#destiel25daysofholidays

[destiel-love-forever]

Day Two - Cas’ First Hanukkah 

-- Prompt fill for Anonymous: Hanukkah? Jewish! Dean, human! Castiel please?

*I’m not an artist, but I’m practicing so bear with me folks

Castiel tugs nervously at his tie, hands shaking as Dean raises a fist to knock on the door. When his boyfriend looks back at him with a wide smile, he tries to return it. It falters. Dean stops himself from knocking and turns to face him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just, well,” Castiel bites his lip, feeling a thick blush crawl up his neck and face. “I’m gonna say something so stupid or screw up somehow. What if they don’t like that I’m Catholic? Do they even know? I never asked.”

This makes Dean laugh. He tugs Castiel close, smiling when he’s rewarded with his bright blue eyes looking up at him. “Do you know the point of Hanukkah?”

His boyfriend flinches. “No. See! I’m gonna look like a total idiot.”

“Don’t be sorry, babe. You just found out I was jewish, and most people hear jewish and immediately think of the holocaust because that’s all they’ve been taught.” He shrugs a shoulder, trying to calm Castiel. Trying to show him this isn’t the big deal he’s making it to be. “I plan on keeping you around. You’ll have plenty of time to learn.”

“What’s it about? What’s the point?”

“It’s about our fight for religious freedom, among other things. Religious freedom, Cas. None of them will care that you’re cute ass is Catholic. You can’t say anything wrong.” He winks at him, trying to lighten the mood. “Well, maybe don’t bring up the holocaust.”

Castiel finally laughs. He at least figured that one. Dean wraps an arm around him and pulls him close, knocking on the door. He feels Castiel tense beside him but knows it won’t last. His crazy family will love his new boyfriend. They’ll have him sucked in right away.

His adoptive mom, Ellen, opens the door with a huge smile. She puts her arms out and yells, “My boy!”

As she hugs Dean, and somewhat hugs Castiel because Dean doesn’t let go of him, his little brother Sam pops up behind their mom. “Hey, now! You have two boys, mom!”

Ellen pulls away and rolls her eyes. Then she sees Castiel and her excitement doubles. “Oh, you must be Cas! We’ve heard so much about you! We’re so happy you could make the trip.”

“Thanks. I am too.” Castiel gives her a smile. “I’ve heard so much about you guys. He talks about home a lot.”

“Good.” She winks at her oldest son. “I spoiled his butt. He better miss me.”

“Ah, come on ma. I missed you for more than your cooking and laundry skills,” Dean promises as they’re led inside. As he hangs his jacket up he sniffs the air and grins. “Oooooh, latkes.”

His mom rolls his eyes again and looks at Castiel. “See? Already focused on the food.”

“If it makes you feel any better, he’s always focused on the food.”

“Oh, good. College hasn’t changed him then.”

Ellen puts an arm around Castiel and brings him down the hall and into an open concept area with a kitchen, dining room, and living room. The place is full of people. He recognizes some from pictures Dean has showed him. His brother Sam’s girlfriend Jess is there. Ellen’s biological daughter, Jo, is cooking with Dean’s adoptive dad Bobby. Castiel laughs when he sees Bobby slap at Dean’s hand as his boyfriend tries reaching for a freshly made latke. He recognizes them from when Dean tried making them once in their little apartment. They didn’t turn out then, but the ones on the stove now look amazing.

He relaxes as Ellen places him at the kitchen counter to sit on a stool. When he’s handed a latke on a small plate to try, Dean huffs. “Not fair!”

“Oh, hush Dean Winchester.”

“Wait! You have to give him two!” Jo comes running up with a second one, sliding it off her spatula and onto the plate. They are golden brown and steaming, and they smell glorious. Then a jar of applesauce and a container of sour cream are placed in front of him. Everyone in the room calms, eyes on him. He feels himself blushing again as Dean puts one topping on one latke, then another on the second latke.

When Castiel looks up at his boyfriend, there’s a deadly serious expression on his face. “Now, you have to try each and tell us which one you like best. I like-”

“No! NO DEAN WINCHESTER!” Ellen slaps at Dean’s shoulder and shoos him away. “No influencing the decision.”

Castiel looks around the room as everyone chuckles at the mom and her son. He’s completely lost here and he’s desperately hoping this isn’t a test, because Dean didn’t prepare him for it.

His first bite is the latke with applesauce. He hums in appreciation and takes a second bite. Then he turns to the other latke. The one with the sour cream. Everyone seems to hold their breath as he puts the first bite in his mouth. He literally has to close his eyes it’s so good. After he chews and swallows, he looks at Ellen and points a finger at the sour cream latke. “This one. Definitely this one.”

“HA!” A few people yell out, most of them pointing at Dean.

“NO! NO!” Dean points at the two latkes. “TRY AGAIN.”

“DEAN WINCHESTER, YOU LEAVE HIM BE!” Bobby yells, hitting him with a dish towel.

Castiel laughs softly, now realizing what’s happening. At Christmas dinner, his family has something similar. Some think the corn should be put on the mashed potatoes and gravy, while others eat corn on the side. He’s thinking he picked the opposite of Dean, which makes sense. The guy’s favorite pie is apple, and he loves eating regular apples too, so of course he would prefer the applesauce. He thinks he’s crazy, though. They’re both good, but the sour cream? That was delicious.

With a mischievous smile directed at his boyfriend, Castiel takes a big bite of the sour cream latke again. He moans obnoxiously while he chews. Dean glares at him as he fights hard against the smile making his lips twitch. “It’s over. Totally breaking up now.”

Castiel shrugs. “I’ll just stay here and eat my sour cream latke, then.”

“It’s my house!”

“Your mom likes me. We can eat them together.”

This makes everyone burst into laughter, most of all Sam. He points a finger at his brother who can’t even stop himself from smiling anymore. He’s just fallen even deeper, more madly in love with this blue eyed man - something he didn’t think possible. As long as, when they have children, they like applesauce on their latkes.

Castiel spends another hour with Dean’s family, laughing and talking. They teach him how to play dreidel, a game he sucks at. Dean’s nephew, Ash, totally cons him out of all of his candy. He’s pretty sure he cheated somehow.

They ask about his family and his own holiday plans, and laugh when he says his parents are pretty strict. They all wish they could see Dean meet parents like that and Dean rolls his eyes, pretending he’s not totally freaking out about that himself. He claims he can behave when needed but Castiel doesn’t think he’ll last long. Especially if his crazy older brother Gabe gets ahold of him. The two will be causing trouble before presents are even opened.

As the sun is beginning to set, Dean takes his hand and leads him to the living room. Jo smiles down at the children gathered on the floor and begins telling the story of Hanukkah. Castiel is captivated by it, making a mental note to go find the more detailed version on his own later. Then Bobby moves forward and lights the tallest candle in the center of what Dean told him earlier was the menorah.

Dean pulls him in as the room begins singing. Everyone is off key and the kids mostly yell the words, but it sounds beautiful to him. It sounds like magic. He smiles as Dean softly sings what Jo explained was the blessing into his ear. Afterwards, as the first normal sized candle is being lit by Bobby, Dean whispers to Castiel, “I love you.”

Castiel sinks into his hold, letting the warmth of the moment envelope them both. “I love you, too.”