Nine

After another cryptic talking session at the diner and eating another disappearing cheeseburger, Dean and Holly found themselves back at the house Future Dean had bought. The Impala was gone. The windows were open though and the air smelled of sugar and sweetness, the usual scent of a Trickster. Dean concluded Gabriel was most likely in the house. He looked to his left and saw Sam, jogging down the street towards the house. He'd clearly been sweating his ass off and Dean also concluded that while he and Castiel were probably off somewhere doing whatever, Sam had ran probably all of the way around the neighborhood. The younger Winchester let out a breath it sounded as though he'd been holding and passed right through Dean and Holly to the front door, opening it and stepping inside. Holly and Dean followed close behind.

"Hello there Sammy boy," Gabriel exclaimed from the kitchen over a radio playing a very familiar tune. "How was the run?"

"Heat of the moment…"

Sam started to sweat worse than before and he had pure terror in his eyes. Gabriel laughed and smirked before snapping his fingers and changing the tune.

"Just kidding," he said. "Lighten up kiddo that was how many years ago?"

"It's one of those songs," Sam explained, grabbing an empty glass and filling it with water. "Like the song that always reminds you of your ex, no matter what it always will and you just can't listen to it anymore."

"Yeah," Gabriel did his signature shrug paired with a mischievous look in his eyes. "I guess your brother dying a million times is about the same amount of pain as breaking up with someone."

"Well," Sam muttered. "I wouldn't know…"

Gabriel looked at Sam with quite the confused gaze. He stepped closer, leaning up against the counter.

"You mean you never met the one," Gabriel asked. "You haven't found the one who you were determined to dance with to all the cheesy love songs and the one who you'd gladly surrender your favorite jacket to a puddle for them to cross?"

"I had her," Sam remarked, bringing up the old wounds of Jess proved to be just as deadly as they were when she died years ago. "But I…lost her…"

Gabriel could tell by Sam's tone that his use of the word lost wasn't the same as "I broke up with her" or "she cheated on me". He could see the genuine sadness hidden behind Sam's stoic eyes. Gabriel snapped his fingers against and all that was heard were drums before the first lines of another familiar tune poured through the stereo.

"Lookin in your eyes I see a paradise…"

"Jefferson Starships," Sam actually broke into a grin and chuckled. "Really Gabriel?"

"Hey just cuz Dean doesn't like em," Gabriel smirked. "Doesn't mean I can't sing to em."

Gabriel practically jumped over to Sam and begun to sing the cheesy song. He took Sam's hand and tugged at it, encouraging Sam to dance with him. Sam rolled his eyes at first and shook his head.

"C'mon Sammy I know you know the words," Gabriel laughed in pure delight. "Lighten up! Sing with me! Have some fun!"

"Let em say we're crazy," Sam sang just so Gabriel would get off of his case. "I don't care about that. Put your arms around me baby don't ever look back."

Gabriel came closer and did in fact place his hands on Sam's hips. Gabriel was so much shorter than him, it was almost hilarious. Sam would've been laughing, if he wasn't trying to hide the blush on his cheeks.

"C'mon Sammy boy," Gabriel laughed during the singing break. "Loosen up! Let's have some sort of non-gay bromance singing and dancing bonding!"

Sam's playful side finally got the better of him.

"And we can build this thing together, stand this storm forever, nothing's gonna stop us now!"

They sang in unison until the girl part starting branching out on its own. Gabriel sang that part as Sam repeated the chorus repeatedly, a smile on his face and his eyes closed tight as he sang. As though he was singing for a giant stadium instead of having his own personal concert with his friend. Sam had grabbed a rolling pin to use as a microphone and Gabriel had settled on a spatula. It felt good to let loose, Sam so rarely did this. Mostly because Dean didn't agree with or teased his younger brother's music taste. The duet finished and the song faded. Sam erupted into deep and real belly laughter. Tears were almost running down his face. Gabriel had had to sit down on a barstool to avoid falling over from his laughter.

"That," Sam said after he finished a bout of laughter. "Was so borderline chick flick, even Dean would've run screaming."

"Toldja you'd have fun," Gabriel winked and got up from the barstool. He put the spatula away and took the rolling pin from Sam's hand, sticking it in the drawer as well. "Worth it?"

"Very." Sam replied, still smiling.

"There yah go Sam," Gabriel replied. "I guess you can check dancing to cheesy love songs off your list then?"

"Uh," Dean noticed Sam stammer a bit, his face turn slightly red. "Yeah…I guess I can."

"C'mon Sammy," Dean rolled his eyes. "I told you he was the friggen Trickster!"

"He can't hear you." Holly said.

"Thank you Captain Obvious," Dean turned to her then back to Sam. "But seriously? I'm not letting some…trickster douche turned archangel hurt my brother."

"Dean," Holly explained, placing a hand on Dean's shoulder. "Gabriel will prove his loyalty to you in the near future. Hasn't he already mostly proven it now? When are you ever going to trust Sam's instincts and let him go?"

Dean looked over at his brother. Holly could see the protective nature in his eyes. The one he'd had since Sam had been born and ever since they'd hunted together. She could understand his need for Sam to be protected and warm and safe and saved from heartbreak. As Dean watched though, she could also see his gaze turning. He saw the genuine smile on Gabriel's face and Sam's too. He watched Sam rub the back of his neck as he looked at the archangel, like a schoolgirl crushing on the most popular boy on the football team. Dean turned his cheek.

"Good," Holly said, letting her hand fall away from Dean. He saw more red marks on the sides of her hands, but decided he'd best not question them. "I suppose you're wondering where you and Castiel are?"

"Yes actually," Dean replied and next thing he knew he and Holly were standing in the deserted hallway of a school. "And ok…"

"Parent teacher conference," Holly explained. "Apparently you humans have those quite often with the humans that teach your children?"

"I guess." Dean took in his surroundings. Clearly they were in an elementary school. Dean assumed that his son's teacher was the one that he and Castiel were talking to. The only door that was open was one at the end of the hall and Dean found he was walking towards it. He had this overwhelming feeling of almost dread as he rounded the corner and stood in the doorway of the classroom.

"Is there anything you two wish to discuss with me," the teacher said, a grim tone in her voice as though she really didn't want to talk to Future Dean and Castiel who were seated side by side in front of the teacher's desk. The teacher herself was an older gray haired heavier set woman with blazing red lipstick and perfect makeup. She wore red glasses to match her lips. "Regarding your son Daniel?"

Daniel. So that was his son's name? Dean felt this sense of something he couldn't explain wash over him. He'd always wanted a son; much less he'd always wanted to name a son Daniel. He was excited and delighted his wish came true in the future.

"Yes actually," Future Dean pulled something out of his jacket pocket. He unfolded it and it was a crayon portrait of a family, his son's family. There was no sticker on it and the grade didn't match that of his classmates' grades. "Why did you mark my son's picture lower than anyone else's?"

"Mr. Winchester," the teacher leaned in closer to him. "I hardly think the picture is an appropriate thing to display to the other children."

Future Dean looked down at it; he couldn't find anything that was in the least inappropriate about it. Until it finally hit him.

"M'aam," Future Dean sat up straight and his brows furrowed, he almost glared at her, but held back. "I take it you do not approve of my husband and I and our lifestyle?"

"Do you want the truth Mr. Winchester?" she asked and Future Dean nodded. "Very well. Most people do not approve of it. It sets a bad example for our future children and it goes against God's will."

That was when Castiel stood up, angered and about ready to smite here where she sat. Future Dean jumped up as well and held him back.

"I'll have you know," Castiel glared, if looks could kill, at least the teacher seemed very scared now. "That I happen to know God on a deep level and I don't think he'd think of you as the devout Christian that you believe to be with your blatant discrimination. If you ask me that's the highest form of sin besides the seven others. Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be withdrawing our son from your class and placing him in the hands of a truly mature and capable adult. Thank you and goodbye and may our presences never grace each other ever again."

With that Castiel rushed out of the classroom, through Dean, and down the hall. Future Dean chased after him. Dean turned his head and broke into a big smile.

"Damn," he whistled, laughing too. "Go Cas!"

"He certainly has the ability to speak his mind," Holly commented. "Especially when his children are involved. Or you."

It was true. Castiel had defended Dean on so many occasions. He'd never questioned the man's judgment, he'd never steered him the wrong way or cheated him or threatened him in any way. He'd always been loyal, unwavering, faithful, and loving in every way possible. Castiel had always been his best friend and his better half all in one and as Dean watched Future him chasing after his husband Dean knew it to be true. He couldn't imagine anyone else he'd want to be chasing down an elementary school hallway after he told off a particularly closed minded teacher.

"That was," Dean commented. "Fricken awesome."

"I hope you realize now what good fathers both you and Castiel will be," Holly said. "And what you have to look forward to. I do believe though that this event is over, there are others to see."

"No chick flick moments is my eternal rule," Dean pointed a finger at her. "I think what you just said before that last part qualifies as one."

"Come along Dean." Holly insisted and touched his shoulder. They flew off to whatever came next.

Reviews are appreciated!

Cas' part with the teacher almost made me shiver to be honest. Anyone else?