Standing Together

Chapter 26

A/N updated 4 times. Make sure you start at chapter 25

"Happy birthday!" Dean yells, jumping out from behind the wall as soon as Castiel steps into the kitchen.

"Holy sh—" Castiel breathes. "God, I was not ready for that."

"I know you weren't," Dean says with a grin. "It's now officially breakfast time — except it's actually way later than breakfast should be and it's bordering on brunch now but shut up it's breakfast— and I think we should go to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast."

"Dean, I really don't want to go out in public," Castiel says.

"Which is why they made drive-throughs," Dean says. "Come on! We can stay in the car the entire time, but trust me, it's gonna be fun."

Castiel hesitates, then shrugs. "Yeah, sure. What's a little driving gonna hurt?"

Dean pumps his fists victoriously. "Awesome! Let's go!"

He takes Castiel's hand, interlacing their fingers as they walk out to the impala. Dean opens the door for his fiancé, and Castiel chuckles as he slides into his seat. Dean quickly hops around the car and slides in next to him, and they're off.

"Is this your emergency substitute for going out for dinner?" Castiel asks, mostly just to make conversation.

"Nope," Dean replies with a smug smile, but after a pause, he says, "Well, yeah, kinda, but no. So it's like a substitute and a half."

Castiel just looks at him for a moment before asking, "Are you under the impression that what you said actually made sense? Because it really, really didn't."

"I know," Dean says, seeming satisfied with that. "So, what do you want to do on a fine day like today?"

Castiel looks out the window at the dark clouds covering the sky. "Well, first I'd like to know why you consider this a fine day."

Dean sighs dramatically. "Cas, a day can be fine for more that its weather. Today is not a fine day because it's probably going to start raining pretty soon. Today is a fine day because it's the anniversary of the day that changed so many lives, especially mine." Dean flashes him a smile as he says, "It's the anniversary of the day Gabriel could officially start annoying everyone with his bitching about having little brothers."

Castiel can't help but laugh. "I can't believe you managed to make my birthday about Gabriel. Kudos to you, Dean. Nicely done."

"Thank you, thank you," Dean says. "But really, what do you want to do today?"

Castiel rests his head on his hand and stares out the window, thinking about that for a few moments. Finally, he just says, "I don't know. I guess I don't really want to do anything today."

Dean scoffs. "You what? It's your birthday, Cas! We gotta do something!"

Castiel cocks his head in confusion, turning his gaze back to his fiancé. "Weren't you just telling me after the... ya know... show..." Castiel awkwardly trails off. He could just call it "the bombing" like everyone else probably does, but it just makes him feel so uncomfortable. He just can't.

"Wasn't I just telling you what?" Dean asks, giving him the opportunity to finish his question without having the finish the phrase.

"That you and Sam didn't celebrate your birthdays growing up?" Castiel finishes. "I'm pretty sure that's what I remember talking about, so I don't really see why you care."

Dean seems to tense up at that, though whether it's the conversation or the memory itself, Castiel isn't sure. There's a moment of silence before Dean speaks, long enough to leave Castiel wondering if he ever will.