Take Two Chapter 27
Now that Castiel had moved into the house with Dorothy and Dean, all of their lives were changing. Some of the changes might seem small, almost on the verge of being unnoticeable from the outside, but to Dean and his daughter, the change was huge. Especially Christmas… Dean knew their routine would change. The two of them usually spent Christmas Eve cuddled up on the couch in blankets watching Disney, The Charlie Brown Christmas Special, or Rudolph and other classics while eating nothing but Christmas cookies - except for the few they would keep out for Santa. Christmas morning would bring presents and pancakes and in the evening, they would have Christmas Dinner at Bobby’s, just the three of them. Ever since Sam had met Jessica he usually spent Christmas time with her family so Dean and Dot were happy to enjoy Bobby’s company.
This year their usual plan was going to include Castiel and his father as well. They’d already decided that dinner was going to be at their house, and although Bobby had joked that he was glad he wouldn’t have to be the one cooking this year, Dean couldn’t help but feel a little worried that Bobby was upset about the change. Another change would be Cas having a say in decorating the house and the tree and deciding what they were going to do on Christmas Eve.
Dean was both nervous and excited about seeing Christmas change. Cas and Dean were walking through the grocery store, getting the rest of the supplies they would need to make Christmas cookies and the items they could get ahead of time for a festive Christmas dinner. Dot was still at school for a few hours and once that school bell rang at three o’clock, she would be on winter break and the sugar cookie making would commence.
Cas reached over and squeezed Dean’s hand as they walked down the baking aisle, giving him a small smile. “You okay?” Cas asked, giving him a knowing smile.
Dean nodded, and squeezed back, "Yeah, I think so. You?" He asked and reached for a pack of colored sugar sprinkles. He could almost hear Dot’s voice in his head at the prospect of him forgetting the sprinkles.
"I am." Cas smiled, nodding his head as he grabbed one bag each of flour and sugar and plunked them into the cart. "Really happy."
"Oh yeah, me too. Happy there's more of a family now for Dot to celebrate with."
Cas nodded his head and they finished perusing the baking aisle in comfortable silence before heading over to the dairy section. They came around a seasonal endcap and Cas stopped, chuckling as he picked up a dvd case from the rack. "The Grinch... Dad and I used to watch the Grinch every Christmas Eve!"
"You did? I haven't watched that with Dotty yet, she was too young. You think six is a good age for The Grinch?"
Cas flipped the case over in his hand and then nodded, "Yeah, I think six is good for the Grinch! I can ask Dad how old I was when we started... That's all I can remember from Christmas Eve, the Grinch and making popcorn garland for the tree."
"Good luck with that, the popcorn goes straight into Dotty's belly..." Dean laughed. Cas chuckled and reached for a bag of cranberries displayed in the center of the aisle and tossed them into the cart. "Oh, by the way, does your dad still go to church? I was thinking maybe Dotty should get at least introduced to that part of Christmas."
"Yeah, he does," Cas nodded. "We can all go if you’d like, I think Dad would really like not going alone this year." Cas gave him a small smile and once they finished getting the rest of their groceries, they moved towards the checkout.
"I would really like for us all to join your Dad." Dean smiled as they stood in line for checkout.
"Alright! I'll let him know and we’re planning on joining him. It's usually a midnight Mass on Christmas Eve... I don't think that has changed." Cas suggested as they reached the checkout area. As they unloaded the cart contents onto the conveyor belt, he continued. "I'm really excited to be spending Christmas with you guys."
Dean smiled at Cas, "Yeah, I'm really excited too. If you don’t mind I’ll call your dad and check with him about going to church."
"Yeah, of course," Cas agreed. "He’d really like that, I think."
"I think Dot would too." Dean added quietly as he helped with the rest of unloading.
They were checked out quickly, and after they loaded the car and stopped for coffee, they were on their way back home. "So," Cas said as they were bringing the groceries into the house. "What's the plan for tonight? Dotty was talking this morning about making sugar cookies... I told her we’d see, but probably. Christmas Eve is in four days, but I'm thinking between the two of you, all the home-made cookies will be gone by then and Santa will end up with Oreos!"
"Santa loves Oreos!" Dean explained with big eyes. "Santa never complained. But we'll still need to make more because we're having Christmas dinner here and our guests should be able to get some too. And because we’ll have to share with you." Dean winked.
"Oh I’m so flattered… I get cookie considerations," Cas laughed. "Though, I'd give up my cookies for another kind of sugar..."
"There're other kinds of sugar for Christmas?" Dean joked.
Cas laughed, finding Dean's lips and kissing him softly.
Dean kissed back with his hands on Cas's hips.
Dean pushed Cas backwards gently until Cas’s back hit the counter. Cas smiled against Dean's lips, while trying to push Dean away far enough to give them breathing space. "Dean?" Cas whispered. "We have about five minutes before we have to get Dotty, don't we..."
"Yes, my Love, we do," Dean agreed reluctantly, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.
Cas groaned softly before pushing away. "Fine... Do you mind if I go get Dotty today?" Cas asked.
"What?" Dean asked, surprised by Cas's action. He had thought his boyfriend had meant they had to be extra quick... "No, no of course I don't mind. Her teacher knows who you are, so it’d be fine. I'll start prepping the kitchen for the sugar cookie making while you’re gone then."
Cas reached over to grab the Impala keys off the counter, before leaning into Dean once again. "Then, I think once we tire Dotty out with all of the cookie making and snowman building we're going to do before dinner, she might go to bed early. What I have planned for you will take more than five minutes."
A smirk spread over Dean's face. "That sounds promising. I can't wait." He winked and pecked Cas's lips. "See you later. Drive safe, last day of school is crazy."
“Okay. See you soon, baby!" Cas called over his shoulder as he left.
Dean smiled to himself and started putting away the groceries. When he was done, he looked for the recipe and finally sat waiting for his family, sipping coffee.
Picking up Dot should have been uneventful-- just like any other time he had picked her up. Except for the fact that since it was the last day of school before Christmas break all the other parents had decided to pick up their kids from school, instead of letting them take the bus home.
"I hope your daddy doesn't make and eat all the cookies without us..." He mused, glancing over his shoulder to smile at Dot.
"No! Daddy wouldn't do that, would he, Castiel? He doesn't know which shapes I want this year."
"No, Dotty... I don't think he would," Cas reassured her quickly and waited for a group of kids to pass in front of the Impala before he rolled forward. They'd make it to the road eventually…
Dean decided to spend the time waiting doing something useful and grabbed the phone to call Chuck. Dean smiled when he was greeted with a polite "Shirley," on the other end of the line after the third ring.
"Hey, Chuck, it's me, Dean."
"Hey, Dean! How's it going?" Chuck asked, a smile in his voice. "How's the little princess doing?"
"All fine. The Princess is getting picked up from school by Cas, and she's probably all excited about school holidays and cookie making. How are you?"
"Oh, I can imagine. Santa's coming soon!" Chuck laughed and Dean could hear rustling through the phone. "Grandpa Santa is busy wrapping some gifts now... I think my elves went on strike."
"Oh, don't spoil her too much, okay? Anyways, why I'm calling..." Dean bit his lip.
Chuck chuckled. "You know spoiling is a grandparent’s job! What's up, Dean?"
"Cas said you're still attending church and I was thinking, since Christmas is changing for Dotty and me anyway, maybe we could all go to church together for Christmas?"
"Oh, yeah! Of course! I would really love that Dean. Thanks for thinking of me, really. I would love to have you all there with me."
Dean smiled happily at Chuck's joy over his idea. "Hey, no need to thank me. Thank you for being part of Dot's life now."
"I'm really proud of you guys," Chuck said softly, then cleared his throat. "What are the Christmas Day plans? Cas hasn't said yet. Are you... Seeing your parents? Should I come over after Santa comes?"
"We're going to have Christmas dinner at our place and I thought Cas had told you we're expecting to see you here. But you're very welcome to come for breakfast too. Dot's gonna be Skyping with her other grandparents, so it'd be Grandparents morning anyway." Dean chuckled softly.
"Alright, that sounds good to me. I'll head over around 9? Is that too early?"
"I'll have to check with your son. Dot and I will be up, but I don't know about Cas."
Chuck laughed, "You're going to have to sic Dotty on him. Unless he sets an alarm for work, my son is incapable of getting up before ten!"
"Not even for Santa? He's been off work since he's got here but he's usually up before ten. I think having to live with a school kid is changing him too, huh?" Dean laughed softly.
"My little boy's finally growing up." Chuck snorted. "Well, I'll plan on 9 and if anything changes just let me know."
"Of course we will. Oh, by the way, is there any certain type of sugar cookie that Cas loves most?"
"He likes them best on the crispy side and without frosting. Sometimes I wonder if he's truly related to me." Chuck joked.
"Oh dear God, is he even human? Frosting is the lone reason to make sugar cookies ... "Dean shook his head laughing.
“I have asked myself that question before. Hell, you know what he was like in his teens!"
"Yeah, I do… I do remember the awkward kid I fell in love with." Dean smiled fondly.
"Yeah," Chuck said softly, trailing off. "Well, I have a few more things to pick up today and then all my shopping is done so I should get going. Tell that son of mine not to be a stranger and I'll see you guys Christmas Eve for the church services."
"Yeah, my little family should be here any minute anyway, so, yeah. I'll tell Cas. And we'll see you Christmas Eve."
"Bye, Dean!" Chuck said and hung up the phone just as Cas and Dotty walked through the front door.
Dean put down the phone and grinned. He got up and held his arms open for his little girl. "Hey, Little Bear. Vacation finally!"
"Hi, Daddy!" Dotty raced forward, throwing herself into her Dad's arms. "And yes! No school for two whole weeks!"
"Oh no!" Dean teased, "So much time to clean up your room and help with the dishes and cleaning the house."
"Or... Making sugar cookies!" She added excitedly, scrambling out of his arms and onto the countertop and clapping her hands together. "For Santa and me!"
"Oh? But what about Daddy? And Cas?" Dean looked at her mockingly shocked. Then he glanced at Cas and went over to him to kiss his cheek.
Dot eyed them both for a moment before nodding her head with a small sigh. "I can share."
"That's a relief," Cas laughed, leaning into Dean and squeezing his hip.
"Okay, everybody wash your hands, and then we can get started." Dean nudged Cas. "Your dad says ‘hi’ and said to tell you not to be a stranger."
"I'll give him a call later. Did you talk to him about Christmas Eve?" Cas asked as he sidestepped Dorothy heading to the bathroom to wash her hands.
"Yeah, I did. He's looking forward to taking us to church with him," Dean nodded. "And he's gonna come for breakfast on Christmas Day... and Christmas dinner although somebody forgot to invite him... Is nine o’clock gonna’ work for you for breakfast or are you planning on sleeping in?"
Cas rolled his eyes and laughed. "I'm sure Dotty will take care of waking me up."
"I'm sorry, but she will be indisposed with raiding Christmas stockings." Dean teased.
"Oh, well, I guess I'll have to set an alarm then..." Cas sighed dramatically, reaching for Dean to pull him in. "Though, honestly, I may be more excited about this Christmas than Dot is."
"Oh I think you're definitely not the only one." Dean kissed Cas.
"I love you," Cas whispered, leaning against Dean's chest, his arms loose around his waist.
"I love you too," Dean whispered.
Dot came back in waving her clean hands at them. "Cookies! I'm ready!" she declared.
"All right princess! Let's do this! "Cast laughed pulling away from Dean and turning to lift Dotty up and set her back up on the counter.
"Grandma sent me a Pinkie Pie cookie cutter, can we use that?" Dot asked.
Cas nodded and reached for the mixing bowls on the counter while Dean found the box of cookie cutters.
Dean set the box beside Dot and opened it. "Cas? Look… I've still got the Vader cutter you gave me."
"These are going to be the best Christmas cookies ever!” Cas started laughing holding up the cookie-cutter in his hands. "Do you still have the Yoda shape too?"
"I think so." Dean searched the box and held out the cutter. "There it is. And here's one of Hello Kitty."
"Don't we have the coolest cookie cutters, Cas?" Dotty grinned at him.
"Yes!" Cas agreed, laughing as he took one from her, flipping it over in his hands as he inspected it. "I don't know how I possibly made Christmas cookies every year without these!"
"Well… now you'll never have to make them without us again! Ever!" Dot beamed at him and Cas reached forward, pulling Dot and Dean in against his chest, hugging them tightly.
Dean huffed a small, surprised laugh. He planted a sloppy kiss on Cas’s cheek and grinned. Yes, having Cas live with them was the best Christmas present life could have given them.
"Okay... Dough won't make itself," he announced after a while. Cas chuckled and released them and Dot quickly got to work, telling them which bowl to use and informing them she was the ‘stirrer’. Cas smiled and knew there was nothing that would ever beat this.
Cas was humming to himself as he finished popping the popcorn. When Dean had told him to pop three bags, he'd thought the other man was crazy. But between the two of them and Dotty, they'd managed to demolish more than half of their popcorn stash and were already popping a fourth bag. Very little of the corn actually seemed to be making it onto the strings for garland however.
Cas chuckled to himself as he turned the bag into the bowl and carried it back into the living room. Dot was splayed out on the couch, her head resting on Dean's lap, fast asleep. Cas leaned down and gave Dean a soft kiss before lifting Dot's legs and sliding back into his spot.
"Do you think we'll be able to wake her up for Midnight Mass?" he asked, picking up the thick needle and string he'd been working with.
Dean looked at him smiling and nodded. "She's gonna kill us if we don't wake her up. She's been talking about it a lot, plus your dad will be there and you know how she loves him. Won't be a big problem to wake her..." Dean reached into the new bowl of popcorn and put a handful in his mouth, grinning at Cas mischievously.
"You are popping the next bag!" Cas warned, nudging the bowl away from Dean with his stockinged foot, even though he was smirking. Dean chuckled and munched on the popcorn, turning his attention back to the Grinch which was playing on the TV. Although it was the second time it had been on that night, Cas was content to watch it again as he strung the individual pieces of popcorn and cranberries.
"Yes, Sir!" Dean gave Cas a mock salute. "See why Dotty and I never had a popcorn string before?" He laughed softly and reached for another baby blue Vader cookie.
Cas shook his head and threw a piece of the popcorn at Dean's head. "Yeah, yeah... I don't know how you survived without me, honestly."
"Barely, Love. So glad you're finally here to save us." Dean looked for the popcorn that had hit him and, when found, popped it into his mouth.
Cas gave him a small smile and continued on his string. He worked in comfortable silence, playfully batting Dean's hand away each time he reached for more of the popcorn, and when he was finally done, Dean slid Dot off their laps to lay on the couch, while he got up and helped Castiel hang the homemade garland strings on the brightly lit tree.
"How long do you think these will stay fresh?" Cas asked as he handed Dean a strand of the garland from the opposite side of the tree. "I mean... are they going to be soggy or moldy and gross in like a week?"
"I seriously have no idea," Dean said reaching up to drape the garland over some of the top branches. "You're the expert on popcorn strings."
Cas stared at it for a moment before shrugging. "At least if it turns green it will still match the tree." The look Dean shot him through the branches was enough of an answer and Castiel burst out laughing as he accepted the strand back once more. "I'm kidding, babe. I wouldn't make you keep a string of mold on the tree."
"You are so awful… Maybe we should have used ready popped popcorn after all, it doesn’t tend to get soggy as quickly," Dean suggested waiting for the string to be handed back to him.
"Oh yeah, Smartfood popcorn would've lasted so much longer in this house," Cas rolled his eyes and handed the string back. "You finish the bottom... I'm going to jump in the shower real quick. I'll bring down Dotty's dress. She wanted the red one, right?"
"Yes, the red. Maybe you'll find the bow for her hair too?"
"Okay," Cas agreed and kissed Dean quickly before moving up the stairs, taking two steps at a time, and stripping out of his clothes the moment he reached their bedroom. He smiled as he glanced at their bathroom sink. It was no longer separated into his side and Dean's side, their things now seemingly mixed together across the entire counter top, and the sight made Cas happier than he would ever admit. Although he had been happy and excited to move in with Dean and Dot, he didn't expect to be assimilated into their little family group as quickly as he was.
He showered quickly, slipped into a pair of dress pants and a long-sleeved button-down and carefully knotted a dark blue tie around his neck. Hoping to make Dean’s showering a little less time-consuming he picked through Dean's closet and pulled out an outfit for him to wear before he went to Dot's room to gather her things.
"Want me to get her ready while you shower?" Cas asked as he came back down into the living room.
"That'd be great, yeah. I love you." Dean pecked his cheek before heading upstairs to shower. As he headed through his bedroom towards the bathroom, he smiled when he saw his clothes already spread out on the bed for him. It was a sweet, loving gesture from Cas and didn't make him feel like he was a child being told what to wear. Cas knew him well and had a good taste, so it was easy to trust his choice.
Dean showered quickly and dressed, hoping Cas didn't have much trouble with Dot.
When Dean made his way back downstairs, he could hear the excited chatter of his daughter, talking happily with Cas.
"Do you think Santa will have made it here before we're even back? Do you think he'll be upset that I'm not sleeping yet, Cas? Maybe I should leave him an extra cookie and a note so he knows that I'm not being naughty or anything and that I'm just gonna be at Church..."
"I think that if Santa does get here that early, he'll know that you're not being naughty. I don't think you have a naughty bone in your body!" Cas laughed, reaching for the little one and ticking her as he pulled her close. "Nope…I don't feel any naughty bones!"
"No! No! Stop!" Dot giggled, clutching as Cas's hands and squealing every time he tickled her ribs. "No naughty bones! I promise!"
"Wait, no naughty bones? Do I need a DNA test?" Dean laughed as he came into the living room.
"No! No naughty bones, Daddy!" Dot laughed and Cas finally stopped tickling her, letting her sit in his lap.
"Alright, alright... Let me see what I can do with this hair..."
Dean smiled and sat on the couch waiting while Cas smoothed Dot’s blond curls. hair.
"I don't know what I am doing..." an exasperated Cas whispered to Dean over his shoulder as he tried to gather all of her hair into a lumpy pony tail at the top of her head.”I think I'm making it worse..."
Dean chuckled. "Okay, hang on," he offered with a smile. "Dot, my lap. Cas, brush, please..." he instructed.
Cas gave him a grateful smile and waited for Dotty to climb up onto her father's lap before handing over the brush and the pretty hair ribbon he'd gotten from Dot's room. "Alright, show me how it's done, Hair Master."
Dean patted the spot next to him. "Sit here, padawan, and learn," he grinned and started brushing his daughter’s hair.
Cas laughed and moved from his spot on the floor to sit beside Dean, watching as he fixed the mess Cas had made with a few nearly effortless motions. When he was done, Cas let out a low whistle. "Dotty, I think you should stick with Daddy doing your hair."
"You'll learn, Cas. For her prom it'll be you doing her hair."
Cas laughed and shook his head. "Yeah, we'll see about that."
They finished getting ready and were quickly out the door. Dot carried two little gift bags full of cookies -- one for Chuck and one for the parish priest-- and was back to talking excitedly about Santa and his reindeer and wondering aloud if she would be able to see them when they finally got home as Dean buckled her into her carseat. Cas slid into the passenger seat and smiled as he listened to them talk back and forth.
"Merry Christmas, Dean," Cas said softly as Dean slid behind the steering wheel and reached down to turn the key in the ignition. Dean smiled before leaning over to catch Cas's lips in a soft kiss.
"Merry Christmas, Cas."
Chapter Twenty-Eight