AN: here's a longer update, with more, goings-on, and a lot of chit-chat... Also, I'm trying my darnedest to get this fic done, because I have a lot of ideas for sequels and all that jazz, so... Look out for those when I finally finish this! Hopefully soon... Enjoy!

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Dean was round Castiel's, the two of them sat out in the garden in the gazebo, hands on top of each other's on the bench between them. Neither of them were talking, they sat staring out across the land that stretched away from the border of the garden, Castiel shivering slightly. Dean smiled and stroked the back of Cas' hand with his thumb.

"Cold, Cas?"

Castiel smiled meekly; "a little. The breeze has picked up."

"Well, why didn't you say," Dean grinned, shrugging his jacket off. Cas' eyes almost lit up when Dean draped it over his shoulders, tugging it tighter around himself.

"Thank you."

"It's ok, darling."

Cas chuckled; "darling?"

Dean grinned; "it's a pet name."

"I know what it is, I was enquiring as to why you suddenly called me 'darling'?"

"Why not."

Castiel rolled his eyes; "that's not an answer, Dean. I hate it when people say 'why not', it's just a way to deflect the question."

"I call people names, Cas. Gabe is 'Chuckles', Sammy is whatever I come up with about his height, and you don't have a name yet."

"I like Cas."

"Can't you like darling?"

"...Fine. Just not, 'babe', or anything like that."

"Very well, Sweetie."

"It'd help if you didn't sound so condescending too. You're almost as bad as Balthazar."

"Dude... Don't compare me to your brother!"

"Sorry... He'll be here soon."

"Oh good, I miss that guy..."

Cas chuckled, shoving Dean, lightly; "don't be sarcastic. Balthazar's my, well, he's the person I'm closest to. He's my friend, my brother, and father-figure, all rolled in to one. He's always there for me."

Dean smiled sheepishly; "probably explains why we butt heads slightly, then. He's your overprotective big brother, daddy, and BFF. That's three times the 'you touch a hair on his head and I'll skin you alive' than usual!"

"He's just looking out for me."

"That's my job now."

Castiel smiled and shuffled closer, taking Dean's arms and wrapping them around himself, burying his face in to his chest. Dean grinned and gave Cas and gentle squeeze, pressing his lips to the top of his head.

"Well, if it isn't the cutest couple in all of civilised society!"

Dean let out a deep sigh, recognising the crass British accent. Castiel spun around and smiled, extracting himself from Dean's arms. Balthazar stalked over, pulling his younger brother in to a tight hug, patting him on the back for good measure. Dean slowly pulled himself to his feet.

"Cas! Cassie, you haven't been taking fashion tips from that oaf of a boyfriend of yours?"

Dean scowled. Castiel chuckled.

"No, I was just cold."

"Aww, Dean's taking care of you?"

"Very good care!" Dean frowned, stepping around to stand closer to Cas. Balthazar smirked.

"Well, good, I like to know I can trust you."

"You? Trust me?"

"Of course I do! Why else would I let you within ten feet of my baby bro?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe because who Cas dates has nothing to do with you?"

"It has everything to do with me, Dean! Castiel is my flesh and blood, my favourite sibling, and I'm the only person qualified to protect him."

Castiel sighed; "please don't argue."

Balthazar smiled; "we're not, we're having a discussion."

"About me, as if I'm not here. I'd appreciate it if you didn't."

Dean and Balthazar both looked at their feet, muttering an apology. Cas smiled meekly and reached over to Dean, squeezing his arm.

"Castiel, brother, do you mind if I have a word or two with Dean? Don't worry, you can have him back in one piece."

Castiel looked to Dean, who shrugged, before nodding; "yes, please be nice."

"Of course."

Balthazar gaped when Cas pushed himself in to Dean's arms, pressing a quick kiss to his lips before wandering back up to the house. Dean smirked and shrugged innocently at Balthazar.

"So, Dean, what was that about?"

Dean slumped back down on the bench; "he's gotten better with public displays of affection. I mean, they're few and far between, but, they happen!"

"What have you done to my brother?"

"Hey, I've done nothing! I am naught but a tool to that boy!"

Balthazar smiled and sat beside Dean; "so... We need a chat. Face to face. I'm not going to give you the big brother talk, I know you probably know it, being one yourself, this is... More personal. I'm away in Chicago, and I need someone to look out for Cas...
"I like you Dean, I really do. And I trust you. Cas tells me all about you, things you say, things you do; you're good with him! He's a weird kid. I know it, you know it, he knows it! But you treat him as if he's normal; we appreciate that."

Dean shrugged; "he's a special snowflake all right."

"Very special, and I don't want to sound like I'm babying him, but he's very... naive. He'd say different, but he doesn't know himself like I know him, Hell, I'm the one who told him he had a crush on you! Poor boy had no idea! It almost made me cry... But as I said, I'm in Chicago, so, I can't be there to look out for him so much. Gabriel has a good heart, but he's his own person, he's been my eyes and ears on Cas for two and a half years! He needs a break. Anna; well, I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her. Crowley, certainly not! So it's on you Dean. But to look out for him, you need to know about him."

"Is it your place to tell?"

"Yes and no. He won't tell you these things himself because, well, he doesn't even know himself! You see, he just, doesn't care, about quite a few things. Sex, for example. To him, sex is just something he's not interested in. Like I couldn't give a toss about baseball; if the game ended tomorrow, I wouldn't give the slightest of shits. That's how Cas sees sex. As something other people do. It's not a game he wants to play. But, Cas is a complex guy, so, he's not just indifferent... He's awkward. Like, terrifyingly so! Even if he did have a sex drive and was interested in boys or girls, he'd never act on it."

Dean nodded; "he did say he was intimately awkward."

"He never really got any affection growing up. No mummy or daddy to give cuddles, just some stiff nanny who didn't think she was getting paid enough to give hugs."

"But didn't Cas and Gabe have the same nanny?"

"Gabriel has parents, who gave him affection. Albeit not very often, but he got it! After a while Cas just, didn't care about affection either, I mean, he was what, seven? What can a seven-year-old do with hugs? And Cas was an inquisitive child. He read, he tinkered with things, finding out how they worked... He and Gabe would find a worm! Gabriel would play with it, Castiel would read up all about worms. He'd hear someone speak Spanish, he'd read up on Spain. He valued knowledge, not affection.
"But, time goes by, you start to change. Suddenly Gabriel's not talking about Power Rangers, he's talking about girls. Anna's sticking up posters of boys on her walls. And worst of all, people get touchy. Anna hugs people. She hugs her friends, she hugs people she's just met, she hugs, everyone! She hugged Cas once. He freaked. He didn't understand affection does not directly coincide with sex."

"You're saying he couldn't differentiate good touch from bad touch?"

Balthazar shrugged; "in a way. He thought all touch was bad touch, or at least, not good touch. He grew up isolated. I know I sound like I'm weaving some fairy-tale, but, books were his friends! He just, wasn't touched affectionately growing up; no hugs, no pats on the back, nothing. He realised he had to at least, understand affection, but, didn't care enough to research properly. Suddenly, anyone that purposely touched him had sinister reasons for doing so. He was young, naive, and I'll admit, a little dumb in that context!"

"So what happened?"

"Well, after the freak-out with Anna, I, sat him down, told him about hugs, and how they're just a sign of simple affection. He didn't understand. I think I spent about, two hours with the kid, explaining hugs, and kissing, and sex, and how... They're not always connected. Took a while but it got through to him."

"How long's a while?"

"Um, it was... Two years until he actually hugged me of his own accord! I'd hugged him, showed him it was a nice thing, not something to freak out over... So, he's all right with hugs now, he'll hug people, well, family. And you. But he's still awkward! There are times when touch becomes sinister again."

Dean hummed; "yeah, I found that out last Monday."

"Oh?"

"Zach was being a smartass with him, he came to school and wouldn't let me so much as touch his arm."

"Zacharia? The prick... But yes, unfortunately, there are days Cas won't want to be near you. Physically... Which brings me back to; things he doesn't know about himself. He's not a sexual being, not because he's scared of sex - I mean, I think he is terrified of it, but because he just doesn't care. Sex is, trivial. It's something people do because they think they have nothing else to do. He's much more proactive. Why spend half an hour fumbling under the sheets when you can learn about a whole different culture? The joys of sex last a few minutes at most, but the joy of finishing a good book can last, forever. That's his opinion."

"Ok? I'm fully aware sex isn't on the cards for us."

"I know, I'm just explaining why. But. If he's kissing you, and in public, it might not be forever... Half of the reason he's never been interested in sex is because, he's never had a reason to, if that makes sense."

"Not particularly, no."

"You, Dean Winchester, are the first real life, human being, in the flesh, that Castiel has been interested in - that isn't family. And I'm not talking sexually, or even romantically. Cas just, bonded with you, almost instantly. Something about this, odd exterior of yours prompted him to wonder about who you are; you became his next exploit. Who is Dean Winchester? Why is he here? Why does he strut around everywhere? Who's that giraffe he's with? And the more he discovered the more you bonded.
"You showed him what friendship was, you didn't treat him like a Novak, you treated him like Cas, the little weirdo in the suit. He very soon became captivated with you; you were amazing, you were friendly, charming, genuine! And he's not a Vulcan you know, he's slave to his emotions, like the rest of us. His unconscious told him you were great boyfriend material, his subconscious told him you were great friend material, and his conscious being was awkward 'what do I do?' So he became your friend, not realising he wanted more, and now you're here, and now, Castiel has a reason to rethink sex. You're his reason to be, affectionate, and intimate. For now that means hugs and kisses, but somewhere down the line, he'll want to know what it feels like to... Well, you get the picture!"

Dean chewed on his lip, trying to take in everything; "you think?"

Balthazar shrugged; "anything's possible! I mean, maybe Cas will be steadfast and not want to, but, it could happen! And Dean, if it does, you will have to hold his hand all the way through it! You have to be understanding. If he freaks out, back off. Do not rush him, even if you know more than him, let him be in charge. Capeesh?"

"Um, yeah."

"Good."

"...Wait, is that all you wanted to talk to me about? Cas' somewhat non-existant maybe subconscious sex drive?"

Balthazar smirked and stood up; "pretty much. He has everything else under control. He's a nerd, a happy nerd, and he'll probably die a virgin, and he's cool with that!"

"Right, well, thanks?"

"My pleasure. I get to study some interesting people working on my Psychology major, but you Dean, and Cas, are by far the most interesting!"

"Don't be getting in my head!"

"I wouldn't dream of it... Now come on..."

"Wait, can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"What do you think of me?"

Balthazar sat back down; "what do you mean?"

"Well, Cas met my dad on Sunday, he probably told you, and, he was really worried about what he thought of him. I've met Uncle Raphael, but, you're more Cas' parent figure, and well, if there's anyone I want to impress, it's, well, you."

Balthazar grinned; "it means a lot you say that, Dean. And honestly, your a good guy; I do like you! I'm rooting for you! We all are, you're probably the best thing that happened to Cas. I'm more than happy to move to the side and let you take care of him... I really hope you two make it. I know it's only been, less than a month, but, I can see a future for you two. You work well together, you complete each other."

Dean smiled; "well... Awesome."

"Awesome indeed, now, let's go."

Balthazar stood, offering his hand to Dean. Dean took it, pulling himself up, before clasping his other hand on Balthazar's, in a gesture of thanks. Balthazar did the same, grinning at Dean, who grinned back.

Dean sighed happily, watching his father and brother fight for the last crispy wing in the bucket, chuckling when Bobby dove straight in and took it, quirking an eyebrow at Dean conspiratorially. John cleared his throat, straightening his posture in attempts to look like he hadn't just been acting like a five year old.

"Well, seeing as dinner's over, you boys fancy tossing around the old pig-skin before the game?"

Dean shrugged; "sounds good, dad."

"Maybe in ten, fifteen minutes, my stomach needs to settle," Sam huffed, refilling his glass of coke.

"I am going to sleep through the parade, don't one of you idjits dare wake me," Bobby growled, pulling himself from his chair, shuffling through to the front room. John grinned and slouched back in his seat.

"All that's missing is the pie."

Dean smirked; "you're telling me!"

The three Winchesters sat quietly; John drumming his fingers on his knee, Sam poking the bones on his plate, and Dean stroking the phone in his pocket, finally resolving to pull it out.

"Happy Thanksgiving Cas. You busy?"

A few moments later, Castiel replied; "You too, not at the moment."

Dean stood up, stretching; "call me when Samantha's up for a game of football!"

Before either could reply, Dean jogged up the stairs, collapsing down on his bed, phoning Cas.

"Hello, Dean."

"Afternoon. Having a happy holiday?"

"Quite, my family appear to be enjoying themselves for once. It's two hours since the usual arguments."

Dean frowned; "that must suck, Usually."

"A little, but Balthazar doesn't seem to be rising to Zacharia's bait. If anything he's just subtly mocking him."

"They really hate each other, don't they."

"Well, Zacharia isn't that nice a person really. He wished stomach cancer on him last night."

"Whoa, that's a bit... Severe?"

"Indeed... How are you?"

"Oh I'm good. Dad and Sammy are squabbling like kids over who gets to eat what. Bobby's being his cranky self... We're off to play football in the yard once the princess doesn't feel too full."

Castiel chuckled; "I'm glad you're happy."

"Jesus, Cas, of course I'm happy! Have been for a while now."

"Good... Dean; would you like to stay over tomorrow? I know your father's in town and you'd probably rather spend time with him, but-"

"-Cas, it's fine, I'd love to come over. Dad'll be here until Sunday, I can see him later."

"Oh, well, great."

"Yes..."

The two of them chatted idly until John shouted Dean downstairs. Dean bid Cas goodbye and ran down to play football with his family, despite Bobby's yard not being the best environment for it. After ten minutes, it stopped being a simple game of catch and became a contest of who could throw the hardest, the farthest, who could put the most spin on the ball, who could catch the ball better with one hand...
Dean laughed as Sam backed up to catch, not looking where he was going and tripping backwards over a tire. Scowling, Sam pulled himself up, standing the tire on it's side and rolling it in Dean's direction. Too busy being hunched over laughing, Dean didn't see the tire until it was too late; it rolled in to his legs at a surprising force, knocking him over. John began laughing until he was red in the face, Sam leaning on an old junker for support whilst Dean huffed, lying flat on his back, quickly developing a case of the giggles too.

"Oh my God, Dean, you should have seen yourself!" Sam snorted, finding it hard to breathe. Dean propped himself up on his elbows, finding the sight of his brother and father doubled over laughing hilarious. The three of them laughed themselves sore, only stopping temporarily when Bobby leant out of his window and scolded them all for making such a racket, which spurred a bigger laughing fit. Eventually they ran out of air and muscle strength to continue laughing. Dean eventually pulled himself to his feet and staggered over to his father, leaning on him for support. John sighed happily.

"I've missed you boys."

Dean grinned and gave him a manly pat on the back; "missed you too, dad."

Sam nodded and managed to make his way over, stumbling slightly, slumping against John's side. They stood huddled together, sharing a rare moment, before Bobby interrupted again, telling them to get the food ready for the football.

"Pizza's here!" Gabriel called, bursting through the door, four large pizza boxes stacked in his arms. Crowley followed, arms full of junk food and managing to carry drinks. Dean jumped up and ran to help Crowley who seemed to be straining. Balthazar dragged the coffee table in front of sofa, helping set out the food, whilst Castiel pulled out a mass of cushions and pillows from a cupboard.

"You know Cassie, it's nice to see you finally join us on one of our boys nights," Crowley grinned, dumping the junk food on to the coffee table. Castiel shrugged, smiling sheepishly.

"I never really had much reason to."

"Male bonding, Cas!" Gabe argued, flopping down on to the floor in front of the TV. Dean grinned and slumped down on to the far left side of the sofa, Balthazar on the right, Castiel in between. Crowley rolled his eyes and settled on the floor next to Gabriel.

"So gents, what will it be; Batman, or Iron Man?" Crowley grinned, holding up the DVDs.

"Batman!" Dean smirked, sliding his hand across the sofa to cover Cas'. Castiel smiled and laced their fingers together, nodding at Crowley.

"I agree."

"Way to form an independent opinion," Gabriel snorted, snatching the DVD from Crowley, forcing the disk in to the DVD player. Dean chuckled and gave Cas' hand a gentle squeeze. The five boys lounged about, eating copious amounts of junk food, drinking alarming amounts of carbonated drinks, and watching superhero movies. Halfway through X-Men, Castiel shuffled around, resting his head on a pillow in Dean's lap, draping his legs over Balthazar's. Dean smiled and dragged his fingers through Cas' hair, applying light pressure, giving a light head massage. Castiel smiled too, tracing patterns on Dean's thigh.
When the credits began rolling, no one could be bothered getting up to turn it off, or swap discs; instead the five of them looked around at each other, none willing to move so much as inch in any direction. Crowley cleared his throat and looked up at Dean.

"So, not wanting to sound invasive, but, what exactly do you two... Do?"

Castiel looked up at Dean and frowned; "what do you mean?"

"You know, do you just sit and hold hands or...? I mean, I know you've kissed but, come on! Details!" Gabriel all but squealed.

"Guys? Seriously? You want to hear about my brother's technically gay relationship?" Balthazar asked, sticking his tongue out in disgust. Gabriel held his hands up in defence.

"I'm very liberal, Balth! And it's not like they have any gory details to even go in to! ...You don't do you?"

Dean rolled his eyes; "no, we don't have any gory details."

"Good, so share with the class!"

Castiel shifted uncomfortably, sitting up but turning to face only Dean. Balthazar rolled his eyes.

"Come on, boys, you're making Cas uncomfortable."

"We're only curious! Come on Dean, you'll tell!" Crowley grinned.

"We kiss. Sometimes. And, that's about it!" Dean grumbled, snaking an arm around Cas' waist protectively.

"What kind?"

Dean looked at Crowley as if he'd asked the question in another language; "what? What kind are there? On the mouth!"

Crowley and Gabriel laughed.

"No, I mean, just, small granny kisses? Or, tongue? Or-"

Castiel whipped his head round to look at Gabriel in horror; "tongue?"

Gabriel grinned; "yeah! Tongue!" He began demonstrating with his index fingers how French kissing worked, curling and twisting his fingers around each other, whilst wearing a wicked grin. Crowley sat chuckling behind Gabriel whilst Balthazar tried to hide his look of amusement at Cas' look of repugnance. Dean just sat with a look of disbelief, finding it hard to admit he was seeing what he was seeing. Castiel looked up at Dean.

"People, they do that?"

Dean quickly glanced over to Balthazar - who grinned - before shrugging at Cas; "well, yeah. Couples usually, make out."

Still sniggering, Crowley picked up his drink.

"...Is it enjoyable?"

Crowley choked, half spitting coke up Gabriel's arm as he tried to laugh and cough. Dean bit his lip to stop himself laughing too.

"Yeah, usually, if done right."

"How is it done wrong?"

It was Balthazar's turn to bark out a laugh; "Cas! I went through all this with you!"

Castiel shrugged innocently, a slight tint of pink flushing his cheeks; "I didn't really, pay attention."

"Spit, Cas. And teeth. And being too dominant," Gabriel grinned; "I mean, there's going to be spit, you'll be in each other's mouths for God's sake, but, when it's dribbling down your chin, it's kind of unpleasant."

"Kind of is an understatement! It's downright disgusting!" Crowley laughed.

"As for the teeth! A bit of biting can be, playful and sexy, but, don't chomp down like it's a steak! The last thing you want is blood in your mouth!"

Castiel frowned, half confused as to why his cousins were explaining the mechanics of kissing to him, and half repulsed by what he was actually hearing. Dean had reverted back to his look of sheer bewilderment.

"And, don't take over. I hate it when I'm trying to kiss someone and they won't let me in! It's off-putting, and not sexy, and just, unfair! If her tongue is in my mouth, then she'd better let mine in hers!"

Balthazar cleared his throat; "well, this was eye-opening, thank you Gabriel."

Gabriel grinned; "oh! And making out is better than just, full on necking! Your aim isn't to get your tongue as far down his throat as possible!"

"Thank you! Gabe!"

"Your turn!"

Balthazar sighed and rubbed his forehead; "Cas, if I were you, I'd just, pretend this past five minutes didn't happen."

"You know what, Cas, I think we've had enough guy time for a whole year, come on!" Dean declared, jumping up and grabbing Castiel's hand. They all but ran out of the room, leaving a cackling Gabriel and Crowley behind, and a somewhat amused Balthazar.

"Well, that was only completely uncomfortable," Castiel sighed, trying to force a laugh along with it. Dean smiled meekly.

"Take Balthazar's advice, let's just pretend that didn't happen."

Castiel nodded and pulled Dean up the stairs to his room, deciding three am was probably a good time to head to bed. Dean grabbed his bag and hurried in to the bathroom, getting ready, changing in to a pair of sweats he never wore, except when staying at Cas', keeping his t-shirt on. He'd just finished brushing his teeth when Castiel timidly knocked on the door. Dean grinned at the smaller boy, taking in the still bizarre sigh of Cas in a t-shirt and pyjama pants.

"Go um, get comfy," Cas smiled, brushing a hand over Dean's chest as he shuffled past. Dean grinned and went back through to Castiel's room, his chest tingling slightly where he'd been touched. It was the small, almost curious touches from Castiel that Dean liked best. It felt like Castiel was learning his body one tiny bit at a time, and very tentatively, and he knew it meant a lot to Cas to be able to use Dean to learn that physical contact was usually good. Still musing about Castiel's magic touch, he crawled under the sheets, making sure to keep to his allocated side. They always ended up clung to each other the next morning, but Castiel required time to build up to having his limbs entwined with Dean's. It was a while later when Castiel returned from the bathroom, a very pensive look on his face. He silently turned off the main light, flicking on the dim light of his bedside lamp and he crawled under the covers next to Dean. Dean smiled and rolled on to his side, propping his head up in his palm.

"Took your time, get lost?"

Cas smiled faintly; "sorry, I was just lost in thought."

"Oh yeah? Want to share?"

Cas rolled on to his side too, facing Dean. The two stared in to each others' eyes for a few moments, Dean being the first to break the gaze when Castiel softly stroked a hand across his cheek.

"I was just thinking of you."

Dean grinned; "how awesome I am?"

"How arrogant you are?"

Chuckling, Dean took Cas' hand from his cheek, entwining their fingers; "that too."

"I was thinking about how patient you are, and selfless. And, I just think I'm so, lucky, to have found, you."

"Cas-"

"-And, I want to show you you're appreciated."

"Cas, you don't need to do anything."

"I know, I don't need to, I want to..."

Dean looked over Cas' face analytically, trying to find the hidden meaning in Cas' words, before his eyes widened; "no, Cas, you're listening to Gabriel? And Crowley?"

"Not really... You said yourself it was enjoyable."

Dean groaned; "I also said sex was enjoyable... I don't want you to feel like-"

"-Dean, please, I do have a mind of my own... I want to... For you. And partly for me, too. I want to, learn. I want to know what it feels like... And I trust you. I know you won't get ahead of yourself and forget that I'll be a part of it... And, I like kissing! Why wouldn't I like this?"

"I don't know... But, y'know, some people don't like it! They think it's gross."

"How will I know if I don't like it if I don't try it?"

"Wow, you're really not going to let this go, are you?"

Castiel smiled; "no... So please, Dean? For me?"

"Jeez Cas, don't use that against me, you know I'd do anything for you."

"I know, so can you do this?"

Dean let out a long sigh and smiled judgementally; "fine, but, if you want out, just hit me, though, not in the balls, please."

"Very well."

"All right, just, close your eyes, and, follow my lead... And do what feels natural."

Castiel nodded and shuffled closer as Dean snaked an arm around his waist, pulling him flush against him, letting Dean drape his arms around his shoulders. With his other hand, Dean cupped Castiel's cheek, stroking it softly with his thumb, staring at his closed eyes before pulling his face to his, capturing his lips in a soft kiss, planning on working Castiel up, slowly. The kiss lingered for a while, until Dean readjusted, tipping his head a little to the right, and sucking Cas' bottom lip between his, easing his mouth open slightly. Castiel tried his best to not close himself off and back away, remembering to breathe through his nose and to not twitch at the electric feeling shooting up his spine.

"You're thinking too much," Dean murmured against his lips; "stop thinking, let go."

Cas nodded and pushed his lips back against Dean's, letting Dean move his head in to a better position. They shared a few effortless open-mouthed kisses until Dean licked gingerly in to Cas' mouth, resulting in an almost unnoticeable full-body shiver from Cas. Dean tried again, this time his tongue brushing against Castiel's, who responded quite eagerly. They continued stroking their tongues together, Castiel's breathing getting a little heavier, before Dean slowly pushed past Cas' tongue, softly licking at the roof of his mouth. Castiel let out a quiet involuntary moan, mirroring Dean's actions, tensing his grip around his neck. They continued exploring each others' mouths for a while until Dean felt the need to pull away. The two boys rest their foreheads together, breathing heavily. Castiel's eyelids fluttered open, his eyes automatically being drawn to Dean's. Dean smiled.

"Verdict?"

Cas snorted out a breath and grinned; "when I manage to regulate my heartbeat, and settle my nerves, I'd like to do that again."

Dean grinned; "well, just say, and your will be done."

Castiel chuckled and snuggled up in Dean's arms, burying his face in the crook of his neck.

Dean stared at his pile of pancakes, his mind still replying the events of the previous night. Opposite, Gabriel was chomping down on his own pancakes, covered in a diabetes-inducing concoction of sweetness.

"Hey! Dean-O! Wake up!"

Dean shook his head and looked up, smiling meekly; "hmm?"

"Where's your head at, man?"

"Oh, just... Thinking..."

"Oh yeah? About?"

Dean shrugged and began cutting in to his breakfast; "nothing important..."

Gabriel eyed him suspiciously, tucking back in to his food. Castiel and Balthazar made their way in to the kitchen, after Balthazar had collared Cas the moment they'd gotten to the bottom of the stairs. Smiling, Castiel sat beside Dean and poured himself a glass of orange juice. Balthazar moved around to start making himself some breakfast, grinning and winking at Dean when he managed to catch his gaze. Frowning, Dean glanced over at Cas.

"Did you...?"

Castiel bit his lip nervously and shrugged; "he said I was, I was glowing."

"Wow, couldn't wait, huh?"

"More, I couldn't help it."

Dean smiled; "well, let's hold off alerting the press, eh?"

"Of course."

Gabriel scowled; "what are you two tittering about?"

Balthazar grinned and leant bodily on the table; "Cassie stuck his tongue down Dean's throat last night."

Gabe dropped his fork, and his jaw; "no!"

Dean hid his face in his hands, feeling his cheeks burning, next to him, Cas had turned a deep shade of red.

"Yes, it's all true. Went to bed and, voilà!"

Gabriel looked between Cas and Dean, eyes wide; "seriously? I don't believe it! Well obviously it's true, Dean wants to hide himself from the world but... Cas! I want to hear it from you! Seriously? You Frenched Dean?"

Castiel began gripping his thighs under the table, hard enough to leave bruises, before nodding in defeat; "...Yes."

"Oh my God! That's... Hilarious, but, that's awesome! Aww God, little Cas is growing up! Ah, come here!"

Gabe jumped up and ran around the table, gathering Castiel and Dean under each arm, pulling them in to a tight hug. Dean yelped in surprise, trying to push Gabriel away.

"Please, Gabe, stop."

"Seriously Dean, you are the best cousin-in-law, ever!"

"That's great. Can I go dig a hole and bury myself in it now?"

"Sure, knock yourself out."

Still sporting a maniacal grin, Gabriel went back round to his side of the table to finish his pancakes. Dean glared up at Balthazar.

"Did you really have to tell him?"

Balthazar shrugged; "yep. It was too good news to not share! I mean, if you'd have taken his virginity, I wouldn't be shouting that out, but kissing, eh, Gabe can know."

"Yeah, well thanks."

"No Dean, thank you!"

Dean sighed and looked back down at his pancakes, glancing over at Cas when his hand softly squeezed his thigh. He sent Cas a quick forgiving smile, patting his hand before attempting to eat again.