So. I got another chappie up. This one is super long, since i feel i have been lacking. Also, THINGS happen in this one. Read my warning.

Dean: So... what's with you and these warnings?

Cas: Maybe she's being safe Dean.

Sam: Yeah, Dean. Ever think of that?

Dean: What is this, pick on Dean day?

Gabe: Probably.

Eve: Don't listen to them Dean! I still love you.

Dean: O.o

Cas: *grrrr*

Eve: *AHHHH!*

Anyway.

Warning: Emotional Gabe, big-brotherness, emo-Sam (when isn't he though?), feelings!, Dean(he's a warning in himself), Cas hurt and pain (becasue its great to make him squirm), creepy unborn-baby powers, vampires, violence, near-deaths of main charcters, sappiness (cus i can't resist sappiness!), firsts, prayers, manly kissing, tongue, not answering your phone, nut shells, hebrew stuff, rude cashier people that are homophobes, Gabe caring about other people that aren't Sam, panic attacks and chili. Yeah, i think that's it. If i missed somethiing, you can bitch in your review.

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own this. Or i would be a middle-aged man with a balding scalp and receding hairline with millions of dollars saved up and sitting a facy schmancy bank account that i'll probably roll in before i go to sleep.

Read.

Nothing Is Ever Easy: Episode Five

Dean flinched at the cry that came from his room upstairs and ran. It has been two months since Cas told him he was pregnant, so Cas was three months now. And they'd been at Bobby's most of the time. And then Cas has wanted to stay at Bobby's so Dean and Sam were stuck doing local jobs, unless they were important because then Sam and Gabriel went. Dean always stayed behind, not wanting to leave Cas, no matter if it was with his brother and surrogate father, never mind with his angel's own brother.

So now Dean was running up the stairs and threw rooms to find theirs. The throwing up had stopped a few weeks back, so Dean figured that was definitely over, but the cravings had just intensified. Sometimes, he didn't even know how Castiel stomached the stuff he asked for, but the angel was always eternally grateful.

Cas had gone from a bump, to a full on belly. But that was supposed to be expected, seeing as angels had six months and Cas was halfway through his pregnancy now. But the internal bleeding had been happening more often. And for some reason, Cas wasn't healing as fast anymore. He was full of bruises, the ugly marks peppering his skin and when ever Dean saw them, he felt his stomach flip and hugged Cas closer to him. He had caused this, although it was a joyous thing. But it was hurting Cas. What would happen when the baby came?

He shook his head, running into their room to see what was wrong. No use in worrying over it now, when it was so far off. He walked in to see the blinds closed and Castiel curled up in a ball on the bed. Walking over, Dean bent down to see what was wrong.

"Cas?"

He got a moan as a response. As gently as he could, Dean moved Cas over and untangled him from himself, allowing himself a small smile at the beauty that was Castiel's baby-belly before he went on to lift up the large shirt that Castiel used as a night gown. Dean took in a deep breath. There was a large, purplish bruise on Castiel's side that didn't seem to be healing. But he knew there was much more to it than that. "Cas, what is it? What's wrong?"

Castiel opened his eyes, wide and clear blue from the pain. "The baby, the bleeding... its hurting them too." The pain in Castiel's eyes intensified and Dean's heart broke for the millionth time since this thing had started. Castiel was more worried about the baby than himself. "I hate it when its hurt, or feeling hurt," Castiel continued. He shook his head, a few tears running down his face. "Its not right and I can't do anything about it."

Dean shook his head, swallowing hard and wiping the tears from Castiel's face. "Oh Cas," he murmured. Moving Castiel around gently, he gingerly picked him up and slid under the angel so that Castiel was leaning against his chest as he laid down on the bed under him. He stroked Cas's hair and hated that he was convulsing in his arms. Dean rubbed at Castiel's bruise for a while, wanting to make it disappear and feeling anxious at the fact that it wasn't when it should have been gone. "Cas, Cas, Cas. I don't know what to do for you," he whispered into the angel's ear. He paused and then asked, "Why are the blinds shut?"

Castiel shifted in his arms and murmured into his chest, "Headache. A really big headache that refuses to leave me be." He looked up at Dean and gave a short laugh. "At least I have you."

Dean hugged him close. "You'll never not have me. I'm not going anywhere."

"Good. Because I would hate to have to deal with him." Dean looked up to see Gabriel and Sam in the doorway, the larger man with a tray of food in his hands.

"Stop being a jerk Gabe," Sam scolded and walked in, placing the tray on the bedside table. "How is he?" he then whispered.

"My ears will not explode if you speak louder, Samuel. I'm not a flower," Castiel grumbled into Dean's chest, making all three men in the room smile.

"So it's like that?" Sam asked.

Dean nodded. "Oh yeah. Lucky me."

Dean let out a yelp and looked down incredulously at Castiel, who was sitting up, with difficulty. "Yes, you are lucky. Do not be sassy and rude, Dean. You are not the one going through immeasurable pain and discomfort, are you? So yes, you are lucky." Castiel whipped his head around to the tray and started picking off grapes from a small bowl that Sam had brought in. And then, he recoiled and made a face, putting a hand over his mouth. "Sam, what is that?"

Sam looked down at the bowl. "Chicken soup?"

Castiel gagged and Dean sat up, a hand to his back. "Please take it away," he moaned. "If not, I am going to vomit."

Sam made a face and looked to Gabe who snapped his fingers, the whole tray minus the grapes disappearing. "Thanks Gabe," Dean said, rubbing his hand up and down Castiel's back.

Gabe lifted his hands in surrender. "No problemo. I honestly didn't want to smell puke again."

"Gee, thanks Gabe. Nice of you to care," Sam said sarcastically. He turned to Dean. "We'll just... go now."

And with that they were gone.

Castiel looked a bit better now and when Dean lifted his shirt, the bruise was lightening, but not as fast as it used to. "Why isn't the damn thing healing?"

Castiel panicked. To tell Dean, or not to tell Dean, that was the question. He chose the latter. "Um... the baby is using a lot of my energy. I'm focusing on the more important thing right now. A bruise isn't going to kill me, Dean." It was a lot better than the true statement of, because I can't heal myself like that anymore. And soon, never.

Dean rolled his eyes but then nodded. "Yeah. Ok. Makes sense I guess." He moved some hair out of Castiel's face. "So now what?"

Castiel yawned and knew exactly what he wanted to do: sleep. "I am tired. I am going to sleep. And you, you are staying with me." He latched onto Dean determined not to let him get anywhere. Hey hadn't slept-cuddled in a while and right now, Castiel was really craving human contact.

"Cas," Dean started to complain as his boyfriend ignored him and snuggled into his chest, wrapping his arms around Dean and using his head as a pillow. "I've got..." Dean stopped.

Castiel was looking up at him with big innocent eyes that screamed, PLEASE STAY. The eyes abruptly filled with tears and then those tears fell and Dean found himself kissing them away and off Cas's cheeks, rubbing his nose along that strong jaw and murmuring, "No, Cas, babe, don't cry. Please don't cry, I hate it when you cry. No, babe, please don't. I'll stay, I'm staying." Castiel honestly couldn't help it; he just got so emotional with these things. He nodded trying to make the tears stop as Dean pulled him closer and kissed his hair, murmuring, "I'll always stay."

They both fell asleep in each others arms.

Dean woke up before Castiel did, the small angel tangled with him. He yawned and checked his watch, wincing. It was three o'clock and he had planned on doing so much today. Apparently, being an expectant angel/human father meant you couldn't accomplish any of those plans.

He gently rolled out from under Castiel, untangling himself from him, and pushed the covers up, but not too much, since Castiel got heat flashes from time to time and usually ended up kicking the covers off in his sleep. Checking to make sure the blinds were properly closed, he gave a look at Castiel, who was now occupying the space Dean had been in, relishing in the warm spot left by Dean's body. The man was perfect, Dean was sure. His hair was mussed but he looked wonderful; his eyes may have been closed but he still looked so serene; his lips were parted slightly, drool sliding down Castiel's chin and soaking into the pillow sheet; his arms around his head, thing but sinewy and strong, his legs spread out and in different directions, one curled under him; his stomach, big as it was, protruding where he was laying on his side, perfect and magnificent excluding the bruises, holding Dean's first child inside of it.

So perfect and all his.

He sighed in content, just now noticing that he had been watching Castiel sleep and loving it. He walked over to the angel, kissed his forehead and then quietly left the room, making sure not to slam the door and close it as quietly as possible. Dean beamed as he made his way down the hall, past Sam and Gabe's room, past Bobby's and then to the stairs where he took two at a time and bounded into the kitchen. Sam was at the table, books and papers out in front of him. Bobby was at the stove, whipping up lunch. Gabe was nowhere to be found.

Sam looked up. "Someone's happy. What happened? Cas crave you for a change?"

Dean mock laughed. "Ha-ha, very funny Sammy." And then he smiled. "Nah, nothing, its just... him. He's so... beautiful, you know? So serene and simple and I love it."

As Sam rolled his eyes, Bobby said from the stove, "It's 'cause he's pregnant boy. All those hormones rushing around and such."

Dean took a seat across from Sam and shrugged. "I honestly don't care what it is. I love him anyway." He scanned Sam's notes – more research to see if male angels had ever given birth before- and then said, "So where's your love-angel anyway?"

Sam looked up and scowled. "Gabe is out doing whatever Gabe does when he's not with us. You've gotta remember Dean, there's still a war going on up there." He pointed up to the ceiling with his pen. "And leaving Balthazar in charge doesn't seem like a good idea if you asked me."

"That's why we ain't asking ya," Bobby cracked from the stove making Dean chortle.

Sam rolled his eyes and bitch-faced. "Whatever. I'm not the one making comments about how beautiful my pregnant angel boyfriend is," Sam threw back. Bobby howled with laughter; Dean made faces.

"Don't talk about him like that," Dean said indignant. "And..." He seemed to stop and think for a moment.

Sam looked up. Dean never stopped and thought before he spoke. "What? What is it?"

His brother shrugged. "Well... I was thinking...you called him my boyfriend, right?"

Sam nodded. "Yeah, so. No other way to describe it."

Dean waved a hand at him. "No, no, that's fine, it's just...What if he wasn't? Not anymore?"

Sam blanched. "Dean... Did you break up with Cas?" He looked horrified.

Dean scowled. "What? No! Why the hell would I...? Geez Sammy, for such a smart guy that was a stupid question." And Sam realized it too little, too late. The angel was having Dean's child. Why would Dean ever give that up? "No, what I meant was..." Now Dean turned very serious. "What if I asked him to marry me?"

The whole kitchen went quiet and all that was heard was the sizzle and pop of the fire on the stove. Finally, Sam cleared his throat and spoke. "You want to... propose to him?" Dean nodded. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly."

"Dean," Sam said, running a hand through his long hair. He needed a haircut badly. "Dean, do you know how big that is? That's like... that's like asking someone to be bound to you forever, heart, soul, body, all of that. That's taking on the responsibility of someone else's happiness, not just your own."

Dean looked him in the eye. "Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I've thought long and hard about this? Sam, I've been in love with the man for four years and now he's having my child. No one else knows me as well as him, except maybe you, but you're my brother, and no knows him as well as me except maybe God, but that's his father. I'm happy with him. I want this Sam." Dean's eyes got glassy and he looked away for a moment. "I really honest-to-God want this. I'm doing something for myself for once in my life and I really want this. Hell, I need this, if I'm gonna get all down and honest with you two." He looked at Bobby. "I really do. I don't see myself making it a day without those two." He meant Cas and the baby. He looked back to Sam. "So Sam, the question is, will he say yes?"

Bobby went back to stirring whatever he had on the stove, like he dealt with his surrogate-sons wanting to gay-marry pregnant angels of the lord everyday. Sam sat there, staring at his brother and realizing for the first time since the conversation began that Dean was dead serious about this. He really was going to do this and wanted to do this and cared enough that he was asking about his brother's and alleged fiancé's best friend's opinion.

Sam sighed and said, "Well... do you have a ring?"

He was shocked when Dean nodded. "I was going to pick it up at noon but Cas wanted to take a nap and apparently I missed the memo that said I was his designated pillow."

Sam burst out laughing, because that's the type of thing a married man said about his pregnant wife to his friends at work and this was just so perfect wasn't it? The only person that could make his brother happy was one with freaky powers made by someone his brother acknowledged was real but didn't believe in, as weird as it sounded.

"Then what are you waiting for?" he asked. "Go get it. If Cas wakes up, we'll let him know you went out to run an errand."

Dean sat for a moment and then beamed a smile at his brother and Bobby and pushed away from the table, getting up and grabbing his coat. "Yeah, ok. Thanks Sammy." He waved at Bobby and then rushed from the house, trying not to look so excited.

After he was gone, Sam and Bobby shared an exasperated look. "Boys gonna give us an ulcer," Bobby quipped.

"Like he hasn't already," Sam said back.

There was a flutter of wings and then Gabriel was beside Sam, kissing his temple as the younger Winchester flicked through some more pages in a hide-bound book. "Hey babe," Gabe said and collapse into a chair, exhausted.

"Hey." Sam looked up. Gabe looked inexplicably tired. Sam reached a hand across the table and took Gabe's. It was scraped and rough. "You ok?"

Gabe looked up and chuckled tiredly. Sam was giving him his emotionally concerned puppy-eyes. He waved him off, though he really felt like he needed a hug. "M'fine. Don't worry your pretty little head off."

Sam smirked and tried to joke with Gabe and make him feel better. "Oh, so you admit it. I am pretty."

Gabe chuckled and Sam thought: Mission accomplished. "If you wanted me to tell you that you were pretty Sam, all you had to do was ask." Bobby chuckled at the stove and then capped the pot, letting whatever was in there simmer. Gabe turned his nose to it. "Watcha making there Bobby?"

Taking a seat and a book from the pile in front of Sam, Bobby responded, "Eh, chili. You fancy that?"

Gabe shrugged. "So long as there's no cyan peppers in it, I'm good." Bobby grunted. "Say," gabe continued as the bookworms he associated with bookwormed, "Where's that hard-headed brother of yours? Can't seem to find him in the house."

Sam and Bobby looked to each other in a quick panic: how to tell Gabe. Uh oh. "Um... the thing is..." Bobby started, eternally grateful when Sam took over.

"Dean is getting a ring because he's proposing to Cas," Sam said. Bobby cringed.

"The hell boy?" he said to Sam. "What happened to letting him know easy? Like... like ripping off a band-aid. Yeah. What happened to that plan?"

"I don't remember making a plan that sounded like that. Hell, I don't even remember making a plan."

"Boy, you know what I mean-"

"Will both of you just shut-up?" Gabe exploded. Sam and Bobby's moths snapped shut and looked at gabe who seemed really confused. "Now then," he continued. "From the beginning. Where's Dean?"

"Out picking up your brother's engagement ring?" Sam said.

"Because the idjit's gonna propose?" Bobby finished.

"Right then," Gabe said. He looked at them both. "Don't...go anywhere and watch Cas." He got up and walked to the kitchen doorway. "Oh. And get out the First Aid kit will you? Because when we get home, Dean's going to need it."

And then he disappeared.

The room was silent for a few minutes until the chili pot started to whistle and Bobby had to get up and turn down the heat. It was now four o'clock. "So... that went.."

"Horribly wrong," Sam completed mid-sentence. He dropped his head into his hands. "My boyfriend is going to kill my brother. Great. Just what I need on a Saturday night. Just-fricking perfect."

As he groaned some more, Bobby put a hand to his shoulder and said, "No, no. He's not gonna kill 'em. Just... roughen him up a bit, is all." He didn't sound convincing.

Sam shook his head. "I don't buy it."

Bobby snorted. "I'm not exactly selling it boy."

"True that." Sam looked up. "Bobby, where's the First Aid kit?"

"Bathroom, under the sink on the left."

Sam got up. "I think I'll go get that now."

Dean exited the jewelry store, small black velvet box in hand. He was grinning like an idiot. The store proprietor that had been at the front today hadn't been the best person - when he asked Dean why he wasn't getting his girlfriend a diamond of something and Dean told him he was getting his boyfriend and engagement ring, he had sneered and almost whipped the box at him – but that was ok. He didn't that guy's permission or approval. He was happy the way things were working out.

He tossed the box up and caught it in his hand, whistling like a fucking old guy and loving it when he felt it. Dean was just walking past an abandoned alleyway, no longer in use. But the hairs on the back of his neck were erect and a chill was going up his spine. It was already starting to get dark out, stupid winter month of October, and he knew it probably wouldn't be smart to check it out alone and with no weapons.

But Dean, being Dean, did it anyway.

Shoving the box into his pocket, he walked right through the surrounding garbage, not caring at all since, hell he was a hunter, shit like that didn't bother him. The alley was dark and cold and as Dean breathed out a breath of warm air, it crystallized in front of his eyes and dissipated as he walked.

There was a rustle of movement at the corner of his eye, but even though he turned fast, it was no where to be found. "Hello?" Dean called. "Come out, come our, whatever you are." After a moment or two of nothing but silence, Dean straightened out of the defensive crouch he had unconsciously went into. "Huh," he said, shrugging it off to pre-proposal nerves. "I could've sworn-"

Dean went flying through the air and slammed into the brick alley wall with a bone shattering smack. He landed on the ground, groaning and turned, looking up to find...

"Hello, there. You delectable looking young one. Oh and so strong! Are you aware that you have high blood pressure though?" The vampiress stared at Dean, fangs long and bared. She smiled. "Oh, but that doesn't matter. That just means you're a fighter. What do you think Alphonse?"

From behind her a male vampire walked out and into the semi-darkness that the alley provided. He looked Dean up and down from where he was, slumped against the alley wall. "Mmm. I sure hope so. Someone that smells that good just needs to be fun to play with."

"You kinky son of a bitch, I don't swing that way," Dean protested as the female vampire lifted him and slammed him into the wall.

She sniffed him from his neck to his toes, and on her way back up stopped at his crotch and took a whiff. "Oh, but you do," she hissed, going back up to his face where he squirmed. "Oh you do swing that way. I smell him all over you. He smells delicious too. More so than you. Where is he? Wouldn't it just be so romantic if you died together?"

Dean felt his stomach drop. Oh no way was Cas going to get into this. No way. These monsters were not getting anywhere near his angel and baby. Nope, not happening. Not even if he died trying to save them.

"Ok. You got me there. I do swing that way. In that case..." He looked at the vampiress and smiled cheekily. "You kinky bitch, stop sniffing me. I don't swing that way."

He was slammed into the wall harder, and felt a rib crack as she said, "Don't speak. You're ruining the moment by speaking with that nasty little mouth of yours."

Dean gave a laugh. "You're calling my mouth nasty when you have how many extra teeth?" he chortled. "Nice going sister, right back at ya."

Dean felt his body lift into the air and slam into the other wall, his teeth rattling in his head. Well that was painfully painful. He was seeing double as the female vampire and the male started speaking in front of him.

"Kill him. He's annoying," she pouted. Her arms were crossed and Dean couldn't help but think that if he and Cas had a daughter, he definitely didn't want her to act like that.

The male shrugged. "You don't want to? But you're the one who trapped him." He was practically whining. Dean decided that if they had a son, he definitely didn't want him to act like this either. Which just proves that vampires are horrible role-models.

Dean got his vision back a few seconds later, the vamps ignoring him for the moment. He groped around the pavement that he was sitting on, looking for something sharp-edged to use to chop their heads off. Crap, he shouldn't have come so unprepared, but he had been so excited about Cas...

With that, Dean checked his pockets. The vamps were still to busy worrying about who was killing him to care. And in horror, Dean came away from his pockets empty handed. He had saved for that ring and had the most special phrase engraved onto the inside along with their initials. What had happened to-

"Looking for this?" Dean's head whipped up. The female vampire was holding the black box. It was open, the silver of the ring glimmering in the dying light. "I just found this on you. Whose it for?" She grinned nastily. "Your queer bitch?"

At that moment, Dean didn't care that he didn't have a weapon on him. No one spoke about Cas like that, no one. He was seeing red. Dean launched himself off of the ground and at the vampires, fists a blur, and started punching at anything that felt solid enough to be a body part. "No one talks about him like that! NO ONE! Take it back, you stupid sons of bitches! Take. It. BACK!"

Dean was grabbed by arms with vampiric strength and held in place as the female vampire smiled down at him. The male seemed bored. "Oh, you are a fighter. See Brian? Told you he'd be fun."

"Let go of me and fight bitch!" Dean's neck was yanked back and he finally saw how serious the situation was. They were about to kill him. And he could do nothing about it. Crap.

"No, no." She giggled. And Dean was reminded creepily reminded of Lilith. Which was silly since she was dead and long gone, courtesy of his stupid little brother. "My, you're just scrumptious looking. Mmm-mmm."

Dean gave a broken laugh. This was it. This was the end. "You have no idea who I am, do you? You clueless skank." His head was yanked and Dean winced in pain.

She scowled. And then she smiled and licked his neck. She giggled again. "Your human, silly." She licked again. "And delicious."

"I'm a hunter," he spit out, watching in satisfaction as her face went blank. "Do you know how many of your filthy kind I've killed? Tons. Tons! And I watched them all go out with a smile on my face and a song in my heart, you sorry excuse of a creature!"

But then, he was dropped. Something in the air had changed. And it wasn't for the better. "Brian, I've changed my mind. I'm not hungry anymore." A miracle, Dean thought, until she said, "I have a better idea for this one." Dean felt her take his hand. No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't get loose. All she ended up putting in his hand was his engagement ring box. He had just enough time to see that it was still in there before she snapped it closed and then broke every bone in his hand around it, so that it made a fist of broken bones.

Dean cried out, but a second in, the male vampire clamped a meaty hand over his mouth and muffled his screams of pain. The vampiress laughed maniacally and whispered in his ear, "Oh honey, if you thought that would save you, you made a very big mistake."

He bite the vampire's hand and when he had let go, Dean said, "So bite me already!"

But she shook her head. "Oh no. We're not going to eat you." She smiled. "We're going to do much worse. We're going to beat you."

"To death," Brian added from behind Dean.

The vampiress smiled all cheery-like. And giggled. "Oh right. Of course, how could I forget? We're going to beat you. To death! Now doesn't that sound like fun?"

It was seven o'clock. A man and woman walked out of an alley-way, hand in hand, sticking to the shadows.

In the alley, a man was beaten.

Almost to death.

But they didn't know that. And neither did he.

Gabe flew over town, trying to pinpoint Dean. For some reason, that had become inexplicably hard.

Weird.

Castiel woke up in a cold sweat. Dean was gone, for a while he guessed by the way he was thrown over the area he had inhabited what was hours ago. He was shaking though and the baby was sending very unhappy vibes through him, vibes that were making him sick and were telling him one thing over and over again: Dean. Dean was in trouble.

He struggled off of the bed and wobbled his way over to the door, his left hand unconsciously wrapping itself around the baby bump as he whispered, "Shh, daring, shh. It's alright. It's alright." It was nonsensical, he knew, the baby couldn't hear him. But then again, the horrible feeling had calmed somewhat and was now just a state of emergency.

He slowly went down the stairs, a burst of impatience exploding in him and making him chuckle and murmur, "Stubborn are we? Just like your father. You'll understand when you meet him. He's not hard to miss. Tall-ish, blond, green-eyes. The kindest man you'll ever meet." He was rambling, more for his sake than the baby's he knew.

Castiel made it to the bottom of the stairs and made his way to the kitchen, where the sound of voices was heard. "...not picking up his phone? That's not like him."

"I know," Sam said as Castiel walked in, answering Bobby. "It's weird. You think he's ok?"

"Maybe that boyfriend of yours did kill him."

"Bobby," Sam said exasperated.

Castiel walked in to see Bobby putting bowls away in the sink. The room smelled of chili, spices and herbs, spiking Castiel's nose. Sam was at the table, the First Aid kit in front of him, cell phone in hand. The tall man looked up and flinched at the unanticipated sight of Castiel in the kitchen doorway.

"Cas, you're awake!" Sam exclaimed. He made a face that Castel knew Dean would have called a Bitchface. "And in... pajamas?"

Castiel looked down and felt a blush go across his cheeks. He was in just boxers a large t-shirt of Dean's. He felt a ripple of humor go through him and grunted. "Of course you find this funny. You would have his humor."

Sam pulled another Bitchface. "Excuse me?"

Castiel waved him off and sat the table, sighing relief. His back had been aching. "Never mind I was talking to the baby. Now, about Dean... Where is he?" Castiel had the sneaking suspicion he wasn't home. Wait, when had he started thinking of Bobby's as home?

Sam shook his head. "He said he was out on an errand. But that was..." Sam looked at his wristwatch. "Three hours ago."

Castiel's face contorted as another wave of anxiety and fear went through him. "Something... is wrong," he sputtered. "Dean... he's in trouble."

"Cas, are you ok?" Sam made his way to Castiel and knelt in front of the man. He looked so fragile.

"Just find him, I'm fine."

Sam nodded and got up. He closed his eyes and prayed:

Um, Gabe? Yeah. I don't know how this works, but... Look Cas is doing some freaky shit over here and he's not feeling well and he says that Dean's in trouble. Thing is, I think he's right. Dean's still not home. I know you have a vendetta against my brother, but... look can you find him? Please? And bring him home safe? You can beat on him later and threaten him not to hurt your baby brother, but we're really worried and yeah. He's not even answering his phone. So I guess that's it. Stay safe, babe. And I love you. Amen.

Sam opened his eyes. "Gabe's on it- whoa Cas? You alright?" He was back kneeling in front of the angel who was grimacing.

"Pregnancy Samuel is not a pleasant thing to go through." His breath hitched. "Very painful."

Sa gave a weak and worried chuckle. "I'll take your word for it. You haven't eaten much today have you man?" Castiel shook his head. "Right. Hey Bobby?"

"Yeah?"

"Let's see if we can't get Cas to puke up some chili, yeah?"

Gabriel smiled as he got to the end of Sam's prayer. Of course he'd end it with 'I love you'. He was such a pansy. But he was Gabe's pansy.

Now as for Dean, he was sure he had found him. Except... something wasn't right. He appeared in a dark alleyway, covered in trash. And the distinct smell of blood...

"Dean? Yo, Deano! Don't think that just because you're planning on proposing to my kid brother this means I like yo-" Gabe stopped walking in horror. He'd found Dean.

And it was not a pretty sight. His face! Oh, you couldn't even find his face.

Gabriel bent down and healed up the worst of it so that Dean arched up, taking in a deep breath and then coughing and sputtering. His hand seemed to be healed over from the mess that it was and eh was clutching something to his shaking, in shock body. Gabriel didn't care what.

He just needed to get this Winchester home.

Castiel had finished his third bowl of chili without throwing up when Gabe appeared in the kitchen, Dean leaning heavily onto his side. Castiel let his spoon fall to the ground as he gazed in abstract horror at the blood on Dean's face and the cuts and bruises forming.

"Gabe! What did you do?" Sam exclaimed.

Gabriel rolled his eyes and dragged Dean to the living room where he was dumped unceremoniously onto the couch. Sam, Bobby and a hobbling Castiel followed. Dean was moaning and Gabe snapped, "Quit your complaining. You were in worse shape when I found you."

A look of confusion passed over Sam's face. "When you found him? You mean you didn't do this?"

Gabe shook his head. "No. Jesus Sam! What do you think I am, a monster?" Before Sam could say anything, he apologized. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just... you didn't see him. He was this close. This close." His index finger and thumb were barely a millimeter apart.

Sam swallowed as Bobby ran into the kitchen to grab the kit. "What... what happened?"

Gabe shook his head as Dean coughed and said raggedly, "Vampires."

Sam looked over and Castiel actually started to cry. The pregnant angel knelt by the couch and kissed all over Dean's face, murmuring words of comfort and nonsense to ease his stress and pain. "I was so worried," he breathed into Dean's face.

"So was I. God Cas, I'm so sorry I put you through this. Me and my stupid mouth got me into this, as usual." He kissed Castiel's lips slowly. "This stress isn't good for you or the baby."

Bobby made his way in and started pulling things out of the kit, dousing Dean's cuts with antiseptic and bandaging the worst of it. After a few minutes, he was done and he left Dean on the couch. He turned to Sam and Gabe and gestured for them to help Dean into his and Castiel's room. Sam nodded as did gabe to everyone's surprise. They each took an arm and helped Dean up the stairs, Castiel following a safe distance behind. He was brought into his room and dumped onto their bed.

"That's as far as I'm going," Gabe said. "You can have Cas tuck you in."

Sam rolled his eyes as Gabe walked out and mouthed to Castiel, Holler if you need anything. Castiel nodded. And then Sam was gone.

He turned to the bed, where Dean was struggling to get out of his clothes and into pajamas. He rushed over, helped him with his shirt and jeans. Castiel fetched a white t-shirt for Dean and helped him put it on, all the while Dean muttering, "God, Cas, I'm so sorry. This is wrong, too much stress for you. So sorry," until Castiel snapped, "Shut up and lay down."

Dean, needless to say, did as he was told. Castiel got under the blankets with him, leaning on his chest and pulling back when Dean winced only to have the older Winchester pull him back to his chest and say, "No way. I almost died today. You two are staying as close to me as physically possible." Two meaning Castiel and the baby.

As if awakened by being mentioned, Castiel felt their child send a chill down his spine. He knew exactly what was wrong and bothering it. "Don't say that," Castiel whispered. "Don't say that you almost died. Don't. Please don't. I don't know what I'd... what I'd do if... if..."

"Oh, babe, shh," Dean murmured, stroking Castiel's hair. "Sorry, so sorry. You shouldn't have to deal with this. I'm sorry." He paused. "How was your day? Miss me?"

Castiel knew a subject changer when it smacked him in the face. "I slept all day. And I missed you so much." He buried his face in Dean's shirt. "Where were you?" Dean's heart sped up and Castiel looked up to see that one of Dean's hands were still clutching mercilessly at something. "What's that?" He gestured to Dean's closed hand. There were new scars on it. Castiel didn't like that.

"Um..." Dean sat up and winced.

"Dean," Castiel warned. He was going to hurt himself if he kept pushing it like this.

"No, Cas, this is important. Just listen, ok?" The angel nodded. "I love you. So much." Castiel smiled. "And... today just proves even more how much we really need each other." He kissed Castiel's forehead and rested a hand on his swollen tummy. "This," he rubbed Castiel's protruding belly-button, "proves how much we want each other. So." He now brought over his other hand which was holding a small black box. He flicked it open and Castiel had to catch his breath. There was a plain silver band in it, twinkling in the lamp light. "I figured I could make this permanent. I wish I could do this the right way, but...Well, since we're doing this all backwards..." He took a deep breath and said, "Castiel, Angel of the Lord, Angel of Thursday...screw this, Cas will you marry me?"

Castiel froze. Dean wanted to... wanted to marry him? This was... this was...

Perfect.

Dean shifted behind him, uncomfortable. "Um... Cas? Babe, I can't see your face, so I don't know if your about to kiss me or smite me. Whatcha thinking?"

At the mention of smiting, which he couldn't do anymore, Castiel turned around and smashed his and Dean's mouths together. They kissed for a short while, tongues mingling. When Castiel pulled back, he knew he'd never seen Dean happier. "Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes. God, yes, Dean. Always, yes." He cupped Dean's face in his hands. "Always yes. For you always yes."

Dean closed his eyes and when he opened them, they were slightly glassy. He cleared his throat and turned away, this being too much of a chick-flick moment for him, and said, "Well, let's get that ring on, yeah?"

Castiel rolled his eyes and kissed Dean one more time before taking the box from his hands, Dean's hands going up in surrender and letting him have it. Castiel took the ring out and examined it. There was a simple etched design of anti-possession pentagrams around the outside and on the inside...

"Oh Dean," Castiel breathed.

Dean blushed. "Yeah, about that..."

"It's wonderful." On the inside was an inscription from the Song of Solomon in Hebrew. "Ani L'Dodi, v'Dodi Li," Castiel whispered. "I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine." He looked up at Dean who shrugged.

"It seemed to sum us up in a nutshell," the green-eyed man answered.

Castiel traced with a finger nail their initials. D&C. "I love it."

Dean then snatched it away from him. He tilted his head at the hunter. Dean explained. "The one who asks usually puts on the ring." Castiel held out his hand and Dean slid the ring onto his ring finger. "There. Right where it belongs." HE smiled and kissed Castiel again. When he pulled back, he looked contemplative. "Aren't there rules against this?" He gestured to them. "Just wondering."

Oh there were, but Castiel knew no one would bother with him. He was a rebel and he was half human anyway. "Not for me," he merely said and Dean thought it was because he practically ran Heaven.

"Well then," he said. "Now, back to cuddling." Dean froze. "Don't tell anyone I just said that."

Castiel cracked a smile. "I won't." He settled back into Dean, his back to Dean's chest. Dean instinctively wrapped his hands around Castiel's front, fingers gliding across the smooth, stretched skin.

Suddenly Castiel flinched. It felt like something was moving inside of him except... except it didn't hurt. Just felt weird as something pounded against the inside of his abdomen. It happened again and he jumped. Dean stopped his rubbing. "Did I hurt you?"

Castiel's breath was coming in quick gasps. "No, no. Its just...Whoa!" He sat straight up. What the hell?

"Cas, are you ok? Do you need me to call Gabe or-"

"No, its fine, its just-whoa-something's-hey!-moving," he gasped out. Suddenly, his eyes went wide. He knew what it was. He placed his hand flat on the side of his bump and after a moment, he felt it. "Dean," he breathed out, taking the hunter's large, warm hand and placing it against his soft flesh. "Dean, do you feel that?"

After a moment of confusion, Dean focused on his hand. "Cas, I don't feel-oh," he breathed as the baby's foot bumped into his hand through Castiel's skin. Dean was at a loss for words. This was the most beautiful thing he had ever experienced. He waited with baited breath for the next kick and when it came, he waited for the next. He looked up at Castiel who was mesmerized by Dean. He had looked so lost in happiness for a moment there. Castiel knew Dean was going to be a great father. Even if Castiel himself didn't make it. "Cas this is... this is amazing." Dean kissed him, smiling into it. "God I love you."

As they lay back, Dean's hands fluttering over his belly, the baby's kicks jolting his insides, Dean's laughter so innocent and pure and blissfully happy, Castiel whispered, "I love you too."

So? What say you guys? Susangel, how was that? It was worth waiting while I was grounded huh? Yeah, i can get grounded and my mom knows what hits home: taking my laptop away from me. its torture. *cringe*

Dean: Poor you. *sarcasm up to 10*

Gabe: Yeah. My heart bleeds. *Sarcasm up to 20*

Sam: Guys. Be nice! She must have been haveing anxiety attacks and stuff. *emo-ness up to 10*

Cas: ... *angelness up to INFINITEY* What is this... grounding?

Eve: *whisper-whisper*

Cas: O.o Then i ground Dean A LOT.

Dean: *facepalm*

Sam&Gabe&Me: Oh dear Lord. (or in Gabe's case, 'Oh Dear dad!)

Eve: 8D

Review?