Dinner was awkward to say the least. Missouri and Sam smiled as Dean and Emmeline refused to make eye contact with each other while Mason hummed a sweet tune as he ate.
"Mason sweetheart, it's not nice to him at the table," Emmeline whispered. Mason looked at his mom and turned to Missouri.
"I'm sorry Ms. Missouri," he said.
Missouri laughed, "Oh child, think nothing of it. It's been a long time since I've had a little boy stay here, and I don't mind it one bit." Mason smiled shyly at Missouri and began to eat again.
Dean reached over and ruffled his hair, causing Mason to giggle. Emmeline watched Dean interact with her son, amazed by the ease the boys fell into liking each other. Emm wanted a better role model for her son than his birth father, and it seemed Dean stepped up with out even realizing it.
"Bud, you wanna go play some baseball with Sammy after dinner?"
"Yea!" Mason exclaimed happily. The boys put their dishes in the sink and Dean threw Mason over his shoulder and carried him outside, Mason screaming and laughing the whole way. Emmeline laughed and helped Missouri with the rest of the dishes.
"So, how are you feeling darling?" Missouri asked, hanging a clean dish to Emmeline who was on drying duty.
"Still swore, but I'm happier than I've been in a long time."
"I see, and could a certain young man have anything to do with it?" Missouri said with a sneaky smile.
"That obvious huh?" Emmeline laughed. "Yes, Dean is…amazing to say the least. The way he gravitated to my son is just…wonderful. I've never been treated as kindly as Dean and Sam have treated me…I just don't want to blow it, you know?"
"Sweetheart, once Dean Winchester has something on his mind, he rarely gives up on it," Missouri said. Outside they heard the boys laughing and it made them both smile.
"I think you're needed outside," Missouri said, laughing and taking the towel from Emmeline.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, we're almost done anyway." Emmeline excused herself from the kitchen and walked outside. Sam was helping Mason bat and Dean was the pitcher and they had step up fake bases around the vacant lot across the street. Dean through the ball and Sam helped Mason hit it and the ball went flying over Dean's head.
"WHoah!!!!!!!!!!" Dean yelled, running after it.
"Run Mason run!" Sam yelled. Mason ran as fast as his little legs could carry him.
"Run baby run!" Emmeline yelled jumping up and down, clapping and cheering for her son. Mason was rounding second when Dean finally reached the ball. Mason squealed when he saw Dean running towards him.
He hit third and kept going running into Sam's arms and was safe from being caught by Dean.
"Yay Mason!" Emmeline yelled. This was the first time Dean had noticed she was out here.
"Hey, it's your turn," Dean yelled to her, waving his arms to beckon her. Emmeline ran over and picked up the bat.
"Hey I was on my softball team in high school, you better watch out!" She threatened with a smile on his face.
"Oh really, we'll just see about that!" Dean pitched the ball and Emmeline hit the ball and it rocketed across the vacant lot.
Emmeline screamed and jumped into the air and began her leisurely run around the base as to mock Dean even more as he ran to fetch the ball. Emmeline miscalculated how fast Dean could run and when she was between third and home, he came after her fast. Normally a man running after her would be terrifying but the glint in his eyes and the smile plastered on his face. She screamed excitedly and ran as fast as she could, but she was no match for the thunderous steps coming from behind her.
Arms reached around her waist and he picked her up and spun her around.
Emmeline and Dean laughed and Dean put her down when Mason came running over.
"He got you Momma!" He laughed.
"Yes he did, darling," Emmeline said, kissing her son on the forehead. The four of them continued to play outside until it was so dark no one could see the ball.
Mason whined all the way inside, complaining about stopping the game.
"I could still see the ball!" He huffed, arms across his chest.
"Hey bud, we can play tomorrow, I promise," Sam said, crouching down next to the little boy, instantly making him smile.
"Ok!" He said happily and scampered upstairs with Emmeline to take a bath.
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Sam and Dean were just as sweaty as Mason and couldn't wait to shower after the little guy was finished. Both boys were attached to him, and loved spending time with him. The sounds of laughing filled their ears as they made their way upstairs to their room. Next thing they knew, Mason clad only in a towel was running from the bathroom laughing and giggling. Dean looked up to see a soaked Emmeline, soap suds in her hair and a tired smile on her face.
"I'll get him for you," Sam whispered to Emmeline. "Hey, you little rug-rat, get back here!" Sam faked an angry yell and stomped his feet in the direction the little boy had taken off.
Dean smiled at Emmeline and she smiled shyly back at him. She walked out of the bathroom and leaned on the wall next to the door and Dean leaned next to her.
"I see why you're tired, he's a ball of energy," Dean said.
"He keeps me on my toes," Emmeline smiled. "Dean I want to say thanks…I mean you don't have to take Mason under your wing and you have. I'm very grateful."
"It's nothing. I care a lot about him and you…I've never felt this way…"Dean admitted.
"I know, I feel the same way," she said, a nervous smile decorating her face. Dean watched as she bit her lip and how her hair fell just the right way…even haphazardly. He looked over her sun kissed cheeks and the light brown bruise that still shown on her face. He brought his hand up and traced the outline of the bruise.
"I'll never hurt you," he whispered.
"I know," she whispered back. Before they knew it, their lips met delicately at first but sped up as they felt their bodies warm with passion. Emmeline placed her arms gently around his neck and he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. He moaned slightly into her mouth as he gently teased his tounge over hers.
The sound of giggles met their ears and they pulled apart enough to look across to see Sam and Mason watching. Sam laughed when they got caught and clapped a hand over Mason's mouth and carried the boy back into the room.
Emmeline smiled at Dean and he smiled back at her.
"So…"She said.
"So…" Dean said, looking into her beautiful eyes. "Do…do you wanna try this?"
"Mr. Winchester, are you asking me out?" Emmeline said with a small smile, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"I guess I am…I mean I know it's weird because we live together and I don't know how you feel, I me you just," but he was cut off by her lips gently enveloping his.
"You talk to much," she whispered against his lips. "And to answer your question, yes, I will go out with you."
Dean smiled and hugged Emmeline and pulled her back. He placed a gentle kiss to her forehead and rested his forehead on hers.
"Why don't we go teach those kids a lesson for spying," Dean said.
"Sure, in one minute," Emmeline said, pulling Dean into a crushing kiss.
"Ok, we can go now," she said with a smile, leaving Dean mesmerized.
"Come on lover boy," she said with a laugh and screamed when Dean chased her into the room where Mason and Sam were hiding. The four of them laughed and played for long into the night.
