Chapter 1

"Just what we needed. A plain old normal hunt." Dean grinned like he just had all his Christmases come at once.

Sam grinned at his brother's good mood. It was rare that they had moments like this. He quipped, "You do realize that you just used normal in our version of a hunt."

Dean narrowed his eyes playfully at Sam and joked, "Well considering all the crazy lately, this is normal. And that calls for a celebration." He turned and opened the door to the bunker and started making his way down the stairs to the point that it looked like he was skipping.

Sam shook his head and followed but at an easy gait. He turned to look at the love of his life and offered a smile even though she seemed like she was ready to just curl up in their bed and sleep. She had been tired lately and seemed to run out of energy before lunchtime. On hunts, she managed to find a burst of energy though usually it was adrenaline. He had asked if she was okay, but she would always smile and kiss him on the cheek, her silent way of saying not to worry. He offered, "Seems like Dean is having fun."

Angela offered a tired smile in return. She hadn't failed to notice Dean perking up since this hunt had nothing to do with Amara or anything that was related to it. In all honesty, she was glad herself. A nice bit of 'normal' hunting. She teased, "We all know that he looks for a reason to dig into my stash of whiskey." She shouted the last part to be heard.

"Not like you have good hiding places," Dean shouted back.

Sam grinned and made a sound at that like he was at a loss for words. He looked at his love and decided once more to ask, "And you? Are you okay, Angie?"

Angela was tired. She had been tired since she woke up that morning and nothing could shake that feeling. She had no energy, but she wasn't going to let an innocent suffer. She drank pots of hot tea since coffee didn't seem appealing, much to Dean's surprise, and did her best. She managed to get it up when they were on the hunt, but she was getting the bad feeling that casting the spell she did wasn't a good idea. She felt a little sick but managed to look normal enough, thinking that she could take care of it once they made it home.

Sam was not liking that she was so quiet and probed gently, "Angie… sweetheart…"

Angela blinked when she heard the endearment. She didn't like it overmuch because Crowley called her that, yet she wasn't one to discourage Sam from finding a pet name for her. He had been trying them out, seeing how they liked it. The latest one snapped her attention and she looked at him before looking down at the main floor. It was a mistake.

Angela always tried to be a lady. She didn't like poor table manners and constantly tasked Dean on that. She could be starving but still eat like a lady. Things like vomit and diarrhea were relegated to the bathroom and barest of hints made to alleviate concerns. Call it her upbringing and it was just plain gross despite the fact she encountered blood and guts on hunts. It was her normal and, in this case, it was not staying. She grew dizzy and vomited on the landing.

Sam was shocked since he had never seen her do that, but he knew something was wrong and moved into action. He reached for her just as she literally tried to run down the stairs, more likely to the bathroom to hide in shame. She didn't make two steps before her face paled and she pitched forward in a dead faint. He caught her in his strong arms and yelled, "Dean!"

Dean came out immediately. He took one look at the scene and ran up the stair to help Sam. "What happened?" He wrinkled his nose and looked to see the vomit on the ground. "Is she sick?"

"I don't know," Sam muttered worriedly as he adjusted his grip on Angela and prepared to lift her in his arms. "She just…" He looked at his brother, clearly distressed.

"Okay," Dean motioned to calm his brother down, "Get her downstairs, clean her up and I'll call Fi." He already had his phone out and eyed the vomit on the landing with a look. Maybe he could coax Sherlock into cleaning it since the cranky librarian loved to clean.

Meanwhile, Sam ambled down the hall to the room he shared with Angela. She was out cold in his arms and the pale look of her face was not reassuring. It had his anxiety hit close to overload since he had no idea what was wrong and was also cursing himself for not being more assertive about getting her to tell him what was wrong. He managed to have it in check when Gabriel, the prepubescent angel came out asking, "Sam, what's wrong?"

"It's okay, Gabe," Sam replied. He paused when he knew that Gabriel was going to react to his emotions. He took a breath and added, "Angie's just sick. Dean's calling Fi."

It seemed to help since the angel disappeared to probably find Dean and beg him to tell him what was going on. Sam, meanwhile, focused on getting Angela into their room and laid her gently on her side of the bed. His breath hitched as he recalled a few times he had done this and it didn't have to do with sex. He buried it as he focused on looking her over, gingerly touching her face to find her skin a little clammy. There was some vomit on her lips and he went to get a wet washcloth to wipe it off, thankful that Dean suggested it and started doing other things to make her comfortable despite the fact that she was unconscious. It made him feel better and he was determined to keep her safe. She was hurt and he had to protect her and was ready for the first intruder.

"Hey I called…"

It was more instinct that had Sam reach for the gun on the nightstand and point it in the direction the voice came from. His eyes focused on his brother who raised his hands in surrender while holding his phone. They narrowed but he didn't lower the gun.

Dean was worried that this would start. It was bad enough with Angela doing that with the both of them. Sam was another story. Since there was nothing he could do about it, he learned about it. He made himself look nonthreatening to his brother and said, "Sam, I'm just telling you I got a hold of Fi. She's coming over to take a look." He eyed his brother, not wanting to get into a fight over this and prayed that Sam would back down.

Sam studied Dean. He knew his brother was trying to help. It was just the stupid instincts kicking in. One of the few things he liked and cursed about being Angela's mate. He knew Dean never saw Angela that way even though the flirting was aggravating. Taking a breath, he lowered the gun and flipped the safety back on. He didn't trust himself to speak but nodded as he pulled up a chair and prepared to wait.

Dean knew nothing he said was going to convince Sam to leave Angela alone. He would stay until Fiona, Liam's sister and the only one Angela tolerated to treat her for illnesses and injuries beyond her control, told him to leave. Dean could never get how she managed to tell Sam to leave and act like she was making a friendly house call, but it worked.

It worked again when Fiona arrived with very little innuendo on her tongue as she brushed past Dean and towards the room. She stopped short of the door and asked, "Am I in danger of getting a silver bullet to the heart?"

Dean chewed his lip slightly before saying, "He pointed his gun at me but didn't fire. I startled him."

"Then I guess I'll knock."

Dean rolled his eyes. She did that anyway and watched as she knocked on the slightly opened door and announced herself to Sam. He blinked as she said, "Sam, it's me, Fiona. Just making a call." Then she opened the door and walked in.

Most people would consider that suicide. Dean tensed, hoping Sam wasn't going to do anything stupid only to find Sam walking out of the room, calmly, like it was any other day. He watched as his brother looked at the closed door. Sam sighed and leaned his back against the wall and to Dean, his little brother looked drained. He ventured, "You okay, Sam?"

No, I'm not. I should have been more… I should have pressed about how she was feeling."

Dean nodded in agreement, "She did seem tired, but she said she was okay." He paused when Sam shot him a look. "And we both know she's like you." He looked away. He then tried, "I'm sure it's something really normal like a stomach virus."

Sam shifted and looked at Dean with a gimlet eye. "Stomach virus?"

"Hey, at this point, I'd rather have that than some spell that witch bitch may cast while no one was looking."

Dean was right and Sam felt a little better, but he couldn't help but feel guilty that he hadn't stepped in sooner. He didn't move from his spot but waited until Fiona came out to deliver the news. He didn't mind that Dean went off to check in on Gabriel and answer questions. He wasn't in the mood to do so and he didn't want to hurt people's feelings because his nerves were frayed with worry and guilt. So he would wait. He could take Fiona's ax on his neck.

It felt like eternity until Fiona came out. Sam tensed when she appeared. She looked at him with a serious expression and he began to think the worse. "Fi… is she…?"

"Sam, I need to ask you something," Fiona interrupted. Her Irish lilt held a cheerful tone to it that often amplified the sarcasm and no nonsense she had when it came to medical matters.

Sam blinked and thought it was serious, "Fi, please." He was stopped when Fiona held up her hand, indicating that he was going to humor her whether he wanted to or not and regardless if he liked it.

"Sam, what have you noticed the past few weeks?"

"Uh… usual." Sam paused and looked at Fiona. Sighing he said, "Angie's been tired lately. In the mornings she'd be ready to work and by lunch she's ready to sleep." He looked at Fiona and she looked at him expectantly. He wracked his brain to the little things he noticed. "She has had more of a preference for rare meat, extra bloody. Oh and she barked at us for tracking mud into the bunker. She did seem out of it on our last hunt. Would stare out into space."

Fiona grinned at him and gestured, "And what does that add up to?"

Sam stared at Fiona. It obviously was something that wasn't overly serious judging from her face. "Stomach virus?"

"Let me give you a hint," Fiona said, amused at Sam's cluelessness. "I smelled it in the pathetic cleanup attempt of the vomit on the landing. The acronym is hCG."

Sam blinked as he tried to process what Fiona was telling him. He frowned at the fact that Fiona could tell that there was vomit but then again she was a werewolf and could probably smell Dean's laundry habits as well as Angela could and maybe the musty smell from a leaky pipe that they couldn't find to fix. He looked at Fiona as she began to hum a lullaby that sounded suspiciously familiar until she leaned in and whispered, "And I didn't have to use pee."

It then slammed home for Sam as he put two and two together and made five. He looked at Fiona and she smiled at him and nodded. He looked at the door to his room and then back at the werewolf. She chuckled and pushed him playfully on the shoulder, "Go on. I'll prepare the others."

Fiona laughed as Sam gave her a peck on the cheek and then disappeared into his room. She loved the Winchester boys in that they were good but sometimes a little clueless. She could see why her patient loved them too. She walked down the hall to prepare the other occupants what to expect.

In the meantime, Sam entered the room he shared with Angela with a slow gait, trying to process everything he had just learned. He paused at the foot and stared. What he saw couldn't help but make him smile.

Angela was curled up on her side, asleep, and the tip of her nose pressed into his pillow. She was wearing one of his flannel shirts and he couldn't help but notice it was from the dirty laundry bin. It made him want to laugh but he understood enough about how scent could be comforting and didn't mind though he would tease her about it later. He was relieved that her coloring was looking better but she still looked wane and it made him hesitant to approach.

"Thinking too much with your head, Sammy."

Sam blinked when he heard her soft voice. Hearing her call him 'Sammy' spurred him into action and he moved closer to face her. Kneeling, he reached out and brushed a few errant hairs out of her face. "Hey, beautiful."

"Mmm, don't lie."

"Honest truth," he whispered, still playing with her hair, feeling the silkiness on his fingers. He looked at Angela as she stared at him with a soft smile. He wasn't sure how to start and stammered, "Angie… Fi… she… uh…"

"Told you that you were a straight shooter after she teased you." Being circumspect was out of the question since Angela was bone tired and probably fed up if Fiona teased her too. She smiled more and reached for Sam's hand. "Can you believe it? That I'm pregnant?"

"Makes you feel better, I told Fi it was a stomach virus," Sam muttered. He then sighed and looked at her and whined, "Why didn't you tell me you were feeling off?"

Angela stared at him before issuing a crooning sound from her throat. To make her meaning clear, she tugged gently on Sam's hand, not that she needed to since Sam was already climbing onto his side, moving her gently so he was more comfortable before pulling her onto him. She breathed in his scent and slowly closed her eyes and then opened them before replied tiredly, "I… didn't really think it was pregnancy. Like you, I thought it was a bug."

Sam nuzzled Angela's hair and breathed in her scent. Placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head he replied with a slight grin, "I guess that's one thing we're both terrible at."

Angela chuckled as she snuggled into Sam's warmth. She closed her eyes to relax. "It feels unreal and yet real. Us having a baby." She hummed and admitted, "Like a dream I had once."

"A dream?"

"Of us and our kids. Three I think. We were happy."

Sam wasn't sure of what to say. They never really talked about kids and neither were sure it was even possible since all research into dhampirs having kids seemed nonexistent; dhampirs and humans having kids. Dhampirs and vampires… another story. They just seemed to be breaking convention every step of this relationship. Then again they hadn't been conventional anything even before they met. It was thrilling and scary at the same time. Sam told the truth, "It sounds good. Like maybe something like that for us really."

It sounded weird but Angela got what he was trying to say. "I'm happy too and scared and don't tell me that I know about raising kids. With them I never had to go through the whole thing. And then puberty…"

Sam hugged her against him. "Hey, nothing bad is gonna happen. Besides, if the baby does go through it, they'll have you. And you're the best." He pressed a kiss her head. "It'll mean a few changes but… it will work. We'll make it. I'll make it."

Angela opened her eyes and looked up at Sam as he looked down at her. She smiled and then rested her head on his chest and hugged him. She sighed in contentment, "We're having a baby."

"Yeah," Sam replied with a smile. "And that means you have to take better care of yourself. Don't make me or Dean go alpha on you."

"I humor you," Angela replied with a smirk as her voice took on a dry and sarcastic tone. She sobered and said, "Fi put me on bed rest this week and that I need… vitamins. Pill and…"

She didn't have to ask. Sam knew she was reluctant to drinking blood even though they kept some in the refrigerator just in case. It helped in general, but for a more positive reaction, fresh blood was a necessity. And she balked at suggesting it. Sam didn't care. He would give her all of his if he could and he knew Dean would too if she really needed it. He just felt bad that he hadn't suggested it earlier. Without hesitation, he slid his left forearm in front of her and gestured slightly.

Angela made a sound in her throat from the gesture. Sam knew she was going to resist and took it from her by moving his arm into her face. He didn't have to say anything for she hesitantly grasped the proffered limb and moved it. She had a knack for finding a vein. Maybe it was a vamp thing, Sam didn't know except from what he had seen. He steadied his breathing since her breath was producing goosebumps and he didn't want to go down that route.

The piercing was quick like a pinprick and Sam didn't feel it. Rather he felt her lips on his arm, suckling the skin to milk the liquid energy from his vein. It was vaguely gross, but Sam wasn't put out by it. He saw it as necessary and maybe a little kinky sexy. Not that he would say anything. He watched her suckle and encouraged her when he knew she didn't have enough. How he knew, more like a lucky guess. He waited until she was done and was going to pull away but she held him fast. He didn't panic since she wasn't going to suck him dry. He was curious and watched as she stuck her tongue out and gently lapped at the puncture wounds. Then she blew on them and finally released his arm.

"Vamp saliva has coagulant in it."

Sam peered at the puncture wounds and noticed how they looked like they were somewhat healed. He lowered his arm and stroked Angela's hair. "Not a big deal. Just sleep, Angie. We'll figure things out starting tomorrow. For now… I'm happy."

It seemed to do the trick and Angela drifted off to sleep. The fresh blood would help perk her up and maybe Fiona would be in a more agreeable mood about the bed rest order. Sam wasn't going anywhere. He felt happy and he was going to stay. He would watch over his mate and their baby. He sighed and rested his head against hers.