Neon Lights

Chapter 45 - Violet Hill

•Castiel's POV•
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December 25, 1968
Christmas Day
10:47 a.m.
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"Merry Christmas, Cas."

I opened my eyes to see Dean's happy green gaze close to me. I kissed him sleepily, snuggling close to his chest. He kissed the top of my head, hugging me around my shoulders. "Merry Christmas, Dean."

"Do I get a present?" He asked greedily, biting his lip and looking down at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Yes. I got you a gift."

I pulled it out from under the bed and handed it to him. Eagerly, he sat up and ripped the paper open, then struggled for a few minutes to open the duct-taped cardboard packaging.

When he got the box open, he pulled out the delicate item inside. "A Polaroid?" He murmured skeptically, "This is awesome...!"

"Now we can take pictures," I smiled at him. He inspected the camera closely.

"I've never had a camera before," he looked through the Polaroid's viewpoint, "This is great!"

"Did you get me a present?" I smirked at him, crossing my arms poutily like the annoying, greedy nephew at family gatherings.

"I did," Dean assured me, "But we have to go get him."

Him? Dean got out of bed and for the first time ever I got out quickly with him, eager to find out what Dean's gotten me.

I dressed in a blue sweater, wrapping a scarf around my neck and pulling a beige winter coat around it all. Dean dressed in a black hoodie and his mackinaw, as he's gotten used to wearing it. I think he finally realizes red mackinaws fucking suit him.

"C'mon," Dean pulled me out, "We'll get breakfast while we're out."

He led me along the streets, winding around corners and passing festive window display after festive window display, until he pulled me into a store full of barks, meows, squeaks, and an array of funny bird noises.

"Hello, Jim," Dean adressed the clerk as if he's known him for years, "Picking up the gift."

The clerk, nametagged Jim M., nodded and led us to a cage full of small, furry critters. My heart swelled - I've always wanted one!

"Dean, how did you know?!"

He looked at me, "You mentioned it once. You wanted a red-brown one, right? You said that."

"I mentioned it months ago!" I bit my lip to keep from squealing, "I hardly remember...how did you..."

'Jim' pulled a red-brown guinea pig from its cage carefully and placed it gently in my hands. It was so small - just a baby - and I was terrified I'd drop the poor thing so I sat down on the shop floor. Dean sat next to me, wide green eyes sparkling with an emotion I'd never seen in them as he watched me cradle the small creature.

"What will you name it?" The store clerk asked. I thought a moment.

"Clarence. He looks like a Clarence."

Jim nodded, "Dean, if you'll be paying...we should set that up now, along with cages and food, etcetera."

I watched Dean go to deal with all that while I gently pat Clarence, listening to his tiny, happy squeaks. His nose twitched and he looked up at me. I smiled at him, petting his little head.

"Thank you Dean," I swiveled my head around to talk to Dean while he worked everything out with the store clerk. He smiled at me, then at Clarence.