Dean drove the long way to Kansas, only stopping for some food or when Mason needed a potty break. He wanted to get there as soon as possible, so Emmeline and Mason would be safe.
They pulled up in front of Missouri's house and slowly, the four of them climbed from the car and stretched and groaned.
Missouri met them all at the front door, "Why, hello everyone? What do I owe this great pleasure?" She said, ushering everyone in.
Missouri hugged Sam and Dean and smiled brightly at the two new strangers.
"Who may I ask are you?" She said sweetly.
"I'm Emmeline and this here is Mason. We're um.. I guess we're-"
"Their friends of ours. We don't want to intrude but we were wondering if we could stay for a while?" Dean finished, looking at Emmeline. Her eyes shown a small thank you; she didn't feel like dumping her life story out on the table. Even though Missouri already knew just by looking at them. The way both Emmeline and Mason's shoulders were rounded in a self conscious way, as if they were waiting for the next blow.
"Boy, this house is far too big for me to live here on my own. You're all welcome," she said with a smile.
"Thanks, I don't even know what to say," Emmeline said breathlessly.
"Don't say anything child. It'll be nice to have a woman around, not just those two," Missouri said with a laugh.
"Hey!" Sam and Dean both cried indignantly, making Mason giggle. It was the first time he had said anything from the attack. Emmeline just reached around him and hugged him the best she could with her own injuries.
"Well, I'll just go get our bags," Emmeline said, making her way to the door.
"Child, you will do no such thing. You have to strapping boys here at your assistance. Let them lug it in!"
Emmeline smiled shyly and allowed Dean and Sam to grab their things, even though her eyes never strayed to far from Dean.
"Now, my little man, I have a swing outside with your name all over it. Why don't you and Mommy go outside while I make us some dinner?"
Mason's eyes brightened and he turned to his Mom. She nodded and he took her hand and led her outside.
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Dean and Sam came in the front door and placed Emmeline's and Mason's things in a upstairs guestroom. They entered the kitchen and Dean nearly panicked at the absence of Emmeline and Mason.
"Where's Emmeline?" He asked.
"Sweetheart, they're outside. I thought it would be good to let them get some fresh air," Missouri said, stiring the noodles that were boiling away in a big pot.
Dean nodded and walked out the back door, causally making his way towards Emmeline. Mason was giving his mom a turn on the swing and was pushing her from behind.
"Higher, baby, higher!" She laughed as the little boy barely pushed her.
Dean laughed as he got closer, "You know, that's not very fair."
Emmeline laughed and Mason came around and sat in her lap. Dean walked behind them and gently pushed them higher and higher.
"Dean, will it hold us if we go this high?" Emmeline said, and it was quickly cut off by a delighted squeal and her brown locks flew gracefully through the air.
"Of course, don't worry. I'll never let you hit the ground," Dean said, and Emmeline knew he meant it.
After a little while, Mason was squirming in Emmeline's lap and she stopped the swing so her little boy could get off. He ran in all different directions, sprinting this way and that in the knew, undiscovered land.
Dean sat next to Emmeline, who was still swinging aimlessly.
"Man, he's a little firecracker," he laughed, watching the little boy.
"That's what a long car ride and a messed up childhood can do to you," she said with a snort.
"I think you did the best you could, and that he will always be grateful for that," Dean said quietly.
Emmeline stared at him, wondering how he knew her deepest fear? That one day her son will hate her for what he went through.
"Thank you," she whispered, reaching for Dean's hand and squeezed it.
Suddenly a tennis ball came whizzing through the air and hit Dean right in the head.
"Ow! What the-" he looked around and saw a wide eyed Mason standing over by Missouri's rose bushes.
"Mason, sweety, you need to be careful," Emmeline said, but couldn't help but have her laughter break through. Mason ran up to her with a shy smile on his face.
"You hit him right in the head, silly goose," Emmeline laughed, making Mason giggle too.
"Oh, you think it's funny?" Dean said, faking a threatening tone.
"Uh oh, Mason, run!" Emmeline yelled happily as she grabbed the little boys hand and began to run from Dean.
"I'm gonna get you two!" Dean yelled, chasing them through Missouri's back yard. Mason and Emmeline laughed out loud as Dean stomped behind them, and Dean couldn't hold in his own laughter.
He hid behind a bush quickly and Emmeline and Mason couldn't find him.
Do you see him baby?" Emmeline whispered, and Mason shook his head no. When they rounded on the bush Dean was hiding behind, he jumped, making both of them scream as he wrapped his large arms around both of them.
Both screamed and squealed and Dean laughed at them. MAson was small enough to wiggle from Dean but Emmeline was still caught in his clutches.
"Run baby, run!" Emmeline laughed, and that the little boy did.
Emmeline turned and looked in Dean's eyes and for a moment, they lost themselves. Dean had never seen or heard anything more beautiful when Emmeline was running around, the spring breeze twirling her curly locks and the sound of her laughter made his heart ache.
He wrapped both of his arms around her small waist and just soaked up the feeling. Leaned in slowly, one hand brushed a curl from her eye. He gently placed his hand on her cheek and looked into her eyes to see if this was ok with her. He prayed it was...he needed it to be...
She gently nodded, never wnating more in her entire life and leaned forward as well…lips centimeters apart, both afriad to close the gap completely...When Sam called from the kitchen, informing them that dinner was done.
Dean and Emmeline quickly jumped back, Dean's hands flying to his hips while Emmeline played with her curls, pulling them back into a pony-tail.
"Umm, I'm gonna take Mason inside to get cleaned up," Emmeline said hurriedly, grabbing her son, who was currently playing with a stick, and making her way inside.
Sam smiled at his brother as Dean walked slowly inside like a school boy who just got caught.
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