Castiel and Dean sat together under their favorite tree. They looked in front of them, not saying anything for a long time.

Finally, Castiel spoke.

"Do you really have to move, Dean?" he asked softly, as if hoping the desperation in his voice would somehow stop the inevitable from happening.

"I wish I didn't, Cas," Dean replied, turning his gaze further away. "But this promotion is really important to my dad, and to my family. But California isn't too far away from here."

"It's all the way across the country, Dean," Castiel said sadly.

"It could be all the way across the world, though," Dean said with a soft laugh, trying to lighten the mood. Castiel only gave a sad sigh in response.

"I don't want to go into the second grade without you, Dean. If I get bullied, you won't be there to protect me anymore..."

"If you get bullied, I'll walk back by myself and personally kick them in the butt for you, Cas."

Finally Castiel let out a small giggle. Dean laughed with him. They sat for a few more minutes, until they heard Dean's mother calling his name.

They both stood up, and looked at each other for the first time since they had gotten to the tree.

"I guess... this is goodbye then," Castiel said, his eyes glossy from tears that were beginning to form.

"Not goodbye, Cas. Just... see you later."

Castiel smiled and hugged Dean. "Okay... see you later, Dean."

"See you later, Cas."

The boys didn't stop hugging until Dean's mother called his name again. Dean hopped on his bike and rode home, slower than he usually did. Once Dean was out of sight, Castiel picked up his own bike and rode home in the other direction, his eyes stinging from the tears that he was trying to not cry. He eventually arrived home and walked inside, sniffling quietly. His mother turned from the stove when she heard the front door open.

"Cassie, is that you?" she called.

"It's me mom," Castiel responded.

"Go upstairs and get your brother. The Winchesters are going to be over soon for dinner."

Castiel's heart leapt. Dean was coming over for dinner? So that wasn't goodbye just now! It really was see you later.

Castiel excitedly ran up the stairs and grabbed on Luke's shirt. He was in the middle of writing a paper for one of his classes. He groaned and pulled off his headphones.

"Come on, Cas, we can play later. I'm busy right now."

"Dinner is soon! Mom said get ready!"

Luke smiled. "Oh yeah, forgot the Winchesters were heading this way."

He stood up and stretched. "Alright, short stack, I'll be down in a couple minutes."

Cas grinned at him before running back downstairs. He was just in time for the door bell to ring. He ran to the door and threw it open to see Dean and his parents, holding a very tiny Sam in their hands. Castiel's mom came to the door behind him and smiled.

"John, Mary, it's so good to see you all one more time before the move," Mrs. Novak said, pulling them each into hugs. "Come in, come in. Dinner is almost ready!"

Castiel absolutely rejoiced in being surrounded by all of his favorite people in the world. It made the fact that starting tomorrow he wouldn't be able to go to Dean's house anymore only… slightly less painful. But eventually, the time came, and the Winchesters had to get ready to go. Castiel had begged and begged both Dean's parents and his own to let Dean spend the night one more time, but the Winchesters had to leave very early in the morning. Dean turned to Castiel and gave him a sad look.

"I'm sorry, Cas," he said, pulling him into a tight hug. "I promise I'll be back before you know it."

Castiel hugged back even tighter? "Promise?"

"I promise."

The Winchesters left and in the morning when Castiel went for a bike ride, their house was completely barren, with nothing but a haunting for-sale sign blowing lazily in the early morning wind.

With his eyes blurred with tears, Castiel turned around and went home. He didn't want to feel.