Cas was sitting perched at the kitchen counter, head propped up on his hand as he scanned the paper over his coffee and cornflakes, when Balthazar strode in, bathrobe flaring out behind him dramatically as only Balthazar was able to do as he made a beeline for the coffee. Once he had taken the first sip and relaxed back against the counter with a sigh, he fixed Cas with an expectant stare.

"What?" Cas asked, face growing warm under the scrutiny.

"How'd your date with the movie star go last night?"

Cas rolled his eyes and went back to the sports section. "It wasn't a date Balthazar."

"You two had dinner together did you not?"

"Yes, but half my family was there as well."

"But you drove down and back together. And you spent sometime alone in his hotel room ." He smirked and raised a lascivious eyebrow.

Cas rolled his eyes in the face of his roommate's suggestive expression.

"I just went there to get my shirt back okay? Nothing happened. And nothing is going to happen Balth, we're just friends. Not even, acquaintances. Nothing more."

He stood to pass Balthazar with his bowl and mug on the way to the sink when the Englishman stopped him with a hand on his shoulder."

"Look Castiel." He said in an uncharacteristically serious tone. "I know I haven't met him in person, but this," he held up his phone and showed it to Cas, "is not the face of a man looking at his friend."

Cas took the phone. It showed a picture from last night's dinner, one he suspected Gabriel of taking, of Dean looking over at Cas while he spoke with someone off camera. Dean was staring at Cas with intensity, hanging on his words, a smile on his lips and light in his eyes, and Cas found himself smiling softly at it. He tapped the screen a few times and the phone in his pocket buzzed with the incoming picture and he continued to stare, caught up in the expression on Dean's face. And then he realized what he was doing and shook his head as though trying to snap himself out of it. It was a photo. A moment in time. It didn't prove anything, all it did was lend fire to the already absurd crush he had on the man.

He handed the phone back.

"That doesn't mean anything Balthazar. Besides, Dean's straight. Notoriously so."

Balthazar scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Please! Did you see that E! interview with Aaron Bass? You could cut the sexual tension with a knife. If Dean Winchester is a hundred percent hetero, I'm a fucking nun."

And with that, he swept out of the kitchen leaving Cas with thoughts that followed him to the bookshop and stayed with him as he sat through yet another barren Monday.

He was so involved with his daydreams of forest coloured eyes and strong hands that he didn't register the bell tinkling and only realized there was another person in the store when a voice clearing broke him out of his reverie.

He looked up and into the eyes of the object of his distraction.

"You always this observant?" Dean asked with a cheeky smile.

Cas chuckled.

"No. A customer is such a rarity, I'm usually on them in seconds."

Dean leaned his forearms on the counter, threading his fingers together into fists, and cocked his head.

"Well then, aren't I special."

Cas smiled and shifted a few papers around to distract himself from the fact that Dean's face, Dean's lips, were right there and, instead, cleared his throat and asked, "So, what are you doing here? Looking for a birthday present for another estranged relative?"

Dean shrugged, "Well, Bobby's birthday isn't until August but I suppose it wouldn't help to scope out some possibilities." He turned back to Cas, "But no, actually I was bored at the hotel so I thought I'd come hang out with you for a bit."

Cas blinked.

"Me? Why? Don't you have other people to see? Don't you have like a..." He fished for the word, "An entourage? Or a posse? Or something?"

Dean laughed, deep and rich.

"Me? No. Never really been one for all that. I like people well enough but I'm not great at keeping friendships." He shrugged, as though wanting to convey that it was no big deal but his eyes said otherwise, "Fallout from my childhood I suppose, we kept leaving places so much it became easier not to get attached."

Cas' heart broke a little for the man.

"That...kind of sucks." He said.

Dean grinned and shrugged.

"I'm used to it. But I like you Cas, even if you are kind of weird."

Cas smiled, taking it as the compliment it was meant to be.

...

Dean ended up hanging around for the next few hours and showed no signs of leaving. For a while he perched on the counter, attempting to distract Cas while he was trying to get some accounting done. He seemed to tire of it quickly though when Cas wouldn't respond to his tactics so he contented himself with wandering the store, picking up the occasional book and flipping through it. Cas found him at around two in the afternoon sitting on the couch and flipping through a large book on vintage cars. He looked up as Cas came over and held it up for him to see.

"Look, my baby's famous." He proclaimed with a wide smile, pride gleaming in his eyes.

Cas took the book and settled down on the couch beside Dean. He ran his fingers over the glossy photograph of the 1967 Chevy Impala that gleamed in the sunlight.

"You really love your car." He murmured, and glanced up to see Dean nod.

"She was my home you know? The only thing that stayed the same no matter where we went. I grew up in that car. Learned to drive in it. Taught Sammy to drive in it. When I turned nineteen, my dad gave her to me." He smiled, "I was so excited."

He stopped and looked back down at the page. Cas stared at Dean a beat longer, taking in the love he could see in his eyes and his face and his words before allowing his own to fall to the page as well.

...

"Is that your dad?"

Cas had just finished with a customer and Dean was leaning against the counter and looking up at the pictures hung behind the till.

"Yes." Cas answered, "That was the day he officially handed ownership of the store over to me."

He smiled up at the photograph and at the memories of his father that still imbued the store with a special kind of magic.

"Why was it you that got the store?"

Cas shrugged.

"I always showed the most interest. All of us at one point or another worked here, but Michael wanted to be a lawyer and Lucifer was dead set on being a surgeon. Gabriel went off to pastry school and Anna became quite a good photographer."

"What about Charlie? What does she do?"

"She's a tech genius. About three months after she moved in with mom and dad she hacked into this gaming company's website, stole a game, reprogrammed it, and released it for free. She probably would have been arrested if it hadn't been for Michael."

Dean raised an eyebrow.

"Holy shit."

"Yeah."

"So it's just you and that eager kid I talked to?"

"Oh, Alfie? He helps on weekends. Otherwise it's just me. Gabriel comes in sometimes when he's bored. Often he'll open because he gets to the bakery at like four o'clock in the morning. I swear it's like the guy's allergic to sleep."

Dean chuckled.

Just then, as though he'd been summoned, Gabriel stepped through the door, pulling off his sunglasses and smirking when he caught sight of Dean.

"Baby bro, Dean," He greeted, "look at you two, you're inseparable. It's cute."

Cas rolled his eyes.

"What are you doing here Gabriel?"

"Relieving you so you can get out of this place for five seconds before you go insane from inhaling too many fumes from all the old books. Go! Before the bakery closes."

Cas glanced over at Dean.

"You hungry?

Dean shrugged.

"I could eat."

Cas moved to the door, holding it open for Dean to pass through as Gabriel settled behind the desk, a smug smile gracing his face.

Castiel noticed the stares the moment they stepped out of the store and began the short walk to Gabriel's bakery. For someone who was used to moving through life unnoticed, it was downright unsettling to have every other person who walked by see them, stare unabashedly, and, in the case of there being more than one person walking together, begin whispering to each other the moment they'd passed. By the time they reached Angel Cakes, Cas was glad to be in the familiar space.

"Is it like that all the time for you?" He asked Dean quietly as they stepped inside.

Dean shrugged.

"You get used to it." He answered.

Somehow, Cas didn't quite believe him.

They approached the register, the cashier looking up as they reached the counter.

"Hey Kevin," Cas greeted, "how's school?"

Kevin smiled and shrugged.

"Hey Cas, school's good, you know, the usual."

"Good, good." He turned and gestured to Dean, "This is—"

"Yeah, yeah." Kevin interrupted, with a bored nod, "Dean Winchester. I know. Gabriel told me."

Dean started and then smiled.

"I like you. You got any pie?"

Dean ended up getting a slice of apple while Cas was given a bowl of soup and a crusty piece of bread by Kevin who threatened to rat him out to his brother on pain of death if he didn't eat the whole thing.

Dean smirked the whole way to the table and Cas sighed as he set the bowl and plate down.

"Sometimes I get so focused on work that I forget to eat." He explained, "When I was in the middle of the divorce, I was so distracted and stressed that I didn't eat for five days. Gabriel was there when I passed out. Ever since then he's been a little overbearing when it comes to getting me to eat."

Dean shrugged.

"That's what older brothers are for." He said simply and then he took a bite of his pie and his eyes fluttered closed in delight and he moaned, a sound that shot straight to Castiel's lower regions and made him very glad that they were now sitting down.

"It's good I take it?" He asked with a smile.

Dean nodded.

"Almost the best I've ever had."

Cas raised an eyebrow.

"Almost?"

Dean shrugged.

"My mom used to make pie." He said by way of explanation.

Cas nodded knowingly.

"I used to make bread with Claire."

Dean looked up from his pastry.

"How old is she?"

"She'll be ten in July." He rifled around in his pocket and pulled out his wallet, taking out the picture he kept in there and handing it to Dean.

He looked, a smile gracing his features, before handing it back.

"She looks like a good kid."

Cas nodded, staring down at the daughter he hadn't seen in nearly a year.

"Yeah." He murmured, slipping it back in with the bills and receipts.

They ate silently for a while, Dean engrossed in his pie and Castiel trying not to think about his daughter.

...

Once Dean had collected all the stray crumbs on his plate and Cas had wiped the soup bowl clean with the last of his bread, they stood to return their plates to the counter and turned to each other.

"Well," Cas began awkwardly, "I've got to get back to the store."

Dean nodded.

"I uh, I've actually got some stuff to do, promotions for the film, interviews and all that."

Cas' heart sank a little. He knew Dean's continued company was too good to be true.

"But after, do you wanna maybe get some dinner?"

Cas perked up.

"Really? You just spent half the day with me in the shop and you still want to hang out?"

Dean chuckled.

"Why do you think so little of yourself Cas? Is it so unbelievable to you that someone might enjoy the pleasure of your company?"

"It's a hangover from Catholic school." Cas explained with a shrug. "Plus my life recently hasn't exactly been brimming with social engagements."

"Well then, we should fix that. I'll pick you up at your place at seven. Sound good?"

Cas could do nothing but nod.

…

"Why don't you talk to your brother?"

They'd finished dinner. Cas had assumed Dean would want to go somewhere fancy and expensive, but when Cas had asked what he was in the mood for, Dean had said burgers, so here they were at a dingy, greasy spoon that sold the best burger Chicago had to offer (in Castiel's humble opinion).

Dean blanched at the question and set down his scrunched napkin, taking a long pull from his second beer.

"You don't have to answer." Cas hastily amended, "I was just...wondering."

Dean cleared his throat and looked up at Castiel, seeming to deliberate for a moment before glancing away out the window.

"My dad didn't want Sam going to college. I don't really know why. Maybe because he didn't go, maybe because he was protective of Sam and didn't want him out of his sight." He shrugged, "Whatever the reason, they got into a huge fight the night Sam graduated from high school and finally came clean about his acceptance and eventually, I got dragged into it as well. Sam looked to me to side with him against dad and I...didn't. It wasn't that I didn't think he should go, boy's smart as a whip, it'd be a shame to see all that potential go to waste. But still, I...I guess I was so used to following dad's orders that I just...that and I didn't want Sam to leave. I guess it was selfish of me but, my whole life had kind of revolved around him. I didn't really want to lose another member of my family you know?"

Cas nodded, he knew all too well.

"Anyway, Sam was pissed and he left and changed his phone number and basically didn't talk to me for three years until I showed up at his apartment to tell him dad had died. Now, we talk on holidays and birthdays but, we don't really see each other. We're both super busy. Also, I kind of missed his wedding."

"What? Why?"

Dean shrugged.

"I got stuck filming in England. It was my first major role and I was all set to leave for a few days and then some production disaster happened and I had to stay. Sammy never really forgave me."

"Yeah, that's kind of a dick move."

Dean looked playfully affronted.

"Hey!"

Cas shrugged.

"I'm just saying it's a poor excuse."

"Yeah." Dean agreed, "I think I was mostly afraid."

"Afraid of what?" Cas asked with a frown.

"What Sam would think of me. What his fiancée and her family would think of me."

"What were you afraid they'd think?"

Dean didn't speak, just chewed at his bottom lip.

"Does this have to do with what your father said to you when he found out you were a model?"

Dean looked up and Cas could see the answer in his eyes before he looked away with a bitter chuckle.

"You're probably right."

Cas looked down at the remainder of his fries.

"I guess I'm not really one to talk, I don't speak to Michael or Lucifer at all. Not even on special occasions."

"Is it just 'cause of the gay thing?" Dean asked, draining the last of his beer.

Cas sat back in the booth and sighed.

"There were...extenuating circumstances." He answered enigmatically, "When I came out I also left my church. Our family has always been very involved in the congregation there and I think they saw the whole thing as a betrayal."

Dean scrunched his face up.

"A betrayal of what?"

"My faith." Cas shrugged, "My family. I think they just couldn't understand why I couldn't just keep living the way I had been. They couldn't accept that it was killing me."

Dean nodded and looked like he was about to say something, but instead he just smiled and signalled for the cheque.

...

They ended up on the waterfront again. Passing the Bean in Millennium park and walking along the lake. They stopped and leant against the railing, looking out at the abyss of Lake Michigan as it stretched into the darkness.

"Dean."

The actor glanced over, regarding Cas through the fading light.

"Yeah?"

Cas turned, heart thumping, palms sweating.

"What is this?"

"What do you mean?"

Cas straightened.

"Why are you spending so much time with me?"

Dean shrugged.

"'Cause I like you? I enjoy your company?"

Cas nodded.

"Okay. Is that all?"

Dean was silent a moment.

"No." He answered softly, turning so he was facing Cas and crowding in closer. "No, that's not all."

"Oh." Cas replied, his breathing intensifying the closer Dean got, "What else is there?"

He didn't say anything, just moved in closer, slowly, so that Cas had time to register that Dean Fucking Winchester was about to kiss him.

Their lips met and it was at once soothing and exhilarating. His heart was pounding the same as before but for an entirely different reason and heat was pooling low in his belly, urging him closer to Dean. He crowded in, bringing his hands up to clutch at wide, strong shoulders and vaguely he felt Dean's arms wrap around him, pulling him closer still.

It was so very different from kissing Amelia, who had always been somewhat stiff and clinical when it came to sexual intercourse. Dean was eager and passionate and by the time they finally broke apart, Castiel's skin was buzzing.

Dean's hand was on his face, his thumb stroking over his cheek, a soft smile playing at his lips.

Castiel's breath left him in a gush.

"Wow." He breathed.

Dean huffed out a laugh.

"Yeah?" He asked quietly.

Castiel nodded, "Yeah."

Dean's smile was blinding.

...

The car pulled to a stop in the hotel parking garage and Dean killed the engine. In the wake of the noise that echoed even louder in the underground lot, the silence settled heavily over the two of them as Castiel unclasped his seatbelt and moved to open the door.

"Hey Cas."

He turned back to Dean who was still sitting, studying the steering wheel.

"Yes Dean."

He looked up and they locked eyes.

"I ummm..." He trailed off with a frustrated sigh, "I'm not...I mean, I don't..."

He let out an aggravated sound and Cas slid across the bench seat and rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"What is it?"

"I'm not...out. At least not to the public. It's not that I'm ashamed or in denial, it's just that it's difficult in this industry, especially being bi, they want you one or the other you know? And it's hard to convince people that being bisexual is actually a thing, let alone getting them to accept you. I'm not asking you to hide or go back into the closet for me. I don't want to force you to do anything that might hurt you. I'm just asking for this to be kept under the radar for now."

Cas stared at the nerves he could see shining out from Dean's bright eyes and feel through the stiff set of his shoulders and smiled, leaning in to place a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Don't worry." He said once they'd broken apart, "I'm having a hard time believing this is real anyway."

Dean smirked.

"Oh? Well I think I can do something about convincing you."

They kissed in the elevator. All clutching hands and clasping fingers. The private lift went all the way to the suite from the parking level so they were able to bypass the lobby and any potential scandal. Dean was surprisingly chaste despite his attitude and earlier words, keeping his kisses soft and his caresses light. Cas on the other hand was living out nearly every sexual fantasy he'd had since first laying eyes on Dean Winchester back in his soap opera days, long before he'd ever fully accepted what the thoughts meant beyond that they were a blasphemous secret that must never be told. But here he was with Dean's tongue in his mouth and his body responding very enthusiastically. He let out a sound that might have been a growl of some kind and pushed them back until Dean made contact with the side of the elevator. They broke for breath and Dean chuckled.

"Impatient much?"

"Shut up."

The doors opened with a ding.

"Dad!"

Cas turned his head and jumped back just as a young child barrelled into the elevator.

Dean knelt and pulled the boy in for a hug, masking his surprise with an enthusiastic, "Hey buddy!"

They moved out of the elevator and Cas stood in shock as the doors began to close. He contemplated just staying inside, but instead, reached a hand out to stop them and stepped out into the foyer.

"What are you doing here?" Dean was asking the boy, surreptitiously trying to straighten his collar and smooth down his hair, masking any evidence of what they had been doing on the boardwalk or in the impala or the elevator.

The message was very clear: it had never happened.

"Surprising you of course."

A new voice called out from inside the suite and then Lisa Braeden - model, TV presenter, occasional actress, and Dean Winchester's notorious on again, off again girlfriend - was standing in the foyer with them.

Dean straightened and stared.

"Lisa?"

She smiled.

"Surprise!"

Dean stared mutely and Cas watched in growing horror as she moved forward, pulled him into an embrace, and kissed him.

Cas' stomach sank and he averted his eyes, trying to find anything to focus his attention on so he didn't have to watch the lips that had just been kissing his, kissing someone else's.

They broke apart and Lisa smiled up at Dean.

"Surprised?"

Dean chuckled.

"Uhh, yeah."

"Who are you?"

The child, who Cas could only assume was Ben Braeden, was staring up at him and the question startled him out of his thoughts.

"Ben! Manners!" Lisa scolded before glancing up at Castiel with a frown.

He floundered and said the first thing that popped into his head.

"Room service."

She nodded, "Oh!" And then frowned, "Don't you guys usually wear a uniform?"

Cas glanced down at the blazer and slacks he had agonized over this afternoon with Balthazar offering unhelpful remarks while lounging on his bed texting.

"Dea- Mr. Winchester caught me in the lobby as I was leaving."

"Okay! Well, honey, do you want anything?" She asked to Ben who shook his head. "Maybe we could have some fruit sent up? Maybe some crackers and cheese. Oh! And there are some dirty plates in there." She pointed into the dining room.

Cas swallowed and nodded, making his way into the suite.

"Actually, I don't think that's his job." Dean began.

Castiel turned.

"It's all right sir, it's no trouble at all." His voice was monotone, a symptom of the shock that seemed to have taken over. He could see spots of colour in Dean's cheeks, though whether that was from embarrassment for Castiel or shame for being caught out in a lie, he wasn't sure. Either way he ignored it and picked up the dirty dishes, wanting to get his humiliation over with as quickly as possible.

"Is there anything else?" He asked softly, averting his gaze.

Lisa looked up at Dean expectantly.

"No. No, that's fine."

Cas nodded and moved towards the elevator. He felt movement behind him and turned to see Lisa pushing Dean towards him with an expectant look.

Cas avoided Dean's gaze and instead looked to the hand that was outstretched towards him, a crisp $10 bill clutched between his thumb and fingers.

Cas contemplated not taking it, just walking out without another word, but ultimately decided that it would seem too suspicious so instead he reached out, knuckles brushing Dean's briefly as he took the money, and instantly felt a swell of something akin to shame flood through him, as though he were accepting payment for something underhanded or salacious, like his silence on the matter. He uttered a soft "thank you sir." Without looking up and stepped into the elevator, hitting the lobby button with numb fingers. He turned and caught Dean's eyes. There was something in them, pain or sadness, or perhaps it was just wishful thinking on Castiel's part.

Whatever reason, he held the gaze until the doors shut and he was once again alone.

He left the empty plates on a chair in the lobby and let the desk clerk know to send up the requested items. Then he left the hotel and walked the hour and a half back to his townhouse, wondering all the while how everything could have gone so wrong so fast.