Chapter Text
Dean pulled into the hotel parking lot and turned the engine off. He drove most of the night but it was worth it. Castiel had woken briefly, when Dean stopped to refuel with gas and cheeseburgers. He had never seen someone scarf a burger as fast as the merman did. He sat there for a few seconds before popping the door open. Castiel groaned and he walked quickly around to open the passenger door. He gasped when bright blue eyes landed on him.
"Where are we?" Cas mumbled as Dean helped him out of the car. He wrapped the trench coat tighter around the others shoulders before answering.
"A hotel" he closed the Impala door and lead the way to the room. He paused at the door but walked right in. His brother and the smaller merman were sitting on the bed. Both had there heads down in shame. Dean was frozen and he vaguely realized that Cas was peering over his shoulder, pressed close to his back.
"It's about time that you got back" His mother turned to him from her spot in front of the other two, her arms crossed and a ticked off look on her face. Sam shot him a fearful glance before ducking back down. "Your brother couldn't tell me where you were"
"Well that's because...uh" Dean tried to think but noting came to mind.
"You" His mother pointed at Cas and Dean felt him jump. "Why are you naked under that trench coat? Did you streak again, Dean?"
"MOM" He hissed as his face heated up. Sam started giggling and he tried to shut him up with a glare, which only made him laugh harder.
"That's right. I'm your mother, so it's my job to be embarrassing. Especially when one of you go missing and the other takes off after him without so much as a note or a phone call" Mary ranted, throwing her hands in the air before pacing around the room. "I was worried sick about you two. I hacked into your card charges and it showed the room here so I came here to find these two..." She gave a death glare at the two sitting on the bed and Sam finally stopped laughing.
"What where they doing?" Cas asked from behind him.
"Nothing your virgin ears need to hear about, little brother" Gabe hissed from the bed and Sam hunched over more with an embarrassed groan. Curiosity and the urge to barf hit him and he made a face.
"Always have to mention..." Cas muttered under his breath but only Dean heard him.
"That's enough out of you young man" Mary snapped at the short man before turning to him again. "Is what they say true? Is he a mermaid?"
"Merman" Gabe and Cas said at the same time, before glaring at each other. Dean stepped fully into the room and dragged Cas in after him. He slammed the door, turning to see his mother pointing at the second bed he walked over and sat. Cas followed like a lost puppy and settled next to him.
"Well?" She prompted, her arms still crossed and an eyebrow arched.
"Yeah, it's true" Dean tried to look her in the eye but he kept glancing away. She was thinking, that much he knew but other then that. He was at a lost on what she would do.
"Home. NOW" She commanded and grabbed his duffle bag. He and Sam jumped to their feet but the mermen shifted. "That means you two as well" Mary added as she flung open the door and stood there. She waited for them to file out before carefully shutting it and pointing to her car. It was a newer model and there was enough room for them all.
"I'll just go and..." Dean started to the Impala but his mother grabbed his arm. He barely managed to get his keys out of his pocket before they were snatched from his hands.
"You are grounded, so no driving" she shook his keys at him before opening her drivers side door. "Bobby, wake up"
"'M up" The scraggly man sat up from the passenger side and grabbed blindly for his knife. Mary waited for him to wipe the sleep from his eyes and exit the car. He gave a long stretch which made his back pop before he spoke. "Nice to see you boys showed up" He commented, eyeing Cas and Gabe but not actually saying anything.
"I need you to drive the Impala home" Mary tossed the keys over the hood of her car, which Bobby caught.
"Alright" The graying man yawned and lumbered over to the car. Dean groaned as his baby was started and driven away.
"My baby" He sighed as it left his sight.
"I expect a full explanation on where you were today while we head home" Mary informed him matter of factly as she swung into the drivers seat. Sam shot him a worried look before sliding into the back seat, making Gabe follow. Dean opened the other back door and shoved Cas in. He made sure that they were buckled before he took the shot gun place.
"I don't understand" Cas spoke up suddenly as the car hummed to life and his mother backed up.
"What don't you understand?" Dean sighed, wishing he was driving.
"How was that...thing we were in, how is it your baby?" The car went silent, which was odd due to the fact that no one was talking before. He turned around and opened his mouth to explain but a giggle made him pause. It wasn't from the back seat.
"MOM!?" He cried out in shock as she lost it. Her shoulders shook as she laughed, tears filling her eyes as she gasped for breath between her chuckles.
"What's so funny?" Cas asked, his head socked to the side with his blue eyes wide in innocence. Dean snickered but the cuteness of the man made him not completely collapse into glee. He couldn't say the same for Sam and Gabe, who had given in with their arms wrapped around each other as they laughed.
"This is going to be a long ride home" Dean groaned as he slid back in his seat.
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Dean lean the way into the house and dropped his duffle. He was exhausted. No one spoke as they congregated in the doorway. Mary moved pass them and headed to the kitchen. She had promised to make a nice dinner for them, which Cas had quickly asked for a cheeseburger. Dean sighed and wandered to the living room. He slumped on the couch, leaning back and closing his eyes.
"Too close" He muttered under his breath and peeked open an eye. Cas was standing there with a busted look and he smirked. "Just sit"
"Here?" Cas sat next to him, even though there was plenty of room for him to sit somewhere else.
"Sure, whatever you like" Dean huffed, trying to sound uncaring but he wasn't so sure he pulled it off. Cas cuddled into his side and he sighed. He was too tired to care and those blue eyes was making him think crazy thoughts.
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"Dean" Something poked his face and he swatted at it with out opening his eyes. "Dean" the voice sounded again and he growled. He glowered at his brothers smiling face and tried to figure out why his arm was numb. Another face came into view and it took a minute to place it.
"Back off short bus" He snarled, jerking up and looked around. A soft grunt brought his attention to Cas, who had fallen on the floor.
"Dinner's ready" Sam yelled as he and the golden haired merman raced from the room, laughing.
"Oh man Cas, I'm sorry" Dean dropped down and grabbed an arm. Cas did nothing but yawn, though the confused look on his face, which was maxing with his sleepy side, was making Deans heart skip a beat. He helped Cas to his feet and lead him to the kitchen. The room was brightly lit and for the first time he realized that the sun had set. It was still light but darkening quickly. Dean sat at his usual spot at the table and Cas sat next to him. He noticed Gabriel shoot the smallest smirk at Sam, who fought back a giggle.
"Here you go" Mary muttered under her breath as she dropped one plate in front of Cas and the other in front of Gabe. "Guests eat first"
"Thank you" Cas mumbled through his first mouthful. Gabe repeated it before picking it up.
"What does it taste like?" The golden haired man leaned over to ask his brother.
"Wonderful" Cas moaned through his third bite. The burger was over half way gone.
"Slow down you're going to give yourself a stomach ache" Dean warned but it was pointless.
"And two for you" Mary dropped a plate in front of his and Sam before disappearing back into the kitchen. A second later she returned with her own plate and sat down art the head of the table.
"Thanks Mom" Dean flashed a smile before digging in. He took a bite and he realized how hungry he was. In less then a minute the burger was gone and he was full...ish.
"Did you get a stomach ache?" Sam asked in mock concern.
"Shut up Bitch" He groaned, letting his head fall back on the chair.
"Jerk" Sam replied.
"Language" Mary snapped, "We have guests"
"The language is English" Dean let his head fall back down in time to see his mother smile. It was something his father used to say. Suddenly Sam started grunting and waving his hands around t get their attention.
"Swallow" Mary arched a brow at him but it was obvious that he was excited.
"Dean!" Sam burst out before taking in a gulp of air. "Mom doesn't believe that Gabriel and Castiel are mermen, so we filled up the pool in the back with just plain water, not with any of the chemicals that are used to keep it clean so we can show her"
"WHAT?" Cas jumped to his feet and took off.
"The other way" Gabe called after him, standing so fast that the chair fell backwards. For a short legged man, he sure was fast. He darted past Dean and into the hall just in time to grab Cas' arm as he raced by. Dean and Sam followed, struggling to keep up with the over excited two.
"Be careful" Mary called after them. By the time Dean and Sam made it out of the house, Cas and Gabe were already in the water. They swam around happily, splashing each other and diving. They were mermen again. Gabriels clothes were in shreds but Cas' trench coat was tossed to one side, meaning he had flung it off before jumping in. The image of a naked Cas made his mind stutter to a stop.
"Sam" Gabe suddenly shot out of the water and grabbed his brothers arm before he fell back in. Sam cried out but grew a tail and started fighting with the shorter man.
"Dean" Mary appeared next to him and he jumped. "You never said anything about your brother..."
"Uh...didn't I?" He flicked a panicked glance at her but saw that she was smiling.
"Gabe explained it, as well as something else" his mother chuckled at him as they watched the others play.
"What did he say?" Dean grumbled, glaring at the figure in the water even though he couldn't see it.
"Something about soul mates," she started but a wet hand grabbed his and he was pulled into the water. He barely got a breath of air before he hit the water. Pain shot through him but arms wrapped around him, lessening the effect. He wasn't sure what happened but when he opened his eyes, all he could see was blue. Then a beautiful, smiling face. Then another face joined it and he realized he was under water.
"Holy..." Water rushed into his mouth and he shot to the surface. He grabbed the edge of the pool and gasped for breath that he didn't need. He looked down and saw that his legs had turned into a green tail. "Shit"
"Dean" Cas was grinning wide and his mother was laughing.
"How you doing honey?" She asked, her eyes alight with laughter.
"I have a tail" He murmured, gazing down in confusion. Gabe and Sam swam away but Cas stayed by his side.
"Do you know what this means?" the blue eyed merman asked with excitement.
"I have a tail" He repeated, making his mother laugh but Cas cocked his head to the side before ducking forward and kissing him. Dean made a shocked noise before sinking into the kiss. The craziness of it all made him chuckle but he didn't care anymore. He really liked the man, and the kissing. A wolf whistle made him jerk back and he saw that everyone was laughing at them.
"Oh, you and your boyfriend can shove it" Dean hollered across the pool and Gabe was suddenly kissing Sam. "Knock it off"
"No thank you" Gabe shot back and continued kissing.
"Guess this means there wont be any grand babies in my future" Mary sighed, sounding remorseful as she sat at the edge of the pool.
"What do you mean?" Cas turned to her but his arms were still around Deans shoulders.
"Well two men" His mother sat back and blushed slightly at the turn of the conversation. "They can't reproduce"
"Not a problem with merpeople" Cas beamed at her and snuggled closer to Dean, making him blush.
"We can have kids?" He asked breathlessly, a thrill of happiness made him all the higher.
"Yes, as well as Gabriel and Sam" Cas gave him a kiss and he made a face. He didn't want to think about his brother that way.
"Yay, grand babies" His mother cheered and clapped her hands.
"Not right away, these things take time" Dean hid his face but he knew nothing would come of it. Cas pressed closer and he felt lighter.
"So you are all staying and that means we need more room and you can meet the rest of the family. Gabe said he didn't want to go back to the ocean to stay, only to visit every once and awhile. What about you Castiel?" Mary rushed out in glee, rubbing her hands together as she planned what to do.
"No, I want to stay right here" Cas sighed and tucked himself under his chin.
"Should have know you'd be a cuddler" Dean complained but he smiled anyway.