positive reinforcement is basically giving someone a reward for doing something you like. like giving a dog a treat for sitting when you say 'sit', or kissing your boyfriend when he does something good out of his comfort zone.

my internet played up again today; it's been stressful waiting for the small periods of time the internet's up to post this. but here it is ;)

actually titled kissing (is only to be used as positive reinforcement) but i'm not allowed a title to be that long. gross.

As soon as I open the door, Dean advances towards me with a smile on his face. I can't help but smile at him, despite my confusion – he's clearly excited about something. I can't even begin to think of what.

"Cas." He stops a mere foot in front of me, voice lifted in a rare way.

"Dean?" My voice is lifted as well; how can I help it?

"I have a plan."

"Care to elaborate?"

"I can work from home."

"Hm?" I tilt my head and hold my smile in place, not sure whether this is really great. This could go so badly.

"Hear me out. I applied to some newspapers and equivalent online things… one of them called back and I said I'd only work entirely from home and he said that was okay! It's not definite, but there's been some interest from the others, so… yeah." He grins again.

"That's brilliant." I settle on, and fling my arms around his neck and tilt up my head enough to kiss him, a loud, smacking kiss.

"Yeah, I thought so, too." He looks even happier to have my approval, and that makes me feel almost like floating. "It doesn't pay that much, but there's room for promotion and I actually kinda get paid for how much work I do rather than a set amount…"

"Dean, I don't care how much you get paid. You know that." He nods with a slightly sheepish look on his face, but then I know that Dean would have felt his responsibility regardless. "What would you be writing?"

"Don't laugh, but-"

"I wouldn't."

"I know, but still. It's basically the agony aunt section."

"That's perfect for you." I kiss him again, quickly, before remembering I'm still in my coat and shoes and stripping them off.

"Dude…"

"I'm not joking. You've always helped Sam with his problems, and I can't count how many times you've fixed mine. Then there's the fact that you get everyone's life problems out of them in a matter of seconds… no, you'll be great."

He smiles sheepishly again, ducking his head a little and rubbing the back of his neck. "I dunno, it's hardly the most respectable position…"

"That doesn't matter. Besides, whatever newspaper you're writing for will be able to boast a male agony aunt… that'll draw more male readers, at least. Especially since you're oh-so-masculine." He is, but he doesn't need to know I think that… when we first got together, Dean was constantly trying to reassure people he was just as masculine as before; he still worked on cars and could still beat you in a fight, etc… he was merely in a relationship with a boy. Instead of supporting him in that, everyone (including me) tried to undermine him. I think he had to wear pink nail varnish for a week to call us off (never underestimate the power of little-sister figures).

"Shut up." He nudges me slightly, still smiling.

I kiss him again, "You know I love you really."

He puts an arm around me, refusing to let me move more than an inch away from him. "I do. And you know I love you back." Kiss.

Long kiss.

Longer kiss, weak knees, love.

thanks to anyone who reviews, favourites or alerts: you keep me human. don't ever change.