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When Kim, Eileen's maid of honor, approaches Dean at first with her proposal to send a bunch of invites to famous celebrities, he doesn't think much of it.
Yes, he initially reacts confused since he can't really fathom why anyone would do such a thing, but as she keeps on insisting that this is a popular trend and “everybody is doing it these days”, accompanied by her big hazel eyes piercing through his skin, obviously eager to poke his heart, he doesn't see any reason to put up a fight about this.
“It'll be great,” Kim tells him excitedly. “I mean, I'm not sure how much will come from this, of course, but I've heard that at least some people send a card back. Wouldn't that be a nice surprise for Eileen and Sam on their day? Congratulations from the president himself …”
As she keeps on gushing about her grand plans, Dean just hums along and lets her do her thing.
What's the worst that can happen?
---
Between wedding preparations and the general craziness of life Dean forgets all about it.
Yes, occasionally Kim offers him some status updates – which either consist of disappointment by the lack of response or actual glee when one of her celebrities (or, more like, their managements) actually does send a life sign back –, but overall Dean mostly nods and saves it in the back of his brain where it gets lost in a pitch-black corner soon enough.
---
The day itself is perfect.
Granted, not everything goes down smoothly (because when does anything in life?), but Sam is properly anxious and allows Dean to comfort him with a pat on his back and a drink before he steps in front of the altar and actually bursts into (a few manly) tears at the sight of Eileen walking down the aisle.
Dean can't exactly blame him because her dress is gorgeous, she is gorgeous, and if he wouldn't love her so much as the sister he never had he would totally marry her as well.
And when Eileen and Sam stand in front of the officiate and say their vows which are both romantic and lighthearted, Dean watches them with a big smile and can't help but think that maybe, someday, he would like to have something like this as well.
---
Eventually they migrate towards the reception and at first everything goes off without a hitch either. At least Dean finds himself with little to do than catching up with people, nursing his first beer and praying for the food to be ready soon.
And so, within all this whirlwind, he completely misses the commotion at the entrance at first, too captivated by Benny telling him about the bar he purchased a while ago to give it much attention.
But when he suddenly hears someone's aunt exclaim, “Oh my Lord!” in that disbelieving tone while she clutches her pearls dramatically, Dean finds himself effectively lured in too.
“What's going on?” he wonders, even though Benny seems to be none the wiser than he is.
Dean doesn't have to wait too long for an answer, though, because suddenly Kim pops up right beside him out of nowhere, her eyes as big as saucers.
“Are you seeing this?” she presses through her teeth, her voice vibrating so hard she actually doesn't sound very human anymore.
Dean frowns. “Seeing what?”
In lieu of a verbal response she simply grabs him by the arm and pulls him towards the entrance with surprising strength for such a tiny body. Dean surely has a hard time not stumbling too fiercely over his own feet in order to keep up with her.
“What –?” he complains as his gaze roams over the room, desperate to get to the bottom of this.
Most of the guests have found themselves in the same corner of the room, either chatting animatedly, just staring in shock or shooting a lot of photos with their phones. Dean creases his forehead before Kim forcefully pushes him right through the masses, not at all caring whether she might cause him a few bruises along the way.
When Dean has finally squeezed himself to the center of things, the first thing he registers is the bride and groom being right here with him. Their eyes, though, are both settled on another person who appears to be the only one completely relaxed.
Dean glances at the man in the dark suit and quickly enough he probably looks just as shell-shocked as the rest of the assembled group.
Because right there, at the center of attention, stands Castiel Novak.
A-list actor.
Hollywood's sweetheart.
One of the famous of the most famous.
And for some reason he found himself in this little rented room in rural Kansas.
Dean's jaw goes slack as he forgets how breathing works for a moment. He takes the man in front of him in – that disheveled hair, the intensely blue eyes, the form-fitting clothes, and the warm smile on his features as he quietly talks to Sam and Eileen who keep on gaping at him all starstruck – and he seriously has no idea what to do.
Kim, at least, does have enough brain capacity left to push Dean even closer, her eagerness to be near it all clearly overriding her general shock.
“I can't believe you are actually here!” she blurts out, interrupting whatever Castiel is just saying to the bride and groom.
While the actor merely shoots her a gentle look, apparently not at all bothered by that woman's directness, Eileen is able to shake herself out of it just enough to stare at her maid of honor.
“Did you know about this?” she asks, her voice holding too many emotions to distinguish them all.
Kim's grin widens. “Well, we sent some invites to famous people,” she says while grasping onto Dean as though he had been just as involved as she was. “You know, for fun. We thought we would maybe get a couple of nice cards back and give them to you as a surprise today, but this –” she gestures towards Castiel standing next to them in flesh and blood, “I didn't expect this.”
Castiel chuckles quietly. “I apologize for showing up unannounced. I would have liked to give you a heads-up, but my management insisted on keeping it a secret, for security reasons. I hope it's not too much of an inconvenience?”
Both Sam and Eileen hurry to assure that it most definitely isn't.
“I also apologize for missing the ceremony,” the actor continues. “But I figured my presence would have been too much of a distraction and I also know from experience that this is always an intimate setting for friends and family …”
“We wouldn't have minded,” Sam says quickly, even though it's fair to assume that he is actually glad that the entire attention rested on Eileen during the ceremony and not some actor who decided to show up out of the blue.
Sam and Castiel keep on chatting for a while longer while they ignore everyone around them gaping at them like they're some zoo animals.
Eventually, though, Castiel lets his gaze wander around and Dean winces when it finally lands on him. “Maybe your best man would be so kind as to show me to the dressing room?” he asks Sam. “I seriously need to freshen up a bit.”
Once again Sam and Eileen nearly topple over themselves in their hurry to accommodate the new guest. At least Sam doesn't even remember to consider Dean's stance on things when he reassures, “Yes, of course, Dean will show you the way.”
And then he sends a warning glare at his brother, as if he expects Dean to cause some unnecessary drama here and now all of a sudden.
Dean shoots a scowl back before straightening his jacket and telling Castiel, “Yeah, c'mon.”
He leads the way and everyone parts for them like they're the Red Sea. Dean doesn't dare to look at any of them and he especially doesn't dare to even glimpse at Castiel as they leave the room and finally find themselves alone in the hallway. He only registers his own tension and anxiety as he keeps on moving and ultimately opens the door to the small dressing room.
They step into it, quietly, and also don't make a sound when Dean quickly closes the door again. It also remains silent as Dean does a quick sweep of the premises, making sure that nobody is hiding in some dark corner who could overhear their conversation.
As soon as Dean is sure that they're indeed all on their own, he whirls around towards Cas, his emotions threatening to boil over all at once.
“What the hell, man?” he exclaims. “What are you doing here?”
Cas merely blinks at him. “I was invited,” he reminds Dean. And when he doesn't get an immediate response but solely a blank stare in response, Cas elaborates, “By you.”
Dean opens and closes his mouth a couple of times, too stunned by it all to have his brain function properly.
And then he states, “I didn't invite you.”
“I beg to differ,” Cas objects, calm as ever.
That's the thing with the guy. He never seems to lose his nerves.
And granted, you probably have to get yourself a thick skin in this business, but sometimes Dean honestly would like to see a little more feelings on those features.
Before he is able to say anything, though, Cas is pulling out one of those celebrity invitations Kim sent out for fun and games a while ago. And it appears she also put Dean's name on them as well.
It never occurred to him because, frankly, he couldn't be bothered, but now his own name is glaring frantically back at him.
He grinds his teeth. “So what? You just decided to show up, without giving me some sort of warning?”
Cas sighs while putting the invite back into his jacket pocket. “I assumed it was an olive branch.”
Dean scoffs. “It was not,” he states. “I actually had no idea the maid of honor had sent you an invitation as well.”
Cas' gaze lowers. “I see.”
He sounds disappointed.
Resigned.
“Well, if you rather see me gone, I will give my best wishes to the happy couple,” Cas says. “I don't want to cause any more trouble –”
This sounds like the most reasonable plan considering the circumstances and yet Dean's hackles raise at the mere suggestion.
“That's it?” he hisses. “You just wanna leave?”
Cas looks at him. “You're making it abundantly clear that you don't want me here.”
“You're an idiot.”
“Which further proves my point –”
“The biggest, most massive idiot!”
Cas inhales deeply. “You already told me that before, remember? The last time we saw each other, to be precise.”
“I had reason to be mad at you!” Dean snaps. “I still have reason!”
“I understand …”
Does he?
Really?
Dean scowls at the man and hates that he feels so much. He just wants to be angry and be done with that, but instead there are a myriad of emotions rushing through his system and making him dizzy.
He has never been able to be normal around Cas.
Never.
“I'm sorry,” Cas apologizes, sounding genuinely sincere. “I didn't mean to stir up anything by showing up. I just – when I saw the invitation, I was so relieved. I was afraid that after our last conversation … well, I was afraid.”
Dean bites his lower lip.
Right, their last conversation.
Or fight, to be honest.
Dean barely recalls it all. He just knows that he said a lot of stuff in anger he shouldn't have and that he felt bad about it soon after, but, as always, couldn't bring himself to apologize and instead let it all cook inside of him.
He's never been one to uphold a healthy relationship.
So why should it have been any different now?
After all, meeting a movie star by chance about a year ago – after bumping into each other so hard in a dark alley that they almost gave one another concussions –, staying in contact with him via texts and phone calls and whatnot for months, slowly falling in love with the guy while coming to terms with the fact that he might not be as exclusively straight as he had told himself all his life, only to have everything crashing down on him in just one night seems quite on brand for Dean.
So what if he felt more than ever before?
That only meant that Cas could hurt him even more.
And yet here Cas is, apparently afraid that Dean was keen on breaking off all contact with him.
“I'm so sorry,” Cas urges once more. “I never meant to make you feel like …”
He trails off, obviously not really sure what word to apply in this situation.
Thankfully Dean is always happy to help out. “Like trash?” he suggests.
Cas actually looks quite devastated hearing that. “Is that what you felt like?”
Dean ducks his head, unable to look into those lively eyes, as he grits through his teeth, “How else was I supposed to feel? After months we finally kissed and then we had sex and the next morning you're telling me that you're gonna leave me.”
They had met up, in a nice hotel.
Under the pretense of hanging out, like friends do. But during their movie marathon they ended up closer than ever before and somewhere along the way Dean found himself brave and stupid enough to kiss the guy. Cas reciprocated instantly and so they spent the rest of the movie making out on the couch like teenagers.
And then, at some point, clothes got shed one by one and Dean was led to that big and scary bed while Cas kissed all his nervousness away with such tenderness Dean was barely able to handle it.
They made love that night.
Yes, it's a stupid term, Dean is the first to admit that, and yet you can't describe it any other way.
They made love, slow and soft, and Dean never felt more safe in his life.
He was happy. So very happy.
And yes, also scared, because he hadn't told anyone in his family about Cas at that point or the fact that he might (most definitely) be bisexual, and yet Dean couldn't wipe the stupid smile off his face.
Well, until the moment the very next morning when Cas casually mentioned that he accepted an offer for a movie and that he would be out of the country for the next ten months or so.
It felt like a punch to the gut.
Admittedly, Dean isn't proud of how he reacted. How he basically exploded into Cas' face and how he kept on ranting while gathering up his clothes and eventually running out of the room without giving the guy a chance to explain things further. He could only think about how he had experienced the most amazing night of his life and how eager Cas was to get as far away from him as possible right after.
Dean had blocked all calls and texts from Cas ever since. Tried to forget all about it. Told himself that it was a mere one-night-stand with a celebrity that he would one day brag about in front of his friends.
He knows that this hadn't been the most mature reaction and he is very aware that he's got a lot of issues in this department and that Sam would read him the riot act if he would learn about any of this, but Dean has been taught early on to rely on his anger and his low self-esteem and somehow, unfortunately, Cas managed to hit all those buttons.
“Dean,” Cas whispers, clearly debating with himself whether to step closer or not. “I would never treat you like trash. And deep down you know that, right?”
That's another thing with the guy. For some reason he seems to know Dean inside out already and it's both terrifying and also rather puzzling because somehow he hasn't run for the hills yet.
“I apologize for making you feel less,” Cas says with a sigh. “Especially … well, especially after the night we had. After this wonderful, magical night I just can't forget.”
Dean senses something stir inside of him. “You can't?”
Cas throws him a little smile. “It was perfect,” he states. “Everything I had dreamed of since the moment I met you. I actually couldn't believe my luck.”
Castiel Novak, one of the most influential celebrities of the decade, suddenly looks at Dean Winchester, a mere mechanic from Kansas with not much to his name, as though he is the most beautiful thing in existence.
Dean blushes fiercely.
“These last few weeks without you,” Cas goes on, “without one little word from you or even one of those silly memes you always send me and I will never truly understand – it was all so hollow.”
Dean squirms on the spot, quite uncomfortable all of a sudden.
Nobody has said anything remotely like this to him before.
“I won't claim I'm not to blame for this,” Cas says. “I'm so used to not having anyone in my life who cares whether I'm close to them or not … I just took the offer without much thought. I liked the script and the director and I …” He flails his arms around helplessly. “God, Dean, this has been my life for so long. If I was in New York or Timbuktu or South Africa for weeks or months – there was nobody around to give a damn.” He falls silent for a moment and then adds, “Until you.”
Dean feels his heart pounding fiercely in his chest. It actually hurts.
“I know the timing was absolutely terrible,” Cas continues, so much passion in his tone now. “But I didn't think and you know how awkward I can be around social interactions –”
Dean sure knows that. It's one of Cas' most endearing qualities, in his opinion.
“– and it was all a huge mistake,” Cas rambles on. “I canceled the movie and even told my agent to look for accommodations in Kansas since I'm pitiful like that, but I can't help it because I'm so in love with you and I can't bear the thought of being apart from you for much longer –”
Dean gasps at those words.
And for a minute he actually thinks that his knees might give up on him right here and now, making him topple to the ground like a puppet whose strings have been cut.
“Cas …” he croaks.
“And I apologize if I'm coming on too strong,” Cas states. “But I figured that I didn't have much to lose anyway, so what the fuck, right? Might as well.”
Of all the things it's the unexpected swearing that finally jolts Dean out of his stupor. He releases an embarrassing sound deep from his throat as he strides up to Cas, basically shoves him against the nearest wall and connects their lips in a bruising kiss.
Cas flinches on instinct at first, but he is on board soon enough, and for a long and wonderful moment they both pour absolutely everything into that kiss. Their love and devotion, their frustration and anger, their lust and passion.
And then it turns gentle and slow and they keep on kissing each other far beyond their limits. Once or twice Dean thinks he might pass out from a lack of oxygen and yet he can't bring himself to draw back and waste even one precious second to get some air.
In the end, though, they need to pull back at least a little bit. They don't go far, are basically still panting into each other's mouth, yet it gives Dean the opportunity to whisper, “I love you, too.”
Cas' expression seems to melt then and there.
And then he drags Dean back into another life-changing kiss and neither of them speaks for a long while.
---
For a while Dean actually believes that he might experience his second time with Cas right here in this dressing room at his brother's wedding.
But somehow they find just enough common sense between both of them to refrain from shedding their clothes right this instant.
Not without some regret, though.
As they find themselves busy straightening themselves again before anyone might wonder about their long absence and come looking for them, Dean finds himself saying, “I'm really sorry, too, by the way. For acting like a child and blocking you instead of … y'know.”
“It's alright, Dean,” Cas says.
“No, it's not,” Dean makes himself clear. “I should've talked to you. But …”
“But you were hurt and you lashed out,” Cas finished. “You were trying to protect yourself. I do understand that.”
“I'm still sorry, though,” Dean says quietly. “And I can't promise not to be an ass ever again in the future, but I will try to do better.”
Cas smiles at him. “Let's just agree to communicate openly with each other from now on, yes?”
That surely doesn't sound like the worst idea Dean ever heard.
“Okay,” he agrees.
They continue to bring themselves back into shape silently for a moment longer before Dean adds, “Also, I didn't mean for you to cancel that movie deal.”
Cas certainly shouldn't jeopardize his career for him.
The man, however, only shoots him a warm look. “It's fine, Dean,” he assures him. “I still have fifty other offers on my table, I won't be unemployed anytime soon.” He scoots closer and starts to straighten Dean's tie. “Besides, it gave me an opportunity to think. Maybe it is time for a little break.”
Dean finds unable not to beam at that. “Yeah?”
“I have been working nonstop,” Cas tells him. “And I never really minded because I didn't have anything else in my life waiting for me. But now …”
Dean leans forward and kisses him chastely. “A break might do you some good,” he agrees. “Not only for my sake, though, but for yourself too. You need to take better care of yourself.”
“You're right,” Cas confirms, wrapping his arms around Dean's neck and pulling him closer. “Maybe you could help me with that?”
Dean smirks. “Lucky for you I'm an expert in taking care of people.”
Cas laughs at that. “Lucky me indeed.”
---
They return to the reception at some point and at first most of the guests lay siege on Cas, eager for a word or a glance or just a quick photo, while Dean keeps his distance and pretends to not be bothered by it all. Of course he can't keep himself from shooting quick glimpses into the guy's direction more often than not, but since everyone is enraptured by Cas it doesn't stir up too much attention.
At some point, when the newly wedded couple finally has their first dance – looking so stupidly happy Dean is even unable to tease his brother for it – and more people ultimately join them on the dance floor, Dean is capable of sneaking back to Cas' side once more.
They stay side by side and both fight hard not to reach for one another. At least Dean never had such a difficult time before to not take someone's hand into his.
“Your brother is very nice,” Cas eventually whispers. “He seems to be everything you told me about him.”
“You will meet him properly soon,” Dean promises, a bit terrified by the thought of coming out to so many people, but loving Cas enough to be willing to go through with it. “I didn't want to steal his thunder by introducing you as my boyfriend today of all days.”
Cas appears amused by the term, but doesn't comment on it. Instead he says, “And one day we shall openly dance as well.”
“Over my dead body, buddy.”
Cas shoots him a little side-glance. “We shall see.”
Dean can't help but groan internally. “You're gonna be a menace from now on, aren't you?”
“And you will love it,” Cas swears.
The sad thing is, he is probably right.
---
Later that day, when all the guests have gone, and Sam prepares to take his new wife home, Dean intercepts his brother with a wide grin and teasing, “Have fun at your wedding night.”
Sam huffs. “You mean, as much fun as you had with Castiel Novak in that dressing room today?”
Dean ends up so stunned by those words he freezes for a whole minute.
Just staring at Sam with wide eyes.
Who, in turn, merely laughs loudly at Dean's reaction.
“Oh please, don't act so surprised,” Sam chuckles. “You were gone for like forty minutes and you might have made an effort to look presentable again, but I know you, dude. Your clothes and lips were telling a very distinctive story.”
Dean keeps on being frozen.
Sam claps him on the shoulder. “Don't worry. As soon as I'm back from our honeymoon, you can tell me all about your boyfriend.” He joyfully watches Dean getting even more shocked before he says, “I mean, I assume he is the one who you have been texting and calling for months now, right? The one who always makes you giggle like a little girl with a crush.”
That finally makes Dean scowl big time. “I don't giggle –” he growls while Sam continues to snicker, visibly gleeful.
Dean glowers at him for a while longer, putting his whole energy into it, but eventually his features relax and he asks, almost a bit timidly because apparently he is pathetic like that, “So you … don't mind? The guy thing, I mean?”
Also Sam's expression turns a little more somber. “I've gotta confess, I didn't expect Castiel Novak of all people,” he says. “That really threw me off the loop there and you seriously need to tell me how you came to know the guy …”
He shakes his head in disbelief and Dean sure gets it, he still feels like that most of the time too. Whenever he sees Cas on the TV screen or a movie poster or something it is such an utterly strange sensation it makes him lightheaded.
“But the guy thing in general?” Sam nonchalantly shrugs his shoulders. “Dude, it's been pretty obvious. I mean, let's not even start with that Dr. Sexy or whatever the name –”
While Dean finds himself flushing once again for apparently being so predictable, there is suddenly a snort coming from behind him and he turns around to see himself confronted with Eileen just rolling her eyes.
“Don't listen to that idiot,” she tells Dean, pointing at her husband whose lips she probably had just read. “He didn't have a clue until I told him about it.”
Dean lifts an eyebrow. “You did?”
“I've been hinting about you for years,” Eileen explains with a snort. “He either didn't get it or never believed me. He is truly as clueless as you expected him to be.”
While Dean actually feels a bit relieved hearing that, Sam pouts at her.
“Hey!” he complains. “We're a team! You're supposed to be on my side.”
“I'm your wife,” she reminds him. “And that means I'm on your brother's side now, just for the hell of it.”
Sam's pout deepens and Dean laughs even louder at him.
“You're way too good for him,” Dean tells her adoringly. “For any one of us, really.”
“I know,” she agrees easily, squeezing his cheek like he is the most adorable kid. “It's my burden to carry.”
Dean grins at her and then presses a soft kiss onto her temple because he is more than a little thrilled that she is officially his sister now.
Eileen chuckles as she leans closer for a moment.
“Bring your boyfriend around as soon as we're back from our honeymoon,” she insists. “I want to meet him.”
Dean moves back just enough that she can see his lips. “You wanna meet Castiel Novak The Actor or Cas My Boyfriend?”
“Both!” she doesn't hesitate to answer. “Though I'm especially excited about the latter.”
“You're the best,” he whispers and he means it with his whole heart.
---
Later that night Dean texts Cas about the entire thing and his boyfriend is both amused by Sam's humiliation and pleased by Eileen's wittiness. And then he freaks out because he never really met anyone's family before and he starts to ask Dean a million questions about what to do to make a good first impression.
Dean just smiles at his phone and ultimately writes back, Just be yourself, Cas. That's more than enough.