A/N: Summary: Sam is staying with Dean for the week, and it's finally time for Dean to introduce his boyfriend to his brother. Though Dean is excited, he's also nervous - after all, he's never been great at the whole "introducing the family" thing.

Dean's fingers were nervously drumming on the steering-wheel of the impala, the music turned down, for once almost inaudible. He was deep in thought, his mind racing and he jumped when a hand suddenly touched his thigh. "Dean," Cas' calm voice brought him back to the present and he instinctively dropped one of his hands to grab Cas' tightly. "calm down."

His boyfriend's tone was firm and Dean followed the order, taking a deep breath and trying to sort his thoughts. "Why are you so nervous?" Cas asked. "From what you've told me about Sam, he seems like a very good person. Very accepting."

Dean let out the breath he'd taken and squeezed the other man's hand. In all honesty, he'd no idea why he was so on edge about this meeting.

It was the second week of Sam's fall break from college and he was visiting Dean in Lebanon. He'd arrived the previous day and was gonna stay the whole week. The brothers had taken the first evening to catch up over home-made lasagna and beers. It had been almost six months since they'd last seen each other in person and they'd had a lot to talk about. Dean had immensely enjoyed finally spending time with his brother again, but he'd also been looking forward to introducing him to Cas. Sam had been excited about the suggestion to invite the mysterious boyfriend, that Dean had told him so much about, out to dinner the next day.

So, yesterday Dean had been more than ready to introduce the two most important people in his life, but now that they're going to meet in less than ten minutes, he was suddenly anxious. What if they didn't get along? What if Sam didn't approve of his relationship?

Dean didn't have much experience with the whole 'meeting the family' thing. The last, and only, time that he'd officially introduced a girlfriend to Sam had been Cassie just after high school. She'd broken up with him not even two weeks later. After that he'd kept his relationships to himself. Sam hadn't even formally gotten to know Lisa, who Dean had been seeing for a whole year and even temporarily lived with.

Still, this felt different. Dean had never been so sure about a relationship in his life, and even if they'd not yet officially talked about it, he was certain that both him and Cas were in it for the long run. So in conclusion, there was absolutely no fucking reason for him to be nervous.

Dean shook his head to dispel any lingering thoughts and anxiety and put on a reassuring smile. "Yeah, no. Sam's great. Sorry about acting weird, dunno what that was about."

Cas studied him for a few more seconds, but seemed to decide to let it go as he simply nodded and squeezed Dean's hand in return. They kept their hands interlocked until they reached the small restaurant where they're gonna meet Sam.

The brothers had agreed that Dean would pick up Cas after work, as their workplaces were close, and that they'd meet Sam directly at the restaurant for an early dinner. Dean had offered to pick Sam up as well, but the younger Winchester had declined, explaining that he was planning to spend the afternoon in town anyway.

When he parked the car, Dean's nervousness had luckily mostly receded and he grabbed onto Cas' hand again in determination. Cas rewarded him with a soft smile. Hands firmly interlocked, they crossed the parking lot and entered the restaurant, the bell above the door melodically announcing the new arrival.

Sam was already there. He sat in a booth at the window towards the back. When he spotted them, he waved. Dean led the way over, Cas following close behind. Sam got up to greet them and after the brothers had exchanged a short hug, Dean stepped aside and waved between the two men. "Sam, this is Castiel, my boyfriend. Cas, this is my brother."

Cas stuck out his hand to greet Sam, but the younger Winchester pulled him into a hug instead. "Hi, it's great to finally meet you. Dean has told me so much about you."

Cas looked surprised at the familiar gesture, but quickly caught himself and returned the hug with a small smile. "The pleasure is all mine."

With formal introductions done, Dean was finally starting to fully relax again. So far they seemed to get along. The three men sat down in the booth, the couple taking the bench across from Sam. "So, Cas, tell me about yourself. What do you do?" Sam asked eagerly. He was sitting right on the edge of his seat, like he couldn't wait to ask his thousand Sasquatch questions. Dean could only hope that his brother wasn't planning some kind of interrogation.

"I'm a professor at the local community college," Cas answered. "I teach some quantum physics courses, but mostly I am doing research."

"Oh yeah, Dean told me about that. It's a fascinating topic, but he didn't really go into details. I'd love to learn more about it." Sam threw Dean Bitch face number #6 and the older brother maturely stuck out his tongue in response. So what if he'd talked more about how amazing and handsome his boyfriend was than about his job. He didn't understand half of what the physics professor did anyway.

Cas' eyes, however, lit up at Sam's interest and he started talking animatedly about his newest project. Dean leaned back in his seat, listening only with half an ear. Let the two nerds geek out over science stuff. He was just glad that they got along so well. Still, he was relieved when the waitress coming over to take their order interrupted their physics talk.

"Hi, my name is Sandy, and I'll be your waitress today," the young blond haired woman introduced herself. "What can I get for you?"

"Oh, I didn't really look at the menu yet," Cas said, embarrassed. He was blushing slightly and Dean couldn't help but stare at the cute smudge of color dusting his face. "Is there something that you can recommend?"

"Well, the special today is chicken-steak with potatoes and vegetables," Sandy explained in a friendly voice. "Personally, I can also recommend the grilled cheese sandwich with sausages."

"Oh yes, that sounds good. I'll take that," Cas thanked her with a smile. "And a black coffee with some honey, please." Sandy raised one perfectly manicured eyebrow at the unusual request, but wrote it down anyway.

"I'll get a burger with a side of fries and a beer please," Dean said confidently. Sam rounded off their order with one of his weird vegetable salads and the waitress left, returning just a few minutes later with their drinks.

Dean had thought that the two other men would resume their conversation and had already resigned himself to boredom until the food would arrive, but instead Cas turned towards Sam and cleared his throat. "I brought a little something for you." He reached into his bag and pulled out a glass of honey and one of the beeswax candles that they'd made together about a month ago. He handed both over to a surprised Sam.

"The honey is from my own bees," Cas explained. "And the candle is made from their wax. Dean and I made it together."

"Wow, thanks!" Sam smiled widely at Cas and brought the candle to his nose. "It smells amazing. This is really thoughtful of you."

Cas shyly lowered his head. "You're welcome. I enjoy beekeeping and Dean has been helping me a lot with my hives. It makes me very happy."

His boyfriend turned towards Dean and gave him a fond smile. Dean blushed slightly and grabbed Cas' hand on the table to give it a light squeeze. "It's nothing," he mumbled. "I like helping you, Cas."

"Are you kidding me?" Sam's exclamation interrupted their staring, "Dean, you never told me you were helping Castiel!" He turned towards the dark-haired man and leaned over the table to whisper conspiratorially, "He's told me all about how cute it is how much you care about your bees, but he's never once confessed to participating. I was under the impression he's scared of bees."

"Hey, I'm not scared!" Dean protested loudly, but the other two ignored him. Why had he been looking forward to introducing them again?

"I think he was, in the beginning," Cas answered thoughtfully, his head cocked to the side. "But he's worked through his aversion for them and now he's comfortable handling and even holding them. I am very proud of the progress he's made."

If Sam had been a little girl, Dean would have described the sound that escaped him as a delighted squeal. His own face was burning red in embarrassment. But despite the humiliation of the conversation at his expense, his insides were warmed by Cas' comment.

"The candles were actually Dean's idea," Cas continued, oblivious to how flustered he was making Dean. "We sold most of them along with the honey at the farmers' market."

If Sam had been surprised before, now his expression could only be described as astonished. "No way! You actually got him to go to the farmers' market with you?! I've been trying to get him to join me for literal years!"

Cas just nodded with a small smile. "Yes, it was certainly no easy fee to get him to agree, but I believe that once we were there he enjoyed himself. By the second week I didn't even have to bribe him with pie anymore." He gave Dean a short glance, amusement sparkling in his blue eyes.

At this point Dean had pretty much given up on saving his reputation. He could already tell that he'd be in for endless teasing from Sam in the future. His brother would never let this go.

Sam was laughing out loud at this point. "God, I can't believe it. You have no idea how much he must actually love you, if he voluntarily joined the crazy hippy people - his words, not mine – for you."

Cas' smile widened and his grip on Dean's hand tightened momentarily, he opened his mouth, no doubt to say more embarrassing shit. Dean knew him well enough to suspect his boyfriend was probably about to repeat something incredibly sappy that Dean had told him in the confidence of their homes.

So he interrupted them loudly, "Okay, ladies, how about we move this conversation along. What about you Sammy? You still pining over that lawyer girl of yours? What was her name again?"

It worked. A blush almost instantly spread over Sam's cheeks and he was successfully distracted. "Eileen," he muttered. "her name is Eileen."

"So, have you asked her out yet?" Dean asked with a teasing grin. "He's been crushing on her since the beginning of summer," he said to Cas in explanation when Sam shook his head with a sigh. "She's in one of his classes, but he's never even managed to talk to her."

Sam glared at him. "I've talked to her!"

"Not when I last talked to you," Dean shot back.

"Yeah, well, I've talked to her since then. I helped her find a book in the library when the clerk didn't understand what she was asking. She's deaf," he explained for Cas. "I've been trying to learn some ASL so I could communicate with her before asking her out."

"She sounds very special," Cas said. "Few would be willing to learn an entirely new language for someone."

"She is," Sam sighed again. Seriously, he was like a love-sick puppy with his big eyes and floppy hair. "She's a semester lower than me, but she's incredibly smart. And funny. And pretty..."

Dean laughed at his brother's expression, earning another glare from him, but Cas gave Sam a sympathetic smile and reached over a hand to gently touch his arm. "I think you should ask her for a date. She sounds lovely and you clearly like her. If it is meant to be, she'll say yes."

Sam nodded and gave Cas a grateful look. Before he could answer, however, the waitress brought their food. They started eating, all the while continuing to talk. Sam spoke a bit more about Eileen, before delving into stories about his college experience. He told Cas how he'd taken a break from college at 22 after his first serious girlfriend had broken up with him. He'd spend about two years traveling, and then another one helping Dean out at Bobby's garage to earn some money before returning to law school. In return Cas shared some of his own stories about working as a professor.

After they'd finished eating, Cas excused himself to the bathroom, leaving the brothers alone to talk for a moment. Dean leaned forward in his seat expectantly. "So? What do you think about him?"

"He's a great guy," Sam said, carefully wiping his mouth on a napkin. "He seems very nice and sweet."

"But?" Dean asked, his brows furrowing. "Why am I sensing a 'but' in there?"

Sam shrugged. "I like him, really. I'm just surprised. He's really not the kind of person I'd have seen you dating."

For a moment Dean's blood ran cold. He'd never given it much thought that Sam might not approve of his relationship. His brother had known he's bisexual since their early twenties, but this was the first time Sam'd actually seen Dean dating a man. What if he wasn't as okay with it as he'd always appeared?

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dean snapped, his tone defensive. Under the table his hands were slowly balling into fists.

Sam gave him a startled look. A second later it seemed to dawn on him how his words had sounded and he quickly shook his head. "Oh! Gosh, no! I only mean that he's different from your usual type. You know? He's so…" Sam waved his hand, searching for the right words, "hippy-like," he finally ended with. "I mean, I'd have never seen you with a beekeeper of all people."

Dean gave his brother another scrutinizing look, but then he relaxed. He leaned back in the booth and casually threw one arm across the back. "Yeah, me neither. But I dunno, Cas and I just… fit. It might sound cheesy, but the very first time we met, I knew there was something between us. Since then, I can't see myself with anyone else."

Sam smiled at that and leaned over to place a hand on Dean's arm. "I'm happy for you. Really. Castiel seems like a very sweet guy, and I can see how much he means to you."

"Thanks," Dean replied roughly and cleared his throat. He was glad when Cas returned and interrupted their chick-flick moment. He scooted into the booth and Dean immediately put an arm around him.

After that their conversation returned to casual topics. They ordered a round of beers when Sandy came to take their dishes back to the kitchen. It was slowly getting dark outside when they got to the topic of family. Cas already knew about how their mother had died in a house fire when they were kids and that they weren't in contact with their father anymore. ("Homophobic asshole." "Sam!")

Instead, the brothers told Cas about their large family of friends at the roadhouse. Jo, the daughter of the bar owner Ellen, was almost like a little sister to them. Then there were Jody and Donna, with their adopted girls. Cas had already met Bobby, their honorary father, when he'd visited Dean at the garage once. "You should really meet all of them soon," Dean said and gestured wildly with his second beer. "None of them are technically related, but you know, family don't end with blood."

"I'd love to meet all of them," Cas said seriously. "Especially if they're important enough to you to be considered family."

"What about your family?" Sam asked Cas. "Are you planning to introduce Dean soon?" Dean's head instantly snapped towards his brother and his face darkened in anger. Sam knew that Cas had a bad relationship with his family, Dean had told him that before. Where did his brother get off asking insensitive questions like this?!

Before he could blow up on his brother for being inappropriate, Cas put his hand on his thigh under the table. The touch calmed Dean down again. "I am low contact with most of them," he answered Sam in a serious voice. "My parents are very religious. I only see them on holidays. I have multiple siblings, but only a good relationship with one brother, Gabriel. The others don't like talking to me since they've learned that I am gay."

Sam at least had the decency to look sheepish. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"It is fine," Cas said. "I do not much care for their approval or their affection. My parents don't know about my sexuality, or I imagine I would have long been disowned. So it isn't a topic of conversation and we all just play it civil."

The statement was followed by a short period of awkward silence and they were quick to change the topic after that.

It didn't take long until Sam and Cas were back to talking animatedly about some new studying system. It was getting late and Dean soon excused himself to go pay the bill. As he looked back at his baby brother and his boyfriend talking, a warm feeling swelled in his chest. They were getting along like a house on fire. He was glad.

He returned to the table, interrupting the two nerds. "Time to go," he announced. He grabbed Cas' hand and pulled him out of the booth, giving him a quick kiss once he was standing. "Are you gonna join us at my house this evening?" he asked.

"I'd like to…" Cas threw an uncertain look at Sam, who was in the process of pulling on his jacket. The taller man shrugged with only one arm in the sleeve. "I don't have anything against it."

"Cool, then it's settled," Dean grinned and pulled Cas after him, leaving Sam stumbling to follow. "Cas gets shotgun," he called over his shoulder once they'd exited the restaurant.

He ignored Sam's indignant cry as he laughed out loud. He pulled his boyfriend into another quick kiss, before opening the car door for him. With the two most important people in his life by his side, he couldn't have been happier in that moment.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the story this far. This is the last chapter that I had pre-planned. I might add more when I feel like it, but until then I'm gonna mark this as complete. If you wanna get notified about potential updates in the future, consider following the story.