Take Two Chapter 28
Dean rolled over in bed and nuzzled Cas's neck. He lifted his head to check the bedside clock and sighed lightly. They’d gotten home a little after two following Midnight Mass, and since it was Christmas morning, that didn't leave much time to linger in bed before they had to shower and prepare breakfast so they could welcome Chuck at nine. Dean rolled onto his back and sighed again.
For a few moments he listened for sounds outside their room and wasn’t too surprised to hear Dotty already in the living room playing with the Filly pony figurines she had found in her Christmas stocking.
Castiel felt Dean moving around beside him and he rolled with him, draping an arm over Dean's waist and pulling them closer together. He pressed a kiss to Dean's bare chest before resting his chin there and looking up to Dean.
"Please tell me it's only three in the morning and we can still have a good four hours to sleep."
"Okay…It is three in the morning and we still have a good four hours to sleep," Dean said and ran his fingers through Cas's hair.
"Thank you," Cas smirked, closing his eyes and leaning into Dean's touch. "You're an awful liar though."
"How can you tell?" Dean asked, trying to stay serious.
"Because there is nothing in this world that would get you up at three in the morning except for coffee, sex and pie. All three, no substitutes, and I'm not seeing any of that right now."
"I'm not up. I'm still lying down. And... can I have the sex?" Dean smirked.
Cas laughed and shifted so that he was lying atop Dean. He leaned down, capturing his lips in a soft kiss before shaking his head. "I give Dot another thirty seconds before she realizes we’re awake and comes bounding in here begging to open her gifts. Later," he kissed him again. "Promise."
"How's she going to notice we're up? She's downstairs and we can be quiet as mice ..." Dean pouted. He kissed Cas softly, before he relented. "But sadly, that doesn’t matter anyways because we have to get up, your dad and Bobby are gonna be here at nine."
"Let me go put on some coffee." Cas pulled off of him, setting his feet on the floor just as the bedroom door flew open and Dot bolted in, her hands full of candy and toys from her stocking.
"Santa came! Santa came! Cas! Can I eat my candy?" She clambered up onto the bed, holding out a Marshmallow Santa and practically vibrating with excitement.
"Told you," Cas laughed over his shoulder. "I think you can pick ONE piece, but the rest is for later. Come help me make some coffee and breakfast so that Daddy isn't a zombie."
"When the ‘eff’ did you become the morning person, Castiel?" Dean shook his head and crawled out of bed. "I'm going to take a shower."
Cas rolled his eyes and smirked as he lifted Dorothy off the bed. "Daddy might need some of that candy this morning, princess. Seems like he could use some sweetness..."
"I'm very sweet." Dean stuck his tongue out at the two of them before slipping into the bathroom.
Cas chuckled and carried Dot back downstairs, setting her on the countertop as he pulled the coffee canister down from the cupboard. "I better make a full pot... between your Daddy and mine? We're going to need it!"
Dean enjoyed the spray of hot water washing away the groggy remnants of sleep. After shaving and dressing he traipsed downstairs and joined Cas and Dorothy in the kitchen. "Hey, family…" he grinned.
"Morning," Cas grinned back, pressing a mug of hot black coffee into Dean's hands and a kiss to his lips. "Dad is on his way."
Dean sipped from the cup with a thankful smile. "Then…I'll start on the bacon while you shower, and our little Princess will help set the table, right?"
"Then can we open presents, Daddy?" the little one pouted and Cas bit back a laugh as he slipped past Dean for the shower.
"We’ll wait for Chuck and Uncle Bobby, okay?" Dean replied softly. "But Cas is gone, we could at least be sneaky and eat cookies," he suggested with a wink.
Dot gasped in delight at his suggestion and let out a giggle as her Daddy placed her back down on the floor. "We should still save him one, Daddy!"
"We’ll save cookies, alright. We're not eating them all." Dean pulled a frying pan from the cabinet and went to get the bacon from the fridge.
Dorothy opened the silverware drawer and counted out forks for all of them as well as spoons and butter knives. She carried them over to the table and arranged them at each place setting.
When every piece looked like it was in the right spot she returned to her father’s side.
"Daddy? Can you get me the plates, please?” As she waited she beamed over at their cheerful breakfast table, “Do you think Uncle Chuck and Uncle Bobby will like our Christmas placemats, Daddy? I love all the cute, little snowmen on them. "
“I’m sure they’ll love them too, honey. You did a good job shopping and picking them out for everybody.” Dean opened the overhead cabinet and counted out five plates and handed them to his daughter. "There you go, Princess."
"Thank you!" Dotty smiled and carried the plates carefully into the dining room to finish setting the rest of the table. Cas appeared downstairs, dressed and ready, just as Chuck knocked on the front door and pushed it open.
"Merry Christmas, Chuck! Good Morning," Dean greeted from the kitchen while Dot shot out into the hall.
"Merry Christmas!" Chuck called out, carrying an armful of presents. Cas hurried over to take them from his father and laughed when he caught a glimpse of the Christmas sweater his father was wearing. It was bright red with a large, knitted belt around his middle, and white faux fur around the collar and wrists making him look like Santa.
Dorothy skidded to a halt and looked at Chuck with huge eyes. "I know you're not Santa. I'm already six!" she insisted, but still eyed his sweater rather warily.
Chuck winked at her and leaned down over her to whisper. "Well…I brought presents and I like cookies a lot, doesn't that count for something?"
"I like cookies too. Can I be lil’ Miss Santa?" Dot grinned conspiratorially.
"I can't imagine anyone else filling the spot!" Chuck replied, reaching down with one arm to scoop her up. He carried her into the kitchen and stopped to give Dean a quick hug before he set her back down.
Dean pointed over to the fresh pot of coffee and Chuck laughed. "Oh, you're a saint!"
"Actually, Cas is the saint. Cas started the pot for both of us." Dean winked and put the already fried bacon on a plate and before sliding more into the pan.
"I knew I raised him right," Chuck chuckled as he gratefully poured himself a mug. "So what do you say, little one? Breakfast and then presents?”
"Okay..." Dot agreed somewhere between pouting and excited. "But… can I open just one already? Just one teeny tiny one?"
"I bet we can get your Daddy to let us eat breakfast in the living room if we look at him real sad… or maybe we can give him some of our cookies as a bribe…..and then we’ll be that much closer to opening the presents. What do you think, little Miss Santa?"
"Cas! Help me …" Dean called out in a pleading, whiny little voice. "Your dad is teaching our daughter naughty little tricks on how to manipulate me!" he made sure his voice showed he was just teasing.
Cas laughed and joined them in the kitchen. “As if our little angel needs any help in that department! I think she already has her men wrapped around those little pinkies all by herself.” Grinning at Dean, he added, “Besides he probably learned them from me when I was little ….and I turned out okay. Right?”
Dean sighed overdramatically. "Guess you got a point there... Be a gem and transfer the place settings to the living room?"
Cas carefully stacked the plates and rolled up each placemat with its silverware pieces trapped inside before carrying everything into the living room. Chuck grabbed the TV tables from beside the entertainment center and as he set them up Cas laid out each their placemats and settings. He set up Dot’s dining spot on the coffee table with huge pillows for her to sit on, where she could be close to the shimmering Christmas tree much to her delight.
After blessing the new eating arrangements with her happy nod of approval, Dotty tugged excitedly at Chuck’s hand. "Do you wanna see what was in my stocking, Uncle Chuck?" She offered as she guided him towards her little jumbled pile of treats.
"Course I do! Was Santa good to you?" Chuck asked as he followed her.
Cas smiled watching his father with Dotty and threw a look over his shoulder to catch Dean's eyes.
Dean couldn't help his goofy grin. It wasn't as if their past Christmases with Bobby had been bad in any way, but this, right now, this enlarged family scene made him incredibly happy.
They were actually a family… Dotty had two more people to love her unconditionally. They were only starting their family life of course, but still it was awesome. The only thing they were missing now was Bobby himself… Dean bit his lower lip for a second, wondering if he should call the older man and make sure he was on his way when the front door opened and Bobby’s gruff voice rang out.
“You better not have eaten all the damned bacon!”
Dean laughed, half in relief, half in amusement. "It's Christmas. You know I share on special occasions."
Bobby laughed, stamping his feet free of clinging snow and hung his jacket and hat by the door. "Get over here!" he demanded and pulled Dean into a tight hug. "Merry Christmas, Dean."
"Merry Christmas, Bobby. Thank you for everything you do for us all the time," Dean added as he hugged his friend and borrowed father in tight to his chest.
"Alright, alright, enough of this mushy stuff. Where's my little girl?"
"Living room," Dean told him and went back to his bacon frying task.
Bobby picked up the laundry basket full of presents he'd carried in and made his way into the living room. Cas took the basket from him to put under the tree so Bobby could catch Dotty as she flung herself at him.
"Uncle Bobby! You're here! Did you see Santa came?"
Dean laughed hearing his daughter’s bright enthusiasm. He plopped another batch of buttered toast into the basket and added the last pieces of bacon to the plate, before finally making his way into the living room with a heavily laden tray.
"Should I grab the jug of orange juice and coffee?" Castiel asked, meeting Dean at the doorway. Dean gave him a nod and Cas slipped past him back into the kitchen. Together, they served the rest of the group, dishing out the eggs, bacon, and toast and pouring everyone their drinks. When Cas sank down on the couch between his father and Dorothy, he smiled. It had been far too long since he'd spent Christmas day comfortable and in a house...
Although he tried not to think too much about it, this was a huge contrast compared to the rather proper Christmases Balthazar and he had spent at Balt's family home, in button-ups and ties. He felt a small pang of sadness at the fact that Balt would probably be spending Christmas night alone this year -- when the two of them used to rent the cheesiest Christmas movies and pig out on frozen pizza in their underwear to make as big of a contrast to their day as they could-- unless his new relationship had held out so far.
Dot leaned against him, breaking him out of his thoughts. "I'm glad you're here with us Cas," she sighed, happily and picked up a piece of bacon to start eating. Cas smiled and looked across the couch to meet Dean's eyes.
"Me too, Dotty. Me too."
Dean felt guilty about Cas starting on the dishes on his own while Dean was setting up the Skype connections for Dot to visit with each set of her grandparents. They called Ashleigh's parents first, and of course Dean exchanged a few words with them as well before excusing himself to assist in the kitchen.
Cas smiled as he heard Dean enter behind him and he turned to accept the kiss Dean gave him. "Did you wish your folks a ‘Merry Christmas’?" he asked, rinsing off a soapy plate before setting it in the dishrack.
Dean grabbed the towel and started drying the plates Cas had already done. "It's Ashleigh's parents she's talking to at the moment. But I wished them Merry Christmas."
"Oh!" Cas handed Dean another dish and dug around in the dishwater for the silverware resting at the bottom. "I'm glad she gets to talk to them."
"Yeah, me too." Dean stacked the plates on the counter. "She also gets to see them twice a year. They come here for a week around Ashleigh's birthday and again for the anniversary of her death," Dean murmured, swallowing around the lump in his throat.
Cas released the silverware, before grabbing a hand towel, quickly drying his hands and turning his attention towards Dean completely. "I'm sorry, Dean," he whispered softly, reaching for Dean's hands and taking them in his own. "I don’t think I ever told you how bad I feel about what happened to Ashleigh... and you."
They hadn't talked about it much-- but it was clear Dean had cared for her. They’d had a life together, a family, and then in a cruel twist of fate it was taken from them. Cas was sure that in some way, he had Ashleigh to thank for the Dean he had before him now. All grown up and ready for a serious relationship.
"Thank you, Cas," Dean replied low and looked down with a small sigh. "Sorry... Sorry, I didn't mean to..." Dean shook his head to shake off the sad mood that had suddenly overcome him.
Cas reached forward, cupping Dean's cheek and pulling him in for a soft kiss. "I wish I could have met her," he added softly, meeting Dean's eyes with a small smile. "I’m sure I would have liked her."
"Yeah, probably," Dean replied with a small smile. "Dotty has a lot of her looks though. Her hair's exactly like her mother's...and some of her mannerisms." Dean gently pulled his hands from Cas's and returned to drying the dishes.
"Well, we should be grateful for that," Cas teased, bumping Dean's shoulder with his own before he reached back into the soapy water. They could hear Dorothy chatting away excitedly, running back and forth across the living room to pick up a toy to show her grandparents.
Once they were done, Dean hung the towel on the hook to dry. "Want a glass of eggnog?" he asked as he wrapped his arm around Cas's waist.
"Sure," Cas smiled at him, drying his hands again on the towel. "Should I meet you in the living room?"
"Yeah, I'll get a glass for everyone. Hey, can you dial my parents’ number for her?" Dean smiled at Cas and grabbed the eggnog carton from the fridge and moved to get everyone glasses.
"Sure, no problem," Cas gave him a smile and left Dean to get them all drinks. Bobby and Chuck were both sitting on the couch, with their heads tipped back, asleep. Cas chuckled to himself, at their apparent snoring contest.
"Hey, Princess," Cas said as he knelt down beside his favorite little angel. "Did you have fun talking to your grandparents?"
"Yes! They said that they were going to come and see me soon and Grammy wants to take me shopping for whatever I want!"
"Well, that will be fun!" Cas laughed, putting his arm around the back of her chair and leaning over to kiss the top of her head. "Do you want to call your other grandparents now? I think they're probably waiting to hear from you." Dot nodded happily and leaned back further onto the chair, giving Cas enough room to get to the keyboard and mouse. He made a few clicks and soon the sound of Skype dialing could be heard.
"I don't see anything!" Dorothy complained, peering at the computer screen.
"Hold on... I'll fix it..." Cas bit down on his lower lip, trying to find out where the image had gone.
Out in the kitchen Dean put the bottle on a tray and got four glasses for Bobby, Chuck, Castiel and himself. Then he started to make a Vanilla shake for Dorothy, so she could drink with them.
"Dorothy!" The sound of Mary Winchester replaced the ringing and Cas froze for a second, eyes darting up to the screen.
"Um, one second Mrs. Winchester... The screen isn't... There!" Cas found the right button and suddenly the screen was flooded with the wide eyes of Mary and John Winchester staring at their computer screen, and at the image of Castiel.
"Grammy! Grandpa!" Dorothy squealed excitedly, launching herself forward and waving frantically at the camera. "Thank you, Cas!"
Castiel gave her a smile and then nodded at the screen once before turning away, trying not to shrink back at the heat of their gazes on his retreating form.
"Cas? Castiel?" Mary whispered to her husband. "Was that Castiel Shirley?"
Before John could reply Dotty answered. "That's Cas, Grammy! He's my new other Daddy. He lives with us now and he and Daddy were married but I don't know if they are now. They kiss and stuff... Does that make them married?"
Castiel tripped as he ran back into the kitchen.
"Cas? Cas, you okay?" Dean asked. “Did something happen?” He had just been on his way to the living room.
"Oh, my God, Dean! Dot just told your parents that I'm her other new daddy," Cas whispered, leaning back against the wall. "And even though it's been... eleven years? Your Dad scares the crap out of me… still."
"Shit." Dean whispered. He set the tray back on the table and took Cas' hand. "I'm sorry, Cas. So sorry. I hadn’t even thought about the fact that I had kept our life pretty private from them. But no matter what they think, Cas, this time they can't make me abandon you. I promise." He kissed Cas softly.
Cas swallowed once, giving Dean a tight smile. "Yeah," he whispered, suddenly feeling sick. "Why don't you...umm… go and give everyone their drinks. I'll be right there. I have to check..." he trailed off, pointing over Dean's shoulder and pushed off of the wall, crossing the room to stand back over at the sink.
Dean moved behind Cas and rubbed his back. "Please come back to us soon." He placed a gentle kiss on Cas's neck. "I'll go try do some damage control, okay?"
"Dean?" Cas whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. He could hear Dot once again talking animatedly to her grandparents, Mary laughing and chatting with her, John's calm, firm voice making a comment every few moments, and it made Cas's stomach twist.
Dean moved to his side and slid their hands together, squeezing Cas gently as he waited.
"What if... what if they're not happy, Dean? What if they don't like that we're back together, that I'm here? Last time..." he stopped, shaking his head.
"It won't change a thing between us. All the contact I still have with them is only thanks to my little girl. They won't take it out on her, and I don't care if they never talk to me again. Please, don't worry about them, please..." Dean urged softly.
Cas nodded and turned, Dean opening his arms as he did so and Cas immediately melted into them. "It's hard not to worry," he muttered against Dean's chest, wrapping his arms around him tightly. "But I'll try."
"I know... Come on, let's go by your dad and Bobby." Dean kept Cas tight against his side.
Cas’s fingers pulled at the back of Dean's shirt to keep him close. Dean kissed him gently and ran his fingers through Cas' hair, causing Cas to gasp against Dean's lips and lean into him completely, letting the heat of Dean's body comfort him.
Dean loosened his hold slightly, still comforting Cas. He started feeling guilty that he hadn't talked to his parents about this earlier to avoid this nasty situation. But on the other hand he didn't owe his parents anything.
"Alright," Cas said after another moment. "Let's go join everyone. I'm okay."
"Alright," Dean nodded. He let go of Cas slowly and then moved to retrieve the tray with their drinks.
Cas followed behind Dean as they made their way back into the living room and Dean headed straight to the couch and set the tray before the two older men.
"Thanks, Dean!" Chuck said as he reached for one and shifted over on the couch to give Cas room to sit.
"You're welcome," Dean smiled before leaning down to kiss Cas on the cheek. "Gonna’ go check on Dot ..." he said quietly.
Cas nodded and gave Dean a reassuring smile before he sunk down beside his Dad and reached for his own glass of eggnog grateful for the liquor hidden in its depths.
Dean went over to his daughter, who was still chatting on the computer with her grandparents.
"Merry Christmas, Mom, Dad," he said more cheerful than he actually felt.
"Merry Christmas, Dean," Mary smiled at him and turned to look over at John. Dean unknowingly held his breath waiting for his father to say anything.
“Didn’t know when you said you were in a relationship that it was… this serious,” John said, meeting Dean’s eyes over the camera. “Sammy didn’t say much of anything about it either, kind of funny.”
“Yeah … I guess.” Dean forced a smile.
“Dot seems to really like him.”
“I do, Grandpa!” Dorothy exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her Dad’s arm. “He’s nice and funny and he let me eat candy this morning from my stocking before breakfast!”
“Yeah … he’s spoiling her a bit … But he’s doing really good on the being a ‘dad’ front.” Dean kissed Dotty’s temple. “He’s the best thing that could happen to me and Dot.”
Mary cleared her throat and John sat back in his chair, pursing his lips slightly, but thankfully fell silent. “Well,” Mary said softly. “You know we’ve always just wanted you to be happy, Dean.”
“Daddy is very happy!” Dot nodded seriously. “He’s always smiling and he sings when he makes dinner and he gets Uncle Bobby yelling at him all of the time for being a… a ‘loved stick fool’ cause he likes to call Cas a lot.”
“Hey, Dot! You’re not ‘posed to tell anyone those things,” Dean laughed.
“I think this conversation isn’t appropriate for Christmas,” John said, his voice low and rough, but Dean couldn’t tell for the life of him what his father was thinking at that moment. “Why don’t you get back to your Christmas. I’m sure Bobby’s there, tell the old man I said hello.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right, Dad. I’ll tell him you said ‘Hello’. Have a nice Christmas,” Dean nodded.
“Merry Christmas, Dorothy. We’ll see you soon, okay?” John turned his attention to his granddaughter and gave her a wide smile.
“Okay, Grandpa!”
“We’ll see you no later than at the Wedding,” Dean smiled, mostly at his mother. “Bye.”
“Bye, Grammy!” Dot waved and Mary gave her a wave back.
“Merry Christmas, baby girl, we miss you. And Dean?” Mary flicked her eyes to Dean’s. “Merry Christmas to you and Castiel, too.”
“I’ll tell him. He’ll appreciate it.” Dean nodded lightly, thankful for his mother’s wishes. He could have sworn she even smiled at him when she’d mentioned Cas.
Mary blew them a kiss as John stepped away from the computer and Dean reached forward to shut the program down.
“I miss them, Daddy,” his daughter sighed, leaning into her Dad’s chest.
“You do?” Dean asked a little surprised by Dorothy’s statement. Dorothy nodded and slid off of the chair, reaching up to take her Dad’s hand in her own.
“But I’m glad I have Grandpa Chuck.” She paused and looked up. “Can I call him Grandpa Chuck?”
Dean took his daughter’s hand and stood up, grinning touched that she would want that.. “Why don’t you just ask him yourself?”
Dorothy nodded once and when they reached the living room she jumped onto Chuck’s lap. “I’m going to call your Grandpa Chuck, okay?”
Chuck almost choked on his eggnog, but when he looked down at Dorothy the entire room could tell how pleased he was with the exclamation.
“I would love nothing more, princess.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine