A Little Big Surprise

Chapter 21 ~Part Four~

Aria woke up sweating and flushed, her clothes sticking to her like skin. Turning onto her other side only made it worse, and a whine left her mouth as she struggled into a sitting position. Sunlight was coming from the window nearby and she followed it to her left, now knowing why she had been so hot. Dean was beside her, shirtless and sleeping soundly on his chest with his heavy arm wrapped securely around her waist. She tried and failed to move away from him with his grip only becoming tighter until exasperated, she threw herself back into the pillows.

     An idea popped into her head and she quickly sat up again and called in a whisper "Castiel?"

He was there in a second. His hair seemed a bit messier than usual but other than that he looked as he always did; handsome and somewhat awkward. Except when he looked at Aria. The moment their eyes met his lips twisted into a smile and he slipped his hands under her arms, picking her up easily and placing an innocent kiss on her neck

     "Good morning. Why are you here and not with Sam?" he wondered looking down at Dean.

She hesitated and moved her eyes down before shrugging, not trusting her voice. The nights activities had started to come together again in her head and her face became redder than it already was. Castiel of course noticed and brushed  his index finger down her cheek speaking in his usual soft and rough voice

     "You can tell me you know. You're a woman. You have needs."

     "Yes but.." she trailed off and peeked at him through her long lashes "I feel greedy."

Castiel chuckled and walked toward the bathroom, running the faucet to fill the sink with cool water. Aria simply laid on his shoulder and waited while enjoying the scent she loved so much. He gently sat her down on the toilet, kneeling in front of her as he ran his fingers against the kiss mark Dean had left. It was only a matter of time, he knew. But this was Aria, and he was caught between his natural instinct to shield her and another instinct that told him...well he wasn't quite sure. Perhaps he was beginning to fall for her just as he watched Dean do. Sam wasn't far behind him of course. And Castiel had told himself that no matter what he would allow this and he wouldn't intrude on these feelings. It was about time Aria had a choice. Whoever she chose he would be supportive.

Aah if only he knew.

Aria grabbed his hand with both of hers as it lingered at her neck. When his eyes were on her own she squeezed and brought it to her cheek, leaning into his cooler touch. Despite what the Winchester's thought Castiel was quite transparent. Or maybe Aria was just good at reading people. She had already shown Dean how she felt. And now here Castiel was, secretly hoping he was next. 

     "I love you. All three of you," she started, taking a deep breath to steady herself "I've never really...well I'm not accustomed to this. Wanting someone the way I want you all. And I feel greedy because I want to be with the three of you forever."

Castiel was patient and let her talk without interruption 

     "It's hard for me...because my love is ever changing. When I am small, the love is innocent but when I am not...well.." her hand went to the kiss mark "A-and maybe that isn't okay..so if it isn't just tell me and I'll-"

A pair of gentle lips stopped her talking. Castiel held her face in his large hands and kissed her in the sweetest way. It all but silenced any fears she was having, so that when he pulled away her lips were turned up into a smile.

     "You worry so much how can your small body contain it all?" he smiled when she giggled before he continued "You think we don't love you Aria?"

She blushed and turned her face in embarrassment. Dean hadn't said the words but she could...well feel how he felt about her. And Sam was as hard to read as the demon tablet carved into her skin. Someone knocked on the bathroom door and when they looked back it was both Sam and Dean standing there and Aria knew that they had been listening to their entiiire conversation which made everything all the more mortifying.

     Sam was looking at her with a sly smile and leaned against the door frame, his large arms crossed against his chest "I guess I'm a little late to the party. Does that hickey hurt?"

     "Wha-No!" Aria began to get flustered and used her long hair to hide any other signs of what had happened last night

     "Sammy don't be an ass." Dean clapped his brother on the back "Of course it does." he confirmed before laughing loudly and scratching at his bare chest.

     Castiel stood and began to wipe Aria down with a wet washcloth to cool her heated skin "Why did you come all the way here Aria? If you love us all then why not stay with Sam when you felt the urge to...'let off some steam' as Dean puts it?"

Now they were all looking at Aria with the same curious expression duplicated by three. She wouldn't look at any of them as her fingers fidgeted in the large shirt she wore as pajamas. But they were starting to stare holes in her so she huffed and kept her face down, trying to speak in the most quiet voice possible.

     "Sam wouldn't wake up..."

It took a minute. Then Dean was hunched over laughing as loud as Aria had ever heard. Sam's own face had taken on a rosy color and Castiel turned away from them all, coughing a laugh into his hand. Of all the times to be a heavy sleeper this had to be the most comical. Even Aria had started to laugh in her little voice.

     Dean was wheezing "Dude...dude you friggin....oh my god.." then he was thrown into another fit of laughter.

Aria watched them all with love in her eyes. When Sam covered his face in a mixture of horror and embarrassment, when Castiel scolded Dean for laughing at his brother's expense, when Dean doubled over and kept laughing.

She was home.

~Enjoy!~