Dean pulled up in front of the school and looked out the window. He then glanced behind him where their eight-month old baby slept sucking on a pacifier.
"Ready to see your sister, Josie?" He asked gruffly.
Of course there was no reply.
He grabbed her gingerly as to not jostle her too much, setting the sleeping girl on his shoulder as he walked to the front of the school. The teacher was waiting for him with Quinn by her side.
"Sorry I'm late. Work got crazy and the babysitter—! Nevermind, it's not that important." He smiled nervously.
"It's alright, but is there anyone else who could pick her up?"
"Not really, no." He replied. Sam worked long hours, so that wasn't an option.
He idly realized they needed to make more friends. Over the years, they'd gotten so used to losing them. It was time to start making some connections, he thought. It was always nice to know other people outside of family, especially if there was an emergency or something along those lines.
"Daddy, I made a picture!" Quinn exclaimed, holding it up for him to see.
"I see. It's nice." He ruffled the top of her head, making her groan and bat his hands away as she attempted to smooth down her hair again. It had gotten long and was still blonde. Her eyes had turned green like his and she even inherited his freckles. She looked like his female twin. There was no trace of Sam there at all, whereas Josie seemed more of a good mix of both.
"Sorry about this, I promise it won't happen again." He told the teacher, grabbing her hand and leading her to the car.
He got her buckled into her carseat, smiling when she began chattering away about all the things she did in class. She was in kindergarten and would already be in first grade the following year. Dean couldn't believe how quickly she was growing. He know knew what parents meant when they lamented that kids grew up way too fast. Next thing he knew, Quinn would be asking for his car keys and dating.
"You want ice cream?" He asked.
"Yay! I want sprinkles!" She clapped enthusiastically, smiling from ear to ear.
"Chill out. We're not even there yet." He muttered amusedly, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.
Quinn giggled, kicking her feet excitedly as she returned his smile. Josie began whimpering, but soon nodded back off.
Dean looked at his girls again as he drove off. Originally, Quinn was supposed to be an only child. The spell had lasting effects though and although they'd used protection, Josie was born eventually about four years later.
Now that she was here, they were more careful than ever. Currently, he was looking into a way to officially break the spell. There was always a way, despite their failed attempts so far.
o
Dean held Josie in one arm, Quinn in the other as he went into the ice cream store. The baby looked uncertainly at her strange, new surroundings before she laid her head onto his shoulder. He held his oldest up, showing her the different flavors.
"I want vanilla with sprinkles." She said loudly.
"What do you say to him?"
"Please?"
The employee smiled at the girl, handing her the cup moments later. "Is that all?"
"Yes, thanks."
o
Sam looked up when they came in near dinnertime. Dean was surprised to see him home this early. On cue, he commented exactly what he was thinking.
"I know." The younger man nodded, "But the case I'm working on has gotten complicated. We decided to call it a day and look into more evidence tomorrow."
Dean didn't know the daily routine of lawyers, so didn't comment further. Instead, he sat down and set Josie in his lap. The baby cooed, clapping her hands as she tried to fold in half. He gently lifted her up, cradling her in one arm as he bounced her slightly. She found it amusing, squealing as he did so.
"What is it?" He asked when he saw Sam's warm smile.
"Nothing, just looking at pictures of the girls when they were tiny. I'm glad we took more pictures and recorded the birth the second time around. They're nice memories." He shrugged.
Dean nodded. "Yeah, I barely took photos when I was pregnant with Quinn since I was freaked out, you know, since guys don't usually get knocked up." He sounded extremely sarcastic as he gave him a mirthless look.
Sam could only laugh, completely understanding. With Josie, it'd been different. There were way more maternity shots, although Quinn had more newborn pictures.
"Hey, here's her birth video." Sam noticed. "You saved it?"
"What? You said you were glad we had it."
"I just assumed you wouldn't want any evidence."
Dean rolled his eyes heavily. "Ha, funny. Almost forgot to laugh at that, Sam."
He walked over anyway with the baby in his arms, peering at the screen. It showed him in Grace's office, pushing down hard as he laid on the hospital bed. They had made it there thankfully the second time around, but barely. Like her sister, she had also arrived pretty fast.
"Push, a little longer this time." He heard her calm voice instruct.
Dean watched as the doctor caught the baby's shoulders, twisting them and with a loud cry of pain followed by a deep moan, she was born into waiting hands.
"Seems like yesterday." He murmured, frowning. "Hard to believe she'll be one in July."
"I know, right?"
"You're growing up too fast. Stay small." Dean told Josie, smirking when all she did was stare at him with wide, hazel eyes. She looked shocked. Eventually, the girl cooed and tried to wriggle out of his grip.
"Tummy time, then? C'mon." The older man set her on a playmat, watching as she crawled forward on it. Josie instantly calmed down, beaming up at him. He smiled back at her, gently rubbing her back as he stood and walked over to the table.
"Huh." Sam looked impressed.
"What?"
"I'll never get over how surprisingly good you are with kids."
"Uh, Sam, I helped take care of you. Remember?"
"…yeah, but still."
"Well, thanks anyway. I guess I'm good with them, I try."
"No, you're great. Better than me. My patience isn't as good as I thought."
"Hey, you're doing okay to me."
"Thanks, Dean. You, um, wanna get some take-out?"
"Let's just order a pizza. I don't feel like going back out."
Sam nodded, enjoying this domestic peace momentarily before he replied, "Sure. Sounds nice. I'll pay."
"I got it." Dean insisted.
o
As they sat on the couch eating pizza, Sam still couldn't believe even now how content he felt. The instincts and edginess from hunting had never quite left, for either of them. Dean still slept with a gun nearby, a knife at the ready too just in case something happened.
"Should I check on Joss?" That was their nickname for her.
"Sure, if you want." Dean replied, covering his mouth as he took a huge bite. "She's fine though. I changed her diaper and fed her before we sat down."
"I can't hear." Quinn piped in, looking over at them sourly.
Dean grinned. "Sorry, Quinn. But adults are talking, okay? You don't interrupt adult conversation unless it's important. We'll be quiet though."
"But the movie is important, daddy!" She protested, gesturing to the t.v.
"Okay, okay. Settle down." He rubbed her back affectionately, finishing off the slice in his hand with a satisfied gaze.
"I'll be right back." Sam told him.
He didn't miss the paternal, loving stare Dean gave Quinn as he walked out, filling him again with that same sense of contentedness. Checking in on the sleeping infant, he stared at her nursery for a long time and swallowed heavily. He was glad his kids wouldn't have to experience what they did. Looking at the ceiling wryly, he scoffed and closed the door quietly.
Sitting back down next to his brother, he wrapped an arm around him and pressed a kiss to his temple.
"You two want anything else? More soda? Pizza?"
"I'm good."
"No, thanks Papa!" Quinn shook her head, grinning over at him widely. "Oh! Wait, this is the bestest part."
"Okay, I'm watching." Dean told her with an amused glint in his eyes.
Sam turned his focus to the screen too. It hadn't been an easy road but they had managed to find solace, something that hunters like them rarely found.