I actually didn't intend for this chapter to be quite *this* long. It's over twenty pages, so...if you have something else to do, you should go do it now. There is a lot of plot in here.

Castiel didn't really sleep. It was an odd sort of awareness that he drifted off to as Dean snuggled against his chest, snoring. He floated through his memories, lingering in the ones that were pleasant, like the time he and Balthazar switched out Uriel's sword for Rachel's, and Uriel kept missing his parries because the balance was off. He had chased after all of them, yelling and frothing until Zachariah told him to go and calm down and reprimanded him for losing his temper. Uriel was forced to meditate for a century in penance, and Castiel, Balthazar and Rachel were not punished to further test Uriel's patience. It was then that Castiel started to understand how vindictive Zachariah could be and avoided him at all costs.

Dean awoke after his usual four hours of sleep, and since he was already laying atop Castiel, he used the position to his advantage and they made love again, slowly and sloppily, holding hands like lovestruck teenagers. Castiel loved the way Dean threaded their fingers together, kissed his cheek, nuzzled his ear. He felt loved, cherished. He understood what the term "afterglow" meant.

They showered together even though Castiel could just use his grace to make them clean. He found he liked the human ritual of bathing, especially since Dean insisted upon washing his hair and his back, his long, thick fingers feeling so good against Castiel's flesh. Castiel returned the favor and happily smoothed his hands over Dean's body and massaged shampoo into his hair.

They lingered in the bathroom, kissed long and slow, touched, dressed slowly because clothes covered the most interesting places on their bodies. By the time they were finally dressed and ready to go down to the kitchen to make breakfast, it was six in the morning, and they were both surprised at how quiet the house was.

"Where's Sam?" Dean murmured when they walked by his room and realized it was deserted.

Castiel shrugged. "I think maybe he and Jess cleared out last night…you were pretty loud on our second go-round."

Dean consulted his phone once they were in the kitchen and found a note from Sam explaining that he and Jess went to Bobby's so as not to be mentally scarred by Cas and Dean.

"Little bitch," Dean said fondly, shaking his head.

Castiel smiled and pulled the buttermilk out of the fridge. Together they made pancakes and bacon, then sat down at the table and ate from only one plate, the way they liked to do.

"What time you get off work tonight?" Dean asked between a bite.

"Five. What do you have going on today? The Hunt is just about in town now, right?"

Dean nodded. "I have three cases to look into, and will probably get a few walk-ins." He looked uncomfortable for a few moments. "Look, Cas, there are two guys who freelance for me from time to time, Walt and Roy. I think they're kinda jealous of what we have. Anyway, I just want you to be careful of them."

Castiel grinned at Dean, torn between finding him adorable and touched by his concern. "I am a full Angel of the Lord now, Dean. No one can harm me. Especially not your Human friends."

"They're Hunters, Cas. Not necessarily Human," Dean said sternly.

Castiel smiled again. "Yes, Dean, I will be careful," he murmured contritely, holding a bite of pancake up to Dean's lips.

Dean took the bite and chewed while keeping eye contact with Castiel. "I don't think I like your tone," he decided.

"Are you going to spank me like an errant fledgling?"

Green eyes narrowed. "I just might do that."

"Good to know," Castiel decided, standing up and taking the plate to the sink.

Dean stalked after him, crowding him against the drainboard and delivering a hearty smack to his backside. Castiel yelped and started laughing, making Dean laugh too.

And that was how Jess and Sam found them when they came home, Dean holding Castiel to his chest with both arms, laughing, biting his ear, and Castiel grinning like a rakish imp.

"Oh great," Sam deadpanned. "They're still at it."

Dean looked at his brother over his shoulder. "In fifty years from now, you'll be saying the same thing," he promised.

Sam muttered something that sounded like, "God save us all," and Jess cooed over how cute she thought they were.

"Okay, okay," Dean said gruffly, wrapping one arm around Castiel's shoulders, holding him in front of him and resting his chin on Castiel's shoulder. "We have some things to discuss. I had Becky get a contractor to draw up some plans to turn the attic into an apartment for me and Cas if you two lovebirds want to nest on the second floor. I thought we could turn Dad's old study into an apartment for Adam. We might have to break into the library to do it, but…what do you think? And if you don't want to, it won't hurt my feelings, I'm just putting it—"

"Dean, shut up," Sam said, grinning ear to ear. "Yes! Yes, of course we want to live here! I mean…but you'll soundproof, right?"

Dean let go of Castiel and pulled his brother into a headlock, no mean feat considering Sam was a good four inches taller and nearly twice as broad. "Yes! Soundproofing for all our rooms! You know, you two are pretty loud too, Sama-lama-ding-dong."

Sam managed to push Dean away, and he and Jess both stood with mouths slightly open, blushes staining their cheeks.

"I, uh…guess the walls in these old houses are pretty thin?" Jess squeaked from behind her hands.

"It's all right, Jess," Castiel said helpfully. "I've learned quite a bit about human anatomy when you two play "Naughty Nurse.""

"Yeah," Dean smirked. "We especially like when Sam puts on the nurse's uniform."

"I wear scrubs!" Sam snapped, his neck turning purple. He rubbed his hands over his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh my god…"

"Yes," Castiel deadpanned. "That is what you often say."

Jess started laughing, which was the only thing that kept them all from wanting to die right then and there.

"Okay," Sam said when they were calm again. "New rule: we don't snark on each other's sexcapades."

"Right," Dean agreed. He had sunk to the floor at some point and dragged Castiel into his lap as he did so. "But Adam's still open season."

"Oh," Jess said, narrowing her eyes and nodding, "totally yes."

"Agreed," Sam said.

}O{

"I'll get it!" Heidi said brightly when the doorbell rang. Loki hardly looked up from the haunted gingerbread house he was currently decorating and grunted. He was busy trying to affix a pulled sugar ghost that he had made himself onto one of the gables using purple frosting when he heard his wife exclaim in surprise. Abandoning the gingerbread house, Loki went to investigate their visitor, bag of purple frosting still in hand. When he saw who was standing at the door, the bag of frosting fell to the floor, leaking purple goo onto the white marble of the foyer.

"Heidi, go upstairs now," he commanded quietly, eyes not straying from the person currently staring at him in shock and awe. He barely saw Heidi duck past him and run up the stairs, her feet squeaking ever so slightly as she beat a hasty retreat.

He should have known they'd find him eventually.

It was amazing that it took this long, really.

"Gabriel," Michael breathed, sounding as shocked as Loki currently felt.

"Michael," he said back, stepping forward, feeling his grace reacting to his brother's, his wings unfurling from their hidden place, his masks and glamours melting away under the steady gaze of Heaven's best and brightest warrior. Suddenly, Loki shook himself and brought all of his disguises and protections back into himself, and took a large step backwards. "What do you want?" he asked evenly.

Michael gaped like a fish out of water. "I…I…Gabriel!"

"I go by Loki now," Loki snapped. "I left all that behind, just like…" just like Father had left all of them behind too.

"Gabriel, I have looked for you for decades!"

Loki felt his chest constrict. "Well you can't have looked too hard," he spat. "I've been here on this earth for a thousand years!"

Loki only got a brief sense of satisfaction at Michael's stricken look, then felt deep shame over his outburst. Only family could take a thousand-year-old deity and make him feel like a toddler in the midst of a tantrum.

"I'm…I'm so sorry, Gabe," Michael said quietly, making Loki feel even worse. Mikey had always done the best he could for the family and the other Angels. He took over, took on the responsibility for running Heaven, fighting Hell, trying to make their Father's plan continue and grow. The fact that Michael had decided to come to Earth could only mean that even he had finally lost faith and decided to give up on Heaven too.

"Please, Mikey, I have a life here," Loki whispered, pleading with Michael to understand. "Whatever it is you need, I just can't."

"What about us, Gabe?" Michael asked, his face getting hard. "Raffie, Az, Lucifer! What about Lucifer, he's been looking for you too."

A painful twist jerked at Loki's gut. The mention of Lucifer was a low blow. Lucifer had been his surrogate as he was growing, like a father to him. Michael and the other Archangels had all been busy with other things, but Lucifer had always made time for Gabriel-Cum-Loki, the youngest little Archangel. How ironic that he was the first to Earth, the first to want to leave Heaven and the security and fellowship there.

"I don't know," Loki said, turning away. "I...I just don't know, Mike."

Michael put his hand on Loki's shoulder, then abruptly brought him close, wrapping him in a warm hug. It was in Loki to renounce his Pagan family and regain his Heavenly brethren, but he had so much hurt, so much pride, he just couldn't. Not yet. Maybe if it was Lucifer holding him, but with Michael, he could still hold onto all of that baggage.

"You stink like a Winchester, Mikey," Loki grumbled, pulling away from his brother and looking up at him. "I can see it with Cassie, but you?"

Michael shrugged, completely unapologetic. "He's the reason I'm here, actually," he said, a smile twisting his lips.

Loki raised a hand. "No, no more Winchesters. I'm done with them. I told Dean how to kill the Fairy that's plaguing his fam, and I'm outie. If your boy toy is in trouble, you take care of it."

"Gabriel…"

"Loki!" he snapped.

Michael rolled his eyes. "Fine, Loki. I promised my mate I'd ask you for advice—"

Loki sighed heavily. "I mean it, Mikey, I'm done with the Winchesters. If you want to mate with them, have lots of little babies, that's your nevermind—"

"What did I do to you, Gabe?" Michael asked, his tone dejected and slightly defensive. "What did I do? What did Lucifer do? How…how did we hurt you? What can I do to make it right?" He approached Loki slowly and put his hands on his shoulders. "Our family is completely torn apart, we're all we have left, and…"

Loki turned away, his resolve crumbling. "What do you need for your mate?" If he could keep things less personal, then he could get Michael out of there and not have to think about this, about how his life had been turned upside down by an absentee father and overbearing siblings.

Michael's sigh was soft and resigned. "The Winchesters think that it would be best if John were the one to kill the Fairy since he is the head of the family, and Adam is worried that John and Sam could be harmed."

"Oh, I guess I should have thought of that," Loki said with a nod, wiping at the tears that were threatening to fall. "Ah, yes, it should be John who kills Azazel, but he'll have to ask Odin's permission since it's a personal matter and not a directive from The Allfather."

Michael frowned. "Surely Odin will approve…John is his servant?"

Loki gave a hollow laugh. "Odin is not likely to grant John Winchester any more favors after all he's done for John's family."

"What exactly has he done for John's family?"

Loki was unsurprised that the Winchester boys had no idea about their father's sacrifice. It seemed that he and the Archangels weren't the only ones with a father who simply left one day without saying why or offering any excuses. "John agreed to serve Odin for all of eternity if Odin agreed to not lay claim to any of John's sons. They now all have normal lives as long as John remains with the Wild Hunt. Most Hunters are released to death after a few hundred years, and the life is hard. John is basically living in a never-ending hell in order to keep his sons from Odin's hand. The minute John leaves the Hunt, any male Winchesters will immediately be pressed into Odin's service, whether he is mated or not."

Michael's face went through several expressions. "So…Sam Winchester's son…"

"If John were to leave the hunt tomorrow, the minute Baby Winchester is brought into the world, Odin will snatch him up. Even an infant."

"Adam certainly doesn't know about this…does Dean?"

Loki shook his head. "I doubt it. Would you tell your son the sacrifices you were making for him?"

"I suppose not," Michael conceded. "But still…Adam thinks his father just abandoned him when he was a child to chase after monsters. He thinks John didn't care enough about him to stay."

"It's not our business, Mikey."

"If you call me Mikey, I get to call you Gabriel," Michael threatened.

Loki tilted his head in acquiescence. "Fine. Just don't tell anyone about me."

Michael narrowed his eyes. "What about Lucifer, Gabriel?"

That damned pain twisted his heart again. "I don't know."

"Help me with this issue, and I won't say anything to Lucifer for a month," Michael said.

At least bargaining was one step closer to acceptance. "Fine," Loki conceded. "I'll go to Odin on behalf of John Winchester and make him see how he will benefit from allowing John to take Azazel down. You need to leave now, Mikey. I…I need to think."

Michael pulled Loki into a hug. "Please come back to us, brother. Please."

Loki watched his brother out the door, standing in one place, memories flooding upon him whether he welcomed them or not.

Gabriel was trying hard to not cry.

"Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry," he chanted to himself.

"Hey, sweetling," Lucifer said brightly, coming up behind Gabriel and pulling his back tight against his chest, resting his chin on Gabriel's head. "What's the matter, hmmm?"

Gabriel sniffled. "Az, Raffie and Sariel said I couldn't play with them," he sniveled.

Lucifer hefted Gabriel into his arms. "Bah, who wants to play with a bunch of females when you can come with me and Michael to the practice ring?"

Gabriel's eyes widened. "Really? I can? But I'm still a fledgling!"

Lucifer shrugged, apparently unconcerned with the proprieties that Master Joshua held so dear.

It was the last time Lucifer would ever be able to smooth over Gabriel's feelings by distracting him. After that, for Gabriel, his life was a misery. No one tried to hurt him, not overtly. It just happened that way. He wasn't the smartest, strongest, fastest, or anything-est. He was just Gabriel. And he didn't matter to anyone. When the opportunity presented itself to be an Earth-Dweller, he jumped at it, and it was great. Loki was born and Gabriel went away.

"I heard him leave," Heidi said, quietly walking down the stairs.

Loki swiped at his eyes and made sure all his glamours were close to him, keeping his identity safe. "He's gone."

Heidi tucked herself under his arm and kissed his cheek. "You okay?"

Loki looked down at his wife, taking in her wide, blue concerned eyes under her pretty arched blonde brows. Her golden hair swept down her back, and she was wearing the ugliest Halloween sweater he'd ever seen and he loved her for it. "I don't know," he admitted. "But I love you."

Heidi wasn't stupid. One of the reasons he'd fallen in love with her was because she was so smart, so he wasn't surprised when she narrowed her eyes at him. "Are you ever going to tell me the truth?"

Loki sighed. "Ja, schatzie," he murmured, kissing her forehead. "Just…I have to think, okay?"

And he had to go talk to Odin…

"Come on, sweetling. We've got haunted gingerbread houses to decorate."

Heidi let herself be led back to the kitchen, but her shrewd glances let Loki know that he'd need to come clean soon. Hopefully she wouldn't be too angry at him.

}O{

On his way to work, Dean noticed strange looks from his Supernatural brethren. Some would smile, others would scowl, and a few just looked plain confused. Dean understood confused, because it was how he felt. What was going on? The Vampire barrista even mumbled something that sounded like "congratulations" when Dean stopped in to get coffee for himself and something frothy, fruity and sugary for Becky.

He shouldered his way into the office, a box of pastries in one hand, the cups in the other.

"Hey, Boss, I…Oh my GOD!" the sprite squealed, clapping her hands and jumping up and down. "Oh, super wow, Dean! You did it!"

Dean raised an eyebrow. "What did I do?"

Becky rolled her eyes in a good natured way. "You got married! To your Angel." Her tone was so matter-of-fact that it actually took Dean by surprise.

"I did what now?"

"Well, okay, you bonded. But you and your Angel. You're together now. I've really been pulling for you two, too." She was so happy, her iridescent wings fluttering and bouncing as she shook out her pretty blonde hair and smiled winningly at Dean. His little cheerleader. She could be annoyingly intrusive when it came to his life, and she had a really ill-advised crush on Sam, but Dean couldn't help but find her endearing.

"Thanks, Becky. That's really good to know." He set her cup down on her desk and took one of the raspberry scones out of the pastry box and set it next to her coffee. "What's the plan for today?"

Becky's smile changed. It got…tighter. "The Hunt's in town now. You have a visitor in your office."

Dean's chest tightened and he went to his office door, opening it. Standing at the window was a tall, dark-haired man dressed in old-fashioned trousers and tunic. The arms of the tunic were bound with leather and brown boots were laced over the trousers. A jerkin was belted over the tunic, and he had an actual quiver of arrows on his back and a sword on his belt.

"Dad."

John Winchester turned, his eyes glowing golden under his dark brows. He stopped aging once he joined the hunt, so he was forever forty-five, just a touch of silver at his temples. "Dean!" John breathed happily, crossing the small room quickly and pulling his son into a tight hug. "I've missed you, son…so much!" He pushed Dean away and held him at arm's length, his eyes roving up and down Dean's body. Dean tensed, knowing that if Becky saw the bond, then John must as well. "What did you do, Dean?"

Dean swallowed. The emotions that roiled within him whenever he saw his father were always at odds with each other. Love tempered by hate, hope tempered by disappointment, fear clashing with resolve. John always left him feeling confused, angry, loved, wishing him away and wishing he'd stay forever all at once. It was exhausting. "I met someone, Dad. Castiel. He's an Angel." There was so much more news to tell, too. Sam and Jess and the baby, his plans for the house, how Adam was doing at school…

"He makes you happy?" John asked, his eyes searching Dean's.

Dean frowned. "Yeah. Of course he does." He couldn't help smiling when he thought about Castiel. "I love him, Dad."

John smiled at Dean and clapped him on the shoulder. Were those tears in his eyes? "Good, Dean. I'm so glad." John shook his head and turned back to the window. "I'm so glad," he repeated, making Dean's frown deepen. "And your brothers? How are they?"

"They're great, Dad. You'll see them, won't you?" He didn't feel it was his place to tell John about Sam's baby news.

John turned back to Dean. "Of course I'll see them! I miss them…" he cut himself off and went back to staring at the parking lot.

Dean cleared his throat. He decided to talk to John about killing Azazel. That way, if John refused, Dean could break the news to Sam himself. He wasn't sure what Sam's reaction would be if he heard John's refusal himself. "So, Dad, remember Azazel?"

John scoffed. "How could I forget? What about him? Is he giving Sam trouble still?" John gave Dean a searching look.

"Well, yeah. And…um, he sort of threatened Jess and we've decided to be rid of him. Loki gave me a way to kill him, but Bobby thinks it'd be best if either you or Sam did the deed. Something about Fairies and propriety."

John nodded and sat across from Dean at the desk. "I think Bobby's right. If you did it, it could be viewed as murder, but if Sam or I did it, they'd call it justifiable. Fairies are sort of weird."

"Will you do it?"

John hedged. "If Odin gives me permission, yes. I'll request an audience with him immediately."

Dean narrowed his eyes. "It's your job as a Hunter to kill these sonsabitches. Isn't that Odin's Great Commission to you?"

"Don't start with me, Dean," John warned. "I kill monsters like Rugarus, Windigos, Vampires and Werewolves that have gone feral. Fairies and Sprites are considered to be more towards the Human part of the equation. And this is personal, which complicates things. I have to ask permission."

"He wouldn't say no, would he?" Dean couldn't think of a reason why Odin would.

John looked down at his hands, his face unsure. "I don't know. I don't think so, but…it's complicated."

All of Dean's old feelings grated on his nerves. It was always this way with John. He didn't know why, but everything his father did just annoyed the spit out of him. "Well, we need to know as soon as possible."

"I understand, Dean. I'll take care of it immediately. I promise."

Dean nodded, feeling like there was still a huge missing piece to the puzzle. "I can go with you. If he understands—"

"No!" John nearly shouted. "No, don't go near Odin, Dean. You hear me? And keep Sam from him, too. I can't…you can't…"

And there it was again. The desperation to keep Dean away from the being John left his family for. He felt irritation at John's helpless look. "What aren't you telling me, Dad?"

John shook his head. "Just promise me you'll stay away from Odin and keep your brothers away from him too. I don't choose my life for you boys. You have an anchor now, Dean. Hold onto him."

Dean's intercom rang, and he turned away from his father to start conducting the business of the day. There was a phone call from the Sherriff about some mysterious deaths that seemed connected, and as Dean began to take care of those issues, John excused himself to join his Hunting brothers at the hall Odin had set up in the woods for them. He promised again as Dean was taking notes to talk to the god, and Dean nodded, waving his dad away. John might have chosen this odd life over his own family, but Dean had faith that if John said he'd do something, he'd do it.

On his way to the Sheriff's office, Dean shot a text to his brothers, Jess and Castiel to tell them that John was in town. Sam and Adam's responses were reserved, Jess was excited to tell him about the baby, and Castiel's was nervous but hopeful. Dean assured his, well, husband, he supposed, that John would love him, and then got lost in the process of his work.

The deaths were connected in some way. Dean stood in the coroner's office, the County Medical Examiner walking him through the various similarities in the two bodies.

"It could just be a serial killer," Dean mused as he lifted the arm of the first young man, staring at the deep laceration in his wrist. "Humans can be monsters too, you know."

The coroner shrugged. "All I can tell you is that this wasn't done by a blade, more like by a claw of some sort, but there's only one. And both were done with the same implement."

Dean sighed. A claw. Just one. "Like a cat claw, or…"

"Judging by the size of the laceration, it'd be a claw roughly the width of your forefinger, and sharp. Incredibly sharp."

"But only one laceration to make it look like suicide," Dean murmured, dropping the dead kid's arm. "How much blood is missing?"

The coroner moved to where his notes were. "This is why I asked the Sheriff to call you in the first place; a good deal is missing. They were both found in a pool, of course, but it was more like whoever killed them was trying to make it seem like they bled out to mask the fact that a good deal of blood was missing."

Dean nodded. "Okay, something has huge claws and drinks blood. Awesome. I'll do some research and get back to you. Let me know if you find anything to help, like fur or feathers or scales."

"Sure thing, Mr. Winchester."

Dean winced at the name and left. No one ever called him "Mr. Winchester." Just the coroner. He went back to the office and started compiling notes, interrupting his research only when Becky had to call him for one reason or another. At lunch, he took Becky to the diner and was surprised to see Michael there with Lucifer. He walked up to them and they both immediately stopped talking to look up at him, but not in anger, just expectant.

"Uh…hey," Dean said lamely, trying to ignore Becky fluttering behind him.

"Dean," Lucifer said, looking him up and down slowly, his lips twitching just slightly.

"Oh, I nearly forgot, on top of all that, Cassie's memories are now fully intact," Michael said obliquely.

A ghost of a smile fluttered over Lucifer's lips. "So I see. Wow, he really left his mark on you Dean."

Michael looked away, a slight pink tinting his cheeks, but Lucifer continued to boldly examine Dean, his eyes resting on Dean's shoulder where Castiel's handprint was. Dean didn't know why he was surprised that Lucifer could see the mark through all his layers of clothes.

"Forgive my brother, Dean, it's just that neither of us would have expected Castiel to be so…" he cleared his throat and looked Dean up and down as well, "possessive," he finished lamely, turning to Lucifer with a scowl. "Really, Lu, it's none of our business."

Lucifer shrugged and finally peeled his eyes away from Dean. "I think it's cute," Becky pronounced from behind Dean. This made all of them chuckle a bit.

"You would," Lucifer said, but in a good-natured way, his lips quirking. "Sorry, Dean, but…imagine you saw your brother's girlfriend directly after sex one day, with the hair all rumpled, body barely concealed by the sheet and, ah…evidence…uh…splattered on her…"

"Well, I was planning on eating here," Dean grumbled.

"It's not nearly as lurid and vulgar as my brother is making it out to be," Michael said pointedly. "But it is…somewhat accurate."

Dean narrowed his eyes. "So it must sort of make you two feel uncomfortable to be around me right now, huh?" At their answering silence, Dean smiled hugely. "Scootch over, Lucie, I feel like joining my two new in-laws for lunch. Becky, why don'tcha hunker on down next to Mike there."

}O{

Dean's day ended up being long and wearying and at five o'clock, it still wasn't over. He needed to meet up with his family at The Roadhouse. It was going to be as hard as work because all he wanted to do was go home and sink both physically and emotionally into Castiel, but family togetherness was every bit as important as spending time with his new life partner.

At the bar, he found his dad, Loki, Michael, Adam and Jess all sitting around two of the round tables and Michael's arm was resting casually on the back of Adam's chair. Dean raised an eyebrow at that, but then pushed away any thoughts of Michael making designs on his brother almost immediately. Michael just didn't seem the type.

"What's going on over here?" he asked, dragging a chair over with his foot. He looked around for any sign of Castiel, but the bar was not incredibly full at the moment, and he didn't see a tan trench coat anywhere.

"He's not here yet, Dean-O," Loki smirked.

Dean narrowed his eyes at the god. "I haven't seen you around here in a while."

Loki shrugged and lifted his bowl of mead. "Your little visit the other day made me miss the place."

Dean didn't miss the look Michael gave him, but shrugged it off. The Archangel was probably feeling a little strange sitting at a table with a god.

"Loki has gone to Odin on my behalf to ask about my killing Azazel," John explained to Dean. "I had no idea he would do that."

Loki gave John a deferential nod. "I promised Dean I'd help him in this matter, and in return he's allowing my wife and me to have a little fun for Halloween."

"So…Odin gave permission?" Dean asked, looking at Jess's hopeful face.

"He did," John confirmed, then turned to Jess. "Dean told me Azazel tried to kill you?"

Jess blushed. "Um…Sam should come over here."

Dean turned in his seat and caught his brother's eye. Within seconds, Sam was standing by the table. Jess took his hand, and smiled happily at John, her hand going to her belly.

"We're expecting," she said happily, glowing.

John stared at the pair of them in shock, then stood up and pulled Sam into a bone-crushing hug. Sam's face split into a huge smile as he hugged his dad back, and something tugged and twisted in Dean's gut. He felt…so many things. He was jealous of his dad, since his happiness was apparently so important to Sam, and he felt jealous of Sam too because announcing a pregnancy was something Dean would never be able to do unless he used a surrogate, and…

He turned away before he let it sour his mood, and it turned out to be the right moment, because Castiel had just walked in, his eyes immediately going to Dean's. Dean felt so comfortable with Cas's presence so near him. He could communicate with his mate using emotion rather than words, which were a little too complicated at the moment. Dean stood and Castiel's hand slipped into his, and then the Angel was moving into his space, wrapping an arm around his neck and lifting his face for a kiss. Dean nuzzled their noses together, basking in Castiel's calm, reassuring presence, feeling his love and assurance through their bond, forgetting about everyone around them for the moment.

"Don't worry, they're always like this," he heard Sam say, and that statement was punctuated by the good-natured chuckles of everyone at the table.

Reluctantly, Dean broke away from Castiel and the little bubble they had created for themselves. "Um, Dad, this is Castiel, Angel of Thursday. He's my…husband, I guess you could say. Cas, this is John Winchester, my dad."

John smiled at Castiel and pulled him into a one-armed hug. "It is so good to meet you, Cas," John said with sincerity. "I'm so happy that Dean's found his mate."

Castiel squeezed Dean's hand and pulled away from John to stand next to Dean again. "Thank you, John. I am happy to have found Dean as well."

John had never really understood Dean's preference for men, but he had been as happy with Victor as the rest of the family when Dean clearly needed his influence in his life, and then been just as relieved a few years later when they broke up. John had hated Benny immediately, which made Dean like him even more, which meant he was even more devastated when Benny broke up with him, but Dean figured he was over that bit of rebellion since he was relieved that his dad had accepted Castiel without making faces or trying to appear straight-yet-accepting-of-the-gay-lifestyle like he usually did.

They all sat down again and Sam went back to the bar when Dean noticed Loki was gone.

"I don't think he was planning on staying," Michael said, looking around, a frown deeply etched on his face. Dean missed the look Adam gave Michael just then.

"Maybe Angels make him uncomfortable," Dean said with a shrug.

Michael hummed in agreement and was quiet after that.

Jo came to get their orders and give John a hug.

"Hey, what about us?" Dean asked when the others had given their orders and Jo turned to go.

"Oh please," she said with an eyeroll. "Like you two aren't going to get the Lover Boy Special."

Michael actually joined Adam and Jess in their light laughter and Dean glared at him.

"What's the Lover Boy Special?" John asked when Jo was gone.

"Dean and Castiel have an unusual way of breaking bread together," Michael said in his deep, low voice. He wasn't accusing, but rather deeply amused.

"I've got to see this," John said, obviously trying way too hard, but in a way that made Dean feel good rather than judged.

"Oh, we've all got pictures on our phones," Adam said, pulling his out. Dean groaned when Michael, Jess, Sam, Jo and Ellen all did the same. John looked at the pictures and laughed heartily at all of them, still trying too hard, but it didn't annoy Dean as much now. Everyone accepted Cas.

Without thinking, Dean leaned over and kissed Castiel, making everyone at the tables "awwww" in an exaggerated manner. He glared at them all, especially his dad and Adam, but then shrugged and kissed Cas again.

I love you, Cas said clearly through their bond.

I want to take you to the bathroom and suck you off, Dean thought back, trying to convey how good he felt with Cas's dick in his mouth and how much he loved the feel and flavor. When Castiel blushed and looked down at his lap, the feeling of arousal coming in strongly, making Dean want him even more.

"Do they have eye sex all the time, too?" John asked.

"We're just trying to ride out the honeymoon phase," Jess grinned. "But come on, they're cute!"

"Yeah, real cute. I love seeing my brother eye-fuck his Angel," Adam groused.

Sam brought a round of drinks to the table and set one in front of Adam. "Watch it, kid. Dean, Jess, Cas

and I have all agreed that we aren't going to tease each other about our relationships anymore, but you're still open season. So, unless you want us to start discussing your current sexcapades…"

Adam held up his hands. "I surrender!" he practically shouted. "I surrender! Let's talk about sports or killing Azazel or something!"

Dean sent an apologetic look to Michael, sure that the Archangel didn't really want to hear about tawdry human sexual encounters, but Michal's face was closed off. Dean suddenly wondered what the Archangel was actually doing there, but then Castiel put his hand on his knee and Dean got the impression that Cas was glad to have some of his old family back, so he decided to let it go. Besides, Lucifer and Michael were brothers, and Castiel and Balthazar were apparently very close, so it stood to reason that Michael would now be included in whatever Lucifer and Balthazar were similarly included in.

Through his bond with Castiel, Dean felt a surge of gratitude at his resignation to Michael joining the family.

"Michael is still a very dear friend," Cas mumbled, taking Dean's hand. "And he is very honorable. You can trust him."

Dean leaned down and kissed his head. "I trust you, babe. That's all that matters."

Something twinged between them, and Dean got the impression that there was something Cas wasn't telling him. He would have asked about it, but then Jo brought the burgers, two on one plate, and set it down between the two of them.

"Oh, ha ha, Joanna Beth," Dean snarked.

Jo shrugged and turned away, her ponytail swishing as she went, her laughter ringing out behind her. Dean turned all of his attention to dinner and the plans to take on Azazel, thoughts of how Michael fit into the family slipping from his mind.

I have not yet decided the extent that Dean is going to be upset about Michael's relationship with Adam. I need to figure it out before I write it, because otherwise I think it'll get away from me. Dean is sort of a volatile character if you don't have a clear plan for him.

I hope John comes across the way I want him to. To me, he's the guy that's really trying to make it seem that he's okay with Dean being gay, while really not being okay with it. Like, he doesn't hate that Dean is gay, but it makes him uncomfortable. He's like, "Oh, no! I like gays! They're...fine! Cool! That Neil Patrick Harris...and, uh...who wouldn't go gay for Matt Bomer, right? Right? Hehe. Yeah! I'm breezy!"