Author's Note: Last chapter, darlings. Finally done. So this was inspired by Peter Pan and branched out into it's own little story. I hope you forgive that it wasn't more of a retelling instead. Also it's been mentioned that the story seems very different, almost split after the time jump, especially in tone. There is a reason for that. The first half is more innocent, softer because Dean was innocent. With the attack of demons and death of his mother, the veil gets ripped away and Dean is forced to grow up. And everything is darker and harder because Dean is darker and harder. I hope that makes sense. Anyhoo, Please enjoy my final chapter.

Here we go...

Dean slept and Castiel waited. The last thing that Gabriel had told him before leaving was not to try and wake him. Whatever was going on with him, he just needed to ride it out and to be patient. Rationally he knew his brothers would have to return to face the consequences of disobeying an order from Naomi by coming to him, but he still wished they had stayed. Selfish as it was. On his own, Castiel was left only with the waiting. And the awful string of questions.

What did he do to Dean?

Was he an angel now?

If he was an angel why was he sleeping?

Would he wake up?

When he did, would he hate him?

It worried Castiel constantly, but all he was able to do was pace in front of the window. He'd returned Dean to his childhood home. It was closer than the hotel and the demons were scattered without a purpose. None would come after them anytime soon. Especially knowing their two highest soldiers were dead. Crowley would most likely try to assume power in the chaos, but that was for someone else to worry about. He wouldn't leave Dean's side again.

He lay face down unmoving for the first two days. Thereafter every few hours his feathers would twitch, the flight feathers straightening sharp then easing. Dean's arms and back would tense but he'd never truly resurface back into consciousness. Castiel frowned deeper each time, waiting for a significant change. Had he doomed Dean to this state? Angels were never meant to be made this way. It changed his very essence.

Though his nose twitches, Castiel refused to approach his oil glands. It would not be appropriate in such a defenseless state though he was curious. He'd taken a rudimentary inspection under Dean's joints just to insure he had them then took care to only touch him when necessary. Tending to his wings, Castiel cleans them, preening them carefully with his own oil. There had been immature short aborted tuffs mixed in with the fully developed rows as a new fledging might possess, but it was very evident that Dean had violently emerged as a matured male. He seemed to have by-passed all the growing pains and phases of developing wings. It must have been excruciating. Occasionally, Castiel catches himself smiling down at rows of gorgeous multi-colored plumage, but his excitement always shifts to anxiety about how the Dean will react at what he unknowingly forced on him.

Will he blame him? Will he hate him? Would he rather have died?

Michael shows up to on the third day. It was a brief visit, but it wasn't as unpleasant as Castiel was expecting. When he arrives, he spent a few moments evaluating the new angel sprawled on his stomach in the bed, taking in everything it meant then looks up at his brother.

"This human means too much to you."

"This human means everything to me."

Michael's usually stony face softens only momentarily before he calmly continues. "Even if he dies, you will have to remain here. You broke Revelation. You will not be allowed entrance to the Heaven again."

"I understand." Castiel accepts this readily.

Michael nods. "Then goodbye, Brother."

"Michael," Castiel calls him before he steps up on the window seat. He still called Dean a human even seeing what he was now. To Heaven, Dean would be seen as an abomination. Not to mention Naomi had already threatened him once.

"Yes, Castiel?"

"Will I need to defend him?"

If they were coming, it would be soon. He'd need to prepare as best he could.

Michael doesn't glance back at the bed but keeps his gaze. "No. I won't pretend to understand it, but if this is your choice, then no angel will raise a hand against you."

"Not even Naomi? She has said-"

"No. Angel." Michael stands a little straighter. Castiel only presses his lips in a small smile of appreciation, barely resisting moving forward to embrace him. He would not welcome or understand that either.

His brother turns away to leave but pauses on the window sill to say, "I hope you find the peace you never did with us."

Sometimes, while he paces, Castiel allows his mind to briefly turn a different way as he examines new truths about Dean.

Now he will be harder to kill. Now he will not grow old. Now he can fly with him. Now we can share eternity…

And then guilt floods him because these were selfish thoughts.

By the fifth day, Castiel is almost buzzing with tense energy. Something had to change. Anything. Balthazar and Gabriel haven't been back since he first came here. Who knew what their punishment was for leaving Heaven. In all the waiting, he dwells on each choice he's made since knowing Dean and whether any of them were right.

Thankfully that night, Dean groans and shifts up onto his bent arm.

"Cas?"

"Dean." He shuts his eyes and exhales heavily at the sound of his gruff voice and strides quickly across the room to the bed. He doesn't sit down in case his reaction is… bad.

"What happened?" Dean yawns then pushes up with his arm but in doing so puts weight on his feathers and pulls them. Yelping, he almost falls off the bed, trying to get away from the suddenly thrashing wings in his peripheral. Eyes wide with confusion he yells, "What the fuck is that?!"

Castiel grabs his arms while he twists, trying to still him. "Dean, you have to calm down."

"What the hell-" A lamp crashes next to them, the bookcase almost tips as well. "Dean. Dean!"

He ends up having to subdue him, climbing on top of his thighs and pressing him down by the shoulders onto his back until Dean can't move. Castiel's surprised at how much he has to fight to do that now. Dean's strength has increased considerably. "Breathe. I'm going to help you but you need to calm down first."

Dean blinks and just stops fighting. "Whoa..."

"What?" He was anxious over what was happening now.

"Your…" he reaches out gently and Castiel hesitantly releases go of his shoulders to let him. "I can see your wings."

"Oh." Castiel bows his head and slides his eyes to the side feeling ridiculously shy all of the sudden. "Yes, you said that before."

He shifts back to sit on the bed and stretches out his wing, letting Dean sit up as well to touch them. Remaining still, Castiel tries very hard to ignore the sensitivity and turn off that part of him that is so affected by this. The awe in Dean's eyes touches him and makes him flush with pride. He wants Dean to find them appealing.

Dean blinks and takes back his hand. Looking over his shoulder, he seems to realize all at once that the quivering feathers are attached to him. He lunges and twists to grab a handful in an attempt to see them better. Castiel slowly reaches behind him and rubs along the line of his shoulderblade. The wing immediately curves around in front of him, as if in reflex. Dean holds his gaze for only a moment then moves to inspect it.

"You were dying."

Dean's hand hovers above but doesn't connect with any of the beautiful feathers almost as if he's afraid of them. As if touching them might make it more real.

"I didn't know what else to do."

After glaring at them a minute more, Dean seems to shake himself and look back to him, shifting his gaze down to Castiel's neck, considering.

"It's gone." His tone is neutral, doing nothing to give him hope.

Breathing shallowly, Castiel reaches out his palm to his bare chest and places it over Dean's heart. "No it's not."

The contact with his warm skin is brief. Dean sits up a little further in the bed away from him, his wings naturally curving towards his back again. "Jesus, Cas you shouldn't have done that for me!"

"I had to," he says, firmly looking past him. Now was when Dean would tell him to go. Curse him. Even after having days to prepare himself for this, Castiel didn't know if he would be strong enough to leave.

"So what the hell am I now? Some kinda freak with feathers?"

"You're an angel," he says levelly without inflection.

Dean rubs his face and laughs harshly in disbelief. "No, I'm not."

Castiel fights the urge to shift restlessly as Dean stares down at the covers with wide eyes. Processing. He would give him all the time he needed. Dean didn't have five days to take in his new situation as he did.

Hesitantly, as if he doesn't really want to know the answer, Dean asks, "Did you do this on purpose so I'd be like you?"

The question hurts but he assumed it would come. Castiel swallows so he can answer calmly and ducks his head to catch Dean's eyes. "No. I didn't even know this was possible. It was out of desperation to preserve your life that I gave you her grace. Gabriel was coming. I thought... I don't know what I thought. Your heart had almost stopped. I could feel you were slipping away... and I just had to do something."

Dean doesn't answer just nods and lowers his eyes again to take that in.

After another full minute of silence that he can't take, Castiel adds, "Gabriel thought you would 'ka-boom'."

That makes Dean snort unexpectedly. Shaking his head he whispers, "my fucking life." Sighing, Dean hunches his shoulders and hits Cas in the face with edge of his left wing. "Shit, sorry."

He tries again making a slower exaggerated roll of his shoulders and actually manages to bring them around by himself. Slowly, his fingers ghost over several feathers in a way that makes Castiel's own fingers twitch with longing to do the same. "So these are like, for good?"

Looking at them as well, Castiel answers, "I imagine so."

Still focusing on them, he asks, "Is someone gonna come drag me upstairs?" He doesn't miss the way Dean tenses.

"To Heaven?" When he nods, Castiel finishes, "No. You won't be allowed there." He doesn't mention it was a miracle they weren't going to actively try and kill him.

Dean shrugs, but his relief was obvious. Dean's family was on earth. "Well who wants to go there anyway?" He casually darts his eyes to him, as if the question might not be rhetorical. It still amazes him how much difficulty Dean seemed to have asking a question directly. Now that he was assured he would remain on earth, he was asking whether Castiel would leave again. As if he could leave Dean as he was. He quells his spark of anger over that, and tries to soothe Dean's insecurities instead.

"Before. When you were-" he stops before actually saying dying. "Do you remember me telling you-"

"You were gonna fall." It hangs between them for a few seconds before Dean finally allows his face to soften. "Why?"

Tilting his head curiously, Castiel asks, "Do you really not know?"

A small smile slowly spreads over his features and he looks away again. "Yeah, I know."

An intense almost painful warmth blooms behind Castiel's sternum. Perhaps everything would be okay after all.

"Are you angry with me?"

Dean finally looks back at him. "No. Just... adjusting."

"Take your time. If you need time alone..." He was expecting Dean to.

"No!" He grabs his hand in panic then clears his throat. "I mean, I'm good. Unless you need to..."

"No," Castiel assures him easily.

They both smile tentatively then go back to staring at this new part of Dean.

"Are they ugly?"

Castiel grins with his mouth open a little in disbelief. "Your wings?"

"Yeah, I mean, yours are all badass and solid black... and think I got a peek of Gabe's before I passed out. They were white, right?"

He nods.

"Mine are all weird and spotty."

Castiel has to take a breath to keep his voice from shaking as he examines said 'weird and spotty' wings. "Believe me, Dean. They are very very desirable. It is actually extremely difficult not to touch them but I don't want to overwhelm you this soon after you've woken up."

"What does that.. oh. " Dean smirks. "You think I'll be all hot and horny over some feather ruffling, huh?"

Castiel looks away coyly.

"Well hate to break it to you, Cas but don't imagine that's gonna happen. They don't make me feel particularly hot.. just like someone pasted some bird feathers on my back. They're heavy, they're big, and freakin' clumsy as-"

Castiel reaches back to run a finger down the joint to the base of his left wing and Dean kicks out his foot, gasping and fisting the covers.

"How did that feel, Dean?"

"Uh.." He blinks slowly while licking his lips. Castiel cocks his head with a speculatively raised eyebrow. "Not sure I uh caught anything from that."

"You need me to try again?" Castiel smirks now too.

"Sure... If you um want."

As Castiel runs fingers down the tan and spotted feather rows towards the middle, Dean braces his hands on his arms, sinking his blunt nails into his biceps. "Uhhh…" he groans and bites his bottom lip in an attempt to stifle the needy noise. "Holy Shit."

Leaning forward while his eyes are still shut in bliss, Castiel whispers into his ear, "Yes, I believe you will have the same sensitivity I do."

Dean rubs temple against Cas' like a contented cat. "Cas. Do it- do it again."

"You are still adjusting..." he smiles into his neck and kisses his pulse.

Dean groans against his cheek. "Just a little more?"

He shouldn't. Dean just woke up. He definitely should not. Still his fingers are stroking back towards the place he wants most. He already smells so tempting…

"Barbie! You're alive!"

They both jump apart, Dean finishing the job of knocking over the heavy wooden bookcase with his flared out wings.

"And graceful as ever." Balthazar beams at him.

Castiel shakes his head to clear some of the fog over his mind. "You two have been gone for five days. You would manage to return just now."

Gabriel perches at the end of the bed. "Aw, we interrupt you trying to grope a new defenseless angel? Listen Dean-a-reen-o, you need to watch out for these pervy old timers trying to cop a feathery feel."

"Gabriel," Castiel growls and begins to turn a little pink to Dean's delight.

Suddenly it was hitting home. They were both alive. In whatever form, he was alive. Cas was alive. Bad guys were dead. Cas was staying with him. He could deal with the bulky monstrosities behind him for all that.

"Gotta say, had us worried for a while there, big guy." Gabriel evaluates him as if impressed he is in one piece. The memory of the mind numbing pain comes back to Dean all at once. It's hard to remember more than that. Just his eyes burning, and wishing for death to end it.

Balthazar agrees, "Yes I wasn't looking forward to cleaning off hunter tar tar."

Dean blanches. "You really thought I was gonna.."

"Gabriel used the word ka-boom I believe," Castiel offers readily. He'd said that before. Ka-boom. Like a bomb.

Sighing shakily, Dean says, "Awesome. Well why didn't I?"

Gabriel shrugs carelessly like it was one of life's mysteries. "A gen-u-ine miracle? Maybe because you're a prophecy baby? That you've already been brought back from the brink of death once by angel grace, I dunno. If you see God, ask em."

Balthazar laughs harshly. "That's likely. I hear he's summering in Figi this time of year."

Castiel frowns, not for a moment believing God would be in Figi.

"Wait.." Dean has a crazy thought that he can't believe hadn't hit him before. "If I'm supposedly an angel, am I gonna live like… forever?"

Castiel smiles timidly in answer. Dean's mouth falls open in disbelief, not really comprehending that.

"Barring a few stabby possibilities.. kinda.. yeah." Gabriel says so casually and Dean doesn't even look at him. He didn't understand or even need forever. He can only think in terms of lifetimes. Sam. Then after a moment.. Jo, Ellen, even Bobby. He'd have time now. All the time he'd ever need. He'd be there for Sam's prom. Sam's college graduation. Sam life. He'd be there. Turning back to Cas, he began to see this for the gift it was. Even if it was unintentional. And then he thought of the angel in front of him. All the moments they would now have. All the chances they'd missed but now they would have time too. His heart swelled, staring at his profile.

Cas is half paying attention, darting glances back at Dean, as Balthazar explains about Michael surprisingly coming to their defense. "We are in his garrison. Least he could do. He spoke up for your boytoy too."

"You okay with your punishment?" Gabriel asks while Castiel only nods solemnly.

"What?" Dean breaks out of his happy epiphany daze to interrupt suddenly.

"Cassie has to stay on earth too."

He shrugs and turns to Dean. "All I want is here anyway."

And then Dean is up on his knees and almost falls forward in his haste to lean across the bed and press his lips firmly to Cas'. He grabs onto his shoulders too hard with a strength he doesn't realize he possesses yet, but Castiel loves every moment.

"Guys, nookie can wait." Gabriel tries but Dean just ignores anything and everything else to keep kissing him with relief and gratitude and want that he won't hide anymore. Castiel returns it, beginning strokes of soft tongue and gripping the nape of his neck with possessiveness as he takes the brunt of his weight, almost falling backwards.

"Can you please stop before I fall on my angelblade in an attempt to unsee this?" Balthazar moans.

Dean laughs against Cas' mouth, simply happy for once. Turning to the side, Cas still pecks the corner of his lips a few times like he can't quite stop. It wasn't enough. He would never get enough of kissing Dean.

Gabriel claps once. "So! Let's go laugh at Dean-o trying to fly."

Dean is a clumsy angel. He continuously hits himself with his own wings in an attempt to get off the ground and seems to think moving his arms up and down has something to do with it. The third time he lifts a few feet in the air before dropping abruptly to hit the ground hard. Castiel bends down just in time to hear the end of a string of expletives.

"Good," Cas says smiling in what he believes an encouraging way. Dean huffs because he knew he wasn't doing good. "Again."

Sighing, Dean bends his knees to jump and push off the ground like he saw Cas do, he lifts up with a powerful push of his wings and is startled to suddenly be 15 feet in the air. Then regrettably, drops.

Getting up on his hands and knees, Dean cranes his neck to see Castiel. "I'm shit at this."

His brothers are almost falling over one another chuckling to themselves. "Why don't you try flapping like a chicken again? That seemed to be working out rather well I thought."

"Can it, Fabio," Dean calls over his shoulder to Balthazar.

"You're doing great for your first time," Castiel says trying to sound optimistic. Just seeing Dean with wings, made him hot and excited, so he didn't really have to reach for that cheerful mood he was in. Every time he lifts into the air, no matter how briefly, it causes a hitch in his breathing at the desire thrumming through him. To see Dean like this... he never thought to even fantasize about it. He would always want Dean. But this was an entirely new want. He ached to bury his hands in all of those gorgeous feathers, to learn every noise and shutter he could force out of him. To taste him…

"Mmm hmm," Dean rolls his eyes. "Okay." He claps, rubbing his hands together in determination and points his face at the sky like he'd seen Cas do. He jumps and actually manages to get the damn things to obey his will and flap downward once, twice, which sends him rocketing up over twenty feet in a gust of air, then when he they don't move down again quick enough, he promptly falls back to the earth with a heavy thud and eats dirt.

"Goddamnit!"

Both angels clap, Gabriel whistling in the distance. "We should have brought score cards."

"We could probably go get some..." Balthazar offers.

"Ignore them." Castiel comes to help him back to his feet and dust the dirt off his back, taking possibly too long as he gets distracted by Dean shaking and stretching his wings out unknowingly.

"Dude, this isn't nearly as cool as I always imagined it'd be."

"You imagined this?" his attention snaps back to Dean's face.

"Well yeah… when I was a kid. You kinda made an impression on me if you didn't realize." Dean sounds more annoyed than flirtatious but it still makes Castiel smile.

"Have you ever swam?" he asks suddenly.

"What?"

"Swam in water? Have you?"

"Course I have."

"How do you keep afloat?"

"Uh, you just kick your legs."

"Trying imagining flapping your wings is like kicking your legs to keep afloat but in the air."

It's a start. Dean does get a little higher this time. Dizzyingly high. So high it makes his stomach dip with he inevitably loses momentum and Castiel has to rush to catch him this time to lessen the impact.

"Dammit Cas!" His heart is beats too quick, obviously not dealing well with his lingering fright over heights. "I can't do this, okay! I'll just be the non-flying kind of angel."

"You're thinking too hard, Sport," Gabriel calls and jumps down from the fence they'd been watching from to walk towards them.

"Shut up."

Balthazar shakes his head. "Kids today. No respect for their elders."

"What do you mean, Gabriel?" Castiel asks.

"It's something natural. Instinctual. Like learning how to breathe. You already know how to do it. You just have to stop thinking about it so much."

"And how the fuck am I supposed to not think about these big ass wings attached to me?"

Balthazar smirks. "That, I believe, is up to Cassie."

"Huh?"

Castiel had been frowning between them but now looks at Dean, considering him with squinty blue eyes that he somehow doesn't trust all of the sudden.

"I don't get it. How the hell would he-"

Grabbing his face with both hands, Cas tugs him forward to mash their lips together. It's messy, hard, and overwhelmingly hungry all at once. Like going from zero to sixty.

"Cas!" he splutters, trying to take a step back. Kissing like that wasn't on his list of things to do in front of your family but his angel just holds him in place and follows after him step for step, running his hands up his back. Dean gets held flush against his front when those hands smooth over his ass.

If he absolutely needed to breathe, he would be gasping. Even so he forgets he doesn't and starts sucking air but it's just Cas' breaths. He forgets Gabriel, Balthazar, that he's an angel and any of the carnage and crap from the last week. Last months. All there is… is Cas. Pressing close and tasting so good. His sweet scent is all around him now. "Mmm," Dean involuntarily moans into his mouth, curling fingers into his shirt.

"Good job, Dean-o! Don't look down!"

It doesn't penetrate the fog. Cas eventually eases up for some stupid reason and nips his lips, jaw and then below his ear. He's still gripping him tight but then slowly steps back... Or rather moves back since when he blinks, Dean sees somehow they're off the ground. Way off the ground. As in the ground is a distance fucking memory. Cas smiles at him in something like smug satisfaction.

"Wait!" Dean drops a foot but catches himself by moving his wings down. Cas lowered with him with arms outstretched but took them back when Dean flaps again and keeps himself in place.

"Ha! Fucking look at that!" Dean laughs with pride then looks down and almost throws up when he sees Gabriel and Balthazar about 50 feet below him, waving. He closes his eyes and feels Cas' arms around his middle again.

"Are you alright, Dean?" he whispers gravelly deep into his ear.

Dean nods stiffly and just focuses on breathing. In and out. Gabe must have flow up to them because his voice is now next to him. "Funny meeting you here."

Creaking one eye open then the next, Dean's just in time to see Balthazar do a graceful back flip midair. Then he slowly flies around them backwards in a large circle, with arms casually folded behind his head. Show off.

After a few more sickening seconds, Dean can bear to look at them all. As long as he doesn't look down. This had to be the most ridiculous thing ever. An angel with a fear of heights.

"It'll get easier." Castiel takes his hand and laces their fingers, attempting to offer assurance.

"It already is." Dean smiles with strain. He hadn't tossed his cookies yet. That had to be a good sign right?

When Balthazar smacks him lightly on the back of the head and flies out of his reach, Dean takes off after him instantly before he realizes what he did and halts again. Cautiously, he tries to fly backwards in one direction, then forwards again towards Cas holding out his hands like he was on roller skates or something. Okay, if only he thought about getting somewhere and not what his body was already doing... he just couldn't stop to think about it too much or he'd sink like a stone. Like his strings were cut. Don't lose your happy thought, Wendy.

For about a half hour, both brothers look bored as Dean tries flying towards Cas while he flew backwards. It was kinda fun because when he caught him, Cas made sure to make it worth the trip, catching his lips a little longer each time. Dean didn't really know how to brake yet so it was mostly just crashing into him, but Cas didn't seem to mind one bit.

After a particularly long congratulatory liplock, where Cas is whispering praise and stroking his cheek, Gabriel perks up suddenly. "Hey! We should play Tootsie Pop!"

Dean gasps on his back hoping this game was freaking over. If one more angel barreled into him midair and body slammed him into the dirt, he was going to start pulling hair. The bastards didn't fight fair.

Cas grabs his forearm and pulls him to his feet, running fingers through his hair to dust off the dirt. He was even freaking smiling.

"Enjoying yourself?" Dean grumbles and rubs his sore shoulder.

"Immensely." The grins widens. "You know how I enjoy seeing you on your back."

Dean grunts and rolls his eyes.

No matter how many times Cas tried to assure him he could take being smacked into the ground at high speeds, in fact he could take a bullet and just heal it, it would take a long time before he believed it. Even though, he was now watching the skin of his bicep knit together over a gash from skidding in the grass. "Jesus, that's so friggin' weird."

"See? Good as new." Gabriel calls down from ten feet above them. "Isn't it our duty to take a baby angel under wing and show him the ropes?"

"You're welcome," Balthazar sing songs.

Cas walks a little away from him, distracted by approaching figures in the far distance as Gabriel lands followed by Balthazar.

"You got some lookie loos." Gabriel throws an arm around his shoulders and gestures unnecessarily for Dean. His vision is something out of a scify movie now. Even in the dark he can see six angels walking towards them slowly as if giving time for them to observe their arrival. Dean tenses but Cas' face lights up with a gentle smile so it must not be bad.

"They're curious."

"About what?" Dean frowns.

"You."

Dean's lip curls. He didn't like that one bit. "Awesome. I'm a side-show attraction."

"You are very attractive," Cas agrees, without turning to him.

Shaking his head, Dean rolls his eyes but grins.

They all are reasonably normal looking except the massive wings he can now see high above their shoulders. They're all different varieties of browns, golds, no white like Gabriel or black like Cas but still they're pretty intimidating. But they all seem wary if not cautiously inquisitive of him. Several hang back but one he surprisingly does know comes forward.

"Hello brother," Hael says calmly with hands clasped in front of her.

Castiel nods in greeting. "Hello, Hael. You've met Dean I believe?"

"Yes." She lowers her eyes and her cheeks flush prettily. "I am sorry I tried to kill you."

Dean laughs outright as Cas' eyebrows furrow. "Hey forget it. No harm no foul, right?"

She smiles and looks at him from under her eyelashes.

Gabriel lifts his chin back in the direction of the other angels. "I think Inias wants you, Castiel. Or he's developed the need to urinate and desperately needs a bathroom."

Dean follows his line of sight and watches Cas walk over to the nervously shifting angel that looks like he could be any kid that works at Starbucks. He only briefly darts a glance at Dean before averting his eyes like maybe he's afraid of him or something which is a kinda funny. Gabriel's joke about the bathroom has Dean wondering if he doesn't have to pee anymore either. Man, the angel perks were just piling up.

Glancing back, he realizes Hael is still just standing in front of him, staring really. He knew angels weren't up on social niceties but it had him smiling awkwardly in return. When she still doesn't say anything after more than a half a minute, Dean starts grasping at anything to fill the silence. Seeing her silver cuff he asks the only thing he could think of. "So uh you're a fledgling?"

"Yes. I am new to interacting with humans."

No shit.

"Well you're doing alright."

"You are no longer a human," she reminds him.

"Yeah. Right. Gotta try to remember that." Sarcasm was thankfully something most angels were utterly clueless about. "Guess it'll take some getting used to."

"Do you need any help adapting?" She steps a little closer and seems to be preoccupied with his wings.

"Oh I uh.. thanks but uh.." Dean checks where Cas was absently. All the other angels are hanging on his every word while he occasionally gestures Dean's way. Turning back, he jumps a little to see Hael so close.

"I believe you were intimate with Castiel while he was still a fledgling?"

Feeling himself flush, Dean hopes he wasn't turning noticeably red. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Balthazar bump Gabriel with his elbow while they watch Dean flail. They weren't gonna be any help. Surprise, surprise. It wasn't her fault, he reminds himself. Angels were invasive bastards. This was absolutely not a pass. Personal space.. right? He had to remind Cas of that frequently when they first met. But seeing how that turned out…

"Well uh... We were close I guess."

She steps even further and looks him steadily in the eye, those wide-eyes seeming less innocent and more determined suddenly. "Perhaps we could be close as well, Dean Winchester."

Okay, at this point he was pretty damn sure she was coming onto him. This little thing of an angel had within a few moments gone from curious to intimidating, eying him up and down as if trying to figure out what sex positions she wanted to try first. Shit, where the hell was Cas? What was the protocol for politely telling your angel boyfriend's sister, thanks but no thanks? When he looks to Balthazar and Gabriel they only grin unhelpfully.

Dean swallows nervously as she touches just above his elbow and strokes upwards to rest on his shoulder. "I could use some instruction in such... intimate matters." Her small hand lifts off his shoulder, reaches back over it towards his wing. He arches it high above him unconsciously away from her reach but it only enthralls her more.

"They are as beautiful as I was told. I've never seen anything-"

Hael's wrist was grabbed abruptly and she's twisted away, falling to the ground with the rough movement. Sulking, she stares up at Castiel who looks ready to smite someone. His black wings are high and thrown out to their full intimidating span and god that was hot. Was it fucked up to be imagining those dark feathers rubbing over him all sweaty and naked right now? Yeah probably.

Dean quickly shakes himself out of ogling them and steps between them facing Hael. He feels Castiel like an angry wall behind him, pushing slightly. "Hey um Hael? I appreciate the offer but he's the only one I wanna be close with."

Hael got to her feet gracefully. "I apologize, I was not aware humans were so singular in their choice of partners."

Balthazar and Gabriel laugh. Something it seemed they would be doing a lot.

Straight-faced, she lifts her chin and adds, "Please let me know if your proclivities change."

He has to brace his arms to keep the angel at his back from stepping forward again and even so he slides forward a few feet in the grass.

"Yep, you'll be the first to know."

"Find your own human," Cas growls over his shoulder at her. Seriously. Growls. Now was not the time to tease him by bring up he wasn't human anymore.

She raises an eyebrow. As her mentor, Balthazar tries to sober and clear his throat, "shouldn't you be on patrol, Hael?"

"Yes, I believe so." She purses her lips tightly but doesn't walk away.

"Well off you go then, darling."

Watching her reluctantly leave with narrowed eyes, Cas dips his head to nose along his dark brown primary feathers. "Cas?" Dean asks, eyes a little wider as he takes in the remaining angels milling around as if to see more of a show. Heaven must be boring.

"Yes, Dean?" Castiel makes eye contact with several of them over Dean's shoulder as he runs hands over his chest under the shirt they'd found him. Flushed at the weird territorial display, he seems to be starting; Dean tries to stop his hands from wandering. Cas only continues and nips at his ear now. Barely catching the moan in his throat by coughing, he attempts to step out of his embrace but Cas grips his hips and grinds hard against his ass, inhaling deeply into his feathers at the same time.

"Whoa. Tone it down there, hotwings. There's like half a dozen of your-" Dean bit his lip to not make a sound when Cas reaches up under his right wing and clutch a handful of feathers, beginning to mouth his neck. Fuuuck, he mentally sighs.

"Not. Here. C'mon, Cas..."

While sucking hotly over Dean's pulse with a painfully low voice, Cas says, "Then you had better leave here because I am suddenly finding it very difficult to stop."

Jesus fuck. When Cas' hand comes around his hip and actually palms his groin, Dean breaks away all at once and runs two steps then pushes off. Thankfully he'd gotten at least this down by now. Back on the ground, Cas closes his eyes to let him get as far as he can as his siblings voices murmur low. He only makes it a few seconds before he opens them, grins and shoots into the air after him.

"Game over then?" Balthazar laughs after them but it fades with distance.

Dean flies hard as he's able, working new muscles in his back. He doesn't even think about the rushing ground beneath him. He still stretches out his arms in an attempt to make him move faster, though Cas has told him repeatedly it doesn't help. Too quickly he's tired but trying to get as far away as possible. Cas is somewhere behind him, doesn't look back. The sound of rustle of feathers, has him gasping with a unexpected thrill. It's like that damn game all over again but anticipation is knotting in his gut now at being caught.

Less than a minute later, he crashes into him and they plummet. Cas rolls mid-air, turning at the last moment to open his wings so their impact isn't as hard. But still he lands roughly in high grass.

Dean barely has a moment to cough and get up on his elbows before he's shoved back down flat.

"Cas?" he gasps while he begins ripping and tearing just enough to get his pants open.

"Dean... you smell..." Cas' blue eyes flash bright with an intimidating heat, making him seem almost possessed. "Very good to me right now." Every move is too rough, the bite of hard fingers scratching in their haste only adds to Dean being right there with him. Dean grabs his shoulders to kiss him but Cas is too impatient. He seems only able to focus on his mouth a few seconds before turning his face to rub his scratchy cheek against Dean's jaw then flipping him so roughly it pushes the air out of his lungs. His wings closed tight to his back but when Cas licks up his spine they shoot open involuntarily.

Crawling over him, he mouths and bites at the nape of Dean's neck as he says, "I did not like her near you. Like that."

"Yeah I could tell," Dean laughs breathily then groans when a tongue licks along his new wing bone.

Cas yanks his jeans and boxers down to knees, not taking the time for anything more. "Impatient much?" Dean sits back on haunches, trying to sound cocky but ends up huffing out a needy breath when Cas presses suddenly warm oil covering fingers inside him. Without asking. Without pausing. Everything's happening so fast. And that was fucking fine with him.

Hooking the other arm around his torso, Cas drags his lips along the back of his neck to the side at his pulse while pushing another finger in. "You're warmer."

"Mmm.. er. What?" he asks a little dazed.

"You've never been warm to me. I didn't mind... But now…" He strokes the fingers of his other hand down his back to where the wing grows out of his back then follows it up inspecting the joints.

When blunt nails rake and burrow, Dean shivers. "Holy shit. Why does that feel so damn good?"

"Just wait until I touch you..." He drags fingers through Dean's feathers while he gasps. "Here." Cas strokes over the small hidden knob he didn't even know was there and his knees buckle. Cas catches him and lowers him to lean forward on his hands.

"Fuck," he pants. "That's what you feel every time I touch there?"

"When we're younger we're helped with cleaning our wings.. I never felt anything like this. But when you do it.." And he touches them again.

Dean wings thrashes of their own accord and whips downward. He frowns, seeing a few drops of blood splatter on the ground to his left.

"You cut me," Cas grunts a little bemused, his hand has a decent slice over his palm.

"What?" Dean's mind is foggy. Cas was hurt.. he should.. should..

Cas pushes him back down to his hands and knees and kisses his spine again soothingly. "Don't worry about it. It was my own fault for not watching you.." Cas reaches up, circling and rocking over the gland with a thumb as Dean gets damn close to whimpering, digging fingers into the dirt with eyes squeezed shut.

"You're dangerous... " Cas rumbles into his ear and bites it.

"Fuck... Casss.. Uhhh.." The noises he makes are desperate and new. He wouldn't have thought his voice could break that way but when Cas runs his erection along the cleft of his ass he almost sobs, pushing increasingly harder, firmer, rubbing through his feathers with his other hand.

Dean starts grinding back against his stiffness out of reflex; hips needing to move with those intense sexual zings in a mock of sex. Cas rubs oil there and immediately follows. Dean cries out from dual sensations of fingers swirling over that amazing gland thing he had now and Cas pushing deep inside him.

"I can see why you enjoy doing this to me." Cas sighs deeply, groaning as he holds Dean's hip and bucks forward. Breathes hitching rhythmically, Dean looks over his shoulder just as Cas takes his hand away and brings it to his mouth. For some reason seeing the other angel licking his oil off his fingers sends a primal emotion through him. He doesn't begin to understand it, but everything inside him tenses at once.

"Cas, Stop…" he barks but has to take a breath before continuing. "Stop doing that." Dean digs his fingers into the ground to keep himself put, closing his eyes briefly but opening them again to check what he was doing.

Eyes darkening, Cas smiles knowingly. Speeding up his hips for a second, with his right hand holding the small of his back, he talks between gasps. "You taste... Like violence, Dean. Spicy. It burns my tongue." He licks his bottom lip clean lewdly.

"Damnit… Cas!" he growls in warning but he just smiles around the pad of his thumb and sucks it with his eyes shutting tight, putting on a show.

Dean grits his teeth. He goes down on his forearms, trying not to think about Cas licking his lips. Trying just to focus on the slapping of skin, relentless pounding of hips not holding back but it stays in his mind. Building. Driving him. Pushing him. Watching Cas take him into him.. Needed to follow and attack push and overtake him so his smell drowns him. More he thinks, grinning all wrong. More. Cas should want to be covered in him. Needs to be. He closes his eyes and can't help turning his head back. His lips are shiny with Dean's oil. Chin too. Cas tongue licks his over his own palm now too as if searching for any last remnants and that's all it takes.

His brain doesn't enter into any of the next few seconds. It's all instinct, slightly feral as Dean knocks him back with his wing when he turns quick and pushes Cas off. The frenzied thoughts peak as he launches from his knees at him. Castiel doesn't seem surprised but excited as he fights back, rolling and wrestling and fighting for dominance. Dean wins this time. He's riding this high on whatever this aggressive surge is inside him and actually shoves Cas down on the ground with both hands and moves them up to capture his wrists.

Cas only smiles up at him, sucking his bottom lip between his teeth. Dean leans forward in what Cas assumes is to kiss him but instead lines himself up and lowers onto him this time. All the way down, he sits back until Cas is throbbing deep inside him, bottoming out. It's tight but his body makes room. The deep cry Cas lets fall out of his mouth is satisfying and has Dean shifting his hips to ride him without any of the usual inhibition he might have felt trying this position. Dean closes his eyes as Cas just looks up at him smiling with wonder and bliss and eagerness. Yanking his wrists back out of his hold, Cas grabs his hips but continues to let Dean lead and sink down on him over and over.

Dean bites and sucks and mashes their mouths almost too violent to be called kissing. It's rough and he moves his mouth down his chin and neck. Grazing teeth down his collar bone. Marking him over and over in a dozen places. Panting almost in time with his hips canting. His wings twitch and rise high, proud, doing something he doesn't even understand but Cas' eyes widen and he fights to get up again with a hand in the grass. Dean grabs his wrists and presses him down, kissing him hard and swallowing his name.

Dean finally arches up, grabbing the backs of Cas' thighs painfully hard and releasing violently without touching himself. It spurts up the chest below him as he grinds with Cas inside him, rocking forward slower and slower until he's gasping out a harsh breath.

Cas runs a finger up his stomach and levels him with a dark gaze while he sucks his finger clean. Dean spasms once more watching him and Cas drops his head back in the grass, then immediately opens his eyes again. Dean grunts softly when Cas starts thrusting upwards and kneading his hips harder than he'd ever done before. It would have been painful if he was human. But he wasn't human. Dean falls forward at the rough bone-jarring movements while Cas makes deep mewling noises and speeds up. Faster. Faster. Harder. Deeper into Dean and he just hangs on, presses their chests together and Cas brings his arms up to wrap around his back and clutches him, one hand hooked onto his shoulder to keep him in place.

"Dean." His name sounds like something more falling out of Cas' mouth like that. Like it's a prayer or sacred word of a spell. Something too much.

And then he shoves forward, holding him still as he pulses inside him.

"Uhh.." Dean breathes out deep, shivering against him and kissing his cheek weakly. Cas shudders through the next half minute and slowly untenses and becomes more gentle. Running fingers reverently down his back as he holds Dean collapsed onto top of him.

"Your back is healed. I wasn't sure if you knew."

Dean opens his eyes but doesn't say anything. He didn't know really what to think about that. Cas' finger tips glide down his smooth skin without hitting the rough jagged marks to bump over... he clung a little tighter without realizing it.

Dean finally slid off to fall into Cas' warm side. He doesn't mind the arm curled around him like he might once have. He might even drape his arm over Cas' stomach in return. Everything felt too right to worry about searching for a reason why it'd be wrong. His thoughts drift away while the quiet noises of night surround them. He didn't sleep.. he was pretty sure he couldn't anymore.. but it was close.

Eventually he props his head up with his hand and looks over Cas. "I have to go home to Sam."

Castiel remains lying on his back and moves his fingers down Dean's upper thigh and up his ribs. "I know."

Dean chews his lip absently, not sure what he was expecting.

"Must we take your car? It is slow and confining."

His lips upturn slowly. "We?"

Cas does sit up now, eyes unwavering and almost fierce. "We."

Dean nods and tries to seem casual as a warm and fuzzy feeling blooms through his chest. Glancing around, he almost laughs noticing the mix of feathers strewn around them. Castiel's black and a few of Dean's spotted. Cas picks one up idly and rubs it over his lips.

Dean grins watching and leans forward to burrow his face into his neck. "Mmm you smell like me. I know what that means now." Rubbing his nose over Cas' skin and finding it oddly comforting, Dean sighs, "Jesus, let's never stop doing this."

"Feasibly, we would need to rest eventually even taking into account your enhanced endurance..." Breath hitching when Dean nips his neck teasingly he adds, "but I agree we should do this very often."

"Dar-bess."

"Yeah, I said it just like that."

"No you said Darbsy. Which means goatherder. You do not want to confuse the two words, trust me."

They start to make their way back. The slow way. But Dean wouldn't hear of leaving his baby anywhere and just because he had an alternate mode of transportation, didn't mean he was ready to fly cross country. Flight still made him a little queasy but he had to admit he was gaining confidence. Cas helped. He found new and interesting ways of distracting him each time to take his mind off the fact he was hundreds then thousands of feet up.

The car ride is uncomfortable. After learning to drive with his wings, he now had an appreciation for why the angels seemed to hate being cooped up. He kept twisting in his seat, his wings feeling stiff and there was a niggling reminder of wrongness that never went away. Like a cramped muscle. It felt annoying but he stubbornly refused to admit it and Cas only grinned at him without complaint. During the drive, he begins to teach him Enochian. Dean didn't see a reason why he would ever need it but Cas was excited about teaching him everything now. The first week was scary and new and they weren't sure he had come out the other side intact. Now that Cas seemed to accept that he would really getting to keep Dean and no angels were going to come and put him down like a Frankenstein creation… Cas was downright exuberatant.

And horny. He was hellbent on making up for lost time. Dean was too but Cas seemed almost addicted to him now and took every opportunity.. and made several opportunities when non presented themselves to jump his bones and have Dean moaning within moments. Any of their many "wing-stretching" breaks often dissolved into frantic and hard Dean-stretching breaks instead.

Before they'd left, Dean agreed he'd need a tutorial on the basics. So they'd practiced back at his childhood home, sitting in chairs and walking around, flinching and grimacing every time something passed through his wings. It took him a day or two to get the hang of not just knocking over anything and everything around him as he navigated through tight quarters. It was if now he took up too much space. Just because he knew his wings were able to slide right through the back of the chair, didn't mean he could always focus enough to believe it and make it happen. Sometimes the chair fell over instead. He felt like a damn bull in a china shop.. but with some patient coaching and mental "exercises" with Cas he seemed to be able to do it. Most of the time. Some of the time. He'd get better…

They probably should have spent longer on it but he was eager to get back to Sam. He'd fully expected never to see his brother or the rest of his surrogate family again and now that he knew he would, Dean felt antsy to get back. Like something, anything else would happen and he'd never see them again. So they practiced on the way. And the first test would be Charlie.

Dean had insisted they go and check her out to make sure Crowley had kept his promise, the weasley prick. He insisted. Him. This was his idea.. yet now that his tenuous control was going to be under pressure, he was losing confidence fast. Dean shifts from foot to foot, hand still at his side instead of ringing the blue and yellow doorbell. It looks silly really. Happy and chipper even for a doorbell. Something he expect to see outside Charlie's home.

"Would you like to do this tomorrow? We can spend another day practicing," Cas offers quietly from behind him.

Dean clears his throat. "Nah. Let's get this over with."

He rings the silly doorbell and waits. Several seconds later, Charlie opens the door and smiles at him in greeting.

"Hey, Winchester. Didn't expect to see you again." She steps forward and embraces him easily. Dean breathes out shallowly, feeling her arms encircle his back. Then she's letting go and holding up a hand in greeting to Cas behind him. "Hi, Cas."

"Hello, Charlie," he returns her smile and checks on Dean with his eyes.

"Well come in!" She walks back inside and Dean takes one last second to hold the image of himself without wings in his mind before following.

"Can I get you guys anything? Lemonade? Mountain Dew? Fanta.. sorry I kinda have an addiction to sugar. I think I have some-"

"No. Uh.. thanks. I just wanted to talk to you about.. ya know the deal you made."

Charlie's natural bubbly demeanor just evaporates as she sinks down to the over-stuffed couch behind her. "Oh.." Looking a little lost she says, "I- I don't really want to talk about that."

Dean steps closer and gingerly sits on the edge of the couch next to her. The nagging feeling of wrongness makes him want to shift his weight or arch his wings out and away from his body but he remains still. Think of yourself without wings. He's looking at himself in a mirror. No wings. No wings.

"No.. it's good." Dean looks back to Cas to confirm it before he tells her and Cas smiles small and nods. Turning back, he reaches forward and squeezes her hand. "Charlie, it's okay. You're free."

"What?" She jerks her head up suddenly and he sees her eyes were red.

"Yeah, it was no big deal but I had that dick Crowley cornered-"

"What?" She repeats like she didn't hear any of it the first time

Dean grins and reaches up both hands to her face and looks right in her eyes. "Your soul is yours again, kid. Try to hang onto it this time. No bartering it in any poker games or anything."

Charlie's mouth falls open and she sniffles and laughs at herself. Then abruptly throws her arms around him again and bowls him over into the couch. Dean gasps at the sudden movement and falls on his ass in his haste to get out of her arms. When he gets up and whirls, Dean promptly knocks the tableside lamp so hard with his wing that it hits the opposite wall.

"Shit… sorry."

"How?" She squints her eyes and points from him to the broken lamp about fifteen feet away. The table had been too far for him to hit with his body. But not too far for his stupid klutzy wings.

"Uh, forget it," Even as he says it, a picture falls off the wall several more feet away from his other wing twitching nervously. "Goddamnit!"

"That's you? How is that you?" Charlie jumps to her feet tilting her head in confusion.

At the notice he panics, feeling as though both his unruly wings were going to lift him up of their own accord. Just as he tenses, Cas silently reaches out and quickly grabs his hand. Dean closes his eyes and focuses on the place where they join. His thumb rubs over the top of Dean's hand and just like that it calms him.

Breathing out a few more times, Dean sighs and opens them to see Charlie's raised eyebrows and questioning stare.

"Sorry. I'm good now." He turns over his shoulder and nods gratefully at Cas. "Really, I'm good." He squeezes Cas' hand and let's go. Turning to Charlie, he says, "So uh.. you know how I explained about being a Hunter and everything?"

"Yeah you're like Buffy with a gun instead of a stake."

Dean had to laugh even as he felt Cas look to him in confusion at that. "Completely did not say that but whatever works for you." Charlie nods and smiles, apparently very happy to imagine Dean out fighting evil on a schoolnight.

"Anyway, with my last big showdown, there were some… complications."

Charlie's eyebrows rise in something like hopeful excitement. "Complications. Like telekinesis?"

She can't see the wings he reminds himself even though they feel like a bulky neon sign. How does Cas handle being indoors? He feels just too big for any kind of walls.

"What else can you move? Can you move me? The couch? Or are your powers all destructive until your angel boyfriend-"

She stops mid-sentence and looks from Cas to Dean then back at the table to gauge how far it was. He sees the light in her eyes as she figures it out.

"Ohmygoddean!" She yells in one word making Cas jump.

A half hour later he was hugging Charlie goodbye and promising to come back and visit. And fly for her. Her promise, not his.

Walking back to the car, he mutters, "Told you I'd make a sucky angel."

Cas grabs his arm abruptly and pulls him up short. Dean rolls his eyes, and tries to get away. "Dean, look at me."

He huffs and does without any enthusiasm.

"You have only been an angel for a handful of days. Most have hundreds of years to adjust to their wings and then even longer to learn to hide them from humanity. You are not a sucky angel. You are the most startling beautiful angel I have ever seen."

Dean sighs and still keeps his eyes down.

"But as for sucking…"

Dean flicks his eyes up at the coy tone Cas had. He was reminding him of the previous day when Dean had made that leap and kissed his way down his body. The sounds Cas made… every nervous swipe of his tongue and pull of his lips had forced out a new and hot noise from Cas' mouth and it spurred him on so he forgot any apprehension he might have once had about doing that. It was just another way to make Cas come and come he did. The memory makes him instantly hard and Cas sucking his bottom lip into his mouth slowly was only adding to it.

"Well I don't mind if you're a sucky angel at all."

The following day, they stop at a little bungalow house. Overflowing flowerbeds and healthy fruit trees make it seem inviting from the street. Cas tells him he can remain in the car if he wants but he can tell whatever is inside is important to him.

A man named Robert is inside.

Dean sits on a comfy couch, keeping his wings tight to his back and managing not to have a spazz episode this time. He learns this is where Cas' sister lived. Anna. The one who's grace had made him into what he was now.

He's quiet as Cas asks questions about her life with what appears to be her husband. Occasionally he's teary-eyed over a story but the middle-aged man seems eager and even happy to tell every story he can think of. Dean slides glances to Cas' profile every once and a while but he has his best blank-face on. As they stand to leave, Cas pauses to look at a few pictures, settling on one of just her. She's pretty. Smirking behind a flower she's holding, red hair flowing around her like a halo.. as clichéd as that sounds. Robert wordlessly hands him the one he's looking at, frame and all.

Dean sits with him in the car a long time after that, not turning the key because Cas is just staring ahead without answering to his name. Not knowing what to say, Dean scoots across the seat and grabs a handful of his shirt to pull him close. Cas immediately turns into the embrace and tightens his arms around Dean too hard in return. He doesn't have to say anything as it turns out.

Finally it was the day when they turn a corner and were suddenly back. Only maybe twenty minutes away.

"You're nervous," Castiel says unnecessarily.

"Hole in one."

"There is no need. Everything is okay now. Better than okay."

"Yeah well, let's just see how it goes."

"Are you ashamed of me?" Cas asks quietly with his head tilted.

"What?" Dean turns to him in surprise. "No. What gave you that dumb idea?"

"I know you might have... lingering issues accepting your choice of partners. Now that it is time to introduce me to your family..." he shrugs.

"Hey." Dean ducks his head to catch his eyes. When Cas glances away out the window, he sighs and pulls off on the shoulder.

"Hey, look at me." He reaches up and turns his face. Cas raises an eyebrow in seemingly unconcerned question but there's anxiety around the edges of that expression.

"You're everything I ever wanted. Like this or... even if I had been human and it was just for a little while.. even if I was a eighty stuck in some nursing home and you were still annoyingly hot.. I'd want you."

"Because you love me." Castiel smiles small but it's a challenge. Dean has never said it to him, not really. Not when he didn't think he was going to die. Not to his face. He wonders if he'll be able to say it now. Perhaps this would be too much for him so directly but still he asks it.

Dean looks him right in the eye, pausing like he's gathering courage then slowly and clearly says, "Because I love you."

Castiel takes a moment to stare into his green eyes, squinting slightly as if he needed to judge the truth of his words then smiles broadly.

Dean is waiting for something then just simply nods and turns the key again. Castiel shakes himself, realizing he was guilty of the same thing. Putting a hand over his on the key, he turns the car off with his hand over Dean's then shifts to straddle his lap, facing him with thighs splayed over Dean's. He needed to be close. This was important. Dean naturally drops his hands to his hips and laughs a little bemused.

"Yes?"

Castiel rests his hands on either side of his neck, thumb brushing his jawline and says very seriously, "I love you, Dean. With everything I am or ever will be."

Dean's eyes slide away the way they do whenever he praises him but he couldn't let him get away with it this time. Castiel held him in place with firm fingers, forcing eye contact so he would know how much he meant this.

Dean swallows and eventually nods in acknowledgement, squeezing his hips gently and Castiel flicks his eyes down to his mouth. Slowly they kiss, taking their time on the side of a busy highway in Nebraska. They would return to Sam, but a few more minutes wouldn't matter.

Finally, he's emotionally ready for this and even a little less nervous. Cas was by his side and it felt like that made it easier. Explaining to your family that you weren't human anymore and might need to pop out to the backyard for flying practice.. I mean how was he even supposed to begin that conversation?

Jo comes out first, apparently hearing the growl of the Impala's engine. The dog races past her and skids to a halt about five feet away. He ducks his head and growls low in his throat.

Frowning at their usually sweet family dog, Jo says, "Sorry, don't know why he's doing that."

"I do," Castiel says, tightening his wings to his back.

Ellen strides up behind her daughter and yells at the dog to get inside. "Dean! You found your way back to us finally. Took your sweet ass time, Boy. And you brought a friend." She smiles broadly with eyes crinkling at the corners. "Who's this handsome devil?"

"Oh this is Cas.. uh Castiel."

Castiel sticks out his hand like he remembered Dean doing to greet someone new. Ellen looks him up and down. "Oh... OH! Well c'mere, Son." She pulls him by the hand into a tight hug. Over his shoulder she asks, "It's like that, huh?"

Jo points from Cas to Dean behind his back and mouths, "This is him?"

Dean smiles, face heating and rubs the back of his neck. "Yep."

"Well I should tan your hide for making Dean so miserable-" she pokes Cas in the ribs suddenly until he frowns.

Dean mutters to him conspiratorially. "Don't worry, she likes you."

Sam walks up last with hands in his pockets. "Hey," he says with lips pressed tight, obviously controlling himself.

"Sam." Dean grins wide and scoops him up to hug him tight not even caring he was acting like a moody teenager.

Sam does hold him back just as tight after only a few seconds of resistance. Dean drops him and ruffles his hair. "Sorry. Just felt like a really long time since I saw you."

"It was a long time." He rolls his eyes still a little annoyed.

"Yeah well not anymore."

"Uh huh."

"No really. From now on-"

"Who's this?"

Dean straightens feeling immediately guilty for delaying and now nervous to introduce Cas who is patiently waiting, listening to something Jo was saying about a few prized embarrassing photos of toddler Dean her mom had.

"Oh, Sammy. I wanna introduce you to Cas." He gestures then seems lost for a minute. "He's uh… well he's my um.."

Castiel steps forward and says simply, "I'm Dean's."

Dean swallows and smiles a little stupidly. Yeah, that about summed it up.

Sam eyes him up and down, then narrows his eyes. "Why do you look kind of familiar?"

Castiel raises an eyebrow. "You used to call me Superman."

Dawning realization slowly lights in Sam's eyes and his mouth opens just as Dean groans.

"What?!"

Sam starts with the questions but Dean tries to corral everyone inside. "Just go in the backyard and I'll be there in a sec." Sam eyes him distrustfully like he'll bolt before he answers anything but Dean just turns back to Cas.

"Hey, I need a moment with him. Will you be okay with-"

"Of course."

"We'll' keep him busy," Ellen pats the cushion next to her on the couch heavier than necessary.

Dean's forehead creases in mock concern. "Why does that worry me?"

"We have some blanks Castiel here's gotta fill in so I don't kick his ass for making you miserable."

Castiel looks sideways at her. Then says, "Go speak with your brother." He squeezes his shoulder to get Dean going. "Quickly," he adds, looking back at the woman on the couch.

Stepping out into the backyard, he sees Sam sitting on the weathered picnic table just like their last big talk. This was beginning to be a habit.

Dean can't manage to just sit down, he's too antsy. The wings twitch with his nerves at his back but he keeps them closed trying to calm. Accidentally shooting into the air wasn't the way he wanted to start this conversation.

"Look I know you're still pissed at me."

Sam says, "No. I'm glad you made it back. Now who is that guy inside?" His voice is a little hollow like he's trying to fake indifference.

Dean tells him about knowing Cas from when he was a kid. He hesitates over how to even begin to explain what he was. What Dean was now too.

Sam nods but doesn't give anything back. Doesn't question or add anything like he's sure he wants to.

"C'mon Sam, say what's on your mind."

Dean didn't have the balls to just launch into the big bad meat of what he needed to say so he was shamelessly stalling.

Sighing, Sam shrugs and picks at the chipping paint on the table. "Is he going to hunt with you?"

"Cas? Well..." He hadn't really considered what they'd do now. "I guess. I mean, we haven't talked about it but probably."

"That's cool. I'm glad you're, ya know, happy." He doesn't sound glad.

"Sam, I'm back okay? I'm not taking off again. At least not like before."

Looking up he says skeptically, "Yeah, sure. How long until you're- you know what? Nevermind. We don't have to do this. You're leaving Cas alone with Ellen and Jo. Not super smart."

"Sam… you don't get it. I took out the demon that got Mom and Dad. It'll be different now. We'll have time-"

"Yeah you've said all this before, Dean, but you always leave. Just like.." he stops himself from finishing, but Dean hears it anyway. Dad. "Nothing's different…"

Dean almost laughs bitterly at how ridiculous that was.

"Everything's different! I'm different now!"

Sam actually rolls his eyes and cocks his head at him. He could practically see the sullen teenager emerging. "Yeah? Different how?"

Dean blew out a breath and ran nervous fingers through his hair. "Just different."

"Uh huh. I wish I believed you but it's just.. empty promises. You're always gonna leave. And now you have Cas and why would you need to come back. Which, whatever, it's fine. Just don't expect me to buy it anymore. I'm glad to see you but-"

"Just.. shut up a second." Dean rubs his temple with a thumb. He had to show him. His chest tightens, breathing picking up imagining what he was actually gonna do. Fuck it. Just get it over with. This was his brother. He'd understand. He hoped.

Taking a few steps back away from the table, Dean rolls his shoulders to open his wings, secretly delighting in the feeling of wind hitting the opening feathers. They stretch and rise behind him as he straightens.

"Wasn't expecting to do this anytime soon…"

"Do what?"

"Okay, so don't freak."

"Don't freak about what?"

When Dean just holds out a curt finger signaling 'hold on a damn minute and I'll show you', Sam folds his arms and leans back, obviously not expecting to be impressed by whatever Dean had to say next.

Closing his eyes, Dean breathes out and pushes his wings down once. He feels the weightlessness of being lifted, maybe ten feet in the air then drops easily to his feet. Ha. That was a damn sight more graceful than the previous few days. Hey he was improving.

Smiling nervously, Dean opens his eyes to see his brother's almost comically stricken face and gaping mouth.

"Sam..." He walks forward, palms out but Sam jumps off the table and almost trips over his feet trying to backpedal.

"Dean! Are you.. one of them? Are you a monster?!"

"What? Jesus, Sammy. No!" He lowers the angry tone because he couldn't blame Sam for coming to that conclusion. Even so, it's hard for him to just come out and say it so instead he goes with, "I'm uh, I'm like Cas." Sam looks back at the house in confusion, still pretty freaked. Christ, he was screwing this all up. "Remember that feather? It was his."

"Feather…" Sam puts it together then looks up at him. "You're an angel?"

Dean shrugs almost bashful, picking at his cuticles. It really did sound ridiculous.

"What does that even mean? How- He- What the hell, Dean?!"

"It's.. kind of a long story."

Sam raises an eyebrow then tentatively says, "Well we got time.. right?

Dean smiles truly and comes to sit next to him.

"Yeah we do."

Three weeks later: Thanksgiving

If you told Dean Winchester happiness would be sitting in front of a tv explaining why thousands of people wanted to stand out in the cold while inflatable cartoon characters slowly drove by, he would have laughed in your face. But instead here he was, laughing at the frown creasing Cas' forehead as he stares at the Snoopy float crawling down a crowded street to cheering masses. The house was filled with the tempting smells of a kitchen full of food. Cas hops up to check on something Ellen put him in charge of and Dean watches him go with an appreciation he can't seem to kick.

"Ughh, do you have to do that when I'm around?" Sam groans.

"What?" Dean straightens and took a swig off his beer.

"Check him out. You're like together all the time anyway. God.."

Dean rolls his eyes and focuses back on the tv.

It had been long and so so fun to explain to everyone what happened. And embarrassing. It involved a lot of encouraging nods from Cas and a "demonstration" of him turning bright red and lifting a few feet in the air in the backyard for Jo and Ellen. They both were talking at once before he even touched back down. But that was weeks ago and life almost seemed normal now. Normal for him at least.

Cas and him still practice Enochian, flying, all the other weird angely crap and he in turn showed Cas how to hunt. He didn't need to sleep which was still hard to get used to. They had hours and hours at night to fill. And they did. He didn't need to eat. But he still did. He didn't know all the tricks yet, magicking himself clean without taking a shower or something but they had time to learn. That was the best part. He had time now. Him and Sam. Him and Cas. Sam teased him about halos and harps. But when it came down to it, it was worth it.

Sometimes he needed a break. For them. For a day or two. Cas wasn't used to domestic life and in truth he wasn't either. After a week or so of family meals and comfortable routine, they'd go on a hunt or an extended flying lesson that turned into a chase but Sam wasn't tense like he used to be. He knew Dean would come back. That this was his home.

"C'mon Cas, we need to go on a cranberry sauce run." Dean spins his keys around his index finger, waiting by the door, grinning ear to ear.

Cas turns around and frowns at him and Dean swears he almost gets hard from it. Cas' frown does to him what a woman's hungry smile used to.

"Dean is cranberry sauce necessary? There is ample food here. I have no doubt there will be copious amounts remaining even after-"

"Yes, cranberry sauce is absolutely necessary," he says with hands in his pockets and rocking back and forth on his heels.

Castiel presses his lips, checking over his shoulder back at the kitchen. He already fit in so easily, planted himself in Dean's family and it felt good. They'd all adopted him like they'd done the family dog. If they ever saw Cas in action in the middle of a fight, they might not find it so cute when he asked his odd questions.

"Can you not go alone? Ellen requires my assistance in watching the progress of the gravy. Perhaps your brother-"

"Cas. I really need you specifically to come." C'mon Cas… catch up.

To Dean's relief, he nods slowly with a knowing look that's kind of adorable on his face. Then he calls behind him, "Ellen. Would you mind if I went with Dean? I believe he wants to be intimate before dinner."

Dean closes his eyes in embarrassment and groans. They were still working on subtlety.

Jo's giggle turns into a snort as she walks out of the kitchen. "I got it! Go be sinful, angels!"

Turning pink, Dean gruffly yells back, "Thanks for your approval but it's really just cranberry sauce."

"That what the kids are calling it these days?" She presses her lips but doesn't hide the smile and even winks

Dean rolls his eyes. "Hold down the fort. We'll be right back."

Dean jerks his chin towards the door at Cas as he opens it but almost jumps out of his skin when he sees two angels already standing on the other side.

"Hey, Barbie! How's our little fluffball doing, huh?"

"What are you guys doing here?" he asks incredulously.

"I invited them, Dean," Cas says from behind him, smiling big. "You said Thanksgiving was for family."

"But- but, it's uh Ellen's house and she-"

Cas interrupts to add, "I asked her first, of course."

"Ugh," Dean groans with the appropriate amount of exaggeration. "Thought I ditched you guys for good." Despite his annoyance at their raucous company, he has to admit it wasn't bad to see them. Especially because Cas looks so happy.

Balthazar puffs up his wings before keeping them tight to his back and slides past him. It was bizarre to be able to see it when almost no one else in the room could. "Do you really think we'd let you whisk our Cassie away to have your wicked way with him and not check in?

"Yes," Dean folds his arms.

"Well, hello," Balthazar says to an open-mouthed Jo. "And who is this-"

"Don't talk to him. Keep walking, Billy Idol."

He smirks and walks into the kitchen as Gabriel steps inside the doorway and takes in Cas' white short-sleeved button-up shirt and jeans. Dean had shown him about changing clothes if they were going to be hanging around any length of time in one place. He had to admit it was fun trying different looks out and he hated shopping. Cas in jeans… well they might have desecrated the men's changing room at Dillard's in the process of picking out a pair.

"Civies look good on you, Bro. Though I bet Dean-o still likes you in leather huh? Ohh candy yams." Gabriel pats Castiel on the back too hard so he steps towards the table with the force of it.

Ellen's voice comes from around the corner. "Hey, who's in my kitchen sticking his fingers in my pie?"

"Madam, who wouldn't want to stick a finger in your pie?" Balthazar's voice carries smoothly.

"Can it, blondie or I toss you outta here on your butt before you can say turkey."

Dean grabs Cas' hand and tugs him out the door before they can get caught up any longer in the madhouse that was Thanksgiving.

Driving right past the crowded grocery store, Dean finds a dead in road and drives until the end past houses for several minutes until there's no more road. Just wooded area.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe there are any purveyors of canned fruit here." Cas is smiling a little smug at the window as the engine ticks.

"Shut up." Dean grabs the back of his neck and pulls him down for a kiss.

Between rubbing his lips and burying fingers in his hair Dean murmurs "we don't got long."

"Then I suggest you stop talking, Dean."

Cas hooks an arm around his back and drags Dean on top of him so he's sitting in his lap. Bunching fingers over his denim-covered hips, Cas grinds him against his stiff bulge. Between making out like the teenager he never was, Dean manages to get his pants off and Cas' open. It'd go quicker if they stopped kissing but that wasn't happening.

It was rushed and sloppy, Dean's hands gripping his shoulders while Cas' roam under his shirt and kneads his hips to rock him against his erection. Cas takes them both in one hand and squeezes them right together with each pump of his hand. Their deep groans mingle loudly in the cramped space.

"Unng," Dean moans between sucking and tugging Cas lip with his teeth to crash into a hard kiss again. "We shoulda started this outside."

Cas chuckles in the back of his throat. "You don't like being close to me?"

Knocking his head hard against the roof, a guh noise fell out of Dean when Cas twists his palm gently over their wedged together heads, spreading pre-cum then stroking down the root.

Dean pants against his jaw. "Oh yeah. Clearly I hate it."

Letting his head fall against the back of the Impala's seat, he blatantly watches Dean.

"So you're saying you enjoy this then?"

Dean rolls his eyes back as Cas' hand picked up. "Uhh," he gasps. "You're being a dick...".

Castiel smiles, eyes dark and mischievous."No, I'm holding your dick." He squeezes then lets Dean go to continue to stroke only himself. "And I can stop if you wish... Perhaps we should get your cranberry sauce after all."

"Fuck the cranberry sauce!" Dean shouts, frustrated at the lack of friction now.

"I would rather fuck you..."

Dean almost groans at how dirty that sounds coming out of Cas' mouth. The longer they spent together; Cas was picking up on his colorful language and when to use it. And when he did, it drove Dean crazy. Something he was becoming increasingly aware of.

They didn't have time. Dean knew they didn't have time. Cas knew they didn't have time.

Even so, Dean's quickly reaching over Cas' shoulder focusing on where the gland was over the barrier of the seat. Another angel perk, lube at the ready.

Cas groans and bucks his hips forward involuntarily. When his fingers are coated, Dean only takes a few seconds to knock Cas' hand away from stroking himself. He encircles his thickening cock, gets him slick and shifts up almost bending over the seat before dropping back down to impale himself in one motion.

Cas cries out in surprise and throws his head back. Edging downward, Dean grins from an inch away despite the discomfort of taking him without any prep. With a few shallow slides up and down, it doesn't matter. His body adapts and takes everything Cas has to offer. Eagerly. And Cas doesn't stay idle long. Soon his eyes snap open and he slides a little further down the seat and plants his feet to thrust upward at a quick and dirty pace.

"Shit." Dean buries his face into his neck and mouths him while Cas holds him in place.

It builds and builds until Cas is gasping out his name and Dean is holding on to him with every bit of strength his has.

"So?"

"Uh.. What?" Dean closes the door behind Cas and faces Ellen, trying not to sound weird. She doesn't know. Don't go red. Keep your voice level, idiot.

"Where's my cranberry sauce?"

"Oh.."

He glances at Cas who smiles and walks on into the kitchen without being any help.

"They were uh out." Dean finishes lamely, trying to hide the stupid grin but was pretty sure he failed because Ellen folds her arms and raises an eyebrow.

Rubbing his neck, Dean slid past her.

Ellen bosses the two newest angelic additions with a maternal finesse that was nothing but impressive. She had Balthazar whisking gravy and Gabriel juggling empty cups on his way to the freezer for ice while Sam looks on with open admiration. Awesome.

Cas takes the plates out of his hands to help set the table and says, "Dean, I would like to say the prayer."

"Huh? You wanna pray?"

He seems only half certain but nods and says, "I've researched your holiday and know many families pray over their food. I would like to."

It's a little weird considering all Cas told him about an absent father but who was he to tell him no.

"Sure. If you want."

When everyone takes their seat, Castiel asks to pray and despite everyone's surprise and a few muttered comments from his brothers, Dean shrugs and motions for him to go on.

Bowing his head, Cas begins.

"Father, if you are listening... Know that we are gathered under one roof on this day in love and joy."

When Cas takes his hand under the table without pausing or looking up, Dean keeps his eyes open to watch him. "And even if you are not, I am thankful for this home and this family. New, old and departed. "

Cas is silent for almost a minute before Ellen finishes. "Amen."

Squeezing his hand, Dean leans close and asks, "You ok?"

Castiel nods, smiles and rubs thumb over Dean's. "More than I thought possible."

They eat and laugh, the addition of Cas' brothers making it one of the most lively Thanksgivings in Harvelle history. The food tastes different for Dean, like it's too much for his tastebuds, but he pushes past it because he flat refuses to live however the fuck long an angel can live without pie. Gabriel devours about half the yams by himself alone and Balthazar talks more than eats.

"So Dean, when are you taking me flying?" Sam asks innocently around a mouthful of roll.

"How about never?"

"Oh come on! Cas told me he used to take you-"

"Cas?!" Dean widens his eyes in accusation at him.

"I did take you." Cas shrugs and smiles ducking his head as if he was remembering a particularly hot adolescent adventure of theirs.

"I can take you, kiddo," Gabriel says around licking a stray marshmallow off his thumb.

Dean turns from blushing at Cas to say seriously, "That's not happening."

"Deeean," Sam whines. "You're basically like a superhero now. The least you can do it let me-"

"Well I wanna fly too!" Jo pipes up.

"No!" Ellen and Dean shout at the same time.

And before he knows it, it's after dinner and Dean's in the backyard nervously shifting from foot to foot. Why had he agreed to this? Oh that's right because Sam shamelessly pleaded and he was an idiot for giving in. It'd just be a quick up in the air then back firmly on the ground. That's all. Easy.

When Balthazar chivalrously offers to take an enthusiastic Jo, Ellen puts her fists on her hips and says, "Joanna Beth, keep your butt on the ground or it's never leaving your room again! And you.. touch her, blondie and I clip your damn wings!"

Balthazar actually blanches and throws Jo an apologetic face. "I am sorry my darling but I'm not willing to risk a confrontation with your lovely mother hen."

Sam practically bounces in his converse. "So? Can we go now?"

He never carried anyone before and even getting himself in the air was hard sometimes. Dean was just about ready to give him a raincheck and vote for another slice of pie instead. This was stupid. They had plenty of time to try this when he felt more confident. "Look, Sammy, this probably isn't a-"

"I got this, newbie." Gabriel steps forward.

"Dude, lay a finger on my-"

Gabriel lunges behind Sam, hooks an arm around his middle and shoots into the air.

"Ahhhh!" Sam screams at first then makes the boyish squeals Dean did when he was young. "Wooohoooo!"

Dean is after them in an instant though he can't even come close to keeping up. Heart sinking, he watches Gabriel toss his brother upwards until he's balancing Sam's feet on the palms of his hands then flies forward pushing through the air making it look like Sam is surfing or something. It makes his stomach flip with dread.

"Ha! Deeean!" Sam yells, the grin evident even from the growing distance.

"Gabriel! So help me god!"

Cas catches his shoulder and Dean notices him and the fact that they're hundreds of feet up for the first time.

"Gabriel will not allow him to be hurt."

"Cas-"

"Dean, trust me."

He frowns and stares after them, hovering in the air until Cas grabs his chin and kisses him. He knows it's a distraction but after a few seconds of clever manipulation, it's working.

Cas lets go with a pop of their lips and takes off. Dean grins and can't help following. He's getting down how to do that sudden curve he does and is eager to try it out. Cas is fast and clever but Dean's learning his tricks. When he sees the tell of his left wing arching up in the beginnings of an abrupt turn, Dean flaps his down hard, getting a burst of speed and knocks into Cas' side before he can complete it. Dean latches onto him, twisting their legs together and Cas drops like a stone, down, down, finally landing with a deep grunt when they hit the ground.

After a second to shake his head, Dean gets up on all fours above him and smiles down at him. He groans and slowly opens his eyes to a cocky Dean. It's the first time he won their game of chase.

"Sorry. Guess I don't know my own strength."

He does not look a bit sorry.

Sitting up on his elbows, Cas says tersely, "I am not sure I should forgive you so easily."

Dean grins and kisses his jaw. "C'mon... you know you wanna."

"No," He averts his eyes firmly to the evening sky and slow drifting clouds.

Dean cups the back of his head and nuzzles into his neck, nipping over that spot. Castiel makes a small noise in the back of his throat before he can catch it.

"Getting warmer? Isn't it in your angel dna to forgive?" He kisses his stubbly cheek. "Turn the other cheek and all that."

Cas darts his eyes to Dean's then resolutely back up again.

"I have very unforgiving dna."

Dean sinks downs all at once to catch his lips in a needy, teasing full body kiss that has him holding Cas' face and Cas bringing his arms up to wrap around Dean's back.

When he finally pulls back, Cas allows. "Perhaps I could eventually find my way to forgiving you…"

Dean sits up with satisfaction. "See, you're just a sucker for the Winchester Charm."

"Undisputedly."

Author's Note: Well you've reached the end of my little story, darling readers. Thank you for showing love for this. Every review really touches me. Your words affect me, as I hope mine might have affected you.

Upcoming works: In the future, I might have a little companion piece with Cas' POV from Dean's childhood. I'm also starting a Witch AU and going to work more on my genderswap (Skirts and Ties). Please stay tuned and hope to see you back.

*Eskimo Kisses*