Chapter Text
Dean’s palms were sweating, his heart was racing, and he felt like he was going to pass out. It could be the fact that he’d been sitting in the sun for the last three hours in a dress shirt, tie, and slacks with a black nylon graduation robe over the top. Or it could be the fact that he was going to propose to Cas later that day, at the party that his father insisted on throwing.
Dean’s name was finally called, being one of the last in the university's Science department, and he made his way up to the stage. His eyes squinted into the sun, desperately trying to find Cas in the throngs of family members and friends that had come to celebrate him and his classmates. He had almost given up hope until he heard his father’s gruff voice yell, “That’s my boy!” A smile spread across Dean’s face as he saw Bobby being pulled back into his seat by Kelly, who looked incredibly embarrassed.
Walking off the stage and back into his seat, he thought about how lucky he was. He loved his father, and when it had been just them, they were happy, but Dean always felt like something was missing. Then he found Cas, and with Cas came Kelly and Jack. Dean loved his nephew, watching him grow up was one of the highlights of the last two years. He couldn’t believe that Jack was going to be in kindergarten in the fall.
And Cas.
Cas never ceased to amaze him. After working with Dean at the Gas-N-Sip for about six months, he was given the opportunity to develop and run a teen program for New Hope. It was an inclusive program for queer teens that were no longer welcome in their own homes, and Cas had thrown himself into making that happen. With Missouri’s help he was able to connect with all the community resources needed, and had the program up and running within a year.
He was so goddamn proud of his boyfriend.
Even his dad had softened a little. After that first dinner where Dean met Kelly and Jack, they had instantly become part of the family. It warmed Dean’s heart to see Bobby on the floor of their living room playing dinosaurs or Legos or blocks with Jack and listening intently to everything the young boy had to say.
“Poppy!” Jack had said with an exasperated look on his face. “That’s not where that goes!” Jack had tried to call Bobby by name when he was three, but his ‘b’s always came out as ‘p’s and it just kind of stuck.
“It doesn’t?” Bobby had said softly. “Well then, where does it go, Jackie-boy?”
Dean’s heart warmed at the memory, but it was a fleeting feeling as a voice came over the speakers that brought him back to reality.
“Join me in congratulating all our graduates one more time.” The audience roared with applause and all of his classmates threw their caps up in the air in celebration.
Dean made his way through the crowd of recent graduates towards his family, his heart racing, unable to stop running his fingers over the ring box in his pocket. He took a deep breath as he approached his family.
Bobby slapped him on the back and then pulled him into a tight hug. “I’m so proud of you boy.” His voice broke a little.
“Thanks, Dad.” Bobby released Dean from the embrace and he could see the tears welling up in his dad’s eyes.
Kelly was next, and even though she was a full head shorter than Dean, she wrapped him up in a big bear hug and whispered in his ear, “Proud of you.” Once she let go, she grabbed his hands, her petite hands barely covering his. “Breathe, Dean,” she said quietly, out of earshot of Cas and Bobby. “He’s going to say yes. You know that, right?”
Kelly was the one person he’d confided in when he finally decided that he was going to propose. She’d helped him plan the whole thing, hell, she’d even been there to help him pick out the ring. His hand instinctively reached down to his pocket, just to make sure that the ring box was still there.
“Is he?” Dean knew that he loved Cas and Cas loved him, but this was a big step. “Am I making a mistake? Are we moving too fast?” Dean’s hands shook, but Kelly held them tightly and pressed them to her lips.
“No, Dean, you’re not.” The look on Kelly’s face was one of reassurance. Even though she was only a few years older than he was, she felt like a mother to him. He imagined that was exactly what Karen would say, were she still alive.
“Thank you Kelly, I–” Dean was cut off by Jack running towards him at full speed.
“Unkie D!” the small tow-headed boy screamed as he slammed into Dean’s legs, nearly knocking him over. Dean bent down and scooped Jack up in his arms. He groaned as he lifted the five year old up.
“Congrad–congra–chu…um…” Jack paused. His vocabulary had exploded in the last two years, but ‘congratulations’ was still a big word for a five year old. “Are you all done with school? I’m starting big boy school in a few months, did you know that?”
Dean smiled as he adjusted Jack in his arms. “I did, buddy, are you excited?”
Jack nodded so vigorously that he nearly shook out of Dean’s arms.
“Hey Jack?” Kelly said sweetly, putting a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “We’re gonna head back to the house to get ready for the party. I’m sure Poppy would let you help, but you gotta let go of Dean, okay?”
“Okay!” Jack let go of Dean and practically jumped out of his arms to run to Bobby.
He couldn’t hear what the young boy was saying, but he was sure it was something about helping at the grill. Kelly joined Bobby and Jack, who were walking towards the parking lot. That left only one member of their little family on the field.
Cas.
Dean closed the distance between them and without a word captured Cas’ lips in a sweet kiss. Once he broke the kiss he pressed his forehead against Cas’ just for a moment, watching their chests rise and fall in rhythm, breathing the same air.
“Congratulations, graduate,” Cas breathed out, barely a whisper. “I love you,” he added before grabbing Dean’s hand and lacing their fingers together. “Ready to go home?”
“Sunshine, I’d go anywhere you asked as long as you were there with me,” Dean said as they made their way towards the parking lot.
Dean pulled Baby onto the dirt driveway and his mouth dropped as he saw the number of cars parked in front of the house. When Bobby had insisted that he throw Dean a graduation party, he’d figured it would just be the five of them, but it looked like he had invited the entire town. “Jesus, Bobby,” he said under his breath.
“Hey,” Cas said, releasing Dean’s hand and moving it to cup his cheek. Dean leaned into the soft touch. “These are all the people who love you and are proud of you. You deserve to be celebrated, Dean.”
Dean swallowed harshly. He’d never been good at accepting compliments or the fact that good things happen to him. His early life had been so rife with tragedy that he just assumed he didn’t deserve good things, but then Bobby stuck around to be the father he needed, and he found Cas. Maybe, just maybe, things were turning around for him and he just needed to stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Thanks, Angel.”
“Okay,” Cas said. “Let’s go celebrate you.”
Dean and Cas walked into the backyard hand in hand, finding that Bobby really had invited the entire town. The backyard had been transformed. There were fairy lights strung up in the trees that created a natural fence at the back of the property. Set up in the grass were round tables with white linen tablecloths and a centerpiece on each one. The centerpieces had a vase with those aquarium rocks in them, and a ‘Congratulations’ in glittery gold script written on the outside of the vase.
As Dean took in the scene, realization washed over him. Cas was right, all the people that were here were gathered to celebrate him. Donna, from the police station, was there with her wife Jody, who just happened to be the county sheriff. Ellen and Bill, the owners of the Gas-N-Sip, were there chatting with Garth, the one co-worker that Dean could stand. Eileen was in the other corner chatting and signing wildly with two other women. It took Dean a second to place them, and once he did he cursed himself for not recognizing them immediately. It was Charlie and Jo, his best friends from high school. They’d fallen out of touch in the last few years, but god, how had he almost forgotten what they looked like?
He moved closer to them, then stopped short as he watched Jo whisper something into Charlie’s ear. He saw the blush color her cheeks as she dipped her head into the crook of Jo’s neck in embarrassment. Eileen, never missing a beat, caught his eye and signed, ‘Get your ass over here.’
Dean immediately started to move towards the trio, but was stopped when he realized Cas had dropped his hand and wasn’t moving with him. “Cas?” Dean turned and looked at his boyfriend. “What’s wrong?”
“Go and see your friends, I’ll see if Bobby needs any help.” Cas’ words were simple enough, but his body language was saying something completely different.
“Hey, Sunshine,” Dean said, lacing their hands back together and placing them on his heart. “They’re your friends too, now. Would you like to meet them? I think you’ll really like them.” Dean could see that Cas wasn’t gonna budge, so he pulled out his secret weapon. The puppy dog eyes. “Please, for me?” They seemed to work as Cas followed Dean as he walked toward Eileen and company.
“Well if it isn’t the prodigal daughter. How does it feel to walk among the plebians, Jo? You finished your doctorate yet?” Dean said teasingly as he wrapped the petite blonde in a tight hug. “It’s really good to see…” His words dropped off as his eyes fell to Jo’s hand. Well, specifically whose hand she was holding. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by Jo.
“Working on it. I’m finishing my Master’s thesis right now, but I’ve already got feelers out for Doctorate programs. Oh, and before you ask, yes. Don’t be a dick about it.” Jo waved her hand, interlocked with Charlie’s, in Dean’s face.
“How?” Were the only words Dean was able to eke out. Cas thankfully was slightly more eloquent.
“I’m Cas. I believe what my boyfriend meant to ask was how did you guys get together?”
Dean traded a look with Cas, then looked back at the girls and nodded vigorously.
“We’ll answer that question, but not until you answer a few of ours,” Jo said, her gaze dragging up and down Cas’ body. She let out a low whistle.
“Yeah, Dean. How’d you score this beefcake and more importantly, have you guys bonded yet?” Charlie asked, waggling her eyebrows.
Dean rolled his eyes. “Good to know you haven’t changed much, Charles. And uh, yeah…yeah, we have. It was, um…” Dean was suddenly speechless. How did he put into words how he felt about Cas? It was just a feeling, the best feeling.
“Fireworks,” Cas rumbled. “It was like someone set off fireworks inside my body, in the best way possible, and then it was all too much.” Castiel’s voice got quieter as if he was saying something he shouldn’t have.
“Yeah,” Dean chimed in. “I literally knocked him off his feet.” Dean playfully jabbed Cas in the ribs. “Right, Cas?”
“It was all very overwhelming. The kiss, hearing your song for the first time, your father, and then I was on the ground surrounded by bags of potato chips.”
“Wait, what?” Charlie exclaimed. “You guys bonded in front of your dad? How the … and what the hell do bags of chips have to do with…” Charlie had a quizzical look on her face.
Jo tried to clarify. “So you guys bonded in public? Seriously? Didn’t know you had it in you, Winchester, that takes some serious ovaries.”
Why were Charlie and Jo shocked that Dean kissed Cas in front of his dad? They knew he was bi. They also knew Bobby was cool with it. Hell, Jo was the one to introduce Dean to Benny. So what was the big…
Ohhhh!
“You guys think that–” The laughter bubbled up from deep inside. “You think that we–” More laughter. “I–Jesus Christ. I mean, we have since then, but that’s not–” Dean couldn’t get a full sentence out without bursting into laughter.
Now THAT would have been an interesting scene for his dad to walk in on. Dean could picture it. Castiel seated on the counter at the store, Dean’s hands all over him, kissing and sucking at Castiel’s collarbone, both their erections aching against the zippers of their pants. Dean’s hand would slide down to pop the button on Castiel’s jeans and slowly pull the zipper down. He would palm Castiel’s erection until the pre-cum created a dark spot on his boxers, then have Castiel lift his hips so he could slip the boxers down just enough to release his cock. Dean would stare in awe, and then lick a stripe from the base to the tip, eliciting a moan out of Castiel before he took the whole thing in his mouth.
Imagine if that were the scene that Bobby walked into?
“You guys think that my dad saw us having sex in public?” Dean was finally able to get the words out. “We bonded the first time we kissed, then my dad showed up and Cas passed out. That’s it.”
“How did you two bond?” Cas took the question right out of Dean’s mouth.
Both Charlie and Jo blushed.
“I’m not gonna tell him, you’ve known him longer,” Charlie said.
“I’m not gonna tell him, he’s like my brother,” Jo retorted.
“Jesus Christ,” Eileen exclaimed. “I’LL tell him.” She put her hands on her hips and looked directly at Dean. “They fucked right after graduation. In Charlie’s car.”
Dean’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “WHAT?” But before he could ask any more questions, Bobby’s booming voice cut him off.
“Food’s ready! Come and get it!”
Dean never really got a chance to get Charlie and Jo alone for the rest of the night, he was so inundated with congratulations from everyone. Charlie and Jo had been a nice distraction, but as the evening progressed, his nerves crept in again. The ring box felt like a dead weight in Dean’s pocket and he knew if he didn’t do anything soon, he never would. So, just as the dessert, a selection of homemade pies, came out, he knew it was now or never. Dean cleared his throat and then stood up.
“Um, hi, everyone. I just wanted to thank you for coming. I–um–it’s–um great to see how many people–you know.” Dean could feel the heat rise up his neck. He’d never been good at using his words, but if there was ever a time, it was now. “I, um–most of you know Cas, who I definitely couldn’t have made it through the last two years without. Y’all know I was never a fan of the whole soulmate thing, but then I met you, Cas, and I figured, hell, even if you aren’t mine then we can still be in each other’s lives, right?”
Dean looked down at Cas sitting next to him. He was gorgeous: the sleeves of his crisp white dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, showing off his tanned forearms; his gray slacks struggling to contain his thighs; his dark hair playfully messy, like he’d been running his hands through it, and his eyes. Dean got lost in Cas’ eyes. He swore they changed with how Cas was feeling. If he was happy, then they were a bright crystal blue; if he was sad, they were closer to gray, and when they were together Dean swore they glowed.
“Castiel Krushnik, I love you. You are my soulmate and the love of my life.” Dean dug the ring box out of his pocket and dropped to one knee. He heard the gasps of the other guests, but his gaze was laser focused on Cas. “Will you do me the honor of being my husband?”
The party faded around them. All Dean could see was Cas. He held his breath as he waited for the answer. Why was Cas taking so long? What was there to think about? Was he actually going to say no? What if he said no? Oh shit. Dean hadn’t even entertained that option. Why isn’t Cas saying anything?
Fuck.
“Dean? Dean? Can you hear me?”
The world came rushing back into focus. It made Dean light headed. As his eyes refocused and he was brought back into the moment, he felt Cas’ strong hands on his face. He looked into those blue eyes he loved so much and they were gray, brimming with tears. Why was Cas crying? Oh shit. He was gonna say no. He was trying to figure out how to let Dean down easily in front of everyone he loved.
Fuck.
“Dean, did you hear me? Dean talk to me, please, you’re scaring me.”
“Yeah, I heard you, Cas,” Dean said despondently. He shoved Cas’ hands away and tried to stand up, but the leg he’d been kneeling on had fallen asleep. He scrambled to find the ring box, he must’ve dropped it on the ground somewhere. “Where is it?” he muttered under his breath.
“Dean.”
Castiel’s voice was strong and commanding. It sent a shiver of pleasure down Dean’s spine and straight to his dick.
“DEAN!”
Castiel was yelling now. Great, so much for slinking away without causing a scene. Still searching for the ring box – maybe it fell under the table – Dean suddenly came nose to nose with Castiel. Hadn’t he just been standing up? When had he–
Dean's thoughts were cut off as soft pink lips captured his in a kiss. Cas’ hands’ threaded through his hair. It was an awkward position, but there was so much passion behind it, so much longing.
“Yes,” Castiel said as he pulled back from the kiss.
Dean was still in a haze, his brain trying to catch up on what was happening. “Yes?” Dean's voice sounded small and not his own.
“Yes, I will marry you. I love you so much and never want to live a day without you.” Castiel sat up on his knees and pulled Dean up with him. “I love you, Dean Winchester. I have loved you since the first day I met you.”
“You mean the day I threatened to have you arrested?” Dean said weakly as he rose to his feet, leaning on Cas for stability.
“No, the day you saw me as an equal and offered to help. That was the day I fell in love with you.”
“That was the same day, Cas.” Dean felt slightly more stable on his own two feet, but he still didn’t know where the ring was. Cool. Cas said yes, but I lost the ring like a dumbass, great.
“No.” Castiel cupped Dean’s head in his hands and looked directly into his eyes. “It wasn’t. That day in the store wasn’t the first day I met you. You probably don’t remember, but you were there my first day at New Hope. It took me a while to put the pieces together, but that was the first time I heard my soul song. It was a month or two before I met you at the store.”
Dean’s mouth dropped open. He remembered the first time he’d stepped foot in New Hope. A wave of realization washed over Dean. That was the second time he’d heard his soul song, but when was the first? “Hey, uh, Cas?”
“Yes, Dean?”
Dean felt Castiel’s hot breath on his neck. Cas’ hands were still holding Dean’s face. His hands were warm, almost too warm, in the late spring evening. The sun hung low in the sky, the air was warm and humid and you could see the mosquitoes begin to descend. But there was one spot on his right cheek that was cooler than everywhere else. Dean grabbed Cas’ left hand and inspected it. There was a dark silver band on his left finger, embedded with three small emeralds and looking just like the missing ring that Dean had–
“Cas, you’re wearing the ring,” Dean said with confusion in his voice.
“Yes, Dean. That is usually what one does when one accepts a proposal of marriage.”
“You said yes. And that’s why you’re wearing the ring.” Dean’s brain was slowly putting things together.
“Yes, Dean.”
Dean let out a long breath and laid his head on Castiel’s chest.
“I think we should go, don’t you? It’s been a very busy day.”
“Mmm-hmm.” Dean agreed, nodding into Castiel’s chest.
“Okay, Dean.”
Dean’s eyes fluttered closed. Castiel said something else, but Dean only heard it rumble through his chest.
Next thing he knew, he was upstairs in their bedroom, sitting on the edge of the bed. Cas was at his feet, untying his shoes and slipping them off. Dean reached out and tried to ruffle his hair, but by the sound Cas made, he was pretty sure he just smacked him upside the head.
“Okay, Dean. Lift your hips for me. We gotta get these pants off.” Castiel’s voice sounded far away and too close all at the same time.
Dean’s eyes fluttered closed again, and when he opened them, he was in bed, under the covers, with his head on Cas’ chest. Cas was softly snoring, and Dean found it adorable and somewhat soothing. He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at his boyfriend, now fiancè, his soulmate sleeping peacefully knowing that this was the beginning of the rest of their lives.
He really did deserve good things and maybe this whole soulmate thing wasn’t so bad after all.