"So what have you guys been up too?" Jo asked, munching on a stalk of celery. She eyed them both, sitting cross legged on the floor and looking as intimidating as usual.

Dean shifted his weight on the couch. He could tell Cas was giving him an encouraging glance from beside him, but chose to ignore it. "Well, uh, we..."

"Dean has been showing me around town, or at least trying too with all this snow we got," Cas added.

Ellen nodded in agreement. "Ah, yes! Haven't seen so much snow at once in a while. They got the main roads cleared pretty well, but it's still icy.

"Yeah, we walked to Wal-mart on Christmas Eve to find decorations. We were walking knee deep all the way there!" Dean exclaimed, demonstrating on his leg how high the snow was.

Ellen looked floored. She put on her mom voice and said, "you brought this poor boy out in this freezing cold snow storm to get decorations? Dean, do I need to—"

"No, it's okay, Ellen. It was my idea to decorate the apartment," Cas interrupted, offering a nervous smile.

"Yeah, it was his idea! Don't go yelling at me for shit I didn't do!" Dean countered, playfully giving Ellen a glare. He was playing risky business. 

Ellen scoffed, taking a sip of wine. "I can yell at you all I want."

Dean rolled his eyes and instinctively put his arm around Cas. Jo finished off her celery and raised an eyebrow.

"So, you've been together for how long now?" Jo asked, smirking.

"Three weeks—"

"—we aren't together."

Ellen gave them both a lopsided smile. "Now, Dean, when I asked you who this fine gentlemen was you said just a roommate. It ain't polite to lie."

Dean shook his head and let out a nervous chuckle. "But, Ellen, we aren't dating."

"Yes, my mistake, we are just rooming together until I earn enough money to move out," Cas added, quietly. He wished he was lying.

"Uh huh, yeah," Jo said blandly, standing up from the floor. "I also hold my roommate like I would my boyfriend."

"Jo, don't tease them," Ellen said. Jo skidded past them to the kitchen, rolling her eyes at them both. "If Dean isn't ready to admit that he might be gay, then it's not our right to force him."

"Oh, my God," Dean muttered, covering his blushing face with his free hand.

"Castiel, do you like Dean?" Jo asked, re-entering the room with a handful of chips.

Cas couldn't help but nod. Dean groaned with embarrassment beside him.

"And, Dean, do you like Cas?"

Dean sighed, removing his hand from his face. He gazed at the angel beside him. Cas smiled and fluttered his eyelids. Dean felt his insides being lifted and a smile forming on his lips.

Aw, shit, Dean thought. What the hell?

"Well actually, Jo, I think I might be in love with him."

Jo raised her eyebrows in surprise, but kept her same smug look. She knew.

"Thank you, Dean," Cas whispered, his cheeks feeling hot.

"I'm going to need a refill on this wine if you keep getting all sappy over there," Ellen commented, her eyes sparkling.

The two laughed, finally feeling free to snuggle closer together on the couch. Jo wouldn't admit it right away, but she thought it was cute too. She couldn't wait to tell Sam.

========================

Knock knock.

"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Jess greeted, walking in through the door with a bright smile.

Everyone from the living room stood up to greet the arriving guests. Sam came waddling in behind Jess with an armful of bags and gifts.

"Merry Christmas, Dean!" Sam greeted, peering over the stack of boxes. He stopped in his tracks and set the gifts on the floor.

"Hey, Sammy, how was the plane ride?" Dean asked, glad to see his baby brother.

Sam narrowed his eyes at the dark haired man standing next to Dean. "It was good... are you Castiel?"

Dean's lips parted in panic. He forgot he hung up on Sam the other day. As far as Sammy knows, they've been sleeping together.

Cas nodded nervously, remembering the phone call he wasn't suppose to answer.

Sam hesitated for a moment before turning to Dean. "Can I talk to you in the hallway for a moment?"

Dean clenched his teeth but followed Sam out into the hallway anyways. Sam didn't waste anytime once the door clicked shut behind him.

"So this is the guy you've been sleeping with again? What's it with you and always picking the ones who look homeless?" Sam demanded.

"Okay, first of all, wow thanks," Dean said coldly, crossing his arms. "Second, I'm not sleeping with him. He's just living with me until he can get back on his feet."

Sam scoffed, turning away from his brother for a moment. "So he's homeless and you're lying to me again."

Dean furrowed his eyebrows. "I'm not lying! I literally just told you the truth!"

"He's wearing your clothes, Dean! You know how that looks? I'm not about to bail you out of jail again because you get so attached to—"

"Enough," Dean cut in sharply. "Don't even start that bullshit with me, I don't want to hear it."

He gave Sam a stern look, daring him to insult Cas again. "Castiel is not like Jay. Cas actually cares about me and my life. He wants to meet my family and spend time with me— he's nothing like Jay."

Sam huffed, pursing his lips in thought. Dean knew he would have to show him how Cas was different. He would just have to give him a chance.

"If this guy gives me one— one bad vibe, I'm out. I'm not going to pick up your broken pieces again, Dean. Last year was Hell, for you and me both. Please, be careful."

Sam turned away and walked back into Dean's apartment. Dean sighed in relief but he couldn't help think about what Sam had admitted.

"Last year was Hell, for you and me both."

Dean never realized how much his suffering meant suffering for others. He wouldn't let it happen again.

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Ayyeeeeeeeeee. back at it again with that destiel fan fiction hahaha