Ch. 94. Epilogue

"No Cas, you could get hurt if you do it like that" Dean took the knife from his husband's hands and, once more, showed him how to do it. Cas nodded and tried again, successfully peeling his apple without stabbing himself. When he was done he smiled proudly, just three more and he would have enough for the filling. Dean handed him another apple and took one himself, deftly peeling and cutting that and the others in the time it took Cas to peel the one he was holding.

It surely took them a while but they were on their way to bake the perfect pie.

Cas being disowned was never a matter of money, it was all about power, about public shaming. It was out now for everyone to see, the Novak kid had run away from home to marry a nerdy slave!

Outrageous!

Isn't it?

Well, those who wanted to badmouth them rejoiced on the news, gossip spread like the plague and soon there was not a single soul (or graced being) who wasn't aware of the transgression. They were the talk of the town, the hottest scandal… for like a week. Maybe even less.

Yes, apparently an artist (who by definition is entitled to some eccentricities) marrying a nerdy slave wasn't that spicy of a story, so soon the chitchats moved away from them. And besides, the 'Novak kid' was known as 'the Novak kid' only by those who liked to defame others, by the rest of society he was 'Castiel N', the hottest artist in town, maybe one of the best portrayers ever.

And for 'the nerdy slave', well, that part of the rumor wasn't as complicated as it seemed, Dean's work was one of the biggest contributions in years to the Council Library so it wasn't that important if the paper's author was an illiterate slave or a gifted prince, it was equally celebrated as well, by mostly everyone. There were bigoted colleagues who presented their resignation letter, refusing to work alongside such an inferior creature, but not one eyelash was bated for them, till they could present something as equally brilliant they didn't have a say in the matter. And they knew it.

Dean wasn't aware of many of these things while they were happening, he was too busy getting back on his feet, something made easier by the amounts of love his family gave him. They allowed him time to mourn, and cry, and mope around the house, but they also tried their best to help him feel better in any way they could. Joshua ordered him to take time off work. Gabriel and Kali silently sat by his side for a while sometimes. Jo, who took his place teaching his lessons in the morning, told him all about the progress the kids were making. Benny, who was put up to speed at some point, brought him as a present some rare books he found at his uncle's library. And Cas, he just was there for him in every way he could, he comforted him, kissed him, talked to him, tried to make him laugh, loved him. And it worked, Dean was slowly getting back to his routine, back to be himself.

Things at the house continued functioning on their own perfectly abnormal way, they all were aware it wasn't a regular household but they learnt how to 'play by the rules' whenever they had an outside guest, and relax when they were among their own. Gabriel at first, like for ten minutes, was shocked when he discovered the slaves were learning to read and write, the lawyer in him reminded them it was illegal... but then, a playful smirk appeared in his face and he started to plan a way to introduce a project to change the law. He was slowly seeing the world in a different way, his nephew had taught him that.

Cas was learning how to make a pie, and Dean was teaching him, proving he was the most patient man on earth as Cas knew next to nothing regarding how to move in a kitchen. But he was learning.

At the table Katie and Owen were sorting the mail while Matty tried to understand what they were doing. "But how do you know which one goes to master Castiel and which ones to master Dean?"

The boy was curious and Dean wanted to teach him, but only when his sister would agree to, which wouldn't take too long as she was already explaining the basics. "This letter is called C, it's the first letter on master Castiel's name. See? It looks like a crescent moon" Katie traced the letter with her finger showing her brother the resemblance. "Can you find another one?" Matty tried and did well, and his grin was all gummy and radiant.

Next to them Benny was reading Dean's book while Jo was sewing a shirt sitting by his side. Their relationship had bloomed rather quickly after Jo's confession and Sam's death, as Jo had been there for Dean Benny found a way to be there for her. The demon had joined their lives almost seamlessly and, when he wasn't at work or out on a date with Jo, he was more often than not at the house, just sharing his time with them.

Jo discovered it was so much more than friendship what she felt for Benny. Everything was too new for her so she needed her brother's advice on the matter as he once was on her shoes. Dean helped Jo figure out what her feelings were, and that helped him in return to strengthen his soul. Helping her find her happiness was something he had promised her once and it felt great to fulfill his word.

"Good. Now slowly raise the rolling pin over the plate and cover it… it's alright if it breaks, don't worry. Now we fix it like this" Dean showed him how to fill a rip in the crust by putting a little dough and smoothening it with his fingers. The pie making lesson was almost over and Cas was beaming when he put the pie in the oven. Dean kissed him softly. "Now we wait"

Krissy and Dean quickly cleaned up the working table while Daisy washed the used utensils, it was almost tea time so she wanted to have everything back on its place as it looked like no one would be leaving the kitchen for a while.

Cas took off his apron, sat in front of Jo and stayed silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the book the demon was holding. Dean always signed his work as 'Dean N', just like he did for his paintings. And his birthday was arriving.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Dean kissed the top of his head, shaking him out of his inner world.

"We should change our last name" Cas forgot for a moment Dean couldn't read his mind but his slightly lifted eyebrow reminded him of it. "You know how my family disowned us? Well, we should disown them, change our last name and be our own family" And the statement made all the kitchen's occupants stop whatever they were doing and focus on the angel's words because they sounded less weird than they should.

"Cas, love, we can do that if that's what you want, I've never had a last name till you gave me yours, and I don't care which one is it as long as we share it" Dean kissed him softly on his lips, his angel never stopped amazing him.

"I didn't know you could do that," Benny said, openly joining the conversation like the rest had.

Cas pulled Dean down to sit him on his lap, kissed his cheek and looked at the demon. "I learnt that a week ago, we received a letter congratulating us on our wedding and Dean on his paper. In the envelope said it was from someone named Alfie but inside we read it really was from Samandriel, he eloped to get married to someone his father didn't approve of and changed his name to remain hidden from him. So, if he was able to do it, we surely can do it as well"

"What are we doing?" Gabriel entered the kitchen followed by Krissy and sat at the table facing his nephew. Dean told him about Castiel's idea and asked if it was possible. The older angel scratched his chin for a moment and said it could be done, it would require some paperwork but if he wanted to do it he would help him with it. Castiel thanked his uncle, noticing how his mouth was watering with the delicious sweet and cinnamon-y smell on the air.

"So, have you thought of what name you'll like?" Dean asked his husband, he really didn't mind much but was curious as it would be his name too. The angel said he hadn't really thought about it but, as both of them signed their work using only their initial it should be one that started with a similar letter so it won't be much of a difference for those following their work.

Again there was silence on the kitchen, the reasoning wasn't bad. The kettle started to whistle and Daisy prepared the teapot while Krissy and Matty were setting the china over the table. Katie and Owen took the mail away to the study and the atelier for it to be opened later. Jo put the needles, thread, and buttons on the sewing box, kissed her demon distracting him from his reading, and went to put those things away to make place for the tea service.

"Time to check on the pie" Dean got off Cas' legs and put on an oven glove. Cas followed him but stayed away till Dean placed the perfectly golden pastry over the countertop.

"You do know you own a dining room, a parlor, a solarium and many other places you could be having tea right now, do you?" Kali walked in and chided them like she always did whenever she caught them doing something 'improper', but still sat by her husband's side and joined the conversation.

Aiden walked in from the mudroom drying his freshly washed hands with a towel, he stopped dead for a moment when realizing everybody was at the kitchen but shook himself out and sat at the table to have tea with the rest. Both Daisy and he were the oldest so it was always a bit of a shock for hem to share the table with the masters, but they made the effort to get used to it.

"You know, Milton is a beautiful last name, and it's already yours too" Gabriel offered, Cas was like his son and it'll be an honor for him if he took his name, but he loved him just the same if he didn't.

Cas perked up at that but dismissed it. "Nah, if I took on Milton it'll be more or less the same. It doesn't have to be N or M, it could start with A or W, their shape is similar"

"I once sailed with a man named Ackles, his ship was the biggest I've ever seen… anyway, that's a nice sounding name, I guess" Benny made his input while closing the book he was reading. Dean tried the name for a moment but he wasn't totally convinced, and neither Castiel by the way he scrunched his nose for a moment.

Kali tapped her lower lip with her fingertip, she liked the idea of the lovebirds changing their name but, if they were going to do it, then they needed to go big. "Maybe something a bit more… outstanding, something like Walton or Winchester"

The husbands' faces lighted up at that, it was a nice suggestion but before they could say something Jo, pensively, spoke out loud. "Castiel and Dean Winchester. I like the sound of that"

Toast, jam, butter, buns and rolls, some cucumber sandwiches (because Benny didn't have such a sweet tooth as Gabriel) milk, sugar, tea and the star of the evening, Cas' apple pie. It wasn't perfect, as nothing ever was, but they were together, and they loved each other and, surrounded by family and friends they were free to be themselves.

Notes:

Thank you for staying till the end, I hope you've enjoyed it :)

It was my first fic, sorry if I had a few grammar mistakes, English isn't my first language and I don't have a Beta (I wasn't sure how to ask for someone to do that)

I'll appreciate knowing what you think, so feel free to leave comments or PM. I left out a few chapters that I posted in another fic: "Director's cut: Free to be you and me"

Anyway, see you soon

Mora

Update august 23, 2018: it was bugging me so I corrected some grammar mistakes, it's not perfect but it got better. Hope you enjoy it!