Dean and Blade were both still awake when Cas came home. Dean was lying in his bed watching Doctor Who, he was trying to catch up on all of the old seasons, no mean feat as they had gone on for something like thirty years. Suddenly Blade's ears perked up and he raced excitedly down the hall, barking.

"Hey buddy," Dean heard Cas say, "Who's a good boy? Are you my good boy? Yes, you are." He pushed open the bedroom door and the dog went straight to his pillow in the corner. Now that Cas was home, Dean knew he would be out like a light and sure enough the dog was asleep as soon as he put his head down.

"Hey," Dean croaked, raising himself up on one elbow. Cas crawled onto the bed, wrapping himself as tight around Dean as he could get, burying his face in Dean's shoulder.

"Hey," Dean said again, threading his fingers into Cas' hair. Cas sniffed, tears spreading a damp stain across the collar of Dean's t-shirt.

"Baby, what happened?" Dean asked. Cas just shook his head, clinging to him tighter, trembling. Dean sighed, running a hand up and down his back.

"Okay," he murmured, "it's gonna be okay."

The silence that fell was a melody into itself, dancing on the watery blue light flooding the room. Dean pulled a blanket over them, his eyes burned, Cas' hair tickled the end of his nose. He pressed a kiss against his boy's forehead.

"He got replaced." Cas whispered.

"What?"

"He got replaced and he apologized to me." Cas pushed himself up on his elbows. Tears still trickling down his cheeks. "Dean, he apologized to me."

"I'm so sorry Castiel, for everything." His fathers grip on his hand had tightened into something almost painful, but Castiel didn't want to break free.

"I forgive you Father, of course I forgive you, but why?..."

Why now? Why after everything?

His father's face fell and he seemed to shrink back against the dull hospital blankets. His chin trembled.

"I've been asked to leave my current position," he managed, "I'm being replaced, by someone they feel the public will relate more to." He pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes, voice thick as he tried to control himself. "Patrick pulled me into a meeting where they gave me the news and all I could think as they were talking at me, was, what has been the point of all this? I'm never home, I haven't slept in the same bed as my wife in months. I don't know my children. Gabriel is almost a man and I know nothing about him. Anna is so afraid of me she won't look me in the eye and Castiel-."

The death grip he had on Castiel's hand tightened even more.

"I love you Castiel, I want you to know that. I don't understand all this, gay, stuff of yours, but I love you."

Castiel couldn't hold back his own tears anymore, they dribbled down his cheeks to drip off his chin. Eye's still screwed shut, his father went on.

"I walked out of the building and was wandering aimlessly down the road before I realized, I had no idea where I was going. I had no idea what to do. I had no one to talk to about this, I had no friends."

He took a shuddering breath, "So I went into the first gas station I came upon and bought a fifth of vodka." He laughed humorlessly, a dry little chuckle, "I don't really remember what happened after that, but I can guess." His eyes finally opened and he reached out to cup the side of his sons face.

"I can't promise I'll be perfect," he said, "but please won't you let me try to be your father again Castiel?"

….

Christmas Eve

"This is the best Christmas EVER!" Anna screamed, throwing a handful of Christmas mints into the air.

"Anna," her mother scolded, "inside voice."

Anna scuffed her foot abashed, "Sorry Mother." Castiel stifled a laugh into his sleeve.

They were crammed into his living room, The entire Novak family as well as the Winchesters and the Singers. Bobby and Mr. Novak were animatedly discussing cars in the corner while Dean and Jo sat on the floor with Gabe playing some sort of video game that involved a lot of shooting. Gabe was winning.

Castiel wanted to close his eyes and soak it all in.

The night hadn't been without it's awkward moments, like when Dean had answered the door and come face to face with Mr. Novak, for a second Castiel had been afraid his boyfriend was going to slug his father, but it was a start. Hopefully, a really good start. Castiel glanced up at the star on the Christmas tree.

"Please," he prayed, "Please let this be a really good start."

…

"Cas," Dean was shaking his shoulder, "Baby wake up."

"Hmmm?" Castiel sat up, blinking confusedly, he was in the living room, it was dark, the only light came from the Christmas tree glowing softly in the corner.

"You fell asleep after desert." Dean said, "everyone left."

"Oh," Castiel laughed his way through a yawn, "Whoops. Do you think everyone had a good night?"

"I think they did," Dean smiled, kissing his jaw. Outside the snow had started falling again, in that quiet way it had. Dean pulled Castiel to his feet, wrapping his arms around his waist.

"Merry Christmas Cas." They swayed together, taking a few slow steps. Castiel laughed.

"I didn't know you could dance."

"Only with you," he could feel Dean's smile against the side of his neck. They turned softly, basking in the Christmas trees glow. "I love you Cas."

"I love you too."

Dean unexpectedly stiffened, the dance ground to a halt.

"So," Dean's eyes were bright, eager, "I've got something to ask you," Castiel's heart flew into his throat.

"Okay," he managed.

Dean fumbled in his pocket, Castiel could barely breathe. The mechanic dropped to one knee, holding aloft a solid silver band.

"Castiel Novak, will you-."

"Yes!" Castiel shouted, bowling Dean over in the hug he bestowed on him. Blade woke up and started barking, prancing around them in a concerned circle. Castiel wouldn't let go of Dean's neck, kissing any part of his face he could reach.

"Yes, yes, yes!" he said. Dean laughed, flipping them so Cas was pinned beneath him and then gave him a proper kiss, one that said all the things he wasn't able to put into words.

"I love you Cas."

Castiel took the ring from him and slid it onto his finger, beaming through his tears. He kissed Dean, saying with it all the things he wasn't able to put into words.

"I love you too."

….

July 7th of that same year…

"I cannot believe your Dad is actually here." Dean whispered in his husband's ear as they glided around the dance floor. "He's here and he's mostly sober!"

"It's his wedding day present to us," Cas whispered back, "He said if we ever have a vow renewal he's not coming." Dean laughed. The DJ invited anyone else who wanted to out onto the floor and soon they were surrounded by smiling twirling couples. Gabe and Anna whirled past, spinning like tops, smacking into peoples legs and almost causing several collisions. Anna saw Dean watching and threw a handful of her flower girl petals in their direction.

Dean smiled, hopefully their future kids turned out halfway as decent as those two.

…

Fifteen months later…

"Can I hold her?" Anna squealed with delight as Dean handed off his daughter. The baby looked up at her aunt with wide, solemn eyes and grabbed the end of her ponytail.

"Hello Charlie," Anna grinned, "I'm your Aunt Anna, we're gonna be best friends." From over at the kitchen table Gabe snorted.

"You can't be best friends with a baby dummy." Anna rolled her eyes at him.

"I can if I want to," she insisted. Gabe stomped over to look at his niece critically.

"I don't see what's so great about her." He said, "she's just a little mooshball." He poked her fat cheek, quick as a whip Charlie turned and bit him, hard. Gabe let out a startled cry and jumped back.

"Oh sorry Gabe," Castiel laughed, "we should have warned you, she does that."

Gabe looked down at his finger in disbelief and a slow smile spread across his face.

"Okay, he admitted grudgingly, "she might be alright after all."

….

December 14th, thirty years later…

"Grandpa Dean!" a tiny orange haired creature latched itself to Deans leg the second he opened the door.

"Hey Baby Girl," Dean hoisted his granddaughter into the air, "You been getting into trouble?"

"Always Dad," Charlie laughed, coming up the steps. She kissed his cheek, smiling. "Thanks for watching her."

"Where's Grandpa Cas?" Charlie Jr. asked from Dean's arms. Dean set her down in the direction of the backyard.

"He's out back with Great-Grandpa and Uncle Gabe. Their building a snowman." Charlie Jr.'s eyes grew huge.

"Can I help?" she asked, Dean nodded and with a wave to her mother the little girl went skipping away.

"You alright sweetheart?" Dean asked his daughter as she sagged against the doorway, "you look tired."

"I am tired Dad," Charlie laughed, rubbing her eyes, "work has been crazy." Dean frowned and she laughed.

"I'll be fine, I'm just going to finish up this project and then things should calm right down." She gave him another hug and turned to walk away, then stopped, peering back over her shoulder. "Oh, right, Bonnie wanted me to ask if you wanted her to bring desert on Sunday."

"Yes, that Oreo thing she brought last week!" Charlie laughed again.

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

Dean made his way to the backyard, only to be pelted by several snowballs.

"Hey!" he sputtered in indignation.

"Got you Grandpa!" Charlie laughed, "we got you!"

"You're going to give Grandpa Dean pneumonia," Dean grumped.

"Don't be a baby Dean," Gabe laughed, forming another snowball and handing it to his father who smiled at him dotingly.

"Fine you want war?" Dean wiggled his eyebrows, "I can give you war!"

The afternoon devolved into one long snowball battle, Gabe's team won, even though Dean maintained he'd cheated, but Gabe only laughed, because where was Dean's proof of that? Anna showed up eventually for dinner and had to be called in as impartial judge.

She of course sided with Gabe.

Later after dinner, when Anna and Gabe had gone home and Great-Grandpa Novak had toddled off to bed. Cas, Dean and Charlie gathered around Cas' old piano.

"Play your song!" Charlie begged, "Please Grandpa Cas!"

"Which one?" Cas asked, blue eyes flashing behind his glasses.

"The one you wrote for Grandpa Dean!"

"Alright, but only if you'll sing the words." Cas stroked Gloria's keys with a smile and began to play. Charlie nodded along to the opening chords, outside the snow flurried against the window. Dean rested a hand on Cas' shoulder as in a thin piping voice the girl began to sing.

"On the wind, 'cross the sea, hear this song and remember. Soon you'll be, home with me, Once Upon a December…"