Snow covered every inch of the ground around them as Cas and Dean made their way from shop to shop. It was a couple of days before Christmas, and Castiel had yet to find a gift for Michael.

"Don't sweat it babe, he's a difficult person, but I'm sure he'll love anything you get him, just because he's your brother." Dean rubbed Castiel's back soothingly as he stared at a shelf in a small store.

"Do you think he reads? Does Michael look like someone who reads? I could get him a book, or a tie, I know he wears ties. But what if he doesn't like it. And just a tie? That's too cheap, I bought Gabe way more, and even Luci more than that. And you-" Castiel cut himself off, shaking his head.

"You better not have spent a fortune on me, I swear. I told you, I've got you and that's more than enough." Castiel blushed at Dean's words and smiled up at him.

"You'll have to wait and see, grease monkey." Dean chuckled and picked up a smooth leather bound journal.

"He'd like this." Castiel turned and smiled brightly.

"You're absolutely right! It's perfect. And if I get him that watch we saw earlier, he'll be finished." Castiel visibly relaxed and kissed Dean's cheek before paying. They made their way back to the store they'd been in earlier and bought the watch Castiel had been worrying over. He was finally done Christmas shopping. The tension rolled off his shoulders completely as he walked into Dean's condo with him, sitting in front of the fireplace and wrapping the few gifts he had left. Dean sunk to the floor beside him, sliding a steaming mug of cocoa in front of his boyfriend.

"All done?" Dean wrapped a fleece blanket around them both and stared at the flames dancing before them. December was cold and a bit bitter, but he was enjoying bundling up with Castiel. Cas nodded and shuffled the gifts aside, nestling into his boyfriends arm and sipping at the mug in his hands. "Tomorrow night we'll all go to Ellen's. She'll make a nice dinner, and we'll eat her wonderful baking before the winter carnival. She has spare rooms, and she prefers it if we stay over, if that's okay. Your brother's, too. And we'll all get up on Christmas morning, and share gifts and eat breakfast. There's a Holiday Parade, too, so we'll do that... and Ellen's Christmas dinner is always fantastic, it'll blow you away." Dean was rambling softly, staring at the fireplace and tracing soft lines against Castiel's arm. The holidays were his favourite, but now, they meant so much more. They had so many family members and friends around this year, and his heart was happy and full. Sam had finally gone to breakfast with Dean at the restaurant a couple weeks back, and had convinced Jess to spend the holidays with them as well, since her folks were heading up to Cuba instead of sticking around in the cold and wet. She'd obliged, having fallen head over heels for the younger Winchester.

"Cas, baby, wake up..." Dean's voice was soft and his lips were right next to Castiel's ear. He must've fallen asleep in front of the fire, his mug was sitting in front of them, and his head was resting in Dean's lap.

"What.. time's it?" he mumbled, peeking up at Dean.

"Only 12:30. Let's get you into bed though." Dean gently stood, helping his boyfriend up and scooping him into his arms, gently laying him in bed. Once Dean got him undressed enough to be comfortable, he stripped himself and laid next to Castiel in bed. He knew he was blessed to be able to spend his nights wrapped up in blankets and Castiel's arms, and to wake up to that beautiful sleeping face every day still made his heart nearly burst. Castiel buried his face in Dean's bare chest, mumbling incoherently before nodding off again. Dean slept peacefully, as usual that night.

"Come on Mikey! We've gotta get downstairs, Dean's waiting for us!" Michael was balancing all his gifts in his arms, attempting to grab his coat and make it out the door. Gabe was tapping his foot impatiently, Lucifer resting a bag up on his shoulder to take downstairs, full of his own gifts.

"Well if you'd just help me with these we would be down there already!" he huffed, glaring at his younger brothers. Gabe laughed and shuffled his own bag to one arm, grabbing as many gifts from Michael as he could.

"Well if you'd thought to bag them up we wouldn't be having this problem now would we?" He chastised his eldest brother, tsking at him before receiving a very stubborn glare in return. He chuckled to himself as they loaded up into the Impala, Dean chattering excitedly about the day ahead. Lucifer stuffed the bag with their toiletries necessities into the backseat, having claimed shot gun. He was beginning to like this place, these people, they'd all grown on him. He'd been polite even, and kind, which was just out of character. Michael had raised him differently than that, as had their father, and he was opening up a new side of himself in this city, surrounded by familiar friendly smiles and home cooked meals. Even Michael had softened up a bit, sharing stories and laughter, smiling at those around him. Lucifer hadn't seen him this at home or relaxed in years, and it almost made him wonder why they bothered with the life they lived if it didn't bring them this, bring them happiness the way they had now. They pulled into Ellen's drive, she owned a huge home, showing a bit of cozy wear, but over all it was a beautiful place. Michael could see now why she insisted they all stay over. Other than driving all the way back to the hotel in the snow and darkness, Ellen liked playing hostess in her large house, liked being the mother. He'd gladly accept. This would be the first holiday season he didn't have to pretend, didn't have to keep his walls up and take care of everyone else. This Christmas would be happy for him, too, and he was excited to let loose, to enjoy himself and lose himself in the magic of Christmas.

"Mom, they'll be showing up soon, do you have everything ready? Is there cookies? You know Gabe will want cookies, ooh, and what about rooms? Do we have it all set up?" Jo worried around the living room, fluffing pillows and quizzing her mom incessantly. Ellen laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Everything's good, Joanna Beth. Relax, Ash and Bobby will be here shortly, and Castiel was on his way. Dean was picking up the boys, they'll be arriving soon. Baking's on the counter, hot cocoa is all ready to go. Let up a little, honey." Jo relaxed and smiled. She liked playing hostess as much as her mother, loved being able to make everyone smile and happy. She'd spent her holidays with the Winchesters and company since she was young. Even when John and Mary were there, they would come up from Lawrence and spend the week with Jo and her mom and dad, and the holidays would feel complete. She'd wrestle and argue with the brothers she'd grown up with, she'd always known how to kick Dean's ass, and Sam always gave up too soon. Bobby would scold them for being too loud, or bringing too much snow into the house, and Ellen would soothe him with a cookie, stuffing it into his mouth while John and Mary laughed at the children. She'd been 8 when Mary's death happened, and she hadn't understood the shift. Dean didn't smile and laugh anymore, and Sam was closed off, he just sat with his books. They'd come to live with Bobby then, when Dean was only 9, Sam 5, and John disappeared. Jo hadn't seen him since. Bobby got Dean working on cars, working on the Impala John had left behind, and it got Dean out of it a little bit, but Sam still didn't talk about it, even to Dean or Jo. Holidays were different, but they got better over time, and Dean smiled now, and Sam was open and clear as day. Jo missed both her father's, her own, and John, the one she'd loved as much as her own. But John had left a bitter taste in Jo's mouth with his departure, yet still she had reserved a special place for him in her heart, especially, now, when his laughter and deep rumble of a voice was missing over the holidays. The dynamic of Christmas had changed drastically over the years, and this year again, with the addition of the Novaks and Jessica Moore, but Jo loved it just as much as any year, if not more. She still had that little girl inside of her, and she couldn't wait to throw snowballs at the back of Dean's head, or tackle Sam into the snow. Her heart was warm and content as her family started to arrive.