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Dean picked up the little bunch of blue flowers (what was it Eileen had called them? Forget-me-not?) and put it on the boutonniere of his suit before checking himself in the mirror once more to make sure there were no creases. Whether because he had to look the part of a federal agent or to impress a potential date, he had always considered appearances to be important. Now more than ever, considering the occasion.
“Dean?”
He looked over his shoulder the moment he heard the familiar voice. Sure enough, Sam was standing at the entrance of his room, wearing a matching suit with the little forget-me-nots already gracing it.
“Hey, little brother. Let me look at you.”
“Shouldn’t I be saying that?” Sam asked in a half tease.
“Indulge me. This will probably be the last time I’ll be doing that,” Dean answered.
Sam did, standing still and letting Dean straighten his tie so that it was just right.
“Dean, you know this isn’t goodbye, right?”
“I know. It’s just… nothing’s gonna be the same from here on out, either.”
“I don’t know about that, Dean. The family business might have brought us together, but we stayed together because we made a good team. Most of the time, anyway.”
Dean chuckled.
“Yeah…” He sobered at the next moment. “But I gotta tell you, there’s no one else I would have shared this ride with. And it’s been quite the ride, hasn’t it?”
Sam nodded, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips.
“The best.”
At any other point in time, Dean would have probably labeled the moment as the ‘chick-flick’ kind. Now, however, he didn’t care and, besides, he had finally realized there was no shame or weakness in such moments. As he blinked back his tears, he pulled his brother into a powerful embrace. And Sam reciprocated, holding onto Dean as if holding onto the memories they shared.
There was a light knock on the door. Eileen looked beautiful, and the cobalt dress she was currently wearing played only a small part in that. She was in her seventh month now, and the bump housing the growing life inside her was quite visible.
“Do you guys need a moment?”
“No. We’re fine,” Dean said, even as he stepped back. “Got the ring?”
She smiled and held up the small box.
“Okay. Then let’s do this.”
Sam nodded and patted him on the back.
“We’ll go on ahead.”
“Okay.”
Dean watched them go, then had a good look around in his room. There were still some boxes scattered here and there which contained his few possessions, ready to be carried over to his new home. Sam already promised to take care of those while he and Cas were away, and they’d be waiting for him back to his new home.
Home… the Bunker had been their home for many years, but it was time to move on. Both brothers put the trust fund Iz had set up for them into good use and bought their own places on the Lebanon outskirts, as Sam needed to be near the school where he got his teaching job, while Dean wanted Cas to have his garden.
As for the Bunker itself? Iz would continue hunting for a few years more at least, so the brothers agreed the place would be in more than capable hands.
“Remember, you’re always welcome back for a visit,” she had said.
Yes, she. When Jack offered to make a new vessel for Iz, it was the grigori’s one request. Well, after talking about it with the others, as the last thing she wanted was to make things awkward. It was one hell of a step to put Jake Caplan’s persona to rest, after all. Sam, however, had said it best. No matter the vessel, the grigori was still their friend and part of the team, Kristen’s parent and Cas’ sibling. It was more than enough. It couldn’t be anything else, especially now that she was officially family.
Almost. Dean remembered himself and headed outside the Bunker, where everyone was waiting for him. He went up the stairs, took the proverbial deep breath before the plunge, and then pulled the doors open.
February sunlight bathed the entrance, and Dean felt as if stepping into a dream. A dream he had accepted long ago as beyond his reach.
There weren’t many people invited to his and Cas’ wedding and, honestly, he didn’t need more on this day. He spotted Jody, Donna, and the girls (along with Alex’s boyfriend, no less), while Kristen was sitting a little farther away, Scott with her. April and Rory were also there, and the little girl had the pinkest and fluffiest dress out there, making an adorable sight. And, of course, the Rookies wouldn’t have missed it for the world. All three of them were sitting together, excited to be here.
And they weren’t the only ones. Dean caught sight of Garth, who grinned and gave him a big thumbs-up. Naomi and Crowley were there too, along with Rowena. The newly appointed goddess of magic was sitting close to her son, and Twardowski was with her, holding her hand. Dean always had a good feeling about them, so he hoped they’d make it work this time.
He shifted his gaze, catching sight of Cas. The seraph was standing in front of the makeshift altar with eyes filled with joy, while Jack was beaming, happy to be the one to officiate the ceremony.
Dean supposed there was something unorthodox about God himself overseeing the wedding, but, then again, they didn’t follow protocol. In fact, Dean and Cas agreed they should each have two best men instead of one. He had Sam and Eileen with Miracle sitting between them and his bowtie in place, while Cas had Iz and Gabriel standing behind him. The grigori was dressed in a cobalt dress that matched Eileen’s, and the archangel was resting his hand on the small of her back.
He looked in the grigori’s direction, and she smiled at him, giving him a subtle nod. She entrusted him with Cas now, and she knew Dean wouldn’t betray that trust.
His eyes returned to the seraph as he stood before him.
“Hey there, Sunshine,” he murmured.
“Hello, Dean.”
Dean thought his heart would beat like crazy out of sheer anxiety. But Cas’ damn beautiful smile alone was enough for the hunter to know this was what he wanted, to keep seeing that smile to the end of his days.
“Dearly beloved, we’re here today to witness two kindred spirits pledging their hearts and lives to one another in matrimony,” Jack said. “Let us show our love and support for them on this special day, for marriage is a sacred bond of commitment and faith, an amazing journey shared between two individuals devoted to and supporting each other through the highs and lows of life. The rings, please?”
Sam and Gabriel handed them over, and Dean was the first to say his vows.
“Cas, my mother always said angels watched over me, but I didn’t believe her. I thought if angels existed, they wouldn’t have let my life turn upside down the way it did. And then, one of the very things I didn’t believe in swooped down and saved me from Hell. Literally. After that, it was a disaster after disaster, but you were always there, having faith in me and loving me when there were times I couldn’t even live with myself. I don’t know what you saw in me, but I promise to remain the person you fell in love with, to be your best friend and never take you for granted, no matter what life brings us in the years to come.”
He placed the golden band on Cas’ hand, and then it was Castiel’s turn to say his vows.
“Dean, when I first laid eyes on you, the scars were all too visible, and, although shedding tears was something I thought I couldn’t do as an angel, I came pretty close that day. It still didn’t stop you from always acting from a place of love. It was that selflessness and determination which drew me to you, and it helped me understand what it means to be human, so I would embrace it.”
He put the band on Dean’s hand, blue eyes connected with green.
“I solemnly vow to always see and accept the true essence of who you are, no matter what life may bring us in the years to come, and remain at your side through joyous times and storms alike.”
Jack stepped in, scarcely containing his anticipation. Not that Dean blamed him. He was looking forward to that next step, too.
“With the authority bestowed upon me, I now pronounce you married. Now kiss!”
It was the cue the hunter needed. They both leaned forward and sealed their vows with a kiss, only to pull back and smile wide as the sound of clapping and cheering filled the air.
At any moment, Dean thought he’d wake up and be back in bed, Sam telling him to get up so they’d face another day filled with saving people or hunting things.
Except he didn’t. This was real.
Everything seemed to happen way fast after that and, next thing Dean knew, the first song was playing through the bluetooth speaker (courtesy of Claire, of course) and he and Cas were at the center of the venue, their bodies close and their hands linked. Gone were the days when they were too awkward and unsure of themselves on the dance floor. This time, they danced in unison and in tandem with the music, never setting a foot wrong.
His eyes fleeted towards the guests for a moment before he whispered in Cas’ ear.
“We did it.”
“We did.” Cas looked up at him. “Ready for the next step?”
“Hell, yes. And I’ve got news, too.”
“And that is?”
“I got accepted. For the firefighting position.”
Cas smiled.
“I knew you would.”
“Well, I’m glad one of us did,” Dean said. “And, Cas? It doesn’t mean I won’t have the garage. I’m not getting younger here, so I should have a second steady job when it’s time, you know?”
“I do. And whatever you decide, I’m with you. No one’s pulling our strings anymore. We can do whatever we want with our lives. That’s the beauty of free will,” Cas said. “And, Dean?”
“Yeah?”
“The answer’s yes.”
Dean looked at him confused, only to see the seraph nodding upwards, urging him to listen to the song.
“Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful…”
Dean smiled and kissed him.
“I know you will.”
-----------------
“It was a new, good life, and Dean Winchester was ready to live it to the fullest, with his husband, his family, and the friends he made on the way. A life which wasn’t meant for hunters, but, then again, the Winchesters were always about breaking the rules. And though they would still have their adventures in the following years, this story ends here.”
Finishing with that last line, Cas looked up at Dean. The man was sharing the comfortable place by the fire, savoring their closeness and listening to the seraph’s voice as he read Scott’s book, aptly titled ‘Angels and Hunters’. It was a pretty old book by now, almost forty years, but Cas indulged him and always read it once a year. It was the best way to mark today’s occasion.
“Happy anniversary, Dean,” he said.
“The big 4-0,” Dean said, his lips tugging at a smile that belied the 82 years on his back.
“Ready to call it a night?”
“Yup. A little help?”
“Of course.”
Cas stood up and helped Dean onto his feet too, not letting go of his hand once as they headed upstairs to their bedroom. It’s not like Cas cared about the wrinkles or the glasses gracing the human’s face. He was always beautiful.
Always his Dean Winchester.
The End.