Mint and apricots

4. A taste of normal

Dean didn't even have enough time to get behind the wheel before Sam began tinkering with his cell phone. The twenty-six-year-old felt his older brother's worried gaze on himself, but not even Dean's worst anxieties could have found a valid reason to prevent him from sending a message.

To: Luc

I'm going to Dean and Cas's place for dinner. Sorry if I didn't warn you, but my brother appeared out of nowhere and I couldn't say no. See you later at home. I'm sorry.

After their wedding, Dean and Castiel had moved to an apartment building that overlooked a street full of bars and shops, conveniently placed within a short walk distance from the garage where Dean worked and fifteen minutes by bike away from the studio where Cas practiced as a psychotherapist. The apartment they rented was, in Sam's opinion, simply delightful. The twenty-six-year-old realized that his judgment might have been tarnished by what Dean had confided to him about choosing that place – as well as the proximity to their respective workplaces, he and Cas had found it the same day they had started talking seriously about their common desire to have little Novak-Winchesters walking around the house; and that explained the extra room – but he didn't care. Sam loved that place. For the past two years, he couldn't help but feel like that was his home too.

Despite this, Sam could not prevent the block of granite in his stomach from turning into ice when he found himself in front of the door which bore his brother's and Cas's names on a plate placed under the peephole. If trying to get his brother to believe his play had been complicated for a few minutes on the side of the road, dinner would have been a nightmare.

Respectful of his brother's silence, Dean had not said a word during the entire ride and did not emit a single sound even as he opened the door and passed the threshold of the apartment, leaving Sam no choice but to follow him two steps behind.

"Love, I'm home" the thirty-year-old said as he left his jacket and shoes in the small lobby.

Sam was wondering if he should announce himself or not, when his brother-in-law came out of the kitchen in his shirt and office trousers and a polka dot tea dishcloth abandoned on his right shoulder.

"Hey," he smiled, rushing to kiss his husband before he even noticed Sam.

The latter tried to look away, but in the end something held him back and he observed the enthusiasm with which Dean responded to that greeting and the tenderness with which Castiel caressed his cheek, adorning his tired expression with a smile.

"Where have you been? It was getting pretty late, Mr. Winchester."

"I had to take a detour," Dean apologized. "I hope you were generous with the crepês, because we have a guest."

Intrigued by his husband's nod, Cas finally turned to Sam, who was still by the door and closed it permanently behind him just in that instant. It was done, he could no longer leave. The widening of Cas's smile would have made even a vegan stop at his table, though it was overflowing with dairy products.

"Sam!" his brother-in-law exclaimed, rushing to hug him. "How nice to see you!"

The boy let him squeeze him, then made an immense effort to return his smile.

"Hi, Cas."

His voice had come out low, but his brother-in-law didn't seem to mind.

"Come on in, sit down. Dean, can you bring him his slippers? Thank you," Cas asked, and Dean disappeared for a moment behind the counter that divided the kitchen from the living room.

Sam wondered if it was those little things, like having his slippers waiting for him, that made that place look like his home too. He wasn't done comparing that sensation to the twinge in his stomach that he felt every time he entered Luc's apartment, that Cas was back, a hand resting just under his shoulder.