Chapter Text
“Dean! When are those burgers gonna be ready?” Castiel had no trouble picking out that was Donna, her voice booming above the chatter and noise of all the others. “We’re getting pretty hungry waitin’ on ya, here.”
“Just a few more minutes, guys,” Dean shouted back from his station at the grill. “Have some patience! You cannot rush The Meat Man!”
“I bet you say that to all the boys,” Charlie teased as she walked by with a fresh pitcher of sangria.
“Not anymore,” he added with a wink. “Those days are long behind me.”
“They’d better be, or else I’ll join Cas in kicking your ass.”
Castiel chuckled to himself, watching their usual, friendly shenanigans with fondness.
Donna stopped over by Dean to inspect the proceedings, critically looking over the growing spread of ribs, steak skewers, and chicken drumsticks. “All I’m saying is, maybe you should have let Benny handle the grilling.”
“Nonsense. Today’s his and Andrea’s day off; the last thing I’m gonna do is put my man on cooking duty when it’s a holiday.”
Benny slapped him on the shoulder. “And I thank you for that, brother. Gonna remember it, too, next time you whine at me about not bein’ open on Christmas Eve or New Year’s.”
“Castiel, could you give me a hand?” Charlie asked as she stood holding the pitcher over the crowded picnic table.
“Of course.” He put down his drink and rushed over, swooping in to take away a now empty pitcher. “Sorry, I didn’t see you needed help.”
“It’s alright. I know everyone here’s been all over you guys today.”
And that was certainly true. Just a little over a year had passed since Castiel had uprooted his life on what might have seemed like a foolish whim — leaving his career and everything in Los Angeles behind for a man he’d barely met. They’d promised each other they’d take it slow, and they had… at least as much as the desire and attraction between them had allowed.
But now, Castiel knew with absolute certainty that he was exactly where he wanted to be. Where he was meant to be. Five days ago, he’d proposed to Dean, who had barely blinked before blurting out, “Fuck, yes!” in response.
Today’s party in the backyard of what had become their home was therefore half a Fourth of July barbecue, and half an engagement celebration.
“So, when are you guys planning on setting the big date? Any honeymoon plans yet?” Charlie asked. “Like packing up Baby or Cas’ Pimpmobile for a long road trip?”
Castiel sighed. “Why does everyone have to call it that? I love that car. But no, there’s no date yet, but I think it will be before the end of the year. Dean wants to pick some time that Sam and Jess will be available to join us, so perhaps over their winter break from school. And I have a few friends from Los Angeles I’d like to invite.”
Meg had been thrilled to begin renting his condo officially, and they’d stayed in touch at least weekly. He would probably invite Hannah as well, for all she had done for him (and he still was happy to help when she occasionally reached out for his counsel or advice as the replacement Programming Director). “As far as a honeymoon is concerned, I think Dean is angling for somewhere tropical, warm, and relaxing.”
“Damn right,” Dean chimed in, coming up behind the two. “I want to get my toes in the sand, dress up in Hawaiian prints, and have nothing to do but drink fancy cocktails with little umbrellas.”
“And when better than to escape the winters around here,” Castiel agreed, then tilted his head as Dean leaned in for a quick kiss and embrace.
“You two are just disgustingly cute, you know that?” Charlie said with a sigh. “But you give me hope that my own Princess Charming is out there somewhere.”
Charlie wandered off while Castiel filled a glass of sangria for Dean, topping it with a slice of orange and some fresh mint from the herb garden he’d started. “I wonder if I should try to set her up with Meg when she comes to visit next month,” Castiel pondered.
“From what you’ve told me and I’ve heard from her, that could either result in a match made in Heaven or Hell.”
“Yes. They both have rather… forceful personalities.”
“That’s one way to put it. Here, first burger’s for you,” Dean said, after assembling one just the way Castiel liked it: lightly melted pepper jack, lettuce, tomato, grilled onion rings, and a dollop of Benny’s Creole sauce “borrowed” from the diner.
(More like, Castiel had a standing order for a bottle of the stuff every week.)
“Thank you, Dean.” Castiel took the burger with a kiss, and then went to grab some of the various salads and sides everyone had contributed before taking a seat.
He took in the entire crowd while he settled in to eat, this wonderful little community that had welcomed him in like family. Bobby was there with his wife, Karen, sharing a picnic table with Garth, his wife and their young children. Donna had shown up with Jody Mills from the local police department, and the chatter through the grapevine was that they were a new item. Ash and Pamela were also there, arguing about whose music playlist to put on next.
It all just felt right — as had joining the team at KARZ himself, taking on a share in the ownership and management of the station, which Bobby had been happy to unload so he could take things easier. Castiel had been able to use his experience and connections to market Dean’s show into some syndicated markets, drawing in improved ad revenue for everyone. He’d even started a program for interns from the local community college — several of whom were, in fact, overseeing station operations on this holiday while the regular staff had the day off.
The station was growing while keeping its small-town charm and independence.
And he was finally getting some real downtime to get back into playing the piano again. In fact, he hoped he’d be able to surprise Dean on their wedding day with a solo performance of one of his favorites, Zeppelin’s “Rain Song.”
As he sat there and his gaze fell upon Dean, smiling and laughing now with Donna, the song’s lyrics came to him like a perfect statement on this day and their new life together:
“It is the summer of my smiles
Flee from me, keepers of the gloom
Speak to me only with your eyes
It is to you I give this tune…”
“What do you say, Cas?”
Castiel blinked and found Dean and some of the others now focused on him. “I’m sorry?”
“Pamela here was just trying to argue that 1991 was a better year for music than 1969,” Dean said. “How can you put the two even in the same category, am I right?”
Pamela rolled her eyes. “Dean, just because you refuse to listen to anything that didn’t also come out on an 8-track at the time of release doesn’t mean you’re the reigning authority on rock music. I mean, hello, ‘Nevermind’? ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’?”
“I plead the fifth and refuse to get involved in this argument,” Castiel answered.
“Cas is right, who cares, let’s eat!” Donna declared, to an enthusiastic round of cheers from all assembled.
As things settled down, Dean eventually came over to sit by Castiel with his own plate of food. “Been kind of quiet this afternoon. Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Everything is perfect,” Castiel assured him, wiping his mouth before leaning in for a kiss. “Just thinking about how lucky I am to have this. To have you.”
“Yeah, well, soon enough you’ll be stuck with me.”
Castiel smiled at the man he would get to spend the rest of his life with. “I’m looking forward to it.”
