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The bunker kitchen was empty as Dean flicked the lights on. Miracle was at his feet, happily trotting along. She was still following him everywhere and even though he'd tried to be silent, Miracle had jumped down from the bed as soon as she noticed he was up and awake.
He bent down and brushed his fingers through her fur. “I know what you want. Isn't it too early?”
Miracle whined and buffed at his hand. “Alright, alright.” He grabbed a bowl and tossed some kibble in there before placing it on the floor, on her spot. “Come on, Miracle. You know the drill.”
Tilting her head, Miracle looked at him like he was talking in riddles.
“Sit.”
Miracle sat down with a thud, her black eyes pleading so Dean had no choice but to pet her again. “Good girl.” She always ate slowly and this was no exception. “Weird dog,” but Dean said it with affection.
Now to deal with the other weirdo . Dean smiled at the thought and padded over to the coffee maker. He poured the ground beans into the filter and added some extra for good measure. Cas was even grumpier in the mornings than Dean was and that was saying something.
He pulled out some bread, peanut butter and jelly and made two sandwiches. He figured Cas wanted a light breakfast since it was only five in the morning. Usually, Dean didn't wake this early, not anymore but sometimes his body remembered that he had been a hunter for the better part of four decades and insisted that he get up. And sure as the sun sets in the west, Cas would follow shortly after. It was like he had a damn internal clock that knew when Dean got up; it didn't matter if it was early morning or almost noon.
Squeezing the slices of bread together, Dean placed the sandwiches on a plate and grabbed two mugs. The coffee machine's grumbling had quieted down, telling Dean that the coffee was done. Miracle was also finished and pressing herself against Dean's legs. She barked once and buffed her nose against his hip. “You're not getting treats after breakfast, Miracle. You're a dog, not a hobbit.” Dean poured the coffee in the mugs and put them and the plate on a tray. “Let's go.”
The sound of Miracle's claws against the floor was soothing. She ran ahead of him and Dean grinned. Cas was about to get a wet awakening.
Sure enough, when he entered their room, Miracle was on the bed, her tongue trying to lick every part of Cas' face.
Cas was trying to ward himself off, but he was gentle in doing so and Miracle being Miracle was too persistent. “Miracle, stop it,” Cas said frustrated but there was an undertone of affection in his voice. Miracle finally calmed down and settled on the bed. “What time is it?”
Dean's heart lurched. Even after almost six months with Cas back in his life, with him in his life the way he had always secretly yearned for, Dean hadn't gotten used to it. Castiel was here, he was alive and he was Dean's. His hair was tousled, the stubble on his face was just perfect and the way he looked at Dean, well, if Dean was getting sentimental in his old days, he'd say that he looked at Dean as if he hung the moon. Soon the expression changed though, to one of slight annoyance. “You didn't answer me. Is it in the middle of the night again?”
“Nah, five or so.”
Cas sighed. “I told you, Dean, you can wake me if you have nightmares – “
“Do I look like the kind to have nightmares?”
“Yes.”
Dean scoffed and placed the tray on the nightstand table. “Would I bring you breakfast if I was plagued with nightmares?”
“You might have.” Cas eyed the sandwiches. “As a bribe.”
Laughing, Dean handed Cas a sandwich. “Shut up and eat. I know how you get as soon as you wake up. Hangry.”
Cas took a bite of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “I'm not angry. I just find the feeling of an empty stomach, to the point of cramping sometimes, very unpleasant. Sometimes it affects my mood.”
“That's what I said. Hangry.” He smiled at Cas' affronted look. “I got you some coffee too, figured you needed a caffeine boost.”
“You didn't need to,” Cas said but he accepted the coffee anyway.
Dean got down into the bed and grabbed his own mug. “I know I didn't need to, but I wanted to.”
Cas leaned in and kissed Dean. “Love you. And thank you.”
He started pulling away but Dean followed. “Nah, another kiss.”
“Coffee mug in my hand.”
“So? Me too.” When Cas smiled, Dean kissed him again. “That's better. Good morning, sunshine.”
The look on Cas' face was one he'd never tire of seeing. “Good morning, Dean.”
Dean frowned as Cas stopped. “Here?”
Cas nodded. “I think this is a good spot.”
The trees were sparse in these parts of the forest and thick moss covered the ground. The sun had been down for hours and he could feel the humidity in the air but luckily the moss wasn't moist yet. Cas was already sitting down.
“So here's the place. Right here? In the wet moss?”
“It's not wet, just moist.”
Dean sighed. “Only because I love you. And because I'm curious what we're doing in the middle of bumfuck nowhere. Glad I brought the GPS with me. I dunno how else we're gonna find our way back to the car.”
Cas flashed him a smile. “I know the way. My spatial awareness is still exceptional, despite being human now.”
Dean sat down in the moss and grimaced at the slight dampness. “If you say so.”
“Lie down.”
Raising an eyebrow, Dean looked at Cas. “Really? Why? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the nature walk – don't tell Sam I said that – but why do I need to–“ Cas' hand on his shoulder and the gentle squeeze that followed made Dean pause.
“Just do it, Dean.”
“Alright, alright, no need to get all bossy.” Dean slowly leaned back until he was down all the way. The moss was damp but not so much that it penetrated his clothes. Yet. “I'm down. Now what? We hold hands and – “
“Yes.” Cas snaked his hand in Dean's and squeezed once. “How is this?”
“I mean... I like the hand-holding part. It's nice.” Dean turned to face Cas who was now down in the moss with him. “You look ridiculously good for just being a dude chilling in moss.”
“You're not so bad yourself. Dude.”
Dean chuckled. “You're not supposed to pause like that between the sentence and the dude, Cas.”
“Noted. Now, look up.”
Dean tore his eyes away from Cas and looked up at the night sky. “Wow...” He saw hundreds of tiny dots, each one a pinprick of light that covered the sky. “It looks unreal.”
“There's no light pollution here and I knew today would be an auspicious day for stargazing. You see the cluster that resembles a spiral? With the bright star to the left?”
“Yeah.”
“I made that.”
“You made that?”
Cas smiled. “Yes. I wasn't there to oversee everything – we were supposed to only guide the universe in its primordial state but that particular cluster I ushered along myself.”
“Wow, I don't really know what to say.” Dean looked at the cluster of stars that Cas had pointed out. An event that had happened billions – hell, trillions – of years ago and Cas had been there. “I like that slice of the sky. It's nice.”
“I was aided by my brothers and sisters, so I wasn't –
“Cas. You've just told me that you created stars. That's fucking amazing. We should name one after you.”
“I do think the stars already have names.”
“Fuck NASA. I'm disorder incarnate, Cas. Remember? If I wanna name a star after you, I'll name a star after you.” Dean squinted at the stars as if already going through some unknown parameters of what it would take to name a star after his former angel.
“It's the IAU that names the stars, not NASA.”
“Fuck them both. Alright, I think I know the one that should be yours. That one.” Dean pointed at the bright star to the left of the cluster.
There was a beat of silence and then Cas spoke. “You chose the lone star.” His voice sounded guarded, careful.
Dean squeezed Cas' hand. “Don't.” He turned to look briefly at Cas and he saw worry there. “You're fine as you are, Cas. Hell, more than fine. And yeah, I picked the lone star but do you wanna know why? It's not lonely. It chose its own path, and it shone brighter for it.” His next words came out softer. “Just like you.” Dean clicked his tongue. “God, I'm turning into such a sap.”
Castiel smiled and brought Dean's hand up to his mouth. He kissed his knuckles. “Thank you.”
“Don't mention it.”
Clearing his throat, Cas squeezed Dean's hand once before letting go. “I don't think Amara would agree though.”
“Agree about what?”
“You turning into a sap.”
“Why not?”
“Speaking your truth doesn't make you a sap, Dean. It makes you beautiful.” He paused briefly. “It makes you brave. I should know.”
Dean nodded. “Maybe but it was an fucking idiot move, Cas. I would've punched you if I wasn't too shocked to move.”
Castiel grinned. “I think the kids nowadays would say that you were 'too stunned to speak'.”
Barking out a laugh, Dean focused his attention on the stars again. “The kids would be right. Hey?”
“Yeah?”
“My clothes are wet.”
Getting up, Castiel grabbed Dean's hand and pulled him up. “I know getting up is hard on your old bones.”
“Fuck you.”
Castiel flashed him a smile. “Later.”
Rolling his eyes, Dean muttered under his breath. “You're insufferable.” He kept the grip on Castiel's hand a few seconds longer. “Thanks, Cas.”
“For what.”
Shrugging, Dean started walking on the path towards the Impala. “You know... For telling me about making the damn stars. For... sharing stuff you think are important.”
“Aren't that what people who love each other are supposed to do?”
“I think so. Yes.”
Castiel moved a branch away that threatened to hit him over the face. “Then I need to tell you that you're on dish cleaning duties for the foreseeable future.”
“What the fuck? Why?”
“I told me that I should tell you if I didn't like some of the human sensations. That's what I'm doing. I don't like the feeling of my skin getting all wrinkly from the dishwater. And I made stars for you, Dean.”
“It wasn't my stars. You just made them because the universe was being born.”
“I've decided to name that lone star Dean's star.”
“But I thought it was a nice representation of you... shouldn't we name it Castiel's star instead?”
Cas seemed to ponder that for a second. “How about we combine it? Our names together.”
“Yeah, like... do you have a name in mind?”
“I do.”
Dean sighed. “Do I need to drag it out of you?”
“I'd like to see you try. But no.” When he looked at Dean, Cas' eyes were sparkling with mischief. “I think Destiel has a nice ring to it.”
Groaning, Dean ran a hand over his face. “Really?”
“Yes. And doing the dishes is not much in the way to show gratitude that your lover named a cosmic creation after you. Sam and Eileen would agree.”
Dean huffed out a laugh. “Fine. I'll do the damn dishes. And we can name the fucking star Destiel.”
There was a beat of silence and when Castiel spoke next, Dean could hear the mirth in his voice. “I also find the sound of the vacuum cleaner deeply distressing.”
“Don't push it.”
An odd ache seized Dean's heart as he slowly removed his sunglasses. They were here.
“Where should I put the bags?” Jack asked in the background and he could hear Cas' answer, “here is fine.” Here was more than fine, Dean thought as he looked out over the waters.
The ocean was a vast thing, as it spread out before him as far as he could see. On his right, sand dunes made a natural wall but he knew that if he climbed it, the beach would spread out for miles and miles. To the left, cliffs greeted the ocean. It was a small pocket of undisturbed peace that Sam had found for them.
“Nice, huh?” Sam patted him on the back as he came to stand next to him.
“Yeah, how did you find this?”
“It's easier to hunt down a private beach than monsters. I googled.” Sam adjusted his sunglasses. “Eileen had some connections.”
“We should tell her friends thanks.”
“Yeah, ready to go swim?”
Dean nodded. “You run with your long moose legs. I'll be with you soon. Tell Cas and Jack that they don't have to wait for me. Just save me some sun lotion.”
“Don't expect me to put it on for you.”
Turning to look at Sam, Dean noticed the sun hitting his hair. It made the strands shine and he'd already gotten a light tan. He looked at ease. At peace.
“I hadn't planned on it.” He grinned. “I have Cas for that.”
“Sam!” They both turned to see Eileen wave at them. She dropped the bottle of sunscreen and signed, Can you help me?
Sam smiled. Coming!
“Hurry up now. I don't think Eileen will forgive you if she turns red like a lobster.”
“I won't live to find out.”
He watched Sam run to Eileen and her stand on her toes to kiss him.
Cas and Jack were talking as they unpacked their bags and Dean could see beer bottles already on ice. Bending down, Cas grabbed a huge picnic blanket and spread it out. Pleased, he waved at Sam and Eileen and headed over towards Dean.
”Gotta tell you, all that's missing is the slow-mo and you'd be straight out of Baywatch.”
Cas' mouth quirked up into a smile. “You don't have to pretend to be drowning for me to kiss you.”
“Huh, you giving out freebies?” He leaned into Cas and captured his lips in a kiss. His hands stroked Cas' arms, reveling in the strength promised in how his muscles played underneath sun-kissed skin. Breaking off the kiss, he whispered, “what's your boyfriend gonna say about that?”
Cas looked dead serious. “He doesn't need to know.”
Laughing, Dean breathed, “shut up, Cas,” and kissed him again.
“Don't tell him I said this but you kiss better than him.”
“Go take a swim.”
Cas raised his hand and stroke Dean's cheek. “I will. You're coming?”
“Yeah, go with Jack. I'll be there in a minute, alright?”
“Alright.”
He watched as Cas and Jack jumped into the water, and soon Sam and Eileen followed. Sam splashed water on Jack and he retaliated by jumping on Sam but he dove last minute so he landed on Cas. Full-on war ensued.
Dean watched them laugh and goof around like children and there it was again, that ache in his heart. He removed his sandals, tossed them aside and dug his toes into the sand. The sand was warm, the winds were pleasant and Dean closed his eyes for a few seconds. The ocean wind tousled his hair and the sun shone on his face. He could taste the salt.
He could taste happiness.
He could taste freedom.
All he needed now was an umbrella drink.
Grinning, he removed his Hawaiian shirt and tossed it aside. You couldn't get everything. But what he had was enough. It was what he deserved.
Dean ran out into the ocean to join the others.