It's December 23, which makes it the last day before the real holiday week starts. That, of course, involves a lot of cooking, and the kitchen still hasn't recovered from all the day's baking. That results in what Dean says is the annual Christmas Eve Eve pizza dinner, because what better way to celebrate the holidays than takeout?

Ellen and John go pick up the pizza, which leaves all the "kids" — using the word loosely, of course — by themselves as they wait. They hang out in the kitchen, where Charlie eats an ungodly number of Christmas cookies. Apparently these chocolate crinkle cookies are God's greatest gift to mankind. To Castiel, they just look like a lot of sugar.

"So," Ash says, pulling everyone out of the occasional side conversations they've been having. "What high school drama game are we playing on Christmas?"

Castiel cocks an eyebrow. He's been to his fair share of high school parties, and though they were fun at the time, he can't imagine doing anything like that as an adult. That can't be where they're going with this, can it?

"As long as we don't play truth or dare again," Jess says, "I am up for anything."

So that is where they're going with this.

Fantastic.

Not.

"Ah, come on," Dean says with a teasing smile. "I thought truth or dare was fantastic. Remember when you —"

"And that is enough from the peanut gallery," Sam interrupts, and Castiel has to admit, he's kind of curious.

"You're enough from the peanut gallery," Dean says with a mock glare.

"That didn't even make sense," Sam says.

"You don't even make sense."

Sam just rolls his eyes.

"We could ask the newbies," Jess suggests.

Castiel glances at Charlie uncertainly. He has a feeling he's not going to like this.

"Yeah, good idea!" Jo says. She looks up at Castiel. "What do you want to play?"

"I, uh..." Castiel shrugs awkwardly. "I don't know?" God, how is he even supposed to answer that? He doesn't really want to play anything, but even if he did, how is he supposed to know what types of things they would want to play?

"What games have you guys played before?" Charlie asks.

They all throw names out. Truth or dare, Medusa (god, it's been a long time since he's heard that name), strip poker —

"Wait, hold on," Charlie interrupts. "You guys played strip poker?"

"And I won every game," Dean adds.

"But he would never brag about that," Jo says sarcastically, and Dean shoots her a cheeky smile.

"Not a strip poker fan, huh?" Ash says.

"Oh, no, I do love a good game of strip poker," Charlie says. "But I wouldn't play in front of my brother — you know, if I had a brother, but my point still stands."

"That's the cool thing about alcohol," Dean says. "Makes everything less weird."

"And, fortunately, much harder to remember in the morning," Sam adds.

Charlie shakes her head, amused. "That's still very weird but okay."

Castiel's days of stripping games are long over (but not forgotten; he never drank so he still remembers those high school parties very clearly) so he wouldn't partake anyway, but he has to ask for his own peace of mind, "Are the parents involved in these games?"

"God no," Jo says immediately. "No, the fun starts when they go to bed."

"And they know that," Sam adds. "So they aren't gonna bother us. They like to stay far away from the drinking games."

Castiel debates speaking up now about how he also likes to stay far away from drinking games, but he decides against it. He still has over 48 hours to think of an excuse not to play, because "I don't drink" doesn't always work.

"Ah, drinking games are one thing I can do," Charlie says with a grin. "I know a lot of those."

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," Jess says with a grin.

The sound of the front door opening gets everyone's attention, and Dean runs out of the room.

Jo nudges Castiel with her elbow. "You'd think they brought him pie with how fast he ditched."

Castiel chuckles awkwardly. "Yeah, really." Ordinarily he might have found that funny, but now that he knows Jo apparently has a huge crush on him, it's hard to look at her the same.

"We better go before he eats all the pizza on us," Jo says.

Castiel smiles and follows her out to the kitchen, and when she's not looking, Castiel looks down at Charlie nervously. Charlie pats his back with exaggerated sympathy.

John and Ellen walk back in the house with an ungodly number of pizza boxes. Not much happens as people choose their desired pizzas, so there's no use in going over all that. The fun part comes when it's time to sit down at the table.

Charlie sits down first, and, naturally, Castiel sits down next to her. He finds himself hoping that Sam, Jess, or Ash will sit down on his other side. Instead, it looks like Dean is coming his way, and though that does admittedly make him a little uncomfortable, it's still bearable. With so many other people in the room, at least he knows the conversations are going to be impersonal.

But then Jo takes that seat instead, and Castiel finds himself wishing Dean had gotten there quicker. Dean looks down at the two of them with an amused smile that Castiel really wants to smack right off his face before he sits down at the head of the table on Jo's other side.

"Having fun yet?" she asks.

Castiel nods. "Yeah, this has been great. Thanks for inviting us." As an actor, he basically lies for a living, but this might be the hardest performance he's ever tried to sell.

"No problem!" Jo says, beaming. "I'm really glad you were able to come.

"Me, too," Castiel lies.

"Oh, hey, by the way," Jo says, "I always post Christmas party pictures on Christmas, and obviously the Winchesters can't be in this year's pictures, but I definitely want some with you."

"Of course," Castiel says. "What better way to convince the world that we have the realest relationship than showing them that we're spending Christmas together?"

Jo may also be an actor, but her "this is fine" smile is not believable in the least. She's not the only one: Dean looks like he's fighting back a laugh at that, which makes Castiel wonder if he might have been a little too obvious about his intentions. He really wants to make sure she knows that this whole relationship is just for PR, but he doesn't want to hurt her feelings while he does it.

Jo laughs awkwardly. "Yep, gotta — gotta give the people what they want, right?" She looks over at Dean, and though Castiel can't see the look on her face, he does see Dean throw on a sympathetic look and pat her on the leg. Maybe Dean should try acting, too. He seems to be good at it.

Charlie elbows Castiel and whispers a quiet, "This is a very awkward love triangle" in his ear.

Castiel whispers back, "It's not a love triangle. It's an unrequited love PR stunt." And, to be honest, "love" is probably a bit of a stretch, but it would be very hard to have a full conversation in whispers as quiet as their.

Charlie whispers back, "And you and Dean."

Instead of whispering back, Castiel slaps her upside the head, and Charlie responds with an exaggerated glare.

"Aw," Dean says teasingly, "aren't you two just the cutest?"

"Oh, god, don't say that," Castiel says. "It'll get to her head."

"Too late!" Charlie says, beaming. "It already has!"

Castiel rolls his eyes. "Now look what you've done, Dean."

Dean flashes a smile. "Glad to be of service."

Castiel shakes his head. These two are gonna be the death of him, but, honestly, there are worse ways to go.

Jo shoots Dean a look, and though Castiel still can't see her face when she does, it seems to be enough to shut Dean up because he takes a bite of his pizza.

Castiel assumes this is the end of that conversation, so he picks up his own pizza. He's never heard of this pizza store, but he has to admit, this looks really good.

Jess attempts to make conversation from across the table by asking, "So, how long have you two been together for?"

Castiel looks between Jess and Charlie a few times to make sure he's understanding the question right. Charlie seems just as taken aback as he is, which makes Castiel think he understood it perfectly. He wishes he hadn't.

"You mean me and Cas?" Charlie asks. "We're not — we're just friends."

"She's basically my little sister," Castiel adds. Do they really look that much like a couple?

"Oh, wait, really?" Jess frowns. "I'm sorry, I just thought — well, you know, you were spending the holidays together and all, but I —"

"It's fine," Castiel assures her. With a glance at Dean, he adds, "You're not the first person to say that."

"Can I piggyback on her question, then?" Sam asks. "How long have you known each other?"

Castiel has a feeling he's just trying to get the heat off his girlfriend, and he has to admit, it's kind of adorable.

"Just over ten years," Castiel says. "We used to work together."

"Oh, doing what?" Sam asks.

"Folding clothes and working registers," Castiel replies.

"Very lucrative work," Charlie jokes.

"Ah, yeah, high school jobs are the best," Sam agrees.

"How about you two?" Charlie asks. "How long have you and Jess been together?"

Castiel would like to think this means he's actually free to eat his pizza, so he does just that while he listens.

"Freshman year," Sam replies.

"Four years next month!" Jess adds with a big smile.

"Oh, that's awesome!" Charlie says. "Where'd you guys meet?"

Sam and Jess both begin telling their story together, and Castiel sees movement out of the corner of his eye. He glances over to see Dean opening and closing his hand like a mouth, teasing them. This must be a story they tell a lot.

Though Sam and Jess don't notice, Dean sees that Castiel does and shoots him a smile. Castiel shakes his head, amused. This is such a nice family. He's still not so sure he belongs here, but he can't pretend he doesn't enjoy it.