopping on to his bed. Dean sat up and put his phone on the bedside table.

"Hey Sammy..."

Sam pulled his laptop on to his knee and glanced over at his brother; "yeah?"

"Being serious; do I deserve Cas?"

Sam frowned; "what do you mean?"

"I mean... I know he's too good for me, but..."

"Dean, in all seriousness, no one's too good for anyone. You deserve to be happy, and so does Cas; you both chose to be happy with each other, so... It's not about entitlement, it's about choice. Why do you think we have such a multi-cultured planet? If white people only married white people, or Germans only married Germans, we're not going to get very far as a species... We need to mix things up. So, every once in a while, some weird little rich kid decides to date a horny mechanic, and the world keeps turning."

Dean scowled; "that was very nice and profound, until the end."

Sam grinned; "I ran out of nice profound things to say."

AN: Ahh, the first kiss! By the way I hope this chapter cleared up the fact there shall be no smut; Cas isn't the type (sorry.) Anyway, don't forget to review (: