Note: Okay, sad one first. :D This is a prompt that my sister or I came up with, and we both did a little drabble for it. Mine came out all sad, and her's came out all funny. (It's usually the opposite.)

Season: Up to Season 4.3. (spoilers for "The Kids Are All Right")

- - -

"Starting Over"

Seems like it's been awhile since Dean thought about how everything turned out, how his brother died, how he lived.

He hasn't been drunk in a ditch, or anything... just drifting. Here and there, seeing the Grand Canyon, finally. He has time now. Even time to think about what he's gonna do for the rest of his life.

Once or twice, he's almost set out to visit Lisa and Ben. But he keeps changing his mind.

Now he's trying to look normal in restaurants, feeling like he has an arm missing every time he notices a hottie and wants to say something to--

But Sam isn't there to say anything to, so he shuts his mouth and stares at whatever he's got on his plate at the time.

He thinks about going to see Lisa again, but stops the train of thought. 'If you're gonna start over, start over fresh.'

So he finally gets a house. Nowhere near Kansas, nowhere near anything that reminds him of anything. That's the best he can do for now.

He's coming back from his job at the mechanic's shop one evening, when he sees the little boy on his front porch. He thinks, 'Great, now the kids are starting to think I'm *that* dude. The freak that lives alone and sacrifices the neighbors pets to false gods...'

He decides to nip it in the bud. "Hey!" He grabs the kid and shakes him a little. "Who said you could come up here?"

The little boy flinches and for a moment, Dean sees an image overlapping the young face. He sees blue eyes and dark hair and a serious expression. "Cas..." He doesn't realize he's said it aloud until the boy shakes his head.

"I don't have a name... sir."

Dean wants to say, "Oh, my God," but nothing comes out but air. He knows it's Castiel. He doesn't know how he knows, only that God's sense of humor never ceases to amaze and irritate him.

He lets go and looks around nervously. "Uh... that's your name. Cas."

"It sounds like a nickname." The kid's completely serious.

Dean doesn't pay attention for a sec. He's trying to decide what he's gonna do. Drop him off somewhere? Find a home for him? He doesn't remember anything... so it wouldn't cause problems.

'He doesn't remember...'

So it wouldn't remind him. A fresh start. "What are you talking about? Cas is a name." He ruffles the kid's unruly hair. "Come on, you look like skin and bones. Want some fruit loops?"

"What's that?"

Dean chuckles. "You've got a lot to learn, kid. And number one? I'm in charge."

- end -