Castiel's First Christmas

It was all very strange. There was a tree in the room, that Sam and Dean had wrapped lights around along with something they called tinsel. They had also placed balls of glass and plastic all over the tree. On the top was the 'Christmas Angel' that was both intriguing and appalling. Under the tree, the Winchester brothers had placed gifts for each other and one each for him. Heaving a sigh, Cas moved to the tree and slid the two gifts he held underneath it.

He wasn't sure why he had let the two convince him to partake in this celebration. It wasn't something he had ever understood, nor had he tried to. In Heaven, he paid little attention to things such as Christmas. He wasn't aware that befriending Sam and Dean would mean he had to acknowledge it; they didn't seem the sort of people who cared so much about such foolish activity.

"Cas," he turned to find Dean grinning at him. He was holding a glass of something creamy and yellowish in color. "Here. Drink up." Dean handed the glass to him, so he took it. Sniffing it cautiously, he could smell a hint of alcohol in it. He scowled and looked back at Dean, whose grin had widened.

"What is this?" he asked once he realized that Dean wasn't going to say anything.

"Eggnog," Sam called from the other side of the room. "And rum."

Ah, yes. He'd heard of eggnog.

"The rum makes it taste better." Dean assured him as he accepted the glass Sam handed him. He raised it in salute then took a long, deep drink of the contents. Castiel winced slightly at the sight, then took a sip of his own eggnog.

"Will we be caroling later?" He asked as they all settled down in chairs and on the small couch in the cabin that Sam and Dean were staying in. He knew that many people went door-to-door singing songs that they called 'Christmas Carols' and wondered if he would be forced into such a thing. Sam laughed loudly and Dean shook his head.

"No," Dean said, sipping at his drink. "We'll be staying right here."

"We could watch Christmas Specials on television though," Sam said. He didn't know Sam as well as he knew Dean, but the tone in the younger man's voice hinted at hope and perhaps excitement. Castiel wondered at this.

"Sure, Sammy." Dean chuckled. "But only if we can watch The Grinch." Sam nodded his agreement, sharing a look with his brother that Castiel couldn't decipher. He would ask Dean about it later.

It wasn't long before the food Sam had put in the oven had finished. Expecting something more extravagant, Castiel was surprised when a plastic tray was set in front of him. Dean smirked at him.

"TV dinners," he explained. "They're good." He took a bite of the meat from his own 'TV dinner' to demonstrate. Sighing, Castiel forced himself to join them in the meal.


With the food finished, and the cartoons that Sam and Dean wanted to watch coming to an end, it was nearly time (he hoped) to open presents. This was something he was somewhat excited about, though he would never tell Sam and Dean. While the tradition confused him, he had never had anyone who valued him enough to want to buy him gifts, or include him in their celebration. Then again, he had never spent so much time around people. Other angels weren't inclined to participate in silly traditions like this.

Sam's cell phone rang and he answered it. "Hi Bobby!" He indicated he'd be back, then left the cabin to talk privately. Castiel could hear everything both Sam and Bobby said if he wanted to, but he had learned that that was rude, and refrained from doing it... often.

"Hey Cas," he looked away from his empty glass (how had that happened?) and at Dean. "Thank you."

He scowled. "For what? I have done nothing to earn praise." he looked at the tree, where all the gifts were waiting to be unwrapped, then back at Dean. "Do you mean for-?"

"No," Dean chuckled. "No, just for being here tonight. I know you have a lot to do. It means a lot that you would come and celebrate Christmas with me and Sam."

Castiel blinked, unsure how to respond. At last, he shook away the shock of such an admission of care from Dean. "It is no problem," he said slowly. "I am pleased to- to spend time with friends." He nodded, confident his response was proper. From the look he received from Dean, and smile that followed, he was assured he was right.

"Dean," Sam came back into the room. "Bobby wants to talk to you," he glanced at Castiel then back to Dean. "We can open presents after?"

Dean gave Castiel a final smile, then stood and took the phone from Sam and stepped outside to have his conversation. Castiel watched him leave then met Sam's gaze and was surprised when he didn't have to force a smile.

So this was Christmas. Not the silly traditions, or the food or the gifts. It was being around the people you cared about, who cared about you. It was, he decided as Dean came in and presents were passed around, something he wouldn't mind taking part in more often.