Castiel stretched, shutting his eyes against the morning light. He felt the absence of warmth that usually was beside him and blinked slowly, reaching an arm across the empty sheets, searching. He heard the shower running and glanced side ways at the alarm clock Dean kept on his nightstand. It was 7:30, much earlier than Dean was usually awake, but maybe nerves had him on edge also. It was a sunny Saturday morning, and Castiel slowly let his mind catch up. Dean came out of the bathroom, hair damp and pushed up into it's usual spiky style. Castiel smiled softly and sat up, kissing him good morning.

"Michael called, said he'd like to meet us for breakfast. I told him we'd meet him at the hotel by 8. He said there's a decent restaurant connected that'll work." Dean ran his hands up and down his boyfriend's back soothingly, smiling warmly down at him. Castiel grimaced and sighed. He should've known they wouldn't give him a couple of human hours to prepare. Dean seemed ready, despite how disinterested Luci and Michael had seemed in him the night before. He really was trying, at least for Castiel's sake, to get along with his family.

"Fine, let me shower and mentally prepare for the next few hours." Dean chuckled as he watched Castiel drag himself to the bathroom. He grabbed a nice pair of dark blue jeans and a deep red button up shirt. It wasn't what he usually wore, especially out for breakfast, but it just seemed appropriate. Castiel's family was different, which he'd been warned about, but he hadn't expected this. Despite how kindhearted and soft Castiel could be, his family was business, and nothing but. Aside from Gabe, who was business with lot's of sugar on top. Dean smiled softly at the drastic turn his life had made because of car troubles and daunting blue eyes. He couldn't have asked for anything better.

Castiel walked out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel and stopped dead in his tracks. What was Dean wearing. He appraised him with wide eyes, mouth slightly agape and Dean's eyes widened innocently, looking down at himself nervously.

"Too much?" his voice was sheepish and Castiel looked up into his eyes, shaking his head.

"Not at all, you dress up wonderfully, I'd forgotten." He kissed Dean earnestly and leaned his forehead against the other's. "Thank you again, for all of this, for humouring me and my messy family affairs. I know it can't be easy." Dean shook his head, forehead rubbing softly against his lover's.

"I don't mind at all, I want you. You and your messy family and every other bit of baggage that may come along. I'll take it all." Castiel felt the blush rising in his cheeks and had to bite back the tears that threatened to well up. How had he managed to get so damn lucky? He reluctantly pulled away and pulled on a pair of black tight fitting jeans and a white button up shirt, throwing his usual blue tie on top and shrugging into his favourite trench coat. Dean slipped his leather coat on and followed Castiel out to the Impala. Castiel slipped in, comfy in the passenger seat and leaned his head back, letting the sound of rock and Dean's voice as he sang along relax him. He knew he was probably being ridiculous, letting his family get him so tense, but he couldn't help it. He just wasn't like them. Dean parked skillfully in front of the hotel and walked with Castiel inside the restaurant. It was quite nice, especially for being attached to a hotel, and Dean smiled softly when he saw the three Novaks sitting at a table across the room. When Gabe noticed their entrance, he lit up, waving to the two men and smiling brightly. Dean really could get used to Gabe.

"Hey boys!" Gabe's boisterous voice made Dean chuckle as Castiel flushed, unused to the attention Gabe brought with him. Michael and Luci shared a look and he saw Michael roll his eyes at his younger brother's outburst. Suddenly, he was glad Gabe was so loud. He liked that Michael got annoyed by it. Slowly he was realizing he didn't really care much for his older brother. The distance made it easier to pretend, but in such close quarters, he was unsure how the month would go for the two of them. Dean placed a reassuring hand on his lower back as he lead them to the table and pulled out his chair for him, causing Castiel's cheeks to flush, as they normally did around Dean.

"Yes, hello you two. Thank you again, Dean, for picking us up last night. The hotel you recommended is great as well." Michael spoke with an air of authority and seriousness to him which set both Dean and Cas off. Dean wasn't used to it, so he nodded softly.

"Uhm, it was no problem really. I'm glad you settled in well." He picked softly at the cuff of his dress shirt and was about to speak to break the uncomfortable silence when a cute little waitress walked over to their table.

"Hello there, my name's Jess, and I'll be helping you out this morning. Can I get you started with something?" She had wavy blonde hair that was tied up in an elastic, a petite slim frame, and stormy eyes that shone even in the false light of the restaurant. Dean could see she might be a good match for Sam, and he made a mental note to take Sam here as soon as he could. They ordered and began making small talk as they all settled into each other's company. Dean was good at reading people, and it didn't take long before he felt like he knew the Novaks inside and out. Michael was strict, and too old for his young age and looks. His eyes were weary, wiser than his years and he sat with authority. He was aware of everyone around him, and looked at his brothers with a mixture of pride and gentleness if you looked hard enough. Luci, which Dean quickly learned was a preferable nickname to his strange name, Lucifer, was tough and always held a permanent smirk on his face. He poked fun in lower blows than Dean was used to hearing, like he wanted to make you hurt somehow. But he could sense that Lucifer was pushing the attention away from himself, putting up walls to ensure he couldn't get hurt. Dean made another mental note to ask Castiel just what had happened with his family to cause such a strange dynamic. Gabriel was bright and alive, his eyes shining, and Dean could tell the strife and trials the older brothers had gone through were to ensure, much as he'd done with Sam, that at least one of them had a shot. He bragged shamelessly about his shop, said that business was booming and that he'd love it if Castiel came up to take a look sometime. He spoke fondly of his clientele and his co-owner Charlie. Dean thought he might like to meet her someday, she sounded kind, and he felt he'd get along with her well. It might be good for him and Castiel to get away for awhile anyways.

Castiel had calmed considerably through the meal, relaxing as he watched with amusement while Gabe soaked his already sweet pancakes with more fruity syrup and dug right in. He watched as Michael nursed a veggie omelette, and as Luci picked away at his bacon and eggs. Dean was eating a breakfast sandwich with hash browns, and Cas was slowly working at his own omelette. It was calm and peaceful in the small restaurant and Castiel felt like maybe he could get along better with his family, that maybe he should see them more often if they could all get along as well as they were now.

"So Dean, what do you do for a living?" Luci asked, head propped up in the palm of his hand, elbow perched on the table. His eyes shone and made both Dean and Castiel nervous.

"I run the Roadhouse downtown, and on my off days I try and help my Uncle Bobby out at his auto shop. That's where I met Cas, actually." Michael and Luci raised a brown at the fond nickname and Luci donned his usual smirk.

"Really... do tell." He took a meticulous bite of his bacon, eyes never leaving Dean's.

"He brought in his Lincoln, the poor girl was practically run to death. He was full of sass and judgement, I was sure I'd hate him." Castiel smirked fondly at the memory and listened intently. He'd never heard Dean recall this, and it both amused and pleased him. "I worked on his car, made her look and run good as new for him though, did my job well. He left me a more than generous tip, being a smart-ass, and tacked his number to it. I figured, what the hell? And rang it up the next day. And here we are." Dean snuck a warm glance to the man seated beside him, who smiled back brightly and resisted the urge to kiss his boyfriend right there in front of his very judgmental older brothers. He settled for squeezing Dean's knee gently under the table.

"How very sweet-" Michael's chastising comment was cut short by Gabe's chorus of 'awww' as he set his fork down, plopping his chin onto his hand.

"You two are so freaking cute it hurts my heart, Cassie. I'm glad you found someone like him, he's a good one." Dean felt the heat in his cheeks and coughed awkwardly as Castiel laughed and smiled at his brother. Gabe knew how to make everything better, he decided. He loved his little brother. Dean treated everyone to breakfast, insisting it was his pleasure, that he was glad the Novaks were in town. Michael and Luci were shocked by his gentlemanly action and sat back silently as Dean paid, leaving a larger tip than he should've. Maybe if he buttered this Jess up, Sam would have a chance next time they came in there. As they left the restaurant, Dean started to speak, standing outside of the hotel with them.

"So, I'm sure Castiel has informed you, but I was hoping you'd all be willing to join my family for the holidays. Ellen, my... mother figure is hosting Christmas. She has a huge house, and my Uncle, younger brother and a few family friends will be there. It would be our pleasure to host you for the holidays, if you'll let us." The way Dean spoke, with formality and politeness caught Cas off guard yet again. He thought, maybe, there were more sides to Dean Winchester than he was aware of. Michael smiled, for the first time since he'd arrived and clapped Dean on the shoulder.

"That's very kind of you, thank you so much for the invitation. We'd love to, wouldn't we?" he glanced back at his brothers, Gabe was nearly bouncing out of excitement and Luci looked static as usual.

"Yes, that'd be wonderful Winchester, thank you." Luci smirked even more and crossed his arms. Gabe lightly punched Dean's shoulder and smiled widely.

"Yeah Dean-o! That'd be fantastic. Christmas with the Winchesters, woo-hoo!" Dean couldn't help but laugh at the youngest Novak, smiling brightly in return. Castiel could've swooned at how well everything was going. This could be the best holidays yet.