Chapter Text
Castiel stepped into the bookstore, his shoes squelching uncomfortably as he did so. He breathed in the familiar scent of books and stale pastries and nodded at the women sitting behind the counter.
“Castiel, you’re back!” exclaimed Muriel. “What has it been, a year?”
“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it,” Castiel replied. “I just stopped in to say ‘hi’ and ‘bye.’ I’m on the four o-clock boat.”
“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry about your brother,” Hester said, smiling sympathetically.
“Don’t let *him* hear you say that,” Castiel said. “I’m sure he had this place bugged and is listening from Heaven. He had the time of his life this last year, and wouldn’t let me forget it. Kali the model this, Italians and Parisians that.”
“It was so good of you to travel with him,” Muriel said.
“Yes, you’re a good man, Charles,” Sheila added.
“Ah it was my pleasure,” Castiel said. “And Carmen’s money. She really is generous, isn’t she.”
“Speaking of, have you heard Dean Winchester’s new album?” Hester asked.
Castiel gave his head a little shake.
“He dedicated it to her, listen to this,” Muriel said, opening the CD and reading the dedication. “’To ‘C’, the only person that could get me to tie the knot. I’m glad I married you.’ Isn’t that just the sweetest?”
“That’s nice,” Castiel said absently, turning to go.
“Wait, before you leave won’t you sign a couple copies of your guidebook?” Hester called.
But Castiel was already gone.
“Don’t worry,” Sheila said smiling. “He’ll be back.”
…
Castiel was waiting for the boat with his suitcase, resolutely trying to avoid thinking about Dean Winchester. So imagine his surprise when the boat pulled up, and Dean Winchester was on it. Dean grinned when their eyes met, and Castiel stood there frozen while he climbed off.
“What are you doing here?” Castiel asked roughly.
Dean raised his eyebrows. “Well Cas, I did try to get your attention in conventional ways. Phones, emails,” he said.
“I’ve been away,” Castiel replied.
“Yeah, and you’re leaving again.”
“Come on then,” the boat driver said. Castiel lifted his suitcase into the boat.
“Did you hear my new album?” Dean asked hurriedly.
“No,” Castiel admitted.
“You really should have listened to it,” Dean said. Castiel frowned. “So you didn’t see the dedication then,” Dean prodded as Castiel stepped into the boat.
“It’s dedicated to Carmen,” Castiel said, squinting.
“No it’s not,” said Dean.
The boat started moving away from the shore.
“What?” Castiel shouted.
“It’s not,” Dean yelled frantically.
Castiel scrambled to the front of the boat. “Do you have a copy of Dean Winchester’s new album,” he asked the driver. The driver handed it over and Castiel opened it. He skimmed down the insert until he had passed the part Muriel read earlier.
“P.S.,” it read. “A song CAN be a whole album.”
Castiel’s heart stopped. “Turn around,” he barked at the driver. “Please!”
The driver shrugged and complied.
When Castiel reached the shore, he couldn’t help but stare at the Dean, still standing there, flannel shirt flapping in the wind. He lifted his suitcase out of the boat and Dean took it from him gently, grazing Castiel’s hand as he did. Dean put the suitcase down next to his own as Castiel climbed out of the boat and stepped into Dean’s space.
“I can’t believe you didn’t listen to my album,” Dean said.
“I couldn’t bring myself to,” Castiel admitted.
“Well I hope you will one day,” Dean replied, looking down. “The whole thing is just one song, and there’s a character in it that… reminds me a lot of you. It’s about a man—a really stupid man—who makes a bad decision and loses somebody amazing from his life, and how he comes to realize that he can’t… he can’t continue living… without him.”
Castiel couldn’t breathe. “And Carmen?” he asked.
“She’s fine,” Dean answered. “We both agreed we weren’t right for each other. We let the press think we were married, but… I only ever married you.”
Dean’s eyes met Castiel’s and they stood there for a moment as the water lapped at their feet.
“I read your guidebook, by the way,” Dean said. “That was really something.”
“Really?” Castiel replied, holding Dean’s gaze and stepping even closer. “I was kind of rude about you in the new edition.”
“Well, I love intelligent feedback,” Dean said, lightly sweeping Castiel’s jaw with his thumb and slipping his fingers into the hair at the base of his neck.
Their faces were now only inches apart. Castiel blinked once and then surged forward, closing the rest of the distance between them in a second. Their lips met softly at first, and then with more heat as Castiel snaked his hands around Dean’s side, clutching his back and pulling him in to his chest. Dean sighed with want and then drew away just enough to rest his forehead against Castiel’s.
“I’m done touring,” Dean whispered. “I want to settle down. We didn’t get much of a chance to be a real couple last time. I thought we could give it a try.”
He pulled away to search Castiel’s face.
“Where were you going?” Dean suddenly asked.
“Singapore,” Castiel answered.
“Well, you should do what you need to do,” Dean said slowly. “If you… need to go to Singapore.”
“I don’t need to leave,” Castiel said.
“You don’t?” Dean confirmed.
“I don’t even want to,” Castiel admitted. “It’s just what I’m used to doing.”
“Then stay,” Dean said, drawing Castiel back in to give him a chaste kiss.
“Okay,” Castiel said, opening his eyes slowly and sliding his hand down Dean’s arm to catch his hand. They walked back to the Sunshine B&B hand-in-hand, dragging their suitcases behind them.
“I’m sorry about Gabriel,” Dean said as they walked.
“I bet he would have liked you,” Castiel replied.
“What are you going to do with the B&B?”
“I don’t know,” Castiel said. “I thought about selling it, but it didn’t feel right.”
“Yeah, that would be a pity,” Dean agreed. “You know, Cas, I always wanted to run a B&B. I mean, a Bed and Breakfast in Vermont!”
“Well, maybe I won’t sell then,” Castiel said, smiling. “Although, I have no idea how to run a B&B.”
“Neither do I,” Dean admitted.
They stopped to look at the dirty, rundown inn in front of them.
“No big deal,” Dean said. “We’ll make it up as we go.”