It hits him out of nowhere.
Castiel reaches out for the bowl of popcorn Dean is absolutely not hoarding. Maybe a little bit.
And it hits him like a freight train.
Their eyes meet, Castiel smiles, and it makes his nose scrunch up, he takes the bowl from him and turns his attention back to the movie they are watching.
He doesn't say anything, Dean will never understand how it happens so fast, it's almost dizzying, but there is a sudden sob he can't fight back leaving his mouth, from deep in his chest, and then he is crying, he closes his eyes tightly.
But he doesn't feel sadness, he pokes at the feeling in his chest and it's warm and glowy.
"Dean? What's wrong?" He opens his eyes, the movie has been paused, so his ragged breath is the only thing he can hear, Castiel is crouched down in front of him, a hand on his knee, the other slowly reaching for his face, waiting for a permission Dean gives with a firm nod.
Castiel closes his fingers around Dean's chin, his thumb gently sweeping across his lower lip. Dean closes his own fingers around Cas' wrist.
Dean shakes his head, "happy tears," he manages to say, "that's a new one, huh?"
At that Castiel relaxes slightly, "I would have never guessed a movie like this could get such a reaction out of you."
Dean laughs, the sound comes out watery, his voice trembling, "no, Cas, westerns don't get this reaction out of me."
"You, us, all of this," he gesture around them with his free hand, "this peace, I guess, there are many things I had to tell myself weren't for me, I had to accept I couldn't have them." Castiel smiles softly at that, clearly remembering his own words to Dean what feels like a lifetime ago.
Dean takes a deep breath, "it's the first time I have noticed I am not waiting for the other shoe to drop, I'm just here, and you are here too." You are not leaving, he adds in the privacy of his own mind, this isn't stolen time, a countdown to a constant goodbye. "It's nice." He finishes, lamely.
"It is, it's lovely," Castiel agrees, "and it's exactly the safety you deserve to have around you."
The paused movie can wait, their cooling popcorn and their beer that is getting warmer too, Dean bends down, his lips finding Cas'.