#pbexchangewinter

Shall Yourselves Find Blessing by prolixdreams for lunavva

Castiel gets in over his head in a pocket reality created when he accidentally takes a sip of a drink intended to help angels focus on what's most important. Dean won't have it. He's going in.

Teen Rating Tags: Christmas, Hallucinations, Substance Use, Love Confessions, First Kiss

Christmas Treats and Angel Heats by @malmuses​ for Wargurl83

Angels don't have a sex, or gender, nevermind a secondary gender—right? At least, that's what the Winchesters have been led to believe. It's Christmas, and Dean misses his angel friend. He's been AWOL for days, and the Winchesters are worried. When Cas returns to the bunker on Christmas Eve, very clearly in heat, a few of their assumptions are going to have to change. Oh, and Dean is going to have to hide his feelings for Cas in the face of the news that the angel is an unmated omega, who desperately needs their help. Merry Christmas, Dean!

Explicit Rating

Tags: A/B/O, AU - Canon Divergence, Alpha Dean, Omega Castiel, Wing-kink, Mating Bites, Endless Fluff, Christmassy Smut, Heat, Hurt/Comfort

Good Things by @neonbat666​ for Crypto

Dean and Castiel are on a case when it goes a bit south thanks to a blizzard. With the monsters apparently dead they find a hunter's cabin and hunker down for the night to lick their wounds and enjoy a relatively successful evening together.

Explicit Rating

Tags: Human Cas, post empty, cabin trope, hunt, new relationship.

Underneath The Tree by turningthepages for robotsnchicks

All Castiel wants this holiday season is to know for sure if Dean Winchester loves him in return and Castiel hopes after Charlie's annual White Elephant gift exchange he'll have his answer.

General Rating

Tags: Roommates, Friends to Lovers, Misunderstandings, Jealousy, Pining, Happy Ending, Fluff

Silent Prayers by firefly124 for secretlyjensen

With the bunker to themselves, Dean and Castiel take tentative steps towards each other.

General Rating

Tags: Fluff (Also can be found on DreamWidth)

Out of the Blue, It would be you by @leafzelindor​ for WaywardAF67

Dean Winchester and Castiel Novak have known each other since college. They live together, they share everything, so it's not hard to pretend it's more, but is it just pretend?

Teen Rating

Tags: Alternate Universe, They were roommates!, Fluff, holiday setting, Dean is a dork

The Curse of the Ugly Sweater by canadduh for shaes_bae

If Dean knows anything in life it’s that ugly Christmas sweaters, basements, and witches do not mix.

General Rating

Tags: Witches, magical roofies, Drunk Dean, Friends to Lovers, Drunk confessions, body switching, Sharing Body Heat, Fake Dating, Drunk Castiel

Come and Save Me Tonight by @braezenkitty for delicious-irony

“Baby, you’re my angel Come and save me tonight”

Dean is a superhero who needs saving. Good thing his Angel is close by. Now if only Dean could figure out why he seems so familiar…

Teen Rating

Tags: alternate universe - superheroes, first kiss, secret identity, identity porn (Pillowfort)

Under the Mistletoe by @snarkysnartes for Alessariel 

He was a celebrity, kne that Dean's daughter fawned over. It wasn't like Dean to get star struck.

General Rating

Tags: Fluff, celebrity au

Feel My Pain by @saywhatjessie for Shannon-Kind

Mary Winchester hadn’t been exactly surprised when her four year old came toddling up to her in tears, confused why his knee hurt when he hadn’t even fallen over. Or a universe where you feel your soulmate's pain.

General Rating

Tags: Alternate Universe - Soulmates, Soulmates, Soulmates identified through pain

Sure As The Stars by @nox-lee for turningthepages

It’s Cas and Dean’s first Christmas together in their new house. The decorations are hung, the cookies are made, and Dean can’t wait to spend the holiday season with Cas. But when he starts coming home late from work, Dean worries that Cas might be keeping something from him.

Mature Rating

Tags: established relationship, miscommunication, modern au, christmas

Winter Wonder Walk by @shannon-kind for canadduh

Dean begrudgingly agrees to be his roommate's Plus One at a charity event, since Benny can't bring his girlfriend who will be volunteering. Of course Benny ditches him first chance he gets. And there's this one volunteer with messy dark hair and bright blue eyes who seems to have a problem with everything Dean does.

Teen Rating

Tags: Meet Cute, Winter Holidays, Christmas Fluff

All I want for Christmas is Yule by @robotsnchicks for MalMuses

Zachariah frowns. “Let’s not forget the reason for the season, Castiel. It's Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays.” When work makes it hard for Cas to keep his Yuletide spirits high, he finds comfort in the latest anonymous letter left on his desk. Now if only he could convince his mysterious correspondent to reveal themselves.

Teen Rating

Tags: Librarian Castiel, Wiccan Castiel, Professor Dean, secret admirer, two person love triangle, yule traditions

(Pillowfort)

A Warm Safe Place by @waywardaf67 for waywarded

Sam was going to be out of the bunker for a few days and called Cas home to ensure Dean wouldn't be snowed in alone. The pair got to spend a quality night together where they gorged themselves on snacks, watched Dean's favorite movie, and oh yeah Cas accidentally recreated the northern lights. Dean was very impressed.

Teen Rating

Tags: Fluff, First Kiss, Wings, Northern Lights, Snow Storm, Sam Ships It, Cuddling & Snuggling, Angel Wings, Dean’s POV, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence

In All Senses of the Word by @surlybobbies for exceptcas

“Jackass,” Dean said, though the twitch of his mouth gave his affection away. “What if I died tonight and you never wished me a Merry Christmas?” “Of all the things to regret not saying, ‘Merry Christmas’ is hardly on my list, Dean.” Dean raised an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? What would you regret not saying, then?” Cas looked at Dean’s face - at the arch of his brow and the faded freckles across his nose. And he thought about saying it. Cas had thought about saying it for months now. But he looked down at his shoes and smiled instead. “I’d regret not asking you for your apple pie recipe.”

General Rating

Tags: Fluff, Christmas, Holiday, Friends to Lovers, New Year's Eve

Wooing for Dummies by @tobythewise​ for Morrigan 

Dean Winchester has a plan to finally woo his best friend while snowed in his family's cabin. Too bad Castiel is the either the most oblivious person in the world, or he's just not interested.

General Rating

Tags: High School AU, Attempts at Wooing, Snowed in, Love confessions, Oblivious Cas

(Pillowfort)

Learning to Trust Again by @tobythewise​ for boy12

Dean might be a catboy, sought after as nothing more than a glorified sextoy, but he was also a fighter, unwilling to go down without swinging. Will his new owner be able to break down his walls? Or will Castiel pine after Dean in silence forever?

Explicit Rating

Tags: Catboy Dean, Owner Castiel, Falling in love, Angst with a happy ending, Hurt/Comfort, Mating Cycles/Heat, Bottom Dean, Top Cas

(Pillowfort)

I’ll Watch Over You by waywarded for noxlee

Cas and Dean are trekking through a wintry forest, Dean is tired but too stubborn to rest, so Castiel makes him.

General Rating

Tags: huddling for warmth, bamf castiel, protective castiel, sleepy dean winchester, winter solstice

The Morning Kiss by @artbloggouinetteparletrop​ for deadly-kitten-kay

A destiel soft kiss's digital painting with some impressionist vibes

SFW

Tags: #destiel #destiel fanart #the profound bond #destiel fluff #destiel kiss #castiel #dean winchester #casdean

(Pillowfort) 

Snow Blind Date by @delicious-irony​ for Gouinette parle trop

Charlie insists Dean go on a blind date to get over his monumentally massive crush on his obviously straight roommate Castiel.

Teen Rating

Tags: No Archive Warnings apply; fluff, pining, they were roommates!, miscommunication, blind date

(Pillowfort)

Saturnalia by @honeyedsam​ for braezenkitty 

Dean and Castiel get stuck in a one room cabin with no heat while hunting a snow nymph. Cas opts to keep Dean from freezing to death instead of going after the nymph.

Explicit Rating

Tags: Snowed In, Huddling For Warmth, First Time, Mutual Pining, Canon Compliant, Blow Jobs, Mutual Masturbation, Biting, Nipple Play, Frottage

Shattered Glass by @elizasugarcane for surlybobbies

Dean has a bad day, Cas is there to help.

Teen Rating

Tags: flashbacks, hurt/comfort, panic attacks

(Pillowfort)

Cancelled Flights and Coffee by @insertbottomdeanpunhere for LeafZelindor

Dean is flying home for Christmas when he meets a handsome stranger. When all flights are cancelled due to a snow storm, they're presented with the chance to get to know each other better.

General Rating

Tags: meet-cute, stuck in airport, coffee shops, first meetings

For A Special Someone by @usarechan for haikuhamster

Cas finds a christmas gift for Dean

SFW

(Ao3)

The Magic of the Season by @kazshero for prolixdreams

Castiel works what magic he can.

General Rating

Tags: In the Bunker, Christmas Fluff, First Kiss 

Lights Shining Brightly by @exceptcas for kazshero 

"Is that mistletoe?" Jack asked, pointing to a spot above Dean and Cas. Cas looked over to Dean, eyes wide, cautious all around. There was, in fact, mistletoe right above them. It was a bundle of green, wrapped in red string.

General Rating

Tags: Chrsitmas Fluff. Doctor Castiel. Single parent castiel. Mistletoe.

Adventures in Problem Solving by @blueeyesandpie for snarkysnartes 

Dean and Cas have been living together since freshman year and despite their many differences, that's how Dean wants to keep it. Then senior year rolls around and Castiel reminds Dean that his student visa expires soon after he graduates. Dean has a mad plan, but can they keep up the charade long enough for Cas to stay in America where he belongs, or will Dean's growing feelings get in the way?

Teen Rating

Tags: College AU, Fake/Pretend Relationship, Idiots in Love, Russian Castiel, Project Keep Castiel in America

(Pillowfort)

Operation Holiday Queer by haikuhamster for JessJessTheBest

For three years since coming out, Castiel had spent every Christmas sitting around a dinner table hearing passive aggressive comments, ridiculous misinformation, and some occasional slurs. So when Castiel’s aunt so kindly suggested that he bring a girlfriend, the solution was obvious to him. Bring a boyfriend instead. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a boyfriend to bring.

Teen Rating

Tags: Fake Relationship, Homophobia, Salty Castiel, Soft Dean Winchester, First Kiss

A Promise at Solstice by @alessariel for BinJLG

'Statue NOT for sale!’ And smaller underneath: 'Quit it, Crowley!’ Dean had put the not-for-sale sign up a month ago. He’d thought it should be easy enough to understand but now he was starting to wonder if he needed to make a larger one. Possibly one with some profanity on it, to really scare people off. A human-sized statue with wings suddenly appearing on one’s roof apparently attracted a lot of attention, especially one as impressive as Castiel. Yet no matter how many strange people tried to bribe or threaten him, Dean vowed to always protect Cas and never stop searching for a way to bring him back.

Explicit Rating

Tags: Explicit, Wingfic, Handprint Kink, Gargoyles, Magic

As Cas waited for the water to boil, he remembered how he had enjoyed hot chocolate when he’d been human.  He definitely understood why humans found it a comforting beverage in cold weather.  He wondered if he should’ve tried being a barista in that time.  Then he would know how to use the whipped cream to add an artistic touch to the drink.  Of course, he couldn’t be certain if Dean would appreciate that or laugh it off as something unnecessary and frivolous.  Though he certainly enjoyed plenty of frivolous things when no one was looking, so perhaps there was not really indicative of his appreciation or lack thereof.

Once he’d poured the water, stirred in the powdered mix, and topped it off with a generous glob of whipped cream without getting it anywhere—nobody was supposed to remember the Whipped Cream Can Incident—he brought the mug out to the war room where Dean sat poring over a lore book.  He looked up when Cas set the mug down in front of him.

“Hot chocolate, huh?”  Dean wrapped his hands around the mug.  “What’s the occasion?”

“You were cold,” Cas said.  He gave a shrug that was intended to be nonchalant but probably looked as stiff as it felt.  “It seemed the appropriate response.”

A look passed over Dean’s face briefly.  Disappointment?  Confusion?  It was, as always, too difficult to read, even for an entity that spoke every language in Creation.

“Thanks,” Dean said at last.  He took a careful sip and smiled.  That look, Cas was sure of.  Contentment.

Cas allowed himself a moment of satisfaction.  Mission accomplished.  For now.

<center>***</center>

The rest of the evening passed quietly.  It was rare for them to have the bunker to themselves these days.  Cas was grateful to Jody for having offered the use of her cabin to Sam and Eileen for the weekend.  It had been bittersweet watching their relationship bloom over the last few months.  Cas was happy for them, of course.  But he was jealous, too, no matter how hard he tried to smother that unworthy emotion.

Dean yawned and stretched.  “Time to hit the hay.”

Cas looked up at him and nodded.  “Good night, Dean.”

“What, you’re gonna stay up all night?”

“I don’t sleep, Dean.  You know that.”  It was bizarre how, after so many years, this concept seemed to elude Dean.

“I know.”  Dean ran his fingers through his hair, making it stand on end.  “I guess it just seems different leaving you on your own with nobody else here.”

Cas hadn’t known grace could wince, however, that was the only way he could think of to describe what he had just felt.  Every lie, every trick he’d pulled over the past years came instantly to mind.  Of course Dean wouldn’t trust him.  Nor should he.

“What’s that look for?” Dean asked.  “I’m just saying it’s gotta be boring as hell knocking around here when the only other person here is asleep.”

“You have made it clear you find it ‘creepy’ if I keep watch over you,” Cas replied.  He didn’t bother to point out that, the occasional nightmare or midnight snack aside, even when Sam and Eileen were here, or anyone else for that matter, they all tended to sleep at roughly the same time.  There was little difference between being the only entity of two who was awake or the only entity of more than two.

“Yeah, okay, whatever.”  Dean shook his head.  “Night, Cas.”

“Good night, Dean.”  Cas turned the page in his book.  It was woefully inaccurate, but perhaps if he annotated it sufficiently, it would help rather than confuse future hunters.  There was, at least, some hope of that.

<center>***</center>

This hadn’t been exactly how Dean had expected this weekend to play out.  Not that he’d had a plan exactly.  But when Jody had managed to work into a conversation that Sam and Eileen should really go spend a weekend up in her cabin, Dean’s entire spine had lit up like a Fourth of July sparkler for some reason.

What even had that conversation with Cas been?  First he looked hurt, then annoyed, then bored.  And what had Dean hoped to accomplish anyway?  He might finally be coming to terms with the fact he loved Cas as something other than a brother, but that didn’t mean Cas would suddenly feel the same thing.  He was a freakin’ angel.  They didn’t mix with lowly humans.  Hell, a century or so ago, Cas had been part of a squad sent to execute an angel who supposedly had.

That meant it was completely ridiculous for Dean to be sleeping firmly on one half of his bed—which was barely large enough to even <i>have</i> halves—covers pulled up, staring at the ceiling, wishing desperately that the other side wasn’t empty.  It was his own fault, really, for giving Cas shit about “watching over him” when he slept.  Thing was, he couldn’t regret that.  It <i>was</i> creepy to have somebody sitting or standing there watching him sleep.  What would be not-at-all-creepy would be if Cas did that watching-over thing from right here next to him.

A knock sounded at the door.

Dean rolled his eyes and sat up.  “C’mon in, Cas.  What is it?”

“You tell me,” Cas replied.  “You prayed to me.”

“What?”  Dean scrunched his forehead up.  “No I didn’t.”

“Perhaps not in so many words, but… Dean, you have to realize that directing your thoughts at me, particularly thoughts filled with such… longing... is effectively no different than praying.”

“It is?”  Dean wanted to shrink and disappear under the covers.  Under the bed.  Under the bunker.  If he’d given the matter any thought, he’d have assumed that the people he’d seen silently praying in churches or whatever were just playing even worse odds than if they’d prayed loud enough to be heard.  “You saying that humans can broadcast to angel radio without opening their mouths?”

“Of course.”

“Of course,” Dean repeated, dumfounded.

“What I need to know,” Cas said, “is if, since we are the only two here, and there is no concern about explaining ourselves to anyone, you wish for me to answer that prayer or to continue to pretend not to hear it.”

Dean swallowed hard, then flipped down the covers on the empty side of the bed.  He could feel heat climbing up his neck and into his face.

Cas took off his trench coat and suit jacket and folded them over the chair in the corner.  Dean tried to pull his eyes away.  He really did.  But this was all so surreal that he couldn’t.  He was half afraid to blink in case this all turned out to be a dream.  Cas slid out of his shoes and then eased in between the sheets.

It took a few minutes of awkward shuffling before Dean finally gave up all hope of retaining even a shred of his dignity.  He had no idea if anything like this would ever happen again, so he decided to get over himself.  When they finally settled in, Cas was curled up against Dean’s back, an arm around his belly.

“Sleep well, Dean,” Cas said softly. “I’ll watch over you.”