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It was hot, like really, stupidly, fucking hot. Dean could feel the sweat trickling down his face, as he sat in the driver’s seat of the impala.
Dean looked in the rear view mirror for a moment to check on his husband and son. Castiel was sat on the right side of the back seat, with little Jack curled up next to him and his head on Castiel’s lap.
Jack had always found long car journeys difficult, Dean understood that, so he was pleased to see Jack so peaceful.
“You guys alright back there?” Dean said as his gaze fell back onto the road ahead.
“Fine Dean.” Castiel’s voice came from the backseat.
“Gabriel messaged me, him and Sam should be there in about 30 minutes, winky face, sticking out tongue face.”
Dean looked back at the rear view mirror, slightly confused. When he saw Cas looking at his phone, he realised what was happening.
“Cas, sweetheart, you don’t have to read the emoji’s”, Dean said with a smile on his face looking at his husband and half-asleep son for a moment longer before focusing back on the road ahead.
“Yes right” Cas replied.
The next twenty minutes of the drive was very quiet, except for the soft hum of the impala and the music that had been turned down for Jack’s sake, that was until a yawn came from the backseat followed by a small voice.
“Are we there yet?” Jack said in sleepy tone.
“Nearly” Cas and Dean said in unison.
Jack sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and within seconds he was wide awake and it had started. Daddy this, Papa that, look at the birdies, can we open the windows? My tummy feels funny, Daddy, Papa, Daddyyyy, Papaaaa.
Out of nowhere Jack squealed, making both Cas and Dean jump.
“What? What happened? Cas?” Dean said a little frantic, looking into the rear view mirror trying to figure out what was going on.
“Jack, honeybee, why are you yelling?” Cas asked his son, who was now sat on his knees looking out the car window.
“Did you see the doggy?” Jack said kicking his feet a little.
Dean sighed softly, of course it was a dog and nothing was wrong.
“Jeez kid” Dean mumbled, then focused back on the road.
Cas laughed, then patted the seat next to him,
“Sit properly Jack.”
“Sorry Papa”, Jack replied sitting back down, swinging his legs again.
Just then Cas’s phone buzzed, he took it out of his pocket, it was Gabe.
“Gabe and Sam are at the beach” Cas said. This got Jack very excited, Uncle Gabe, Uncle Sam, and the beach was just too much for the little boy, he started flapping his arms and squealing again.
“Hey buddy, Daddy needs to concentrate on driving, do you think we could stop the squealing?” Dean said.
“Yes Daddy”, Jack replied, trying his best to calm down his excitement.
Cas was gently rubbing his hand up and down Jack’s back.
Not long after that, Dean, Cas, and Jack made it to the beach. Cas had to pick Jack up to stop him running off, while Dean got their bags out of the trunk.
“Papa look, it’s the ocean”, Jack said wiggling around in Cas’s arms.
“I see Jack” Cas replied, trying his best not to drop his son.
“Daddy, hurry up” Jack called to Dean, who had just closed the trunk, and now had a beach bag in one hand, and Jack’s yellow, giraffe backpack in the other.
“I’m coming kid”
The trio walked down the cobble stone steps onto the beach. Cas put Jack down on the soft, fluffy golden sand. Jack kicked his tiny shoes off and jumped up and down giggling, he loved the feeling of the warm sand under his feet. Cas picked up Jack’s shoes, then took his hand as they walked down the beach.
“Oh no, here comes trouble” a familiar voice said from a few feet away. Dean looked over to see Gabriel and Sam sat on beach towels, a big umbrella stuck in the sand next to them. Jack let go of Cas’s hand and ran towards the pair, he practically threw himself at Sam. Sam wrapped his large arms around the little boy with a chuckle.
“Hi Jack” Sam said.
“Hey little man” Gabe said ruffling Jack’s hair.
As Cas and Dean set down their things, Jack started rambling to his uncles.
“And then Daddy got me a sandwich, and then we we we umm, we saw some ducks, then we got back in the car, then I had a nap, and then I SAW A DOGGY.”
“Wow Jackie, sounds like you’re having a good day” Gabe said.
“The goodest” Jack replied climbing off Sam’s lap, before sitting on the sand, covering his hands in the stuff. Dean had put down a beach towel next to his brother and sat down.
“Hey Sammy” Dean said.
“Hey man, you look beat”, Sam said, and he was right Dean felt exhausted.
“You try driving three hours with a hyperactive toddler in the back seat”.
Sam laughed softly and glanced over at Jack who was making Gabe and Cas help him build a sandcastle.
“So, how’s everything going with Gabe?” Dean asked bringing Sam’s attention back to him.
“Yeah, it’s good, real good, he’s awesome man.” Sam replied.
“It’s good to see you so happy Sammy, so, I was thinking…”
Before Dean was able to finish his sentence, Cas’s deep voice boomed across the beach,
“JACK WAIT A MINUTE.”
That second Dean saw Jack running, very fast for a little kid, right towards an old lady and her small white dog. Dean’s parental instincts kicked in, he got up and took off after his kid. Dean managed to catch up with Jack just as he reached the old lady and her dog, he scooped his son up. With the way Jack was squirming, he ended up upside down in Dean’s arms.
“Jack don’t touch, sorry, he can’t help himself sometimes” Dean said to the old lady.
“It’s quite alright, I understand, my granddaughter is the same” the old lady responded with a sweet smile.
“Hi doggy, hi doggy” Jack said waving at the small, fluffy, white dog, that was now sniffing Dean’s feet, as he dangled upside down in his father’s arms.
“He can pet her if he likes, she’s very friendly.” The old lady said. At that Jack screamed with excitement.
“See Daddy, see, she’s friendly Daddy, I can pet her she’s friendly, I can pet her, can I Daddy, can I, can I?”
Dean sighed, flipping Jack back upright and put him down on the sand, but not before saying, “Okay but you have to be gentle and stay calm.”
“Okay Daddy, yes Daddy” Jack said bouncing up and down trying to calm himself.
The old lady told her dog to sit down, then Jack slowly and gently ran his tiny hand over the white dog’s fluffy coat, he laughed with the biggest grin spreading across his face.
After a while longer of Jack playing with and petting the dog, Dean thanked the old lady, Jack said goodbye to her and her dog, then they walked back to the other three.
Dean couldn’t hold back his laughter at the scene in front of him, Cas was sat on the sand reading a book, but the entertaining bit was happening next to him. Sam had fallen asleep laying on the sand, and Gabe had decided the best thing to do would be to bury Sam in the sand, how could he not.
“Alright boys” Gabe said casually as he packed more of the soft yellow powder onto his boyfriend’s chest.
“What are you doing?” Dean said with a smirk.
“What does it look like? It’s Sandy Sammy!” Gabe chuckled to himself.
“Want some help?” Dean said, his mischievous grin growing.
“Of course, Deano”, Gabe replied.
Dean got down on his knees next to Gabe and started packing sand on top of his brother’s legs. Cas rolled his eyes at the pair, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lip. Jack had gone back to his sandcastle from earlier, he was more than happy entertaining himself now, but Cas was keeping an eye on him considering Jack’s tendency to run.
The peace was short lived. After a while Sam stirred, realising he couldn't move and began to shout at Gabriel and Dean,
“Hey, what are you two idiots doing?”
Gabe and Dean both fell about laughing as Sam tried to wiggle himself free. On hearing the commotion, Jack left his sandcastle and went to join his dad and uncles. The excitement made Jack giddy and he started to throw handfuls of sand at Sam and all over the towels and bags. Laughing joyfully, he shrieked,
“I’m helping, I’m helping!”
Castiel, sensing that Jack was getting a little over excited in the commotion, put down his book and approached his son. Crouching down next to him, Cas spoke softly to Jack,
“How would you like to come for a walk with me to the rock pools and see if we can find any tiny crabs, or snails, or even tiny fish?”
Jack paused momentarily from throwing sand everywhere and then,
“OK! Let’s go!”
Almost instantly turning to run towards the water’s edge.
“Not that way Jack, come and hold my hand and I’ll show you where we need to go.”
Jack did a U-turn and ran back over to his dad giggling, then took his hand. Cas smiled at Jack as they began walking down the beach towards the rock pools. Eventually they found them and Jack was so excited, he was practically shaking.
“Papa where are they? Where are the crabs, and fishies, and, and”
“Honeybee you have to be quiet if you want them to come out and say hello, you don’t want to scare them.” Cas said crouching next to his little boy.
Jack’s eyes widened and one of his tiny hands covered his mouth.
“Look Jack”, Cas pointed down at one of the small, shallow pools of water.
Jack looked down and gasped softly as he saw a small group of tiny orange crabs, no bigger than the end of his finger, the boy’s eyes sparkled with wonder.
“Papa they are so small” Jack said barely above a whisper.
“They are babies” Cas replied, watching the look on his son’s face.
“Where are their Papa and Daddy?” Jack asked looking a little upset now.
“They’ll be here somewhere Jack, they are probably looking for food for their babies.”
Cas slowly and carefully put his hand into rock pool, gently scooping up two of the tiny crabs and then moved his hands slowly towards Jack.
“Do you want to hold them?” Cas asked softly.
Jack’s eyes widened,
“Oh yes Papa, can I? can I?”
“Yes, but you have to be very gentle, they are only little.”
Jack nodded and held his hands out patiently waiting to hold the tiny crabs. Cas slowly passed the crabs to Jack,
“Carefully”, Cas said watching his son closely.
“Yes Papa”, Jack replied as he stayed very still, watching the tiny crabs move on his hands.
“Hahaha, they tickle my hands” Jack said.
“Do you want to put them down” Cas asked.
“Just one more minute Papa.” Cas watched Jack with love filled eyes, his little boy was so kind and warm, Cas loved seeing him happy. After a moment more Cas helped Jack carefully lower the crabs back into the rock pool.
As Cas and Jack were walking back across the beach Jack pointed to the ocean and yelled, “DADDY!” which made Cas jump, he looked over at where Jack had been pointing. Dean, Sam, and Gabe were all waist deep in the dark blue water. Jack ran straight towards Dean and the others.
“Jack, hang on a minute”, Cas called but Jack was gone. This kid should be an Olympic runner, Cas thought to himself.
Jack was waist deep in the water before Dean, Sam, and Gabe knew what was happening.
“Woah kiddo”, Gabe said scooping Jack up in his arms before he could drown himself. Sam and Dean waded their way through the water over to Jack and Gabe. Jack was giggling and kicking his now dripping wet legs.
“I want to play too.” Jack said.
“I know you do buddy, but you can’t just go running into the ocean, okay?” Dean said softly, keeping eye contact with Jack.
“Yes Daddy.” Jack replied as he tried to get back down to the water. Gabe gently lowered Jack into the water just enough for his legs to dip below the surface. Jack laughed and slashed the water with his feet. At that moment Cas came over to the edge of the water, Dean went over to him, leaving Jack in the safe hands of Sam and Gabe.
“Hey sunshine, feel like taking a dip”, Dean said running a hand through his wet hair.
“No thank you Dean, I think I’ll just go back to my book.” Cas replied.
“Well, how about I come with you, Sam and Gabe have got Jack, let’s go have some fun in the sun huh?” Dean asked wrapping his damp arms around Cas’s waist. Cas glanced over at Jack for a moment, who was still in Gabe’s arms.
“Yes alright Dean” Cas said. The smile on Dean’s face grow, then he took Cas’s hand, gently tugging him up the beach as he walked.
When the two of them got back to their bags and towels, without warning Dean wrestled his husband to the sand.
“Dean, Dean what are you do-” Cas’ words cut off as he felt Deans lips against his neck. Cas couldn’t stop himself after that, the feeling of his husbands warm, toned body pressed up against him was too much, Cas pulled Dean’s face level with his, and pressed a deep, passionate kiss to Dean’s soft lips. Their lips moved together, the kiss deepening, tongues sliding, Dean let out a soft moan into Cas’s mouth as Cas cupped Dean’s perfectly round ass.
“AAAAAHHHHHH!!”
Cas and Dean sprang apart, shooting up into sitting positions, they knew that yell all too well, Jack. The pair both looked over towards ocean to see Sam and Gabe throwing Jack back and forth like a ball, Jack was screaming and laughing. Cas sighed with relief.
“Damn, that kid man.” Dean sighed, laying back onto the sand,
“I will get my hands on you one of these days.”
“Yes, well, maybe not on the beach in the middle of the afternoon, in front of our family.”
“Ok, fair point, come on, let’s see if those two idiots and our little firecracker are ready to head out to get some dinner, I know I’m about ready for a greasy burger and fries.”
Cas and Dean began packing away all their things, shaking sand off the towels, and closing Sam and Gabe’s umbrella.
As they finished putting everything in their respective bag’s Sam, Gabe, and Jack came back over. Sam was carrying Jack, as Gabe walked along side them. Jack was shivering in Sam’s arms, his teeth were chattering, and he looked tired. Sam gently put Jack down on the sand, then took Jack’s blue towel out of one of the bags and wrapped the little boy in it as he crouched in front of him.
“Bit better buddy?” Sam asked as he brushed Jack’s damp hair out of his face. Jack nodded, still shivering slightly. Dean scooped Jack up still wrapped in his towel and squeezed him tightly to keep him warm.
“We were just saying it’s probably time to get something to eat” Cas said.
“I could eat, you hungry Jack?” Gabe asked gently messing with Jack’s hair.
“YEAH! I'm hungry, what will we have? I love ice cream you know Daddy, it’s my best favourite to eat.” Jack almost shouted smiling at Dean with hopeful eyes.
“Perhaps you can have some ice cream as desert Jack,” Cas said smiling at his son and husband. They were both looking at him like if they didn’t eat soon, they would both pass out.
“Let’s get this show on the road then!” Gabriel said, grabbing Sam's arm and dragging him towards his car. Dean followed behind Gabe's car all the way to the diner.
They pulled into the parking lot of the diner. The sun was starting to set and the bright neon lights on the diner sign had just been turned on. The lights were too much for Jack, he was getting frustrated and kept rubbing his eyes.
“Cas why don’t you take him inside while I park?” Dean suggested.
“Yes alright” Cas replied, he and Jack got out of the impala and went inside.
Dean felt like he’d been driving in circles for hours but eventually he found a spot to park. When Dean got inside the diner, Cas, Jack, Gabe, and Sam were already sat down in a booth in the back corner. Dean sat down next Cas, just as a pretty young waitress came over and placed menu’s down on the table.
“Hey gorgeous, where you been all my life?” Gabe said to the waitress, resting his chin on his hand, earning him an elbow in the side from Sam. The waitress smiled slightly at Gabe.
“Hey gorgeous” Jack said copying his uncle.
“Thank you, Gabriel,” Cas deadpanned. There were a few laughs from Dean, Gabe, and the waitress. Jack saw the laughs and smiled.
“Hey gorgeous, hey gorgeous, hey gorgeous” Jack repeated.
“Alright that’s enough buddy.” Dean said, trying to hold back his laughter.
“Well, ain’t he just the cutest, would you like some colouring?” the waitress asked, smiling at Jack.
“Oh yes, yes please” Jack said kicking his legs.
The waitress left for a moment, coming back with a colouring picture of a pizza and some crayons, she put them down in front of Jack before taking everyone’s orders.
Their meals arrived and the family quickly settled in a comfortable rhythm of eating, chatting and helping Jack if needed. There wasn’t much chatting as everyone was far hungrier than they previously thought. Once they had finished the requests for ice cream began. Jack was wide eyed and insistent.
“You said after dinner Papa! It’s after dinner now, please can I have ice cream, pleeeeease!”
Cas and Dean shared a brief smiled before Dean replied,
“Alright alright, what flavour you want bud?”
“STRAWBERRY, NO CHOCOLATE, NO VANILLA, NO STRAWBERRY,NO…”
Jack was tired and overstimulated, Castiel could tell Jack was beginning to become overwhelmed. Placing a gentle hand on Jack's arm to draw his attention, Cas spoke to him in a soft calm voice.
“Why don’t we see if you can have a small scoop of each flavour and if it’s too much for you I’m sure Daddy will help you finish it.”
Dean smiled, in awe of the patience and resolve of his husband. “Sure thing” he said watching as Jack already seemed calmer, a huge yawn escaping from his little mouth.
Jack ate his ice cream slowly, pushing it around the dish, eyes beginning grow heavy. Cas and Dean shared a knowing glance, time to head home.
The family made their way back to their cars.
“I’m going to get Jack settled into the car”, Cas said to Dean, looking around to Sam and Gabriel he smiled. “Thank you for a wonderful day, we’ll see you both soon, say goodbye Jack.”
Jack's head lifted momentarily from Cas’s shoulder, and he gave a small wave of his hand but didn’t speak. The men chuckled.
“Later Bro, Bye Jackie,”
“Yeah, bye Cas, bye Jack, see you guys soon.”
Cas walked to the car; Jack now almost certainly asleep on his shoulder.
Deam hugged his brother, then Gabe.
“Cath up again soon yeah?” Dean smiled.
“Yeah, course man, I’ll call you this weekend and we can make plans.” Sam said, leaning against Gabes car.
“Ta Ta Dean-o, take care of my baby brother and my baby nephew.”
“Always do man, always do.”
Dean waved as Sam and Gabe pulled away and walked back to the impala. He climbed in and as he was about to ask how everyone was doing, he looked in the rear view mirror to see Castiel and Jack both fast asleep.
“Awesome Day” he smiled to himself as he pulled out of the parking lot to begin their journey home.