The trip to the grocery store goes rather smoothly as a matter of fact. Sam was never a fussy child and he still isn't now. He's almost perfectly happy. Except for when Dean tried to get Cas to set the toddler down into the seat of the shopping cart. Sammy's bottom lip quivered and his eyes squinted but Dean scooped him up and handed him back to Castiel before he could cry. Cas seemed a little puzzled when Dean handed Sam back to him, but he didn't seem to mind holding him one bit. He may be human now, but he was still strong. Carrying around a little toddler really didn't faze him much. Cas ogled at how vast the stores isles were. When he had been an angel, he never had appreciated food, and now he was learning to actually enjoy it.

Dean had pushed the cart as Cas and Sam trailed closely behind them. Sam was alert and vibrant, pointing and babbling at people as they passed through the store. Cas paid close attention to all of Sam's jumbled up words like, "pretty", "blue", and "funny". The ex angel would smile at every word, keeping a comforting hold around Sam's small body.

"He really likes you, huh?" Dean jokes as he set a carton of milk down into the shopping cart.

"I believe Sam still thinks that I am your father," Cas replies in a serious tone, which he only breaks to reply to one of Sam's coos with an enthusiastic "yeah!"

"Yeah, I guess so," Dean half laughs. "You think that maybe he'll just, you know, turn back to normal?" the hunter suggests.

Castiel shrugs his shoulders a little bit. "If I had my grace…" he begins solemnly, but Dean cuts him off. "It's okay Cas, it isn't your fault." Dean looks up from the groceries and right at his friend. "We'll figure this out eventually, all of it." Then he pauses, "your grace too."

Cas presses his lips together and gently nods his head, "okay," he says softly. "Daddy," Sam mumbled, reaching up at a piece of Castiel's dark hair.

"Hello Sam," he cooed sweetly, smiling down at the toddler in his arms.

"Thank you, honestly. For helping out and being so good with him," Dean states, his eyes softly trailing their gaze all over his friend's face.

"Oh course," Cas starts, "I am your and Sam's guardian. But I have made mistakes, although I'd like to think that you've forgiven me for them, I am still indebted to you. And for taking me in after I fell to Earth."

Dean feels his breath hitch in the back of his throat for a moment when Cas brings up his fall into mortality, "but that was only after-" he began,

"Dean," Cas cut him off. "It's okay."

There was this warm look in Cas's blue as ice eyes, like he was laying a comforting hand on Dean's shoulder without actually touching him. Like they were saying, "you will be okay," without having to verbalize anything.

Dean felt his face flush a little bit, and in his head he mentally shamed himself for half blushing in a supermarket, of all places.

"C-can I walk, Daddy?" Sam babbles, nestling his head into the worn-in material of Cas's shirt.

"Of course Sam," Cas says as he sets the small toddler down. "There you go."

Sam smiles up at Castiel and then looks over at Dean.

"Hi Dee!" Sam giggles, waving his pudgy fist up at his brother like he was trying to wave.

"Heya Sammy," Dean chirps, a little grin slyly finding its way onto his face. Sam grabs a hold of the denim of Cas's pant leg and looks up at the ex-angel for reassurance.

"Would you like to keep shopping, Sam?" Cas asks. Sam nods his head, shaking a few pieces of hair out of his eyes that had fallen out from underneath his bee hat.

Dean walks them through another couple aisles, Sam stays patient and doesn't try to run off. Instead he continues to gently tug at Cas's leg.

When they get to the freezer cases, Dean stops them. "Do you like ice cream with your pie, Cas?" The hunter inquires, his eyes fixed on the cartons that line the shelves before him.

"What?" Sam asks, his sweet voice pulling at both Castiel and Dean's attention. Cas bends down and pulls little Sam back up and into his arms.

"Dean would like to know if you want ice cream tonight with your pie," Cas explained as he watched Sam's eyes go big.

"Yeah!" Sam exclaims before Cas can even finish the sentence. Sam smiles widely, his gums exposed, small baby teeth on display.

Dean chuckles, "Sure thing then, buddy." He reaches out and grabs a case of vanilla ice cream, setting it in between the rest of the carts contents.

"I think that's all that we need for right now," Dean sighs with relief, he hated going to grocery stores, always felt like everyone's eyes were on him.

"This should last us about a week," he added, "now that Sam doesn't eat like three grown men."

Cas smiles at the joke and Sam makes a scrunched up funny face.

"Are you ready to go home, Sam?" Cas asks, bouncing the child on his side. Sam nods, his mop of brown curls falling back into his face. Cas chuckles softly to himself and gently brushes the hair back out of Sam's eyes. "Better?" the ex angel asks.

"Yeah," Sam mumbles, leaning his head onto Cas's shoulder. Castiel shifts Sam over from his side and onto his chest, holding his friends small body closely.

Dean led the three of them up to the register. It wasn't too busy at the grocery store, but there hadn't been a line that was completely empty. In front of them was a lady who was buying multiple packs of yogurt. She smiled at Sam sweetly when the toddler turned his head away from Castiel's chest to look around.

"He's precious," she commented, her eyes flickering up from Sam and back and forth between Dean and Cas. Cas felt his face get a little flushed and Dean swooped in to save the awkward social situation, par usual. Cas was still trying to get down all these new human things anyways.

"Thank you," Dean replied graciously, returning the woman's smile just before she turned to put her wallet back into her tan colored purse.

"Bye!" she whispered loudly, making a small waving gesture at Sam, who giggled at her. Cas rubbed Sam's back slowly, smiling down at his de-aged friend. The cashier rings up their groceries pretty fast. Cas makes sure to say "thank you," before him and Dean pull away from the register.

"You're getting better at this, Cas," Dean comments as he begins to load up the passenger's side of the front seat with their half dozen grocery bags. Cas nods slightly, allowing himself to take the compliment.

"Thank you, Dean. That does mean quite a lot," Cas breathes out as he slides himself and Sam into the backseat of the Impala.

"No problem," Dean adds as he settles himself behind the steering wheel, all of the groceries loaded up next to him.

"Daddy?" Sam spoke up, crawling from his spot right nudged up against Castiel's thigh and into his lap. "We go home now?" the toddler asks, his large brown eyes looking up into Cas's blue ones.

"Yes Sam," Cas says, patting the top of Sam's adorable bee themed hat. "We are going home now, back to the bunker."

Dean smiles when he hears the conversation, and Cas catches a glimpse of the hunters grin in the rear-view mirror before he begins.

"I wonder if Sam would've turned out differently if we had two parents growing up," Dean comments, the words seem like they're slipping out of his mouth before he can really consider what he is saying.

"Isn't it already quite widely accepted for two men to raise a child?" Cas replies, his eyes fixing on the reflection of Dean's green ones in the rear view mirror. Dean's face flushes instantly when he realizes that Cas interpreted his remark in a little different way than he had originally implied.

"I meant like, if both our folks were around, did normal stuff with us. But yeah, I guess so. I mean, we've been doing pretty normal parent and kid stuff with him. Dad never took us to the park or anything. We never all sat down for meals together." Dean's voice came out a little pained, and Castiel could feel the sense of longing behind his friend's words.

"I think that we have been doing a very nice job. Your human family customs are rather enjoyable." Cas says with the goofy grin, in hopes of getting Dean to cheer up. For the moment, Dean is very glad that Sam is little and can't hear him and Cas having a sentimental conversation.

"It's kinda weird, but I almost wish that Sam could stay little, you know? Cause then he'd have a fresh start at life and everything. But growing up is hard, man. It really sucks being human sometimes," Dean concludes with a shrug.

"Daddy look!" Sam interrupts the two normal sized men's conversation as he climbs over Cas's thighs in order to place his tiny hands up upon the window. His face is so close to the glass that his little nose is almost pressed up against it. "Dog, dog!" Sam cheers, as a couple with a large golden retriever pass the Impala, which is currently stopped at a red light. Cas smiles as he wraps an arm around Sam's torso to hold him steady.

Dean half laughs, half sighs from the front seat. "He always wanted a dog," the hunter tells Cas. Cas cocks his head and scrunches up his nose at the newly shared information about the youngest Winchester brother.

"I assume you never could get a dog because of your life on the road?" The ex-angel speaks up, fishing for an answer. Dean drums the pads of his fingers on the steering wheel as they pull away from the intersection.

"Doggie!" Sam continues to whisper, face squishing up against the cold glass of the Impala's window.

"Yeah," Dean starts. "Dad never liked them, and there's no way I'm letting a dog into Baby. Gotta keep her clean, you know?" Dean explains, turning them onto the road that eventually led back to the bunker. Sam had settled down and pulled himself away from the window. Instead, he was now resting outstretched on the backseat, his head nudged up against the top of Castiel's thigh, his small hands underneath his head.

"What if we used another car? Aren't there a lot of them in the bunkers garage?" Cas suggests, shrugging his shoulders. Dean laughs heartily at the proposition, "yeah, maybe, Cas."

The ex angel nods in an affirming manner, like he has just accomplished an important task.

"Correct me if I have been misinformed, but don't families get pets?" Cas eludes, putting further suggestion into Dean's mind. Except the short prompt does a little bit more than that for Dean.

"We really are a family then," he whispers low, his words almost sounding like they have been choked out of his throat. He knew that Cas and Sam were his family. A no holes, supportive family. There was no hiding it; it hit a soft spot deep inside of Dean's chest. Cas figured that it would probably be better to not continue on the conversation, and soon they pulled up at the bunker.

Dean let Cas and Sam out at the front entrance before continuing to drive, heading around to the back of the bunker in order to park Baby in the garage. Cas was sitting the big green chair, Sam settled patiently in his lap. Cas's arms were encircled around the small toddler, his hands holding open The Great Gatsby.

"Well don't you two look cozy?" Dean hollered from the kitchen, arms full of grocery bags. Cas turned his head at the sound of Dean's voice but didn't verbally reply. He just smiled at the hunter and then returned his gaze back onto the book. Sam reached his pudgy hands towards the book and stroked the thin page that Cas had been reading, when Dean made his way into the living room.

"I'll make dinner, tonight. I'll call you two when it's ready," Dean instructs with a grin. "Make sure to wash up before, especially you Sammy," Dean makes a point and jokingly shakes his finger at his very little, little brother. The day had been a long one. A couple hours at the park and then shopping had made them all pretty tired. Sam seemed to be hanging in there though, with the addition of his midafternoon nap. Sam nodded dramatically, moving his head up and down. Cas smiles softly at the hunter, glancing over at him again. "Okay, Dean" he whispers.

Dinner's done in an hour. Well, not really totally done but the burgers were. The pie had just been put into the oven. As much as Dean loved pie, he had never really figured out how to make it just right until he and Sam found the bunker. With an actual counter, Dean could go grocery shopping instead of living off of the snacks that could easily be picked up from gas stations.

The second night in the bunker, when Sam was fast asleep, Dean had made a secret trip to the local grocery store and picked up all of the ingredients for apple pie; his favorite.

The night had resulted in Dean being covered and flour (along with about half the kitchen too). But in the end, Dean had managed to make a pie. And while it was slightly overcooked, and pretty ugly in his opinion because he hadn't been able to get the lattice top just right. Nonetheless though, it had tasted pretty good.

Dean set the table as Cas shuffled Sam off to the bathroom to get washed up for their meal. Dean placed the last of the utensils in their designated spots on the placemats before something caught his eyes. It was Cas's book, sitting solitarily on the arm of the big green chair. The book had been left opened, as Cas hadn't bothered to dog ear the page before he got up to help Sam wash his hands as soon as Dean had reminded the ex-angel.

The words were facing down against the chair, the bright blue book cover staring up at Dean. He dog eared the page for Cas and closed the book, setting it nicely on the seat cushion of the chair. Dean patted the cover gently before returning to the kitchen to retrieve the burgers and to check on the pie.

The pie seemed to be coming along nicely, and Dean suspected that it would be done a little after they had finished up their dinner. It wouldn't be so bad to eat in pajamas, he thought to himself. When he walked back into the great room that held their dinning table, he found Cas and Sam already sitting in their spots. Cas across the table from Sam, who had been boosted up by a short stack of books. Sam was using old spell books for a booster seat; it made Dean chuckle a bit to himself as he set the food down on the table.

"I hungry, Dee," Sam said, reaching his hands out towards his brother.

"Yeah buddy, I know. I'll get you your food real' quick," Dean explained, setting a burger onto Cas's plate, and then his own. Sam nodded, "Okay Dee."

Dean set a burger onto Sam's plate too, but instead of just leaving it, he cut it up into smaller, manageable pieces. It felt a little sacrilege to be cutting a burger up into more than two pieces, but he'd really prefer not letting his little brother choke, or drop his food all over his lap.

They all eat quietly together, Dean occasionally stopping so that he can help Sam get the food onto his fork. Cas smiles each and every time, and Dean feels his chest tighten when he realizes that Cas is proud of him. The timer on the oven dings right as Cas finishes up his plate; he's the slowest eater out of all of them, which is surprising because you'd think that he would want to catch up on all the food that he had 'missed'.

"That's the pie," Dean announces, standing up from his seat at the table. Sam grins his gummy little smile up at his big brother. Dean reaches down and pats Sam on the head gently, then repositions the bee hat so that it sits straight across Sammy's forehead.

"You two go get your pajamas on," Dean says, using his hand to motion towards the corridor of bedrooms. "I'll get the pie out and let it cool," the hunter adds before turning to head back into their kitchen.

Cas gets up and walks around the table to pick Sam up out of his seat atop the spell books. "Daddy!" Sam exclaims as Cas hoists him up into the air, cradling the now yawning toddler against his chest. Sam wraps his short arms around Cas's neck, pulling at ex-angels (borrowed) shirt collar. Cas bounces Sam once, then again, settling his friend before walking them back into Dean's room to get themselves ready for bed.

When Dean finally emerged from the warm kitchen, Sam and Cas were already curled up on the couch in the living room, just opposite the dining room. Sam was dressed in his batman pajamas, and from the looks of it, Cas had raided Dean's wardrobe yet again. The ex angel had adorned soft grey sweatpants, that were a little too long as they covered his feet entirely. Cas had also slipped on a Van Halen shirt that was grey as well, and a little see through as it was a little worse for wear. Sam's tucked into Castiel's side, his hair a little messy from wearing his new bee hat all day. Dean whips out his phone before he says anything or makes his presence known. He snaps a quick picture of his friend and his little brother, smiling to himself. Cas turns his head when he hears the shutter sound effect.

"Dean?" He asks sleepily, pushing a piece of dark hair out of his eyes. Dean just chuckles at Cas, "gotta be able to show Sam once he's big again." Dean walks over to the couch and crouches down so that he's almost eye level with his brother.

"Hey Sammy," he whispers with a smile. Sam's currently squished himself in close against Cas's ribs, with his plaid teddy bear wedged in between like a pillow. Sam pulls his hands away from the bear, and rubs his eyes.

"Dee," Sam babbles softly, looking up at his brother, his hazel eyes wide.

"What are you two boys watching?" Dean jokes, his gaze shifting back up to Cas. "It's something about mermaids," Cas says sheepishly. Dean looks over at the bright television screen, the history channel is on. It's one of those fake conspiracy theory documentaries that he secretly loves. The hunter laughs as he stands up, "I'll go grab dessert," he suggests, eyes glancing towards Sam, who was practically falling asleep curled up against Cas. Dean moves in to give Cas a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder, but his hand ended up closer towards the ex angels collar bone, so Dean quickly pulled his hand away, not wanting to be awkward. But his fingers had fluttered up Cas's neck and just brushed past the edge of his jaw. "I uh- sorry," Dean quietly sputters before turning on his heels and speed walking like a grandma on black Friday, back into the kitchen.

When Dean finally made it back into the kitchen, he threw his hands on the cool metal on one of the countertops. His face felt hot, too hot. He took a few deep breathes, and urged himself to try to not overthink what he had just accidently done. It was just a little slip of the fingers, nothing more, right? It would all be just fine. He'd cut the pie and dish out some ice cream, walk back into the living room and it would be like nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

With slightly shaky hands, Dean grabbed two bowls from out of the cupboard. Sam could eat a little bit out of his bowl, if his kid brother was even still awake when he got back to the couch. The pie was cooling on the counter next to the oven, it was still warm though. The air in the kitchen was warm, and Dean felt like he was practically breathing in cinnamon.

He pulled out a knife from one of the drawers and cut both him and Cas ample slices of the apple pie. He was quite proud of it in fact, it was gooey and warm and looked pretty damn awesome. The pulled the vanilla ice cream out of the freezer and used a large spoon to dish some out into each of their bowls. Dean grabbed two smaller spoons, and set one in each of the bowls.

"Here ya go, Cas," Dean whispers, careful not to wake his now sleeping brother. In the time it had taken Dean to go grab dessert, Sam must have fallen asleep. The toddler was all tuckered out, it had been a long day. Dean held a bowl out to Cas, who gladly took it. "Thank you, Dean," he replied, his voice hushed. Dean slid into the spot next to Cas, leaving the ex angel sandwiches in between the two Winchester brothers.

"How's the show?" Dean asks, his question being mangled slightly by his full mouth. "It does seem to be interesting," Cas offers, "but quite inaccurate."

Dean stifles a laugh at Cas's seriousness over the topic by shoving another spoonful of pie and ice cream into his mouth. Cas tentatively took his own first bite of dessert and Dean watched his friends face carefully, searching for approval. "Is it good?" Dean asks, before Cas has even had the chance to finish chewing. Cas nods his head enthusiastically, his eyes wide as he looks over at the hunter. When he finally manages to swallow his food, Cas speaks up. "It's so good Dean," he compliments, smiling at the hunter. "I understand now," Cas proclaims quietly, staring down at his bowl of pie and now half-melted ice cream.

Dean feels himself beaming, proud that his hard work paid off. Cas doesn't seem as sad anymore, and any time that Dean catches that little glint of happiness in Castiel's eye, he hopes just a little bit more. Dean settles himself into his spot, tucking his legs up underneath him, sitting cross-legged on the couch, and his left knee knocked against Cas's right thigh. Cas had engrossed himself in finishing up his dessert, while Dean turns his attention to the obviously fake documentary that they're watching. He rolls his eyes at the horrible actor portrayal of scientists, thinking to himself that even he and Sam could do a better job. But at least they weren't watching one of those alien shows, featuring the dude with crazy hair; Sam loved to binge watch those on the odd nights when they didn't have a case.

Before Dean realizes it, the documentary is almost over and there's familiar warmth against his arm. Cas had shifted over just a little bit, it seemed, the ex angel's side now gently pressed up against Dean. Cas had set his now empty bowl onto the floor by his feet, and Dean put his own dish next to it when he had finished his own slice of pie. The hunter noticed Castiel's eyes flickering between being completely closed, and being halfway open. Cas yawned a couple of times, but he kept his eyes fixed on the CGI mermaids swimming around on screen. "Maybe you should head to bed, Cas," Dean whispers, pulling himself away from the back of the couch in order too better look at Cas. "What? Oh yes, maybe," Cas murmurs, rubbing at one of his bright blue eyes.

Dean pulls himself up out of the comfort of the couch and scoops up a sleeping Sam into his arms. Groggily, Cas stands up too, making sure to grab Sam's plaid bear for him.

"Let's get the little guy to bed first," Dean says, his voice barely audible as he was being careful not to wake Sam up. Cas nods his head in agreement, his eyes still fighting to stay open. Dean bends down and turns off the television right as the show's end credits begin to play. Dean leads them back into his room and tucks Sam into bed. Cas places the plaid bear under the covers next to Sam, who unconsciously rolls over and grabs at the stuffed animal.

"Off to bed," he instructs Cas, opting to walk with the ex angel towards his won room. Wordlessly, Cas slips under the white covers of his own bed, pulling the blanket up under his chin.

"Goodnight, Cas," Dean starts to say, reaching over to turn out the nightstand light.

"Dean?" Cas interjects before the hunter could finish. Dean's brows knit together in confusion for a moment, "yeah, Cas?" he responds.

"Stay?" Cas asks, reaching one arm up at Dean, pulling at the hem of the hunter's plaid shirt. "Cas, you're just tired. And somebody's gotta watch Sam…" Dean trails off, his eyes roaming all over Cas's covered figure. But even in the dimly lit room, Dean can still make out the piercing blue of Castiel's eyes.

"He's fine," Cas says with a reassuring whisper. Dean rolls his eyes, but gives in. It wouldn't do any harm. Sam was already asleep anyways. With a huff, Dean kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed, still wearing his jeans and flannel but he was comfortable nonetheless. Cas was settled on his side, facing towards Dean, who was laid out on his back after reaching over to turn out the bedside light. The room was consumed in blackness, and Cas's breathing even. "Goodnight angel," Dean whispered so quietly he wasn't sure if he had actually said it or not. Cas stirred for a moment, but his eyes remained closed. Soon enough, Dean's eyes shut and he too found sleep.