Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Supernatural. I just like to pull its characters out and play with them for my own enjoyment. I'm not gaining anything from this work except pleasure. :)

AN: Hi, guys! So, looks like everyone is liking the Dean/Ryan dynamic. Good. Because Sam isn't going to be in the story very often now. He was always a fill-in for Dean. He knew it, Ryan knew it. Just wanted to make sure you're all aware. Thanks for all the love last chapter! I hope you enjoy this one!


July Fourth

Ryan POV

Ryan collapsed onto her back and yawned.

Dean chuckled as he leaned over to kiss her. "Am I that boring? Come on, that was some of my best stuff."

She panted out a breath. He wasn't kidding. He may be a demon, but he was a god when it came to giving orgasms. "No, Dean, but I'm human, babe. I'm exhausted."

He smirked. "Well, go back to sleep. I'll look after the little monsters while you rest…"

She smiled and snuggled into his side, giving his chest a kiss. "No can do. Do you know what today is? I've got to get a cake ready for Bobby's birthday."

"How could I forget? It's not every day your son turns nine. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

She bit her lip to keep from crying and laid her head on his chest. "I love you."

He pulled her face up to kiss her lips once more. "Hey, I love you, too, Ryan."

"You know…I could spend like, ten more minutes in bed…" she commented sleepily.

"How about I give you an hour?"

"Okay," she murmured as she felt sleep pulling her under once more. His chuckle was the last thing she heard.

When she woke, four hours later, the house was eerily quiet. Once more, there was a note propped on Dean's pillow. She had to hand it to him, he was thoughtful. She didn't know why she was surprised. Anytime he left, or had to leave, he told her. He was actually more than a little thoughtful. She smirked as she read his messy scrawl across the page;

Took the monsters to the bunker. Figured they could get some practice time in or something. May detour to the park or something. Took your car. Don't worry, I had some people come clean. So all you gotta do is the cake and since you know what it is, and Bobby wouldn't tell me, I figured you'd have to do that yourself. We'll be home later this afternoon. Don't worry, Sammy can help me if I can't figure out what to do with them. D

She smiled but then her brows knit. He had people clean? She shook her head. She didn't want to know. She stood and threw on an old tee-shirt and denim shorts and made her way to the kitchen. The house did smell clean and she couldn't help but notice the toys were all put away in the living room as she peered in. She walked into the kitchen and saw all of her icing ingredients laid out how she had left them and smiled. She'd made the cake the night before. Now all she had to do was decorate. Okay, let's get to frosting…

She cranked the tunes and quickly began assembling the chocolate hellhound cake. She couldn't wait to see the look on Dean's face. When Bobby had told her what he wanted, her eyes had widened, but she'd got it. He was being a little aggravating jerk and she loved him regardless. Besides, it was a little funny, she supposed…

The rhythm of icing along with the soft sounds of Creedence in the background eased her as she mused over the past two weeks and all the changes it had wrought. Sam and Andrea had taken Steven with them on their honeymoon, which was to be expected as little as he was, and the older kids had finished up their jobs. When they came back, Ryan had informed them of the regime change and the hunting partners had eagerly switched. She was still apprehensive about it, but she knew, it was going to be best for the couples in the long run, especially Kris and Ben, who would no doubt be hunting after Jesse and Hope went their separate directions. That thought sobered her. Hope was a ticking time bomb. At almost eighteen, she only had seven more years to be on Earth. It was sobering to realize. She put that thought on the back burner and thought about Dean and the boys.

She hated Dean and Hope didn't get a chance to spend much time together, but he was doing really good with the boys. Bobby had really warmed up to him, which was good. And of course, Jon just worshiped the ground Dean walked on. She wasn't sure why their youngest son gravitated to Dean as he did. Was it because he was at that age where he wanted and needed his father? Was it because, unlike Bobby, he didn't have to work through his knowledge of Dean from his past self? Or, were the dark undercurrents of his demon side calling to Dean's? Either way, it was precious and humbling to see.

She was just popping the glowing lights for the eyes into the cake when she heard her car roar into the driveway. She glanced at her work with a critical eye, and deeming it done, began cleaning up the mess she'd made of cocoa powder, black food coloring, and powdered sugar.

"Mom! We're home!"

"Mommy!"

"Ryan?"

"Kitchen!" she called as she turned around to see Bobby's face.

He stopped dead in the door and Jon bumped into his back. His eyes grew wide and he blinked at the chocolate monstrosity she'd constructed. "Mom! It's epic!"

She grinned. "You like it, kid?"

"It's perfect!" he cried as he walked over to look at it.

"Is…is that a hellhound?" Dean inquired, his voice full of incredulity.

Ryan nodded. "At Bobby's insistence. I had to have Sam draw me one since I haven't seen one as a frame of reference."

Dean looked from the cake, to her, to their son before he snorted. "I see he has your sense of humor."

She smirked and bent to kiss the top of Bobby's head. She didn't have to bend far. He was shooting up like a weed. "Yeah, well…what can I say?"

"You did a great job. It looks just like one."

"Cans I see one, Daddy?" Jon asked at the top of his lungs. Ryan cringed at the volume. "Cans I pet a hellhound when I go visit you at work?"

Ryan's eyebrow popped up. "Visit…?"

Dean shrugged. "He asked me where I worked. I mean…it's not a secret, is it? I didn't give him any gory details, but…"

She shook her head. "No, it's fine, I just…I didn't think about it. Are you going to take him down there?" she asked on a fearful whisper. She didn't want him going too soon. He didn't need to be exposed to that. Did he?

"No, of course not. Not yet, anyway. He's got time. I just…he was interested. I told him a few things, glorified it, I guess. My job's fairly boring."

At that, she snorted. "You torture souls, Dean."

"Only for fun. Most of the time it's paperwork and crunching numbers. It's boring, actually."

She just looked at him.

"What? It is. I'd much rather be here with you guys."

She smiled as she heard the wistfulness in his voice. "Tell me about your day. We've got a little while before everyone comes over, and then we're going to see the fireworks in town, right?"

The boys quickly launched into telling her how they showed off their powers, how Dean showed them a few simple fighting stances, corrected a few things, praised them…she smiled over at Dean, who returned it. No, their lives weren't normal, but she was the happiest she had ever been. With him with her, the nagging depression she'd felt all her life was barely there.


November Seventh

Dean POV

The smells were wafting through the cracks in the walls as he approached the back door. It seemed like every time he came up to see them at home, Ryan had something delicious cooking. Apparently she loved to cook. And with as many people that floated in and out of her house, it was no wonder something was always brewing. But this smell…it smelled like… "Pumpkin pie?" he asked as he opened the door.

Ryan nodded as she pulled it out of the oven. "Hope's favorite. Tomorrow's her birthday. She loves pie. Pumpkin. Lemon Meringue, Chocolate, I make them all for her birthday."

"You got any Cherry in there?" Dean asked as he strode toward the refrigerator.

Ryan grabbed him as he walked past and hooked a finger in his belt loop, pulling him to her. "I thought I was your Cherry Pie."

His lips quirked as he moved to trap her against the countertop. He looked down at her. She had a dusting of flour all over her shirt and her hands where she had been rolling out pie crust, and she had a dab of sweat on her brow. She smelled like sin, tasted like heaven, and looked like a goddess. There was no denying she was gorgeous. She had aged, of course, but she looked (and acted) younger than Sam. "You are, babe, you know that."

She bit her lip ad looked up at him from under her lashes. "The boys are at the bunker."

"Yeah?"

She nodded. "Charlie's giving them a quiz on ghosts."

"Yeah? And?"

"And they won't be back for at least an hour."

He smirked. "Is that a fact? And how should we fill our time?"

Her hands wrapped around his waist before traveling to his ass and she gave him a squeeze. "I'm sure we could think of something."

He picked her up, wrapped her legs around his waist and her hands traveled to his shoulders. "Fuck yes," he muttered as his mouth traveled to her neck.

He sat her on the countertop and she squealed, "Here?"

"For the opening act."

"How many acts does this play have?" she gasped as his mouth found her nipple through her clothing.

"Two? Three? Hell, I don't know. Let's see how many we can get."

Her head fell back and hit the cabinet as she let out a long moan as her hands fisted in his hair.

"You pull on my hair, it'll end faster," he warned her.

She smirked as one hand moved to his belt. "Pretty damn sure I know how to get your engine running again if this does end for the first time," she teased.

"They talk about me, but you're the evil one, witch."

She laughed throatily as she unfastened his belt and moved to the button on his jeans. He grabbed both her hands in one of his and forced them above her head, against the cabinet. He glanced over at the iPod and narrowed his eyes, turning it on, as Jon had showed him. It was a nifty little trick. He thought of the song he wanted and soon "Cherry Pie" began blaring out of the speakers.

He looked down at Ryan and she smirked. "You're incorrigible."

"You say that like you're surprised," he muttered as he held her in place with his powers and stepped away. "Is this okay?" he asked quickly before he moved any further.

Her mouth formed a smirk. "Bondage, Dean? This is new territory."

"We can stop…"

"No," she purred. "I don't wanna. I know you won't hurt me."

His shoulders dropped in relief as he smiled. He wasn't going to do anything too kinky, but he didn't want her to freak out. Over the past few months they'd begun experimenting a little. Turns out she was game for whatever he threw at her. And he did mean anything. It was humbling to realize how much trust she had in him. He cleared his throat and moved over to one bowl after the other, inspecting their contents. He smiled as he saw the one with leftover cherry filling. "And what do we have here?"

"I made too much…I was going to make cherry tarts for dinner tonight."

He picked up the spoon and sampled it. Delicious. As usual. "Is that a fact?"

She licked her lips as she watched him and he saw her swallowed hard. "Y-Yeah."

He smiled as he grabbed the bowl and walked back over to her. "Well then…I'm sorry. This batch, it's just no good for cherry tarts."

"It isn't?"

His smile turned slightly evil as he picked up the spoon and dribbled a bit on her chest, just above her shirt. A tad bit of the red sauce traveled into her cleavage. It looked like blood on her chest, and he was almost ashamed to admit how much it turned him on. "Yeah," he breathed. "But it's just perfect for Ryan ala mode."

She giggled. "'Ala mode' means ice cream, Dean."

"Shut your cake hole, Ryan, I'm getting to the good stuff," he commanded lightly. He flicked his tongue out to taste the concoction on her skin and he moaned. "Fuck, woman, you taste delicious."

He felt, rather than saw, her break his bonds as her hands moved once more to his shoulders, one playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, the other, lightly scratching his back as she let out a throaty moan. "Dean…" she whined.

He pulled away. "Oh, you think I'm done? I'm just getting started. I'm going to torture you so good you'll be nothing but a puddle of goo when I'm done with you."

"Yes…" she moaned.

He smiled as he dove back into her, licking, biting, sucking…and Ryan wasn't just sitting idly by. He felt her lips and teeth across any skin of his she could reach and both their hands were groping one another's bodies, just teasing, taunting…

"What the fuck?!" they heard.

Dean stopped and groaned into Ryan's shoulder. "Please tell me that isn't Hope."

Ryan chuckled. "It is."

He lifted his head and looked at their daughter, who looked pissed, and Jesse, who at least had the decency to look embarrassed.

"What the fuck, Mom? Dad? Seriously?!" Hope ground out.

Dean's eyes narrowed at her. "You're definitely related to your uncle. Biggest cock block I know."

"Well, excuse me for interrupting your little fuckfest on the damn kitchen counter!" she shouted back at him.

Dean squared his shoulders and after appraising the fact that Ryan's clothes were all, for the most part, in place, as were his, turned to his kid. "Look, we're all adults here. The boys were out. I wanted…"

"I know what you wanted, Dad. And hey, it's Mom's house, so, whatever goes. I just…sorry. I should have called. We weren't supposed to get in until later tonight or tomorrow."

He held up both hands. "No problem. We're glad to see ya, kid."

She smiled at him and he returned it. He felt Ryan jump down from the countertop. "I, uh, I think I need a shower now. I'll be back in a few…"

He watched her go and he couldn't quite help the whine of need escaping his throat. He heard Hope chuckle. "Go on. Jess and I will come back with the boys in an hour."

He eyed her. "You sure?"

She nodded. "You two have a lot of time to make up for. I totally get it. Go on."

"Thanks, Hope. You're the best."

"I know," she told him with a Winchester smirk.

He walked up the stairs with purpose and quickly made his way to Ryan's room. He heard the sound of the shower starting and moved to the bathroom. "They're going to come back in an hour."

Ryan stopped with her shirt halfway off and looked at him. She pulled it the rest of the way off and glared at him. "Did we seriously get caught making out by our daughter?"

"Yes…?"

She stared at him stonily for a moment before she burst into laughter. He joined her and it took a moment for her giggles to subside. "That's one of the funniest things that has ever happened to me."

He smiled at her. She looked so carefree now. Flashes of her sadness flickered in his head, images Cas had given him. He saw how miserable she had been. He couldn't understand it, she had everything he'd ever wanted. But Cas had reminded him, depression was a weird disease. And it was one she'd battled her whole life. Him not being there had certainly contributed to it, but it seemed not even being touched by an angel could keep it at bay forever.

"What?" she asked as she walked to him.

"I'm sorry."

Her brows knit. "For?"

"I wasn't here for you."

She laid a hand on his arm. "Dean…"

"No. I wasn't, and because of me, you haven't been happy."

She sighed. "It's not that simple, sweetheart. Yes, it didn't help matters that you weren't with me, but I've been unhappy most of my life. Depression isn't exactly new for me."

"But me not being here made it worse."

"It was because of me you weren't here in the first place," she admitted. "Besides, I've handled it," she stated adamantly. "I've handled it my whole life."

"Cas should have done a whammy on you."

"Gabriel tried, remember? He made me better for a long time. But then, when I thought I'd never see you, never be with you again, when I thought you were the thing you detested most in the world…I don't know, it got me down, okay? And this…whatever this is in me isn't helping, either. This darkness feeds on my own melancholy and makes it worse."

"There should be a way to fix you."

Her smile was sad as she shrugged. "It's not like a broken bone, hon. I can't be fixed. I realized that a long time ago. And I'm better, now. I'm so much better with you here."

"Promise?" he asked as his voice broke. He hated sounding like a kid. He was a fucking demon for crying out loud. He shouldn't sound like one of their boys.

She nodded as she stood on tiptoe to kiss him gently. "I promise. You're the light at the end of my tunnel, Dean."

"I'm pretty sure that's the hellfire surrounding me, babe."

She chuckled. "Still. I'd rather have that, and you, than to realize I'm still alone in this world."

He wrapped his hands around her waist and looked at her again. She was everything in life to him, everything he wished he'd had as a human. He would have done whatever it took to be with her before. But, he had her now, right? And once the boys grew up, he could live out the rest of his life by her side. That was the main thing, wasn't it? He added up how old they both were and he was shocked to realize they were forty three years old. Damn. Time had flown, hadn't it? "You're the most gorgeous creature I've ever seen."

She smirked. "Is that a fact?"

"Yes."

She licked her lips. "You said Hope went somewhere?"

"Yeah. Said she'd be back in an hour."

"Want to help me wash my back?"

He grinned. "Hell yes."


"For a demon, you're a slow ass," Ryan commented later as she put in her earrings. She had gotten dressed already, had gone downstairs to put the meatloaf in the oven, put the potatoes on to boil, and had returned to finish getting on makeup and jewelry.

Honestly, Dean often wondered why she even bothered changing out of pajamas if they were staying in, but he didn't comment as he walked out of her closet donning a clean Henley. "Look, it takes time." He grinned. "Besides, I had to do the thing…"

She looked at him and rolled her eyes. "You mean the thing you practically begged me for? Sorry, sugar, but you could have skipped that."

He sidled up to her and kissed her neck before his eyes met hers in the mirror. "But you like it when I do it."

She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Of course I do. I love the fact that you care so much about getting me off," she smiled, "multiple times, but still…it can be a bang, babe, and I'd be happy."

"Having a quick fuck is fine, but you know I like taking my time. And besides, you taste better than pie."

She gasped in mock surprised. "You know that's only because you're a demon, right? If you were human, I think your stomach would beat the shit out of you for that statement."

He chuckled and after releasing her, sat down to slip his boots on. "Hey, I'm just calling it like I see it."

Just then, they heard, "Mom? You two decent?" from downstairs.

Ryan chuckled. "Yeah! Be right down!" she shouted back. She glanced at him. "I love you, Dean. Just…wanted to tell you."

He stood and captured her as she made her way to the door. "And I love you, too. I know I don't tell you enough," he admitted.

She shook her head. "It's not your style, sweetheart. And that's cool. I wouldn't want you fawning all over me anyway."

"That's just one of the things I love about you the most," he told her.

She grasped the front of his shirt and pulled him down for another kiss. "Well, good, because I'm too old to change now."

He chortled. "I'm pretty sure at this point, you don't want to change. Lucky for me I like you just the way you are."

"Wise words, Winchester."

"Yup. 'Cause that's just how I roll…"

She rolled her eyes. "Please do not say something is just how you roll. For me."

He silenced her with a kiss and stepped away just as he heard two pairs of feet stomping up the steps and a chorus of "Mom! Dad!" was shouted as the door to the bedroom burst open.

Ryan grinned as she accepted a hug and kiss from the two boys. "Did Hopey send you up?"

"Yep! She says to hurry up. She wants to call a family meeting!"

"Sam?" she inquired.

Bobby nodded. "He's on his way."

"Good." She turned to Dean, who was eyeing her. "Occasionally if someone has something important to discuss, they call a family meeting. It's how Sam shared with the kids about him and Andy getting married and the baby."

"And that's how Uncle Cas told us about him and Tory getting married in Vegas," Jon provided. His brow furrowed. "What's a shotgun wedding?"

Ryan paled. "Why?"

"Ucuz that's what Uncle Sam asked if the meeting was about and Hope just kinda turned red."

Ryan's eyes widened as they lit to Dean's. "You don't think…?"

He grimaced. "Only one way to find out."

"Son of a bitch," Ryan muttered under her breath as she turned and marched out of the room.

"Is Mama mad?" Jon wanted to know.

"Nah. She's just eager to find out what's going on."

"Well, let's go!" Jon shouted as he jumped up and Dean caught him before carrying him over his shoulder out the door and down the stairs.

He walked in to find Ryan staring stonily at Hope, who was all smiles. "Hi, Daddy! Glad to see you're…put together."

He glanced at Ryan before he smiled. "Hey, kid. What's up?"

"Oh, not much."

"You're not…" he cleared his throat. "Uh, just ease our minds here, okay?"

She rolled her eyes and threw up her hands. "For God's sake! I'm not knocked up, okay!"

He heard Ryan let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, which he mirrored. "Okay. Good to know. Thanks for keeping us in the know."

"What's 'knocked up' mean?" Jon asked from where he was still dangling over Dean's shoulder.

He glanced at Ryan, who smirked at Hope. "You're the one that opened your big, fat mouth, angel-face. You explain it." And with that, Ryan flounced out of the room.

Hope looked at Dean for help. He sat Jon down on the ground and held up both hands. "Oh no. Not going there, kid. This is your mess. You clean it up."

She stuck her tongue out at him but sighed as she walked over to Jon and sat down, pulling him into her lap. Dean didn't miss the look of mirth on Bobby's face. "You could help your sister, bub," he told the boy. He and Bobby had done the whole 'birds and bees' talk not that long ago. Sam had told him a few things when his memories of Eve had come back to him, but not the gory details. Dean had told him a lot more interesting information. The kid was his. He was also Gabriel. He could father a nephilum if he wasn't careful. He'd asked Cas to talk about angel birth control, too, which Dean had found quite interesting as well.

Bobby smirked. "Nah. I like watching her squirm. Always have."

Dean let out a snort as he followed Ryan's scent into the kitchen. "You okay over there?" he asked softly as he watched her bang a few pots around.

"I…yeah, I'm fine."

"Sure about that?"

She put down the saucepan and looked at him. "What could they need to talk about? You don't…you don't think they're breaking up, do you?"

He thought a moment. "Well, considering they're both here together, and the fact Jesse doesn't look like I just massacred his pet, I'd say no."

"Then what is it? I hate not knowing things."

"Dislikes surprises. So noted."

She shot him a look that so resembled their daughter, he almost did a double take. "Damn. I've earned the bitch face from both my girls. Whatever did I do to deserve that?"

"How about being an insufferable jackass?" Sam supplied as he walked in.

"Fuck off, Pee-Wee. I don't recall asking your opinion," he shot back at his brother.

"But you're getting it for free. I'd call that a damn fine deal."

"Listen here, junior…"

"Boys, boys, enough. Go take your pissing contest somewhere else. I need girl time without you two. Go away," Andy stated as she came in carrying Steven on her hip. At seven months, the kid was a cute little stinker. He already looked like the perfect mix of Sam and Andrea. She handed Steven to Dean. "And take him with you."

Dean blinked once, twice, three times, before he looked at the little boy in his arms who smiled up at him and touched the stubble on his uncle's cheek. He hadn't touched Steven before. It wasn't that Andy or Sam had kept the boy away from him, he'd just been terrified evil would ooze out of his pores and contaminate the kid. And God knew they didn't need anyone else changeling demon mojo. A quick glance at Andy showed she had moved on to converse with Ryan, but as he looked at Sam, he knew Sam was realizing what was going through Dean's head and Sam gave his brother an encouraging smile.

Dean focused on the baby once more and smiled, too. "Hey, little guy. So…I guess us men folk gotta get out of the kitchen so the little women can cook…"

"Go fuck yourself, Dean," Andy told him lovingly.

He chuckled. "Why would I do that when I have your best friend to do it for me?"

"Not with talk like that," Ryan shot back as she poured the now-cooked potato/cauliflower mix into the huge stainless steel bowl to begin mashing.

He pouted. He was man enough to admit it, and glanced at the baby again before looking at his brother. "Well, Sam, I know when I'm not wanted. Grab us some beers and we can join the boys and Hope in the living room."

"Just boys," Hope stated as she rounded the corner. "And just FYI, I told Jon you'd explain to him the birds and bees stuff."

"Thanks, kid," Dean groused playfully.

Hope smirked and winked. "My pleasure." She tickled Steven's neck, making him giggle, before she walked over to help her mom and aunt with dinner.

Mention for the reasoning behind the meeting after dinner weren't discussed as everyone tucked in to meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and dinner rolls. Conversation didn't lag as monsters and hunts were briefly discussed and Men of Letters business was conducted by Sam and Ryan. Dean listened with half an ear as he glanced around the table. Everything was so damn normal. Of course, there were two angels, two cambions, and a full-fledged demon at the table, but who was counting, right?

"Is Ben coming in?" Hope asked before she forked in a huge bite of pumpkin pie. (Ryan had decided to cut it when Hope promised to help her make more the next day.)

"Tomorrow," Ryan replied as she attempted to wipe the ketchup from Jon's forehead. "Johnny-Cake, sit still for two seconds."

The boy was practically vibrating. "But, Mama…the pie…"

"You'll get chocolate pie in a few minutes," she chastised as she wiped. Finally she sighed. "Go. Have Bobby cut you a slice."

"Yay!" he shouted as he ran off.

Ryan sighed tiredly and glanced at her daughter. "Kris called this morning. They got held up in Fort Worth on a side job. She didn't elaborate and I didn't ask questions."

"What the hell they doing in Texas?"

Ryan shrugged. "They headed to San Antonio on a possible Tulpa case."

"Do Texans not have anything else better to do than screw around with weird symbols?" Dean wondered aloud.

Sam chuckled. "Well, let's hope they don't run into anybody trying to make a dime on the internet like we did."

Dean smiled as he remembered those idiot Ghostfacers. He wondered what happened to them. The last time they saw them, the two had ceased their friendship. He was glad that finally, it seemed like he and Sam were back on the same page, even if they weren't the same species.

It wasn't the same, since Sam didn't hunt and neither did he, but their fractured relationship was slowly mending, thanks mostly to Ryan. He grabbed her hand where she was sitting next to him and gave it a squeeze. She glanced at him and winked.

"So," Ryan began as she twirled her fork around in the air. "What's up?"

Hope and Jesse exchanged a look, a shrug, and a set of narrowed eyes before Hope blurted out, "We want to get married."

The whole table was silent a moment. Finally, Bobby, how had snuck in with what looked like half the chocolate pie on his plate, said, "Cool! Now you'll be my brother for real, Jess."

Jesse smiled but he looked at Ryan. "Ryan…"

Dean glanced at her. She looked like she was processing, but more than that, she looked like she was about to cry. "Ryan?"

She bit her lip as a tear spilled down her cheek. "Wh-when?"

Hope glanced at Dean, showing her concern as well, before she responded; "We were thinking New Years Eve. What better way to ring in the New Year, you know?"

Ryan cleared her throat. "I assume you already told your brother?"

Hope nodded. "Ben called me yesterday, said he wouldn't make it on my birthday. I just…I wanted to tell you all together, but since it's such a rarity…"

Ryan blinked, gave the couple a small smile, and said, "Okay then. Looks like we've got a lot of preparations to make. What kind of dress would you like?"

"That's it?" Hope asked, surprise coloring her tone. "None of the whole 'you're a difference species, you're going to be separated in seven years, this isn't a forever sort of thing, get your head out of your asses'?"

Ryan shrugged. "You're your own person, Hope. You know what you're doing and you know what's right for you and Jesse. If this is right for you both, if it makes you both happy…"

"It does," Jesse stated softly as he grabbed Hope's hand on the table.

Ryan swallowed and nodded. "Okay then. So, it will be after Christmas…we could use poinsettias to decorate. Where would you like the ceremony? Who all would you like to invite? I'm assuming you'd like it to be smaller than Sam and Andrea's, we'll have to discuss what kind of cake. Jesse, you'll want Ben as your best man, surely, and Hope, Kris will definitely be your maid of honor…" Ryan stood and Hope followed along behind her as she began talking about color schemes and cake designs. Andy grinned and followed after them.

Dean looked at the men sitting with him at the table. Jesse looked amused, Sam looked shocked, Steven was dozing in his high chair and the two little boys were attacking their pies like they would eat them if they didn't hurry up. Dean cleared his throat. "Well…I guess this calls for a celebration, Jess. And I've got two words for you; Bachelor Party."


Later that night, after Hope and Jesse left to head to the bunker, Sam had taken his little family home, and the boys were tucked into bed, Dean glanced over at Ryan who was reading, propped up against the headboard. He liked how they'd somehow slipped into domesticated monotony. Of course, he still had to go downstairs more often than not, but he liked to be there when she was getting ready for bed. It was usually their alone time, whether it involved sex or not. He wasn't ashamed to admit he liked cuddling with her. But her behavior tonight had worried him. Hope had even asked him to talk to her, to make sure she was okay with everything. "Are you alright?" he asked finally.

"I'm processing."

"You've been processing. Although, you dove right into wedding plans easily enough."

She shrugged and didn't look up from the book she was reading. "Ryan…"

She glanced up then. "What? What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know. I really, truly don't know."

She shrugged again. "Neither do I. It doesn't make sense and yet, it makes perfect sense. Let them live their lives. They only have seven years. If being tied to one another this way makes them happy, I say they go for it."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Huh," he commented. He glanced at the Guns & Ammo in his hand. He didn't need a gun anymore thanks to The Mark and the First Blade, but he liked keeping up on the newest in weaponry. He thought a moment and then dropped the magazine to the floor, pulled her battered copy of works by Edgar Allen Poe out of her hand and tossed it behind him as he trapped her to the bed. "Talk."

She glared up at him a moment before he saw tears sparkling in her eyes. "I'm just…she's grown, Dean."

He sat back on his heels. "Yeah? And?"

She took a stuttering breath and wiped away a tear angrily. "She's grown. I just…I didn't expect to have kids, then Gabriel came along with the deal of the century. Fine. I could handle that. Her first steps, her first day of Kindergarten, I thought 'okay, I can do this.' Then once Sam and Cas came to me and the whole truth came out, I realized…nothing I ever had or ever would have was normal. And that was okay," she added quickly. "That was completely fine. But…I just…I kinda gave up on the notion of any of our kids getting married. I didn't figure it into any futures I foresaw. And now…she's getting married and I just…" She shrugged. "I don't know how I feel, okay? I'm not angry, I'm not upset, I'm…happy? I think? I mean, I don't know. I'm confused, alright? I'm confused and I want to be so happy for her and I am, but even now I know they're not getting a fair shake. They're not getting anything normal. Both of them are playing at being humans and it just hurts me, you know? I just want them to be normal humans that are jumping into this and I know they won't be and there won't be grandbabies on my lap and there won't be lemonade on the porch in the rocking chairs and I'm just…I'm facing my mortality here, alright?"

"But…you're with me, Ryan. Even Cas said he's going to keep you around a while longer. I mean, if a hunt goes awry or you get sick or something…"

"I don't want to be used like some kind of bargaining chip, Dean," she snapped. "I want to be human. I want you to be human. I want our kids to be human and we aren't!" She started sobbing softly. "We aren't. And everything I've ever thought I've known has been turned on his head and I've accepted it. So I don't know why something as normal as a damn wedding is throwing me off my groove but it is and I just. Need. To. Process. Okay?"

He swallowed hard and blinked even as his jaw ticked. "I get it, Ryan."

"Do you? Because the look on your face suggests otherwise."

"I do. It makes perfect sense. I mean, it's not like it's anything new. I'm just not good enough."

She threw her head back in exasperation and threw her arms up in the air. "Of course, this whole spiel as I'm laying out my heart on a fucking silver platter and all you think about is yourself."

He felt his anger building. "Me? Our daughter just came home and told us she's getting married and you're feeling sorry for yourself! Damn it, Ryan, get your head out of your ass. Your life's not a fairy tail. Boo-hoo, peaches. Boo-fucking-hoo."

He anticipated the slap, but her actually tossing him from the bed with a burst of power shocked him as he wound up on his ass. He was up in a flash and to his surprise, she was, too. "Ryan, calm down."

"No."

"Ryan…" he warned.

Her eyes narrowed and she curled a hand, choking him without touching him.

"Fuck," he muttered as he threw off the feeling and pushed her back onto the bed. She broke the hold in almost an instant and flipped to a standing position by the window.

"You don't want to do this," he implored.

"Yes. I do." Her eyes narrowed and she smirked. "Come on. Afraid you'll hurt me?" Her smile grew. "Or are you afraid I'll hurt you?"

"You're still a human, Ryan, even if you do have some mojo."

She pushed a bit of that mojo back out at him and he felt himself being pushed against the wall. "Don't fuck with me, Dean. I can kick your ass."

At that, he smiled. "You wanna see? Really? You wanna play this game, Ryan?"

"Damn straight."

He disappeared and reappeared by her side, grabbed her wrist, and instantly they were in the training room of the bunker. "Hope! Go watch the kids. Now," he demanded, his voice booming through the quiet space. He heard her and Jesse both disappear and he smiled as he released Ryan and began circling. She did the same. "We're really doing this?"

"Do your worst, Winchester. I've lived through it already."

He felt his heart drop as he remembered her telling him of the djinn nightmare, how he'd raped and mutilated her and he hated it. He stopped. "No."

Her tone was all surprise. "No?"

"No. No sex, Ryan. I'm not going to play into any of your weird shit where you blame me for everything that's ever happened to you. You want to show off your powers, fine. You want to blow off steam? I'm your guy. But no sex."

Her smile grew and he almost swore he saw her eyes flash black, but it must have either been a trick of the light, or her pupils were just so blown he could barely see the brown. "Challenge accepted."

He wanted to ask what she meant, but in that instant, he felt her attacking him, not just with powers, but bodily as well and he had to parry her blow.

She was good. She was in some of the best physical shape he felt sure she'd ever been in, and the demon powers were strong, hella strong, and they worried him even as he held her off. He could beat her, easily. He was, after all, the King of Hell. That, coupled with being the only person alive bearing The Mark and being pretty damn unkillable, he knew he could put a stop to this. But he understood he needed to let her get this…whatever it was, out of her system. So, he bided his time, letting her beat up on him time and again, until her knuckles were raw and she was panting like a dog. But still, she pressed on, and he wondered if she would go until she simply killed herself. He wouldn't let it get that far, but she wasn't showing signs of stopping, either. That was when she started getting ugly. Her powers were growing. He could feel it. And it scared the shit out of him. He wasn't sure how, and he wasn't sure why, all he knew was he had to put a stop to it. Now.

"Stop," he commanded lightly. Still, she pressed on, darting in, landing a blow, then dancing away.

"I mean it."

She didn't stop.

"Damn it," he growled as he continued to be battered by her. Finally, he sent out a surge, not one that would kill her, but one she couldn't break if she tried. He'd only used it a handful of times. "NO," he bellowed.

Her eyes narrowed and this time, they did flash black as she beat off his power. His own eyes widened as she roared and lunged for him. They flipped ass over teakettle once, twice, three times, before he finally had her pinned beneath him and he felt the sickening snap of her arm and shoulder. But she didn't cry out, instead, she snarled as the beast within her took over and he reacted before he thought, punching her in the face, knocking her unconscious.

"Cas!" Dean yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Dean, to what do I…" Cas paled as he saw Dean holding Ryan's limp form down. "What happened?"

"I…I don't know, man. She was fine, then she was upset, then she was pissed, now she's…this. I had to knock her out. She was uncontrollable."

Cas took a deep breath. "Take her to the infirmary. Now. I'll grab the demon chains."

"Did she…is she…did I do this?"

"She's been turning, Dean. Why else do you think I've been pumping her full of my blood?"

Dean didn't have a response for that as he picked her up and his arms were like steel bands around her in case she woke as he carried her to the infirmary. Cas met him there and they quickly chained her to the bed. "Now what?"

Castiel narrowed his eyes. "She's pretty far gone. What happened?"

"I…I don't know," he repeated. "I mean, she's been fine."

"Has she been hunting lately? Using her powers any?"

Dean felt his stomach drop. "Yeah, uh, well, about that…"

"Dean…"

""We were just fooling around with them, you know, in the bedroom…"

He saw the angel's lip curl in disgust but Cas wisely chose to remain silent. He did, however, caution; "It would behoove you to stop those practices. Every time she uses the demon powers, it takes more of my blood, longer for the cure to work, and it becomes less effective. This isn't something to play around with."

Dean watched as Cas removed his trench coat, rolled up his sleeves, and plunged a needle into his arm. He filled the syringe and glanced at it as he removed it. "I fear my blood will cease to work, Dean."

"What then?"

Cas shook his head. "I do not know. This was a shot in the dark in the first place." He sighed haggardly. "Also, with her soul mate and her son both having demon blood as well as demon twisted souls within them, the chances of her staying human grow slimmer with each passing bout of demonism."

"She's not going to get fixed, is she?" Dean inquired softly.

Cas looked up at him over her still body and he shook his head. "Maybe when Jon grows old enough to take the mark and maybe when you become human again, but, I do not know. It is, as she would say, a crapshoot."

"You don't know? You've been playing with her fucking soul and you don't know?!"

Cas winced. "Dean, what would you have me do? Let her become a demon so she can release Lucifer from his cage?"

"Of course not! But there should be…"

"We tried, Dean. Just as I tried to find a cure for you, all those years ago. I am not incompetent, you know."

Dean's lip quirked. "I never said you were, Cas."

The angel glared at him. "Occasionally I believe you think so."

Dean sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I just…this is on me, okay? Every fucking thing is. But this…her being this…it's because of me. If I hadn't been around her, I wouldn't have knocked her up with a demon kid. If I had just walked away…if I had just…"

"You would deny your brother the home he has had for the past six years? You would wish your son had never been born? I am surprised at you, Dean."

"That's not…I didn't…" he sighed out a breath. "I don't know what the fuck to do. She told me she's planning on doing the vamp thing if these treatments stop working."

Castiel's hands stopped as they moved to her arm. It was the first time Dean noticed the fact she was only in her little tank top and underwear she usually slept in. "I am surprised she told you," Cas admitted softly.

"She didn't elaborate."

"You wish to know if I would do it?"

"No. I know you'd do it. You'd have smited me if I asked you to."

"No, I do not believe I would have been strong enough for that, Dean. I care for you and Sam quite a bit."

"Not enough to let us fuck up the world. Again."

Cas chuckled a bit at that before he sobered. "Well, I have to admit, I am not quite as close with Ryan as I am you and Sam, but still, it would vex me greatly to be the reason for her demise."

Dean looked at the woman he loved and brushed a stray curl from her forehead. Her hair was a mess due to their fight and it was a mass of tangles and snares. "Do you think that would work? Turning her into a vampire and sending her soul to purgatory?"

Cas paused with the needle against her flesh. "Honestly?" he paused as he slid it into her arm and Dean could just barely see her vein glow blue as the angel blood mixed with her own. "I do not know what to think anymore. I sometimes wonder if every damn thing we have done has been for naught. Occasionally I feel like we are trying to swim against a tsunami."

"You don't think there'll actually be peace when Jon takes over Hell, do you?"

Cas sighed as Ryan began thrashing slightly as she woke and the blood burned through her. "I don't think any of us will live that long," Cas stated gravely.


Ryan POV

She awoke to find sunlight streaming through her window. She blinked against the harsh winter light and glanced over at the clock. Shit! I'm late! She made to jump up, but movement caught her eye and she saw Dean propped up against the closet door. "Dean?"

"'Morning."

She looked him over. He looked as though he had gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson or maybe The Hulk even. The thought made her want to giggle, though he didn't look to be in a playful sort of mood. "Uh…good morning. Were you watching me sleep?"

"All night long."

She sat up in bed. "Because that's not creepy…"

He sighed and walked toward the bed. He sat and looked at her."Ryan…what do you remember about last night?"

She blinked and shrugged. "Uh…Hope and Jesse are getting married?"

"And?"

Her eyes widened. "She's not knocked up, is she?"

At that, he chuckled. "No. She's not. But after that…after we got the boys to bed?"

She shrugged. "I don't know…we went to bed? I fell asleep? I had the weirdest dream…" It was coming back to her in bits and pieces, anger, she was so angry…anger that didn't belong to her. And she and Dean, fighting. It would have been sexy, the two of them sparring, had it not been for all the anger. She felt the raw black power oozing through her, coloring her vision the color of blood… She paled. "It wasn't a dream, was it?" she whispered as she fingered the healing bruises on his face. She had done that. She was becoming a monster, just as she had feared.

He shook his head.

"Am I a…?" She couldn't form the word. It was one thing to love a demon, another to have a son that was half of one, but to be one herself…the thought nauseated her.

"No. I had Cas come and juice you. But, Ryan…this is some serious shit."

She sighed as she threw off the covers and stood. "I know that, Dean." She walked over to the bureau and grabbed a pair of jeans and a thermal shirt out of her drawer. "I know it's not something to play with."

"Then why are we playing with it?" he demanded.

Her hand stilled over her sock drawer and she turned to him. "I just…it was something we both shared, okay? Do you even realize how different we are from each other now?"

"And so, what? You want to be a demon now?" His eyes flashed black. "Wanna be just like me?"

"Of course not!" She closed her eyes a moment in thought. When she opened them, she could almost see hurt on his face. "Dean, I don't want to be a demon, no more than you do. You have to be. I accept that. It's fine."

"Last night…the things you said, Ryan…"

She thought back on the conversation that she now realized wasn't a dream and winced. "Not my finest moment, babe."

"Forget that. You want…"

"…I want what I can't have," she finished with a self depreciating smile. "And it's okay, Dean. I don't care. I mean, sure, I'd love to do the whole 'normal' thing, but, hell, I'm a hunter anyway. Normal went out the window the first time I made the decision to go on a hunt. After that, it was a domino effect. I could have stopped, I could have chose not to do this. I could have easily have said 'no' to Gabriel. But I didn't. And I don't regret it. I love our lives. So much. I really do."

"But?" he prompted.

She sighed and her shoulders slumped. "I did you so damn wrong, Dean. And now you've missed so much. I saw you, last night, holding Steven. You wanted that and I denied you. And now I can't take it back." She crumpled to the bed and began to sob. "I can't take it back."

She felt his arm wrap around her and they both laid crossways on the bed. He hugged her tightly until her sobs subsided and kissed her tenderly. "Hey, let's pretend."

She smiled despite the hurt in her heart. "What?"

He smiled. "Come on. Hope told me about how when it was too cloudy and rainy to go outside, you would lie on the floor in her room and pretend you were cloud watching. You'd look into the clouds and see shapes in them, right?"

Her brow quirked. "Yeah. So?"

"So, let's play a different game."

She nodded. "Okay. What?"

He lay on his back and she snuggled into his side. "Okay, so, let's go back…not far enough to screw with this whole prophecy crap, but let's just say we go back to that day, the day I died."

"Morbid, but alright," she conceded.

"What if Sam knew I'd turn and he stopped it. What then?"

She blinked. "Dean…"

"Just pretend, Ryan. Like we're kids again."

She blew out a breath as she let her imagination run wild. "Sam saves you, you don't become a demon?"

"Yeah."

"But you still have The Mark."

"Forget that. Say we find a way to get rid of it."

She shook her head. "But Jon needs it."

"We give it back to Cain with the provision he gives it to Jon."

She bit her lip. "Oh-okay. So…you get rid of The Mark and you're human again. You leave Cain's place…Sam says he's got something to tell you. He sits you down, tells you about me, about the kids."

She felt him gasp, but he swallowed and nodded. "Okay. So, he tells me. At first, I'm pissed. How dare you lie to me the whole time I've known you? But then, I realize, I just dodged the biggest fucking bullet of my life. I'm alive. I'm not a monster. I'm just…me. And I begin to wonder, do I want a life with you? Do I want to know my kids? Do I want to do right by them? And I decide I do. I saw you in South Dakota, Ryan. You wanted me. Broken, damaged, poison me, just as much as I wanted you, didn't you?"

"Yes," she whispered as tears streamed down her face. "Yes, I did."

He nodded. "So, I'd sack up and I'd drive to Sioux Falls. It would be probably July by then…"

"Sam came the day before Bobby's birthday. I was decorating his cake."

At that, he smiled. "I show up at your door while you're wearing a cute little apron covered in chocolate. Am I wrong?"

She chuckled. "You hit the nail on the head."

"Okay, so, I pop in for Bobby's birthday. We talk. You tell me everything, I come clean about loving you. What happens next?"

She bit her lip. "I have to admit you knocked me up again. But I won't know about this whole demon/angel/vampire kids thing we've got going."

"Okay, so, we'll find that out later. Together. What happens next?"

She thought back to that day, the depression she'd felt at thinking he was dead, seeing Sam there, alone, how it caused her to faint dead away in horror…she shook her head. "You stay. You stay for Bobby's birthday the next day. I was home alone with him. Hope was with Jody and Alex." She smiled. "It would have been close to Bobby's naptime. He didn't have a nap that day, I don't think, but we could put him to bed."

His eyebrow rose. "You're thinking naughty over there, Fawcett."

"I can't help it. Those pregnancy hormones were flowing through me. And if I saw you again, I wouldn't be able to help but to jump your bones."

He cleared his throat and she noticed him adjust himself rather obviously. "What next?"

She held in the laugh at his predicament. "We'd celebrate Bobby's birthday at the lake the next day, then, we'd talk about our future."

"We'd have a future?"

"Hell yes, we'd have a future. I would decide I wanted to move down here, so we could work out of the bunker, and you and Sam would hunt, if you had to, until Jon was born. Then, once I was ready, you and I would hunt together."

"We would?"

"Only if you wanted to," she answered quickly. She would have loved to hunt with him. But it would have to have been his decision, in the end. "I mean, Sam's your partner, but…he loves being a Man of Letters. He loves the research and the networking. We're hunters. He's…he's a hunter, but he's more, you know?"

Dean smiled at that. "Yeah, you're right. So? Then what?"

She shrugged. "Then, life unfolds, just like it has here. Krissy, Ben, Jesse, they join us. Tory…Andy…" she couldn't hold the excitement out of her tone as she added, "If I made amends with Andy earlier, she and Sam…"

His smile grew as he reached over to kiss her. "Here we are talking about our love story and you're worried about Sammy's."

"I love your brother, Dean. He's a big part of this family, too. And he's sweet. I want to look after him, protect him…"

"Yeah, the big moose does make you want to take care of him, doesn't he?"

She chuckled but then she sobered as she said, "I'm sorry none of that will come to pass."

"I'm sorry I wasn't looking after you better," he told her. "But from now on, no demon mojo, okay?"

"It's not like I can turn it on and off," she reminded him.

"But I can help you not channel it."

She nodded. "Fine." She let out a yawn.

"You still tired?"

"The angel blood makes me exhausted."

"Sleep some more. The boys were playing earlier. I told them we could take the day off since it's Hope's birthday."

She nodded. "Oh! You didn't…you didn't tell Hope about that, did you?"

He shook his head. "Nah, I figured you wouldn't want her to know you vamped out on the night you learned of their engagement. I, uh, might have told them we got freaky in the training room instead…"

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Thanks."

He shrugged. "No biggie. Go ahead and rest a little while longer." He stood and walked to the door.

She maneuvered herself around in the bed until she was back under the covers and let out a little whimper.

"What?" he asked as his hand grabbed for the door handle.

"You know what would help me sleep really well?"

"What? You name it."

"An orgasm."

He looked at her and laughed. "Sleep. Orgasms tonight."

"Promises, promises," she glumly replied. She could still hear his laughter as he closed the door.


December Twenty Fourth

Dean POV

He wasn't sure why he was surprised when he popped topside into chaos. Wasn't that Ryan's life? But this was a whole other level of confusion. "What's going on?" he asked Sam as he walked into the house.

Sam passed Steven off to his brother and muttered, "It's Christmas Eve, dude."

"So…?"

"Big ass production. Every year, I swear it gets bigger and bigger. The first year? Man, it was just me, Ryan, the three kids, and Krissy. By the next year, we'd added Ben, Jesse, and Tory. Now that Charlie and Claire are in the picture, it's huge. And fun. Lots of fun. But we decorate cookies and Ryan has the little ones do crafts and it's just a big, long, fun day."

Dean's eyes widened as he took in the mass of people in Ryan's house. "Dean! Just the man I was looking for!" Ryan gushed as she walked over and kissed his cheek. "It's time for handprints!"

Groans could be heard through the room and Ryan narrowed her eyes at the kids. "You know, you could let me have my fun once a year."

"Of course, Mom," Hope stated with a smile. "Are we going by age again?"

"Yes, which means it's Steven's turn! You're first, big man!" Ryan cooed as she tickled his bare feet in Dean's arms.

"What's up with the handprints?" Dean asked Hope as Sam took Steven back and walked over to Andy who Dean could now see was mixing paint with something.

"Oh, Mom started the tradition with me. She has this plain white quilted tree skirt and we paint our hand and stick it on the tree skirt each year. Once Bobby and Jon came along, our tree skirt got more interesting with the different sizes of hands but it's really cute. Come see…" She tugged Dean's hand and pulled him into the dining room where the tree skirt was draped across two chairs. "See? This is the first year, my first, lonely handprint, and then it goes up until Bobby joined us, then Jon. Look at how messy his first one was! He was only two months old when we did that one, so he just kind of balled his fist…"

Dean's fingertips brushed the painted prints of his kids and swallowed a lump in his throat. "This is cool."

"Yeah, Mom's really proud of it. This is my last year." She began walking towards the kitchen and Dean followed her. "She decided once you turn eighteen, you're done growing. She wanted Ben to be on it, but he would never do it. I think he felt uncomfortable with it." She smiled. "Of course, we've gotten him in all the other traditions, isn't that right, Peanut Butter Boy?"

"Hey!" Ben called out indignantly from where he was standing guard over the mixer. "Just because I'm superior at making Ohio Buckeyes doesn't mean you have to call me Peanut Butter Boy."

"But I do so enjoy it," Hope told him, mirth filling her voice.

Dean's brows furrowed as he glanced at the bowl on the stand mixer. "That's your mom's recipe," he stated.

Ben glanced at Dean sadly and nodded. "Yeah. One of our Christmas traditions. Each time one of us would join the family, Ryan made sure to ask if we had any traditions we wanted to merge. I was the only one that did."

"And they're delicious, too!" Hope exclaimed as she made to stick her finger in the mixer. Ben slapped her hand away and her lower lip poked out in a pout.

"Ryan did right by all of you, didn't she?" Dean asked softly.

"She's the best," Ben stated simply.

Dean couldn't argue with that.

The chaos and fun didn't end there. After the handprints, which Dean was glad he got to help with, they moved on to ball the buckeyes and dip them in chocolate, then, they decorated sugar cookies, then they had a piñata full of candy they hit in the back yard, which was quite fun because none of the kids were allowed to use their powers. But the joy on Bobby's face when he was the one that hit it and it broke…Dean smiled.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Ryan asked softly as she sipped on her eggnog. They'd just finished the most awesome turkey dinner in existence and now the adults were all sitting down so the kids could open presents. Of course, even though there was a mountain of gifts, "Santa" would be coming later that night. Jon was still in the dark about the whole thing, so everyone was keeping him as innocent as they could, for a little while longer, at least.

He shrugged as he sipped his whiskey. "Just enjoying the moment. This…this is unbelievable. I've never been a part of something like this."

Sadness passed in her eyes but before she could apologize or do anything else, he leaned down and kissed her lips.

"It's a little different than how we used to celebrate Christmas, isn't it, Dean?" Sam mused from where he was bouncing Steven on his lap.

Dean smiled. He wondered if Sam ever let Andy handle the kid. Every time he saw them, Sam was holding the baby, feeding the baby, playing with him. It was…sweet. This was everything Sam ever wanted; normal. Well, normal was relative, wasn't it? He mused about what Sam said as he thought back. They didn't really celebrate Christmas, it just wasn't anything they ever really did. It wasn't a production, anyway. Normally they didn't give each other more than a "Merry Christmas, Bro" or forget about the day altogether. But that Christmas, the last one they really celebrated, well, that was a sight. "Yeah, a couple of demigods, a Charlie Brown Christmas tree decorated with air fresheners and a crappy motel room." He smiled again. "I wouldn't have traded it for anything."

"Demigods?" Hope inquired. "Anyone I knew?"

Dean blinked. He often forgot about his daughter's life before she became Ryan's and his. "I don't know. Maybe?"

"Oh! Story, Daddy! Tell us a story!" Jon squealed, abandoning shaking the box with his name on it.

Bobby grinned as he, too, sat down his present. "Yeah, Dad. You and Uncle Sammy fill us in. What happened?"

Dean looked at Sam, who grinned and nodded. "Well, okay, so, I know you've heard about when I sold my soul…"

"Geez. What's in this thing?" Dean muttered under his breath as he hauled the box up the stairs to sit under the tree. "It's huge."

"It's a foosball table," Ryan told him as she directed him where she wanted it under the tree.

"Cool! We're getting a foosball table?"

She rolled her eyes. "I swear, you're as excited as the boys."

He stopped and looked down. "I am. This is my first Christmas, Ryan, my first good Christmas, since I was three years old."

He heard her gasp and he couldn't look at her. He couldn't see the sorrow in her eyes. He didn't need her feeling sorry for him. "I've just enjoyed the hell out of it. I am as excited as the boys. I was excited when you let me help pick out their Christmas presents and I got to see them open them and I can't wait for tomorrow morning…" he trailed off as he put a few things around the huge box and looked at her. "Ryan?"

She just shook her head and smiled. "Come on. I need some sleep. Those two little monsters will be up before you know it."

He chuckled and held out his hand for her, which she took. "So many things have changed, Dean, but I'm so very glad you're here."

"Me too," he whispered. "Me too."


December Thirtieth

Dean finished his work, went and spoke to Gerald a few moments, and then smiled as Meg came to find him in his office. "What's up, Nutmeg?"

She wrinkled her nose. "That's still the most obnoxious nickname you could find, Dean."

He chuckled. "Yeah, well, I'm good that way."

"You heading topside?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I just had to finish up some things."

Her tone held nothing but amazement as she said, "I can't believe you're making this work, Dean."

He shrugged. "What? It wasn't like Crowley was here all the time. That's why I have you and Bela, to hold down the fort while I'm gone."

She was silent a moment before she sat in the chair across from his desk. "Is it going to be very different?"

"What?"

She was silent a moment before she changed tack; "What's Jon like? I haven't been up there much recently. I mean, I know a little bit, but not much."

He sighed and sat. "Jon's a kid, Meg. It's going to be a while. You're stuck with me for now."

"Yeah, but…is he like you? Better? Worse? What are we in for? I've been keeping the prophecy crap on the down low for a while now, but Bela and I talk, Dean. You're basically giving your kingdom over to your heir and we're just concerned…"

"He's being raised by Ryan. Doesn't that answer your question? So far he's been raised by Ryan and Sam."

"Both who hate demons," she stated snidely.

He shook his head. "It's not like that. They're…it's strange. My whole life I've hated demons, Meg. I was raised to hate them on sight, to never give them the benefit of the doubt. Now, I've become one. My kid is one. And the two people in the world, who hate demons as much as I did, are now, supporting him in becoming the King of Hell, support me the same way. It's unlike anything I've ever seen."

"But, are they clouded by their hate?"

"Not at all. They're showing him how to embrace it. And they're showing me how to embrace it, too."

She sighed. "I just…I can't imagine it, Dean-o. I can't imagine it."

He snorted. "Yeah, me either. But it's true."

"Is it weird? Being a part of a family again?"

He blinked. Her tone almost sounded wistful. Maybe he was good for these demons after all. It seemed as though Meg, and Bela, too, had more humanity in them than either would care to admit. "It's the best thing in the world," he replied honestly.

"Yeah, well, you're a crappy demon, anyway," she muttered with a smile.

He grinned. "I never said I was a particularly good demon, Meg."

"But you're powerful. I never did talk to you about that stunt you pulled at the wedding."

He rubbed an absent hand over The Mark. He'd never had that reaction before and hadn't had it since. He glanced at the blade, sitting peacefully in its case and sighed. "I hope to never have to do that again. But I will, if need be."

She nodded. "And that, right there, shows you're a good guy, Dean. I don't agree with Crowley. I think Hell is doing just fine with you as its king."

"Thanks, Meg. I think."

She stood and winked. "Go see your sugar-mama. I'll keep things under control."

"You and Bela are two of the best decisions I've made," he told her. "I know I don't talk about my feelings much, but you are."

She smirked. "Awww, Dean, now I'm all dewy."

"Shut up and get the hell out of here."

In a rare act of seriousness, she bowed to him. "You really aren't the suckiest king we've ever had."

He chuckled. "And you aren't the suckiest demon in existence, either."

Her laughter continued as she walked out the door.

He smiled as he imagined himself at Ryan's house and he popped up on the back porch. Music was blaring in the vicinity of the kitchen and a peek inside showed him all the women of the family were in various stages of singing, dancing, and eating with blue, green, or brown stuff all over their faces with hair in ponytails and pajamas on.

He knocked on the door and heard a few shrieks and giggles before Ryan appeared. "Yes?"

He took in her appearance; she had green stuff on her face, her hair was up in a sloppy ponytail, and she had on reindeer pajama pants, a tank-top, and thick fuzzy socks on her feet. He smirked. "Am I missing something?"

"It's a girly party and you're not invited!" he heard Hope sing-song.

His eyebrow shot up. "Is she drunk?"

Ryan giggled. "Technically? Yes. With the diminished powers, Krissy found out it doesn't take nearly as much booze to get Hope drunk as it would your average angel. She's enjoying herself."

"She's underage."

Ryan shot him a look. "She's getting married tomorrow. She's an angel. And she's marrying a half demon. I'm pretty sure the fact she's underage isn't cause for concern."

He glanced around Ryan to see the other women dancing. "What is that crap you're listening to?"

Ryan paused and listened a moment. "This is 'That's Not My Name' by The Ting-Tings. But if you stick around, we'll probably move on to Taylor Swift or something."

His nose wrinkled in disgust. "Nah, I'm good. Where are the boys?"

"All the guys are at the bunker!" Andy called as she poured a line of shots. "Go away and see them, you evil bastard!"

Dean chuckled. "Are you all drunk?"

Ryan giggled again. "Some of us are just pleasantly buzzed. However, some of us, yes, are plowed."

"I hate I asked. So, instead of batchelor/batchelorette parties, and instead of a rehearsal dinner, we're just…chilling out? And the guys are stuck looking after the littlest dudes, including a baby?"

Ryan nodded. "Yup."

Dean shook his head. "Okay then. I guess I'll pop over there." He turned to walk off the porch when he was grabbed from behind.

"Wait," Ryan purred. "Come back once everyone is passed out and let me fuck you, babe."

He smiled and kissed her, careful not to get any of the green crap on his skin. "I'll come back and see how drunk you are. Then we'll see."

"Come onnnnnn," she whined.

"We'll see," he amended.

"Tease!" she shouted.

His lip quirked as Krissy grabbed Ryan and dragged her back in the house and the music went up a few more notches. Dean watched, just another moment, as the women all danced around, his eyes never leaving Ryan's ass as it shimmied in time with the beat. He swallowed as his mouth watered.

"Are they alright?" he heard and he jumped as Cas appeared next to him.

"Damn it, Cas!" he groused. "You just cut ten years off my life, man!"

Castiel regarded him. "But, Dean, at the present, you're immortal."

He shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Figure of speech, dude." He paused. "What?" Cas wasn't paying attention to him, though, as he saw Tory through the window. Dean punched him in the arm. "Dude, focus."

Castiel blinked and looked at him. "Yes?"

"What do you mean, I'm immortal?"

Cas shrugged. "You bear The Mark of Cain. You are a demon. Technically, you are immortal."

Dean snorted. "Cool."

Cas shrugged. "Well, you will be until you give The Mark to Jon, then we turn you back human, at which time…" Cas trailed off and Dean sighed.

"We don't know what will happen, do we?"

Cas shook his head. "No."

Dean shrugged as well. "No use in worrying about that today. Let's go check on the bunker. What are we doing?"

"Actually, it is good you are here. Ben has designs set on getting Jesse drunk, but Jesse's powers fluctuate when he's drunk. If you are there, we will be a bit less concerned about everyone else's welfare because you can help control him."

Dean smiled. "Let's go. I'm all for letting the kid relax and have a few drinks…"

The sausage-fest in the bunker wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as Dean thought it would be. He found himself liking the quiet half-demon that was becoming his son-in-law more and more, and this also gave him a good chance to bond with Ben some. He felt bad he hadn't spent much time with him, but Ben was an adult now, a hunter. He didn't do touchy-feely. He was everything Dean hadn't wanted him to be, but he was managing quite well. He was still a hell of a guy.

They somehow managed to end up on the shooting range. The youngest boys were all asleep. Steven was in his playpen in Sam's old room and Dean's sons were both in his old bed. Dean watched Ben try and fail to hit the target and he chuckled. "Well, at least you know you can't shoot straight to save your life when you're drunk."

Ben chuckled as he sat the gun down. "Too true. Which is why Kris refuses to buy booze unless we're finished with a case."

"She's a smart girl. Always has been." Dean told him.

"Yeah, I don't know how in the hell she wound up with you," Sam shot at the boy.

"Ha, ha, funny, Sam," Ben groused as he swiped another beer from the cooler that had been carried with them to every room they'd traveled in. "Okay, gotta take a piss. Be right back," he managed as he belched and stumbled out of the room.

"Sammy…" Dean warned.

"I got him," Sam said as he stood. "Yo! Ben! Need help with that?"

"Fuck you and the horse you rode in on!" Ben replied as Sam caught up to him and put the boy's arm around his shoulder.

"I think you're done, man, time for bed."

"Still gotta piss…"

"And I'll let you. God knows I don't want to clean that up."

Ben started giggling and Dean chuckled as their voices faded out. He glanced at Jesse, who was nursing a bottle of something stronger. He could hold his liquor like a pro, Dean had to hand it to him. "You alright over there?"

Jesse looked up at him and nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"But?"

Jesse smiled. "I'm scared shitless. I mean, I'm a demon. She's an angel. What in the hell are we thinking?"

Dean shrugged as he nursed his beer. He had decided to play DD for the night, along with Cas, in the event anything got out of hand or someone needed something. It was odd how he used to be the one passed out by the end of the night. Now he was being all responsible. Go figure. "You love her. She loves you. It's simple addition. One plus one makes two."

"I still don't know if we're making the right choice here. Why marriage? We could just shack up, you know."

Dean nodded. "You could. And she would love you anyway, you know that."

Jesse took a generous swig of the whiskey and smirked. "You know she asked me? Or rather, told me we were getting married."

Dean chuckled. "Sounds like her."

"She's amazing, you know that? I mean…it isn't just her smile or her personality, or even the fact she's like, this powerful being…it's everything." He was quiet a moment. "I'm half afraid the first time she gets really pissed at me, she'll smite my ass."

Dean laughed out loud. "Well, far be it from me to give relationship advice, but if she doesn't scare the hell out of you a little, she's not the one."

Jesse snorted. "I love her, Dean. I love her so damn much. And I know, when she goes upstairs and I join you, all that will go away."

"Who says?"

Jesse shrugged. "I dunno," he stated softly, child-like, almost.

"Let me tell you something, Jesse. I'm a demon. The king demon. But I still love. I'm not great at anything, but I've always been good at loving people. Showing them, not so much, but loving has never been a problem. When you're a full demon, that won't change."

"What if it does? What if her getting her wings back changes things?"

"If it does, it does. But I don't think it will."

"Why?"

Dean shook his head. "Because, I don't think love works that way. And you're already part demon, so, this would just be taking away your humanity. Then you'll be a knight of mine, and she'll be a heavenly host and you two can meet in the middle for your little trysts."

Jesse's eyebrow shot up. "Did you just use the word 'tryst'?"

"Shut up," Dean told him with a grin. "But seriously, you'll be fine and so will she."

Jesse sucked in a breath. "Thanks, Dean. Really."

"Thank you, Jesse, for all that you've done. You've been there for Jon, you're good to Hope, I can't…I can't repay you for how instrumental you've been to the safety of this family."

"They're my family, too," Jesse whispered. "I haven't had a family since I ran away from home. When Ryan came and found me in New York, I was almost at my lowest point. She gave me a home. She gave me love. She gave me Hope."

Dean smiled. "She's kind of good that way."

"Ryan's the best. I'm glad you're here for her, man. She needed you and she was too stubborn to realize it. Or maybe she realized it and she was too stupid to go for it. Either way, it doesn't matter now, because you're here."

"And I'm not going anywhere," Dean vowed.


December Thirty-First

Dean glanced at the groom as he adjusted his suit coat. "I still don't see why you wouldn't let us take you out for a real bachelor party," he stated.

"Yeah, man, I mean, what's up with that? Booze? Strippers? The whole nine!" Ben added.

Jesse shot Ben a look. "First off, I still don't see how you're standing. You were so drunk last night. Second, like Kris would let you get within five feet of a strip joint? Don't make me laugh. She'd beat your ass so fast, you'd be wearing a black eye before you could blink."

Ben grinned. "Yeah, guess you're right. But, hey, it would have been fun."

"I think what we did last night was just as good," Jesse told them.

Dean smiled. After everyone was situated in bed, Dean had popped in to check on Ryan. She had sobered some, but was still buzzed. The things they'd done…

"Earth to Dean," Ben stated as he snapped his fingers in front of Dean's face.

Dean blinked and looked at the boy. "Yeah?"

"Dude, get your mind out of the gutter."

"What?!"

Ben just popped an eyebrow and shot him a look.

"How's it going?" Ryan asked softly as she stuck her head in the door. Hope had wanted to get married in Ryan's back yard, so the boys were getting ready in the basement while Hope's room was being used for the bridal suite. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the men in their tuxes. "Don't you all look so handsome?"

"Seems like it was just yesterday we were doing this for me," Sam muttered as he, too, put on his tie. Hope had been adamant about one thing; she had wanted both Sam and Dean to walk her down the aisle. Dean was her father, but Sam had been there for the second half of her life. He'd been there for her through a lot of changes. Sam had tried to play it off, to make her see it might hurt Dean's feelings, but Dean didn't feel sorry for himself. No, he was proud of Hope for making the decision. And it was kind of cool. Weird, but cool.

"Well, at least this one isn't as much of a production," Ryan stated as she began putting on boutonnieres.

"You know Hope. I'm surprised she didn't invite the whole heavenly host," Jesse stated as he fumbled with his tie before he just gave up and used his powers to create the perfect bow.

Ryan grinned. "Hey, you're the one tying yourself to her, Jess. I'd say you know her pretty well. Sure you want to get any further involved with all the drama?"

"Are you kidding? It's like she's what my life has been waiting for," he breathed, awe in his voice. "I never knew goodness until I met her. Purity."

"Hope. Winchester? Dude, are you sure you've got the right chick? Cuz, that doesn't describe my sister," Ben threw out.

"Suck it, dickbag. Just because you can't get your girl to…"

"Boys!" Ryan shouted. "Enough. Today is Jesse's wedding day. The two of you don't need to act like imbeciles." She turned to Dean and winked. "Besides, I'd hate for Dean to have to separate you with the demon juice."

Dean's mouth fell open. "Using my powers for me? That's just…"

Ryan smiled and stood on tiptoe to give him a kiss. "That's my right as your soul mate, sugar. Come on, boys, ya'll only have about five minutes…"

Dean watched her retreating form and chuckled. "Damn, I love that woman."

"Ever thought of tying the knot with her, Dean?" Ben asked as he tried and failed once more to fix his tie. "Damn it. Will somebody mojo this fucker so I can be done with it?"

Dean chuckled and fixed the guy's tie as he thought about Ben's question. "I…I don't know about marriage. That ship kind of already sailed."

"Why? Because you're soul mates? Didn't stop Sam and Andy."

"He's got a point, Dean," Sam stated.

Dean shrugged. "I don't know. I just…I mean, we're married kind of, anyway, right? Would Ryan want that redundancy?"

Sam looked at him. "Ryan is happy with anything you can give her, Dean. No, I don't think she needs a wedding ring. Doesn't mean she wouldn't like one…"

It was something to think about. Another day. Right now, he needed to head upstairs. "You ready?"

Sam nodded and followed Dean as they traveled up the stairs then up the second set of stairs up to Hope's room.

Dean knocked gently on the door and gasped as he took in the view of his daughter. "Hope…"

She smiled sweetly. "How do I look?"

She had on a blood-red strapless dress. The top front of it looked like a heart made out of diamonds or something, and it was decorated all over with black feathers here and there. It didn't have a train, instead it had like an old timey bustle on the back that fell in soft red waves. It was unexpected and beautiful and it totally looked like Hope personified. "You look perfect, angel-face," he managed.

She smiled again. "Well, well, well, I didn't know I could make demons cry. I'm good."

Dean chuckled and wiped his cheek. "I'm allowed to cry, Hope. It's okay to cry and still be a man."

"Man, yes. Demon, no. I think Mom's making you soft."

He could have come back with a crude comment, but decided to swallow it and just shrugged. "You've got somebody waiting on you." He glanced over at Ryan. "You okay?"

She smiled too. "I'm great. Okay, I'm going downstairs. I'm sure Charlie and Claire are tired of the two monsters already."

"Did they manage to keep Loki out of my cake?" Hope asked.

"If they didn't, there'll be hell to pay," Ryan stated through clenched teeth.

Dean chortled as he watched Ryan leave. His attention turned to the other woman in the room. "You look beautiful, Krissy," he told the huntress.

She smiled as she ran a hand over her dress. It was a short, ivory colored number, but it was covered in a long fur trimmed light tan cape thing that was decorated in snowflakes. She looked like a winter princess or something.

"I'll give you guys a few minutes," Krissy told them as she, too, stepped out. Dean watched her go and wondered what Jesse had been about to say to Ben. Had Ben asked and Kris said no? They seemed really happy, but Krissy had always been a bit standoffish about family. He'd have to pry into their business, see what was up.

Hope cleared her throat. She didn't have a veil and all her beautiful reddish brown hair was up in a fancy bun. Sam and Dean both looked at her. She licked her lips nervously. "Uh…so…to the dad who's my biological father and to the dad who helped raised me, thank you, both, for doing this."

"There's no place we'd rather be, Hope," Sam stated softly.

She nodded as one tear fell down her cheek. "I know. I just…it's pointless, I realize, but…"

"It makes you happy, kid," Dean told her. "Jesse makes you happy and neither of you are human but you want to do one human thing with your life. This is a good one."

"It doesn't change anything. We'll still hunt and everything…"

"I know. Your mom knows. But you deserve this break. I think a honeymoon is a great idea. Go, see some of the world, enjoy yourselves a little. I learned the hard way life isn't just hunting. Evil's still gonna be out there. Innocent humans are still gonna get killed. You can't save them all. No one can. You have to find a balance that keeps you alive, keeps you sane, too. I don't think I ever learned that and it killed me. But Sam has. And I'm glad for him." He smiled at his brother, who returned it.

"Thanks, Daddy," she whispered as she hugged him.

He returned the hug with as much love as he could muster. "Now, come on, you've got people waiting to see you."

She nodded and pulled away. She picked up a bouquet of roses in red and white that matched her dress, he noticed, and strode to the door. "Well? Come on."

Sam chuckled. "She's definitely got Ryan's impatience."

"Thank you, Sam," Dean stated softly.

"For what?"

"For being there for them, when I wasn't."

"You couldn't be."

"I know. Doesn't make it any easier to swallow, but I'm glad you were there."

"Someone had to help raise them so they'd know about you, Dean. Ryan's knowledge of you only went so far."

"Thank you for not painting me the bad guy."

Sam stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "You've been a lot of things in your life, Dean, but you were never, ever, a bad guy. Remember that, for me."

Dean just nodded.

The ceremony was your standard wedding deal. Instead of Charlie, Cas stood up and acted as minister, which, for some reason, Dean found extremely funny. He held it in, though, and didn't laugh at the constipated look on the angel's face. Instead, he focused on the love for Hope shining in Jesse's eyes. It was unbelievable and humbling, that there was a person in this world that loved his angel daughter this much.

They had written their own vows, or found them on the internet or something, because they weren't your standard fair. That wouldn't work in their relationship. Instead, Hope told him; "I wish I could explain your eyes, and how the sound of your voice gives me butterflies. How your smile makes my heart skip a beat, and how every time I'm with you, I feel so complete."

Jesse told her; "I tried to come up with the perfect thing to say to you, and I failed spectacularly. However, I did manage to find a quote by Steve Maraboli. 'She is delightfully chaotic; a beautiful mess. Loving her is a splendid adventure.' Hope, I never intended to go on this adventure. I never saw myself falling in love. But I have, with you. I love you so much it physically hurts. You're the moon and the stars, and the whole damn galaxy to me."

Hope smiled and threw her arms around him and kissed him, earning a few chuckles from the small crowd assembled.

Cas cleared his throat as he said, "The couple decided to forgo the average wedding rings." Instead of the rings, they had Cas tattoo the Enochian symbols for love into their ring fingers as a symbol of their commitment to one another. It would stay on their vessels forever.

Once the "rings" were exchanged, Ben reached for the guitar sitting on its stand next to him and smiled. "So, only the fact that Hope is my sister stopped me from singing 'Jesse's Girl' I want you to know that." Everyone chuckled and Ben sobered. "Nah, Jesse, you're my best friend, dude. You've been there for me. You and I were like the lone wolves in this family, the outsiders. God knows Hope pulled us in, but it was us. And I'm glad to call you my friend. Hope, you're my little sister. I've known you since you were twelve years old and, yes, I'd like to think the reason we're standing here today is because of me." Again, he got a titter of laughs from everyone. "But, I know you two would have eventually gotten together. It was destined. And trust me, I believe in this destiny crap. Now more than ever. And so, I found a song for you two. I don't want to hear any shit for it, either. Suck it up. The song may not rock, but it's perfect for you." He cleared his throat and started singing a song Dean had never heard before;

Get out your guns, battles begun,

Are you a saint, or a sinner?

If love's a fight, then I shall die,

With my heart on a trigger.

They say before you start a war,

You better know what you're fighting for.

Well baby, you are all that I adore,

If love is what you need, a soldier I will be.

I'm an angel with a shotgun,

Fighting 'til the war's won,

I don't care if heaven won't take me back,

I'll throw away my faith, babe, just to keep you safe.

Don't you know you're everything I have?

And I wanna live, not just survive, tonight.

Dean listened to the rest of the words about how sometimes to win you've got to sin, and that made him think of Ryan. He would do whatever it took to keep her pure and human. No matter what.

When the song finished, Hope was sobbing openly and walked to hug Ben. And Dean had to be honest, there wasn't a dry eye in the place. Sure, the song wasn't the sappiest in the world, but the meaning behind it was plain to see. Hope would be giving up a lot in seven years, no matter what she chose. Because Dean believed she had a choice in the matter. She could choose to stay here, Jesse could choose to stay here. Just because Heaven declared she return, it didn't mean she would. He just didn't know if she would be able to handle the decision, whichever way she went. Only time would tell.


January Twenty-Fourth

Dean was standing in his office, sipping a glass of whiskey when he felt the oddest sensation. "Meg? What's that?" he asked as he glanced at his knight who he was going over reports with.

She smirked. "Dean, you're being summoned."

"What? Like, with a summoning spell?"

She rolled her eyes. "Duh."

"What do you think that's about?"

She shrugged.

"Should I go?"

She crossed her arms. "I think you kinda need to. I mean, what if it's an emergency or something?"

His eyes widened. "You don't think…?"

She shrugged again. "You won't know unless you move your ass, boss."

He nodded. "Alright. You and Bells hold down the fort. I'll pop back down here if you need anything."

She smirked and he wondered what that was about as he popped topside…into Rufus' old cabin?

He turned and saw Ryan standing over the bowl with the summoning ingredients. His brows furrowed. "Ryan? What's up?"

She didn't answer. Instead, she pulled off a long coat to reveal something black and lacy underneath. "Happy Birthday, Dean."

He blinked as he looked around. It was just the two of them. Alone. In the cabin. There were three pies sitting on the countertop, a brand new bottle of booze, and Ryan, standing there half naked. "For me?"

She giggled as she walked forward and took his hand. "I already cleared it with Meg. She and Bela are going to handle business downstairs for a few days. Sam's got the kids and the bunker under control. We're going to celebrate your birthday. Just the two of us. Right here."

"You planned all this?"

She nodded as she pulled him into the tiny bedroom. He glanced around again. The little cabin had been overhauled and looked halfway decent. "What happened here?"

"Sam and I have been working on this place. We decided it would be a good place for the couples or even a single to take a little respite. He and I come up here, swear, drink beer, work with our hands. It's all very manly."

"But you're not manly, Ryan."

She laughed throatily. "Thank God for that. No, but I enjoy doing work like that. I had to do all the home repair around my place before Sam showed up in my life. I've gotten good at plumbing especially. And Sam's good at electrical. It works." She stood on tiptoe in a pair of 'fuck me' shoes and kissed him gently. "Now, enough talk about manual labor or your brother. I'm half naked here, babe."

His hands seemed to move unbidden to her waist. "Why, yes, you are. Let's see if I can get you completely naked…"


May Fourth

Ryan bit her lip as she looked around. "Are you sure?" she asked him one last time.

Dean rolled his eyes. She, Andy, and Tory were going to the Florida Keys for a few days away and were planning on enjoying a Cinco de Mayo celebration while they were gone. "Would you just take your happy ass on? I've got this."

"But…a whole weekend, me, Tory and Andy…gone…you and the boys, Sam, Steven…are you sure you guys can handle this?"

"We aren't invalids, you know," Sam stated as he glared at Ryan. "We'll be fine. Won't we, Dean?"

Dean just nodded. Was she seriously insinuating they couldn't handle this? Okay, he knew he might not be able to, but with Sam there… "We're absolutely going to be fine. Go. Andy needs a break from the baby."

"I never need a break from my sweetheart," Andy said as she nuzzled Steven's neck. He was giggling like crazy. They had just celebrated his one year birthday two weeks before.

Dean grinned. "I was talking about Sam."

Sam's eyes narrowed. "Jerk."

Dean smirked. "Bitch."

Ryan giggled. "Alright. If you're sure. But you know you can call me anytime, and if you need to, you can have Cas poof and get me or you can and…"

"Ryan, stop," Dean stated gently as he grabbed her and pulled her close. He kissed her tenderly. "Go on, have a great time relaxing with the girls. We've got this. Cas can come down and help, yes, if Gabriel gets out of control, but I think between my demon juice and Sam's experience, we've got this."

She worried that damn lip again and he had to clear his throat as his need for her built. It was the little things she did that drove him up the fucking wall.

"If you're sure…"

"We are," Sam stated as he tried to pry Steven away from Andy. "Tory, some help, please?"

"Come on! No one calling you Mommy for three days and two nights! Nothing but air and wind and water and relaxation! And who knows, maybe a little trouble…"

"No hunting," Dean stated adamantly.

"Right. No need to go out and start something," Sam began.

The three women rolled their eyes. "Yes, dear," they chimed in unison. With kisses to the little boys, and a kiss to Sam and Dean from their mates, they walked out.

Dean blew out a breath as he turned to gaze down at his sons. "So…are you going to be nice for us this weekend?"

The two little boys exchanged a mischief filled look and Dean suddenly began regretting this decision.

The phone ringing distracted Dean from his chase. "Damn it," he growled. "When I catch you…!" he warned to the retreating laughter. "Fuck," he muttered as he snagged his phone from his pocket. "Hello?"

"Hi!" Ryan's bubbly voice called over the phone. "We made it to The Keys. Wow. That was a nice flight. Our place is awesome. Wish you were here. How are things?"

He looked around the destroyed house. The damn dogs were chewing on something Dean knew they shouldn't, the boys had destroyed a bookshelf (he'd have to find tools to repair it if he couldn't figure out how to mojo the bitch back like it should be) and there were toys everywhere. "It's great. The boys are great."

"Is that distress I hear in your voice? Do I need to…?"

"Stop, Ryan. We're fine. Chill out. It's all good."

"Okay, can I talk to the boys?"

He sighed, but called out, "Boys! Mom's on the phone!"

He heard the pounding of feet as the two little monsters came downstairs and grabbed the phone from his hand. He watched with aggravated amusement as Bobby put the phone on speaker and yelled, "Mom?!"

"I can hear you, Robert Gabriel. No need to scream. How're my boys doing? Are you being good for Dad?"

Bobby looked around at the disaster of the room and grinned. "Are you kidding? I'm an angel, Mom."

"Hence my apprehension," she shot back at him. "Jon? You there?"

"Yes, Mommy! I'm here!"

"Are you boys having fun?"

"Yeah! We've been wrestling and Daddy's cooking burgers for us laters! It's gonna be awesome! You should go away more often!"

Ryan chuckled and Dean couldn't help but smile. "Alright. I love you three. Be good for Dad, okay? Put him back on the phone, alright?"

"Love you, Mommy!" Jon shouted.

"Love ya, Mom!" Bobby yelled as he handed the phone back to Dean before the two ran back up the stairs.

"You two better come back down here for dinner or you'll starve!" Dean shouted before he heard Ryan's laughter over the phone. "Ha, ha, ha. Funny, Ryan."

"I'm sorry," she stated, mirth evident in her voice. "It sounds as though they're having fun, though. This is good for all three of you. I take it Sam left?"

"Yeah, Steven was getting tired. He's coming back tomorrow morning." If we all live that long. He suspected he might not make it through the night if they didn't slow down. Even if he was a demon, he was damn tired already.

"Okay. Well, we're going to go out to dinner and get some drinks…"

"You, drunk and relaxed? Be still my heart."

She giggled and he heard Andy calling for her. "Okay, well, I guess I'll go…"

"I'll be up, if you want to drunk dial me, Ryan."

"I'll be sure to. I love you."

He heard a crash upstairs. "Yeah, love you, too. Gotta go…" he punched the 'End' button and let out a growl. "Boys…!"

Dean was exhausted. Two nights and almost three whole days had passed. Ryan was expected home within the hour and he couldn't be happier. At least in Hell he had a few moments peace. Here, there was a constant string of activity. "Okay, guys. Great job cleaning up. I'll let you two have some pie if you'll just sit down. Then you can go quietly play with your Lego's, okay?"

"Yay! Pie!" Jon shouted as he bounced.

"What kind, Dad?" Bobby asked.

"Mom left a chocolate pie in the freezer I thawed out last night."

"And you didn't tell me?" Bobby's tone was accusatory.

Dean's eyebrow rose. "Because I knew I'd need a bargaining chip, Gabe."

The boy's dimples winked. "Okay. You got me there."

Dean couldn't help the chuckle. Even though it was a tiring job, he'd had a complete blast with his boys. He wouldn't trade it for a moment. He ushered the boys into the clean kitchen and quickly cut them all huge slices of pie. They were working on their second pieces when Meg popped in. "Hey, boss. Hey squirts!"

"Meg," the two boys acknowledged her dismissively as they continued attacking their pies.

Meg let out a snort. "They're definitely yours."

Dean eyed the little demon. "What's up?"

"Nothing. Just wanted to let you know of a small issue. Nothing really big, but figured you'd want to be aware…"

He sighed. "Outside. Let's talk about it out there." He looked at his sons. "When you finish, put your plates in the sink like Mom would want you to and then you can go play Lego's, okay?"

"Yes, sir," they replied in unison.

Meg's eyebrows popped. "They respect you. Interesting."

Dean let out a growl. "Bite me, Meg."

She smirked. "I don't think Ryan would appreciate that, Dean. She might find a way to have Clarence smite me on principle."

Dean led her out onto the porch and she filled him in on a small uprising in the southwestern part of the United States, which she was going to go handle personally. "I just wanted to let you know where I was going to be."

"If you need help…"

She nodded. "I'll call you or Bela, or, hey, if worst comes to worst, I'll call Cas down to help me. I'm sure he'd like to get his hands dirty."

Dean smiled. Cas had become about like him; more of a businessman than anything else. He watched Meg disappear and took in a deep breath of the spring air. Ryan had planted honeysuckle and the scent reminded him of her. He smiled as he gazed out into the back yard. It was littered with a dozen toy trucks, backhoes, and tractors, plus a giant sandbox, a huge swing set, and a tree house in the biggest tree. It was peaceful, here, in Kansas. It was a good place for Ryan to bring the kids. He was still smiling as he stepped indoors, but the smile slid off his face when he heard a commotion coming from the direction of the living room. He raced through the kitchen, past the front door and entryway and stopped dead at the door to the living room.

"WHAT IN THE SWEET HELL IS GOING ON IN HERE?!" he shouted as he saw Lego's flying everywhere.

"He's being a stupid-head!" Jon shouted.

"You're the one being stupid! Come on, Jon! Catch a clue, dude! You know I'm right!"

"No!" Jon shouted and Dean winced as he saw Lego's being launched from the floor with Jon's powers as the boy's eyes flickered black.

"I. Am. Too!" Bobby shouted as he, too, began lobbing Lego's using his angel grace as his own eyes glowed blue.

"No. You're. Not!"

"Yes. I. Am!"

"Superman can fly, AND he's fast!"

"The Hulk can beat you, Loki! I sawed it on the movie!"

"It. Was. A. Movie! None of that was true! And Tom Hiddleston's a little bitch!"

"You's just mad ucuz he's prettier than you! Hopey said so!"

"Hope's a liar!" Bobby shouted.

Dean blinked as the boys continued bickering. They were arguing…about superheroes? And using their mojo? Seriously?

He didn't realize the fight had escalated until he felt power coming from both directions, battering him around, tossing him first one way, then the other, knocking him into the damn bookcase he'd managed to fix. He shook his head and stood as his eyes flashed black. "THAT IS ENOUGH!"

The two boys jumped and he was worried he might have scared them, but then they both started laughing at him.

His eyes narrowed as he glared at the two of them. "I can't believe how ridiculous this is! Fighting over who would win between imaginary people, really?!" The two boys managed to conjure up a modicum of shame before Dean added, "Besides, neither of those pansies would win because we all know Batman is the biggest badass."

The boys looked shocked for about a minute before Bobby said, "But, Dad, there is no way Batman could win. He doesn't have any powers."

"What?!" he shouted.

The boy's mouth set and he put his hands on his hips. "Batman. Has. No. Powers."

"Alright, that's it…"

Ryan POV

"Damn, that was awesome," Ryan stated as she stood and stretched. "Thanks again, for driving, Andy. I shouldn't have had that cocktail on the plane."

Andy shrugged. "No biggie. So, you think Cas was waiting for Tory? That's why she wanted us to let her off at the bunker?"

Ryan grinned. "I'm guessing so. After all, we both know Dean gets immense pleasure from teasing the crap outta Cas about his sexcapades."

Andy giggled. "Alright, well, I guess I'll go on home." Just then, Sam drove up in the driveway. "Or not…" she murmured as she stood and ran toward Sam, who picked her up and wrapped her legs around his waist as he sat her on the hood of the car.

Ryan rolled her eyes as she walked up the steps, tugging her rolling bag with her. She made it to the porch before she heard it; the sounds of war within the house. Her eyes widened as she all but ran into the door to find a whirling dervish of Lego's, blue glowing and black stained eyes. "Holy shit," she muttered before she turned around and ran back down the steps. She dashed to Demon and popped the trunk, reaching for the flask of holy water.

"Ryan? What's up?"

"It's World War Three in there. I thought you were watching them, Sam!" she shouted at him.

"Hey! I just got here! They're the ones…"

Her eyes narrowed at him. "Don't you dare…"

He snagged the flask and also a bottle of holy oil. "Don't worry. I got this," and he dashed inside. Andy and Ryan shared a look before they ran up the stairs after him. They breached the door in time to hear him shout; "Alright! Who's gonna get it first? OW! Damn it, Dean! Really?! You're hitting ME with Lego's now?"

The two women smirked as the din intensified, but only for a moment before a shriek of pain and a yell of "Uncle Sam! You're no fun!"

A moment later, Dean wandered to the entryway, steam still rising from his skin where Sam had obviously doused him in holy water. He took one look at Ryan and grinned. "Hey, babe, when did you get back?"

Her eyebrow rose. "About five minutes ago."

He grinned sheepishly before he looked behind him and his eyes narrowed. "I thought I could handle it, but I can't…you can't leave me alone with them again, Ryan. They teamed up on me. A demon and an angel shouldn't be that close. It's not natural…it's against the order. It's…"

Her jaw set as she crossed her arms. "And last time I checked, YOU were the adult, Dean. You're a full blown demon and you're best friends with one of the most powerful angels in the garrison. So, that point is moot. Besides, aren't you more powerful than both of the two little monsters in there? Bobby's not a full blown angel yet, you know. And Jon's a half demon. So…? Exactly what is the problem with YOU looking after YOUR sons?" Of course, she wasn't angry. She was more amused than anything else.

He winced, rubbed the back of his neck, and smiled shyly at her as the boys ran past him to hug her. "Mommy! Mom!"

She closed her eyes, gave a half smile, and shook her head. Rest and relaxation were nice, but it was sure good to be home.


An2: And that's it until next week. Hopefully you you liked it!