Day 26 - interacting with family members

Hodgepodge is a Good Word

"Oh look! It's my ex-fiancé and the man who stole him from me!"

Dean and Cas turned at the voice and saw Jo's smiling face with her husband Ryan Donovan right behind her.

"Joanna Beth, it's been too long," Dean greeted, hugging her tightly and then shaking Ryan's hand.

"We're never going to live that one down, are we?" Cas asked.

Ryan grinned. "Never."

They'd explained the whole misunderstanding to Jo at her reception – admittedly after the slutty closet wedding sex – and she'd almost peed herself laughing. And it seemed she was never going to be finished teasing them about it.

"Oh, there's my precious girl," Jo cooed upon hearing the excited babbling of Katie.

Sam and Jess approached and they handed Katie off to Jo. Katie happily pulled at Jo's hair and wrapped her hand around one of Ryan's fingers.

"Burgers and hot dogs are ready!" John announced from the grill.

"Cas, you know we'd love to have your father and any of your siblings over next year," Mary told him as they got into line for food.

"Really?" Cas asked.

Mary smiled. "Of course. We're all family here."

Cas swelled with love and hugged her tightly. Dean came up to them when they pulled apart and put a hand at the small of Cas' back.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Nothing," Cas said quickly. "I love you."

Dean smiled, surprised at the unwarranted declaration. "I love you too."

"And I'd love it if we could quit with this mushy crap and get some food," Bobby grumbled from behind them, causing everyone to laugh.

After they'd all gotten their food, Jo came up to Dean and dragged him away from everyone.

"So, what's up with you and Cas?" she asked with narrowed eyes.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "We're great."

"Exactly," she said. "But you've been together for coming up on two years soon and you still live in separate apartments."

Dean fidgeted. "We're…we're taking things slow."

She laughed. "Honey, nothing has been slow in your relationship." At his affronted look she added, "You've been head over heels ever since you first laid eyes on him!"

"So?" Dean asked defensively.

"So what you call 'taking things slow' I call being stuck in a rut," Jo said, putting her hands on her hips.

Dean pursed his lips and looked over at where Cas was talking to Mary, Ellen, Thalia Moore, and Danielle Donovan. Cas looked up and smiled and Dean smiled back.

"What do I do?" Dean asked.

"Ask him to move in with you!" Jo exclaimed. "Or move in with him. Or take Beyoncé's advice."

Dean raised a questioning eyebrow.

"If you like it, put a ring on it," Jo said, waggling her eyebrows.

Dean choked and Jo cackled, attracting some looks from amused family members.

"Hey kids," Ellen said, walking over to them. "Beer?" she offered, holding two out.

"No thanks, Mom," Jo said. "Actually…" She caught Ryan's eye and beckoned him over to her. "Hey everyone! We have an announcement!" she called to get their attention.

Once they were all looking, she smiled really widely and took Ryan's hand and then put her other hand on her stomach.

"We're expecting!" she exclaimed, brown eyes bright with excitement.

Everybody cheered and rushed forward to congratulate her. Dean felt stunned. Jo. Little Joanna Beth. Pregnant. He was going to be an uncle all over again. He hugged Jo and kissed her temple.

"You're going to be a great mom," he told her.

She smiled. "And someday you're going to be a great husband."

Dean flushed and rolled his eyes, then went over to Cas. Cas was looking at Jo and Ryan with a wistful expression on his face.

"You're thinking about Anna, aren't you?" Dean asked.

"Yes," Cas admitted, smiling softly at Dean. "I think she and Thomas are going to look into adoption rather than try to conceive again."

Dean nodded slowly. "Good for them."

"And good for Jo and Ryan," Cas said, glancing over at the young couple again.

Dean kissed Cas' temple and took his hand. "So what were you and the moms talking about?"

"My business," Cas replied. "And you."

"Me?" Dean asked.

Cas nodded and played with their conjoined hands. "Dean, I love you. I love you more than anything. And since I travel a lot, I want to see you as much as possible, so…will you move in with me?"

Dean stared at Cas, who looked so scared, so worried, like he thought Dean might possibly say no. Instead of speaking, he just kissed Cas fiercely.

When he pulled away, he looked around at everyone that was there.

Ryan's sister Alyssa and Jess' sisters Diane and Bethany were all sitting by each other in the grass discussing college and majors and classes. John, Bill Harvelle, Bobby, Chris Donovan, and Jacob Moore were all sitting in their yard chairs and talking over beers about nothing in particular. Jo and Ryan were talking to their moms, repeatedly being congratulated and given advice. Mary and Thalia were doting on their granddaughter as Sam and Jess watched with smiles on their faces.

And then there was Dean, standing with his arm around the love of his life.

It was a hodgepodge family that grew every year, from blood, marriage, and choice. But it was the best family there was.