In Over His Head

Chapter 5

Some weeks later, as you were about to head out for your night off, Castiel stopped you. "Y/N, Claire's birthday is next week and I told her she could have that sleepover she's been wanting. However, there is a slight...problem." You tilted your head and adjusted your purse strap. "Okay. What problem?" Castiel looked at you, his eyes pleading for forgiveness for something that he probably didn't need it for. "Instead of just one more child, there will be three extras. She looked at me with those eyes and I could not tell her no." You chuckled.

"That's alright. I can handle it, although, I wouldn't say no to some back up, if you're able." Castiel nodded. "Great! Can we talk about this tomorrow? I'm already late and Jo's probably had a few without me." Castiel laughed and gave you permission to leave. That was how you found yourself trying to corral four little girls into the living room of Castiel's small house.

"Come on, Krissy!" you called and the brunette came running, plopping herself down on the air mattress next to Claire and another girl. "You didn't start the movie without me, did you?" she asked and you assured her you hadn't. You pressed play before heading into the kitchen to grab the snacks. Castiel was already in there. When you entered, he turned to you and gave you perhaps the first genuine smile you'd seen from the man. Close to the same smile he wore in the pictures with the dark-haired woman.

"Are the girls alright?" he asked and you nodded. "Yep. I have a feeling we're going to be hearing them in just a few minutes." You grabbed the plate of cookies you'd baked with Claire's help and took them to the living room. After making certain the girls were comfortable, you made your way back to the kitchen. Castiel opened his mouth to ask you something when suddenly, from the living room, you both heard a chorus of little voices. "Do you wanna build a snowman?" You inhaled deeply, already sick of the song.

"I take it you know the song well?" Castiel asked, a hint of playfulness in his voice at the look on your face. "It's Claire's favorite movie." The two of you shared a laugh for a moment before Castiel turned serious. "I want to thank you, Y/N. I honestly don't know what I would have done if you hadn't taken this job." You shrugged as if it were no big deal, but you could feel your face heat up and inside, your stomach did flips. "It's really no trouble. Claire's a great kid and it's a pretty easy job."

He gave you another smile which you returned. You licked your lips and gazed at him for a moment. Did you dare ask the question that had been on your mind for weeks? As if reading your mind, Castiel spoke again, "I have to admit, when you first arrived, I was...hesitant. I needed a nanny for Claire, but it had been so long since a woman lived here. I was unaware of the social etiquette in the situation. My people skills are a bit rusty." You were silent as you wondered where this was going.

"My wife, Meg, passed away many years ago. After that, I basically shut down. Immersed myself in work. Ignored my friends and family. The only people I had contact with were Dean occasionally and Meg's uncle, Crowley. Then, I suddenly find myself in a lawyer's office and him telling me that I have to take responsibility for my brother's child. Telling me Jimmy, my twin that I hardly spoke to, thought I was the best choice to care for his daughter. There have been so many emotions going through my head, I can't keep track and I was worried about how it would affect Claire. Then, you showed up, like a guardian angel and gave me one less thing to worry about."

Without thinking, you reached across the counter and placed your hand on his. He looked down before speaking once more. "I apologize. I believe that was too much information for one sitting." You smiled and shook your head, fighting back the tears in your eyes. It was another couple of moments before you realized that your hand was still on his. You snatched it back and stuttered out an apology. "That was inappropriate. I'm gonna go check on the girls. They're being quiet."

You got up and walked to the living room, needing to put space between you and Castiel. He's your boss, Y/N! You CANNOT act on this school girl crush you have on the guy! You peeked into the living room and noticed all for girls were already racked out. You heard a chuckle behind you and jumped. Castiel had followed you out of the kitchen.

You swallowed thickly and said, "Since the girls are all asleep, I think I'm gonna head up to bed. I want to be able to get up and make breakfast for them in the morning. Good night, Professor." You turned as quickly s you dared toward the stairs and up to your room. You didn't spend a lot of time with your employer, but the way he spoke to you in the kitchen just made you want to know more. There was a softer side to him. A part of him that was not so stoic.

Castielsighed heavily as he turned back toward the kitchen to clean up the mess inthere. As he washed the dishes, he thought back on the conversation he'd justhad with you. Well, more like monologue. He couldn't believe he'd just sharedall of that information with you without so much as a prompt. It was easy totalk to you and the thought scared him. He hadn't been able to talk to womanlike that since Meg. Castiel sighed again and said, "Meg...What do I do?Part of me feels like I'm betraying you. Betraying your memory by feeling thisway, even though nothing can come of it." He shook his head, knowing he'dget no answer.