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Dean’s distracted.
Castiel can tell.
He’s pacing the war room, a fuse about to blow. It’s been a difficult year lately, what with Chuck being human, the Empty spitting everything out, and Jack reverting back to what he should have been all along.
It’s a lot to take in.
Cas has a 1-year-old Jack in his lap, his mouth gurgling with bubbled spit. He’s adorable. Cas presses a kiss to his head and Jack squirms from the affection.
“Dean,” Cas starts to say.
But either Dean won’t hear him or Dean’s ignoring him. Either way, it’s causing problems. Cas can tell Dean is itching to throw things around, curse out the nearest person but he won’t. Not with Jack like this.
And so Dean mutters under his breath, seething. If this were one of Jack's Saturday morning cartoons, Dean's ears would be puffing smoke, and maybe a tea kettle would be heard, screaming from the kitchen.
Cas sighs, hoisting Jack up from his armpits and carrying him in his arms, making sure to support his bottom before he starts flailing around.
“Dean,” Cas says again, quite close to Dean now. Jack is chewing his fist, drooling saliva.
“What, Cas?” he snaps loudly.
Cas gives him a scolding stare, flicking his gaze down to Jack, who’s none the wiser.
Then Dean looks at Jack. And bites his lip, breathing deep. “What's up, Cas?” he tries again.
Cas nods, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards. He says nothing. Just gives Dean that look he knows Dean can’t resist.
His baby blues , Dean calls them.
“What?” Dean whispers, edging close to Cas’ face, their noses nearly touching. A grin plays on Dean’s perfect lips.
Cas chuckles low. “Hold out your arms,” he says.
Dean does so without question. Warmth spreads through Castiel's body. He's so good for him.
“Close your eyes,” Cas whispers. Dean's eyes flutter shut.
Cas uses Dean's submissiveness willingness to do anything for him to his advantage, stepping back to plop Jack in Dean's arms.
Dean's eyes shoot open with shock and they soften when he sees Jack looking up at him expectantly.
“Hey buddy,” Dean coos, immediately wrapping Jack up in his arms and hoisting him up to eye level, hand supporting his bottom. “How you doin’, huh?”
Cas uses Dean’s new distraction to plant a kiss on his cheek. “He missed you.”
Dean laughs, tension bleeding out of his shoulders. He looks at Jack, crow’s feet crinkling. “You did?”
Jack nods, a cheeky smile building on his chubby face. Cas dressed him in overalls today over a striped t-shirt. It’s one of his favourite outfits and who is he to deny him anything?
Dean instantly takes to Jack, fussing over him, making him laugh. Cas stands back, smiling at the domesticity.
Dean needs to keep busy with positive things. Worrying over things out of their control isn’t going to help any of them. Dean is so quick to anger, so quick to anxiety but he’s working on it. Castiel is also helping him; mostly with Jack. They definitely missed their bubbly boy but he needs time to be a kid. Those were Jack's words before he transformed. He's so wise.
Castiel doesn’t know if Jack remembers anything but his eyes carry more knowledge than anything. His Nephilim powers are still intact as well, and well, dealing with a baby who doesn’t know how to use them entirely is a challenge. But it’s a good challenge nonetheless. He and Dean have their own system now, raising Jack together, being together. It's bliss.
A hand snakes its way around his waist and a kiss is pressed against his temple.
“Where’d you go, sweetheart?” teases Dean.
Cas hums, leaning into his husband’s embrace. Jack giggles and paws at his face. Cas lifts his hand for Jack to wrap his chubby hand around his pointer finger, and Cas waves it around.
“I was just thinking.”
Dean snorts. “Yeah, you think too much, it’s gonna give you headaches.”
Cas rolls his eyes. “Dean—“ he starts but is interrupted by another kiss, this time on his cheek.
“Shuddup, Cas.”
He wants to scold him for swearing. “Dean—“
“Just kiss me proper, dumbass.”
Rolling his eyes again, Cas pulls away from both of them to face them and kiss Dean softly. There's no point in scolding him. Dean swears like a sailor, most days. It'll be a wonder if Jack's first words aren't bitch or fuck. Still, Cas wouldn't change a thing. Their lips linger together until Jack squeals.
“Daddy!!” he calls.
Both men pull away, eyes wide.
“Did he…?” asks Dean.
“Jack, say that again,” Cas implores, encouraging him.
“Daddy!!” Jack says again.
A laugh of disbelief tumbles out of Cas. “Yes, Jack. That's Daddy!” he points to Dean.
Jack shakes his head again, a pout forming. “No! Daddy!”
And both of his hands slap Dean and Cas’ cheeks.
Dean's smile is wide and beautiful and oh, he’s still beautiful. Still Dean Winchester.
“Think he means both of us are Daddy. Right, buddy?”
Jack nods, face stony-serious.
Castiel can’t help it. Tears begin to well in his eyes. Dean takes a careful thumb to swipe away his tears.
“I love you,” says Cas, addressing both Dean and Jack.
“Love you too, sweetheart,” says Dean, pulling him in for another kiss, Jack squished in between them.