Take Two Chapter 29
“Dotty!” Cas laughed, trying to hold onto the squirming seven-year-old still. “I might end up poking you with this bobby pin if you don’t hold still!”
The little girl was practically vibrating with excitement but she took a deep breath, holding it as she tried to stay still so Cas could fix the rest of her hair. Jessica had come to their room after the rehearsal dinner last night and rolled the little girl’s hair up on soft curlers, but was too busy now getting her own hair done to finish her flower girl’s hairdo. That left Cas in charge of little princess hair duty. He’d come a long way in the past year and a half, but Dean was still much better in the hair department.
‘Probably why he’s helping Sam…’ Cas snorted to himself and settled the last bobby pin into place, making sure the crystal flower on the end was facing outward.
“Alright… all set, Princess,” Cas patted her shoulder and Dot slid from his lap, racing over to the mirror to twirl around gracefully in front of it, admiring her pretty white dress.
“How do I look, Cas?” she asked, spinning back to him, a huge smile on her face, showing off two of her newest empty spaces on her bottom row of teeth.
“You look beautiful, Dotty. Now, think you can help me with my hair?”
Her bright green eyes lit up and she ran back over, letting Cas pick her up so she could stand on the hotel’s bathroom countertop. He handed her a comb and let his eyes fall closed, letting her get to work.
“Dean! Dean, stop that! My hair is just fine!” Sam groaned.
“Oh… Come on, Sammy. Jess is getting her hair done all beautiful, so you should at least let me brush it,” Dean groused.
“I can brush my own hair. You’re supposed to … I don’t know. See that my tie is straight and there’s no lint on my suit.”
“Okay, Bitch, I’ll behave…” Dean promised.
Dean had stayed overnight in Sam’s room, making sure he didn’t start a drinking habit out of nervousness. They had stayed up late watching silly TV shows and rehearsing Sam’s vows. Even reciting them to Dean had made the normally articulate younger man stumble over his words. He got better with each time they were repeated, but after hearing them for the seventh time, Dean had given up and they had finally settled for the night.
Sam had been too nervous to nibble more than toast for breakfast so Dean had followed his lead and simply downed coffee and toast. Taking turns in the bathroom they were finally dressing for the ceremony.
“Okay, so, do you want to try it again now?” Dean suggested while he buttoned up his shirt.
“Huh?” Sam asked a little confused.
“Your vows?” Dean clarified.
“Oh... No, I think I’ve got them down pat. And if not…? Well, if all fails I can just ad-lib, right?”
Sam babbled nervously. “That’s okay at my own wedding, isn’t it? It’s all about my feelings for Jess.”
“Yes. It definitely is okay,” Dean nodded. “So? You all ready to get to the church, little brother?” Dean asked and adjusted Sam’s tie.
“Yep, let’s get this done.” Sam nodded.
Cas handed Dotty over to her grandparents when they reached the church, surprised when Mary gave him a quick hug and thanked him for bringing Dot over from the hotel. John stared at him, his expression impassive, and Cas gave him a quick nod before turning and disappearing into the church to find himself a seat. As Sam’s best man Dean would be standing with the groom near the altar while Dotty would be walking down the aisle as the flower girl.
“Castiel!” came a stage whisper, from the groom’s family seating area.
Cas looked up and saw Bobby waving him over to one of the first rows. Bobby had always shown a fondness for Cas and as usual was looking out for the younger man. Cas smiled and gratefully slid into the pew beside him.
“You’re family, boy, you belong here,” Bobby whispered with a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Meanwhile Dean had driven his brother to the church and together they went to greet their parents and Dot. As they approached the Winchesters, Dotty gave them a happy wave. Giggling she spun around in a quick circle to model her new look for Dean and Sam.
“Oh, Wow! Princess, you look so beautiful! I love your hair.” Dean hugged his daughter and kissed her cheek. “Did you have a good time on your ‘special sleepover’ last night?”
“Yes!” she grinned, hugging her Dad carefully so she wouldn’t wrinkle her pretty dress. “Cas and I had a camp out in our hotel room since you weren’t there, Daddy. We ordered ice cream on the phone and a man knocked on the door and delivered it like pizza!” she giggled. “Then we watched a whole season of Teen Titans on the special movie channel! Auntie Jessica even came to visit and curled my hair before I went to bed. After we had our pancakes this morning Cas made my hair all curly for me. He even got these pretty hairpins with little flowers, see?” She leaned forward, showing off her hair pins.
“They’re so pretty. He’s done a great job with your pretty curls, princess. And an entire season? Did you get any sleep at all?”
Dorothy shrugged and pulled away from her Daddy and reached for her Grammy’s hand. “I asked Cas if I could have one for you if you want it, Grammy!” Dot opened up her small fist and held out one of the hairpins to her grandmother.
“Oh!” Mary said, taking it from her small hand and holding it near her own carefully coiffed hair, “Thank you very much, sweetheart! Do you want to help me put it in my hair?”
Dean smiled watching them. “Okay. Sammy? Time to go inside,” he nudged his brother. “I’ll see you guys later,” he said as he hugged his mother and daughter quickly, nodded at his father and then let Sam take his turn for hugs before he finally ushered him inside.
In the sunlit church interior, time seemed to be crawling by very slowly as everyone watched the rear doors and waited for the groom to appear, marking the beginning of the ceremony. People were getting a little antsy, especially Bobby Singer. “How long do you think it’ll be ‘til we can get some grub?” Bobby grunted, leaning over and bumping Cas with his shoulder. Cas snorted, bumping him back.
“I warned you about needing to eat a good breakfast. I don’t think the reception starts until 2…”
“You mean we’ll be in church for three hours?” Bobby turned to him in dismay, his voice louder than he’d intended. Cas shushed him gently when the woman behind them frowned.
“No, I doubt it will take that long,” Cas grinned as he saw Dean and Sam move into the rear of the main aisle and begin their trek to the altar.
Dean smiled as he spotted Cas and Bobby. “Be right with you,” he told Sam and went over to Cas. “Hey, Love. Good job with the littlest angel’s hair,” he said before quickly giving him a peck on the lips.
Cas chuckled, “Good, I had no idea what I was doing! How’s Sam?”
“Nervous, but doing a good job of covering it up.” Dean smiled.
“He’s going to do fine,” Cas said softly before adding, “Just tell him I said there’s no one that’s ever looked more gorgeous than Jessica, he’s a lucky man.”
“I’ll tell him,” Dean smiled and squeezed Cas’s hand. “I’ll see you later.”
Beside him, Bobby snorted.
“What?” Cas asked him, nudging him gently.
“I assume you two’ll be next in line and I’ll have to squeeze into this monkey suit again.”
“Don’t worry, Bobby,” Cas laughed and shook his head. “Technically we’re already married.”
Bobby eyed him carefully. “Thought you two signed those papers?” Cas nodded and gave him a small smile. Rolling his eyes, Bobby turned away from him and looked back up to the front of the church. “You’re all a bunch of idjits anyways,” he said, smiling and Cas just chuckled.
Dean quickly joined his brother near the altar. “Cas said to tell you, he’s never seen anyone looking more gorgeous than Jessica.”
Sam smiled and turned to see where Cas was sitting and smiled at him thankfully. “I think I’m going to vomit,” he whispered as he turned his attention back to Dean. “Do you think she would forgive me if I threw up?”
“No! Oh, God, Sammy, don’t vomit! She won’t forgive you. Most of all, do not, I repeat do not, vomit on her dress!” Dean whispered back in a panic.
Sam’s eyes widened almost comically at that mental image and he nodded quickly, straightening out his tux.
“I can do this. Right? Right, Dean?” Sam whispered frantically.
“You can do it, Sam. Just remember, she’s still the same Jessica that you’ve been dating for … how long’s it been now? Forever? You can do it. I’ve got your back, little brother.”
Just then the sanctuary door squeaked open and the smiling minister came to join the brothers, nodding cheerfully as he took his place.
Sam nodded, exhaling slowly and smiling at Dean to let his brother know he was good, until the music started and Sam instantly paled again. “It’s eleven?” he whispered, fisting the bottom of his jacket. “Oh God, Dean… what if she doesn’t come? What if she changed her mind? What if I do vomit on her dress or screw up my vows?” Suddenly, patting at his pockets, he babbled “Oh, no… did I forget the rings?!”
“Jesus Christ, Sammy. I’ve got the rings…” Dean hissed. “Come on…Take a breath. Take a deep breath. Now turn around and look at the beautiful girl walking down the aisle, only to become your beautiful wife. Can you do that for me?” Dean laid his hand on the small of Sam’s back.
Dean turned to see his mother slipping into the row with Cas and Bobby, choosing to sit directly next to Castiel in the front row reserved as always for the groom’s immediate family.
Sam nodded and exhaled once more, letting go of all the stress he had been holding and turned to face the aisle, just as his father acted as an usher and escorted Jessica’s mother down the aisle, a smile on her face. She winked at Sam when she reached the front and slid into the front row on the opposite side of the church.
Both Sam and Jessica had elected to have a small wedding party, requesting only the presence of Sam’s brother as Best Man and Jess’s sister as Maid-of-Honor. Now Jessica’s sister, Molly, glided down the aisle, walking beside Dotty who was beaming and tossing pink and white rose petals out of the basket she was carrying. When they reached Sam and Dean, Molly took Dot’s hand and they stood off to the side, the little flower girl paused to wave quickly at her Daddy before moving to her spot.
Then the music changed and Sam stiffened, eyes widening as he watched Jessica and her father arm-in-arm stepping gracefully down the aisle.
Dean felt a chill watching Jess walk down the aisle and he could only imagine how Sam must be feeling. He looked at his own small daughter who was beaming and watching Jessica like she was a real princess. Today, she was. Dean felt his eyes mist as Jess’s father took her small hand and placed it in Sam’s much larger one. Her father kissed her cheek and smiled at Sam before moving to join Jess’s mother.
The Minister went through the ceremony at a surprisingly reasonable pace, easily moving things along until Sam and Jessica were holding hands and speaking their vows to one another before the entire assembly.
Cas smiled as he heard Sam pause a few times, as he lovingly rolled through the words Dean had told him Sam must have recited at least a dozen times, just to make sure they were right. Although he couldn’t see Jessica’s face, he could hear the emotion in her voice and knew she had tears shining in her eyes as she spoke her own vows back to Sam.
When they were pronounced ‘Husband and Wife’, Dot lit up with a huge smile and threw the rest of her flower petals at the couple as they kissed until she realized what they were doing and then she turned her head quickly away, her eyes closed and nose scrunched up. Cas could just imagine the soft ‘ew!’ inside her head and he had to bite back a laugh as he watched her. When the newlyweds moved down the aisle, Cas stood with Mary and Bobby, clapping and cheering for them.
Mary slipped her hand into Cas’s, squeezing gently, and Cas turned to her not bothering to hide the surprise on his face.
“I’m sorry, Castiel,” she whispered, giving him a sad smile. “I’m so sorry that your own wedding to my son wasn’t just like this. I love Dean, his happiness means the world to me, and I regret not always remembering that and losing the relationship I once had with both of my sons because of it.” She paused, giving his hand another squeeze. “It’s obvious, even after all these years as you two have come together again, that this was meant to be. And though John is too stubborn and proud to admit that we were wrong, I am not.
“You make my son happy, Castiel. I apologize for the part I played in delaying your happiness as well as Dean’s. I just hope that the two of you can eventually forgive us and let us be a part of your lives once again.”
Stunned by Mary’s admission Castiel stared back at her, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open. Behind him, Bobby shifted uncomfortably and seized the first chance he got to push out into the aisle and wait for Cas there.
“I…”
“It’s okay, Castiel,” Mary patted his cheek and released his hand. “You don’t have to answer me. You don’t owe me or my husband anything. I just wanted you to know that I’m so glad you and Dean found each other once more and that we’ll both support you… like we should have done before. Now,” she straightened out her skirt and pushed on Castiel’s shoulder gently to turn him around. “We have pictures to take and a party to attend.”
Dean waited for Cas at the church door, tilting his head in worry and confusion as he saw the expression on his boyfriend’s face as he moved towards the exit.
“Hey, Babe, what’s wrong?” he asked quietly as he hooked arms with Cas. Mary nodded at them and slipped out of the doors to find John, who was waiting at the bottom of the church steps with their little granddaughter in his arms.
“I…” Cas shook his head, giving a small laugh. “Later… In the car.” He gave Dean’s arm a squeeze and together they moved to the side of the church where the photographer and Sam and Jess were waiting. Dean pulled his brother in for a hug and then kissed Jessica on the cheek, pulling back to let Cas do the same and then the rest of the couple’s family members joined them.
The photographer was relatively quick getting the pictures taken--probably since their wedding party was so small-- and Dean was grateful for that. Not only was he starving, but he was itching to know what had caused that expression on Cas’s face as he’d walked out of the ceremony…
When all of the poses had been photographed, Dean took Cas’ hand and together they walked away from the church toward the Impala. Since Dot was riding to the reception with her grandparents, Cas slipped into the front seat with Dean. He waited until Dean started the car before he spoke.
“Your mom apologized to me,” he blurted out.
“What? Uh, She… apologized? For…” Dean shook his head confused. “What did she say?”
“That she regretted not supporting you, essentially. That she regretted the way it changed your relationship with me …and with them,” Cas sighed softly, reaching over to take Dean’s hand. “She said she supports our relationship and... she misses you, Dean…”
Dean gulped and looked at Cas with wide, suddenly moist eyes. “Really? That’s what she said? Oh… I…” he exhaled with a small, surprised ‘Ha!’. “That’s kind of awkward, actually.”
Cas nodded and gave a short laugh. “Well, definitely unexpected. She said… she said your dad felt the same about it… too.” Cas shrugged his shoulders and leaned his head back against the seat. “Now’s not really the time to talk about it with them but maybe… maybe we should have dinner with them or something…”
Dean took a deep breath and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, you’re right, we should. We should maybe do that tomorrow, get that over with as soon as possible.”
Cas laughed and shook his head. “We can ask them tonight,” he agreed, then changing the subject he added, “I’m really happy for Sam and Jess.”
“Me too. So happy. He managed those vows okay, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, he did really well,” Cas smiled. They drove the rest of the way in a comfortable silence, Cas’ hand never leaving Dean’s.
When Dean and Cas stepped inside the banquet hall, Dot was already waiting for them and ran up to them.
"I already found our name cards, Daddy!" She babbled excitedly, “Grandma said we get to sit at the big table with Aunt Jess and Uncle Sam and Grandma and Grandpa and Jessica's mom and dad and Molly. I saw our cards right by our forks and spoons, Papa. Uncle Sam and Jess aren’t here yet but Grandma says it's ‘cuz they're still taking photos of just them, but they’re gonna be here soon."
"Thank you, sweetie. Daddy and I were just wondering where we would get to sit." Cas bent low to give her a hug and the little girl beamed at him. "Well, after they get here, you can take some of your own photos of Jess in her pretty dress and Uncle Sam in his tuxedo. Your Daddy bought a special camera just for you so you can take your own pictures.”
Dotty gasped in surprise and clapped her hands happily, “Really, Daddy?! That is so cool!”
Cas continued, “Daddy thought you might want to do your own photo album. So now you can be a photographer just like the man at church, and then we can get the film developed on Monday."
"Developed?" Dotty frowned, puzzled by the new word.
"Yes, ‘developed’... There's a special film ribbon in the camera box, little bear, and it gets taken out at the store and the pictures you take are put on shiny photo paper," Dean tried to explain the process to his 7-year-old daughter.
"So the pictures don't just pop up on the computer like with Papa's camera?" she asked.
Cas's heart swelled at the name and he didn't bother fighting back the grin spreading across his face. Dot had been bouncing back and forth between using a few different titles for him, but more recently she'd settled for Cas or Papa, leaning towards the latter of the two most often. It made Cas feel something warm surge inside of him every single time he heard her say it.
"No, they don’t, kiddo... It's a very special little camera." Dean smiled and pulled the camera from his pocket. "I'll show you how it works, okay?"
Dean leaned down close as he handed her the camera. Cas gently laid his palm on Dean's back and as a family they huddled together, with Dot looking at her camera as Dean pointed out which buttons to use and how to see through the little viewfinder.
"Thank you so much, Daddy," she hugged Dean tight. "I'm gonna go show my camera to Grammy!" She declared proudly and dashed away to find her grandmother.
Cas chuckled and leaned against Dean’s side. “Do you have your little speech and wedding toast all ready to go?” Cas asked him.
“Yeah, but … do I really have to? I hate talking in front of so many people you know that….” Dean complained.
Cas shook his head fondly, adding “That’s what happens when you’re the best man!” He playfully bumped Dean’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Sam and Jess are both going to love anything you have to say.”
“Yeah… I hope so.” Dean smiled. “I’ve got you there… that helps...”
“Always,” Cas whispered, leaning over to kiss Dean softly. “Let’s go and find our seats.”
Dean smiled and nodded. “Yes, let’s do that. I hope they get here soon. I want a beer… and I’m hungry.”
Cas rolled his eyes affectionately and moved towards the main table. Just as Dotty had said they quickly found the special name cards by their place settings. Cas slid into his seat beside Dean who was seated on Sam’s immediate right. Dot would sit beside Cas and then John and Mary Winchester were next to her. Jessica’s parents and sister and brother-in-law were at the opposite end of the table next to Jess’s seat. Castiel leaned forward to move his marker closer to his water glass and leaned back into his chair.
“Pretty fancy, huh? Do you regret we didn’t get to do this?” Dean asked as he laid his arm across the back of Cas’s chair.
Without hesitation, Cas shook his head no. “Don’t get me wrong… this is beautiful and I think that it’s making Sam and Jess very happy, but I don’t need all this to tell me that I love someone, you know? What we did...” Cas trailed off and gave Dean a small, shy smile. “I’m kind of glad we didn’t waste all the money, you know? We really weren’t ready for something like this.”
Dean just nodded quietly.
Cas turned to look at Dean. “What about you? Do you think if we had done something like this… things would’ve been… different?”
“I think… if we had, we’d have done some more planning, not such a spur of the moment thing. And maybe, yes… maybe things would have been different if we had planned it more. I’m sorry,” Dean sighed.
Cas was silent for a moment before he reached over and took Dean’s hand in his own. He squeezed gently and waited for Dean to look up at him. “I’m not,” he whispered, shaking his head. “I’m not sorry at all. If we had done things differently, if we had stayed together ten years ago, I can’t say we would be together now. We certainly wouldn’t have Dotty… we wouldn’t have… grown up. I don’t regret anything that got us to this point, Dean. Not one thing.”
“You’re right, Cas. You are. There’s just one thing I do really regret about it. I hurt you when I behaved like an ass. That’s my only regret.” Dean kissed Cas gently.
“I love you,” Cas smiled at him. They sat in silence, watching as Sam and Jessica’s friends and other family members filed into the hall, chatting animatedly with one another and slowly making their way to their seats. When a grinning Dot came bounding over, pulling her grandmother along behind her, Cas knew that meant Jess and Sam had arrived.
“You ready to see your Uncle Sammy and Aunt Jess?” Cas asked the little flower girl as she hopped up into her chair and reached forward with both hands to take a sip of her water.
“Yes!” she beamed. “I already took two pictures with my special camera,” she proudly told them.
“Grammy helped me. I got pictures of their cake! It’s soooo pretty! I wish we didn’t have to eat it…”
Mary leaned over then and gently suggested, “Why don’t we take a picture of your family, honey? I can take a picture with your camera if you want to sit with your… with your dads…” She trailed off at the end, looking up carefully to both her son and Cas to make sure she hadn’t said anything wrong.
Dean looked back at his mother, both surprised and thankful. “I think that’s a great idea, don’t you think so, Princess?”
“Can I sit on Papa’s lap for the picture?” his little girl asked in way of agreement.
Cas’s gaze shot upward, immediately seeking out the eyes of John Winchester and he was pleasantly shocked to see the gruff, older man was simply watching them --albeit carefully-- with a calm expression on his face. Cas didn’t trust his voice and instead just nodded, opening his arms so that Dotty could climb up into them.
Dean shifted closer to Cas and Dot and looked at the camera. Cas lifted his arm and placed it around Dean’s shoulders, pulling him in closer. Dotty leaned back into Cas’s chest and beamed at the camera aimed towards them. Cas squeezed Dean’s shoulder as he smiled and then the camera flashed.
“Gram and Grampa are going to need a copy of that photo too, sweetheart,” John grunted nodding at Dot and then turned his attention away from them and towards the rest of the hall.
“You’ll get it,” Dean promised with a happy smile, feeling like years of anger and pain were falling off his shoulders just at this simple remark from his father.
Cas could feel Dean straightening up beside him and knew the surprise and happiness he was feeling at hearing his father’s simple words of acceptance. Cas met Mary’s smiling, hopeful eyes and he gave her a reassuring wink and gentle smile of his own.
“Yeah, definitely. Maybe we can get some more pictures done for Christmas time or something, what do you think, little one?” Cas lifted her up and placed her back into her seat.
Dot nodded happily as she accepted the camera back from her grandmother, “I’d like that, Papa! Can we put this picture of all of us beside the picture of me and Mommy?”
“I think that’s the perfect place for it, sweetheart,” Cas agreed, reaching over and giving her a fond hug. “Then we could have the entire family in one place.”
Suddenly her eyes grew wide and a smile broke across her face as she spotted her Uncle Sam and Aunt Jess coming into the hall.
“They’re here!” she exclaimed and Cas laughed, looking up.
Cas watched as Jess and Sam slowly made their way to the table stopping to exchange hugs, kisses and thank you’s with several people before they came to the main table. Then the family members were each given the same show of affection. When Sam pulled Cas in for a hug, holding on for just as long as he had for his brother, Cas finally, truly, felt accepted.
Chapter Thirty