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Dean was trying very hard not to fidget too much with his hands under the table. Based on the concerned look Castiel was sending him, he assumed that he was failing spectacularly. Sam was sitting across the table from him, telling some funny anecdote from work, Eileen next to him, laughing loudly, and his mother, Mary, at the end of the table, chuckling and looking fondly at her youngest son.
They tried to make time for this as often as possible, dinner at Mary’s. For many years it had just been Mary and her two sons. At the end of a busy week they would get together. She would make dinner, and Dean and Sam would bicker across the dinner table and take turns to do the dishes. Eventually, after much persuasion from his mom, Dean started to bring his friend, Castiel, with him, after he had told her that Cas didn’t really have any contact with his family, except for his brother Gabriel. That first evening Cas had sat stiffly in his chair with his tie knotted tightly around his throat and Dean felt a pang in his chest when he realised that this must be how Cas behaved around his own family. Mary and Sam must have realised the same thing, because Dean saw them exchange a determined look before they spend the rest of the evening asking Castiel questions about himself, explaining inside-jokes and trying their best to make Dean’s nervous friend feel like part of the family. Dean knew they had succeeded when Cas laughed freely at one of Sam’s jokes, while Mary poured him another glass of wine.
Cas had been coming along to dinner as Dean’s plus-one ever since. Another chair had been added to the table when Sam had brought Eileen along with him. She was funny and determined and she wasn’t afraid of poking fun of Sam, and Dean had liked her instantly. So, dinner became something regular for the five of them. Sam would bring a bottle of wine and Dean would bring a six-pack of beer, and they would talk about their week and complain about their annoying co-workers. One evening, a couple of years ago, Dean had wiped his sweaty palm on his jeans before lifting it to take Cas’ hand in his, right there on the table, where everyone could see it. Nobody said anything, but their soft smiles said enough. They had all been expecting this day.
Today Dean had kept his hands under the table. His palms were sweaty, just as they had been all those years ago. He looked over at Cas when he felt his hand lightly touch his. Cas gave him an encouraging smile. Dean took a deep breath. Across from him Sam was signing something to Eileen too quickly for Dean to understand but based on how coarsely Eileen laugh was Dean decided that he didn’t want to know. He cleared his throat before speaking.
“Uh, guys, Cas and I have something we want to tell you.” That got his family’s attention. But as their eyes settled on him, Dean found that he didn’t know what to say next.
“So, yeah, Cas and I, um, we, you know,” he rambled on helplessly, before he gave up and raised his hand from where it had been hiding under the table, showing off the silver band that adorned his ring finger.
“We’re engaged,” he finally managed.
A moment of silence followed before everybody started speaking at the same time. Mary was on her feet in an instant, hugging Dean and kissing him on the head before she moved on to do the same to Cas, while Eileen asked questions about who proposed. Sam got up to shake Cas’ hand, before he pulled him into a hug.
“Dean, I-“ Sam began when he turned to look at his brother.
“Eileen, dear, would you mind helping me in the kitchen?” Mary interrupted. Eileen’s gaze flickered between Sam and Dean.
“Yes, sure.”
“I can help as well” Cas said as he pushed out his chair, kissing Dean on the hair before he followed the women. They walked out of the living room, leaving all the cutlery and plates on the table, Eileen with her arm around Cas’ shoulder, and Mary quietly saying that it would be best to give them some time alone.
Sam sat down on the now-abandoned chair next to Dean. For a moment neither of them spoke.
“You’re going to get married” Sam sounded amazed.
“Yeah”. Dean couldn’t quite believe it himself.
“Did you-?”
“Nah, he asked me. Said he had been thinking about it for some time.”
“Dean, I’m so happy for you.”
Dean had been busy studying his placemat, so when he looked up at his brother, the look of fondness on his face surprised him.
“Cas is a really great guy,” Sam said. “You know mom and I already see him as family, Dean. I love him like a brother, and I couldn’t think of anyone more perfect for you.”
“Oh, so we’re doing the chick-flick moment.”
“Shut up Dean, everybody can see how happy Cas makes you.”
“Well yeah, Cas is great” Dean relied bashfully, because how could he ever start to explain what Cas meant to him.
“We all wanted this for you Dean, but just a couple of years ago I don’t think you would ever have allowed yourself. I’m just so proud of you.”
“My therapist is going to get very exited when I tell her you said this” Dean joked, because old habits die hard.
Sam snorted wetly, like he was trying to hold back tears.
“You’re really going to marry Cas! It’s so exiting!”
“I’m glad you think so. It would be awkward if the best man didn’t want to be involved.”
Sam looked astonished. “I’m going to be your best man?”
“Of course, Sammy, who else would it be?”
Dean tried to defuse the tension by gently slapping Sam on the arm, but Sam just wrapped his arms around him in a strong hug. Dean was pretty sure that Sam was crying by now. He was trying very hard to keep his own tears at bay.
“Jerk” Sam said.
“Bitch” Dean replied.
They sat like that for a while before Sam pulled away and began to wipe his eyes with his sleeves.
“Have you told anyone else yet?”
“No, I wanted you to be the first, and Cas was okay with that. We’re having lunch with Gabe tomorrow, and we’ll tell him then.”
“Are you boys done having a moment in here?” Eileen called out from where she was leaning against the doorframe to the kitchen.
“Yeah, I think we are”, Sam replied.
“Hey Sam, you should get around to proposing yourself” Dean quietly suggested.
“I am planning on it”, Sam replied, never taking his eyes of Eileen.
Dean grinned. “We are so talking about that later! Eileen, will you please tell my fiancé to get out here?”