AN: First off, my apologies are enormous. 9 days late. Egad, how do I still have any readers?! My only excuse it that it's been a big fortnight for me. I graduated high school, and have exams in a week. I beg forgiveness! I also beg forgiveness for how short this chapter is. It was supposed to be longer, but then the other scene just wasn't working, so I cut it. Hopefully you guys still like it! As always, un-beta'd.

After the fight things changed between Dean and Castiel. Before where there'd been easy bickering and never-ending innuendo, now there were awkward silences and long stares when the other wasn't looking. Gordon didn't bother Dean or Sam anymore. Castiel closed off. He still commanded the respect of most of the student body, but he didn't bother with the parties and such anymore; stuck to his classes and family. Dean desperately wanted to talk to him, but every time he tried, Castiel would find some way to avoid the conversation. In the halls at school if Dean was there, Castiel would turn and walk in the opposite direction. When Dean came knocking at their door, it stayed closed. If they shared a class, they'd end up in opposite corners of the room. Two Thursdays after the fight was the day that Dean caught up.

"Cas, we are going to talk. You can't keep running away from me."

"Dean, we at school, in the carpark, in public," he hissed in reply.

"Well you won't talk to me anywhere else!" Dean countered. "I just, I want to know what the hell is going on with us."

"Nothing is going on with us!" Castiel yelled back. "We screwed around at a party. That's it!"

"No, it's not. We kissed and jerked each other off at the party. You looked out for my brother when you didn't have to. These last two weeks have felt like a bad break-up. You can't deny there's something between us!"

By now they were both yelling and had managed to drag a small crowd of people.

"No! You can't just tell me that all this means something! Nothing can happen with us!"

"Why no? I like you. A lot. I mean yeah, you're kind of a dick sometimes, but you're witty and challenging and brilliant and kind of fucking gorgeous. The sex was amazing, and you don't put up with my bullshit." His voice softened as he continued. "But that's not even it. The day after the party I came to your flat to pick Sam up, and I saw you in the kitchen. You looked so calm, and so much happier than any other time I've seen you. I want to be able to see you like that more, and I want to be part of the reason you feel like that."

Both boys were silent for a few moments, Castiel looking shellshocked, Dean pleading.

"I let you drive the Impala for fucks sake," Dean continued with a snort and a wry smile.

Castiel looked confused, mumbling, "Well there was no one else to, and I don't have a car."

"That's not the point!" Dean barked, looking as if he wanted to laugh but the situation didn't allow it. "I trust you to look after my dad's car. I trust you to look out for my brother; I trust you to look after me, and I want to be there to look after you."

At that Castiel just deflated. His piercing stare fell, his shoulders slumped.

"Dean," he breathed. "I can't do that. I just, I can't."

Dean reared back as if he'd been slapped. He knew that getting angry right now wouldn't help anyone, but he couldn't help it.

"Why not, Cas?" he cried out. "Why the hell not? Is it me? Or is it because what people will think? Is it because of your family?"

Castiel interrupted with a snarl. "It's because I refuse to have you so completely and then lose you. My parents kicked me out and I lost my entire family except for Gabe and Anna in one day."

By this point Castiel was all up in Dean's space, yelling into his face.

"Do you know how much that hurts? Knowing that they just don't want you? I couldn't deal with being something that you just grew tired of and threw away."

His ferocity flew out of him as quickly as it'd taken. Shaking his head he twisted to walk away.

"I'm not doing it."

He starts to leave, but Dean starts and snags his wrist between his fingers.

"Cas, just,"

"No, Dean," he protests as he pulls his arm back. He whips around to face Dean, with all intentions of shoving him back, but Dean manages to grip his arms, holding both boys in place.

"I'm not going to leave you," Dean insists. "Can't we at least give this a chance?"

Castiel looks unbearably sad as he speaks. "Dean, you're just going to follow your dad wherever he goes."

Dean is momentarily taken aback before he releases Castiel's arms to cradle his hands around his jaw.

Looking straight into Castiel's eyes he states,

"No, if you'll let me, I'll follow you wherever you go."

"Dude, you're totally whipped!" Calls Gabe from somewhere off to the side. Dean turns and opens his mouth to yell some retort when Castiel reaches up and grabs his cheek, twisting him back straight into a kiss, to which Dean enthusiastically responded.

The previously suspiciously silent audience they'd garnered erupted in cheers and wolf whistles. Castiel pulled back just enough to murmur against Dean's mouth,

"Why the noise now?"

Dean looked up to the crowd, wincing when he realised the reason.

"They were too busy videoing us before."

"No"

"Yes"

"Shit"

Dean leaned back in again, smiling against the kiss.

"Maybe our epic romance'll be a youtube hit."

AN: THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE WHO HAS READ THIS AND PUT UP WITH MY TERRIBLE UPDATING SCHEDULE. You are all wonderful people. Seriously.

Thank you everyone who reviewed (and to those who hopefully will), it really means a lot to me!

Hopefully everyone enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it, and look out for a couple of one-shots and maybe another longer story from this verse. My exams'll keep me busy until mid-November, but after that I promise I'll be back. Mwah-ha-ha?