"There's a lot of things I need to fill you in on before they arrive." Cas explained in a panicked rush.
Sam and Dean had brought some things over the day before, and Cas's family would be arriving in a couple days, two days before Christmas. Sam had really perked up when told all of this and his mood had improved quite a bit, though he was still pretty upset. They were now sitting on Cas's couch while Cas paced in front of them, his hair sticking out in all directions from how many times he had ran his hand through it.
"Gabriel will be staying in the basement, and Michael is gonna stay on this floor in the spare bedroom down the hall. Gabriel and Michael don't get along at all due to several reasons... So we need to make sure they aren't left alone together for long periods of time. Raphael will be staying in a hotel, so will Anna and her husband. Gabriel loves to pick at people and play pranks. He'll say things to make you angry, especially if he knows it bothers you. Dean, that will very likely get to you." He glanced over at a second to see Dean grump and Sam snicker.
"Anna's very kind, I believe you guys will like her. Raphael is strong and silent, but he does know how to converse. He will mostly want to talk to you, Sam, considering you are in law school. Michael is... judgmental. He takes after our uncle Zachariah, consider yourself lucky that you do not have to meet him." Castiel paused and grimaced, remembering old times.
"Oh, also, Raphael was adopted when he was a baby, so he does not share the same look as us." Cas added as an afterthought, continuing his pacing.
"Babe, chill. I'm sure it'll be fine." Dean stood up and wrapped his arms around Cas's waist lovingly. He nuzzled into his neck, ignoring the little sarcastic 'aww' from Sam.
"Seriously dude, I bet this won't be nearly as bad as you think." Sam said, smiling brightly.
Cas smiled halfheartedly, still clearly nervous.
Boy were they ever fucking wrong.
-
Anna arrived first with her husband, after stopping at their hotel to drop off their luggage.
Cas opened the door to let in a petite beautiful girl with long red hair and sparkly hazel-green eyes. Her face had the same kindness in it that Cas's did, and it made Dean smile. She raced up to Cas, wrapping him in a tight embrace before turning and doing the same to Dean.
"So you are the infamous Dean Winchester? Little Cassy here never stops talking about you." She smirked. Cas was blushing furiously and hiding his face.
"I told you, I'm not Cassy anymore." Dean was reminded of when Sam used to insist on no longer being Sammy and chuckled.
"Aww I think it's cute, Cassy." Dean whispered teasingly, making Cas blush deeper. As Anna was hugging Sam, Uriel walked in. Dean's mouth dropped slightly as he looked up at the man. He was a huge bulking black man that looked as if he could easily rip Dean in half. His face was hard and stony and he looked as if he was perpetually angry at the world. He reached out one giant hand and shook Dean's, smilingly brightly. His face was suddenly much softer with that smile, and Dean could easily see why Anna married him.
"So Dean, is Castiel driving ya crazy yet?" He laughed, a loud, deep chuckle, and grinned a toothy grin. He liked this guy.
"Oh hush Uriel." Cas grinned. "Uriel thinks he's sooo funny because he got voted 'Funniest Guy' in high school. I think he just went to a small school." Cas teased playfully.
It was nice seeing Cas this way. He was more laid back around Anna, panic subsiding, and had a teasing sarcastic manner to him.
That is, until the doorbell rang again. This time it was Michael and Raphael. Apparently they had carpooled from the airport to save some time. Raphael was also a rather large, strong-looking black man who looked like he could easily destroy Dean. Except he didn't have the soft happiness that Uriel did. He looked cold and numerical, like a well-trained soldier. He quietly walked in, nodded hello to Castiel, and went to join Anna, Uriel, and Sam in the living room.
Then Michael walked in. He looked around thirty-five, his face hard and stern-looking. His frame was skinny yet firm-looking, his hair was a dark, almost black brown and well-polished. He glanced over at Dean and back to Cas.
"Castiel. I see you are still..." he trailed off, his voice slightly mocking.
"Yes, Michael, I am still gay." Cas's face was stony now, eyes dark. His tone was emotionless.
Oh. Oh! This is what Cas had meant when he said that Michael was judgmental. Dean can only imagine how hard Michael must have made Cas's childhood. He gritted his teeth angrily. Suddenly he very much wanted to hit Michael.
Michael looked Dean up and down in disapproval and with a sharp "Hm." walked into the living room.
"What a dick." Dean grumbled before wrapping Cas in a tight embrace. He stroked Cas's hair flat. "Don't worry Cas, I won't let anything hurt you anymore."
Cas's eyes brimmed with tears at that for some reason but he wiped them away quickly. "C'mon, we might as well go join them. Gabriel likes to be... 'fashionably late'." Cas chuckled slightly, a strained forced sound.
When they walked in, Anna was chatting politely with Michael, Uriel was playing with the dumb cat, and Raphael was in a conversation with Sam about law studies. Sam looked torn between enjoyment of discussing his major with a professional and discomfort.
Cas sat down on his large armchair and Dean snuggled up to him, throwing an "I dare you to say a single thing" kinda look at Michael, who continued to talk to Anna as if Cas didn't even exist.
It was an hour longer until Gabriel arrived, and Dean had not expected what would happen whatsoever.
The door could be heard banging open, followed by a sudden burst into the room. Gabriel had sandy hair that went nearly to his shoulders and a large forehead. His face was filled with boyish charm, joy, and he had mischievous hazel eyes. He had a sucker in his mouth and a couple more stashed in his front shirt pocket.
"Hello boys, didyja miss me?" He caught a glance of Sam, who was staring back dumbfoundedly, and winked. Much to Dean's surprise and frustration, Sam giggled and blushed, looking down quickly. What the hell was that about?
"Gabriel.." Michael growled in a defeated tone before turning away, attempting to initiate conversation with Raphael now.
"Hey there, Mikey boy, Raphael. It's been too short of time since our last meeting." He grinned cheerily and turned to Cas. "And Cassy! I believe you've yet to introduce me to your houseboy and this..." he turned to Sam "Lovely little piece of eye-candy you have over here." Sam blushed deeper, making Dean grimace.
"Hey! I'm not some houseboy okay?" Cas elbowed Dean gently and gave him a 'you are only doing what he wants you to do' kinda stare, but Dean was frustrated with everything happening. He already didn't like Gabriel too.
"Ooh Cas you better put a leash on him, he seems a little feisty." He winked again at Sam, taking the sucker out of his mouth with a 'pop' noise and licking it slowly before placing it back in. Dean growled. That's his brother he's fucking with.
Cas elbowed Dean harder, making him stay quiet.
"So, do I get to know names?" Gabriel inquired, his tone still light and joking.
"Gabriel, this 'houseboy' is Dean," Dean grumbled again making Cas chuckle. "And that one over there is Sam."
Gabriel eyed Sam like he was one of the suckers in his pocket. "Hey there Sammy boy, wanna sucker?" Dean waited for Sam to object at being called Sammy by someone else, but Sam just grinned.
"Sorry, I don't accept candy from strangers." he said teasingly. Dean gagged. Was Sam flirting with this guy? A man? And in front of Dean? Gross.
Gabriel grinned. "Oh, we won't be strangers for long." Dean was fuming at this, Anna, Cas and Uriel were laughing, and Michael and Raphael were pretending it wasn't happening, discussing law and medicine. Why in the Hell was nobody but Dean saying anything?!
Dean opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by Cas. "Honey, will you help me in the kitchen?" Cas asked, pulling Dean towards the door leading to his kitchen despite Dean's spluttering interjections. He got one last glance of Gabriel slinking towards Sam before he was jerked around the corner.
"What the He-" but he was interrupted by a steamy kiss from Cas.
"You have to relax Dean. Sam is a big boy now, and he will do what he wants without your objections."
"But I've never even seen Sammy interested in another man. And nobody calls him Sammy but me!" Dean grumbled, sounding very much like a grumpy child.
"Dean, you're being really rather silly. Now shut up and kiss me." He kissed Dean again, this time with more fervor, grinding against him. He was getting out all of his nerves, Dean knew this and he let him.
Dean went to grab his ass, and was met with a sudden jerk. Cas backed up quickly, pained panic in his suddenly wide eyes. He was staring at Dean, but not really. His eyes were glazed. It was like some weird flashback kinda thing from a movie. Dean touched his shoulder softly, and Cas jerked away again, tears welling up in his eyes. Dean was officially freaking out. He turned the corner and yelled out for the person whose name came to his mind first.
"Gabriel!" He called, attempting to make his voice seem light. He wasn't sure why he called for Gabriel, he had fully intended on calling for Anna, but it just seemed right.
Gabriel was still chuckling slightly. "What does the houseboy ne-" He stopped, seeing Cas, and rushed into the kitchen.
"Oh no. Oh no no no! I was hoping this wouldn't happen." He grimaced and wrapped his arms around Cas, ignoring his slight flinch, stroking his hair. Dean was greatly reminded of him and Sam. "Shhh Cassy, shhh it's okay." His face was soft yet sad.
Cas looked up, looking remarkably like a child. "G-Gabey? Gabey, is he done? Is Lucey okay"
"Yes Cassy he's done, it's done. You don't have to worry about it anymore. Shhhh it's all okay. Lucey's fine. You're fine. Nobody's gonna hit you anymore"
Castiel buried his face into Gabriel's shoulder and Gabe looked up at Dean, pain in his eyes. "I was afraid this would happen with Michael here. But I was really hoping he'd be too stuck on you. It's been so long since he got this way."
Understanding hit Dean like an angry flaming freight train. Michael and his "strict" methods of bring up his siblings, Lucifer leaving early, Gabriel hating Michael. His blood boiled, he wanted to destroy him.
"I know how you're feeling. But please don't. It will only cause more damage, and it would just destroy everything. He just needs a few moments, that's all. Why don't you go back into the living room? Tell them Cas is reprimanding me or something." He smiled gently, his face still looking mischievous even when he wasn't being so.
As Dean walked back into the living room, giving a fake chuckle as he lied that Cas was giving Gabriel a firm smack on the hand, he suddenly had a lot more respect for the little trickster. Maybe it'd be okay to let him and Sam rock the bed. Okay, ew. Not a good thing to think about, gross.
Dean chatted a bit with Anna and it wasn't long before Cas and Gabriel were joining them again. Gabriel was a lot like him, and that made Dean smile. He took care of Cas the way Dean took care of Sam, he knew how Dean felt.
Gabriel grinned at Dean before winking at Sam again. "Don't worry Sammy, he didn't change my mind." he smirked, tossing a cherry sucker at Sam, who caught it and plopped it in his mouth. Cas casually walked over to Dean, sitting close to him and squeezing his hand tightly.
"You okay?" Dean whispered quietly when no one was looking. Cas's eyes still held some fear but he nodded, smiling a crinkly smile.
Dean had never hated anyone more than he did Michael. He glanced over at him occasionally, analyzing his smug clean-shaven face, wanting more than anything to fuck it up. The evening was pretty okay overall, however. Sam and Gabriel sat by the fireplace, talking, getting a little bit too close in Dean's opinion. Raphael and Michael stayed in their own little world, quietly debating on the couch. Cas and Dean were talking with Anna and Uriel. Okay, Uriel was actually pretty damn funny, Dean had to admit. Anna was telling the best embarrassing stories of Cas as a child too. She recalled the time he had nearly caused a car crash while chasing a butterfly, scaring the nanny to death, or the time he had dressed up as a fairy for Halloween with Gabriel's persuasion. Dean found himself laughing harder than he had for a long time and was sad to see them go.
Raphael left soon as well, Michael automatically retiring to his room afterwards. Good. Dean was glad that asshole was making no attempt to speak to him. It would be a lot worse.
Now it was just the four of them (Cas, Dean, Gabriel, and Sammy, in case you are made with word problems). Cas was nuzzling into Dean, yawning tiredly while Sam and Gabriel kept chatting happily, giggling conspiratorially. It was almost cute, or maybe Dean was just really tired. He wasn't sure. Soon he retired to bed with Cas, holding him tightly and falling asleep together.
That night, Dean noticed that he was woken on several occasions to Cas thrashing and whimpering in his sleep.