Dean straightened the last couple of blooms in the vase and took a step back to look at the bouquet. He wasn't completely satisfied with the way the flowers sat, but he knew he could keep fiddling at it for another hour and it still wouldn't be quite right to his eye. No one else would notice of course, but Dean would know. He glanced at the clock; it was quarter til ten, when he usually took his coffee break. He sighed, removing his apron and pocketing the keys to the store. On the way out, he put up the sign he used when he stepped out on the door, which read 'Be Back Soon.' He locked the door out of habit, even though in the small town of Liberty Corners his shop would be safe even if he forgot. The register was usually locked anyways, and no one would be likely to rob a florist for the flowers. Dean nodded to the barber next door who was leaning in his doorway smoking a cigarette.

"Coffee?" Dean asked. More out of politeness than anything else. He knew that Ash didn't drink coffee. Sometimes he did ask Dean to pick up a pastry though.

"Nope. How's the morning going?" Ash asked, politely blowing his smoke away from Dean.

"Pretty slow." Dean answered.

"Same." Ash shrugged. "Well, let me know if you need a trim."

"Thanks. Let me know if you need a fresh set of flowers." Dean and Ash never charged each other for services. Ash had set up shop a few years ago, around the same time that Dean took over the business from his mom, and they had become fast friends. At first Dean was wary of getting a cut from a barber who sported a mullet, but he soon found that Ash was a hair master, despite his stubborn attachment to his "business up in front, party in the back" look. For his part, Dean would provide flowers for the Ash's shop every week. They were both happy with their trading arrangement.

Ash and Dean chatted for a few more minutes. Ash finished his cigarette and went back inside and Dean then headed off to the coffee shop. He whistled as he walked down the sidewalk. He waved at Bobby, the tattoo shop owner, who was just getting into work.

"Mornin' Dean." Bobby smiled.

"I'm getting coffee. Can I pick up your usual for you?" Dean offered.

"Sure, I need it this morning. Meeting a potential new artist. He sounds promising and his portfolio is beautiful, but I need to see if we get along." Bobby turned the key in his door and opened it.

"You got it. Hope the new guy works out." Dean said. Bobby nodded and waved.

Dean arrived at the coffee shop and opened the door, the smell of ground beans and freshly baked pastries washing over him. There was someone behind him also coming in just now, and Dean held the door open for them. The person put a hand on the door.

"Thanks." A male voice spoke.

"You're welcome," Dean said, turning around.

He met a pair of cerulean eyes and froze. The man facing him was smiling, his blue eyes sparkling. Dean tore his gaze away from those eyes and noticed the man's perfectly sculpted nose and pink lips. A sheaf of dark brown bangs peeked out from underneath a green knitted beanie, and an intricate tattoo of a bird intertwined with roses covered one side of his neck. The man also had plugs (Dean wasn't sure what they were called – those things that stretched people's ears) and a lip ring. It wasn't the first time Dean had been struck by someone's beauty, but it had been awhile since he had felt his heart leap that way. The other man also seemed to be stuck in place momentarily and Dean felt himself blush as he noticed his appraising look.

"Excuse me." A woman behind the man was trying to get by.

"Oh sorry.." the blue-eyed man apologized, moving out of the way. He looked back at Dean after the woman had passed, walking up to the counter to order her coffee. "Yeah, gotta get some coffee- wake myself up a bit before my interview, y'know." He offered with a brilliant smile.

"Me too..uh, not the interview, but the coffee part." Dean said awkwardly.

He didn't usually have this much trouble talking, but this guy was making him tongue-tied. The way his eyes kept holding Dean's, and the way he just seemed so effortlessly beautiful. He wasn't even Dean's usual type – Dean usually went for gorgeous blonde women, or in the case of men, he usually preferred the more rugged type. He usually didn't go for tattoos and piercings. He didn't care if people had them, it just wasn't his thing. But they didn't detract from this man's beauty; perhaps it was the way he wore everything so naturally and without self-consciousness, not in a way that made him seem like he was trying to impress others. Dean wondered if this was the guy that Bobby was meeting. It seemed likely, although Dean couldn't see his other tattoos- they were all dressed for the January weather.

"What's your name?" the man asked. He seemed to be much less flustered than Dean.

"Dean. What's yours?" Dean answered, his heart beating faster.

"Castiel. I'm looking to work at the tattoo parlor next door." He replied. Again that smile. Dean couldn't stop staring.

"Oh! Nice! I know Bobby- he's a really good guy." Dean was grateful for something to say, but then worried that he had seemed too excited. Castiel didn't seem to notice though.

"Oh great, that's good to hear. Do you live around here?" Castiel asked.

"Yeah, actually I work at Winchester's Flowers down the street. So I know everyone around here." Dean said, waiting for some kind of reaction to his occupation. People were usually surprised and some even made disparaging remarks. Dean brushed it off though. They didn't know him.

"Awesome." Castiel commented. He didn't seem to be fazed by the fact that Dean was a florist. "So I'm assuming you were here for coffee too." Castiel teased.

"Oh, yeah, of course! I was actually going to bring some to Bobby." Dean babbled. He started walking towards the counter and Castiel followed.

"Oh good, you can walk me to the shop then." Castiel winked. Dean blushed, which made Castiel chuckle. Castiel glanced at his phone. "I have to be there in ten minutes. Doesn't hurt to be early though." There wasn't much of a line right now.

"Ok, I have to take the coffee to Bobby anyhow." Dean repeated and then cringed inwardly. He already knows that, he chided himself. Again, Castiel made no comment or reaction.

They ordered their coffees. Dean noted that Castiel took his black. He ordered for himself and Bobby- a cappuccino with skim for himself, and a hammerhead for Bobby. He added an old fashioned donut for himself. Before Dean could protest, Castiel had already handed his card over and paid for everything.

"Oh, you didn't need to!" Dean blurted. He balanced the cups on a tray, holding the bag with his donut in the other hand. "But thanks so much."

"Hey, as long as you tell my potential new boss that the coffee is from me." Castiel smiled. Dean nodded but Castiel laughed. "No, just joking. It's my pleasure."

They walked out of the shop together and headed toward Bobby's Ink. When they got there, Dean handed Bobby his coffee. Bobby thanked him with a raised eyebrow and then said hello to Castiel.

"I'll see you later, Bobby." Dean said. "Nice to meet you, Castiel."

"Bye Dean." Bobby nodded.

Castiel waved. "Nice to meet you too, Dean. I'd love to see your shop sometime."

"Um..yes, anytime!" Dean replied, pushing out the door before either of them could see him blushing.

Dean took a deep breath when he was outside again. The chill air was bracing, but his head was still full of thoughts of Castiel.

…

Bobby showed Castiel around the shop, and asked him a few questions. They chatted a bit about where Castiel had worked previously and what types of artwork he preferred to work on. At the end of the interview, Bobby said as long as his background and references checked out, the job was his. Bobby hoped to have all those done in the next day or so. Castiel thanked him and then left. Once he was out on the sidewalk, he walked leisurely down the block, looking at the shops. It was a quaint little town center, with a yarn shop and a small book shop as well as a deli and bank. When he reached the next block, he passed a barber shop, and then stopped in front of Winchester's Flowers. He could see Dean inside the shop, surrounded by bouquets and arrangements. Castiel admired the flowers in the window. He didn't know too much about types of flowers, but he loved to draw and ink them, and he could appreciate Dean's designs.

He was pleased that Bobby had indeed turned out to be "a really good guy" and that he would soon be working at the shop. He was living at the extended stay motel just outside of town, but he would be looking for an apartment once he saved up enough. He hadn't anticipated meeting Dean though. He wondered if it would be too forward to go into the shop now. He could tell Dean liked him too, but he didn't want to scare the guy away. He seemed kind of shy. But those green eyes, freckles and smile were so mesmerizing. Castiel had even caught a glimpse of Dean's physique when he took off his jacket in the coffee shop. He had been wearing a plaid button down shirt that clung to his broad chest and jeans that hugged a lovely ass, paired with sensible boots for the weather. Castiel guessed if Dean had any tattoos, he kept them hidden, and he doubted the man had any piercings. Sometimes you could be surprised though. Castiel had once been with a guy that appeared to be so clean cut and serious on the outside, but in the bedroom he was really kinky. Castiel imagined Dean in a bedroom and then pushed the thought away. You don't even know him. Maybe he was just being friendly. Maybe he's straight.

Castiel continued to hesitate outside the shop, and then shrugged and pulled the door open. A bell rang cheerily as Castiel stepped inside. Dean was fiddling with a vase at the counter, moving the blooms around and then frowning. He was wearing a green apron that said Winchester's Flowers in white print.

"Hello." Dean said, still frowning at the flowers. "What can I help-" He stopped as he looked to see who had entered the store. "Oh...Hi Castiel!" Dean blushed, and Castiel couldn't help but smile. Dean had already blushed a few times in front of him, and Castiel didn't want him to stop. Think of all the other ways you can make him blush…

"Hi Dean. I said I'd stop by sometime…" Castiel grinned. "Is now a good time?"

"Of course! I mean..it's pretty slow right now." Dean nodded, wiping his hands on his apron.

"Thanks. I got the job with Bobby, by the way." Castiel announced. He ran his fingertips over the tops of a bouquet of roses that were on display.

"That's great!" Dean said genuinely.

"Yeah, I'm glad." Castiel agreed. He walked around the small shop, the scents of the flowers filling his nostrils, touching the petals of the different blooms gently as he browsed. "Your flowers are beautiful, Dean."

"Oh, thank you…" Dean blushed again. "I figure most people don't really know what makes a good bouquet, but they can appreciate that it looks good."

"I can tell. The symmetry and the colors you combine, each arrangement is a piece of art.." Castiel looked at the flowers as he spoke, guessing that Dean was blushing again.

"Thank you…It's great that you get it." Dean said humbly.

Castiel turned to look at Dean. "Hey, I'm an artist too…actually I get a lot of requests for flowers in my line of work. So I'm pretty familiar with them. Although I don't know much about the different types of flowers."

"Most people don't." Dean nodded. "And I choose the flowers I put in my arrangements very carefully, not just based on their aesthetic. There's a lot of symbolism involving plants…a 'language of flowers', where each type of bloom represents a different meaning or message."

"So, what are those and what do they mean?" Castiel pointed, motioning to a bunch of small bright blooms. Dean walked up next to Castiel to look.

"Oh..um.." Dean blushed. "Those are moss roses. Um…they symbolize a 'confession of love'."

"Really?" Castiel raised an eyebrow. He turned to Dean and their gazes tangled. They were standing close enough that Castiel could smell Dean's aftershave, even with all the floral scents surrounding them. Dean looked away first, and also took a step back to Castiel's disappointment.

"Uh, yeah. Most people just come in looking for red roses, but I usually add a few things. I like to talk to my customers to get a better idea of who the recipients are, and then I go from there." Dean explained, moving back to the counter and fiddling with the arrangement again.

"Yeah, makes sense. Well, I think what you do is really cool." Castiel said.

"Thanks." Dean said shyly. "Although I don't think people usually describe florists as 'cool'. Tattoo artists, yes, but not florists."

Castiel laughed. "I'm actually a big nerd, but I guess that's the conception people usually have."

"I doubt that." Dean smiled. They were staring at each other again, but now that they were farther apart and the counter was between them, Dean seemed more comfortable.

The bell jangled and they both started. A man came in, looking for flowers for a wedding anniversary. Castiel drifted towards the door as Dean put on his professional manner and started asking questions about the wife and what she'd liked. When he pushed the door open, the bell sounded again.

"Bye Cas!" Dean called. "I'll come visit you at Bobby's sometime. Or, uh, come back and visit me here."

"Bye Dean." Castiel answered. He smiled to himself. Dean had called him 'Cas' without Castiel's prompting. It was what all his good friends and lovers called him.