Chapter 26

Dean

In the weeks that came, Grace still was on edge, like she was suffering from PTSD: jumping when I entered a room or waking up with nightmares about being taken by the demons or losing Sam. I spent a lot of my time comforting her, which I expected, but late one night, she ended up being the one to comfort me.

She stepped out of the shower as I pulled on boxers, getting ready for bed and I couldn't help but stare at her. I remembered how amazing it had been to watch Liberty change Grace's body, but I didn't remember it happening so fast. It had only been four weeks since we brought the girls home, twelve since we found out about the new baby, but the curve of Grace's belly was exaggerated, bigger than I remember Liberty being at twelve weeks along.

She noticed my stare and raised her eyebrows. "See something you like?" she said, flirtatious.

I nodded, smiling, "Hell yes," I said, coming closer to touch her stomach and kiss her tenderly. She smiled at my contact and answered my thoughts.

"I am bigger than I was with Lib," she said, coming up for air.

Shrugging, "You still look amazing," I said, not trying to cover anything, just speaking the truth. She smiled lightly, staring at her hands, holding something back. "What is it, Grace?" I asked, cutting to the chase.

"There's something that I haven't told you that I probably should have as soon as I got back from Heaven with Cas and Sammy," she started quietly. "I just didn't know what to say."

I stepped away, my anxiety greeting me like an old friend. "Well, now is a good time," I replied, sitting on the bed's edge behind me.

Grace paused and pulled on one of my old tee shirts, the Metallica logo almost completely faded. "I didn't tell you because I still don't know how you'll respond, and honestly, I'm still not sure what to think."

"Words, Grace," I said, feeling like I repeated that phrase a lot.

"Twins," she spit out, "I'm carrying twins."

I knew what she had said, but my brain resisted comprehending it. Shaking my head, I narrowed my eyes. "You wanna run that by me again?"

She moved closer, smiling slowly. "There are two."

"Two of what?" I asked, leaning forward, honestly having no idea what she was talking about.

She approached me slowly, her hands resting on her belly. She tilted her head and knelt down in front of me. "Cas let it slip when we went for Sammy. Said that he could hear two heartbeats and that they were developing nicely."

"Two heartbeats," was all I could say.

"Two heartbeats," she repeated, taking my left hand from my lap and pressing it to the hardness of her abdomen.

Taking a slow, deep breath I found myself shaking my head in disbelief. "Two." She nodded, he eyes welling with familiar tears as she tried to smile. I was quiet for a long time. Strong swimmers, I thought to myself. She nodded at my thought, smiling. "Three under two," I finally breathed, looking up at my beautiful wife. "This should be interesting."