Chapter Text
3 years ago
It’s a warm Saturday afternoon, and the driveway is already packed with cars when Dean arrives at Kelly’s house. He parks the Impala further away from the house, behind some grey Prius. He takes a quick peek at himself from the rearview mirror, but there’s not much he can do about his appearance, since he’s coming straight from work. Reaching towards the leg space of the passenger side, he grabs the orange flowers he got for Kelly before getting out of the car.
Based on the number of cars, and some noises coming from the backyard, most of the guests have already arrived. Dean’s eyes wander around the front yard and the big, light yellow house in front of him.
He greets some people coming out the front door, apparently leaving already. Their faces look vaguely familiar, so they’ve probably met at one of Kelly’s parties before, the ones with much more booze. The ones that are supposed to leave you with only vague memories of the people there.
The party he’s arrived at now is not like that, though, and considering it’s a baby shower for Kelly’s baby, it’s probably a good thing it isn’t. Dean lets himself in, searching for Kelly or any other person he knows from the small groups of people here and there. There are people in the living room admiring some pictures Kelly has on the shelves, but Dean doesn’t know any of them. He finds his way to the back door that leads to a terrace, and to his favorite part of these types of parties: the barbecue.
The backyard is cozy with the green grass opening after the small terrace, tall fences giving privacy from the neighbors, and few trees giving shadows and shelter. There’s a huge table stacked with all kinds of food right next to the brand-new grill Dean helped Kelly bring there last week. Some guy Dean doesn’t recognize is using it, the delicious smell of food finding its way to Dean’s nose. He hasn’t eaten anything since his quick lunch break earlier that day.
Dean knows he sometimes mocks Kelly for leaving the wild party years behind to become a mom, but the sight of people around the backyard, mingling with each other and enjoying the sun even if it’s only one of the first warmer days in early May, makes him genuinely happy for his friend.
“Dean!” Kelly spots him across the yard, waving a hand at him, “You made it!”
Dean makes his way towards her, as she carefully pushes herself up from the chair, smiling wide when she steps into the hug he leans in to give.
“Of course, wouldn’t miss it”, he says as he holds her close. He glances at her baby bump when they let go of each other. Her stomach looks bigger than before, even if they saw each other just a few days ago, “Sure he’s not gonna suddenly join the party?”
Kelly rolls her eyes at him, gently placing her hands on the bump. “I sure hope not, he’s not due until in two weeks.”
Dean hands her the flowers, “If he’s anything like his mom back in the day, a grand entrance to a party would be very suitable.”
“Don’t give him any ideas”, Kelly smirks, speaking under her breath like she’s afraid the baby will hear her. She hooks her arm on Dean’s, guiding him across the yard and towards the back door, instead of the barbeque he was waiting for. “I have something important to talk to you about.”
-
Dean drums his fingers against the cold stone of the kitchen isle, waiting for Kelly to return. She has just sat him down there and said she’d be back soon, before disappearing somewhere in the house.
She comes back soon enough, joined with someone who Dean hears asking “What’s this about?” on the hallway just before they arrive at the kitchen. Dean frowns, because he recognizes the low, gravely voice even before he sees the blue eyes staring back at him on the doorway.
Cas looks confused, but serious like he always does. He crosses the kitchen and joins Dean on the isle, sitting down on the stool next to him. Dean notices how Cas leaves space between them, either unintentionally or on purpose, leaning away from him like he’d be afraid to catch something.
Dean is fine with all the distance Cas wants to keep.
Together they turn their confused eyes to Kelly, who stands on the other side of the isle, eyeing them.
She takes a deep breath in, before she starts, “You know how you two are my best friends, and I love you more than anything—”
“Wait”, Dean holds his hands up, silencing the woman, “You’re not trying to set us up on a date, are you?”
Kelly opens her mouth, but Cas cuts in with a scoff, “She’s not that stupid, Dean.”
Dean turns his whole body towards the man next to him, offended. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I have standards”, Cas says, blue eyes cold as he squints.
“Yeah, well, so have I—"
“Everything that moves is not a standard.”
“You are where I draw the line, Cas.”
“Okay, shut up, both of you!” Kelly laughs, waving her hands to get their attention, “And stop that”, she says, giving a mean good mom frown at them.
She’s perfected that whenever she makes them spend time in the same space. It’s not Dean’s fault Cas is annoying as fuck.
Hot enough for Dean to accidentally hit on him when he was drunk and hadn’t met the guy properly yet, but he’s glad he dodged that bullet before anything actually happened, because Cas is the worst. He’s too serious, clearly doesn’t like anything Dean is as a person, and he gets on Dean’s nerves every time they’re in the same place. Which happens sometimes, since they share a best friend, but that’s literally all they share.
“Anyway, I am not trying to set you guys up”, she calms them down, “what I am asking is for you two to be the godparents for my baby.”
Dean is dumbfounded for a second, just staring at Kelly, who is looking between the two of them, waiting for a reaction.
“I thought you were going to ask your cousin”, Cas says. She’s explained something like that to them earlier, saying it was a tradition in their family or something, but she doesn’t know her cousin that well.
“I know, but I kind of changed my plan last minute”, she says, and it’s not uncharacteristic for her, “I want his godparents to be people who are close to me, and who I love and not just because we’re related”, she explains, “and if I’m being completely honest, maybe sharing that helps you two drop this weird beef.”
Dean side eyes Cas in time to see him roll his eyes.
“Just say yes”, Kelly laughs, and Dean realizes they never gave an answer.
“Yes”, he says just as Cas says, “Of course.”
“Great!” she beams, before laughing a bit, “That is also the first time ever that I’ve heard you two agree on something. My baby is a miracle maker already.”
“Clearly”, Cas laughs, and Dean allows himself to chuckle as well, the joy of the situation making him drop the ongoing war with Cas for a second.
Someone appears on the kitchen door, asking quickly for Kelly, and she leaves the two alone.
-
“Being a godparent is a huge responsibility”, Cas talks, looking at Dean up and down, “Are you up for things like that, Dean?”
“Being a godparent is literally just being fun”, he says back, scoffing, “Would it kill you to chill for once in your life?”
Cas shoots him an irritated look, stepping closer like he was challenging him, “No, it wouldn’t—"
Kelly comes back and puts an end to their bicker before it properly even starts. “Okay, knock it off, you two”, she laughs, and they do, but not without glaring at each other for a second first.
“This is why you make the perfect pair for this task”, she explains, “maybe you’ll learn to actually like each other the way I do.”
Cas is sure Dean’s not capable of having feelings in general. The man is all casual hookups and flashing easy smiles, thinking only about himself and what he wants.
“Wouldn’t bet any actual money on that”, Dean says, and the rare moment repeats itself when Cas has to agree with him for the second time that day.
Kelly ignores their bickering looks, like she usually does. She places a hand on her stomach, caressing it, “You’ll see”, she smiles, “Jack will teach you.”
Cas raises his brows, bringing a hand to Kelly’s baby bump as well, “Jack?”
She gives them a shy smile, “It’s still a secret actually, but yeah. After my father.”
Dean smiles down at the bump, “Hey, Jack.”
Unborn baby Jack might be a miracle maker for real, in the way the bickering from earlier is washed away as the three of them share the happy baby bubble together.