Knives and Pies and Fights, Oh My!

Chapter 1

Dean opened the door to see presumably one of Bobby's friends standing there holding a present that remarkably was shaped like a Winchester. Gun that is, not brother. The wrapping paper was red, with dancing Santa's covering nearly every inch of it. The Winchester brother stood there staring at it and him, until the older man pushed his way through him, rudely might I add, into Bobby's warm home.

"Well don't just stand there, ya idjit."

The man sounded surprisingly like Bobby, but it could have just been that ever popular word, idjit. Dean stood there, looking outside to see if any other of Bobby's visitors decided to show, but was relieved to find that apparently no more were coming, unless they were planning to be really late. Dean turned around when he heard more rude words being directed, apparently, at him.

"Close the door, ya idjit."

Dean slammed the door and walked back into the cozy house. Sam was drinking eggnog and talking to a girl he met in town yesterday, Stella, Bobby was wearing his "Go Away I'm Cookin" apron and taking the turkey out of the oven with his green snowflake oven mitts. He looked like a housewife. And Rufus and the man who had just walked in were sitting down in front of the fireplace, talking about how they had no family or that the family they did have wasn't spending Christmas with them. Dean rolled his eyes and walked back upstairs, wondering why he wasn't having a good time when usually it was Sam. As soon as he stepped into the bedroom he noticed a familiar figure on his bed.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

The angel looked up at the agitated human and searched his eyes for several seconds, trying to determine what mood his charge was in. He realized with slight shock, not a lot since Dean had been rather depressed lately, that he was indeed unhappy. Before he could think of words to say or questions to ask though, Dean spoke again.

"Thought you angels hated Christmas, considering it's not a true holiday. Only a humans", he mumbled after turning away from the angel who was staring him down, which happened to make the elder Winchester very uneasy.

"What is troubling you, Dean?"

Castiel slowly got up off the bed and walked over to his clearly distressed human, who was currently turned away from him. He put a hand on his shoulder and Dean turned around to face him. Their eyes met for only brief seconds, before Dean turned away to stare at nothing before him.

"What do you want, Cas? It's Christmas, and I don't feel like helping you tonight or tomorrow or anytime soon. I need a break."

He turned back around to face the angel, but he was no longer in the room.

"But of course you wouldn't understand that."

He sat down in the spot Castiel had and listened to the laughter emanating into his room from downstairs. He could already smell the aroma of turkey and apple pie and cinnamon. He knew spending the night with his 12 pack of beer and 67 Impala was out of the question, Sam would have things to say to him about that, but he was already leaning more towards a Christmas alone than one with the people he knew. He turned towards the window when he heard a flutter of wings. A present was now in his hands.

"I have a gift for you, Dean."

Dean walked closer.

"What is it?"

Castiel handed over the hastily wrapped item and watched with happiness as Dean ripped it open greedily.

"A knife? Cas, you shouldn't have."

Dean turned the weapon gently over and over in his hands, admiring its craftsmanship and elegance. It was as light as a feather and curved slightly near the tip.

"An angel's vessel possessed it long ago. I would have gotten rid of it, but…. I thought you would like it."

"Thanks Cas, this is really great."

Dean smiled even wider and felt an extreme urge to cry when he turned the knife over. On its hilt were 2 letters engraved in cursive.

D.W.

Castiel felt very guilty as he watched the young human begin to cry. He had had a feeling this wasn't the right gift for Dean.

"I apologize if you do not like my present, Dean. I did not mean to put you in distress."

Dean looked up at his angel, standing there embarrassed. Angels were not supposed to feel any emotions, let alone embarrassment and regret. Cas was just about ready to poof right out of there before Dean stepped closer and wrapped his arms tightly around him. The angel stood there, not knowing quite what to do, but he had learned from Sam that hugging was a sign of deep affection. So he wrapped an arm around Dean and waited for him to pull away.

"I love this so much, Cas", Dean finally pulled away.

"How did you know what to get me?"

"I know you more than you would care to believe, Dean Winchester."

"And that's not creepy. You've been watching me sleep again, haven't you?"

"Dean….I…."

"No it's fine, just forget about it."

He slid the knife in his back pocket and thought of a great idea.

"Hey Cas, how would you like to join me for Christmas dinner? Unless you're busy or something."

The angel could see that if he said no, his charge would be disappointed. And he figured, what could go wrong anyway. So he nodded and allowed Dean to lead him downstairs. He was still nervous around Dean's family, especially his younger brother, Sam, but he had pushed himself into Dean's thoughts and realized that he could not and would not eat dinner alone. Dean led him down the stairs, hand in hand, and sat him down in the empty chair across from him. Everyone was already at the table, waiting for the last remaining Winchester. Bobby nodded across the table at Castiel, who smiled faintly and gazed across the huge turkey at Dean. He was laughing at something Sam had just told him. And as he began to slice into the turkey he finally looked up into the blue eyes of the angel who had done so much for him, the angel who had risked his ass to yank him out of hell. Dean smiled and for a second all he could see was the angel, but then the loud protests of his family, in blood and bond, pulled him abruptly back to reality.

"Cut the turkey already, Deanna."

"Yeah, whatcha hell you waitin for, kid."

Dean looked back down and handed them all pieces before daring to look back up at his angel, who was currently downing a glass of wine. Conversation picked up once again as soon as everyone tasted the scrumptious turkey. Even Cas ate with the rest of the family, even though angels did not care for food. All Castiel wanted to do at that moment was please Dean. He watched as the human downed his third glass of beer, and kept track of how many times Dean looked across the table at him. Which was a lot. In fact, the only time that he teared his eyes from Dean's hazels was when Sam jokingly made a comment that his brother had brought him as a date. And that really got the angel thinking. Was he here as a date or just a friend? Should he even ask considering the looks his human gave him. Sure, Cas didn't understand human emotions in depth, but from what Dean had taught him on his short time on earth, he knew what happiness and love and longing looked like. It had been on Dean's face the entire night. Dean stood up unexpectedly when the apple pie was brought out and the wine and beer glasses filled again.

"I'd like to make a toast."

Dean looked around the table and said the next words while looking straight at Castiel, who looked up at him in slight embarrassment.

"To Bobby's dinner, even though the turkey was undercooked…."

"Try cooking your own damn turkey next year, wise guy."

"To family, both in blood and bond."

He and Sam shared a long look and Sam nodded in return.

"And to new friends."

Castiel knew that that was directed towards him, which made his face turn as red as a tomato. Sam laughed.

"Easy there, Deanna. Before you start turning into even more of a chick.

Dean glared at Sam.

"Easy for you to say, Samantha."

"Jerk."

"Bitch."

Sam threw a roll at Dean and Dean threw a roll at Sam. And then Bobby suddenly threw a fit and let's just say the apple pie accidentally flew off the table and onto the one and only angel sitting at that table. Dean stood up abruptly then, causing everybody to stare at him. And Dean felt guilty as hell, like everything was his fault. Cas looked up at Dean through the apples dripping out of his hair and went poof. Dean looked around for him drastically and stormed out of the room in a fury, heading back upstairs.

Dean heard water running in the bathroom and rushed inside to see a very flustered looking Cas, who was trying and failing to rinse out the apple and crust from his hair. Dean shook his head and inched closer.

"Here."

The angel dropped his hands and let Dean take care of him. He looked up at Dean and caught him smiling as his hands quickly but gently cleaned him up. Dean paused and licked his fingers.

"Mmmm. If this pie wasn't using you as a vessel right now, I would so eat it. All of it."

Before his hunter could continue on, a sudden impulse lodged itself deep within him to grab his hand and lick his fingers. So the angel did. Dean looked at him in utter shock and even, mild amusement.

"Sticky but….Sweet. I see why humans enjoy this…."

Dean's lips were on his before he could finish the sentence. And an arm was wrapping around his waist, pulling it up onto the counter and his hunter leaning in closer and closer and closer. The kiss was desperate but passionate nonetheless and Castiel enjoyed the taste of apples in his mouth, constantly being breathed into his own. The angel's hand went up to stroke Dean's spiky hair, something he had longed to do for ages. Longed? Since when did angels long to do things? Proof of how human Dean had made him. Dean was showing him a whole new world, Earth, and he loved it more and more every day. But this planet wasn't the only thing he loved. In fact, the love that flowed through him, coursed through his veins right now, was for the man whose lips were on his, was for the man whose kisses were bittersweet and furious. Was for the man who had lovingly asked him, without exactly asking, for him to be his Christmas dinner date. Cas pushed away from Dean.

"I did not think you were gay."

Dean stared at him, breathing heavily.

"I'm not."

"I love you, Dean. I have always."

Cas was on the verge of pouring everything inside of him out. Dean smiled.

"I love you, Castiel. From the second I laid eyes on you."

"I must look like a fool."

Dean leaned in closer.

"Yeah, but you're my fool. And don't you ever think otherwise."

His lips were on his again and Castiel could barely hear Dean's whispers.

"Don't leave me like that again, Cas. I…."

Cas pushed his soft lips onto his hunter's and heard Dean groan outwardly, and he inwardly, when a knock was heard at the door. He was the first to pull away, but still Dean held him there, which was fine because he wouldn't have left him anyway. The way Dean was holding him now felt so right to him, it felt better than heaven. It was heaven, in its purest form. Holding in his heart the love of a human, and giving his heart to that same human. Whenever he thought about it, it just took his breath away.

"Get a room you two."

Castiel hoped Sam would not throw any other objects.

"We are in a room, Samantha."

"Bobby wanted you to know that we're opening presents downstairs, and there's a huge purple box with your name on it."

Dean immediately let go of Castiel and ran downstairs, literally jumping with glee. Sam laughed and watched the shocked and highly embarrassed Cas struggle to pull himself together.

"Bobby's real sorry about the pie. Luckily he made another one."

Sam still felt awkward around Cas. He was a good friend to him and his brother, and he had saved Dean from hell, but something about the angel was just off to him. Whether it was because he was an angel, or because he was making out with his brother, Sam did not know. And what did he think about that whole make out session he was subjected to watch? Well, the younger Winchester could not lie, he was grossed out. But a part of him also felt happy for Dean, happy that he could be happy in the arms of his angel.

Wait. That was kinda wrong.

Sam stood there for another second and then went back downstairs, but not before saying: "There's presents down there for you too, Cas."

Castiel followed Sam downstairs to be with the love of his life.

To be continued….