FIC TITLE: The Home for Wayward Children

Author- PTBvisiongrrl

Part- 12/12 (There may be some follow-up pieces later, sort of drop ins to see how everyone is doing, but nothing is set yet.)

Date- 12/10/16

Rating – PG-13/T (at least for now…I will clearly warn if it changes)

Pairings/Characters- Sam/Dean brother bond; Dean/Castiel romantic relationship

Word Count- 2,618

Genre- Angst, Family, Romance

Warnings- Spoilers- AU for Season 11. I had already written this before the finale.

Disclaimers- Unfortunately, I don't own any of these characters, and make absolutely no profit from taking them out to play…so please don't sue me. If I did own them, there would be a lot more shirtless Winchesters and Angels of the Lord getting some on the show!

Summary-

At 39, Dean has taken more hits than a NFL quarterback, and his body has begun to feel it. His bones practically grate against each other when he gets up in the morning, and the rain makes him want to ball up into the fetal position until the Tylenol and Jack kick in. But if there isn't hunting, what is there? All there has ever been is hunting things and helping people, the family business. Well, maybe it's time to help other people hunt things and expand the family.

Chapter 12

Dean studied the clothes laid out on the bed for him, freshly pressed and laundered. Claire had been insistent about the colors he and Castiel were wearing—blue for him and green for Cas—once both men had decided that suits were just not for them. Their t-shirts—plain, no pockets, not as baggy as usual—and over-shirts—again, plain (no flannel!), button downs with the same white buttons but matching the t-shirts—were not fancy. Neither were the sturdy, fitted jeans, dark for Dean and light wash for Cas. But the clothing was new, bought with intent for the event. Claire had even prevailed on them for a "fun" item—matching low-top Chuck Taylors, for their best people (Claire and Sam) as well as and for the little kids, who were very happy to be dressed to match the grooms as well.

Dean was struggling with all the attention and fuss. Cas took it in stride, but always with a careful eye on Dean during the process. Cas knew when Dean needed a moment to himself, when it was getting to be too much, and drew him away for a quick kiss, a reassuring hug, or just to remind him how much Cas loved him. That was all it took, and Dean would be ready to get back to wedding work.

Granted, most of the wedding work was not Dean's purview but simply cleaning and straightening up. Of course, that also meant getting a few more bedrooms ready (and that meant washing a lot of dusty linens), and rearranging the library to accommodate 5 kids, 8 adults, a ceremony, and a dinner. The one part that Dean put off in fear and frustration, the only thing that he had to do completely on his own—vows. Dean was not the most gifted with words to begin with, and this had to be special, dammit.

So, in prime Winchester form, he ignored it as long as he possibly could, until the night before the wedding. Whereupon, writer's block firmly refused to cooperate, and even a couple whiskeys couldn't budge it or provide inspiration. And now, as he was getting dressed, he was panicking. He was going to have to wing it (no pun intended, marrying an angel). Speak from the heart.

Fuck. He was going to have to have a chick flick moment. Publicly. With a full audience.

Double fuck.

Dean was dressed, hair dried and styled, shoes laced, and still vow-less when Sam knocked on his door a half-hour later. Snapping out of the beginning of a panic attack, Dean called out for Sam to enter.

Sam took one look and shook his head at Dean. "You didn't write your vows."

"Of course I wrote my vows!" Dean automatically contradicted Sam, defending himself, and then quickly folded. "No, I didn't. I tried, but I just couldn't…"

Grabbing a pad of paper and a pen from Dean's desk, Sam sat down on Dean's bed, back against the headboard. "What do you want to say?" Sam asked with a sigh.

"This isn't some math test I can cheat off you for an A, Sam!" Dean growled. "I have to be the one to do it. I just…can't write it down."

"Dude, you've got just ten minutes until we get started. Claire went to get Cas while I got you." Sam looked pensive. "Don't fuck this up."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"He'll still marry you, even if the vows are crap. He'll put up with your sorry ass….because he loves you." Sam rose. "But bring the pad and pen. We have to get to kitchen before Cas leaves Claire's room."

"Why?" Dean stuttered, being pulled along by Sam's Sasquatch strength in Dean's current state of confusion.

"Can't see the groom before the ceremony. You two refused to sleep apart last night, so this is really important." Sam actually wore a serious face.

"Are you screwing with me?" Dean demanded. "You believe in an actual superstition?"

Sam sighed. "Claire made me promise. She insisted. She remembers her dad telling her about that moment, seeing her mom dressed up and at the altar…"

Dean quickly agreed. "Okay. Kitchen," he said, walking with a new purpose.

Opening the fridge, Sam reached in and pulled out two bottles of beer. "Want one?"

"We got enough time for that, huh?" Dean scoffed, but nodded yes anyway. Taking the bottle, he downed it in two long swallows.

"I almost still can't believe you two are getting hitched," Sam sipped his beer. "I just never thought either of you would get your head out of your ass long enough to admit to feelings, much less actually work out a relationship or get married."

Dryly, Dean nodded in agreement. "I almost can't believe it. After everything we've been through, all the times I just couldn't say anything to Cas, wondering how I'm possibly good enough for an angel, an actual angel…and I'm still not sure I am, but I can't not try to be that kind of husband to him."

Sam took another sip, and shrugged. "You two are really made for each other, Dean. Don't ever question that the Righteous Man is good enough for an Angel of the Lord."

"I'll remind you that you said that when Cas and I have our first fight and you are caught right in the middle of it," Dean smirked, dropping his beer bottle into recycling. His anxiety was lessened by the exchange with his brother, but not gone. He still didn't have vows. "Which might be right after my sucky vows disappoint him."

Sam snorted. "I'd go for brevity at this point."

Charlie's head poked around the corner, interrupting. "Time for places." Then, after inspecting Dean, she ran into the room to pull him into a fierce hug. "I'm so happy for you two," she squeaked out. "Now, c'mon." Tugging Dean to her left side, wrapping her arm through his, she pulled him to the entrance of library, Sam following behind until they stopped at the threshold. Then, one more hug delivered, she took her place at the altar.

The library had been rearranged sometime in the past hour. The food—and a ton of food it was, from lasagna to sauerkraut and kielbasa to actual garden salad—was laid out over plastic sky blue and sage green table clothes on the large table, which had been pushed back against the shelves to make room for a few rows of folding chairs on either side of a small aisle in the center.

The kids were all seated in the chairs, along with the other guests. But the kids, all in matching outfits (girls had baby blue, boys had sage green) of t-shirt and button down to match their Chucks, stuck out. At the end of the center aisle was a small table with candles and wine on it and a book shelf had been moved behind it and covered by a tapestry to create a small sacred space for the ceremony, where Charlie waited for Dean and Cas.

Then all of Dean's attention narrowed to a small focus on Castiel, who had appeared at the other end of the library, Claire beside him. Those baby blues practically glowed across the huge room, made more blue with the clothing choice. The sight of Castiel, waiting for Dean, radiating happiness, made Dean grin so wide he swore his face was going to freeze that way. Just as Dean was going to turn to Sam to start walking in, music started playing.

It took Dean a few minutes, instrumental spilling into throaty words, to name the tune. Love Me or Leave Me, by Motörhead. Dean hadn't given much thought to most of the details for today. Music for a wedding was not his forte, so he had left it up to Cas and Claire. He had assumed it would be the usual classical crap.

This was him and Cas to a T, truly. It brought a tear to his eye, as happy as he was in this moment. Sam gave Dean a gentle shove to remind Dean to start walking, just as Claire had to do with Cas, and then kept pace next to him. The two pairs met at the aisle, where Sam and Claire paused and allowed the grooms to greet each other.

Dean bit his lip, unable to take his eyes off his handsome husband. Claire had it right with not seeing each other before the ceremony, he had to admit. The giddiness in Dean's chest made him lean forward and press his forehead against Cas's. Cas smiled at him in return, grasping Dean's hand and wrapping an arm around Dean's shoulders.

"I love you," Cas whispered, low enough that it was only audible to Dean.

Dean whispered back, "I love you, too."

A tap on Dean's shoulder brought the soon-to-be newlyweds back to awareness of all the people surrounding them, waiting for the show to start. "Ready?" Dean asked Cas. At Cas's nod, Dean grabbed his hand and pulled Cas down the aisle with him, practically speed-walking to get to Charlie.

Charlie was smiling as widely as the grooms. "Welcome, all! Today, FINALLY, we are here to witness the formal joining of Dean and Castiel, and the beginning of their new life together. Before we begin, let's get formality out of the way—gentlemen, as you ready to pledge your troth before your family and friends today?"

Dean smirked a little, but agreed. "Absolutely."

Cas agreed as well. "Of course."

Charlie practically vibrated. "And to those who have come forth to bear witness. Who presents these grooms?"

"We do," echoed around the two, loud and firm and full of love.

Charlie smiled. "Marriage is a holy union, a melding of heart and soul. Personally, I think you two are tardy to the official party. It has been obvious to the rest of your family for YEARS that you belong together. We rejoice that you two have finally acknowledged the depth of love between you and chosen to publicly declare your intentions to the world."

Dean ducked his head, feeling the pink blush start to creep across his cheeks, but looked back up at Cas's squeeze of his hand. Cas was…Dean's rock, his purpose, his cushion against the world and his partner in crime. Dean had nothing to be shy about today, no reason to feel embarrassed by all this attention. Cas's smile gave Dean strength to look around, to see the love surrounding them. He stood a little straighter, and squeezed Cas's hand back, before looking at Charlie.

"Now for the good part," Charlie practically giggled. "Please turn to each other and grasp hands. Do you, Castiel, take Dean Winchester to be your husband, in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth, from now until death separates you, and all that comes between?"

Radiating happiness, Cas licked his lips and clearly stated, "Yes."

Dean felt his heart race, waiting for his turn to answer. He did not have to wait long.

Charlie quickly turned to him. "Do you, Dean Winchester, take Castiel to be your husband, in sickness and health, in poverty and wealth, from now until death separates you, and all that comes between?"

"Yes," Dean stated, lowly, emotion making his voice thick and hoarse but no less firm than Cas.

"You have both declared your public intent to be married. Now is time to state your vows. Cas?" Charlie turned to the former angel first, knowing Dean well enough to know just how nervous he would be at this portion of the ceremony.

Cas took both of Dean's hands in his, and gazed steadily into Dean's green depths. "We have journeyed from the pit of hell to heaven together. You were my mission, my purpose. The brightness of your soul, radiating out from all that darkness, called to me even then. I raised you from perdition. I rebuilt you, molecule by molecule. I learned who you were, in the depths of your essence, and began to fall in love with you. We fought evil, both heaven and hell, together, and I fell deeper and harder. You are a remarkable man that I am so very lucky to be able to call mine, forever. I love you, Dean Winchester."

The emotion behind those words made Dean's eyes flutter. If he hadn't already been so nervous, he might have passed out from the sudden change in his blood pressure. Clearing his throat, making sure to keep his eyes on Cas's, Dean took a deep breath and went for it.

"Honestly, Cas, I didn't write any vows. I couldn't come up with anything that didn't sound corny and chick-flicky and Hallmark. You and I, we've been through too much together, to put even the bare essence of what you mean to me in just words. You have literally seen me at my lowest, have raised me out of the depths to live again. You put me before your orders, your Angel rules, before your Father, again and again. You have died for me. No one knows me like you do, no one understands me so well. When my mother used to tell me that angels were watching over me, she didn't know just how truthful that statement was. I am so very glad that you have agreed to marry me, Castiel. I promise I will spend the rest of our days thanking you for that trust, for your love."

Charlie sniffled, and there might have been an eye or two quickly wiped in the audience. "Now that you have given your oaths to each other, it is time to present the physical proof of that bond. Best people, please give these grooms their rings."

Claire pulled Dean's from her thumb, and stepped up to press it into Cas's hand. Dean had never seen her smile so much. With a quick hug, and a kiss pressed against her cheek, Cas turned back to Dean and held the ring up between thumb and index finger. Dean held his hand out for Cas to slip the plain band onto his ring finger.

"Repeat after me, as you place the ring," Charlie began. "With this ring, I thee wed."

The silver band was warm as Cas slid it slowly and snuggly into place. "With this ring, I thee wed."

Sam stepped up, matching band gleaming in his massive palm as he held it out for Dean to take. Dean blinked rapidly, reaching blindly for the ring and almost knocking it to the floor. Sam wrapped a hand around Dean's and gently placed the ring in his palm and curled Dean's fingers over it, chuckling.

Dean shook his head, squeezing the ring for a moment before matching Cas's actions. Once placed, Dean spoke his vow as he squeezed Cas's band against his own. "With this ring, I thee wed."

"Its official. Dean and Castiel Winchester, husbands. You may kiss your groom!" Charlie declared, giving the two men a minute amidst the clapping. A chaste brush of lips, an impossibly tight hug, and the moment was broken by a little body colliding with the mens' legs unexpectedly. Dean pulled away a little, keeping one hand on his husband's hip, and reached down to scoop up Jerry.

Jerry reached a little arm towards Cas and hugged both men, who hugged back. "'gratulations!" he cheered, legs kicking in happiness. "Cake time, now?"

Cas laughed wholeheartedly and loudly, and Dean joined in before answering, Jerry's face set in a perplexed half-frown. "You bet, Jer. Cake time!"

And everyone headed toward the food, happy in the presence of family, friends, and the newlyweds.

If you don't know the lyrics to Cas and Dean's wedding song, here's the link:

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