It turned out to be amazing.
Coffee time was another Dutch custom. Somewhere around ten to eleven am, coffee was served with some kind of sweet snack, like cookies or, in this case, Oma Novak's homemade apple pie.
Gabriel sat on the floor, next to the coffee table and piped another big rosette of whipped cream on his piece of pie.
"Gabriel, you have had enough cream now, haven't you?" Cas said, his tone one of a mother who had scolded her kid one too many times on the same thing.
Gabriel looked up, index finger still in his mouth after swiping the cream off the piping tip.
On the sofa Dean chuckled and cast a look at Sam.

To his amazement, Sam wasn't rolling his eyes or looking back at him. Those hazel eyes were watching Gabe intently, a slight blush dusting Sam's cheeks.
'Really? Huh. Go figure... I think I need to have a heart to heart with him...'
Gabe seemed unaware of what he was doing to Dean's baby brother, and whined.
"Awe Cassie... you sound like oma." he groused, swiping cream off his pie this time.
Sam moaned very softly, but Dean caught it, now he was aware.
Cas was unimpressed and just raised an eyebrow.
"Good. Then you know not to try me."
Dean shook his head, chortling.

"What?" the Novak brothers demanded in unison.
"I just love how Cas is the more responsible one, even though he's the youngest." Dean replied, smirking.
"Shut up, Winchester. I could say the same for you two. At least Sam went to college..." Gabriel started.
"Hey!"
Sam's outburst had them all jumping.
"Dean didn't go to college, because he was working. He wanted to pay our way. Uncle Bobby didn't have much, but he took us in. Dean felt it was on him to help out. And my college tuition was only viable because Dean saved up for it. The first four years were not payed by a full ride. Pre-law is on the students themselves... or their family. So can it, Novak!"
Gabriel gaped at Sam, while Cas smiled.

Dean patted Sam's back.
"Thanks, Sammy. But I don't care what anybody thinks. I love my job, and I'm glad I didn't have to spend years in stuffy college banks to be able to do it."
Sam shrunk down a bit, looking at his slender hands.
"I know, but I hate when people act like you're stupid. You're not. You're smart too. Just not the kind of smart that gets taught in college."
Gabriel finally closed his mouth and squatted next to Sam.
"I'm sorry, Sam. I didn't mean to... I should've asked before drawing any conclusions."
Sam looked at him, and Dean saw equal parts pissed off and pleading in his look.
"Don't apologise to me, Gabe..." was all he said, and Gabe blushed before looking up at his friend.
"I'm sorry, Dean-o... I shouldn't have."

Dean watched him, noting how he had a hand on Sam's knee, lightly but still consoling. And how Sam was trying his damndest to not look at that hand. He smirked.
"That's ok, Gabe. I don't mind. Your way of thinking mirrors how most people see me."
Gabriel frowned and stood, reluctantly taking his hand off Sam, who instantly started staring at his hands between his knees.
"I know. But I'm your friend. I should have known better. Way better. There is no excuse." Gabe bit out.
He turned and walked off towards the kitchen, leaving his uneaten pie.
Dean looked at it, then at Cas, who looked alarmed.
'Go. I got this.' Dean signed Cas with his eyes. Cas nodded and followed his brother, leaving Dean to handle his.

"Sam..." Dean said low, but Sam didn't move.
"Sammy... come on. Talk to me." he coaxed.
Sam turned his head away. "There's nothing to say, Dean."
Dean shook his head and smiled.
"What are you, Sam? Thirteen? I got your back then, and I got it now. C'mon... speak up."
Sam reluctantly turned back.
"There we go. Eyecontact. Very important in talks."
Sam smiled wanly, but said nothing.

"Ok. Then I'll start..."
Sam widened his eyes and swallowed hard, knowing there was no escaping his brother now.
"Ok, ok... you don't have to... I just wanna know one thing..." Sam amended.
He sighed, pulling his slender hand through his locks, before locking his hazel eyes on Deans.
"How did you know, Dean?" he asked softly, dropping his gaze again.
Dean smiled indulgently.
"When Aaron flirted with me in highschool, I kinda figured it out. I felt exactly the same way when Rhonda Hurley flirted with me."

Sam bit his lip.
"How did you not freak out? You were, what. Sixteen, seventeen? I'm a grownass man, and I'm still confused and scared."
Dean shook his head, thinking back.
"Oh, I freaked out, Sammy. I spent a whole night hyperventilating about it. Then Bobby sat me down and poured me a medicinal coffee. "Boy, it don't matter if you like boys or girls, or both, or only one special one and no-one else... you are still you. Ya ain't broken, ya ain't sick, and ya sure as Hell ain't weird or perverted. You are Dean Winchester, and those who don't like you because of who you love, can go screw themselves." he said to me. And he's right, Sam. Sure you liked Jessica and Madison and Amelia, but now you like Gabe, so what? How did you feel when I came out? There's no difference."

Sam finally looked up and smiled.
"You're right. You and Bobby. I shouldn't let this get to me. But how do I go from here? Does he like me back? Is he even..."
His voice tapered out uncertainly.
Dean ruffled his hair affectionately.
"I can tell you one thing... Gabe is pan. He doesn't mind what's in your pants. As for the rest... just act like you would with a girl. Find interests, woo him. And ask me if I got inside information..."
Sam widened his eyes, hope radiating from them.
"He likes to be surprised... he likes tall people... and he likes it a bit rough..." Dean whispered, winking.
Sam blushed, but grinned.

"Dean..." came Cas' gravelly voice from the archway.
Dean looked up, trying to not imagine pushing that sexy guy against the wall there.
'Damned vivid dreaming... I can almost taste him...'
"What's up, Cas?" he replied, fighting his blush.
Cas' eyes turned upwards.
"The ceiling... Could you come here. Gabriel has a question for you."
Shaking his head, Dean got to his feet. When he passed Cas, he patted his shoulder.
"Don't ever change, Cas."

Gabe sat at the breakfast bar, looking utterly miserable.
"What's up, bud? You wanted to see me?" Dean asked, sliding his butt on the stool next to Gabe.
Gabe turned his whiskey-coloured eyes on him.
"Tell me how bad I fucked up..." he started, then paused. "No wait... don't tell me. I don't wanna know!"
He whined deep in his throat and hugged his head.
"Typical Gabriel. Fucking up not one, but two good friendships in one stupid remark..."

Dean put his arm around the shorter man's back.
"You didn't fuck up, Gabe. We're cool. I know you. You snapped. You do that, and then you lash out. I probably got too close, didn't I?"
Gabe hummed, not untangling or even looking at Dean.
"Yeah. A bit. Cassie has always been the voice of reason. Oma said it was because I flung into fullfledged rebellion after dad went missing, and never came out. I dunno. I just never... I shouldn't have judged. That's not on me to do."
Dean shook him slightly.
"It doesn't matter, Gabe. You're you, and Sammy and I like you and Cas. Even the best friends have fights at times. No biggie."

"Dean is right, Gabe. I'm sorry for snapping at you."
Gabriel uncurled and slowly turned around.
Sam stood in the archway, hazel eyes on the golden haired man.
"I shouldn't have. But I've been on edge lately. And since Lisa... Let's say I find myself seeing slights at Dean where there are none."
Gabriel smiled sadly.
"That's ok, Sammich. Let's say we were both out of line and shut up about this, ok?"
Sam smiled, one dimple popping up.
"Ok. Deal. Now, come eat your pie, sugar junkie." he quipped and turned.
Dean saw Gabe checking out Sam's butt as he followed and grinned. This could get interesting...