"But now I have finally seen the end,

And I'm not expecting you to care

But I have finally seen the light.

I have finally realized

I need to love…

Our love is madness."

[Muse – Madness]

Mary's Hut diner smelled like coffee beans. They were sitting at a booth table, Dean sitting with Jo, across from Cas. Apparently, Dean and Cas weren't the only people leaving their hometown. Jo was heading off to New York the following day. She'd gotten a scholarship for college, and she had to move there in the summer.

"It's going to be so weird when I get back from my road trip," Dean said, his eyes darting from Jo to Cas. "Neither of you will be here. I'm going to be forced to make new friends to replace you both."

Jo laughed. "If I find you've replaced me I will come back just to slap you."

"Good." Dean smiled. "My plan is working."

Cas smiled warmly at Dean, tilting his head to the side. "Just who will you convince to go see one of those low budget gory films you drag me to?"

"Little brothers need to make themselves useful sometimes," Dean said.

"Oh, Sam," Jo said. "I'm going to miss him so much."

Dean nodded. "He's really sorry he couldn't be here, what with summer school going on. I don't understand why Sam would voluntarily choose to attend school in the summer. Poor kid has no life."

"He's trying to get ahead," Cas said. "Don't be rude."

Dean stared at Cas, seriously. "Stop calling me out on my comments."

"Never."

Jo rolled her eyes. "The sexual tension is strong, am I right?"

Cas huffed out a breath. "There is none."

"Oh please. You keep checking me out every chance you get." Dean winked. "You want this."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Cas dropped his eyes to scan his menu on the table.

"He wants this," Dean told Jo with a smirk. He wasn't one to kiss and tell, but Dean knew Cas still remembered their heated kiss in the backseat of the Impala. Dean thought about it all the time.

"Give it up, Dean." Jo padded his arm. "Anyway, I am starving."

"That's news," Cas mumbled.

"Finally the waiter's coming," Jo said, sounding relieved. She opened her mouth, not hiding her shock. Dean followed her vision, and he mirrored her expression.

"Benny," Dean breathed. "What are you doing here?"

Benny was holing a small notebook and pen in his hands. He flashed a wide, toothy grin as he plopped down on the seat beside Cas. "Hey, I didn't think I'd find you all here at the same time. What's going on? Anything new and exciting happening?"

Cas scooted away from Benny, looking bewildered and helpless. Benny turned to him, extending his hand. Cas glanced at it like it was something from outer space.

"Come on, Cas, don't leave me hanging," Benny insisted. Hesitantly, Cas shook Benny's hand, until Benny dropped his hand and offered him another smile. Dean and Jo exchanged a confused look.

"Do you work here?" Dean asked.

Benny nodded. "Yup. I figured I could use the money. I'm saving up for a car, and possibly for my own place if all goes well. What about you? I hear you're leaving soon."

"I'm just going on a road trip," Dean said. "Cas and Jo are the ones who will be leaving for good."

"Not for good," Jo said. "I'm coming to visit every holiday."

"Me too," Cas said, taking his perplexed eyes off Benny. Dean knew that if Cas came for the holidays, it wouldn't be to be with his aunt. She didn't celebrate anything.

"It won't be the same without you guys here," Benny said, glancing around the table. "I feel like my family's all moving away."

"Family?" Cas wondered quietly. "You teased me all through high school, Benny."

Benny laughed, giving Cas a playful shove. "We were just having fun! You didn't think I really hated you, did you?"

"Yes, I did. You made a bet so that Dean pretended to like me, and you gave him a camera to film our dates. What kind of person does that?" Cas raised his voice, so much that a few people at the diner were staring.

Benny cleared his throat, frowning. "The camera was Ruby's idea."

"Come on, man. I think we all know you owe Cas an apology," Dean said, and Jo nodded in agreement.

"You can't be serious. I didn't do anything." Benny pointed at Dean with his index finger. "You did the dirty work."

"And I have paid with tears and blood for it."

Cas grimaced. "This isn't about Dean. This is about you pretending we're all friends, when you weren't even a good friend to Dean all these years."

"Alright, alright." Benny raised his hands in surrender. "Castiel, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the bet, and I'm sorry for making your life a living hell at school. Do you want me to be honest? I spent all that time teasing you because, I don't know, I kinda had a thing for you all these years. There. I said it. The truth is out there."

"What the fuck?" Dean demanded, suddenly furious. "Is that why you chose him for the bet? Dammit, Benny. That makes it so much worse."

Benny shrugged, nonchalant. "It's all done and over with if you ask me. And I stopped lusting over you a long time ago," Benny told Cas. He held up his pen. "I should get back to work before I get fired." He got up from the table. "What can I get you to drink? Coffee? OJ?"

Jo shoved Dean off the seat with all the strength she could muster. "No, thanks. How about we have lunch at my house?"

"We're leaving, Benny," Dean said, reaching for Castiel's hand.

"What did I say?" Benny wondered innocently.

"Keep walking," Jo encouraged, heading for the door. "Don't look back."

"Bye," Cas said before Dean yanked him outside.

Sam made it to Jo's just as Dean and Cas were leaving. They were standing on her front porch, under the yellow light by her door. Jo was heading out early in the morning, so it was their last day for saying goodbye. Sam ran straight to Jo and took her in his arms.

"I think I'm going to miss you nagging me," Sam mumbled, pulling away. "And punching my arm all the time."

"I'm going to miss that, too," Jo said, swatting Sam's arm for emphasis. "I'm so glad we got you back, Sammy."

"So am I."

Dean wrapped an arm around Castiel's shoulders. "Sam, guess who we saw earlier today."

"Who?" Sam wondered.

"Oh, God, would you drop it?" Cas complained. "Dean, he isn't going to bother me in the month that I'll be here without you."

Sam looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

Jo sighed. "Benny told us he wanted to bang Cas. That's why he did the bet and a million other horrible things."

"Gross," Sam said.

"That's not what he said. I'm not defending him," Cas said before Dean protested. "He's a douchebag, but he apologized."

"Well, while I'm gone, Sammy's going to keep an eye on you," Dean said. "Right, Sammy?"

"I'm sure Cas doesn't need a babysitter," Sam said.

"Thank you," Cas told Sam. "I'll probably just spend my time reading, or looking up apartments in California."

Dean tightened his hold on Cas, bending down to kiss the top of his head. "California will be great, Cas. You'll see."

Castiel smiled, wrapping an arm around Dean's waist. "I'm sure it will be."

Jo leaned against Sam. "Sam, I know we're all opposed to betting," Jo said. "But what say I bet you five bucks that Dean and Cas don't make it two days apart from each other."

Sam barked a laugh. "Bet's on." They shook on it.

Dean rolled his eyes. "That's not funny."

"I'm sure I can make it forty-eight hours without Dean," Cas allowed. "Forty-nine, I'm not so sure."

Dean kissed his temple this time. "We'll be fine. We'll stay in touch." Dean turned to Jo. "We will all stay in touch."

"Yeah, yeah, weekly phone calls, emails, all that crap," Jo said, waving a hand. "It's getting late, and I've lots of packing left, and I'm waking up at five in the morning. Come give me a big hug before I go to bed. Come on, all of you."

Dean laughed as he and Cas walked closer and attacked Jo in a group hug. Sam wrapped his long arms around everybody.

In that instant, it hit him. This was ending. His life as he knew it was ending. Dean wouldn't have his friends around the corner anymore. After tonight, Jo would be gone. After his road trip, Cas would be gone. And Sam would eventually move to Stanford.

Everything was changing.

Soon, all he'd have left would be his memories.

After long days at work, the 1970 shiny red VW Camper Van was ready for the road. It was perfect timing. Dean would leave in two days, and Cas was dying for them to break in the brand new leather seats.

Dean stood with Bobby as they watched Cas get behind the steering wheel, turning the key in the ignition until the van roared to life. The sound was exciting.

Bobby groaned with contentment. "You boys did a fine work with that van. You make a good team."

"I know," Dean said, unable to keep his eyes from the ecstatic look on Castiel's face. "Bobby, are you sure you can keep the business running without me? I am your best mechanic, after all."

"Hope so," Bobby said. "If not, I'll figure it out. You need a vacation more than anyone else around here."

Cas pulled his head out the rolled-down window. "Get in. Let's take a drive."

"Now?" Dean called.

"Yes, Dean, time is precious."

Dean turned to his uncle. "Do you need me to come back?"

Bobby furrowed his eyebrows. "No, idjit. Go on, take the rest of the day. It's getting dark anyway."

Wasting no more time, Dean made his way to the passenger seat, careful not to ruin Castiel's work on the inside. The van looked absolutely marvelous. The dashboard was cream colored and shiny. Dean glanced to the back, where Cas had only placed a cushiony leather mattress.

"You're going to need extra seats for the back," Dean told him.

"Not for tonight," Cas said, smiling as he got on the road. "Not for us."

They were parked on a field, somewhere out of town. When Dean looked out the windshield, all he saw was grass for miles, and reddish-orange glows from the setting sun. Cas had brought them all the way here just so they could watch the sunset together.

Cas opened his door, and Dean did the same. He went around the van to find Cas, who was sliding open the back door. Cas sat inside, letting his feet hang off to the side. Dean sat next to him, and they continued watching the sun slowly disappear from view.

"I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will always be there for you, Cas." Dean reached blindly for Castiel's hand, and when he found it, he stacked it on top of his, rather than picking it up. He kept his eyes on the beautiful hues marked on the sky by the sun. "And when you find someone new, I want you to be happy. Don't hold back just because you know how I feel about you. I don't want my memory to keep you from living your life the way you should."

"Dean," Cas muttered.

"Promise me you'll be happy. I don't care what it takes. I don't care what it means. I want you to find your happiness, and I want you to take it and never let it go." Dean turned to Cas, stroking his cheek with his other hand. Castiel's eyes fluttered shut at the touch.

"I promise," Cas said.

Dean took his hands away and looked away. He knew what the implications meant. But nothing really mattered anymore. Their time was almost over. At the end of the day, they would still have their friendship.

Warm hands enveloped him, and Dean slowly fell to his back, landing on the comfortable mattress. Cas fell on top of him, his hands holding Dean's face with tenderness. Their legs were still hanging off the van, and Dean placed his hands on Castiel's back.

Cas smiled before leaning in to press his lips against Dean's, a velvet touch that made Dean's heart race. "We're more than friends, aren't we?" Cas whispered into Dean's mouth, his breath was warm and sweet.

"We're whatever you want us to be," Dean said, kissing Castiel this time, running his hands from the bottom of Castiel's back to the top. "For however long you want."

Castiel's fingers trailed up to Dean's hair. "I trust you." Cas pressed small kisses down the length of Dean's jaw. When he got to his neck, Cas sucked on the skin, long and hard enough to leave a bruise.

Dean gasped when Cas bit at the sensitive skin he'd just marked. "I trust you, too."

Cas filled Dean's face with countless more kisses that left Dean short on breath. "I know you might be okay with me moving on," Cas whispered close to Dean's ear, before he nipped at his earlobe. "But I'm not okay with you moving on."

"Cas," Dean whispered as Cas continued sucking and biting at his neck, possessively.

"You belong to me. It's simple, really." Cas kissed Dean's lips languidly, making Dean crazy and desperate for more. Dean placed a hand under Castiel's shirt, navigating his soft skin. Cas pulled away, just barely. "Do you understand?"

Dean swallowed and nodded until Cas kissed his lips again. "I'm really starting to like this van."

Cas chuckled softly, pulling on Dean's hair. "That's exactly what I wanted. To trap you in this van and never let you go."

"You're a bit possessive of your friends, aren't you, Cas?"

Cas growled, almost purred, as he nibbled on Dean's earlobe again. "You were never just my friend, Dean. You were always mine."

"Always yours," Dean muttered, closing his eyes in delight. "I like the sound of that."

"Me too."

It was noon when Dean had his bags all packed and ready to leave. Mary and Sam stood near the kitchen counter, saying their goodbyes. Dean had said his goodbye to Cas the night prior because he figured it would be easier that way.

"I'll send postcards," Dean promised.

Sam snorted. "I still can't believe you're taking a road trip alone. If I didn't have summer school, I'd go with you."

"I know, Sammy. But there's nothing wrong with being on the road on my own. I think it'll be nice."

Mary grinned. "Of course it will be. Just remember to wear your seatbelt at all times, and drive under the speed limit. Don't drive too late or when you're tired. And don't stay anywhere that looks dangerous. Trust your gut instincts, sweetheart."

Dean hugged her. "I'll remember everything. Thanks, mom. I love you."

"I love you, too, darling," Mary pressed a kiss to Dean's forehead before letting him go.

Dean walked over to Sam and took him in his arms. "You're a Sasquatch, you know that?"

Sam laughed, squeezing his brother's back. "It's not my fault you stopped growing when you turned fifteen."

Dean pulled back and squinted at his brother. "No postcards for you."

"That's okay. As long as you bring me back some pizza from Chicago."

"I'll try not to eat it on the way," Dean said, picking up his bags. "I should get going."

Mary and Sam watched him until Dean was outside. He was working on carrying all of his bags so that he didn't have to take a second trip to the house, but he dropped one on the way to the Impala.

"Need any help?" Cas picked up the bag that had fallen and smiled at Dean. Behind him, Cas had a few suitcases of his own. "Do you think there's enough room for me in your car?"

"Are you serious?" Dean asked. "What about California?"

"Let's put these in the trunk," Cas said. "They're heavy."

They worked on putting all of their luggage in the trunk, which all fit perfectly together. Dean left the trunk open, still not sure what was going on.

"Dean," Cas said, stepping forward. "I made you a promise. I promised you that I would find happiness, and I would never let it go. You're my happiness, and I'm not letting you go. I'm going on this road trip with you."

"What about California?" Dean repeated.

"We'll make that our last stop. I talked to Bobby and he said he's willing to drive my van all the way there when we're settled in."

"We?"

Cas shifted, nervously. "You can go to community college anywhere, can't you? Maybe I shouldn't have thought that you'd like to move there with me. You have a life here, and I get that. But it was just a suggestion. You don't have to stay in California with me. I still want to go on this road trip with you."

Dean raised his eyebrows, astounded. "Cas, you want me to live with you in California?"

Cas bit on his lip, nodding slowly. "I know it sounds like a lot, and you don't have to do what I say, but I would really like it if you said yes. My offer will always be open."

"California," Dean said, running a hand through his hair. "That would be amazing. Wow."

Cas beamed. "Is that a yes?"

"I think so."

"Can I say something else?"

Dean nodded, unable to find the words to speak. He was doing this. He had just decided to move to California with Castiel. This was either completely insane or completely brilliant, but Dean didn't care.

"I love you."

Dean grinned. "I know. It's still good to hear it."

"I was kind of obvious, wasn't I?" Cas said, looking nervous again. Dean reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers.

"We finally get to go on our road trip, Cas. We get to start over."

"In that case," Cas let go of Dean's hand. "Hi, my name is Castiel Novak, and I'd really like to be your friend."

"Hi, I'm Dean Winchester, and I'd really like to kiss you."

Cas got on his toes and reached up to press his lips against Dean's, smiling during the length of their kiss.

"Much better," Dean said, holding Castiel's hand again. He finally closed the trunk.

"One last thing," Cas said once they were inside the Impala. "We're not stopping to visit the Winchester House because that place terrifies me."

"I'll protect you," Dean said, pulling out of the driveway. "I'll hold your hand." Dean reached for Castiel's hand and held it right then.

"Assbutt," Cas mumbled.

Dean laughed this time. "You know, I kind of like that name."

"That's because you're an ass, but you have a nice butt."

"Makes sense." Dean lifted their hands and kissed the back of Castiel's hand. "I bet you say that to all the boys."

"I don't make any bets."

Dean turned to Cas, who had a playful grin on his face. "Assbutt."

"Hey, don't use that on me. It's not allowed."

Dean let go of Castiel's hand, opening the glove compartment once he got to a stop sign on a desolate street. He pulled out a CD and handed it to Cas. "Will you put this on?"

"But your stereo—"

"I got rid of the old one," Dean said. "I shouldn't have bought it in the first place. This one plays CDs."

Cas put the CD on and it started playing. "There's nothing like listening to The End."

"Nothing like being on the road with you."

"That too," Cas agreed.

Dean continued driving as the music filled the car and the wind hit his face. Cas sang along to every song, and Dean harmonized. This wasn't the end, this was the beginning.

AN: Check out a one shot I wrote for this story: "Pies and Kisses." Thank you for reading!

Songs that inspired this story:

Madness - Muse

Hanging on - Ellie Goulding

I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend - The Ramones

Love Lost - The Temper Trap

Taro - Alt-J

Phenomena - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

In the End - Nicholas Megalis

There Is No One After You - Nicholas Megalis

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz