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“Oh, fuck me ,” Dean groaned. No, wait, Castiel already took care of that. He stood in the bathroom staring down at two pink lines.
Christmas was coming up, and it was possibly one of the busiest times of the year for Dean. Much like April, December was crunch time for him. He couldn’t deal with this right now. When had it even happened? The men had only been together...eight months! (Okay, maybe this was more plausible than he thought...)
Things had been so good between them. They juggled work when it wasn’t hell and their relationship. Other than almost two months ago, when Castiel had expressed a desire to mate. Dean had tried to explain (poorly) that he wasn’t ready yet. Well, if Dean wasn’t ready for a mating, he sure as hell wasn’t ready for a pup!
The doorbell rang, signaling Castiel’s arrival for a date weekend. (They’d graduated to weekly stays when they could manage it).
“Shit,” Dean muttered.
He dropped the pregnancy test box and the test itself into the trash can and tried to cover them up as best as he was able. He then dashed down the hall and to the front door.
“Hey, Sunshine!” Dean greeted (in a totally normal and not at all partially hysterical way).
Castiel tilted his head slightly. “Hello, Dean.” God, that voice would never fail to make Dean weak in the knees. Thought for another time!
Dean stepped back to let Castiel into the house. When was he going to tell Castiel? Did he do it that weekend? Did he wait until after the pregnancy was confirmed by a doctor? What--
“You look preoccupied,” Castiel said, bag still slung over his shoulder. “If it’s better for me to--”
Dean cut him off with a kiss. “Don’t you dare leave yet.” Yes, he was preoccupied, but he also needed to stow his crap. Castiel didn’t need to deal with another of his freakouts (at least not yet). “Stay,” he said, rubbing his lips against Castiel’s. Things were maybe still a little tense between them, but they were getting much better.
That evening after dinner, the men were making out lazily on the couch, Dean lying down with Castiel lying on top of him. Some movie or TV show was playing in the background, but the men didn’t care.
Castiel’s hand worked its way under Dean’s shirt to toy with a stiffened nipple. Dean gasped at the pleasure the shot through him. He arched his back and bucked his hips, seeking friction from Castiel’s thigh that was wedged between his and pressing up against his hardening cock.
Castiel hummed and continued his ministrations. He began kissing down Dean’s neck to his mating gland, his scent probably coming across thick and needy. The ass of his sweats was already damp from slick. He’d probably be begging for Castiel’s knot any minute.
“My God, you smell amazing, Dean,” Castiel growled into the man’s neck. A shiver wracked Dean’s body. Fuck, could he come just from this? The Alpha continued nuzzling Dean’s mating gland, sucking and nipping every now and then to keep things interesting.
“ Cas !” Dean moaned. A fresh trickle of slick slid out of his hole. He was ready for his Alpha’s knot. “Please.”
Castiel growled on top of him. “ Yes .” He pushed back onto his heels (pressing deliciously against Dean’s throbbing cock with his flexing thigh) and began working Dean’s shirt up and off. All previous thoughts left Dean’s head.
Castiel finally got the shirt off and began kissing down Dean’s body, soon taking a stiffened nipple into his mouth. Dean arched back again and moaned. He felt the reverberations of Castiel’s own moan throughout his chest. When Castiel kissed Dean’s abdomen, he spent quite a bit of time sucking a bruise on the area where his hip met his groin. Dean had the fleeting thought of, What if he can sense it ? He pushed that thought out of his mind and focused on the now.
“Gonna knot me on the couch, Alpha?” Dean asked, beginning to breathe hard as Castiel sat back on his heels, took his damn time working Dean’s sweats down his legs.
“No, I think the bed is more appropriate,” Castiel said in a low voice, not looking away from Dean’s awed gaze. He hooked his fingers in the waistband of Dean’s sweats and pulled them down slowly. That was one thing about Castiel—he liked to take his time.
“Then how ‘bout you get us there already?”
Castiel stepped down and away from the couch, bending down to pick Dean up in a bridal carry, and turning to go down the hall. Dean didn’t appreciate the carry (but he certainly soaked up his Alpha’s strength, sending his Omega into overdrive). Castiel walked up to the bed and laid Dean down on top of it reverently. Next, he climbed onto it and immediately settled between Dean’s legs.
It felt like it took forever to get Castiel’s stupid suit off. First, they wrestled with the tie. Then, they had to contend with Castiel’s dress shirt. The men were grinning at each other and teasing, nipping kisses on lips and jaws. Finally, the man was naked.
The men kissed languidly for several moments before Dean felt Castiel nudge and then breach his hole. He sighed as Castiel pushed in; his mind was blank except for his love for the man. Castiel’s movements were slow and calculated to give Dean the most pleasure.
Dean didn’t want things to end, but his orgasm quickly approached. He could feel Castiel’s knot beginning to form and catch on his hole. The other man ducked his head and began sucking on Dean’s mating gland, making him wonder what it would feel like to actually have Castiel sink his teeth into the flesh and mark Dean as his.
Almost as soon as the thought formed, Dean came hard between them. He then felt Castiel’s knot catch and the spill of come inside him. He shivered and came again, a smaller amount.
Castiel kissed Dean’s jaw and cheekbones. He’d once told Dean that someday he would map the stars on Dean’s face. The Omega believed him.
Dean floated in a half-awake, half-asleep state until they came untied, and Castiel carefully pulled out. “It’s late enough to go to bed, Beloved. Would you like a shower?”
“Mm, too comfortable for a shower,” Dean mumbled. He truly was comfortable: warm, sated, loved. It made for a very comfortable afterglow.
Castiel kissed Dean’s cheek and got out of bed. “I for one would rather not go to bed with semen on my stomach.” Dean turned his head to look at Castiel. He’d make an amazing father , Dean thought suddenly.
The man quickly looked away, hoping to have hidden the momentary weakness. He needed more time to think. Castiel got out of bed and walked naked to the bathroom. Dean was floating in and out of that same warm headspace and was very comfortable with it. He thought he could sleep easily if only Castiel would come back to bed.
“Dean, what’s this?” Castiel asked in an odd voice.
Dean begrudgingly opened his eyes and looked Castiel’s way. He was holding the pregnancy test in his hand. Dean swallowed hard and sat up slowly. He could feel his cheeks heat. (He apparently sucked at hiding things.) He cleared his throat. Best to fess up to it now.
“That is...exactly what you think it is,” Dean told Castiel slowly and quietly. He couldn’t read Castiel’s face, which was a problem. Even his scent was difficult to discern. It was like the Alpha was making an effort to disguise his feelings.
“I see.” Castiel lowered his arm and looked at the test. He looked up at Dean again. “When were you planning on telling me?”
Dean swallowed hard. “I don’t know.”
“ Would you have told me if I hadn’t found this?”
Dean felt cold all of a sudden. He thought for only a moment before answering, “I don’t know.”
Castiel began nodding slowly and looked back down at the test in his hand. “I see.”
“Cas, listen. I would’ve told you eventually, alright? I just needed time to wrap my head around things.”
“Why did you even take the test? You’ve not shown any symptoms that I can tell. Though your scent is sweeter,” he amended.
“Look, I can’t have this conversation with both of us naked. Can we at least get our underwear back on?”
“Of course, Dean,” Castiel said with a nod. He walked over to the dresser and opened his drawer, pulling out a pair of white boxers that Dean found endearing. Next, he went to Dean’s drawer and pulled out black boxer briefs. He turned and tossed them to Dean before putting his own on. Dean didn’t know what to expect once clothed.
Castiel looked at him expectantly. Right, he’d asked a question. “Um, I’ve been lowkey nauseated for the last few weeks and--”
“And you didn’t think to tell me? Dean, I’ve been here more than I’ve been at home for the last month.”
Dean shrugged. “I didn’t think it was anything. Charlie was the one who told me to get a test. I thought it was ridiculous, but she hounded me for a couple of days and... Well, now you know.”
“Yes, now I know.” Dean couldn’t read the man’s face, and it really bothered him. “I think perhaps I should go and let you ‘think’ on things,” Castiel told the other man. Dean was suddenly frightened; this could be the last time he saw the Alpha.
“Cas, wait, you don’t--”
“It would appear you have a lot to think about.” Castiel’s face turned stony. “You may or may not have a pup with me, you won’t mate me—oh, not yet anyway. Dean, what am I supposed to think right now?” Dean was at a loss. He didn’t answer. He didn’t have an answer. Castiel nodded. “I’ll get my things.”
Now, Dean wanted to cry. He didn’t want to lose Castiel over any of this. “I’m sorry, Cas,” he said with a lump in his throat. The other man barely looked at him. Castiel placed the pregnancy test on the dresser and began dressing. He quickly threw his pants on (not bothering to buckle his belt) and left his shirt hanging open. Then he was stalking away.
As soon as Castiel left the room, Dean was up and getting dressed. He raced to the dresser to pull out more sweats and a worn t-shirt. He was bound and determined to see Castiel before he left. He dressed and jogged down the hall in time to see Castiel get his satchel from the kitchen table and sling it over his shoulder.
Castiel walked to the door, brushing past Dean. “I’ll see you in a few days for the Christmas lunch at Bobby’s.”
Dean was a bit shocked. “You still want to come?”
Castiel paused and turned. “They have become my friends as well.”
Yes, they had. Castiel and Sam often went out for lunch or to the farmer’s market. Charlie had adopted him as her very best friend. Ellen and Bobby had accepted him without much fuss. If this was it, there were going to be repercussions from the fallout.
Castiel turned back towards the door, opened it, and just...left.
~~~~~
Castiel was struck dumb. He didn’t know how he made it back to his apartment. He went upstairs on autopilot, purposely keeping his mind blank until he was safe at home and could process things.
Once inside his apartment, he let himself slide to the floor in front of the door. Dean was pregnant...with his pup. It was a lot to wrap his mind around. He had so many thoughts swirling around in his head, not the least of which was whether or not Dean would have told him. For all he knew, Dean could be planning to end the pregnancy, and he never would have known at all. That part was the most troubling.
He’d received a harsh blow when he asked Dean to mate him during the man’s cycle. In hindsight, it was a poor decision just timeline-wise because they were in the throes of sexsexsex . The only problem was that Castiel’s mind had been focused on matematemate .
It had hurt to be turned down, but Dean’s reasoning was sound—it was too soon if the Omega wanted to work on himself to be a better partner. Much like he told Dean, Castiel, he was giving him the benefit of the doubt, believing that Dean wouldn’t leave him.
He didn’t know how long he had sat on the floor, but when his ass cheek fell asleep, he knew it was time to get up. Castiel put his satchel on the dining table where it (currently) belonged and went to shower. The heat of the water warmed him up as he was suddenly chilled. All he could think about, the only thought in his head was rejection ...again.
Castiel finished washing and went to put on warm clothes. Dressed, he fixed himself a cup of tea to hopefully calm him for sleep (it was nearly two a.m.). He sat at the bar and continued thinking about the last few hours.
By three-thirty, Castiel had decided that if he and Dean were to break up over the rejection(s), he’d fully support whatever decision the other man made. He’d be there for his pup, for Dean. He wouldn’t ignore the fact that he had...a son or a daughter. At that, Castiel shed a few tears. His heart was breaking over the hypothetical situation.
He let himself wallow in his cold tea for another ten minutes and then decided it was time for sleep. Castiel went to the sink and emptied his mug before setting it down and going to his room.
Going to sleep, with his Alpha knowing that he was supposed to be with his Omega in this strange time, was difficult. When he did finally sleep (as the sun was coming up), he dreamed of Dean heavily pregnant with his pup, of being able to feel it kick, of being a family.
When Castiel woke up, he felt like he’d been run over by a truck. Rejection Sickness , he thought. He groaned and scrubbed his face with his hands. His stubble felt especially thick that morning (afternoon?). He rolled over, muscles protesting, and eventually got himself out of bed with the aim of going to the bathroom and then getting coffee.
He used the bathroom (a little wobbly but steady enough not to pee on the floor), flushed, and decided to brush his teeth. By the time he was finished, Castiel felt a bit better; still run down and aching like hell, but better, nonetheless.
As he walked down the short hall, Castiel saw that the quilt on the couch was gone. He frowned and walked in a little further. Dean was asleep there, covered with the blanket, and sound asleep. The air around him smelled...off. He walked toward the man and kneeled beside the couch. Dean had dark circles under his eyes.
Castiel reached out and gently touched Dean’s shoulder. “Dean? Dean?” he asked again. He shook the Omega gently. “Dean, wake up, Beloved,” he said, closer to Dean’s ear.
Dean stirred, and one eye cracked open. Suddenly, Dean was sitting up and throwing off the blanket. “Holy shit, you scared me,” he said shakily, wrapping his arms around Castiel’s shoulders. Castiel automatically reacted by wrapping his arms around Dean, too. “When you didn’t answer your phone yesterday, I--”
“Yesterday? Dean, it was only last night--”
“Cas, you’ve been passed out for two days,” Dean told him, pulling back far enough to look into the Alpha’s eyes. Concern shown in Dean’s eyes.
No, surely not. He looked at Dean like he was crazy. “Dean, it was just last night that--”
“That I...rejected you. No, Sunshine, that was two nights ago. I sat up all night thinking and then tried to get in touch with you the next day, but you didn’t answer. I figured you were pissed and let it go. When I didn’t hear from you yesterday either, I got worried. I...used the key you gave me,” Dean said shyly. “When I got here, I heard you moaning in the bedroom. You were burning up. I stayed with you. I hope you don’t mind,” he finished quietly.
Castiel wasn’t sure what to think. He was concerned that two days had gone by. Rejection Sickness was serious and could lead to medical complications. He was grateful that Dean had thought to check on him; things could have been worse.
“Thank you, Dean.” The two stared at each other intently until Dean averted his eyes and cleared his throat.
“Guess I’ll get outta your hair,” the man said, standing up. It put Castiel nose-to-stomach with Dean. He desperately wanted to reach out and feel where his son or daughter lay, but he didn’t think it would be welcome. Instead, he stared intensely as if he could see through everything to hear his pup’s heartbeat.
Castiel stood and met Dean’s eyes. “You said you did some thinking the other night?”
Dean swallowed hard and looked away. “Yeah.” He brought his eyes back to Castiel’s. “I’m sorry, Cas...” Castiel felt faint. This was Dean breaking up with him—officially. “Hey, hey, hey, don’t you pass out on me,” Dean demanded. “Did you even hear a word I just said?” he asked gently, eyes pleading.
Castiel shook his head slowly. “You’re right. I ‘zoned out’.”
Dean gave Castiel a soft smile, the same one he’d seen when Dean told him he loved him for the first time. “I said: I love you and I want to do this with you...all of it.”
It took a moment for the words to sink in. Dean searched his eyes frantically, likely for any sign of what Castiel was feeling or thinking.
“By ‘all’, you mean...” He had to hear Dean actually say it.
The man cleared his throat gently, and Castiel watched as his eyes began to water. “I wanna mate you and have a pup with you, Cas. If you’ll still have me.” Castiel remained silent, still processing. “Cas? Will you say somethin’, please?”
Instead of speaking, Castiel reached up to cradle Dean’s face and pull him in for a kiss. He could feel a wetness on Dean’s cheeks as he wrapped his arms around Castiel’s middle and gripped his shirt tightly. Castiel ended the kiss and rested his forehead on Dean’s.
“Of course, I’ll have you, my Omega, my Dean.” Both men sniffled through smiles. After a few more kisses and declarations of love, Castiel suddenly had a thought. “Did I miss Christmas? It was only a few days away, I--”
“It’s today, Cas. If, uh, you’re feelin’ up to it, we can still make it to Bobby and Ellen’s for a late lunch.” Dean wore a hesitant smile.
“What time is it?”
Dean checked his watch. “Uh, ten-thirty,” he said with a small frown.
“Then yes, let’s attend,” Castiel told the other man with a wide, toothy grin. He was elated. Dean wanted him in his life forever.
They talked over coffee, mostly about what Dean had thought about—fears and worries along with hope. In the shower later, Castiel washed Dean reverently, touching his (mostly) flat abdomen where soon a life would begin to flourish.
At lunch, Dean stood up. “Hey, y’all shut up a minute. Cas and I have an announcement. We’re--”
“Finally getting mated?” Sam piped up.
The two men didn’t even care that that particular surprise had been taken from them. Dean held out a hand, and Castiel grasped it. The two looked at each other as Dean spoke again. “Yeah, but, uh, heh...” He turned to the rest of the table. “We’re also havin’ a pup.”
Ellen was the first to process what Dean had just told them. She whooped and leaped out of her seat to go hug Dean and then Castiel. After that, congratulations flowed.
Castiel didn’t know what the future had in store for him and Dean, but he was glad they were facing it together.