A Unique Proposal

The Way The Sapling Grows

Dean had been asked several times over the past few weeks why he quit, why he asked Cas to stay with him. He was still trying to put together a good answer, to be honest. It just felt right.

He had started to notice things more, once all the drama of hunting was out of the way. Things like the peculiar sensation in his stomach when he saw Cas, the dryness of his mouth when he spoke to Cas, the desire he felt to touch Cas.

He was putting together an answer for this, too.

This was the night he figured he'd throw all caution to the wind, and let the booze clear things up for him. Cas was his friend, right? He had no reason to worry. So why was he experiencing this feeling as though his stomach had dropped to his feet?

He had a room rented at a motel- only one bed, he was starting to regret choosing a motel so small. The motel was so far out into the quiet woods, he could drive a mile and park somewhere private to watch the fireworks coming from the city.

"Hello, Dean." Cas approached the car.

"Hop in." Dean gestured to the passenger seat.

Cas smiled. "So where are we going?"

Dean shook his head. "Can't tell you that. That's the beauty of a surprise, Cas."

Cas huffed. "Fine." He sulked for a moment, then moved on.

"How was your day, then, Dean?" Dean shrugged. "Normal. Sam called me earlier. Said he and Sarah were going to a big display in New York City."

Cas nodded. "I'm glad Sam is happy."

Dean let out a derisive snort. "It's a nice change."

Cas looked out the window and watched the suburbia slowly change to thick greenery.

A few minutes passed in comfortable silence.

Dean heard a soft noise, gradually getting louder, moving pitches. Eventually, he realized Cas was humming Simple Man by Lynard Skynard.

"Good choice, Cas." He chuckled to himself as the man looked up at him, confused.

"What you were humming. Simple Man? It's a good song." Dean explained.

Cas nodded, understanding. "It's my favorite of all your tapes."

Dean smiled at that. Cas was that friend, who knew your music better than you did.

"Yeah, well, my favorite will always be Hey Jude by the Beatles. But I'm a little biased." Dean glanced at Cas, smiling a little sadly.

"That's what your mother sang to you?" Cas checked.

Dean nodded.

"It's a pretty song. It kind of reminds me of you, and not just because it's your favorite song. The theme, you know?" Cas talked with his hands, which made Dean smile. He thought it was amusing, heartwarming even, when Cas stumbled over his own words.

Then he pondered Cas' words.

Hey Jude was all about going up to the person you love, unafraid, and telling them how you feel.

Did Cas... Have feelings for him?

Dean glanced over at the ex-angel, wondering...

Choosing.

"Hey, uh, Cas. You have any plans for the human years?" Dean tried not the make the double meaning too obvious.

Cas shrugged. Dean still couldn't believe how quickly he adapted to being human. Cas said he learned from watching closely, but Dean wasn't sure what he meant by that.