You're not going to believe this: TWO new chapters today, AND the possibility of another tomorrow! Year Two is kind of not the happiest thing either, just a little cute (and long) but Year 4, to be added mañana, is very easygoing. Pinky promise.

Year Two: Mac 'n Cheese or Cereal

He got the call around four and had the boys in the Impala by five, strapping Sam into his car seat and watching Dean buckle in next to him.

"It's important," Caleb had said. "Might have to do with the thing that got your wife." Needless to say, John had had Sam and Dean packed in the car as fast as possible, promising a trip to stay at a friend's house for a couple days.

"What's his name?" Dean asked as they pulled into a large lot, cars stacked on both sides.

"His name is Bobby."

Dean hopped out, dragging his duffel bag of clothes behind him. "Is he nice?"

John hesitated, hands around Sam and ready to pull him out. He'd met Bobby shortly after Mary... died... but he didn't know him that well. He trusted the man, obviously, if he was leaving his kids with him, but besides hunting with him for the past two years, he hadn't caught much of a glimpse of what Bobby was like when he wasn't on a case.

"He's nice to you if you're nice to him." He answered.

Dean frowned. "He sure does sound like a lot of fun..." He grumbled sarcastically.

"Aw, cheer up, Squirt, you'll be okay." He settled Sam on his hip and took Dean's hand.

"You'll come back as soon as possible?"

"'Course." John said. They had reached the door now, and he steadied his two year old on his wobbly feet, kneeling down so he was eye to eye with Dean. "You'll be fine, Dean-o. You might even have fun!"

Dean rolled his eyes as the door swung open, a tall man in a baseball hat looking down on them. "John,"

"Bobby," They greeted each other.

"You can come in, boys." Bobby nodded towards the house with his head, reaching a hand out to take Dean's load.

"Take care of your brother, okay, little man?" Dean nodded.

"I always do."

"I know."

John stood up and smiled at a reluctant Bobby, turning back towards the Impala. "Daddy?" Sam cried confusedly as John walked away.

"He'll be back soon." Six-year-old Dean explained. Sam clasped his hand tightly and tottered into the strange house with his brother.

The living room was wall to wall books with the occasional bottle of scotch or a plate of crumbs resting on the covers. "Make yourselves at home." He said as Dean sat on the couch and helped Sam climb up beside him.

Bobby looked over just in time to see Sam's little hand reach out towards the nearest stack of old books. "Stop!" Bobby instructed.

The noise was sudden and loud after the awkward silence, and Sam jumped, knocking his hand into the old pages and sending them crashing to the floor.

"Goddammit!" Bobby fumed, causing Sam's chin to quiver.

Dean turned as the two-year-old buried his eyes into his older brother's chest. He murmured soft words into Sam's ear.

"S-sorry." Bobby muttered. He'd never had kids, and wasn't big on the empathetic side of things.

Dean looked up at him with a nervous and scared look in his eyes. "Just take us to our room, okay?"

"Yeah, sure." Down the hallway was a small room that used to be a guest room. His wife had hinted at a nursery but a situation like that never came in to play, he thought with a sad shudder.

"I'll just, uh," He mumbled, moving books and shuffling papers to make a clear path through the bedroom. "There's only, uh, one bed but-"

"We'll be okay." Dean interrupted, pulling a puffy-eyed Sam off of him.

Bobby acted like he wanted to say something, but seemed to decide against it. "I'll leave you two alone."

Dean nodded. "Good idea," He said seriously.

Bobby closed the door quietly, admonishing himself for the way he treated John's boys. He hadn't meant to snap and he certainly hadn't expected to make the little one, Sam, cry.

The hunter made a bold decision to call his friend, maybe learn some pivotal things about his sons that would help them get along.

Five minutes later, he was beginning to resent his idea. As it turned out, John was proud of his kids and watched their every move like a hawk.

"...And Sammy says he likes Mac and Cheese, but he really doesn't. He's just being polite. I know, and he's only two. Dean does though, he'll eat it by the pound, but Sam's more of a cereal kid. They're pretty clingy all the time, but don't try to separate 'em when I'm not around. Dean's protective, like a Shepherd. He'll growl and everything. And don't be surprised if Sam doesn't say a word the entire time..."

Bobby listened, put it on speaker while he cleaned up Sam's mess, and added some "yeah"s and "m-hm"s as he worked. So much that he didn't realize until he looked up that Sam was staring at him with wide eyes.

"Hey, call you back."

He hung up and turned to kneel in front of the toddler. "'m sorry." Sam mumbled softly, a petrified expression on his face.

"No, no. I'm sorry, Sam. It's my fault. I shouldn't a snapped at you like that."

Sam nodded.

"Where's Dean?"

"He's asleeping." Sam answered. "He can't be waked up by no one 'cept me when he's tired."

"Why's he so tired?" Bobby asked, trying to milk the chance to speak to the youngest Winchester.

"He was up late."

"Doing what?"

"I dunno. Pwobably waiting for me to sleep."

Bobby got down a box of Lucky Charms, checked the expiration date, and poured it into a bowl while Sam looked on in interest. "Why weren't you asleep Sam?"

He shrugged. "I felt all by myself."

"Well, Dean was right there."

"But Daddy was gone." Bobby sighed as he poured the milk and gestured for Sam to sit down at the table.

"Well, think about this as a sort of summer camp. You can do whatever you want and you'll never have to be by yourself."

Sam smiled and bit his lip, taking and relishing in the first bite of his cereal. "I like that idea." Bobby smiled back.

When Dean shuffled in with bed head, rubbing his eyes tiredly, he seemed stunned to see Sam chatting it up with Uncle Bobby.

"Sammy? What're ya doing?"

Sam shrugged. "Eating cereal. Want some?"

Bobby anticipated Dean's face ("Cereal for dinner?") and rummaged hastily through his messy cupboards. "Here we go."

He stood up and held out a box of Macaroni and Cheese. "How about that?"

Dean grinned, his stomach growling. "Woah, yeah! How'd you know?" He questioned.

Bobby waved him off. "I've got my sources, idjit."

Dean smiled and Sam slurped another spoonful of cereal.

"What's an idjit?"

"Nothing." Bobby replied, pouring hot water into the Macaroni mix. "It's nothing." But as he watched the little kids talking, Dean teasing his brother and receiving giggles in return, he realized these two were a fresh breath in the world of hunting, a chance to make things right. He just wished they didn't have to grow up in it.

"Mitts off!" Sam burst, lightly slapping Dean's hand out of his cereal. Bobby chuckled. Kids sure do pick up everything they hear. "They're my smarshsmellows you idjit!"

Yep, Sam and Dean Winchester were growing on him quickly, he thought with a hint of a smile.

Yes, yes, that was long. But there's another (shorter) one coming up today! Thanks for any alerts, favorites, etcetera :)