Growing Pains
Growing Pains by DarkHeartInTheSky [ @castielsdisciple on tumblr] Rating: T Word count: 25,500 Summary: After a botched witch hunt, Cas ends up an infant; it's strange to see their once all-powerful, indestructible friend so small, so helpless.It's even stranger to see Dean look at Cas like that--like he's cradling the whole world in his arms.Sam's trying to track down the witch, or find a cure, to get Cas back. But it's kind of difficult with all these intruding thoughts that never go away; the kind that make him step back and question everything he thought he knew of Dean and Cas's relationship.
Sometimes Cas can be a little shit but in this fic, it is literal. After a witch turns Cas into a baby, it is a race against time to - get baby Cas to the safety of the motel, get him diapers and formula, get Cas back to his adult state, find the witch, baby proof the bunker, vaccinate human baby Cas, and so on and so forth. The story is told from Sam’s POV and his lighthearted narration fluctuates between bewilderment at the whole situation (they can’t hunt with a baby in tow!) and an utter admiration of Dean’s proficiency in all things baby.
Fic where one character is deaged can be tricky, yet the author navigated these waters with ease. Dean is a nurturer at heart and it showed in his every interaction with baby Cas. His choice of an animal plushie for Cas made me gasp and nod in agreement at the same time. This fic is such a balm for a jaded shipper, I tell you. So much tenderness and love. Add to all that a happy ending and some hard learned truths, and there’s no better fic to get the destiel warm fuzzies you deserve. (Oh, and Rowena’s cameo was also delightful!).
A DCBB 2018 fic
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Suggested further reading (links go to our reviews)
Every Single Thing by thestoryinsideme - read it for much angstier take on deaaged Cas in a canonverse fic. Dean is still in a protective mood tho.
diamond star halo by jad - read it for lighthearted Sam’s POV at another unorthodox Dean/Cas situation in canon verse.
Kung Fu Grip by 8sword - read it for deaged Dean in established relationship canon verse story, character study at it’s best.
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