When Adam opened the door to his bedroom, and he saw his familiar furniture for the first time, a sense of relief washed over him. The teenager edged into the room and quickly closed the door at his back; shutting himself away from the rest of the world. Adam filled his lungs with the aged scent of his own surroundings, making sure to hold the oxygen in his chest for as long as he could, before exhaling slowly. For the first time since he had woken up in the hospital, Adam actually felt comfortable. This was his room; the place he used to study, and relax, and sleep. This room was more than just four walls and a bed. It was Adam's safe haven, away from life's cruelness.

For a moment, Adam stood there and looked over his worldly possessions. Everything was covered in dust; untouched for years, exactly the way he left it. Some of his rock band posters had fallen off the walls, though, where the tape had lost its stickiness. But his bed was still made, of course. His mother always told him that it would be ready for him to use, whenever he came home from college. Another ache radiated through Adam's chest, at the memory of his mother. Ugh, it hurt so much to think about her. It was like breaking a rib, every time she came to mind.

Seeking refuge from the pain, Adam shuffled over to the bed and sat on the very end. He was then facing his cluttered desk and the window beyond, where the setting sun was stretching a ray of light through the gap between the boards. It was the only source of light in the room; one small, orange sun ray, casting an oddly shaped beam of light on the floor. Adam watched the dust particles swirl around in the illumination, blinking slowly. He felt strangely vacant; body numb and emotions lost.

In all honesty, Adam was surprised by his own calm behavior. After all of the heart shattering news he'd learned today, the teenager assumed that he would still be crying. He thought that his tears would never stop flowing, once he knew his mother was dead. He thought that he would be furious with the Winchesters, for delivering such terrible news and putting him in harms way. He thought that he would be in a constant state of fear, after coming face-to-face with the devil.

Adam was fully prepared to deal with all of these horrible emotions, but they were gone. Some weird form of numbness had taken over, instead; leaving him immobile and void of feeling. Although he was confused by his current state of being, Adam hoped that it was normal. Maybe this was the calm after the storm; the strange transition of time, after everything had settled down and only the devastation remained. Oh, God, what if he stayed like this forever? What if he never felt happiness again? Maybe this was the way his life was going to be, from now on; a broken path, full of strangers and heartache.

Adam sat motionless for a long time – was it a few minutes? An hour? – before there was a faint knock at the door. The teenager merely turned his head toward the sound and glanced around the wooden frame. Ah, shit. It was one of those Winchesters, wasn't it? Adam remained silent, hoping that the knocker would simply go away and leave him alone. But a few more quiet taps echoed in persistence.

"Adam? May I come in?"

An airy feeling came over Adam, as he sat staring at the door. The voice belonged to Michael, not a Winchester. And the teenager could almost picture him standing at the door; leaning forward, listening closely for a reply. At least he was courteous enough to knock before entering. For some reason, Adam thought that the Winchesters were the kind of people that barged into a room and then asked for permission to be there; if they asked at all.

Adam wanted to tell Michael that it was okay for him to enter, but the teenager couldn't find his voice. He only stared at the door in the semi-dark; still blinking slowly, feeling like a zombie. Eventually, the door opened on its own, and Michael's head popped in. The man – or was he an angel? – searched the room to find Adam sitting on the bed. Adam stared at Michael's hazel eyes and remorseful expression, as the guy inched his way inside and closed the door. The two of them were alone again; in Adam's room, this time. Adam found that he actually liked the addition of Michael's presence. He may have felt numb, but at least he didn't have to feel it alone.

For a few seconds, Adam and Michael only stared at each other, as the single ray of sunlight dimmed in the room. Michael was silent for the most part, but Adam could see concern clouding his expression. Once it was obvious that Adam wouldn't be speaking, Michael cleared his throat.

"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly.

Adam blinked slowly again, before heaving a sigh. There was really no point in keeping it all bottled up, was there? Maybe it would be best to get it all out and move on. Maybe talking about everything would help him deal with it. Adam uncomfortably shifted on the bed, before forcing himself to speak.

"Well, my house is boarded up," he began, voice weary, "I just found out my mom is dead, and I have two brothers downstairs who are planning to kill Satan. I'm feeling just great, man. Couldn't get any better."

Michael's pink lips twitched with a smirk, at Adam's acidic remark. The angel took a cautious step forward, to lean his elbow on top of the dusty bookshelf to his left. Adam noticed that he had put his denim jacket back on, and the visitor's pass was still clipped to the front pocket.

"Sarcasm," Michael pointed out, nodding a little, "A family trait you share with your brothers."

Adam wanted to roll his eyes, but he couldn't. He was too exhausted from the day's events to do much of anything, except sit there. Michael was probably right, about sarcasm being a Winchester family trait, though. Whenever John felt like coming around to take Adam to a baseball game or something, he noticed that his father would give short quips sometimes, when the situation arose. And, from what he'd witnessed today, Adam was sure that Dean and Sam's tones were just as short sometimes. Especially with each other.

A small silence occupied the room again, as Adam and Michael stared at each other. It seemed like neither of them knew what to say next; like they were too nervous or shy to speak. Adam wanted to blame his lack of words on his current state of grief. But he could feel that there was another reason he was too shy to talk, though he didn't quite understand it. Michael made Adam feel nervous in a way he couldn't describe. It was sort of like coming into a classroom expecting a normal boring session, only to find out that a really hot substitute teacher was in charge for the day. Michael caught Adam off guard, but in a good way; a way that made his heart flutter, and stomach tighten. Michael effected Adam on a physical level. The teenager didn't understand why... but he liked it.

Michael shifted his elbow on top of the bookshelf in the dark, and the motion caused a textbook to fall. The heavy book teetered off the shelf and took a nosedive; thumping to the floor with a loud, echoing smack. Adam flinched at the sound, even though he saw it coming. And Michael was instantly worried about it.

"I – I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do that," the angel said, quickly reaching down to pick the book up.

"It's fine," Adam assured, watching him dust off the cover.

Michael appeared to be about to put the book back on the shelf, when something on the cover caught his attention. His hazel eyes stared hard at the front of the book for a second, before he carefully opened it. Adam stared at him from the bed; watching him glance over a few pages. It was a book about science; one of many, scattered throughout the room, that Adam had used during high school and college. Being a biology major came with a lot of textbooks that were chalk full of science stuff; cellular anatomy, structures of chemical compounds, ecosystem functions – the list went on and on.

But, whatever was written on the page Michael was reading, seemed to be pissing him off. His dark eyes were almost glaring at the book, and his lips were turning downward; morphing his expression into a mild scowl. Adam glanced between Michael's face and the book in his hand, wondering what was making him so upset.

"My poor father," the angel mumbled, shaking his head a bit, "He created the entire species of mankind with his own two hands, and yet, mankind has the nerve to believe that it evolved from nothing. Such a tragedy."

Adam blinked hard, focusing his sight on the hazel-eyed man across the room. Was Michael disputing evolution? Adam felt a little uncomfortable, at the thought of discussing such a touchy subject with someone he was growing to admire. But, evolution was a proven fact; millenniums of evidence resting in the earth. Michael knew that, right?

"But, we did evolve," Adam said quietly, gaining Michael's attention, "from single-celled organisms."

Michael's eyes narrowed slightly, as he snapped the book shut. He seemed baffled and perturbed, by Adam's comment; as if Adam had just offended him, and hurt him greatly.

"Yes, you did evolve from a single cell. In your mother's womb," Michael corrected, slapping the book back on the shelf, "after my father handcrafted your soul in heaven. Mankind did not simply crawl out of the sea billions of years ago, Adam. It was created. For a purpose."

Adam blinked, letting his eyebrows lift with surprise. A lot of things had happened that day, that made Adam reconsider religion: Meeting angels, wondering if his mother was in heaven, coming face-to-face with the devil. Adam had witnessed Lucifer for himself; saw him walk around on broken legs and explode into a ball of light. The teenager had been standing right there, when it happened, which made him more inclined to believe it. And, while Adam was not present at the dawn of mankind, he knew there were facts about evolution; various stages of it were found throughout the crust of the earth. Even so, Adam didn't really have an opinion on the formation of the world. If scientists and religious experts wanted to duke it out over something that happened tons of years ago, Adam didn't care. Fighting over hypothetical theories was just plain stupid.

But seeing Michael become so animated about it – watching the passion flare up in his eyes, and hearing his voice lower with authority – made Adam want to keep listening. This subject seemed very important to Michael; so important, that he would defend it with his entire being. And Adam adored that type of passion. Creation or evolution, Adam didn't care. He just loved seeing the light shine through Michael's personality, when the subject arose.

Michael's eyes had grown soft, in the few seconds Adam spent pondering to himself. The guy seemed to be looking at Adam with sadness and despair; as if his heart had just been broken.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Michael mumbled, his hazel eyes searching Adam's face.

Adam was about to firmly dispel Michael's assumption, when a strange sound interrupted their conversation. It was a scratching noise, coming from the bottom of Adam's bedroom door. Adam and Michael both looked toward wooden frame, wondering what the sound was. Fear and paranoia flashed through the teenager and, for a split-second, he thought that it might have been Lucifer; back from the cemetery and ready to kill them. Adam eased back on the bed, as he watched Michael step closer to the door and reach for the knob. What was he doing? Was he going to let Lucifer in?!

Thankfully, the devil was not at the door. In fact, it looked like no one was at the door, because Adam didn't see anyone standing there. But, once Michael opened the door all the way, a white streak suddenly dashed across the floor. Adam backed up even farther on his bed, fearing that it was a beam of magical light or something. But, once his vision focused on it in the semi-darkness, Adam realized that it was a small dog. The furry little animal trotted right into the room without a care, and came up to sniff around the bed.

Adam relaxed his fearful posture, as he shared a glance of confusion with Michael. Where did this dog come from? Adam's mom never kept any animals. Was it a stray, that had occupied the house while it was empty? Did the dog belong to one of the Winchesters, or something? It seemed like Michael had never laid eyes on this particular dog, either. The teenager's eyes fell back to the Jack Russel Terrier on his bedroom floor, and he couldn't help but feel a little comforted. It was nice to see a friendly animal today, instead of another rude human.

"Um," Adam coughed, "hi?"

The dog, though, wasn't paying any attention to him. It seemed like the dog was on a mission; sniffing around the mattress for a reason, like it was looking for something. Adam was debating on reaching down to pet the dog, when the Jack Russel Terrier seemed to have found what it was looking for. The dog was tugging something out from under the bed with its teeth... Something flexible, and made of paper...

The blood drained from Adam's face, and he nearly gasped out loud. The dog had found a magazine. But it wasn't just any magazine. It was a Playboy; one that Adam kept hidden under the mattress, to keep it safe from his mom's prying eyes. He bought it when he was in high school, and 'used it' occasionally, as any teenage boy would. It was full of dirty pictures of naked women, all posing in various erotic positions. And now, it was out in the open. For Michael to see.

Adam was frozen with embarrassment, feeling his cheeks growing hot. How did that dog find his porn stash?! What the hell was it doing?! The dog's tail was wagging playfully, as he leaned down to pick up the dirty magazine with his teeth. And – oh, shit! – the dog was suddenly prancing away with it in his mouth! He was running out the door! And carrying it toward the stairs!

"No!" Adam gasped.

The teenager leaped from his bed and instantly dashed to follow the dog, trying to catch it before it made it downstairs. Adam was freaking out the whole time, as he called for the mutt to get his furry little ass back to him. Oh, God, what if the dog brought the magazine to those Winchesters? What if they saw his porn magazine?! It was bad enough that Michael had seen it, but the Winchesters would probably never let him live it down!

Adam could faintly hear Michael's footsteps behind him, as he chased after the dog; trying so hard to keep up with his quick feet. But, the Jack Russel Terrier was too fast. The dog made it to the crowded kitchen, by the time Adam finally caught up with it and ripped the magazine from its mouth. As soon as the paper was in his hands, Adam wrenched it behind his own back and looked around; hoping that the Winchesters didn't see the suggestive picture on the front cover.

But, sadly, it was too late. All four of them were standing around the kitchen table, where a pizza box was sitting, and they were all looking at Adam with surprise. Dean's eyebrow was raised in a questioning manor, as of he was thinking, 'Really, kid? A porn magazine?' Castiel looked a little lost, and Sam was wearing an expression of pity. Gabriel, however, was staring at the dog on the floor with a huge grin.

"Good boy, Dickie," Gabriel mused, "Way to get the kid out of his room."

Dickie? Was the dog's name 'Dickie'? Was it Gabriel's dog? Did they plan that, or something? Adam was still frozen in fear, when Michael stepped up beside him. The guy seemed absolutely confused by what had just happened. He looked down at Adam with concern; actually reaching out to clutch the teenager's shoulder.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, sounding genuinely worried.

"Y – yeah," Adam squeaked, trying desperately to stuff the magazine under the back of his shirt, "the dog... it just took my -"

"Playboy. October issue, from five years ago. Ms. Arizona is the centerfold," Dean mumbled from across the room.

Adam's eyes blew wide. How the hell did he know all of that, from just one glance?! Dean must have seen the look of shock on Adam's – and Castiel's – face, because he gave a look of bewilderment in return.

"What?" he said nonchalantly, fixing his sight on Castiel, "Sam had a subscription."

"No, I didn't," Sam spat instantly, giving his brother a dumb look, "What address would I have used, Dean? '67 Chevy Impala?"

While the Winchesters began bickering over subscribing to porn, Adam could feel the magazine being tugged out of his grip. The teenager spun around in surprise, wondering who was taking it away from him. Adam's heart skipped a beat, when he saw Michael pull it the rest of the way out of his hands. The angel was staring hard at the barely-dressed woman on the front cover, and appeared almost as offended by it, as he was by the science textbook upstairs.

Adam swallowed a hard gulp, feeling extremely uncomfortable. Great, the teenager thought to himself, Now the one person that you actually like is going to think you're a disgusting pervert. Michael's eyes eventually flickered up to meet Adam's; full of confusion. And pain.

"I... I thought you were a virgin," Michael said quietly.

Embarrassment blazed hotter across Adam's face, as the room suddenly became quiet. The Winchesters were no longer talking amongst themselves, but staring at Adam; eying him with disbelief, and waiting patiently to hear his reply. The teenager's heart was hammering against his ribcage. Ugh, why would Michael say that? Why was he looking at Adam with pain; as if he was actually hoping that Adam was a virgin? And, why the hell did it even matter? Weren't they all supposed to be fighting the devil? Weren't they supposed to be planning an attack against him, instead of talking about Adam's nonexistent sex life?!

"It's none of your business," Adam grumbled, as he yanked the magazine back out of Michael's hands, "I thought you were going to kill the devil, or something."

The teenager was desperately trying to change the subject; struggling to stop the heat from radiating on his own cheeks. Michael glanced toward the kitchen, meeting eyes with all of the Winchesters. Gabriel flipped open the pizza box on the table – where did that pizza come from? – and grabbed a slice, before taking a huge bite of it.

"Chillax, Bieber," the angel said, his mouth full of food, "Luci just exploded his own vessel. We've got plenty of time to catch him. Besides, we can't exactly hunt him in the dark. Well, I guess we could hunt in the dark, but it would probably be safer to -"

"Just get over here and eat," Dean interrupted Gabriel's rant, nudging the pizza box toward Adam.

Adam rolled up the magazine in his hand, as he glanced down at the food on the table. The pizza did nothing for his senses. The sight of it didn't make him hungry, and the smell of it only turned his stomach. Adam didn't feel like eating, and he knew that it was probably because of his current state of grief.

While Adam stood nearby and debated on forcing himself to eat, Sam, Gabriel, and Castiel started into the living room. The three of them began to shift around the furniture; pushing the coffee tables out of the way, shoving the chairs toward the walls, moving the couch back. It looked like they were clearing out the middle of the room; making a large space on the floor. Adam felt a little upset, watching his living room being rearranged by strangers without his permission. But, on the other hand, he was a little curious. Why exactly were they doing it? Why did they need that big open space on the floor?

"Adam."

The teenager looked back toward Dean, at the sound of his name. The oldest Winchester had lingered in the kitchen on purpose; leaning back against the counter with his hands stuffed in his pockets. A few traces of guilt were hinted in his expression, as he looked at Adam with his head tilted down.

"Can I talk to you, for a minute?" Dean asked, voice low, "... Alone?"

Adam knew that Dean had tacked on that last word because Michael was still hovering close by. Both of them looked toward the angel, when his name was mentioned, and Michael glanced between them with confusion. He seemed hesitant about leaving Adam alone with Dean. In fact, it seemed like Michael was hesitant about leaving Adam at all. But the dark-haired angel eventually gave a slight nod, before bowing out of the kitchen. He wandered over to the living room archway to watch the furniture being moved around, giving Adam and Dean some space.

Adam brought his attention back to Dean, wondering why the oldest Winchester wanted to talk to him. He really hoped this wasn't going to turn out to be one of those 'I'm your older brother, so you have to do what I say or else' speeches. But, by the look on Dean's face, Adam could tell that this was about something else; something meaningful. Dean cleared his throat a little bit and shifted around, as if he was having difficulty trying to figure out his words.

"Listen, um," he began, voice barely audible, "I know you don't remember any of it, but... I – I just want to say... I'm sorry."

Adam's eyebrows curved together with sympathetic confusion. Sorry? What was Dean apologizing for? Had he done something to Adam, without the teenager being aware of it? Dean must have seen the total loss in Adam's features, because he quickly went on.

"You kind of ended up in hell because of me," Dean explained, "I tried to keep you safe. I did everything I could, to try and stop it. I even tried to get you out of hell, once you were in there, but... It all went up in flames."

"Literally," Adam mumbled, referring to the flames of hell.

Although Adam was attempting to make a joke, Dean didn't smile at all. His woeful expression only seemed to get worse. He was wearing sort of the same expression John Winchester wore, when he was about to leave again; looking all disheartened and guilty, as if he was mad at himself.

"I'm glad you're safe, now," Dean said, voice full of honesty.

Adam nodded slowly, searching his older brother's face with understanding. Though he didn't fully comprehend why Dean was apologizing, it felt good to know the guy was being genuine. For the first time since he'd met them, Adam was starting to think that having the Winchesters for brothers was actually kind of cool. He had always wanted a sibling; someone close to his own age that he could go to, to talk about life and stuff. And Dean seemed like a guy that would talk about anything.

"Thanks," Adam said quietly, unsure of what to say.

Both of them were quiet for a moment, which allowed awkwardness to seep into their conversation. Adam took the time to glance back toward the living room, and noticed that the other people were piling up cushions and blankets on the floor. Sam, Gabriel, and Castiel were all forming some type of soft padding on the hardwood, as if they were setting up for a slumber party.

"What are they doing?" Adam asked out loud, giving Dean a glance.

"We're gonna sleep here, tonight," the older brother explained, standing up from the counter and leading the way toward the living room, "and by 'we,' I mean you, me, and Sam. The angels are gonna stand guard until morning. Tomorrow, we're going to go see a friend of ours, named Bobby. We're hoping he can help us find a way to stick Lucifer back in the cage."

Adam blinked strangely at Dean beside him, as they both stopped in the archway. They were planning to put Lucifer back in hell? Adam had been under the assumption that they were going to kill him, not send him home.

"Stick him back in the cage?" Adam asked, raising an eyebrow.

Dean heaved a sigh, and briefly rubbed his forehead, before meeting Adam's stare again. There was a certain amount of wisdom in Dean's eyes; like he had already dealt with this question before.

"Take it from me, kid. Most angels are dicks," he said lowly, as if he was trying to keep his voice from being heard by anyone else, "They'll give you stomach cancer and shove you into a parallel universe, just to prove a point. But, there are a few – very few – who will actually give a shit about you. There are two or three angels that will actually put their lives on the line without a second thought, and do everything in their power to keep you safe and happy... And they're all standing in this room, right now."

Adam took the time to glance around the room, to Castiel, Gabriel, and Michael; seeing them in a different light. Did Castiel really put his own life on the line, to save the Winchesters? Did Gabriel really try to keep them safe and happy all the time? Adam's eyes lingered on Michael, recalling how protective and kind he was. Would Michael do the same for him? Adam glanced back toward Dean, wondering what any of this had to do with killing Lucifer. The older brother stepped closer and spoke lower; making it seem like he didn't want his voice to be heard by anyone else.

"So, when those same angels look you in the eye, and ask you not to kill their brother," he whispered, "how are you supposed to say no?"

Adam gulped. Whoa. He didn't realize that Lucifer's death would upset the angels. But, in a strange way, he kind of understood their reasoning. If Adam was in the angels' shoes – if Sam and Dean were the ones about to be killed – he would probably try to find a different solution, too. Even if he had just met them. Besides, it probably boiled down to the old, 'don't stoop to their level' kind of thing. Just because Lucifer hated humanity and wanted to kill everyone, it didn't mean he had to be killed.

Dean reached up to pat the back of Adam's shoulder, before wandering off toward the others. Adam watched him go, feeling a little more at peace. It was so good to have a fresh perspective on things. He was happy to learn that his brothers were admirable, and that the angels were there to protect them. It gave him a good feeling, and alleviated some of the pain from missing his mother. Adam might not have her in his life anymore, but at least he had new brothers. At least he still had a family...

Something gently pressed against Adam's leg, and the teenager nearly jumped at the sensation. He glanced down to see that the dog – Dickie – was jumping up and down in front of him; whimpering a little, as he tried to get to the magazine in Adam's hand. The teenager lifted the paper higher, looking down to stare at the dog in bewilderment. What was wrong with this dog? Why was he so desperate to have a porn magazine? What was he going to do, if he got it? Chew on it?

"Uh, hey," Adam called to Gabriel, "Can you call off the dog?"

Gabriel grinned from across the room, as he nibbled on the crust of his pizza. He and Sam were both staring at the dog on the floor, watching him up jump and down in front of Adam.

"Aww. I can't. It's too adorable," the angel mused.

Adam glared. Really? Gabriel wasn't going to stop his dog from making a stranger uncomfortable? Luckily, Sam was more understanding. He gave a short whistle, which made the dog stop and look toward him.

"Go get your moose, boy," Sam said, pointing toward the doorway, "It's in my duffel bag. Go on. Go get it."

Though Adam was thoroughly confused by the moose reference – What was with Sam and all the moose comments? – he watched the dog scamper away toward the other room, before looking back at Sam. The younger of the two Winchesters gestured to some of the cushions on the floor, shrugging his shoulders.

"It's, uh, only for one night," he said, trying to defend the whole 'slumber party' situation, "We all need to get some sleep. And, if Lucifer shows up in the middle of the night, we've got more chance of taking him on while we're together. I'm sure you've seen enough horror movies to know that it's safer to stay in a group, right?"

Adam heaved a sigh. Since when did his life turn into a horror movie?

"Y – yeah," the teenager mumbled, tossing his dirty magazine onto the fireplace mantle, "I'll... I'll just curl up over here, then."

Although he thought it was a bit strange to sleep on the floor of his own living room while he had a perfectly good bed upstairs, Adam forced himself to kneel down and crawl onto the small sliver of cushions near the couch. As soon as he was in a horizontal position, the teenager seemed to become aware of how exhausted he was. Every muscle in his body was crying out for sleep; especially his eyes, where his tear ducts were aching with overuse. He blinked a few times toward the kitchen, feeling so tired. And the smell of his mother's comforting scent in the fabric beneath him was making him even more drowsy; inducing him to feel relaxed, and peaceful.

As Adam listened to the other Winchesters shifting around behind him, a figure suddenly moved in front of his eyes. He blinked slowly, watching Michael lower himself into the floor. The angel sat down next to Adam, letting his lengthy legs jut straight out, while he leaned his back up against the couch. His eyes were wandering over Adam's face from above – when the light suddenly went out.

Adam flinched at the sudden darkness. He figured that one of the Winchesters must have turned off the light switch, because no one said anything about it. They were all quietly whispering to one another about a guy named Bobby. Though Adam was extremely tired, the dull ache of grief and the discomfort of uncertainty were keeping him awake. What if Lucifer came in the middle of the night, like Sam had mentioned? What if the devil showed up to blast everyone away? The teenager's heart was beating fast as he eyed Michael's close form in the dark, trying to calm himself down. The angels would protect him if anything bad happened, right? Oh, no. What if they couldn't? What if Adam woke up and everyone was gone? Or worse – what if they were all dead?

In a rush of adrenaline, Adam's hand lunged forward to grab a handful of Michael's jacket. He gripped it as tightly as he could with his weary strength, as he let his eyes wander up to meet Michael's in the dark. The teenager could clearly see concern in the angel's features, as they stared at each other.

"Please don't leave," Adam requested in a whisper, his voice weak and frail.

Michael's throat quivered with a gulp, as one of his large hands reached downward in the dark. Adam felt it a moment later in his own hair. Michael's warm fingertips were gently running against Adam's scalp; reminding him of the way his mother used to sooth him, when he was a child. Adam's eyelids slowly closed as he savored the feeling, but his hand remained firmly clasped around Michael's denim jacket. Sleep was finally washing over him, at last. His muscles were relaxing and his mind was easing, when he heard the faint sound of Michael's deep voice drift its way down to him.

"I won't," Michael promised.

(Author's Note: Yes. Adam is a virgin. (He's about the only Winchester who is, I think.) ;) And, yay for Dickie ratting him out! I always love it, when that little guy makes an appearance. :) As for the whole evolution/creation thing; I'm only using it to make Michael and Adam grow closer together. I honestly don't want to step on any toes, by talking about the subject, because I know a lot of people get defensive about it. But, did you happen to see the title of this story? ;) Yeah, there will be more evolution/creation talk later. But it will be purely for fluff. (You'll see what I mean.) :) I hope this chapter wasn't too strange, in terms of plot progression (or lack thereof.) But I had to get some background stuff going. Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know if you're enjoying it. The next chapter will be out soon! :)

masterjediratgrl31, Thank you! :) I hope you're still enjoying the direction! :)

hellosweetpea, Yeah, I think that Adam finds comfort in Michael's jacket, for some reason. Maybe it's because jackets are kind of like shields against harsh weather, and Michael is like Adam's shield against the harsh situation he's in..? Idk. :) For the record, – and I should probably put a slight spoiler warning here, – Michael is withholding a little bit of information. But, when it comes out, it won't be a bad thing. In fact, it's going to be a really good thing. (That's as far as I can go, without giving it away. I'm so sorry. Lol) :) I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and keep reading to find out more! Thank you so so much! :)

Deanstiel's Daughter, Argh, I'm so sorry for the feels. :( But, hopefully this chapter made up for it. ;) I hope that you approve of how I chose to deal with Lucifer in this story. (Devil or no devil, Lucifer is still Cas, Gabe, and Michael's brother, right?) ;) Thank you so much for reading, darling!

Angel of Randomosity, It most certainly will be fun. :) Lol, I'm sorry they are still at Adam's house. But, for now, Adam's house is the safest place. (For now.) ;) Thanks for reading, babe!

LeeMarieJack, Oh, yes. Lucifer will not be going anywhere near Sammy. (Not as long as Gabriel and Dean are around.) ;) I, too, enjoy the expansion of Team Free Will. I wonder if Dickie can be considered a member. :) Thanks for reading!

LadyAnalyn, Lol, you're right. Dean has zero self preservation. But, when it comes to family, do any of us have a sense of self preservation? ;) Yeah, Adam is more of a scholar. Especially when it comes to the whole 'science' thing. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, babe! Thanks for reading! :)

DancingWolves101, *mentally trying to send you good vibes, so you don't have to worry* ;)

AnotherDamnMexican149, Ah! I didn't ship Midam very much, either. But, you're very welcome! :) Here is your boarding pass, your 'I heart Midam' t-shirt, and a complimentary shot glass, courtesy of Destiel Cruises. Welcome aboard! Please enjoy your ride! :) Thank you so much for reading!

cheeriosjlee, Me too! :) I hope it turns out to be a good one. ;) Thank you!

Remember Ember, Fangirl Ember: Ikr? He's a party pooper. Demon Ember: lol. You're right, that would be funny. Lucifer looks like an extra from 'The Walking Dead' and suddenly shows up in a diner somewhere, looking for the Winchesters. That would be hilarious. :) Romance Ember: Eee! I know! I love them, too! :) Thank you so much for reading! You are all the best! ;)

gothichic, Yay! I'm so glad you love it! *blushes brightly* I'm giving it my very best, and I certainly hope I'm succeeding. ;) The more I write about them, the more I get to know them. And the more I love them! Michael and Adam are just so sweet! :) Thank you so, so much for reading and reviewing. It means the world to me! :)

Kats1997, Ah, I knew someone would ask the million-dollar question. ;) As for the virginity stats: Adam is most definitely a virgin. Michael: Um... I would assume that he knows everything there is to know about intercourse, but he's never done it before. So, he's not as innocent as Adam, but he's never touched anyone, or been touched by anyone. (Does that make sense?) As for the smut: Spoiler alert: There will be a racy scene toward the end of this story. I'm not sure how far it will go, but I welcome any and all opinions, on how far to take it. If you think the story calls for a hardcore smut scene, let me know! If you think Michael and Adam should only cuddle, let me know! I take everyone's opinions into consideration, as I'm writing. Thank you so much, for reading and reviewing! Hope to hear from you soon! :)