Let it Snow

Prologue

It could have been done with his eyes closed; a cup of tea with a spoon of sugar and the smallest splash of milk, milk not cream, it was never cream, a cup of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, a swirl of whipped cream, and then covered with Christmas sprinkles, and finally a cup of coffee, otherwise black if it wasn't for the splash of whisky that got mixed in.

It could have been done with his eyes closed, the motions long memorized after being done every Christmas morning.

Then like every other Christmas morning Dean slowly picked up the three mugs, carefully carrying them across the kitchen, into the hallway, and towards the living. His socked feet padding against the wood flooring as he turned from the hallway, and into the living room doorway.  

He was immediately met with the soft crackling of the fireplace, warmth seeming to spread through the room, tugging a smile across his lips. At the foot of the fireplace Jack was sat surrounded by the still wrapped presents he'd pulled from his stocking, a small box covered in bright red paper in his hands. Across his face a wide smile was spread, rounding his cheeks, and making Dean's own smile widen.

It was impossible not to be happy around the child. To not feel some kind of warmth from his endless grins and bell-like giggles. To not fall helpless in love with his tousled hair, that never seemed to stay in place, or the gap in his smile from his missing tooth.

Dean watched as Jack gave the box ahake, before the child looked up and their eyes met.

"Dad!" Jack cried, raising the wrapped box he held in his small fists. "Look what Santa brought!"

"Well shit," Dean hummed, "I thought I told Santa not to come this year."

"He even ate the cookies!"

"Really?" Dean asked, voice raised in a fake interest as he received an excited nod from Jack. "Well I think next year Santa would like some pie instead."

"I think Santa eats enough pie," Cas hummed softly, Dean's gaze immediately darting to the other who was sat cross legged on one of their couches, their small cat, Atticus asleep in his lap. His dark hair was just as tousled as Jack's, and his face was lit in a soft yet teasing smile, crinkling the corners of his eyes, and causing Dean's heart to skip.

Skip.

Lighten.

Dean wasn't sure the right word, he only knew the burst in his chest that came every time he was met with Cas's blue eyes. Not fireworks, those were too intense, yet not butterflies, it was the inbetween. The sun flaring across his cheeks on warm days, the smell of baking in the evenings, the fireplace on winter nights.  

It was the inbetween, that even the word love seemed too simple for.

"That's where you're wrong, angel," Dean stepped out of the doorway and into the living, eyes still on his boyfriend, and the reindeer onesie he wore. "There's no such thing as enough pie."

He placed Jack's hot chocolate on the coffee table, before he handed Cas his mug of tea, the other taking it in one hand, while his other stayed rested on the cat, fingers moving slowly through its fluffy fur.

"Bee," Cas hummed softly, looking back to Jack as Dean took a seat next to him. "Are you going to open your presents now?"

"Yah!" Jack cried, raising the box that his small fists still wrapped around, "This one first."

Dean grinned, watching as Jack dropped to the floor, the child's tongue poking out from the corner of his mouth as he began opening the present. One of his hands stayed pressed to the top of the box, holding it still, while his other began carefully pulling at the tape that held the wrapping paper closed.

As Jack slowly unwrapped his gifts Dean raised his free arm, the tattooed skin hidden under the long sleeves of his Christmas pajamas, and draped it around Cas's shoulder. He could feel the other shift the slightest bit closer, something that only tugged a grin back across his face as he brought his coffee cup to his lips and took a small sip.

It was too perfect not to be happy.

The fire crackling.

Their tree glowing, hung with ornaments

Stockings, decorations, gifts.

Jack.

Dean finally looked away from Jack, and back to Castiel at his side, the other's eyes immediately meeting his.

Cas.

Cas, with those bright eyes that shined with every shade of blue, that crinkled at the corner, as his lips tugged in a small smile.

Those eyes that Dean could stare at forever.

Slowly he lent in, pressing a small kiss to Cas's cheek, before resting their foreheads together, close enough that he could feel Cas's warm breath flaring across his cheeks. Close enough Dean could see the rise and fall of the other's chests, hear the soft purs that came from Atticus, smell the tea that filled his mug.

Everything that was Cas, everything that Dean absolutely loved.

Everything Dean could spend the rest of his life falling in love with.

"Merry Christmas," Dean whispered softly, voice coming out just as breathlessly as he felt. 

"Merry Christmas, Dean."