Author's Note: So apparently I'm on a writing roll today, and you're getting chapters that are updated fast. Enjoy! :D
~Chapter 5~
The rest of the week was fairly normal.
Following the argument, Castiel did not bother talking about it again, and neither did Dean. Castiel woke Jo up to go to school every morning and helped her get ready. Dean gave her breakfast and drove her to school while Castiel got ready. There were a few moments when Dean was returning from dropping Jo off and Castiel going to work at the office where they would smile at each other, share a quick kiss and be on their separate ways.
In the afternoon, Castiel picked Jo up from school and brought her home, helping her with her homework if she needed, and entertaining the child if she was done. Dean came home every night at six o'clock, more or less, took a shower and was downstairs and ready to join his family for dinner. Jo would help wash dishes with Dean and then they would either watch TV together or play a game of Jo's choosing: she was partial to Go Fish. Following that, Jo would take her bath and Castiel saw that she went to bed soon after. He would sit beside her on the edge of the bed and read her a story. Sometimes that wouldn't work in putting Jo to sleep and Dean would come upstairs and sing her a little lullaby. That didn't happen quite as much as it used to, but it sure made everyone happy, not just Jo.
It was Friday night now, around six thirty. Jo was about to go over to her new friend Zoe's house for a sleepover. She had talked about it all week long, reminding Dean in the morning when he dropped her off at school and Castiel in the afternoon when he picked her up. It was finally happening, and she could not have been more excited.
Zoe and Jo had already left their things by the car out front and were playing a "fairy game" in the front yard while Zoe's mother insisted on having a conversation with Castiel.
"Jo is such a pretty little girl, her mother must be absolutely beautiful."
He smiled and opened his mouth to say thank you and correct her on the mother part but the woman continued for him.
"Where is your wife, anyhow?"
Castiel smiled, knowing full well how this was going to turn out.
"Upstairs, I believe. One moment, please."
He took a step inside, turning his back on the woman. "Dean!"
"Yeah?" Dean called back; he probably hadn't even gotten the chance to get changed out of his work clothes yet.
"Zoe's mother wants to meet you!"
He heard the shuffle of boots on the thin floor upstairs and turned back to face his curious guest.
Her warm smile turned into an enormously puzzled countenance as she witnessed Dean hurrying down the stairs.
"Hi, I'm Dean." He beamed and held out his hand to her.
"I'm Laura." Her tone trailed off, a quizzical expression passing over her face as she nearly gawked between looks at Dean and then Castiel repeatedly.
They shook hands, and Castiel fought to suppress the urge to start giggling at the poor woman's undeniable uncomfortable feeling, trying to remind himself of how rude he was being like this.
"So, you're Jo's…?"
"Jo's dad. And you're Zoe's mom?"
Laura nodded, her discomfort at the situation practically leaking out of her pores.
"Nice to meet you." Dean was still smiling, he could definitely see how amusing this was too.
"You too." She sort of grinned after that and glanced over at the children. "I'll uh, drop Jo off tomorrow morning around ten thirty?"
"Yes, thank you." Castiel finally spoke, glancing at Dean briefly.
Laura walked over to the girls, calling for them to come get in the car. Jo bounced over towards her parents, hugging each of them for a few seconds.
"Bye Daddy! Bye Papa!" She skipped over to the car and climbed in, resuming her extremely excited conversation with Zoe.
Jo waved goodbye at them through the passing car window and they waved back, waiting until the car was out of view before shutting the front door.
"What was her problem?" Dean bemused, a slight smile on his face.
"She asked me where my wife was."
"And?"
"And then I called you."
Dean's cheeks seemed to brighten right then, but from embarrassment or the warmth in the house, Castiel couldn't tell.
"Dude, I'm not your wife."
Castiel smirked at his partner and shrugged. "I know."
Dean started walking back towards the stairs. "You're more like my wife."
"If that makes you happy, Dean."
"Damn straight."
Castiel chuckled as he strode back over to the kitchen where he was previously about to heat up leftover soup for dinner. He poured the soup out of the tupperware container into a small pot and turned on the stove as he stirred it. It didn't look very appetizing at first, as most leftovers did not, but it didn't look so bad once it was heated up and thoroughly stirred. Castiel heard Dean coming back down the stairs again as he moved over to the sink to rinse out the dirty container. He set the object aside to be put in the dishwasher later and stretched, reaching his arms up toward the ceiling.
Castiel immediately felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist as he did so, exciting an unexpected gasp from his throat. He dropped his arms, letting his hands rest on the ones against his abdomen.
"I'm sorry." The words were out of his mouth so fast and so unforeseen that he nearly jumped, not really sure where they came from or why he said them. Though the faster the seconds ticked by, the more he realized that he did mean them. He hadn't apologized about being so untrustworthy of Dean last Sunday, and it had been weighing on him the past few days.
Dean's hands let go, allowing Castiel to turn around, but they were suddenly right back on his hips, holding them close together. Dean nodded.
"It's alright."
He closed the distance between them, pressing a gentle kiss into Castiel.
Once the kiss was broken, Castiel couldn't help but wrap his arms around Dean and burrowing his face into the warm man's neck, breathing in his scent and feeling entirely grateful that he was so forgiving, even if he didn't deserve it.
"Uh, Cas…?"
"Mm?"
"The stove?"
"Oh!" Castiel jumped, breaking away from his partner to discover the thick steam coming off the pot of soup that had been cold probably only five minutes ago. He waved his hand back and forth over the open pot, trying to get rid of the excessive steam and turned off the stove, moving the pot over to the burner next to it.
He sighed a bit, noticing the floating pieces of burned content in the soup. But as he turned around, there was Dean, with two bowls in his hands. Castiel couldn't help but grin. Of course Dean wouldn't mind that the soup was burnt somehow; he rummaged around in a kitchen drawer for a ladle, and upon finding one, served the overheated soup into their bowls and fetched a couple spoons.
/
They had been sitting in their room for a while, on the bed with Dean's arm around Cas. They were originally watching Dr. Sexy, but the episode ended and the program after didn't seem horrible. Cas had changed into his pajamas as well and curled up beside Dean under the blanket, keeping him nice and warm.
Dean's hand would occasionally drift from Cas's shoulder, rubbing his back a little, knowing how relaxing it felt for him while Castiel had his arm across Dean's stomach, holding him, really.
Now thoroughly bored and finished with the TV show and the repeating commercials, Dean reached for the remote on the nightstand, turning the TV off. Cas must've noticed the change in sound in his dozy state, and peered up at him through sleepy blue eyes and sat up. This time it was Cas who leaned in for a kiss, but Dean eagerly went with it, delighting at the feeling of his lover's hand behind his neck and one clutching his hip. He followed suit, pulling Cas on top of him as he traced his tongue over the pair of warm, soft lips that were joint with his.
Dean ran his hands up and down Cas's back, simultaneous with the feeling of kisses and hot breath on his neck. Cas's hands were just beginning to trail down Dean's chest, tugging at the waistband of his pants again; Dean was more than ready to follow Cas's command, desire filling every square inch of his body when –
Ding, dong!
"Oh for fuck's sake…" Dean growled as Cas sighed and sat up, glancing over at their door.
The look of annoyance on Castiel's face was incredibly strong, and Dean knew that was probably what he looked like too. Maybe a little more pissed, but still. He got up from the warm bed, and followed his lover out the door and downstairs.
Cas was the first one downstairs, so he was the first one to look out the peephole in the door. He shot Dean a confused look as he opened the door slowly, letting in icy air.
"Do you know what time it–" Dean started and stopped, realizing who it was.
"Sam?" Castiel questioned, peering out from behind the door.
"Hey." Sam replied casually, grinning a little. "Can I?" He motioned towards inside, Dean stepped back, allowing his younger brother to come in.
"What are you doing here?" Cas asked, looking up at Sam, puzzlement written all over his face.
It was in that moment, Dean realized what a giant mistake he'd made.
