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Castiel walked into Dean’s house and found him lacing up his boots in the living room. His fiancee, Lisa, looked more anxious than Castiel thought was warranted for the stag night he’d planned, but it could also be nerves about the wedding overall. It had been a long road to get them to the altar, complete with a few break-ups, more than one pregnancy scare (still only one child from a previous relationship of Lisa’s), and both parties getting cold feet in the past. Castiel always felt like Lisa was in love with the idea of getting married, the white dress and fancy day, and having a father figure for her son (who Dean adored to pieces), but that she didn’t actually want Dean as the man to fill the role so much as he was the one willing to do it. It made Castiel sad, seeing Dean’s devotion to them while also seeing that Lisa held back.
Dean was not without his faults, Castiel was well aware of those as well and loved him both in spite of and because of them. But while Dean would always be haunted by the ghosts of his past, he truly did put his all into ignoring them for Lisa and her son, to be the man they deserved and expected. He didn’t always hit the mark, but he worked hard for them and his idea of the white picket fence home and apple pie family life.
“Hey, Cas! Just a sec and I’ll be ready.” Dean finished lacing his boot and then bolted up the stairs, mumbling about forgetting his charger. Castiel gently rolled his eyes and shared a ‘typical’ commiseration with Lisa who smiled wanly.
“Hello, Castiel.” Lisa seemed to force herself into speaking. “Has Sam landed yet?”
“Yes, he’s already set up in the AirBnB; Jo’s already there with a few others. Benny and Garth are on the way with food, and Sam advised that Charlie and Bobby will be arriving shortly with a selection of movies and drinks respectively.” Castiel had planned a very laid back stag party for his best friend, one with nerdy movies, a pool table and dart board, all the Dean-favorite foods he could reasonably afford, and his found family. No bars or dancing ladies, just a relaxed good time the night before the wedding.
“Sounds like a fun night,” Lisa murmured softly, almost sadly. Castiel was about to comment when she shook herself and smiled brightly. “The girls from work should be here soon, too. My sister is running a little late though.”
“I hope she arrives safely,” Castiel offered as Dean came down the stairs, charger held up in triumph. Castiel smiled fondly. “Where’s your bag, Dean?”
“Son of a bitch,” Dean breathed out before turning and going back upstairs.
“Same old Dean,” Lisa laughed. “Well, I hope you all have a good time.”
Dean thundered back down the stairs, duffel slung over his shoulder with his toiletries and unmentionables packed inside (Castiel hoped, if not, he had back-ups in his own bag). He took Lisa by the waist with his free hand, pulling her in softly. He tapped their foreheads together and kissed her with a smile.
“See you in the morning, babe.”
Lisa smiled and gave him another gentle kiss before thumbing her lipstick off his mouth and giving him a playful shove. “Go on, get outta here.” Dean gave a mock salute and, turning, marched for the door. Castiel smiled at Dean’s antics and looked over to bid Lisa good night but paused at the oddly serious look in her eyes. “Take good care of him, please?”
“Of course I will.” Castiel’s head tilted and he squinted in confusion, wondering where her sudden solemnity had come from. “Have a good evening, Lisa.”
“See you around, Castiel.” Lisa waved and turned to go into the kitchen.
Castiel stood in the living room, pondering the odd behavior for a moment before Dean poked his head back in looking for him. He followed Dean out to the car and they proceeded to the rental for the ‘party’.
The evening went off as planned, with lots of laughter and stories, playing games, watching movies, and grazing over the buffet. Castiel felt warm watching Dean interact with everyone. He gave everyone his time, sitting with each of them individually for a while to talk before rejoining the group. He made sure no plate or cup was empty, despite being reminded every time that it wasn’t his job. When Dean made his way over to him near the end of the night, Castiel was almost surprised.
“Hey, Cas. How you doin’ tonight, man?” Dean poured the last of the soda in his can into Castiel’s cup and grabbed a chip off his plate.
“I’m very happy, Dean.” Castiel wasn’t even lying. He may have an iota of envy, but truly, he was happy that Dean was getting what he wanted in life. He’d loved Dean since realizing that he was gay, but while Dean had confessed to being bi during a sleepover, Castiel had never seen him date anyone but women. As a result, Castiel had never broached the subject. He sipped his drink. “I know this wasn’t exactly a typical stag party, but you looked to enjoy it?”
“This was the best, I mean that.” He looked at the room and Castiel followed his gaze. It wasn’t overflowing with people, but those that were there were meaningful. Dean had countless acquaintances, but true trusted friends were their own class. Family. Dean’s hand landed on his shoulder, drawing his attention back to be caught in eyes that had featured in Cas’s dreams for years. Sincerity colored Dean’s voice. “Thank you, Cas. You're awesome.”
“Of course, Dean.” He allowed himself to be reeled into a strong embrace before they both sat back. “You deserve every happiness.”
Dean mumbled something under his breath with a shy smile. He paused for a moment, some fleeting thoughts crossing his face that Castiel didn’t quite catch, before winking and standing up to join a game of pool. The night started to wind down and Castiel inconspicuously began to clean up the few items that had been left around. He and Sam met in the kitchen and made sure that everything was packaged and covered and put into the fridge.
Castiel hadn’t been terribly surprised when Dean asked him to be his best man instead of Sam. Likewise, Sam was neither surprised or upset at Dean’s choice. As much as the brothers loved each other, they weren’t really as close as most people thought. There had been a falling out when they were younger that they had never fully recovered from. Castiel had suggested family therapy more than once, but neither brother was interested. So, since they were satisfied with their relationship, Castiel had decided to let it go.
Sam clapped Castiel on the back before heading to bid everyone good night. Sam leaving to go to bed seemed to be the impetus for everyone else to look at the time and decide to head to bed as well. All of the rooms were doubled up; Dean and Castiel being assigned a room with two queen beds.
“Hey, remember when we used to have sleepovers? Only one bed, though, back in the day,” Dean laughed as he pulled a few things out of his bag.
“Of course I do; I woke up more than once being flung to the floor by someone who flailed in his sleep,” Castiel mock glared at him.
“That’s weird, doesn’t sound like me,” Dean grinned, his tongue in his teeth.
Castiel rolled his eyes before heading to the bathroom to get ready for bed. He pulled on a pair of boxers and a t-shirt and got tucked in bed as Dean used the bathroom. Dean got into bed next to him with a laugh before climbing over him and rolling out to get into his own bed. Castiel threw a pillow at him.
Dean tossed it back as he snuggled down under his blanket. His voice was sleepy and relaxed when he spoke, “Thanks for this, Cas … it was great.”
“You’re welcome, Dean,” Castiel replied gently. They smiled at each other as Castiel reached for the light switch on the end table between the beds. “Good night.”
“G’night.” Castiel listened as Dean shuffled around, getting comfortable. “See you in the morning.”
“Yes you will, I’ll be the one bringing coffee so you don’t hurt anyone.”
Dean chuckled softly. “Yeah, sounds about right.”
Castiel stood next to Dean who was already fidgeting with excited nerves. Everyone else had already gone in to find their seats. Castiel reached over and tweaked Dean’s tie with a grin, just to watch the man rush to the mirror and check it again.
“Dude, hands off the tie!” Dean growled for the third time, making Castiel chuckle.
“It’s not even out of place. It never has been.”
“It’s the principle of the thing,” Dean pouted, returning to Castiel’s side.
“Dean.” Castiel turned to fully face him. “You must know that I would never risk your big day. I’m only trying to help you not focus on the fact that it’s your big day while waiting.”
“I know. I’m sorry, man.” Dean picked up the hand towel that was on the hall table beneath the mirror and dried his hands. The door to the chapel cracked open and Sam’s head poked through.
“Car just pulled up!” He gave Dean and Castiel a thumbs up and ducked back out.
Dean shook out his arms and reached for the door handle before pausing. Turning to Castiel, he grabbed him, embracing him tightly. Castiel held him just as firmly until Dean took a step back. They smiled at each other before the pastor opened the door and invited them to follow him to the altar.
Castiel reached out and squeezed Dean’s hand with a grin before letting go and folding his hands in front of him. Dean grinned back and waved at the guests before settling in position. After waiting for a couple minutes, Dean started to fidget and the guests were looking around, confused and waiting for the procession to begin.
Sam stood and, as inconspicuous as a moose in a post office, walked to the back and poked his head out to the lobby. Then he fully slipped through the door and it shut behind him. Dean’s face lit up when the door reopened, slightly confused when Sam slowly re-entered the room and walked up the aisle looking … embarrassed? Angry? Annoyed? Castiel couldn’t figure it out.
Castiel stepped down to meet Sam at the bottom of the steps.
“What’s going on?” Castiel whispered. “Is everyone ok?”
“There’s no one out there,” Sam frantically whispered back. “This was stuck to the door though.”
Sam handed Castiel an envelope with Dean’s name on it … in Lisa’s writing. Castiel’s seen it enough on cards and little post-it notes on the fridge. His heart dropped as he took it and looked up at Dean, who still somehow looked optimistic.
He stepped closer to Dean and handed him the envelope. Dean looked at it, turning it over in his hands as his face went from optimistic to resigned. Dean let out a sigh that spoke volumes before huffing a sarcastic chuckle.
“Dean, I-”
“Don’t sweat it, Cas. I was an idiot to-” Dean crushed the still unopened envelope in his fist before looking up at the now uncomfortable assembly. “Don’t know why I even tried. Shoulda learned my lesson the first three times we tried to get here, huh? I was really looking forward to the reception, too … ”
Castiel‘s heart broke more with every word out of Dean’s mouth. This beautiful, selfless man had more love to give than anyone Castiel could think of. And more than that, Dean deserved to be selflessly loved in return.
“Dean?” Castiel softly called his name, drawing his attention. Dean looked up, sad but not broken. The audience was beginning to move around, hesitantly. Castiel took a deep breath and stepped closer to Dean. “Dean, marry me?”
Dean’s mouth moved, but no sound came out. Not even a ‘what?!’ escaped.
“I’ve loved you for years, decades. I was always too cowardly to say anything when the opportunity would present itself,” Castiel’s vision went a bit wibbly as tears gathered along his lower lids. “But please … let me be there for you. Let me support your dreams as your best friend and your husband. You have opened my eyes to the beauty of so many things, things that meant nothing to me until they meant something to you. I know more about 70s rock than could ever be useful, but the light in your eyes when I remember something is worth it. Your selflessness, your cleverness, your joy in the simple things … they all make my days easier to face.” Castiel reached out and took Dean’s hands in his before going down to one knee. “I love you … marry me? If for no other reason than your ‘Pie Tower’ reception is waiting.”
Dean’s eyes filled with tears as Cas spoke, chuckling softly as he squeezed Castiel’s hands. He pulled him back to his feet, wrapped his arms around Castiel and whispered in his ear. “I’m gonna need some recovery time. I’m not sayin’ no, Cas, but let’s hit pause on the wedding talk for now. I never thought you were interested, s’why I never said anything … then after I got with Lisa … well … anyway. We’re gonna talk about this, ok?”
“That’s honestly a better answer than I was afraid I’d get,” Castiel laughed wetly. Dean kissed the side of his head and nodded before addressing the audience, who had gone silent and wide-eyed.
“Sorry for dragging you all out here … making everyone dress up for nothing, but no wedding today.” Dean kept an arm wrapped around Castiel, tucking him into his side and Castiel rested his head on Dean’s shoulder. “That said, there’s no sense in wasting the afterparty. Let’s go eat, dance, sing karaoke. Y’all gotta see the mini-pie wedding cake tower I got made, seriously.”
Everyone let out a small chuckle, well aware of Dean’s unhealthy love of pie, and Castiel joined in. He wiped the tears off his cheeks and pulled out his handkerchief to get Dean’s tears as well. Dean smiled down at him softly and Castiel felt his heart speed up as he sighed with a smile of his own. Another kiss was pressed to Castiel’s head before Dean cleared his throat and turned back to the guests.
“Y’all head on over to the hotel, I’m gettin’ outta this monkey suit and will be right behind you.” Dean smiled at everyone before turning to the pastor.
Castiel gave him a squeeze before stepping back down to help get everyone moving. Sam approached him with a question in his eyes, but Castiel just shook his head and let him know, “Later.” Sam got the point and helped corral all the guests out, reassuring the guests on Lisa’s side of the aisle that they were still welcome to come eat.
The chapel emptied and Castiel rejoined Dean near the front. No words were needed or said as they went back to the side room they’d been in not twenty minutes earlier. They changed out of their tuxedos and back into the casual trousers and button down shirts they’d arrived in. Suits were carefully tucked into garment bags and the room was double checked that they weren’t leaving anything behind. Garment bags swung over their shoulders, they made their way to the parking lot.
“Glad Sammy had time to clean up my Baby,” Dean murmured. Castiel hummed in agreement; the ‘Just Married’ had been hastily cleaned off the back window of the Impala, only slight streaks remained. Castiel was sure Dean would give her a full detailing once home. They laid their garment bags in the trunk.
“I’m sorry for springing all that on you. I was just so driven to … I don’t know, fix? Help? Seeing your pain hurt so much, Dean.”
Dean closed the trunk and leaned against the car. “S’okay, Cas. I get it. You’ve always been like that. And I’m not mad, ok? … timing was off, but the sentiment? Meaningful. And the timing was not your fault. Not like you were gonna do that if Lisa’d shown up.”
“Of course not. And I wasn’t hoping for this, your happiness has always meant the world to me, regardless of my inclusion in it.”
“I know.”
“We’d better get going if you want any pie,” Castiel shifted his feet to walk around the car.
Dean caught his hand and pulled him in for another hug and Castiel wrapped his arms around him with a hum. Dean gave the best hugs, hugs of acceptance, belonging, warmth, and safety. He melted into the embrace, tucking his forehead into the side of Dean’s neck, instead of perching his chin over his shoulder as he’d usually done.
“I love you, too, Cas. Always have … and I don’t wanna turn you into a rebound. So, I’m gonna do this right.”
“I’ll just wait here, then.”
“Don’t put your life on hold for me, man.”
Castiel pulled back and cupped Dean’s face, his thumb grazing over the curve of his cheek. “You're worth waiting for, Dean.”