Chapter 36

"No!" Frank raged as soon as he heard the news. "Absolutely not! No way in hell!"

Sam's jaw dropped and his eyes went wide, but Frank really didn't care.

"Now, Frankie," Dean started and sounded way too calm for Frank's liking. Obviously they had already discussed this. Without him.

"Don't you 'Now Frankie' me!" he shouted, pointing a finger in Dean's face. "You know how I feel about that bitch, and I don't want her in my family's house!"

Dean jerked his head at Sam. It took Sam a moment to respond, which he did by leaving the house.

"Now, Baby," Dean started and Frank knew he was in real trouble now. So far Dean had only used 'baby' to get a smile or some extra attention, never to get his way. Well, to be fair, Dean usually didn't need to find a method to get his way around Frank. Frank typically went out of his way to make sure Dean got whatever he wanted, mainly because he knew Dean never expected it.

"Damn it, Dean!" he just could not keep his voice down about this one. "It's bad enough Sam's dating her, I don't want her in my parent's house."

"Dad and Bobby aren't real thrilled either, but they promised to behave." His mossy green eyes fixed on Frank. "And so did Steve."

Now that stole a whole lot of Frank's thunder. "Steve?" he demanded. "Steve is okay with this?"

Dean shrugged. "Honestly? I don't know. But he said as long as Serene didn't start anything with him, he wouldn't have a problem with her being there." He moved close enough to run a hand up Frank's arm. "Baby, nobody wants to make you uncomfortable, okay? But Sam is really serious about her and at some point we're going to have to start mixing her in. Why wait?"

Frank crossed his arms over his chest defiantly. "Why not wait?"

Now both of Dean's hands were on him, turning his head to face his spouse. "Because, Baby, there isn't always a later." He sighed then. "Dad and Sam have a hunt planned. They're only sticking around for this early Thanksgiving thing and then they're gone for who knows how long."

Frank felt his resistance crumpling. "Really? You mean, this is your family's big day, too?"

Now Dean grinned at him. "And it's kind of our first one. Well, the first one with all three of us, at the same time, and an actual turkey." He shrugged off the shocked look Frank had to be giving him now. "Dude, usually we had something I could cook. I never really graduated up from Hamburger Helper or stuff in a can. Besides, hasn't Serene been making nice? I'm telling you, she won some major points with me the day she took one look at what that bastard did to you and ran out in tears."

Frank studied Dean's face carefully. "Well, you sure didn't seem to appreciate it at the time."

Dean sighed and rolled his eyes. "Are you really going to analyze this to death? Tell you what, talk to Steve. He's your best friend. But Frankie, if Serene isn't welcome then Sam won't feel welcome, and I think you already know how I feel about that." Dean's fingers were lightly massaging his face and neck.

And now all of Frank's walls were down. "Fine," he sighed, "she can come."

It was kind of worth it to see Dean's face light up like that. "You're sure? I can go tell Sam that you're not going to keel over or have a stroke or anything?"

Frank nodded and felt Dean's hands drop down to squeeze his shoulders. Dean turned away and walked, no – waddled to the back door. Yep, Dean had a definite waddle now, and it was kind of cute. Frank wouldn't admit that for anything in the world, though. He preferred maintaining the ability to breathe.

Sam sat outside nervously, one knee bouncing high into the air. Serene had tried to warn him, didn't even want to go really, but Sam had insisted. Good grief, why couldn't he just listen for a change? Why did he always press for things to be the way he wanted?

He threw his head back to glare up at the sky, allowing the bright fall sunlight to temporarily blind him. Was it because he thought he knew so much better than everyone else, or simply because they had been denied so much during their childhood that Sam was still trying to make up for it? What ever. Like the why mattered. What really mattered was if this would come between Dean and Frank, or worse, him and Dean. Yeah, he would have to back down on bringing Serene around if it started to drive a wedge between him and his brother. Dean really didn't deserve that. Dean had already put up with a lot, a LOT, of Sam's crap. He really didn't need Sam interfering in his personal relationships too.

Shit.

The sound of the back door opening made Sam lift his head. Dean, looking pretty frigging round these days, was heading his way with a beaming smile. Holy crap, he got Frank to agree!

"Really?" Sam asked hopefully.

Dean nodded. "Yep. But no upstaging Frankie's sister. I mean it, Sam. I don't even want Serene to bring a pie; that's kind of Lisa's thing, even though they're always terrible."

Sam let out the air which had been trapped painfully in the center of his chest. "No problem," he promised. But there was something else still bothering him. "Are you sure this is okay?" Sam asked. "I don't want it to cause any problems between you and Frank."

Dean snorted and rolled his eyes. "As if." He waved off Sam's concerns. "It'd take a lot more than Serene. Speaking of..." Dean checked his watch. "I think you're going to be late picking her up for your date this afternoon, she does have the early shift today, right? And dude," Dean's gaze locked with Sam's, "go back to her place. Not here. We're having the dinner thing tomorrow, so just stay out of Frankie's way until then. All right?"

"B-but you said it was all right," Sam protested.

"For me," Dean said sternly. "And after everything goes fine tomorrow, it will be for you too. Don't worry, I'm planning on you and Dad and Bobby hanging out here tomorrow evening before you all take off on this hunt."

Sam frowned at the tone of his big brother's voice. Sam knew Dean did not want them hunting without him, but they couldn't exactly tell some supernatural clown on a killing spree to wait a year. Besides, Sam really wanted this one. He always knew clowns were evil. Again Sam wondered where Dad found this case, it wasn't his usual type of hunt, but he did not want to ask. He wanted to go.

John stared out the truck window at Frank's parents' house. For some reason, he really did not want to go inside.

"John?" Bobby asked from the passenger seat. "We going in, or waiting out here all damn day?"

John sighed as he turned off the engine. "I don't know, Bobby. The last time I was here, I basically found out my oldest was, for all intents and purposes, married."

A rough hand shoved him in the shoulder. "Suck it up, Winchester. Besides, Dean'll have our necks if we're late."

Well, that much was true. John hopped out of his truck as a small two door parked behind his truck on the street. Sam was in the passenger seat and 'Peaches' was driving. Oh, great. Dean wasn't able to talk Sam out of this stupid idea? He plastered on his best fake smile as he waved to them. Sam waved back, springing out of the car. His youngest rushed over to give him a hug. John politely shook Serene's hand before leading the way to the front door. He exchanged a weary look with Bobby as they passed the Impala parked in the driveway. Apparently Bobby was about as thrilled with Sam's new girlfriend as he was.

The front door opened before he could knock. Frank's mother stood in the entry beaming at them. "Come in, come in! It's so good to see you again!" She hugged John and Bobby, then Sam. Anna appeared distressed when she came to Serene, like she did not know what to do with her.

Serene solved it by stepping behind Sam and holding out her hand. "It's so nice to see you again, Mrs. Warren. It's been a while."

Well, the girl did have some class, John would give her that.

"Dad!" Dean's voice bellowed through the house, over the sounds of a football game on television.

"You'd better go," Anna whispered. "Dean is in a bit of a mood." She smiled and winked as she reached out to close the front door.

John walked quickly into the den. Dean was angled in one corner of the couch, arms resting on the back and side. It was good to see him without the sling, so maybe his shoulder was nearly healed. He wore a nice shirt, jeans and socks. Where the heck were his boots? One of Dean's arms raised to motion for John to come closer. He did. When he was close enough, Dean held out both arms.

John pulled his eldest to a stand.

"Thanks." Dean grinned at him as he threw his arms around John. John embraced his son, finding the protruding stomach rather strange. "Good to see you, Dad," he said softly into John's ear.

"You too, son," John whispered back. "Looking pretty damn big these days."

Dean pulled away, giving him an odd look. "Really big?" he asked in a smaller voice, his eyes wide.

John heard several throats clearing in warning from behind him. "Huge." He grinned. "I hope there's no cruise ships around, you'd probably sink 'em."

Dean's worry broke into a wide smile. "Thanks a lot, Dad." He reached behind him to grab the back of the couch. John saw the intention was to sit back down, so he grabbed Dean's other arm to help lower him. Dean smiled at him again in gratitude. "I'll be sure to stay inside until after you leave, so you won't wreck the truck."

John stared down, face as serious as he could muster. "I'd appreciate it. No money in the budget for body work."

Dean looked past John. "Really? No one is going to help me out here?" He rolled his eyes as he squirmed on the sofa, getting comfortable. "Fine. See if I help any of you out again." He shook a finger in Sam's and Frank's direction.

"Frank," John said, heading over with his hand outstretched. "I didn't see you there. Good to see you."

"Thanks, John." Frank shook his hand firmly and there was something in his face John could not quite identify. "Really glad you and Bobby could make it." His voice dropped to a whisper as he pulled John in closer. "Means a lot to Dean."

John nodded and winked that he understood. "Speaking of," John wrapped an arm behind Frank's back to shove him out of the den into the kitchen, "what are we having?" he asked loudly to cover their departure.

"Uh, well, turkey and ham," Frank said as John pushed him into the kitchen. "Why? Do you have a food allergy I don't know about?"

"Nope." John released Frank once they were out of sight. "How's Dean doing? And I mean really doing, not how he says he's doing."

Frank's eyes lit up. "Really well. He just had an appointment a couple of days ago. Doc says everything is going well, the baby looks healthy and is right on track. His ankles are swelling up enough where he can't wear the boots sometimes, like today, but he doesn't have any other shoes right now so I figure I'll need to go shopping pretty soon so he can get back to his daily walks."

"Morning sickness?" John demanded.

"Pretty much gone," Frank replied. "But eggs are still not allowed in the house."

John had to grin at that. "Don't blame you there. Well, good. And how are you?" he asked. "I take it you've been to see your doctor." He knew Dean well enough to know for a fact Frank had been thoroughly checked out by now.

Frank nodded, looking a little embarrassed. He glanced out the door before answering John's question. "Fine. Thanks to Dean, there wasn't any significant damage." Frank glanced around again. "My parents don't know, and I'd like to keep it that way."

John shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "What do you mean thanks to Dean there wasn't any significant damage?"

Frank's whole face beamed. "He keeps aspirin in the car. Just in case."

John had to chuckle. That did sound like Dean being his usual overprotective self. "Figures," he said, meeting Frank's eyes. "Guess Dean must like you."

Frank grinned, clearly pleased. "Maybe so."

John decided to get serious for a moment. "Frank, I know you don't want to hear this, but you ought to tell your parents."

The large man groaned, rolling his eyes expressively. Maybe Dean had been home too long this time, he was rubbing off on Frank. "You sound like Dean."

John gripped him by the shoulder. "Well, at least you know he comes by it honestly."

Frank shrugged his free shoulder. "I don't want them to worry," he said sounding an awful lot like a little boy caught breaking a window.

"Yeah, well, I don't want Dean to be the only one in town in who knows," John told him. "He's carried some heavy duty responsibilities all his life, you know."

Frank looked away. Yes, he knew. John guessed Frank knew an awful lot about how Dean and Sam grew up if that reaction was anything to go by.

"He told my sister," Frank said softly as his eyes drifted back. "It's not just Dean."

John sighed and gave the muscled shoulder a squeeze. "Okay. And I won't give you the 'parents need to know' lecture, because I kind of have the feeling you won't take it well from me. Let's see what you think after that baby is born." He smiled at Frank. "It'll change everything."

Frank let out a long breath, as if he had been holding it. "I'm looking forward to it."

Now that tone had the ring of truth to it. Frank started to walk away, but John tightened his grip.

"Sir?" Frank asked, startled.

"Frank, there is one more thing I think you should know." John looked deep in his blue eyes so he could understand how serious this was. "If anything like that were to happen to Dean and no one told me..." John required a steadying breath. "Well, let's just say, it would be years before they found the body, if ever."

Frank's eyes went round as saucers. "O-kay." His Adam's Apple bobbed rapidly. "I mean, yes, sir?"

John released him. "Better," he said with a nod. "I think I'll head back in there." He jerked his head at the door to the den. "Unless you need some help in here?"

"No, sir," Frank said quickly. "My sister should be here any minute."

It was more likely Frank just wanted him out of the way, which was perfectly fine with John. The spot on the couch next to Dean was still open, so John sat there. Frank's sister arrived about ten minutes later. The kids tore through the house, yelling and screaming. After about fifteen minutes of madness, the Warrens set the kids up in one of the bedrooms with a bunch of Disney crap to watch. Thank God.

He tried to imagine Dean and Frank with grown kids and grandkids racing around. Nope, John was still having trouble with the whole 'baby' concept. And when this baby was born it would make him...a grandfather? Oh, crap. He hadn't thought about that. Not really.

"Dad?" Dean's voice broke through his whirling thoughts. "Everything all right?"

"Uh, yeah. Yeah, sure, Dean." John glanced around the room. Sam's worried gaze was nearly identical to Dean's. It was nice having people who worried about you. He forced a smile on his face. "No problem, just thinking."

"About the job?" Dean asked gently. Well, that figured, it was probably what Dean was thinking about.

John shook his head. "Honestly? I was thinking about becoming a grandfather. Can you just not have that kid for say, two or three years?"

Horror flashed over Dean's face at the suggestion. Then he scowled. "Hell, no."

Lisa laughed from the kitchen doorway. "Even though it feels like it. So where are we eating? In front of the stupid football game, or at the table?"

Dean snorted as he gave John a shove in the arm. "You heard her, Dad. Help me up."

"I got it." Frank hurried in from the kitchen. John moved out of the way to let Frank pull Dean up from the couch. If he had to be honest, John liked the way Frank treated his eldest. That man was one protective son of a bitch, exactly what Dean deserved. And needed.

He followed them into the dining room. Was Dean walking funny?

"Damn, Dean. Are you starting to waddle?" John asked.

Everyone froze to turn around slowly. Everyone but Dean appeared alarmed. Dean looked confused.

"What?" Dean asked. "Am I what?"

"Starting to..." John's voice died out from the horrified expressions on the other faces, especially Sam's. "Dean, did I ever tell you about when your mother was pregnant with you?"

The group collectively relaxed, heading for the table again. John chose a chair across from Dean so he could tell his story. He glanced at the Warrens. "I guess you know Dean's the oldest, so we had no idea what we were doing. Well..." John shrugged self-consciously. "I had no idea. And the bigger Mary got, the cuter I thought she looked."

Anna gave him a strange look while Lisa scoffed loudly.

"No, really," John protested. "I did." He pictured the way she looked when she was pregnant and complaining about how her feet hurt and all her fruit cravings. "She couldn't eat enough strawberries."

"Dad? Dad!"

John turned his head slowly to look at Sam. "What?"

"Dad, you kind of zoned out there," Sam said with a worried look. "Are you all right? You don't have to talk about Mom."

"Shut up, Sam," Dean snapped. "Dad!" He turned to face Dean again. "What were you saying about strawberries?"

John felt himself grin. "All she wanted to eat when she was pregnant with you was strawberries. With Sam it was peanut butter."

Dean chuckled, shooting Sam a mischievous glance. "Explains a lot."

A roll came sailing from the far end of the table. Dean picked it up and sent it right back at Sam, who caught it easily. Dean's eyes fixed on him again. "Go on, Dad."

John shifted uncomfortably in his chair. He hadn't talked about this since Mary had actually been pregnant. "Well, with both of you, she developed this waddle." His face split in a beaming grin. "I used to tease her about it and she'd act like she hated it, but she didn't. Not really."

"How do you know she didn't hate it?" Frank asked in a cautious voice, his eyes slipping constantly to his left where Dean sat.

"Because once I really did hurt her feelings," John admitted. "She said something along the lines of feeling like a beached whale. Instead of telling her she wasn't fat, which I was supposed to do," he made eye contact with Frank, "I offered to shield her from the harpoons."

A collective groan went up around the table.

John nodded in defeat. "I know, I know," he admitted. "Believe me, I paid for that one."

"Oh, that's nothing," Lisa jumped into the conversation, much to John's surprise. "With our oldest, Caleb told me not to go into the water because there were Japanese ships on maneuvers in the area." There were chuckles amid the groans this time. "And when I refused," her voice rose about the collective noise, "he offered to swipe a radio collar which gives out a tracking signal the Japanese whalers have agreed not to hunt."

Now everyone laughed. Dean leaned over to whisper something to Frank which John strained to hear. "...starting to like him."

Frank nudged Dean gently, clearing his throat and shaking his head, but Frank was smiling.

"What about you, Lisa?" Dean asked across the table as they passed the plates around. "Did you ever waddle like that? Like my mom?"

John watched Lisa and Frank exchange a whole conversation in one look, much the way his boys could. Interesting. Maybe it was a sibling thing. She seemed to hesitate until Sam nodded at her, kind of giving her permission.

"Well, I'm not sure," she said slowly. "I doubt anyone would have told me. I get kind of...emotional when I'm pregnant."

Dean barked out a short laugh. "Boy I heard that! These hormones are a bitch." His attention returned to John. "When did she start this waddle thing, Dad?"

"Boy, I hope we're through in time to watch that game," Frank said loudly. "John, mind passing the rolls?"

"Let Dad talk, Baby," Dean said patting Frank on the leg.

John froze for a moment. Baby? Did Dean really call Frank 'baby'? Like Frankie wasn't bad enough?

"Earth to Dad," Dean said, waving a hand in front of him.

"Uh, yeah. When?" John scratched along his jaw. How far along was Dean now? Crap, he couldn't remember. He looked to Frank for a hint. Frank stretched an arm behind Dean's head and flashed five fingers, then one finger. "Oh, I'd have to say right around five or six months. With Sam it was closer to four."

Dean laughed through a mouthful of potatoes, pointing a finger down the table at his brother. Sam's eyes rolled, but he seemed more relaxed.

"So..." Dean elbowed poor Frank. "Have I started to waddle yet? It sounds like it might be genetic." He grinned while panic spread across Frank's face.

"I...uh...haven't noticed," Frank replied weakly, looking for all the world like he wanted the earth to open up and swallow him.

Dean shrugged as he scooped up another forkful of food. "Maybe next month."

Frank's sigh of relief was audible and John couldn't help but chuckle at them. And if Frank thought this was the hard part, John couldn't wait until that baby was born. They hadn't seen anything yet.