Sorry, this story has basically been on hiatus since I started my new stories "Growing Up Too Soon" and "A Family Divided." I finally was able to find time to update.

Chapter 12

Dean waited by the front of the school to pick up Nathan. He really hoped the boy had a decent day. He really did not need another thing to be worried about at the moment. Though, he was surprised to see Nathan walking out of the front doors with a girl attached to his hip. She was chatting excitedly to him and had grasped his arm as she talked. Dean was happy to see Nathan was not pulling away from her touch. Nathan looked Dean in the eye as they grew closer, silently begging his father not to embarrass him. Dean got out of the car and walked around to greet the pair.

"Hey, Dad, this is Abby. She lives across the street from us."

"Hi, Mr. Winchester," Abby reached out a hand.

"Call me, Dean. Mr. Winchester sounds like my father," Dean cringed.

"Sounds good, Dean," Abby said.

"Dad," Nathan cut in, "Abby offered to help catch me up on my work. Do you care if she comes over?"

"Yeah, that'd be great. I'll just drop you kids off at home before I go get your brother."

"'K, thanks, Dad."

The ride back to the house was spent with Dean and Abby talking and getting to know each other. Nathan tried not to think too much about the time he would spend alone with Abby. Too soon, Dean pulled the Impala up to the side of the road and waited as the two teenagers exited the car.

"I'll be back in a little bit. Make yourself at home, Abby."

"Thanks, Dean," Abby smiled. Dean winked at Nathan before turning the car around and heading to Noah's school.

"C'mon," Nathan led the way to the house. He pulled out his little silver key and unlocked the double bolted door before holding it open for Abby. He heard Zeppelin barking from his cage, "I have to let the puppy out, but we can just work out here," Nathan said as they walked into the living room. "Do you want anything to drink? We have soda and stuff."

"Sure," Abby nodded as she placed her bag on the couch, "I'll take a soda."

"Okay," Nathan went to the kitchen and put Zeppelin on his leash outside before going to get the drinks. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself before walking back out to the living room. It was easy enough to talk to Abby at school when everything was public and busy and their friends were there too, but by themselves, alone in a house? Nathan had never done this before. He was more than anxious to go out there again. But he thought about what his father would want him to do and summed up some Winchester courage and slowly made his way back to the living room. He saw Abby walking around the room looking at all the stuff.

"Your house is really nice," Abby said taking her drink. "There aren't any pictures of your family though."

"Oh," Nathan down at the ground, wondering what he should say.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," Abby bit her lip in embarrassment, "Let's just get to work then."

"No, I mean, it's okay," Nathan sat on the couch motioning for Abby to follow him. When Abby was seated, Nathan turned to her, "It's just, Noah and I were adopted, just a few months ago, actually."

"Really?" Abby asked, "The way Dean asks with you makes it seem like he's been your father forever."

"Yeah, I know."

"So, why were you up for adoption?" Abby pried.

"Um –"

"Oh God!" Abby jumped up, "I'm so sorry. I'm prying again. Damn my need to know everything! I'm so sorry, Nathan." Abby went to grab her bag, "I'm just gonna leave."

"No, wait," Nathan said, gently grabbing Abby's arm, "It's okay. I just haven't really talked about this with anyone. But I feel like I can talk to you."

"Really?" Abby asked as she sat back down.

"Yeah, I do."

"I feel like that too," Nathan did not know how to reply, so he just sat looking at Abby, at her long brown hair and stunning eyes staring into his. "So," Abby interrupted, pulling Nathan from his trance, "why were you up for adoption?"

"Well," Nathan said, slowly starting. He really did not know if he could do this, but he continued anyway, "Noah and I were never really put up for adoption."

"What do you mean?" Abby questioned. She was confused about what Nathan was trying to say.

"A few months ago, Sam and Dean helped my biological dad on a job. That was the first time they met us. They found out that…" Nathan had to pause to catch his bearings.

"They found out what?" Abby wondered aloud.

"That my biological dad was abusing us," Nathan finally admitted. He looked down at his knees, unable to look Abby in the eyes to see her reaction.

"Are you serious?" Nathan looked up to see a shocked look on Abby's face. He slowly lifted his arm and drew back the sleeve displaying an array of burns from his father's cigarette butts. "Nathan, I'm sorry. That's horrible."

Nathan shrugged off his embarrassment. "It's okay. Dean and Sam found us and took us away, so it's no big deal really."

"No, it is a big deal Nathan," Abby put her hand on Nathan's knee, "Nobody should ever have to go through that."

Nathan looked down at her slender, comforting hand on his knee and froze, not knowing how to handle this situation. She was sincere and comforting, not pressing him for details or treating him like some fragile creature that could break at any moment, but as a real human being. He leaned closer to her, but before he had the chance to say anything, the front door slammed open and Noah bounded into the room.

"Nathan!" he yelled as he jumped into his big brother's arms.

"Hey, buddy," Nathan said. He moved away from Abby, the mood now ruined, as he embraced his brother in a hug. "How was your day?"

"Good," Noah turned, just realizing that Abby was sitting there, "who're you?" he asked.

"I'm Abby, and you must be Noah."

"Yep," Noah nodded his head up and down.

"Noah," Dean walked in, "why don't you go get that puppy of yours. I think he's outside."

"Zeppelin!" Noah yelled as he leapt from Nathan's lap and ran outside.

"Sorry kids. I'll try to distract the little guy for as long as possible," Dean said before following Noah.

"Your brother's cute," Abby told Nathan. "Not as cute as you though."

Nathan blushed before adding, "You're cute too."

Abby blushed in return, then leaned forward, smiling when she felt Nathan's lips touch hers, and Dean just shook his head as he watched the couple from the doorway before turning to give them some privacy, glad that for once, Nathan was getting the opportunity to act like a normal teenager.

PLEASE READ: So, here's what's going on. I've kind of run out of ideas for this story. I thought about where I originally planned on going with it and have decided that I don't like that route. I've also, sadly, lost interest in the story because I've been completely obsessed with my new stories. Now, this can go one of three ways:

As much as I hate to do this, I would stop writing the story.

If someone was interested in helping me go over any possible directions I could go with the story, I would be willing to continue writing. I think getting excited about the plotline would drive me to completing the series.

Someone could take over the story for me. Now, I do love the characters of Nathan and Noah. They are like my babies. I just like how I've developed the characters in my other stories better. If people were interested, I would want a sample of their writing to help me decide if this would be a good route to take and if they would be able to handle the story, characters, and their relationships. Also, I would want to still be involved in the writing, including in the plot and reading the chapters before they are posted.

So, if anyone is interested in helping in any way, PLEASE CONTACT ME! Review the chapter or email me, and let me know your insight on this situation. Thanks.