Chapter Text
Dean gripped tightly to the small hand encased in his, afraid that the young boy would see something that attracted his curious nature again and rush off, leaving him and Cas jogging after him in exasperation in an attempt to keep up.
He glanced down at his son, Benjamin Winchester, and smiled at the look of wonder and excitement on the five-year olds face as he tried to take in all of the sights and sounds around him.
This was his first time in a real foreign country. Sure he’d driven to see Sam in California and they’d visited to other states, sometimes to see Cas’s family and others just for a vacation. But this time Cas had finally convinced Dean to get on a plane for their summer trip and the small family had packed up and flown to Florence, Italy.
It had been Cas’s dream to visit for as long as Dean had known him and Dean had a very hard time denying his husband anything, least of all when he turned on the charms.
It had been worth the plane ride just to see the look of childlike amazement on Ben’s face as the plane took off never mind Cas when they were visiting the art galleries and museums since they’d been here. Dean thought Cas was damn near going to orgasm at the sight of Michelangelo’s statue of David.
Dean was content just seeing his family so happy.
He glanced over at Cas now and was struck by how beautiful he looked in the sun. Lightly tanned and with his aviators and stubble, he looked just as sexy to Dean at thirty eight as he had when he was eighteen. It sometimes amazed him that they’d been together for twenty one years already and married for just on ten and he was still so in love. They were still so in love.
It had been their tenth wedding anniversary a little before they came away and this was almost a celebration of that though they’d certainly had their own private celebration too. And hadn’t that been a night to remember.
However Dean had another surprise up his sleeve. As soon as they had decided on Florence the plan had come to him. And it was time to set it into motion.
He squeezed his sons hand and he glanced up at him and at Dean’s nod, broke out into a grin and tore himself away from his parents and ran off with an admirable speed.
“Benjamin Winchester!” Cas shouted after him, but even his parent voice wasn’t enough to stop Ben, not this time and the pair of them took off in pursuit, Dean attempting to supress his own grin.
Ben stopped outside a certain jewellery shop on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge long enough for Cas to spot him, before he darted inside.
Cas heaved a sigh before following him into the small shop, Dean not far behind.
He could see the confused expression on his lovely husbands face as he came up behind him, his head tilted to the side as he glanced around for a clearly not present Ben. The only person in the shop was an older Italian man behind the counter who stepped out and then gestured to the couple.
“This way if you please Dr Winchester” he said looking to Cas, who shot Dean a look conveying his bemusement but complied when Dean smiled encouragingly and squeezed the hip his hand had come to rest on.
They were led through a winding corridor into a backroom that had been decorated for the surprise occasion and that also contained their buzzing son.
A small white table had been set up for two, a champagne bottle chilling amongst cerulean flower petals strewn across the surface. Upon closer inspection from Cas, he realised that it was the same brand they had drank when Dean proposed and had now become their special occasion drink.
Sometimes Cas couldn’t believe that Dean was real, let alone that he was his.
Seeing that Cas had been rendered speechless, Dean guided him to his seat and settled him into it.
Ben ran up then and very carefully, under the watchful eye of Dean, poured the champagne into the two glasses like he’d been practicing. Dean reached out and ruffled his hair, proud of how well Ben had helped out.
The shop owner then came over and gently escorted Ben out of the room to allow them some time alone.
Dean pushed over one of the glasses and caught one of Cas’s slender hands in his own.
His husband still seemed kind of overwhelmed but he managed to ask “Dean what is this?”
He couldn’t supress his grin this time and Cas was met with the full force of the patented Winchester smile and quivered a little inside.
“It’s been ten years since I made good on my promise from high school” Cas smiled softly at the reminder of that day so long ago “I know that getting married was proving our commitment to each other for a lifetime but I made myself a little promise when I proposed that we were forever and there’s another special ring that we can exchange. But this time I want you to pick the ring for yourself and there’s no better time than our tenth wedding anniversary. I want to give you an eternity ring.” Dean finished his little speech and though he had no reason to be nervous he had still felt a slight shake in his voice.
He clearly didn’t have anything to worry about because tears were falling from Cas’s shining eyes as he stood and came to Dean, climbing into his lap, wrapping his arms around his neck and attaching their lips.
Their kiss said everything that Cas would want to say, could possibly hope to say.
It spoke of the deep love they shared, their bond, the time they had spent together over the years. The support they provided each other through college and jobs. The houses they’d lived in, the memories they’d forged and the family they had created.
It was passionate and safe and comforting and exciting and most of all, loving.
Cas pulled away but kept his arms tightly locked around his astounding partner. “I love you so much Dean”
Dean briefly touched their lips together again. “I love you too baby.”
“I can’t believe you did all this for me”
“Cas, family is the most important part of my life and I still can’t believe you’re actually a part of mine some days. You’re so incredible and I just want to treat you like you should be. I love doing things for you. I love you”
Cas’s eyes slipped closed as his head nuzzled its way into Dean’s neck. “How did I get so lucky?” he breathed out.
“How did I?” Dean replied with a chuckle.
They stayed in the embrace, taking pleasure in the feel of the others body so close.
The moment was shattered when Ben popped his head round the door and squealed out “Is it time for the rings yet?”
Cas got off Dean, giggling slightly and Dean joined in and Ben couldn’t help but join in when he saw his parents so happy and carefree.
“Sure Ben, bring them in!”
Ben clapped his hands together and then scampered off, returning only a moment later with the shop owner behind, both holding a tray of sparkling rings. Cas retook his seat and sipped from his glass as the trays were placed before him.
“Dr Winchester, my name is Luca and this is my shop. I hope you find yourself a ring to your taste. And take all the time you need” He said with a wink and Cas gave Luca a grateful smile.
Then he turned his attention to the array of beautiful jewellery laid out for his perusal.
There was much to choose from.
Slim bands, thick bands. Some plain, some detailed, some with jewels inlaid and all different jewels at that. There was gold and silver represented and Cas was overcome for a moment by all the choice.
He looked at the ring already around his ring finger, the same one that Dean had used to propose with. He and Dean had decided that they only needed the one ring and so for their wedding day they had only needed to purchase one new ring for Dean to exchange. In the end, the ring chosen was the exact replica of the one Cas wore. It still gave him a little thrill.
But now he had to choose an eternity ring to complement it. An eternity ring. He smiled to himself. Cas loved all that Dean’s gesture implied.
He immediately mentally discarded all of the gold rings and any of the rings with colourful stones. The blue and green gems in his wedding band were colourful enough. That left the silver rings. Did he want a plain band, an intricate design? Or perhaps one set with diamonds? Though truthfully he’s never really been one for diamonds.
His eyes were drawn to a simple silver band with a slightly raised inner circle. He lifted in from the tray and glanced at his expectant family. They watched as he removed the wedding ring and fitted the ring below it. It fit perfectly. Dean must have planned it that way. His husband.
He took in how the two rings looked together and after appraising, he was sure that it was the one he wanted.
He held his hand out for inspection.
Dean cupped it in his and took in his choice. He nodded his head and then locked eyes with Cas. “It suits you. Are you sure this is the one you want?”
Cas nodded and Dean smiled softly before heading out with Luca to complete the transaction, no doubt to hide the cost of the ring and this private showing from Cas. But he didn’t mind.
Ben walked over to his Papa and Cas lifted him to sit on his knee.
“I like it but it’s not sparkly” Ben decided and that sounded exactly like his son. He was like a magpie in that respect, always drawn to the shiny and sparkly things.
“Thanks Ben” His son nodded and then turned to look at the much more sparkly rings before him and his eyes lit up.
As Cas waited for Dean to return he could only muse on how wonderful his life had managed to turn out.
***
Later that night, as Dean and Cas were wrapped up together under the hotel sheets, bodies meshed and Ben put to bed, Cas was gazing at his new ring before he brought up something he’d never voiced to Dean before but that had been on his mind since this afternoon and Dean’s romantic speech.
“Dean”
“Yeah babe?” He mumbled out, pretty near sleep after their earlier, fun activities.
“You said, before, you can’t believe sometimes that I’m part of your family, well…” he turned to face Dean, so he was looking straight into his husbands eyes and he could see how serious he was. “I never expected to be part of a family at all. Before I met you, before we got together, I hadn’t expected anybody would even want that with me. I was never popular, didn’t have many friends and then you came into my life and everything changed. I know my life would be nothing like it is if it wasn’t for you. You always say how much better I am than you, but that is not true at all. You’re a great man Dean and a wonderful husband and father. And I constantly thank whatever it was that brought us together.”
Dean stayed looking at him for a moment before he surged forward and kissed him and kissed him and kissed him. “Cas” he gasped “Cas, god, I love you.” There wasn’t else he could possibly say to such a declaration.
The couple stayed intimately entwined in the bed.
In a little while they’d fall asleep and later still, wake up to a day spent together and many more, stretching ahead into the years awaiting them, all spent together as they and their family grew.
They had eternity now, after all.