Hello :) I'm so sorry for the delay in updating this chapter. I have been busy with assignments and other stuff in my classes, and now that my internal exam has started I couldn't update earlier. I hope this long chapter makes up for the delay :)

This chapter doesn't involve flashbacks or too much musing on the part of the characters. It deals with the slow but definite progress the boys are making as they grow up together in the same house with their Mom.

I thank each and everyone who have read and reviewed my last chapters and also to the ones who have checked the FOLLOW and FAVORITE boxes on my story! You all make it worth to learn to write weechesters :) I hope I get better with every chapter!

Disclaimer: *dramatic sigh and melodramatic pose* I do not own anything related to Supernatural except my OC. If I did own them, even for a day, I'd make sure the boys had a nice hot meal every now and then, Castiel would learn how to drive and that Leviathans would be allergic to pies… mwa ha ha ha ha :D

Please take a couple to leave your lovely feedback :) Thank you!


Blood ties don't always define family.

The kids had adjusted to their new life with me quite well considering it had only been a bit more than two years since they had become my family. Dean didn't take to Autumn season very well. Once fall set in, I found my oldest battling pollen allergies. To make it worse it wasn't a simple reaction- his nasal passages were blocked and eyes watered like rivers in flood. He was obviously miserable and in a lot of discomfort but he kept his irritation in check. After a few trips to the doctor's he was advised to stay indoors as much as possible till the tree flowering season subsided. That was the time he got cranky.

"Mom, this sucks."

I turned to look at him as we sat in the taxi taking us home. He was looking at me with watery green eyes and the whites of his eyes were bloodshot. I put an arm around him as I pulled him closer in a gesture to comfort him. He didn't resist at all as his adolescent demand for space took a hike up the mountains. He snuggled closer and rested his head on my shoulder.

"Why do you say that? You have to get better sweetie." I asked him as I adjusted the cotton muffler around his throat.

"I have a football game coming up. I also signed up to be play Theseus in our Greek school play. Not to forget the task of the assistant captain I volunteered for the church picnic." He replied dejectedly, "I won't be able to do any of that."

I couldn't help but give in to the proud feeling rising up in my chest. Who would have guessed he would turn out to be such a wonderful lad in a small span of two years after he and his brothers had come into build the foundations of my home?

"It's okay Dean. You have been involved in a lot of activities once you got into school; there will be more to come."

"I guess so." He sulked as he closed his eyes and sighed tiredly. "Are we there yet?"

"Just ten more minutes sweetie, we'll be home soon. You can sleep all you want okay?"

"Anything to get rid of this headache Mom." He snuffled as he rubbed a runny nose with the cuff of his sweatshirt.

I handed him a tissue and he gratefully took it. While he folded it into a suitable size, I couldn't help but feel bad for him. His puffy eyes, flushed cheeks and nose rubbed raw were so uncharacteristic of his usually tanned and smooth face.

"Mom…" he looked over the tissue he held over his nose with his reddened eyes, "… could you please make some pie tonight? I'd give anything for a small slice of it now."

He had to be really ill to make such a direct request. He always put on a tough and resilient façade in front of his younger brothers. It was surprising to see him behave in child-like countenance.

I smiled at the boy who was growing up so much every day.

"Sure hon, anything else you'd want to have for dinner?"

Green eyes took on a thoughtful expression.

"Naw Mom. Thanks."

A head of short dirty blond hair rested back on my shoulder. Even though the spikes on his crown tickled my cheek, it was a perfect fit.

'

'

'

After tucking in a fever-ridden Dean into bed, I made my way downstairs into the kitchen. I had to get dinner started and there was a pie to bake too. I opened the refrigerator and looked into the fruits compartment. To my dismay, I found that we were out of apples. Dean's favorite type of pie was the one with apple in it. I took out the rest of the ingredients and set them on the kitchen counter. None of them would taste as good if made into the dish my oldest had asked for.

"Hey Mom, what are you making?"

Sam strolled into the kitchen with Castiel in tow. Sam, now ten years old, had grown a bit but he was still a little behind the rest of the kids when it came to height. I didn't worry much since he was eating well. I didn't think it was possible for a little boy to like green vegetables so much. Every mother's dream.

Castiel had turned eight and he wasn't as skinny as before. His lean frame looked more rounded and there was a healthy glow on his porcelain face. Even though his blue eyes shone with a more healthier spark than before, he was still the quietest of the lot.

"I was looking into the ingredients Sam. Your brother's feeling unwell and he has asked for some pie. Think you could help me?"

"Sure Mom, what can we do?"

"We are out of apples. Could you run down to the Singers' next door and ask if they have got some? I'll be very happy share some of the pie with them if they could help us out."

The Singers lived next door some yards from our place. We lived in a sparsely populated area and the houses weren't cramped together. Karen and Bobby Singer didn't have any children and they loved my boys like they were their own.

"Sure Mom. I love going to their house. They are the sweetest people around here…" Sam nodded enthusiastically, "… that is, after you Mom." He finished with a toothy grin.

I laughed and I ruffled his hair.

"You are going to need a haircut soon Sam." I asked as I inspected his mop of brown locks.

"But Moooooom… I like it this way." He whined, rolling his eyes spectacularly.

"Dean says it makes you look like a girl." Castiel finally spoke in his grave tone.

"I do not! Don't listen to everything he says Cas!"

"He also said you'd scream like one." Castiel observed, "He was right."

Sam's face took on a look of horror. He seemed to want to say something, but decided against it at the last moment.

"I'm going to get the apples Mom. May I take Adam with me?" Sam huffed peevishly, obviously not wanting to take his beloved brother with him for fear of more feminine comparisons.

"Sure hon, but be careful okay?"

"Yeah. We won't be long."

He made a quick exit and gently took his youngest brother's hand in his. Adam was happily snacking on a fruit bar.

Castiel looked on as his brothers left the house before turning to me.

"Let me do something too Mom."

I placed a big bowl of peas in front of him and asked him to shell them. He pulled a chair and quietly went about the task I had allotted him. We chatted about trivial things for a while before he suddenly stopped midway through getting the peas out of a particularly large pod. He turned his gaze upwards towards the ceiling and then slowly turned his head to face the kitchen door.

I couldn't help but wonder why he had done that. I waited for a few moments and was about to ask him when Dean appeared in the doorway. Did he hear his brother getting out of bed? But that was not a likely possibility. When it came to Castiel it was best to take his deep foresight like it was normal. It was, for him. he maybe inexperienced in worldly matters and his innocence is like untainted snow but his intuition and perception ran much deeper than an adult's. I made it a point to look into it later.

Dean didn't look any better than the time I had tucked him in. However, to at least make things neither bad or good, he didn't look any worse either.

Castiel slid off his chair and quietly made his way to his brother who was busy rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. The little boy wrapped his thin arms around his brother's waist and pressed the side of his head against the teeanger's side. Dean looked down tenderly at the dark-haired child and placed a few comforting pats on his brother's head.

"What is it hon? Are you feeling worse?" I asked as I walked across the room and touched the back of my hand to his forehead, forgetting how he refused to be babied in front of his brothers.

The stoic big brother replaced the sick feverish child and he leaned a little away from my touch. Had I not known about his constant need to be a figure to be looked up to by his brothers, I might have been mildly hurt. Not that it didn't feel bad now.

"I ran out of paper towels Mom. Thought I'd get some of the ones meant for the kitchen." He answered in a husky, strained voice.

"I'll get them sweetie. Do you want a hot drink? I'm sure Castiel would like one too." I asked them both as I reached for the large box of kitchen tissues I kept in one of the cabinets.

"What say big guy, hot chocolate sound good to you?" Dean asked his brother in a nasal tone as he tried to sound cheerful.

I didn't need to look at them to know that in the silence that followed, Castiel had wordlessly confirmed his 'yes please' with a subtle nod of the head.

Sam and Adam returned soon. I was just about finished with the chocolate milk when they walked in. Sam had the biggest grin on his face and the largest bag of apples I'd ever seen. He was staggering under the load in one arm while guiding Adam with his free hand.

"Whoa, Sammy… let me take that." Dean put down his mug and quickly took the bag from his younger brother who sighed in relief.

"What is all this Sam? Did you get all this from Karen and Bobby?" I asked half-attentively as I watched Dean struggle with the weight.

"Man, this is heavy! How could you lug this all the way back?" Dean interrupted before his brother could reply.

"I'm a big boy now Dean, I can handle a small bag." Sam scoffed in his adorable peevish manner, before turning to grace me with a toothy grin, "Yeah Mom, Aunt Karen said we could have as much as we wanted. I didn't know how much would be enough for the pie, so Uncle Bobby helped me pick all these from their garden and even let me borrow the bag."

"And did you thank them?" I asked, knowing the answer already.

"Aw, of course I did Mom! You and Dean always remind me, remember?" Sam rolled his greenish hazel eyes, eliciting a grin from Dean.

"That's a lot of apples Sam… we could make lots of pies and maybe some tarts too."

"Taat, I want taat!" Adam lisped his way into our conversation.

He picked up one big apple and handed it to me. Then he folded his arms and held his hands together, waiting. His big round hazel eyes had the undeniable gleam of an expecting puppy's plead in them.

"Aww… Adam is doing the puppy eyes!" laughed Sam as he picked up said brother and tickled his sides. Adam giggled like a giddy infant.

"Boys, we are going to be busy for the entire evening. I'm going to need all the help I can get, okay?"

They echoed in a perfect chorus of varying tones of their growing voices. Dean's was starting to break and he had shot up even more in height in the recent weeks. His shoulders had started to broaden out and I often saw him admiring himself in the bathroom.

No matter how normal it was to me, I couldn't help laughing when he'd break into a beetroot blush. He would scream for personal space even though I would be a good ten feet away from him. The awkwardness of growing up, huh. He was more collected in front of his brothers, and I daresay a little cocky with the girls of his age. It was the one thing I loved to tease him with much to his chagrin.

"Except you, Dean. Break time's over, get back to bed." I put down firmly but gently.

"But Mom…"

"Mom's orders, young man."

He huffed tiredly. Hanging his head in bored defeat, he mumbled okay.

"Leave it to us Dean, you just go ahead and get all better soon. Okay?" Sam smiled at him as Dean got up and took the kitchen tissues.

"Whatever… don't blow up the kitchen while I'm napping okay? The last thing I want to see is waking up to find that I can see the stars and moon from where the ceiling used to be above my bed."

A shadowy expression came over my second kid. "I won't, go knock yourself out." Sam muttered crossly, "Jerk."

"Dial 911 if you accidently cut your finger and go on a weeping crusade, Bitch."

"Dean! Language!" I couldn't keep the annoyance out of my voice.

"Sorry Mom, got carried away by crybaby Samantha here." He grinned at me before proceeding to smirk at Sam, who threw an apple at him.

"Wow, thanks a bunch Samantha! You have quite a throwing arm there, Darling." Dean cackled as he caught the apple. He made a beeline for the door and zipped upstairs.

"One day, one day I'm gonna get him…" Sam muttered against clenched teeth.

"Don't let it get to you Sam, he loves you that's why he teases you." I tried to point it out to the peevish boy sulking at the table.

His features transformed into a smile. "Aw, I know Mom." He admitted a little shyly, "I can't help not getting a little mad though."

I shook my head in amused disbelief. Silly boys.

We sorted the apples into two piles, the ones that needed immediate preparation and the ones that could be stored. Castiel was a very skilled artist and his patience and eagerness to learn new things brought out that side of him in the kitchen too. I wasn't comfortable with the idea of him handling a knife, but he assured me nothing would happen. He was in charge of preparing the salad for dinner.

Adam was too young to do anything so I let him bring his little piano-resembling musical toy in the kitchen and play with it. That way I could keep an eye on him while he played in a safe corner.

Sam de-seeded the apples after I had peeled them before I could grate them. He went to mash and season the potatoes I had baked for dinner. The kid had a good sense of health food and I was sometimes surprised by his experimental combinations of seasonings which made several bland food turn out tasting palatable for Adam, who could be a fussy eater. He kept up with his love for reading and cook-books weren't left far behind.

By the time we had gotten everything ready, it was just our usual time for dinner. The pies were still in the oven and we had also managed to prepare some apples in advance for easy cooking the next morning. Adam took a little convincing to hold his appetite for tarts till the next meal.

Dinner turned out fantastic and Castiel's platter of carved vegetables gave the simple meal a refined look. It surprised me to no end whenever the little boy created something with only his imagination to guide him. He was such a beautiful enigma. I often wondered what made him so different from his brothers.

When we finished setting the table, Sam couldn't help not throwing a victorious grin at his oldest brother. Dean looked captivated by the varied items. We had baked potatoes, Castiel's special salad, a casserole from my mother's recipe and also some home-made bread. To top it off, the hot, steaming dish of apple pie was waiting for us too.

I carefully packed the other pie I had specially prepared for the Singers and was debating if I should send Sam and Castiel or if I should take it to them myself. It was already dark outside, but I didn't want to wait till morning to give the pie.

Dean said he'd gladly deliver it but I didn't think letting him go out would be a good idea, considering his allergies. I decided to take it by myself. Castiel asked if he could come, since he hadn't been to the Singers when I had sent Sam and Adam earlier.

I put on my jacket and clothed Castiel in a nice warm sweater before wrapping his ears and neck in a long scarf. He looked adorable with the lost look on his face as he tugged at the cuffs of the sweater's sleeves, trying to get it to cover his wrists. He was growing little by little and I hadn't realized that the sweater had gotten smaller for him. The puppies knitted across the chest and back added more to his cuteness.

After making sure with Dean to take care of the house while I was out for the twenty minute-trip to the Singers and back, and getting an eye-roll from him, I took little Castiel's hand in mine and walked to the Singers.

It was a lovely evening and the wind was nothing more than a gentle breeze. I was glad to enjoy the quietness for a while.

Don't get me wrong. I love my kids. But a little spell of unflustered silence was welcome once in a while.

Castiel seemed to stumble beside me every few steps. When it happened for the third time, I stopped and turned to him in concern. He was apparently elsewhere in his mind, and nearly tripped on his own feet with my abrupt halt. It didn't seem to faze him the slightest bit.

He was looking skywards and had the most mesmerized look I had ever seen on his spotless face. His eyes seemed to reflect whatever sight they were beholding and he blinked ever so slowly, as though trying his best not to let his vision falter.

"What are you looking at sweetie?" I asked as I looked up myself.

"The stars Mom… they are so beautiful." He spoke softly like he was respecting the sanctity of the night's stillness. His sapphire eyes swept slowly across the vast dark expanse, taking in each of the segments his vision could capture in a slow and careful judgment and examination.

"You often watch them from your window don't you sweetie? I guess you really like them huh?" I smiled as I wrapped my arm around him in a gentle half-hug. He put one of his lean arms around my waist it response.

"I like everything in nature Mom. But I love stars the best. They make me very happy." He answered in an awe-filled voice, barely above a hush.

"That is a wonderful thing sweetie. Maybe you could paint something about them next time, what do you think?"

His eyes took on an excited gleam and he surprised me completely when his face broke into a wide smile.

"That's a great idea Mom. I'd love to." His smile lingered on for several moments even after he broke his gaze and went back to looking at the celestial lights scattered across the dark vastness above us.

"It's getting late hon, we better hurry to-"

I was cut short when a rustling sound from the bushes lining the road we were walking on sparked off a sharp feeling of fear in me. Castiel clung tighter around me, both his arms gripping my sides in a deadly hold. I pulled him closer to me, using my free arm to shield him as much as I could.

My poor baby began to tremble and a scared whimper escaped from his lips. I adjusted the pie so that it was nestled safely in the crook of my elbow, and I put both my arms around him to ease his fear.

Becoming a mom unleashes some kind of deeper strength and higher power in a woman. I finally found it to be true when I found my fear shrinking by several levels as I concentrated wholly on keeping my son safe. I don't deny I wasn't scared anymore, but it certainly took a back-seat when my protective instincts got set in motion.

"It's okay baby, Mom's here. Don't be scared. I'm here." I said as I tighten my own arms around his shivering frame. Anger took over my previous fear. No one was going to hurt my kids. I'd resort to manhandling any form of danger if the situation called for it.

"Mom… I'm scared." Castiel sniffled as he clung tighter to me, if it was any more possible.

"It's probably just a rat sweetie, don't be afraid." I tried to comfort him while fighting to keep my teeth from chattering. Suddenly it felt a lot colder. Maybe it was fear gaining an upper hand.

The bushes rustled even more and whatever was in it seemed to dart around with short and infrequent scurrying motions. Castiel relaxed a little and turned to look, but as soon as the bushes shook again he flinched violently and pressed against me again. I ran my fingers in his windblown hair and gently rubbed his back to soothe his heart that was thundering against his ribs. I could feel the beats against the fabric of my slacks.

If it came down to it, I was ready to fling the hot pie in the intruder's face, grab Castiel and break into a run for our house.

I stood with my breath locked in my lungs as I waited for the confrontation. The bushes stopped rustling and it became eerily silent, increasing our feeling of unease.

I waited for what felt like several minutes. Whatever had been in the shrubbery seemed to have decided to go on a hike. I exhaled in relief and relaxed my hold on my frightened son. In return, he clung on desperately and buried his face against my side. I was about to tell him it was okay, when I heard a sob. Surprised and not actually expecting such a reaction from the most complacent one of my four children, I tucked two fingers under his chin and tried to turn his face upwards.

He resisted and his sobbing increased, skinny shoulders shaking as he fought to breathe amidst the tears. I whispered some gentle murmurings to get him to calm down but he didn't seem to hear. I tried to lift his head again and this time he didn't fight.

It pained me to see his tear-stricken face. I could see clearly in the light of the moon and street-lamps although the nearest one was many yards away from where we were standing. I wiped away the tears with my thumb and brushed back his hair which had stuck to his forehead when he hid his face against my jacket.

"Castiel, honey it's okay. Don't be afraid okay?" I said in a soft tone, hoping to calm him down, "Whatever it was, it's gone."

He shook his head furiously, hiccupping due to the lack of air caused by his crying bout. He had never cried like this in all the time I had known him.

"It's stil-stilll there Mo-Mom." He stammered as he fought to get some air into his lungs. "I can feel it."

I caught my breath. What did he mean by that?

"What do you mean sweetie? Why are you saying that?"

"It's looking at us. I know it." he stopped snuffling as he stared at the bushes fearfully. His grip on my jacket tightened moments later and he threw himself against me. I was about to say there was nothing to fear, when I felt the hair on my own neck standing up and goose-bumps covering my arms and back.

With my pulse thudding in my ears, I slowly turned to look at the bushes. My vision fell upon the line of shrubs just in time to see a shadow extend out on the ground from the dark outline of the bushes.

Castiel began to tremble violently and his breathing got erratic. I watched, with mounting horror, as the shadowy figure stopped for a second before continuing to extend towards us.

Fear was warping my senses as I struggled to make out the figure approaching us. Fight or flight modes battled within me and I braced myself to face the worst.


I hope this chapter wasn't too rusty to read in regard to the flow and construction of scenes. I've been away from writing for a while and, to quote our beloved angel, my writing "batteries are drained". I hope you liked this update.

Please don't forget to review my darling readers :) any form of constructive criticism is highly appreciated!