Chapter 51

John felt so much better now than the had when he first woke up in the ICU, but he still had the nagging headache. He supposed it was related to the fact his memory was, at best, spotty. Well, his recent memory was anyway. John had no trouble remembering almost everything up to about five or so years ago, apparently about the time Dean revealed Frank. He wondered if it was coincidence.

Then John looked at Dean's daughter playing in the floor with a brightly colored toy which lit up when she batted it around. Her face typically held an expression of joy and she filled the house with laughter. No, he wouldn't want to forget her. Some memories had been filtering in, flashes of times past. Yesterday he had remembered Dean's explanation of Frank and just how awkward their initial meeting had been, but not all of it. He could not remember what convinced him it was all right to leave Dean here, or even if he had left Dean. He had only Frank's word on that.

It was odd to see both Dean and Sam being so open and casual around what were to him perfect strangers, Frank and Serene. But the boys had a secret, and John was in on it.

About an hour after both Frank and Serene left for work, Sam brought out a couple of files. "Are we ready to work now?" he asked.

Dean sighed from his spot on the floor next to Liza. "Yeah, okay. Gimme one."

Sam handed off a file before offering one to John. John flipped it open to read over their research to date. "I think this one is worth pursuing," he declared. "Can you pull up some local newspaper articles on the computer?"

"Sure." Sam brought out the laptop and set it up on the kitchen table. They spent the next three hours doing various types of research, including calling up some eyewitnesses to get first-hand accounts. It seemed both cases were valid. One was definitely a vengeful spirit and the other could be either a ghost or a poltergeist.

"Are we ready to pass these on?" Dean asked, tossing the other file on the table.

"I think so," Sam replied as he checked his watch. "I'll next day them out tomorrow. Who gets them?"

"Hang on." Dean walked over to check on the baby, who was sound asleep on a quilt in the middle of the floor surrounded by toys, before disappearing into his bedroom. Returning moments later, Dean held a thin black address book. He flipped through it until he found what he wanted. "Okay, I had a couple of guys call last week looking for a job. They might be kind of green, so I say we give them the vengeful spirit. It looks pretty routine. The other one can go to Bobby. He has some contacts near the other one who have experience."

Sam motioned for the book so he could make a copy of the address. "Got it," Sam said when he handed the book back. "Which hiding place are you using for it?"

Dean shot his brother a glare. "Mine."

John wondered if he would ever understand his sons again. When had they become so odd?

With a gasp, Dean sat straight up in bed. His eyes searched the room as he tried not to panic.

"It's okay," Frankie mumbled in his sleep. "I like the g-string."

Dean looked down at the warm body next to him. Now what the hell was Frankie dreaming about? With another glance around the room, Dean tried to convince himself there were no demons lurking in the corner.

"Where?" he whispered.

"Hmmmm?" Frankie muttered.

"Where are we?" Dean whispered, pressing against Frankie's side as his panic ebbed.

"Mmmm..." Frankie rolled over to wrap his arms around Dean. "Beach."

Ah, the tropical island dream. Dean smiled as he relaxed into Frankie's embrace. "One of these days," Dean promised him, "I'm taking you to a deserted beach." He stroked his fingers through Frankie's hair.

Frankie moaned again as his arms tightened. His face nuzzled the side of Dean's neck as he shifted closer, weight moving on Dean's body. "Want you, baby," Frankie mumbled near his ear.

Baby, huh? Frankie only called him 'baby' when sex was involved. Dean grinned, allowing Frankie to have his way. As Frankie, probably still half-asleep, ran those huge, soft hands all over his body, all the tension from his nightmare washed away. Dean relaxed and enjoyed the attention, his body responding in kind. He ran his hands across Frankie's shoulders and back, reveling in the way his partner's strong body melted at his touch.

Their bodies pressed tightly together. Frankie slid inside him and Dean used his arms and legs to hold Frankie close, where there was no space between them, nothing could come between them. So close, their chins rested on each other's shoulders as they thrust against each other. Sweat slicked their chests making their bodies feel slick and sensual. He felt Frankie gripping him just as tight. Heavy breathing filled the room as their passion mounted, the thrusts becoming harder and faster. Dean tightened his hold on Frankie, he was so close. A few more thrusts sent him over the edge, desperately holding in his cries of pleasure, trying to be silent.

Frankie's thrusts slowed, but their embrace remained close and strong as waves of pleasure rolled over Dean. His lover's breath was hot and heavy in his ear. Frankie thrust slowly, his chin digging into Dean's shoulder. He heard Frankie's gasp and knew what it meant. His spouse thrust again slowly as they clutched each other tightly. A shudder ran through Frankie, but it did not last.

Finally they pulled apart enough for their mouths to meet. Frankie's kiss was slow and lingering, not full of flashing hot passion, but the kind of kiss which promised future and tomorrow. Dean drank it in.

Frankie broke away first, his eyes blue even in the darkness of their bedroom. "Babe," he said slowly, his smooth voice sounding so damned good to Dean's ears, "you know our anniversary is coming up, right?"

Dean nodded slowly. "Yeah, in a couple of weeks."

Frankie grinned, his broad smile visible even in the dark. "There's something I'd like to do."

Dean chuckled at his enthusiasm. "I take it you won't be late?"

Frankie's head shook once. "No way. Never again. I couldn't be for this anyway."

"Why not?" Dean asked, suspicious. "What is it?"

"Well," Frankie said slowly, one hand rubbing Dean's side, "it involves you and me, a hotel room, and...uh...some costumes."

"Costumes? Dude, I am not dressing up like a cheerleader," Dean teased.

Frankie chuckled as he pressed close to Dean's side, his head on Dean's shoulder. "Wrong kind of costume, Babe. You know I'm not into cheerleaders."

Dean rolled his eyes. "Well, deserted tropical islands don't require clothes, much less costumes. So do I get a sword, too?"

Frankie's head jerked up. "You'll do it? Really?" Jesus, he sounded breathless and excited. Apparently really excited, because Dean felt Frankie's dick harden against his thigh. Well, he couldn't say no now, could he?

"Sure, Baby," Dean assured in his sexiest voice while sinking his fingers deep in Frankie's hair, "sounds like fun."

Now Frankie was kissing him with that breathless kind of passion, the kind they had when they first met. Dean made a mental note to agree to go along with Frankie's kinks more often.

Liza's fussing woke Serene first. She shook Sam awake.

"Huh? Wha?" he asked groggily, rubbing at one eye.

"That's the baby," she whispered urgently. "No one's taking care of her."

Sam's eyes rolled as he settled back into bed. "She's fine, sweetie. Dean'll get her." He yawned widely.

"No," Serene insisted. "I don't think they're waking up." She stared at the door. "Maybe I should go check on her."

"Uh-uh," Sam protested, grabbing her in a firm embrace and pulling her down on his chest. "Because if they're not already taking care of her, it's because they're busy."

"Busy?" Serene demanded. "Doing what?"

Sam's chuckle resonated deep in his chest, vibrating through her. One of his hands slipped under her night shirt as he rolled them so she was laying underneath, pinned by his larger and heavier body. Sweet and erotic suckling kisses started at her neck, working down slowly to her collarbone. Serene's found herself panting and wanting Sam to hurry the hell up. Sometimes he took foreplay just a little too seriously.

With her night shirt worked up to her armpits, Sam skipped over the fabric down to her breasts. He sucked one nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling the dark nipple occasionally. Serene tangled her fingers in his thick hair as his hand wormed its way into her pajamas bottoms. Sam touched her there, his fingers massaging the wetness he found.

Serene moaned from the stimulation, throwing her head back as Sam switched to suckle at her other breast. Oh, god...

She thrust on Sam's fingers wanting more. Needing more.

"Now," she whispered, yanking on his hair to pull his head back up. Sam obliged, his mouth kissing hers while his hands stripped everything covering her from the waist down. When she wore nothing but the night air, Sam pushed his boxers off, his tongue exploring her mouth.

When he entered her, Serene groaned in his mouth and she felt him smile against her lips. After allowing him to dominate for a while, Serene pushed and prodded until Sam rolled them to the side, where they were on more equal ground, so to speak.

Suddenly, Serene broke their passionate kissing, her hands on his chest to hold him back. His body froze, his penis deep inside her.

"Honey?" Sam asked quietly while his hands held tightly to her sides. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Serene swallowed hard, unsure how to ask him, if she should, if it would ruin everything between them. "Sam, uh..." She swallowed again. "I, uh, wanted to know..."

Her breath caught in her chest and she was deathly afraid she wouldn't be able to ask, even though she couldn't be sure it wasn't the worst idea in the whole damn world.

"What, Sweetie?" he asked and sounded afraid. Maybe he knew what a bad idea this was.

Serene forced herself to look him in the eye as she screwed up her courage. "Do-you-want-to-get-married?" she said all at once in a rush, before her brief courage could leave her.

Sam stared at her, his eyes bugging out in the dim light cast through the sheers on the bedroom window. "Y-you're asking me?"

Oh god, did his voice just squeak?

Serene swallowed hard again, her mouth too dry to speak. She shrugged, wondering if she could pass it off to talking in her sleep or something.

Then Sam was all motion as he surged forward, grasping her tight and kissing her fervently. He rolled Serene on her back to thrust hard and swift inside her. With each thrust he whispered in her ear. It took a moment for the shock of his reaction to wear off before she could understand what Sam was saying.

"Yes. Yes. Oh, god, yes!"

Yes! Serene tightened her legs around his waist and pulled him harder into her, cementing their agreement with frenzied passion. She kissed him back as hard as he kissed her as joy and relief flowed through her entire body. Sam said yes! He wanted her! He wanted to be with her – always.

Sam came first, thrusting hard and with abandon. When he pulled out, he ran a hand down her sweaty abdomen and asked, "Did you?"

Serene shook her head. "But it's okay..." she started to say, but Sam's head was already heading between her legs.

Oh, thank you, god...

Serene closed her eyes as Sam's rough, callused hands gently pressed her thighs further open. She reached out to tangle her hands in his hair again as his head dipped down to lick and suck and basically drive her fucking insane. When she was close, Serene gripped his hair tighter, pulling him harder against her. His tongue thrust inside her harder. When her orgasm started, Sam slowed down to suck on her nub and caress her insides with his tongue. He made her come and come and come, until she thought she might lose her mind. She couldn't think or speak or do anything but press into his mouth and make embarrassing moans. She was still feeling the amazing orgasms when Sam crawled back over her and pressed his thick shaft inside her again.

Now Serene cried out at the overstimulation, her head thrown back and body splayed out. Sam pumped in and out of her slowly while she whimpered and her hips thrust up. Finally he got the message and met her thrust for thrust.

"Won't last long," he breathed into her ear.

The message took a moment to drift down through the physical sensations. She nodded that she understood and grabbed his ass with both hands. Serene directed his thrusts now, wanting in him deep when he came. He grew thicker inside her and she might have screamed, but Sam's mouth was on her's stifling any noise she wanted to make. She yanked him inside her again and their bodies bucked as one, a shared, intense orgasm.

As they came down from their sexual high, slick sweaty bodies still pressed together, they kissed slowly. Serene could taste herself in his mouth and it wasn't as disgusting as he had led her to believe. Actually, she kind of liked it.

Sam dropped down on the bed beside her, panting heavily. He wormed an arm underneath her shoulders to roll her close. He kissed her on the forehead before allowing his head to plop soundly on his pillow.

"Wow," he breathed.

"Yeah," Serene agreed.

The fingertips of one of his hands trailed through the slick sweat on her chest before brushing her hair from her face.

"I love your hair like this," he told her. Sam's palm rested against her cheek. "And I love you."

Serene had to blink away the tears threatening. "Love you," she managed to whisper.

His smile was so sweet the tears spilled over.

"Come here," he whispered, pulling her close. His chin rested on top of her head. "You're amazing."

Serene relaxed against Sam, allowing herself to feel happy, really happy. She was amazingly, blissfully happy. As her eyes drifted closed, Serene realized she couldn't hear Liza fussing any more either.

Serene woke to gentle kisses on her forehead, nose and cheeks. She opened her eyes to find Sam running his fingers through her hair as he pulled back. "Morning, Sweetie," he said. "You meant it, right?"

She frowned a little at him. What was he talking about?

"Getting married," Sam said a little anxiously. "You do remember that?" His eyes widened enough to make her chuckle at him.

"I meant it," she replied softly. "But only if you want to."

A broad smile lit his face. "In that case..." Sam's hand dove under his pillow to pull out a small black felt box. The kind rings came in.

Serene pushed up to a sit. "What is that?"

With one hand Sam flipped it open. A simple engagement ring, with a modest diamond, met her gaze. Serene's mouth dropped open. "B-but...how?"

Sam chuckled as he scooted closer and took the ring out. "I borrowed a little money from Dean and Frank a couple of weeks ago." He shrugged as he slipped it on her finger. "I just couldn't figure out how to ask you." Now her head was cradled in his hands. "I wished I'd known you were thinking the same thing."

Serene grinned at him as she admired the ring on her hand. "Well, if I'd kept waiting on you, I'd probably be using a walker by the time you got around to asking."

Sam pulled her face close and kissed her. "Probably," he murmured against her lips as he laughed lightly. She laughed with him.

Serene gasped as she spun around to check the bedside clock. "Shit! I'm running late!"

Sam's hand grabbed her arm. "Call in sick," he told her.

"Are you kidding?" Serene demanded. She held up the hand with her new ring on it. "I'm planning on flashing this baby in everybody's face today!" She grinned broadly, her excitement welling up and overpowering.

Sam grinned back at her. "Okay, Sweetie." He pulled her back for quick kiss. "I'm picking you up for lunch."

"You better." She took her time kissing him. "I need to go, Sammy," she breathed out when they broke apart.

"Go."

John sipped Frank's freaking amazing coffee at the kitchen table as he listened to the sounds of the house waking up. Usually the first sounds came from Dean and Frank's room, no doubt looking after the baby. It seemed Sam and Serene were running a little late today, if he wasn't mistaken she had the early shift today. As he wondered if they were sleeping off the after-effects from last night, damn kids were right next door and worse than some newlyweds, Serene blew out of the bedroom in her waitress uniform which was right out of the fifties.

A bright smile lit her face as she rushed to him. One hand dangled in front of his face over the table. He set his coffee down to admire the tasteful engagement ring, which Sam had no doubt picked out.

Serene giggled like a young schoolgirl when he looked up at her, her eyes wide and bright and filled with happiness.

"Congratulations," John told her. He grasped her hand to tug her closer as he stood. She leaned over the table to hug him, her arms squeezing his shoulders. When John pulled away, he looked her in the eye. "You are happy about this, right?"

Serene squealed and jumped up to spin around in the air.

"I'll, uh, take that as a yes," he said with a chuckle as he sat back down.

"Is there enough for me?" she asking, pointing at the coffee pot. "I'm running really late."

John nodded as he gestured with a sweeping hand at the coffee pot. "Good thing Dean started using the timer, or you'd be out of luck, young lady."

Serene poured her coffee into a travel mug, something also in plentiful supply around here. He watched her admire the ring again before she grabbed her mug to head for the door.

"I'm gone!" she called out, pausing in the center of the den.

Their bedroom door flew open, Sam in jeans and a shirt rushing out to sweep her off the floor. He kissed her continuously as he carried to the front door.

"Bye," Sam said in a soft voice as he set his fiancé on her feet.

"Bye," she replied in the same soft, breathless voice.

John had to chuckle over how much In Love they were, like a couple of love-struck hormonal teenagers. Sam closed the door to turn sheepishly to face the kitchen. He waved in the direction of the door.

"Did she tell you?" he asked as he approached the table.

John grinned. "Oh, yeah. I have a feeling by lunch the whole damn town's gonna know."

Sam nodded as he pulled out a chair. "I think that's the idea," he admitted as his cheeks flushed pink.

"What is?" another voice demanded. Dean and Frank stroke toward them, a sleepy Liza cuddled against Frank's chest. She looked at him, but instead of his usual smile she grabbed her Pop's shirt with one small fist.

John jerked a thumb at Sam. "He finally did it."

Dean beamed at them. "Yeah? About damn time, dude. You've had that ring for what? A week?"

Sam groaned as he slouched in his chair. "More like two."

Dean poured some coffee into a travel mug. He traded it to Frank for Liza. "Go on," Dean said, "we need some bacon."

Frankie chuckled as he planted a parting kiss on Dean's cheek. "Not with my arteries. I expect details later." He kissed Dean again and then sleepy Liza before leaving.

Dean grabbed a couple of jars of mushy baby food and a small spoon before sitting at the table. "So?" Dean demanded as he opened the jars. "Spill. How'd you ask her?"

John noticed more color creep into Sam's face. "No big deal," he said softly.

Dean's eyes jumped from scooping up a spoonful of orange stuff to Sam. "No big deal?" he demanded. "Sam. You proposed. It's a big deal."

Sam slid further down in his chair, his cheeks grower redder by the moment. Dean gave John questioning glance, and that's when it hit him. John barked out a short laugh as he pointed a finger at his youngest.

"She asked you, didn't she?" John accused, enjoying himself immensely. It sounded like something Serene would do, especially if Sam was taking too damn long.

Sam shrugged, but the hue of his face deepened.

Dean chuckled as he spooned some food into Liza's open mouth. "Sounds like her. Guess you waited too long there, Sammy."

Sam sighed loudly. "She told me she'd need a walker by the time I got around to it."

John's laughter merged with Dean's. Even Liza got in on the act, waking up enough to laugh loudly and clap her hands. She banged her open palms on the table as attention turned to her.

"Yeah, we know you're cute," Dean told her as he held up a spoon filled with yellow goop. He grinned as her mouth opened wide and her eyes fixed on the food.

"So how'd you do it?" Sam demanded. John recognized his younger son's defensive voice, he'd been on the receiving end of it enough.

"Do what?" Dean asked lightly, as if he didn't know. John knew this defense mechanism as well. He considered going outside to drink the rest of his cooling coffee in peace, but decided against it. It surprised him, more than a little, but he wanted to hear the answer. And if anybody could get the answer, it would be Sam.

"Ask Frank," Sam stated firmly. "You did ask him, right? Not the other way around?" Sam's firm look meant he was getting an answer, even if it took all day.

Dean's gaze fixed on Liza. He shrugged as he shoveled more food into the hungry kid. She laughed again and clapped, looking at John and Sam. John clapped back at her, just to watch the delighted expression on her face.

"Dad, this is messy enough," Dean fussed at him but John heard no anger in his son's voice, so he kept laughing and clapping at his granddaughter.

"So he asked you," Sam kept harping on the subject, as John knew he would.

"Kind of," Dean hedged. "Look Sam, little busy here. Can Liza have her breakfast before you rag on me all day?"

So Sam shut up while Dean fed Liza and John made a pest of himself egging his granddaughter's obnoxious almost-a-toddler behavior on. When Sam wasn't looking, Dean threw him a wink, as if to say thanks for the delay. John had two more cups of coffee before Liza was fed, cleaned up and in fresh clothes. She crawled around the kitchen, trying to get into everything. Dean stepped over her to try and pour a cup of coffee. The pot was empty. With a frown, he set a fresh pot perking. John tried to watch the order of the buttons Dean pushed, but the frigging thing was way too complicated. He suspected Dean could talk to the shuttle on it if he wanted.

"Can't Frank bring home a normal coffee maker?" John asked.

Dean grinned as he leaned on the counter. "But then you'd drink all of Frankie's coffee."

"Probably," John admitted.

Dean waited until there was a cupful of coffee in the pot. He poured it into a mug before locating Liza again, then returning to the table.

"Now?" Sam demanded, leaning forward on the table with his forearms.

Dean sighed and rolled his head. "Yeah, okay, now."

"So who asked who?" Sam demanded.

Dean drummed his fingers on the table for a moment before answering. "He asked me, but I told him to."

Sam's face creased in confusion. "And how, exactly, does that work?"

"This is kind of personal," Dean pointed out.

"Dude!" Sam snapped. "You give me advice on sex, graphic advice, and this is too personal?"

John held up a hand. "What advice?" he asked. At the twin looks of disbelief from his sons, he chose to go back to the original topic. "I mean, come on, Dean. We're family here."

Dean took a long sip of his coffee. "Okay, fine. It was right after Dad left." His gaze jumped to John. "The first time you met Frankie."

John shrugged. "I remember your concussion and meeting Frank, but not much else."

Dean's eyebrows lifted. "You don't remember the drive in the park?"

John shook his head. Liza managed to partially open one of the cabinet doors. Thanks to the child-proofing he and Dean had installed, the door only opened an inch. With a wide grin, she realized she could bang it closed. Oh goody, new toy.

"What drive?" John asked his oldest.

Bang-bang-bang.

"The one where you told me some rings had meaning," Dean said evenly.

Bang!

John shook his head again and motioned for Dean to continue.

Bang-bang. Bang! Bang-bang.

"What about rings with meaning?" Sam asked.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

"Dad told me when a ring had meaning, you shouldn't wear it unless you mean it." Dean shrugged.

Bang! Bang-bang!

"And?" John asked in unison with Sam.

Dean twisted the silver ring on his thumb, not the gold one on his ring finger. "And after you and Bobby left, I handed this ring over to Frankie." A smile played at the corners of his mouth. "I told him to ask me to wear it. All the time."

"What'd he say?" Sam asked.

The hint of a smile became a real smile. "He said he wanted us to be exclusive. All the time." Dean held up his hand. "I haven't taken it off since."

The smile faded. "You hear that?" Dean demanded as he looked around.

John glanced over at Sam, both of them listening. "No," they replied together.

"Me either." Dean jumped to his feet, eyes scouring the floor. "Where's the rugrat?"

The sound of a toilet flushing and raucous young laughter reached their ears.

"Oh, shit!" Dean muttered as he took off for the bathroom at a dead run.

"So," John turned to his youngest, "have you two discussed kids yet?" He grinned broadly. Oh, it felt so good to watch his kids going through some of the same stuff he had. This was freaking awesome. He never wanted to move out.