Disclaimer: I don't own SPN.

So today was Muck-Up Day. I came home with shaving cream in my hair and my Hufflepuff costume covered in water and squashed strawberries. We also wrapped cling-wrap around the school, hung toilet paper in the trees, squirted the hell out of each other with water pistols, sprinkled condoms and strawberries everywhere and…yeah, it was insane. And now I'm tired. So no sexy stuff this chapter but hey, a good relationship is built on far more than JUST sex ;)

Thanks to mollienaturerocks, RangerHorseTug, masterjediratgrl31, Bipi and meet-the-winchesters for your reviews :)

80. Date

Something was niggling at Dean. Castiel could tell because Dean was unusually quiet and withdrawn, even by his own standards. So finally, Castiel took matters into his own hands.

"Dean?" he said as Dean tied his tie in preparation for a questioning, since Castiel was still utterly hopeless at tying his own tie. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Dean said, grinning. Castiel could tell that it was at least half-forced. "Why'd you say that, Cas?"

"Because I know you, Dean," Castiel said seriously. "We have been lovers for nearly a year and I have known you for far longer. Something is troubling you." He put a hand on Dean's arm. "Talk to me, Dean. Everybody says that communication is essential for a good relationship."

Dean took a moment, focusing on tying his own tie, before leaning against the wall and sighing.

"That's the problem," he said. "We've been together for nearly a year. It just hit me the other day."

Castiel frowned. Was Dean now beginning to regret their relationship? Had he realised that he could do far better than Castiel? Was that why he had been distant lately?

"Whoa! No!" Dean said suddenly. Castiel blinked, realising that his thoughts must have been showing on his face, and a small spark lit in him, both at this and at the fact that he and Dean seemed to be so attuned to each other. "No, Cas, I'm not having second thoughts or anything! It's just…" He sighed. "We sleep together and we do all that cute, cheesy 'couple' stuff and we have the best sex I've ever had but…we've never gone on a proper date."

Castiel tilted his head in confusion.

"What is a date?" he said. Dean shifted uncomfortably.

"Y'know…" he said. "We go out to some restaurant or somewhere or we take a walk together and we get to know each other."

Castiel frowned. He'd had years to get to know Dean! And he knew his human; he knew that 'sitting around and talking about your feelings' was not in Dean's comfort zone. So why did he feel the need to do this?

"I don't understand, Dean," he said. "We have known each other for years. I know so much more about you than I know about any other person. For example, I know that you are not fond of 'chick flick moments' and that spending time with me simply 'getting to know me' and 'talking about your feelings' would just make you uncomfortable."

"I know." Dean was still shifting uncomfortably. "It's just…it's traditional. I did it with Cassie and I did it with Lisa and I was serious about them back then. I know that we're anything but traditional –"

Castiel let out a low chuckle.

"– but I kinda want to do it properly, Cas. I feel like I'm screwing it up 'cause we've never gone on a date before and it's been nearly a year. I mean…you and me, we…y'know…"

He gestured wildly between himself and Castiel. Castiel knew exactly what Dean was trying to say and he smiled, love for Dean welling up inside him as a warm, fuzzy sensation. The fact that Dean was willing to undergo a human courting tradition despite being uncomfortable just to strengthen his relationship with Castiel was so touching and Castiel just couldn't help but lean over and kiss Dean forcefully.

"You don't need to do anything that you are uncomfortable with, Dean," he said firmly when he pulled away from Dean. "You just said that we are as untraditional as possible. If going on a date will unsettle you then we don't need to do that. We already know more about each other than a lot of other couples and I would not enjoy myself if I thought that you were only taking me on a date out of obligation and were not enjoying yourself."

Dean stared at Castiel for a moment, a small smile on his face, and then he reached out and grabbed Castiel, pulling him in for a hug. Castiel nuzzled into Dean's neck, embracing him tightly, and he felt Dean bury his nose in his black hair. He smiled contentedly; Dean's habit of smelling his hair was one of his favourite habits of his human's.

"What did I do to deserve you?" Castiel heard Dean murmur. He pulled back and smiled at Dean, caressing his cheek.

"Do we really need to have this conversation again?" Castiel said. "I love you, Dean, and nothing will change that." Every time he said those three words, a delicious thrill zipped through him and left him feeling warm, as though he'd had a mug of hot chocolate – only infinitely better.

"Love you too, Cas," Dean said gruffly. He paused for a moment and then shook his head. "No. Y'know what? We're doing this. I'm taking you on a date even if it kills me."

"But Dean –"

"I happen to like long walks on the beach. How 'bout it, Cas? You and me once we finish this case – we'll grab some coffee or something and go walk on that beach nearby. I'm doing this at least once even if it kills me."

For a moment, Castiel was speechless. What had he done to deserve his human? Knowing that if he kissed Dean he'd just end up undressing him and giving him the best pleasure of his life, Castiel pulled Dean in for another hug, resting his cheek against Dean's and closing his eyes.

"That would be wonderful, Dean."