August 1984

"Gabe what's school like?"

"It's okay sometimes. But, you should probably stay in during recess though. I knew this one kid who went outside to play and never came back. He was a lot like you, maybe whatever took him had a type. Better safe than sorry Cassie!"

Gabriel wasn't much help when it came to needing serious answers. Castiel was freaking out about this whole "school" thing. He didn't like the thoughts of leaving home for hours on end just to be surrounded by complete strangers.

He hardly slept at all the night before his first day. He knew Gabriel was probably making up the thing about the kid going missing, but it didn't make him any more at ease.

"Have a good day Castiel." His mother said.

"You are sure I have to be here?" He asked.

"Yes Castiel, I think you should give it a try. Maybe you will find a friend."

"How would I do that?"

"Just find someone who looks nice and say hello."

"Yes mother."

He took the seat with his name on it. It was unlikely anyone else would have the same name.

He sat quietly with his hands intertwined on top of the desk. He was trying to be strong for his mother, she really wanted him to do this.

He sees a smiling blonde boy walk into the room holding the hand of what must be his younger brother. He tried not to stare but he couldn't keep himself from doing it.

"I'm going to miss you Sammy, Give bubby a hug." The boy said.

The smaller child hugged him tightly. He nearly fell over without the hand to guide him but quickly the older boy steadied him.

"I'll see you soon, Love you Sammy."

"lub ou D" The toddler responded.

Castiel had brothers, he doesn't remember them ever treating him with so much love or kindness. He thinks maybe this boy should be the friend his mother wanted him to have.

Once his mother and brother left though his face fell a little. He wasn't frowning or crying or anything like that. It just seemed like his smile was a little less bright.

"Are you okay?" Castiel asked.

"Yuh, I'm fine." He says.

Castiel thinks maybe this boy isn't really okay but it's probably best to leave him alone.

Miss Missouri tells everyone they can go to recess. He isn't stupid enough to believe Gabe's stories, but he stays inside just to be safe. Castiel has never made a friend, and he's not really sure how to do it. He remembers one time seeing Gabriel writing initials down in his notebook with a plus sign in between them.

"What's that?" he'd asked.

"That's what you do when you like someone." Gabe answered.

"Who is K. B.?"

"It's Kali Black, she's really pretty and I like her. She's my friend."

Castiel remembered this conversation and then thinks maybe that's how to get someone to be your friend.

He asks Miss Missouri politely if he could use the chalk board.

"Well sure sweetie, you go right ahead now. " She smiled.

Cas took his time and wrote his own initials neatly against the black background.

He went back toward his seat to see what would hopefully be his new friend's name.

He took notice of the small black letters. "Dean Winchester" it said. He double checked the two important letters, and returned to finish his message.

C.N + D.W.

Miss Missouri looked it over and smiled. "One day child, One day."

He was a little confused but she didn't seem upset or angry so he figured it was okay. Then, he returned quietly to his seat and waited for the sound of the whistle blowing.

Dean's face went red when he'd saw what Castiel had written. He thought maybe Dean was mad at first but he smiled a little and that probably meant everything was okay.

"Don't you like to play outside?" Dean asked.

"I don't know." He answered. What that meant was he wasn't sure he wanted to play outside. He liked looking at flowers and watching butterflies and bees and things
like that. But he'd never played with anyone before and he didn't want to mess it up.

"Well, you should try it. You know, instead of writing on the board while everyone else plays."

"Do you not like it?" Castiel asked. He was sure that Gabriel and Kali were friends now, so she must have liked it. Maybe he just had to keep doing it until Dean liked it too.

"Whatever."

October, 1984

"Gabriel I've been writing messages on the board every day and I still don't know if Dean is my friend!" Castiel promises he only slightly whined.

"Well just take the next step." Gabriel chuckled.

"What's that?"

"The next time he does something nice for you just ask him to be your boyfriend."

"What's a boyfriend?"

"It means that you like him, and you think he's cute, and you want to spend more time with him. I am Kali's boyfriend and she's my girlfriend."

"Okay thanks Gabe!" Castiel said excitedly. All he had to do now was wait for Dean to do something nice for him.

He didn't have to wait long. The very next day Dean asked him to come outside and play with him during recess. Castiel accepted quickly.

"Dean will you be my boyfriend?" Castiel asked as soon as the door was closed behind them.

Dean paused.

"Sure I'll be your boyfriend, if you get that leaf out of the puddle for me." Dean said pointing to a very disgusting brown hole.

It didn't seem like a big deal though he didn't really understand why Dean would want the nasty broken poor excuse for a leaf. There were plenty lying around that were prettier.

"Okay!" He replied. It's just a little mud, not the end of the world he told himself.

"With your teeth." Dean said.

Castiel was not happy at the newest addition to the statement. He thought about what his brother had said to him again just to make sure this was what he wanted. Of course he liked Dean, he'd never seen someone so kind or caring. All the times he'd seen Dean with his brother he knew there was good inside him. He did think Dean was cute, he had really pretty green eyes and his smile seemed to light up the whole room sometimes. Spending more time with Dean would be AWESOME! Yeah it was definitely worth it.

So he dropped gently to his knees and he could feel the wet ground cold against his skin. He leaned over nearly touching it when he heard Dean shout.

"STOP!"

Castiel was confused. Maybe Dean had changed his mind and didn't want to be his boyfriend.

"I thought you wanted this leaf."

"Dude, I can't believe you were really going to do it." Dean was laughing and Castiel wasn't exactly sure why but it was pleasing to watch.

"Of course I was, I want you to be my boyfriend Dean."

"Get up, I'll be your boyfriend just stay out of the mud puddles! Okay?" Dean said.

"Okay!" Castiel responded.

Dean slid his fingers through Castiel's hand and it made him feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Castiel went home that day happier than he'd been in the entire two months that he'd been going to school

"Castiel what's made you so happy sweetie?" His mother asked.

He blushed a little.

"I have a boyfriend.

His mother smiled and chuckled back at him.

"Why don't you sit down and I'll get us a snack while you tell me all about your new boyfriend okay?"

Sometimes he thinks his mom is cooler than any other mom in the world.

"Okay."

They eat apples dipped in caramel sauce while Cas does his best to educate his mother on the finer points of Dean Winchester. He mostly talks about how good he is with Sammy though. His mother seems to understand why he finds that so attractive.

"Castiel you know your brothers love you right?" She said

"I know, but Gabriel is always tricking me or breaking my stuff, and Michael doesn't like any of the same stuff as I do. I love them too Mom." He replied.

"Well maybe we could have Dean over to play sometimes? Would you like that?"

"YES! But can he bring Sammy? Dean doesn't like to leave Sammy, I don't think he would come if he couldn't. He knows how to take care of him though, he's a really
good big brother." Castiel assured her.

"Of course, all Winchester's are welcome you be sure to tell Dean I said that when you invite him over too okay?"

"Thank you Mommy! I Love You!" Castiel said squeezing tightly around her.

"I Love you too Angel."

The boys were pretty much inseparable after that. Dean would grab his hand and pull him along or sometimes he'd just hold it in place. Even after months of this, he still felt a tingling every time it happened.

December 1984,

The boys were not happy, they were taking a stand.

Dean had asked Cas what he was doing for Christmas Break. Castiel didn't know so he asked his mother that night.

"Mom, Dean wants to know what I'm doing for Christmas Break. What am I doing?"

"We are going to Boston to visit some of your relatives Castiel. We won't be back until after New Years."

"Where's Boston Mamma?"

"It's far away, we have to ride in an airplane so we can get there faster. Wouldn't you like to fly Castiel?"

His mother asked obviously trying to wash the very bothered look on his face away.

"Is Dean going to Boston?"

"I don't think so." His mother replied.

"If Dean's not going I'll just stay here."

"Castiel you can't stay here. Your father and I and your brothers are all going to Boston. You're not old enough to stay by yourself. You have to come with us." She
answered.

"I'll just stay with Dean."

"Even if you could, would you really want to spend your Christmas without your family?" She asked.

"Dean says family don't end in blood. Dean says we can be family too. Don't you think Dean can be my family too?"

His mother blinked at him apparently not knowing what to say.

"I have no doubt that Dean can be your family too. That doesn't change the fact that we have Holiday plans and You can't stay alone. I'm sorry this makes you unhappy

Castiel, but you're going to Boston with the rest of us."

Castiel was angry, he didn't eat dinner that night.

The next day Castiel told Dean what his mom had said and Dean was angry too.

Dean said he thought maybe his mom could help though she was pretty awesome like that.

That evening Mary Winchester called Rebecca Novak.

"Hello"

"Hello Becky!"

"Oh hello Mary, how's everything going?"

"It's good, well mostly. It seems our boys have a little problem with the Holiday Arrangements."

"Yes, Castiel has expressed that he was quite unhappy. He didn't eat dinner last night and to my knowledge is planning to skip it again this evening."

"Dean would never give up his dinner, but looks as if he could punch himself through a wall. I assume whatever this is it's mutual.:" She chuckled.

"I know, they are quite the pair aren't they."

"Listen Becky, I know that you want your family together for the holidays. Anyone would given the choice. I promise I will not mention another thing about it if you refuse, but you should know Castiel is more than welcome to spend the holidays with us. Dean would have my hide if I didn't offer. If I'm completely honest though, I will say that Castiel is a joy to have at the house. Dean's got a different spark about him when he's around, I can't imagine either of us are going to have overly pleasant holidays with them being so unhappy about the separation. It's totally up to you and Jimmy, just let me know when you've made a decision okay?"

"Of course Mary, I'll call you soon."

"Kiss those boys for me."

"You too! Don't leave Sammy out. He's probably one the most adorable toddlers I've ever seen."

"Okay Becky, Goodbye."

"Bye"

Castiel and Dean acted up enough that their parents gave in. Despite her best wishes Rebecca and Jimmy let Castiel stay behind and spend Christmas with the Winchesters. It became a tradition for the following three years.

May 1988

Castiel noticed Dean didn't hold his hand anymore. He didn't mind that because some of the other boys had started teasing them about it. What really bothered him was the fact that they didn't really get to spend much time together. The school had tried to split them up last year but they'd fought it, and eventually won. This year they weren't so lucky. He'd gone all year and only ever saw his Best-friend / Boyfriend a couple times a week. For them, that was basically like breaking up.
The worst was yet to come though he found out shortly.

"Cas! Guess what?" Dean shouted as Castiel came through the front door of the Winchester home.

"What?"

"I get to spend the whole summer in South Dakota with my Uncle Bobby at his cabin!" Dean was glowing with excitement.

"You're leaving?" Castiel asked.

"Yeah is that okay?" Dean asked suddenly looking sad.

"Yeah Dean! I'm happy for you. I hope you have lots of fun and you can tell me all about it when you come home." Castiel said with as much excitement as he could
fake.

"Thanks Cas! You're the best."

They'd never spent a summer break apart but Castiel had a feeling this wasn't a good sign. It turned out he'd never been so right in all his life.

Dean left that summer and the Novaks took that opportunity to cart Cas off to Boston to join the family he'd not seen the last few Holidays. It was okay there and he
had some fun, but he missed Dean all the time.

August 1988

The boys sat on the steps of the Novak's porch and Castiel could feel a deep ache in his stomach like something really bad was about to happen.

"Cas you know you're my best friend right?"

"And you're mine!" He tried to reassure Dean with the excited nodding of his head.

"Cas would you be mad at me if I told you I liked Danielle?"

"No I'm sure you like all kinds of girls. Some of them are really nice."

"No Cas, I mean.. I like like Danielle."

"Oh." Cas said it like he'd been expecting it though.

"Yeah." Dean hung his head down.

"So you don't want to be boyfriend's anymore?"

"I still like you and want to hang out with you though Cas, it's not like I don't want to be friends anymore. I just think Dani's really cool and I think she like likes me too."

"Does she make you laugh and make you smile?" Cas asked.

"Yeah. She's really funny and she always laughs at my jokes too."

"Okay Dean, We're still friends though?"

"Yeah Cas of course."

Castiel quickly learned that while Dean tried to be his friend most of the time he was always hanging out with Danielle and her friends.

Castiel soon gained a couple friends of his own and the boys had officially parted ways.