Dean stood and breathed in the silence, and the scents wafting out of his beautiful commercial grade ovens. It would be another two hours before he officially opened his business.

His business.

He imagined Castiel would still be snoozing peacefully in their bed, and he felt a twinge of guilt that he had snuck out without warning. His body just wouldn't stay still a moment longer. The nerves and excitement rippled under his skin, he had been sure at three separate moments that he was going to puke, faint, or go up in flames.

"Hey Mom," he said quietly. "I… I want to say that I did this for you, because of you." He shifted, momentarily uncomfortable talking out loud, all alone, in a semi dark room. "I want to say that," He began again, more sure of himself. "But I can't. I did this for me. Every time I roll out a pie crust, I think of you, it makes me feel like maybe you're still hanging around or something." He ran his hands over the smooth wooden counter tops, swallowing down a hard lump. "I never thought I would feel good again after you died. What a deep thought for a four year old, huh?" A timer dinged and he efficiently pulled out a tray of sugar cookies and slid another one in. "I'm okay, Mom. I'm in love, and he loves me back…I'm gonna make a mark with this place. And I'm still going to think of you every time I make a pie."

He scrubbed his hands over his face and swallowed down another giant lump. He checked his timers and walked out to the main room to check on everything for the fifteenth time.

Castiel grumbled to himself as he parked his truck behind Dean's bakery. He pushed down his annoyance, having woken up to an empty bed and a hastily written note on the back of an old receipt. He should have known Dean would take off hours before it was necessary. The man had been a bundle of nervous energy the last few days between the impending opening and his new niece. He grinned when he thought of the baby. Emily Grace was only days old and she already had everyone completely devoted to her every whim. His mother had shocked him by showing up at the hospital the day after the birth within an hour of his call to share Dean's good news with her. 'The family that welcomes my children is my family,' she told him. And then she went into mother mode and clucked at Dean until he sat down and ate the chicken salad sandwich she had brought for him.

Still grinning over the memory he climbed out of the vehicle and grabbed the package he had hidden in the cab a few days before.

Dean was gently cutting a tray of fat, sticky cinnamon rolls when he walked in the door. Cas didn't know if his mouth began to water from the delicious smells surrounding him, or the sight of Dean in a dark blue apron. He cleared his throat to alert his boyfriend to his presence so he didn't startle him. Dean looked over his shoulder and smiled, oblivious to the smear of cream cheese frosting on his cheek. Cas walked over and kissed him, and then wiped the sugary stuff off with his thumb.

"Mmm, maybe we should bring some of this home tonight," he teased with a saucy wink after he sucked it off his hand.

"Frosting in the bedroom? Now that's taking your work home with you." Dean bantered back as he washed his hands. "Look, I'm sorry I left so early…" Castiel waved his apology off.

"Don't worry about, I completely understand." He shifted the package in his arm. "But I do want you to open this before I explode." He set it down on a table. Dean cocked an eyebrow in a silent question and Castiel shrugged, suddenly embarrassed. "It's just a little something." Dean slid his finger under the paper and popped the tape. His face softened and brightened as he ripped the paper away to reveal what Cas had brought him.

The edges of the sign still had the bark clinging to the wood. Castiel had sealed the entire thing with a few coats of polyurethane so the natural color and grain of the wood was preserved. On one side the words "Welcome, Please Come In", on the other "Hope To See You Another Time" burned in elegant font. A sturdy brass chain formed a strong loop. Castiel pulled out a matching brass hook from his pocket.

"I thought we could hang it over the front door," he said timidly.

"Cas, this is…" Dean's voice was thick with emotion. "When did you have time to make this?" He knew how busy Castiel had been, finishing up work on the bakery and trying to find time for projects for his own store. Castiel closed his hand over Dean's.

"I will always find time for you, Dean."

"Goddamn it, dude." Dean furiously wiped at the tears that spilled down his cheeks. "I wasn't going to have any chick flick moments today." Castiel laughed and pulled Dean into his arms.

"You are an idiot."

"Yeah, why do you put up with me again?"

"Because life is short, and you are very hot." They both laughed and Dean shoved him away.

"Let's go put that hook up, we open in thirty minutes and I need to do something before I nearly throw up for the hundredth time."

They had no sooner gotten the hook screwed into the beam beside the door when Sam's car pulled up.

"What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn't you guys have the baby at home? It's fucking cold out, man!" Jess made a dismissive sound and wrapped Dean in a hug. Mother and baby had only been released to go home the previous afternoon. "Seriously, you should be at home resting, Jess."

"Never felt better! Now that I don't have a small human pressing against my bladder I'm in a much better mood." Sam stepped onto the sidewalk with the car seat.

"Don't let her fool you, she's exhausted, I'm exhausted. But we were up for a feeding and we wanted to come over for the opening before you get swamped."

"I doubt I'll have a lot of traffic today, it's the first day," Dean scoffed. He herded his brother's family into the building. "Sit down, Mama. I'll brew you a nice cup of tea."

"Don't you dare, I want the most decadent cappuccino on your menu."

"Jess…"

"Samuel Winchester I am having coffee full of caffeine and so help me God if you try and stop me with a lecture about the evils of processed sugar I will shave your head." The younger Winchester clamped his mouth shut and sat down next to his wife.

"Wow, she really told you, huh Sammy?"

"Shut it, Jerk." Dean's retort was interrupted by Charlie, Jo, Bobby, and Ellen crashing through the door.

"We didn't miss your big opening did we?" Charlie asked, slightly breathless.

"Jeez, guys, people are going to think I'm already open!"

"I can't wait to see your first customers!" Charlie bounced on her toes and clapped her hands together. "When do you open?" Dean glanced at the clock hanging on the wall and his face drained of color.

"Oh God. Ten minutes." Castiel slid his arm around Dean's waist and took the to-go cup out of his hand before he spilled Jess's hot drink all over himself.

"It's going to be wonderful," he murmured into Dean's ear, and felt the other man relax a fraction. He pressed a quick kiss to his cheek and glided away to hand Jess her coffee.

Dean frowned and scrutinized the display case. Trays of sticky buns and cinnamon rolls, at least four different flavors of scones, and giant fluffy muffins of several varieties begged to be purchased and devoured. He worried his bottom lip between his teeth and felt his heart begin to race.

"What if this is a huge mistake? What if no one comes in?" He said out loud, panic clear in his voice.

"Dean, honey everything is going to be wonderful." Ellen marched over and gripped his shoulders. "One person is going to get a taste of one of those yummy things and they are going to spread the word and you'll be too busy to think about how ridiculous and nervous you're being right now." Everyone turned to the door when a sharp knock grabbed their attention. Joanne cracked the door and stuck her head in.

"Am I too late? I was hoping you would let me be the first paying customer, if no one objects."

"Ms. Novak!" Jess stood up and pulled her inside.

"I told you, dear, you just call me Joanne. Now why aren't you and your big handsome husband at home resting with that gorgeous baby?" Sam turned red, and Jess just laughed.

"Do you really think I could have missed Dean's opening? Don't worry Miss Joanne, we're going to get some pictures of him turning the sign to 'open', buy some of those amazing muffins and take Emily home."

"Oh fuck. It's time." Dean pressed a hand to his stomach and froze. For a few seconds he was sure this was the moment he was going to lose it. Castiel reached over, took his hand, and gently guided him over to the door. Jess, Charlie, Jo, and Ellen readied their cameras. Bobby rolled his eyes at the women but his chest was puffed out with pride for his honorary son. He slapped Dean on the back when he walked past him.

"Proud of you, son." He muttered. Bobby Singer was not a man of many words, and was definitely not one for outward displays of affection.

Castiel handed Dean the sign. He already saw people making their way over to the bakery, but didn't point it out to Dean yet. They still had a few moments that were just between them and their family.

"I can't believe this is happening, Cas." Dean said quietly, squeezing the dark haired man's hand. "I'm glad you're standing here with me."

"There isn't anywhere else I'd rather be," he told him. Blue eyes met green. Cameras lifted and aimed. The men lifted the beautiful handmade sign together and slid the chain over the hook.

"Welcome to 'Winchester's'," Dean said with a grin.

Thank you for reading this, I am so sorry that this final chapter took so long. To say that my life got complicated is an understatement. I hope you all enjoyed reading this, I really enjoyed writing it. I am in the process of planning out a sequel, any ideas or comments you guys have on that would be greatly appreciated.