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Dean quietly slipped out of the motel room, leaving Castiel asleep on the bed. He very gently closed the door to try and avoid it making a sound. He bit his lip at the little click that it made and hoped that it hadn’t woken Castiel. It had taken everything that he could muster not to wake the former angel. Castiel was a light sleeper, every little thing able to wake him up. Dean gave himself a mental pat on the back for not having disturbed him.
He made his way to the Impala and opened the door, cringing again as it squeaked. He really needed to see about getting the door oiled. He kind of liked the squeak though but at times like this it was a problem. Getting into the driver’s seat he closed the door and again winced at the sound. He knew that wasn’t going to be the worst of it though. The worst thing was what came next.
He turned the key in the ignition and the engine came to life. He swore under his breath and quickly threw the car into reverse and backed out, taking the car out of the parking lot. He hurried, not wanting the idling engine to be close to the motel room for any length of time lest it wake Castiel up. He had a mission to do and it involved Castiel not knowing. The sooner he was gone the sooner he could be back, and hopefully it would be before Castiel woke up.
Pulling onto the main street he pulled the list out of his pocket that he’d written in secret the night before while Castiel had been in the shower. Hopefully he’d be able to find everything in the shortest amount of time possible. First stop though was the bakery.
-----O-----
Castiel’s eyes snapped open as he heard the Impala pulling out of the parking lot. He waited until the sound of the engine disappeared before he finally allowed himself to sit up, the blankets pooling around his waist. He had been awake for some time now, listening to Dean moving quietly around the room. He had feigned sleep however.
He was curious as to what Dean was up to, but at the same time glad that Dean was leaving as it meant that Castiel would be able to put his plan into motion. He had been wondering how he would manage it without Dean finding out. This worked perfectly in his favour. He kicked off the blankets and slid out of bed. He decided to skip the shower and instead just get dressed. He didn’t know how long Dean would be gone for, after all, so he needed to utilize his time well.
He dressed quickly, absently missing his suit and trench coat for a moment but they were in need of a clean so he had to make do with jeans and a hoodie that Dean had bought him when he’d first became human. He reached for his duffle bag and dropped it onto the bed, opening the small hidden compartment at the bottom and beginning to take objects out.
-----O-----
Dean put his wares into the back seat of the Impala and checked his list again. He had almost everything now, but he still felt like something was missing. He frowned down at the list and tried to work out what he had forgotten. He needed to work it out quickly because he needed to get back to Castiel before the other woke up and realised he was gone. That would spoil the surprise.
Dean gazed around him and tried to work out just what he could get to fill that void. He spotted a toy shop and a thought occurred to him. He wondered if they sold them. There was only one way to find out. He closed the rear door of the Impala and headed for the store.
-----O-----
Castiel frowned as he looked at the items in front of him. He had been collecting them for the past several weeks without Dean knowing, and storing them in the bottom of his duffle bag. Dean had commented on the fact it felt like Castiel was storing rocks in his bag but thankfully had never looked to see what was in there. He respected Castiel’s privacy too much.
Lining them up on the table Castiel tried different ways of setting them out, but nothing he did seemed to work. He cocked his head to the side and stared down at his problem. Maybe he should have just gone with pies instead of taking his time to make them. He just hoped that Dean liked what he had done.
Eventually he decided to just go with it and headed back toward the bed, climbing between the sheets and pulling them up over him to feign sleep. He was just in time too, because he thought he could hear the rumble of the Impala coming back up the street toward the motel. He closed his eyes and settled in to wait patiently, absently wondering if he should have gotten undressed again. Too late now.
-----O-----
Dean quickly killed the engine as he pulled back into their parking spot. He climbed out of the car, again grimacing at the loud creak of the door. He hoped that Castiel was still asleep. Going to the rear of the car he grabbed his spoils and closed the door, heading for the motel room door. He unlocked it, pushing the door open and noting that Castiel was still in bed. He breathed a sigh of relief and gently closed the door behind him.
He stopped dead as he spotted them on the table. They were arranged almost haphazardly but there was some order to them. Little statues carved out of various types of rocks. Dean gently set his bags down and walked over to them, picking up one shaped like a squirrel and turning it over in his hand. He realised this was supposed to be him.
Next to that was one shaped like a moose and he knew that was Sam. He smiled at that. Next was an angel, carved out of a white stone and kneeling with its wings spread out behind it. Castiel. That had to be Castiel. Dean set it down, looking over the various different shapes and designs. There was even one shaped like a car and he knew that had to be the Impala.
The last one caught his eye, Dean picking it up and looking at it in the dull light. It was a love heart, but he was more interested in the initials carved into it. His and Castiel’s. He bit back his grin, then glanced at the bed and realised that Castiel was watching him through half lidded eyes.
“You’ve been awake this whole time,” Dean accused.
“Maybe,” Castiel said, his voice muffled slightly by the blankets.
Dean set the stone back down, gazing at the collection. “Where did you get these?”
“I made them,” Castiel admitted, finally sitting up and allowing Dean to see that he was dressed.
“So those rocks in your bag…” Dean said.
“Really were rocks,” Castiel confirmed.
Dean gestured down. “When did you get time to do these?”
“I’ve been making them in secret for a while now,” Castiel admitted. “I found a video online that taught me how to do it. I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well it worked.” Dean said, feeling a swelling of pride at the revelation of Castiel’s hobby and realisation of how good he was at it. “So you know what today is then.”
Castiel nodded. “The anniversary of our first meeting.”
“And here I was trying to surprise you,” Dean said, picking up his bags from the floor.
Castiel slid from the bed, coming over to him as Dean set the bags onto the table. Dean began taking things out: honey cakes, peanut butter & jelly with bread to make sandwiches, some of Castiel’s favourite alcohol, a box of chocolates. He saw Castiel’s eyes light up at the last present, Castiel reaching out and taking it.
“Yeah, about that,” Dean said, feeling himself fidget. “I know it’s kind of childish…”
“I love it,” Castiel said, hugging the stuffed bee to his chest. “I didn’t even know you could get them.”
“I got lucky. It was the last one left,” Dean admitted.
“How long have you been planning this?” Castiel asked him.
“A while,” Dean admitted. “Clearly not as long as you though.”
“It’s not a competition,” Castiel told him.
He reached out a hand, Dean taking it and allowing Castiel to draw him closer. The bee got squashed between them as Castiel brushed his lips against Dean’s. Dean smiled, returning the soft kiss and resting his forehead against Castiel’s.
“Up for some pb&j?” Dean asked.
“You know that I love it,” Castiel answered.
“Why I got it,” Dean answered. “I say we eat, and then spend the rest of the day in bed.”
Castiel frowned. “Isn’t Sam expecting us back at the bunker?”
“He can wait,” Dean said. “We’ll just tell him we got delayed on the way back.”
“I’m sure he’ll understand,” Castiel agreed.
Dean kissed him again before letting him go, noting with some amusement that Castiel was still holding the stuffed bee to his chest. Clearly he did like it. Dean gently moved the rocks to the side to make room for them to make food, Dean admiring the little statues.
“One thing though,” Dean said as he pulled out the bread. “If you’re serious about carrying rocks in your bag I am not carrying it anymore.”
“Understandable,” Castiel said with a huff of a laugh.
Dean grabbed a knife and began to make their sandwiches, having to admit that Castiel was very good at keeping secrets. He hadn’t known at all about Castiel and his rock carving. Dean wondered if maybe he should take up a hobby. Castiel had commented once that he loved Dean’s drawing. Maybe he should draw a picture for Castiel for his “becoming human” day. He just hoped he would be as good at keeping it a secret as Castiel was.
Castiel finally set the bee down, stepping up behind Dean and circling his arms around his waist and leaning into his back. Dean smiled. Maybe it was time he and Castiel finally admitted to Sam about their relationship. Dean had a feeling it was the worst kept secret in the bunker but they had never acknowledged it before now.
“We need to tell Sam,” Dean said out loud as he finished making the sandwiches.
“Yes we do,” Castiel agreed. “When we get back?”
“Yeah,” Dean said. “He’s going to be mad we kept it from him for so long.”
“I think he already knows,” Castiel said, sharing Dean’s own suspicions.
“I think you’re right,” Dean agreed. “But we still need to say it.”
“Agreed.” Castiel kissed the back of Dean’s neck.
Dean handed one of the sandwiches back to Castiel who took it gladly, Dean pulling out a chair and dropping into it. He stretched his legs out in front of him and took a bite out of his own sandwich. He didn’t like them quite as much as Castiel did. He remembered Castiel saying when he became human again that he looked forward to the taste of pb&j.
“Do you ever miss being an angel?” Dean asked Castiel.
“We’ve been over this,” Castiel said as he sat across from Dean. “There are times I do, but there are times I do not.”
“You don’t miss your wings?” Dean asked.
“They were more painful than anything toward the end,” Castiel said. “And as I said – I prefer being human as it means I can spend more time with you.”
Dean felt his heart skip a little at that, a smile spreading across his lips. “But you miss the instant healing though, right?”
“That I do miss,” Castiel confirmed. “I miss not being able to heal you when you’re injured.”
“Then I guess I better avoid getting injured,” Dean said.
“That would be preferable,” Castiel agreed, taking another bite out of his sandwich.
Dean watched him, admiring Castiel. Honestly he was glad that Castiel was human now too. He had to admit it was for selfish reasons, like the fact that Castel now had to rely on him more. Dean liked being able to look after Castiel. And in return Castiel looked after him. It was a two way street and Dean liked the fact the playing field was even now.
“Dean, if you keep looking at me like that we’re not going to be able to finish eating,” Castiel told him with an amused sparkle in his eye.
“Is that a bad thing?” Dean asked innocently.
Castiel gave him a firm look that made Dean laugh.
“Okay, I’ll behave,” he said finally.
“That would be a miracle,” Castiel said.
“Hey!” Dean said, slightly offended but at the same time amused.
Castiel simply smiled down at his sandwich.
They finished their sandwiches, Dean handing Castiel one of the honey cakes. He watched as Castiel took a bite, judging his reaction. He could tell that Castiel liked it. Dean added it to the list of things that Castiel liked. Dean would have to have a go at making honey cakes when they got back to the bunker. He was sure he could find a recipe online.
When they finished eating Castiel picked up the heart shaped rock, turning it over in his hand. “I saw you looking at this one.”
“That’s because I like it,” Dean said. “Although it has got one problem.”
Castiel looked up at him. “What’s that?”
“You only have one initial,” Dean said. “You need a last name.”
Castiel frowned. “Do I need to come up with one? I could use ‘Novak’ but that might insult Claire.”
“Well, I was thinking,” Dean said, feeling nerves play through him, “that maybe it could be Winchester.”
Castiel looked up sharply at that. “Do you mean…”
Dean slid out of his seat, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out the little box he’d hidden there that morning. He’d been carrying it around in secret in his bag for some time now. He opened it, kneeling next to Castiel and holding it out. “Castiel, will you marry me?”
“Dean…” A soft look crossed Castiel’s face before a smile spread across it. “Of course I will.”
Dean felt his heart skip at those words, taking the ring out of the box and holding a hand out toward Castiel. Castiel let Dean slip the ring onto his finger, then leaned forward to kiss Dean firmly on the lips. Dean could feel his heart singing and just wanted to dance. He had been worried that Castiel would say no.
“We’ve definitely got to tell Sam now,” Castiel said when he pulled back.
“Yeah,” Dean agreed. “Especially if he’s going to be best man.”
“Agreed,” Castiel said.
Dean allowed Castiel to pull him to his feet, Castiel stepping into his arms and kissing him firmly. Dean wrapped his arms around him. He could taste the pb&j on his lips as well as the honey cake, and they hadn’t even gotten to the alcohol yet. Dean kissed Castiel back, his mind singing with the word ‘fiancé’ over and over again.
Breaking the kiss Dean grinned. “Now about spending the rest of the day in bed.”
Castiel gave him a soft smile and lead him toward the bed.
END