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Chapter Ten

Though many stories floated around campus the truth of the matter was a Moroi teacher who wanted to be turned Strigoi had secretly weakened the wards around the school allowing access to the undead. Needless to say come Monday there would be a new biology instructor in her place.

Dean knew he owed an apology to both Adrian and Cas for his behavior over the past week. Telling Adrian he was sorry, though painful in its own way, was relatively easy. The two had been friends for so long that grudges never lasted very long anyway. Cas, on the other hand, that was going to be more difficult. So, as usual, Dean put it off.

Once everything had returned to normal the school held a tattooing ceremony to honor the guardians who bravely fought to protect St. Vladimir's from the Strigoi attack. Dean was the only unpromised guardian to receive the Molnija marks on the back of his neck.

Dean knew he should have felt proud. Years ago he made a promise to himself to be the best guardian he could be and he had done just that. He stood in the face of danger and did what he had been trained to do.

But nothing in his life had ever gone as exactly as he planned. In his head the day he got his first mark he pictured his father front and center, clapping his hand together and saying, "That's my son. That's my boy." He'd forgive him for being absent all his life and they'd forge a strong father/son bond.

However, today, as he looked out into the crowd that had gathered for the ceremony he saw the people that really mattered. Sam. Adrian. Cas.

Cas. Cas who had fought bravely beside him. And honestly, who he'd be dead without.

After all was said and done, Dean hopped off the stage and hugged Sam and Adrian. His two brothers. Once they had parted ways he noticed Cas lingering near the back of the auditorium. It was now or never. He slowly made his way to the Moroi.

"Hey, congratulations," Cas said softly when Dean was just inches away from him.

"It couldn't have done it without you," Dean said in reply.

Cas tilted his head to the side. "Not bad for a Moroi, huh?" he said.

"Look…all those things I said. I was totally out of line," Dean apologized. "I didn't mean anything of them. I was just scared."

Cas nodded. "I know. I know you want to guard Adrian after graduation and the mark on your record could have done a lot of damage," he replied.

"Oh, yeah…I mean…that's true, but that wasn't what I was really scared of," Dean said to him.

"You lost me…" Cas trailed off.

Dean took a deep breath. "You. You scared me. You changed my whole perspective on things I truly believed in. Suddenly nothing in my life was how I pictured it…how I thought it was supposed to be," he admitted.

Cas' lips curved up into a smile. "So basically you were being a stubborn idiot," he said.

Dean made a face. "You don't have to phrase it like that. You could just accept the apology," he replied.

"Now where is the fun in that?" Cas asked him. He drew him closer and rested one of his hands on the back of his neck. Dean winced a little as Cas' fingers touched the fresh Molnija mark. "Ah, shit. Sorry."

"You did that on purpose," Dean accused him.

Cas chuckled softly. "Maybe," he replied.

"You have to be gentle with me," Dean said.

"I think I can handle that," Cas replied. He leaned in and pressed his lips against Dean's softly.

And as their lips touched the future suddenly didn't matter so much. Dean had all he needed right in that moment.

THE END