Thanks to everyone for their kind reviews - shadowhuntingdemigod, Kathy, scootersmom and sjwmaw. I truly appreciate all the feedback. Hopefully last chapters' dream sequence was a break from all the recent fluffiness of Sam meeting his son. This chapter we're back to some fluff, but from Fiona's perspective as we learn a little more about the MacCallums.
It was organized chaos. Or at least she hoped it was organized. The kids were running around, parents were trying to put hats and sunscreen on their children, and most of the adults looked like they needed coffee. Fiona took a sip of her own steaming cup and sat on the porch steps observing the mass of people. She'd been smart and slathered Jonathan in sunscreen as he was getting dressed. He was far less wiggly when he was still sleepy. Her son was currently on the lawn with some of his cousins, trying to use one of the fishing nets to catch a grasshopper.
Where Fiona was perched, tucked beside the railing, she could hear people before they could see her. And since the giant urn of coffee had been put on a folding table nearby, there were a number of conversations she ended up hearing. The first was between Alicia and Carlos.
"Alicia, honey. He'll be fine. I'll keep an eye on him. We'll all keep an eye on him." Carlos stated confidently.
"I just don't like him so far away. He's only 6 years old. What if he falls in the water?" Alicia sounded stressed, but in Fiona's opinion, falling in the water was half the reason why the kids liked the annual MacCallum fishing trip. They sure never caught much in the way of fish. Besides, the bend in the river where the family always went had slow moving water that wasn't very deep, otherwise she would never allow Johnny to go. There really wasn't anything to worry about. Carlos tried to abate his wife's anxiety.
"Honey, it's only 15 minutes away. Besides I'm not going to let anything happen to our son, okay?" Fiona heard a soft kiss which seemed to signal the end of the discussion because the couple soon moved out of earshot.
The next voice Fiona heard was from her former sister-in-law Peggy.
"Glen, don't be like that. You know your Dad gets called away sometimes, he's the sheriff. His job is important."
"I know," whined Glen, who at 10 was beginning that awkward stage between being a little boy and a teenager. "But he said he was coming." Fiona could practically hear the pout in his voice and definitely heard Peggy sigh.
"Look kiddo," she said with a patient tone. "He hasn't texted me to say that something's come up, so maybe he'll still make it."
Fiona was surprised. It wasn't like Brian to be unreliable. In fact 'dependable' was practically his middle name. Her brother had stepped up when their folks had died, giving up his dreams of becoming an FBI agent to take responsibility for three teenagers. Aiden's career had just started to take off in Chicago, and Colin was on deployment in Afghanistan, so the burden fell to Brian, despite being only 23.
As the youngest Fiona had a different relationship with Aiden than she did with her other brothers. He was twelve years older, so he was already away at college when she was still pretty little. Heck, she wasn't yet 10 when he and Maureen got married and settled in Chicago. She loved him, but they weren't as close as she was to Brian.
Brian was the one who did the most to raise her, and to a lesser extent Declan and Ethan. Growing up, Brian and Colin were extremely close. They were always getting into the kind of mischievous trouble that had Mom and Dad hiding a smile even as they grounded the twins. It hurt both of them to be separated when Colin enlisted after 9/11, but Brian was also immensely proud of his brother. In her whole life, Fiona had only ever seen Brian cry twice; once at Mom and Dad's funeral, and then when the initial news came that Colin had been wounded in action.
Peggy and Glen moved out of earshot, but Fiona made a mental note to be especially attentive to Glen today and to have a word with Brian when he showed up. Brian was going to miss this precious time with his son if he kept pouring himself into his job. She knew first hand just how it felt to wish for more time with your mother or father. Most of the time she thought about her parents with a fond nostalgia, but some days, she missed her parents with an intensity that took her breath away, even all these years later. After a few moments of quiet melancholy at what might have been, another voice filtered through the railing.
"I'm not calling her a slut or anything, I love Fiona. And let's face it...wouldn't you like to take a sip of that tall drink of water if you could." It was Connie. Her salacious commentary made Fiona's face turn red.
"Connie!" Maureen chastised her sister, sounding scandalized.
"I'm just saying. Sam is damn hot, I'm not surprised that he seduced innocent little Fiona back then. And his brother Dean...well, that man is sex on a stick. I'm just surprised that she's letting two obviously dangerous strangers around Johnny." Maureen made a tutting noise.
"C'mon Connie, I'm sure Brian checked these guys out. He told Aiden that Sam saved Deputy Shaw when he could have taken his gun and run - or worse. Besides, have you seen how careful he is with the kids?" It was touching to hear her sister-in-law defend Sam. She wasn't surprised that Brian had called Aiden to talk about Clive's heart attack. Brian liked to appear as if he had everything under control at all times, but she knew that he valued Aiden's support and level-headed opinions.
Sam and his brother were standing a little ways apart from everyone, Dean was talking to someone on his phone and Sam was leaning in close to participate in the conversation. Connie's comment cast a tiny sliver of doubt into Fiona's mind. Watching the two men in question over the rim of her mug she pondered everything she knew about Sam and Dean Winchester.
On one hand, Sam as she had known him 5 years ago was arrogant, impatient and domineering. Connie was right. She remembered thinking that he was tall, dark and very sexy, but it was the tantalizing sense of danger he exuded that had stirred her interest back then. But on the other hand, the man Sam was now appeared to be was kind and sensitive. He'd been respectful to her and her crazy family, and carried Johnny so carefully last night. Every time she saw him watching their son he'd had an expression of wonder on his face. She shook the doubts out of her head and took a sip of her coffee. No, she trusted her instincts. Sam would never hurt her or Jonathan.
Dean, was another story. He seemed far more dangerous. After all, they'd first met when he'd broken into her house and he'd been pretty intimidating in his demand that she confess the truth about Sam. Not that she blamed him for that. Dean had been willing to go toe to toe with Brian, and she got the feeling that he would have no qualms about hurting anyone who dared to harm his younger brother. She'd seen a fierce protectiveness in the older Winchester. But Dean had been very patient and had backed her up when she needed him. Since then he'd also been great with all the children, warm, funny and surprisingly gentle. Her instincts told her that she had nothing to fear from him either.
She'd been thinking so intently that she hadn't heard the first part of the new conversation from the other side of the railing, although she recognized Sharron and Kate as the speakers.
"I honestly don't know," said Sharron. "I'd love to see Fiona happy, but it's not like they dated or anything."
"But Sam is Johnny's daddy. Don't you think it would be best for him to stay and be part of his life?," Kate asked, ever the idealist.
"Sure, but that doesn't mean he and Fiona should just move in together and try to be a couple. They barely know each other. For all we know, Sam has a girlfriend or a wife back home. I figure, as long as he's a decent father to Johnny, I think the family should stay out of it." Sharron had made a good point. Fiona was ashamed that she had never even asked Sam about his life, much less about a significant other back home. In fact, she hadn't really had much of a chance to talk with Sam alone so far this weekend. She made a vow to herself to learn more. There was no way she was going to jump into any relationship with Sam, but if they were going to find some way to co-parent, she probably should know more about him.
"I guess you're right. Still, if he wants to try and be a full-time parent to Jonathan, he's going to have to find a place nearby. I understand that they're from Kansas. It's close, but still too far for the day to day stuff." Kate spoke from experience. She and Alan loved each other, but he traveled a lot for work, leaving Kate, to handle Savannah and Peter by herself a lot of the time.
"Well," continued Sharron, "Colin and I were talking about that, and if he decides to stay, we're going to offer to let Sam live here. Dean too if he wants. That way they can be close to Fiona and Johnny, but not living in their pocket. And if the situation goes Charlie Foxtrot, then Fiona hasn't turned her whole life upside down."
Fiona had a lot to think about. Sharron's plan sounded amazing. Sam could be close by. He could take Johnny to T-ball, and maybe pick him up after school. Although her brother's did what they could to be a father figure to Jonathan, having his own Dad would mean a lot, especially as he got older. There seemed to be a way to make this work. Now she needed to gather her courage, talk to Sam and find out what he intended to do.
Just then she heard the sound of cars coming down the long laneway. Standing, she shaded her eyes against the sun. She recognized Brian's black truck followed by a sedan. Glen ran up to his father's truck almost before Brian had parked.
"Dad!" he cried, jumping around excitedly. "You made it!"
"Hey there buddy," Brian greeted him as he climbed down from the cab, ruffling Glen's hair before pulling his son in for a hug. "Sorry I'm late. I had to go to the airport to pick up some cargo." Brian laughed as Alan and Peter got out of the passenger side of the vehicle. Kate caught sight of her husband and son and ran over to welcome them both. Savannah actually put down her phone long enough to give her dad a hug.
The silver sedan parked beside the truck and spilled out it's passengers. This time it was Heather whose family arrived. She got mobbed by her three kids for hugs, and gave Joey a kiss over their children's heads. It was sweet to see. As she watched the reunion, Aunt Kathy joined Fiona on the steps.
'Well now, I think that's everyone we were expecting. It's so nice to see so much family together at one time." Clasping her hands, Kathy seemed genuinely moved. Looking at Fiona she patted her cheek. "Lots of people aren't so lucky, honey," she added before moving on to welcome her son-in-law and grandson. Fiona had to agree. The MacCallums and extended family were a lot to handle, but she loved them all despite the chaos that continued in front of her. Ethan wandered by looking for more coffee.
"Hey Ethan," Fiona called to her brother, disrupting his route to the coffee urn. He stopped and waited to see what she wanted. "How is everyone getting to the river? We'd need to take a lot of cars." His face split into a grin.
"Well, Jacob made arrangements for that. In fact…" he glanced at his watch. "Our ride should be here any minute." He filled his mug and returned to stand beside her.
"So Fi, how're you holding up?" he asked. Fiona was scanning the crowd of kids, looking for Johnny. If they were going soon, she wanted to make sure he hadn't lost his hat.
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" she replied absently.
"Geez, I don't know. Maybe because you spent the day yesterday with a one-night stand you thought you were never going to see again? Maybe because there's a relative stranger and his brother who are hanging out with your family? Or maybe because Johnny met his father - a man who now has a claim of his own on your son?" His tone was sarcastic, but Fiona still recognized the concern underneath.
"I'm fine, really." At his skeptical look, Fiona elaborated. "Okay sure. I never thought I'd see Sam again. But he'd not like he was back then. He and Dean seem like good people - they've been great with Johnny and the rest of the kids. And how better to get to know them then to see how they handle the extended family?" His comment about Sam's claim on Jonathan made her anxious, so she ignored it, hiding her worry under a guise of frustration. She was still figuring out what kind of relationship she wanted to have with him, but he was her son's father, he deserved a chance to be part of Johnny's life. How could she deny her baby boy a loving father?
"Okay, okay. I wasn't trying to start something, I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay." He held his free hand up in surrender. She relented and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"I know you were, and I love you for it. Just...give me some time to get my head around everything will you? I haven't even really had a chance to talk to Sam, so until I do, I have no idea where we go from here." He wrapped his free arm around her shoulders and gave her a quick squeeze.
"Sure thing Sis, whatever you need." She hugged him back for a second before Jacob bounded over, breathless with enthusiasm.
"They're here," Jacob gushed, obviously brimming over with anticipation as he pointed down the lane. Fiona didn't see anything at first, but just as she heard the steady clop, clop of its hooves, the first horse became visible between the trees. A line of 6 giant horses were pulling a long flat wagon piled high with bales of hay. Mrs. Jennings, their neighbour, was driving the team and pulled up effortlessly in the open space behind the parked cars. Jacob dashed down to meet the woman.
"Hey everyone," called Ethan loudly from beside Fiona. When all eyes were on him, he continued. "Mrs. Jennings' here is going to drive us all to the river. So, everyone line up for a hayride." As the kids scurried over to get a closer look at the horses, Ethan leaned over to whisper to her. "Jacob was so excited to surprise everyone. Don't worry, Declan and I are going to drive the gear over so that nobody gets stabbed by a fishing rod."