The Year of Redemption

Chapter 56: Belongs to You

Dean woke up on the pillow. With boxers on. He felt something against his chest and turned his face – right into a head full of hair. "Pffft-" he spat. "Caaaas."

The angel moved his head to face Dean. "Sorry."

The hunter smiled at him. "We need to talk," he murmured softly, twirling his fingers in Castiel's hair.

Cas closed his eyes. "Mmm," he mumbled. "You remembered." He sounded slightly disappointed, like he thought that if they didn't talk about it, he could just forget – he could ignore their problems and just get lost in Dean's touch, in his voice, in his slow, regular breathing. Like they should just be able to freeze time and live in their own little world instead of this one.

Dean was staring at him when he finally opened his eyes. "Cas..." The hunter didn't want to put it off any longer. He decided to get straight to the point. "I can't keep you from Heaven anymore."

It took a moment for the angel to respond. "I understand," he said, then paused again. The last thing he wanted was to argue with Dean about this, so he tried to choose his words carefully. "But we need each other," he said quietly. "I need you, Dean." He shut his eyes and nuzzled his face into Dean's chest.

The hunter felt Castiel breathing evenly against his skin. He needed the angel too – more than he could even understand. The fluttering in his chest as he looked down at Cas convinced him of that. "What are we going to do?" he asked quietly.

"I have a proposition," Castiel stated. Dean stared at him hopefully, and the angel continued. "I spend my nights here, with you, and I return to Heaven in the morning," he suggested.

"But I'll be sleeping most of the time you're here then," Dean protested quickly.

"Exactly," the angel stated, evidently proud of his solution.

Dean narrowed his eyes. "Cas, I want to actually spend time with you."

"You will," Castiel asserted. "12 hours each night."

"Conscious time," the hunter clarified. "Cas..." he started to protest again.

Castiel shut his eyes tightly, sensing an argument coming on. "Dean, please," he pleaded.

The hunter took a deep breath. He had no intention of fighting with Cas either. "Can't you come during the day?" Then he had another idea. "Or I'll just sleep during the day so I can be awake with you at night."

Castiel opened his eyes and just stared at him. "We both know that's not going to happen, Dean."

The hunter looked away. Why was it so hard to talk to Dean? It was like he tried to find any potential problems in a given situation and then focus on them. Castiel knew Dean had the best intentions at heart, he knew Dean strived to make everything perfect for everyone – but sometimes that just wasn't possible.

Castiel had been contemplating all of this ever since their fight, and he knew what was best for them both. He needed Dean to agree to his proposition.

Cas thought about the nights they'd spent together, how peaceful Dean always was, how serene his face looked, how relaxed his body felt. Castiel cherished those nights, when he knew Dean was safe and resting against him. "Look at me and honestly tell me that you don't sleep better when I am here," the angel challenged.

Dean closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. "Cas," he said again, still reluctant.

"Dean," the angel muttered. "I need to know you're taking care of yourself. I need to know you're sleeping... Please." His hand trailed down the hunter's arm and closed around Dean's palm.