One year later
Cas was preparing dinner in the kitchen, since his boyfriend was coming home late after another course on restoration. He smiled remembering the countless pictures Dean had sent him this afternoon alone, all of the Mustang they were restoring and with different versions of "She's a beauty, but not as great as Baby".
In fact, he found that most of what happened over this past year led him to smile as well.
They finally made it out of the apartment two days after Dean had shown up on his doorstep, and when they arrived at Dean's, their family was waiting for them – Bobby and Jody and Sam and Jess and even Balthazar – with their congratulations and a good meal.
"What?" Balthazar exclaimed as soon as he saw Cas, "You were the one who called me this morning and told me you would finally engage into contact with the human race again, instead of limiting that just to groans around each other!"
Dean buried his face into Cas' shoulder.
It was a happy evening notwithstanding, and when Dean began elaborating on his plans, Bobby immediately offered to pay for college.
It was a sign what the experience had done for Dean that he didn't try to argue.
He only stood up and pulled Bobby into a hug, and as he watched, there were tears in Cas' eyes.
Later, Dean pulled Bobby aside.
"Bobby – "
"Not gonna argue. You can do what you want, I'm paying for you getting an education whether you like it or not".
Dean laughed.
"I know. Trust me, I got it. I just wanted to thank you. For everything".
He was sure that Bobby would know what "everything" entailed, and he was right.
"I didn't do as much I wish I did," Bobby said simply. Dean shrugged.
"You were there, and that's all that matters, and I get it. I really do". Bobby's eyes widened, but he didn't say anything, and Dean continued. "I'm sure they won't," Bobby replied quietly. Dean hugged him again and, if for a second a vision of children with really blue or green eyes running around the scrap yard and calling Bobby "Grandpa" appeared in his mind, he didn't mention it.
"I don't pretend I'm automatically seeing things different now. I'm sure there will be times when I doubt this is really what I want, but –" his gaze searched Cas; he was laughing with Jess "in the long run, they won't matter".
Dean kept his last appointment with Doctor Moseley.
She knew as soon as he entered the room, probably because of her crazy mind-reading abilities.
"Mr. Winchester?"
"I remember. I remember everything," he said quickly, grinning and sitting down.
"So I guess there'll be no need for further sessions" she replied, obviously gratified, and looked at his file.
"I would like to ask you a few more questions, just to make sure you're handling this alright".
"Shoot," he said.
He answered her inquiries as to whether he'd experienced any dizziness or disorientation, or whether he found it difficult to recall what had happened during his amnesia.
The last question she asked didn't sound like something a doctor would want to know.
"How do you feel about the whole experience?"
Dean felt certain that she already knew, but he thought of Cas, who was waiting for his call so that they could get dinner and he asked, "Is it possible to send your own brain flowers?"
She smiled to show that she understood.
It was a week before Dean and Sam really found time to be alone with each other, and Dean would have felt bad about it if Sam hadn't expected him at the usual table in their favourite diner with his biggest grin yet.
"Heya, Sammy".
"Dean. How's the boyfriend treating you?"
Dean hadn't spent a single night in his apartment in the last week.
"Very well. How's your firecracker?"
"You know Jess". "She's running around telling everyone 'I told you so'". "Exactly". "Are you happy?"
The question came so suddenly that Dean needed a few moments to answer, but when he did, it was with a soft smile. He thought of Cas, his kindness, his loving heart, his intelligence.
"Yeah, I am."
"Good. You deserve it".
Dean looked at his brother.
"I'm actually starting to believe that". Sam grinned even brighter.
Benny laughed on the screen, Dean and Cas having decided to tell him via Skype.
"So you did keep your promise," he said, growing serious, and Cas didn't really know what he meant, but Dean reached out and pulled him close and said, "You bet I did" and he decided that it didn't matter.
Gabriel decided to show up unannounced, which gave them far more merriment than him.
"Cassie, I'm here, ready to help you nurse your broken – CASTIEL, WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL? MY EYES!" He made them pie later, so Dean supposed he wasn't as scarred as he pretended to be.
Dean was accepted into McPherson College and actually barged into Cas' office at university to tell him. Balthazar, who was never far away when there was gossip to be had, managed to take a picture the moment Dean pounced on him. It was on their wall now, amongst many others.
They had moved in together after a few months for the simple reason that they couldn't come up with any arguments against it.
They hadn't regretted it for a minute.
Dean was happier and healthier than he had ever been, doing great at college as well; and knowing that he was the cause made Cas feel giddy more often than not.
It was on their first anniversary a week ago that he slid the letter over the table, and Cas read it, a smile on his face at the end.
"So Benny's attractive? Should I be worried?"
Dean shut him up with a kiss.
Sadly, not everything that had happened had been good.
John, of course, decided to show up when the construction crew was beginning their work. Luckily both Cas and Dean were there.
John was drunk.
"What's happening?"
"I'm having my garage renovated," Dean said simply and added, almost as an afterthought, "And my boyfriend's helping me supervise", taking Cas' hand.
John looked like he was about to scream once he understood what was going on, but when all Dean said was, "This is how it's gonna be. Me and Cas are together. We plan on staying together. I will do with my garage what I damn well please. And if you don't like it, you can go".
"This is my place – "
"It's not".
"And I just have to accept that this fucking fairy turned you?"
"He didn't 'turn me', John. I've loved him for years but was too scared to admit it".
John had thrown him a look of disgust, mixed with shock at not being called "Dad" anymore and stormed off. They knew from Bobby that he was alive, but hadn't heard from him since.
Warm arms wrapped around Cas and brought him out of his reverie.
"Penny for your thoughts," Dean whispered in his ear and nuzzled his neck. Cas loved how affectionate Dean was, and how comfortable he was to show Cas what he meant to him even in public. He couldn't recall a single walk during which Dean hadn't held his hand at some point.
"Just thinking about us".
"Good thoughts?"
"You bet," he answered and turned to kiss Dean.
"I said I'd cook," his boyfriend murmured.
"You had an evening course," Cas reminded him.
"Wish you could see the Mustang we're working on".
"I do. You send me pictures all the time".
Dean's hold on him tightened. Cas looked at the watch and was surprised.
"You're home late even for your evening course".
"Dropped by Bobby's for a few minutes."
Cas turned the stove off for a moment so he could turn around and kiss Dean. It still felt new after a year, the simple knowledge that he could, that he was allowed to, filling him with joy.
"For a specific reason?" he finally asked.
Dean shrugged. "Just wanted to see him, is all".
But when Cas turned back to his cooking, he smiled and imagined the day in the near future on which he would show Cas that it took time, even with Bobby's help, to design a ring out of non-toxic car parts.
The End