April was comfortably seated between his legs as they reclined back on the arm of the sofa. busy trying to type the information into her phone for school. Wes was busy trying to get busy, pushing back her dark, wavy hair so he could nuzzle into her neck, moving his lips to the sensitive spot behind her ear. Her body was getting jittery, making it hard to hold onto the new phone. Wes generously replaced her shattered one after his surprise resurrection had caused her to drop it on the porch. That was three flawless weeks ago.

"Wes," she whimpered, shrugging him off even though she wanted him to hold her tighter. But she had to keep focused before any fooling around. "I am only doing this because you convinced me to, and I'm about to say screw it—",

"I wouldn't say the word screw right now, April," he chuckled against her flushed skin. His mouth blazed a trail behind her ear and grazing her neck to her collarbone, his lips applying just the perfect pressure. She had to remember to slip on a shirt other than a white tank-top next time, and a bra—most definitely a bra. Today, she had no choice but to wear very little when it was so damn hot out. Boiling. Too hot. Did it just go up ten degrees? He was slipping the strap of her top off her shoulder.

"Seriously," she stuttered and inhaled, trying to steady herself. "I have to enroll to finish these courses so I can graduate, get my GED, whatever. And you promised you would help."

"I did," he acknowledged. His fingertips feathered down April's bicep to her forearm, causing goosebumps to spread over her pale skin. She shivered.

"Well, you are not helping," she grinned, as she tilted her head to one side so he could continue kissing the spot where her shoulder met her slender neck. "But it will thrill me to get into this later. Once I get this done. I promise."

He smirked and nipped at her throat before leaning forward and embracing her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder.

"Okay, so get enrolling."

"This is stupid," she muttered, her eyes scanning the form on her phone. "I should be out hunting."

"You need a break, Ril," Wes countered, his voice thick with concern, his bristly cheek pressed against hers. His jaw and body tensed whenever she brought up returning to hunting. He shouldn't be so uptight about it. April was okay. The post-werewolf hunt mishap was only because she was under a mountain of stress. That was it, and she was getting better. Amazing what a little sex and relaxation could do.

"I'm fine, Wes. Besides, I took two weeks off—"

"There are other hunters out there, and monsters still be there even if you take two months off. Hell, even years." She turned her head towards him, her brows knitted. "Don't give me that look—I'm just worried. You need a mental health vacation." His hand moved to her injured wrist as he traced the scars with his fingers. Though his concern annoyed her, it was sweet. She put her hand on top of his and interlaced their fingers, giving a reassuring squeeze.

"Point taken, Wes, but school isn't a mental health vacation."

"Well, maybe since I never got to go to school, I want to help you, so I feel accomplished too."

"You never went to school?"

He shrugged. "On-and-off when I was young. I'm not an idiot, but I never got a fancy diploma for book learnin' or had the privilege of saying I'm a high school graduate. But you should, and I can help."

"Well, you're in luck, out of the classes I need, the one course is A.P. American History. Can I just give you my homework," she teased. He laughed into her shoulder, giving her a quick hug.

"Sure, just let me know when you get to the Civil War, and I'll be happy to help." Wes let her go and leaned back, his hands behind his head with a contented sigh.

April turned her attention back to the digital form on the school's webpage, filling in her personal information and the pertinent details. The parental information stopped her. They needed a freaking contact. Who the hell was she going to put? Mom was dead. Dad was...well, Dad was missing and un-fucking-reliable. Her uncle was just as absent, though at least he answered his goddamn calls and texts.

That left a few options, but she needed someone that would not run their mouth to her dad if she did something stupid. That meant she couldn't put Bobby or Cas. She put Gwen as her reference. Even though she was only a friend, Gwen was family. The fact that April felt Gwen was an aunt made her family. As her Grandpa Bobby said, a family is not only blood.

Only two stupid courses stood between her and being finished with high school. She could do it. It was only for two weeks. Then, as per their arrangement, April could go back out hunting. She still didn't get why it was so damn important to Wes for her to finish, but she was sick of arguing. Wes had done so much for her that this was the least April could do for him. He'd claim it was for her, though. Whatever.

Then there was a college. Wes hoped she'd go—student by day, a hunter by night. Even her dad would get behind that happy medium. Hell, Wes said he'd go with her to school, even if that only meant getting an apartment together on campus. The thought intrigued her. The two of them could have fun together at school. Too much fun. When would she ever get to class? If their alone time at home was any sign, April had zero self-control around him. Now that Jamie was never home, splitting his time at Gwen's and his friend Danny's house. If Jamie's emotions were stable and he was having a good time, she didn't mind.

Besides, alone time gave April more alone time with her...boyfriend? She supposed she could call him that now as a proper title. They'd gone on a few dates. The movies. Dinners. Walks. Picnics. So yeah, they were officially dating. Wes was her boyfriend and she was serious about her feelings for the vampire. Hell, they even said the L-word before they made their relationship official. It was all ass-backward, but it made her incredibly happy and was helping to push away all the bad.

And...done.

April enrolled for the courses she needed to finish virtually and get that piece of paper. She set her phone on the coffee table and got up to stretch. She pivoted around, looking down at her boyfriend. Even saying that brought a tug at the corner of her mouth and her heart to skip. To be honest, the term felt cheap. He was so much more than that. The last few weeks since his return had been nothing short of amazing.

Since Gwen was busy with work, and Cas was helping with Jamie, the couple found themselves alone. Wes and April had done everything together. Cooking. Cleaning. Grocery shopping. They did the mundane crap you'd do as if they were an old married couple. The kitchen chores were becoming her favorite. There was incredible intimacy with rubbing elbows at the sink, or when they put the dishes away, and he'd come up behind her to get to the higher cabinet. Let's just say she looked forward to those little chores daily. They also took the time to work-out and train every day. They ran first thing in the morning, always trying to race each other while trying to not show that they were faster than the normal humans.

She taught him how to hot-wire a car. He taught her how to use a sword. She taught him how to do the Carlton. He taught her how to Waltz. They had fun together. They had a good time, even if it just involved cuddling on the couch with popcorn and a dumb horror flick like Night of the Lepus. They always found things to laugh about. Waking up with her body sprawled over his bare chest every morning and going to bed wrapped in his arms every night was...she couldn't even describe it. April loved every single goddamn second with Wes—and she could see herself doing it for the rest of her life. That thought made her both nervous and thrilled. Her stomach was filled with a swarm of butterflies. Love, man—there was nothing like it.

His hands were still behind his head as he took a lazy late-afternoon catnap. They had worn each other out after their run in the morning, she thought as her lips bent in a devilish grin. They had made the pleasant mistake of showering together. Needless to say, they needed a second one.

She stood there like a creeper, enjoying the view. Man, he looked ridiculously cute. Downright freaking adorable. His shaggy dark chestnut hair cascaded over his forehead, obscuring those annoying long eyelashes, his mouth relaxed and slightly open. April had to admit, she was digging the longer locks that were now nearly chin length.

With his arms stretched up, his dark grey shirt pulled up just enough that she would see just a peek of his chiseled stomach. And chiseled was the right word. Damn. He looked like one of those annoying shirtless boys from the Abercrombie catalogs. Since she and Wes had worked out, he was getting stronger. It had taken a week before he got back the stamina he lost from his ordeal. And boy, when he did, it helped in many areas of his life.

Thinking of that made April's stomach dip. As much as she didn't want to wake him up, she tiptoed to him on the couch and crawled on top of him. She nuzzled his cheek, the light stubble coarse against her smooth skin. God, Wes smelled good. There was a natural earthiness, woodsy masculinity to his scent. It reminded her of crushed, dry autumn leaves. She swore she could bottle it and make a fortune. April began kissing by his ear as he had teased her earlier. Tit for tat, right? Her lips worked his neck as her hand snaked over his clothed chest and the downward, her fingertips lingering on the solid planes of his stomach. He did not move an inch—not even a damn twitch. How the hell could he sleep through that?

A mischievous grin played on April's lips as her hand coasted lower over his exposed abs to the band of his sweatpants. Her fingers played a dangerous game with the edge until she dipped her hand farther. She unexpectedly found herself flipped around onto her back, the couch squeaking under the shift in weight. Wes gazed down at her with lustful eyes, the corner of his mouth tilted up in a puckish half-grin. Her hand was still under the waistband of his pants, her legs pinned underneath his.

"How long were you awake," she peered up at him, her eyes jumping between his dark almond eyes and his lips.

"As soon as you got on top of me," Wes shrugged with a smug look plastered on his handsome face. April rolled her eyes. "What? I was enjoying it. Then your hand went in my pants. I wanted a piece of the action."

"I bet you did," April chuckled, glancing up at him under heavy eyelids. She'd never get enough of him from that angle.

"Very much so," he laughed. It was so sweet to hear him laugh again. There was that half-grin again, that made that small dimple appear, shadowed by his stubble. His perfect mouth was so close that his breath caressed April's parted lips.

She moved against him, and he groaned, lowering himself on top of her and kissing, deepening it with every gasp. My god, the boy knew how to kiss. Those lips shut her mind off to where she could only focus on wanting him. Her toes curled, a warmth built and spread. His kisses made her heart surge. She slid her free hand up to his shoulder, skirting fingertips over his cotton shirt. He ran his hand through her hair as the other hand found the bottom edge of her tank top. Wes's knuckles brushed over her stomach, and she pushed her hips into him, causing a deep sound from inside him. His hand wandered over her ribs to her breast. She moaned against his mouth, her back arching as she drove her hand further in his bottoms to touch him.

CRASH.

"What the EVER LOVING HOLY HELL is going on?!"

SHIT.

Both of them panic scrambled to get into a less suggestion position on the couch. Two vampires never looked so clumsy. April's heart was beating a mile a minute. She looked up and saw Gwen, mouth gaping open with shock. In her hands were bags of groceries, one on the ground, a jar of pasta sauce creating a crimson stain over the wood floor. The red matched the embarrassment spreading across April's chest.

"Gwen, I…," April started but couldn't find the words. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing? And what is he doing here, ALIVE? What the Hell were you two doing on the couch?!"

The bile rose in her throat. Oh, God. Her face and chest were burning, her heart racing. She couldn't decide if it was from what they were doing on the couch or if it was from being caught.

"Um, I can explain," April started, straightening her top as she sat up on the couch, not meeting Gwen's gaze.

Wes appeared flustered and unsure, and, well, super frustrated in the sexual form. Eyes glued to the floor, his breathing uneven, April was having a hard time stifling a laugh as she assessed the scene.

"April, I'm going to go on a very, very long run," he said, kissing April's cheek, close to hyperventilating. She thought she heard him murmur about him wanting to take a cold shower against her cheek. "Text me when I can come back. Nice to see you, Ms. Sullivan." Wes put his shoes on and was up the street in an instant, leaving April to face Gwen on her own. Coward.

Hands on her hips, Gwen stood tall and waited for an explanation, clearly forgetting all about the sauce that was going to stain the wooden floor. The whole current situation was an absolute mess.

"Well, April?!"

"Okay, um—I'm going, to be honest, I'm not sure what to say, Gwen."

The elder vampire put a quaking palm to her forehead, shutting her shocked eyes, and jerking her head back and forth. Running her hands through her ice blonde hair, she tilted her head back, still shaking it in disbelief.

"I'll be frank, April, me neither. What in the hell were you thinking?! What if I had been your DAD?! Holy shit, he would have killed Wes; you know that, right? Your father would have straight-up murdered his ass!" She was right. Dean Winchester was a shoot-and-ask-no-questions later kind of dad.

"Look, no one has been home. I mean—," April gave an awkward toothy smile and shrugged.

"April," Gwen started and hesitated, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "I'm just trying to process what I just saw. I held you as a newborn and changed your diapers...so sue me if this is uncomfortable for me."

Yeah, no kidding. It wasn't easy for April either. Gwen's eyes focused on the mess on the floor and asked April to grab a trash bag and paper towels so they could clean. April swiped what she needed from the kitchen, and they knelt together on the floor, blotting and picking up the glass.

"How is he here, April? He was in that building with your mom?"

"Jesse saved him, threw him to the vaults underneath the room—"

"Is that why his arm is all scarred up?"

"Yeah," April mumbled. "He fell off balance, and his one arm was out when the fire started. I know it bothers Wes, but he hasn't mentioned it. I've seen him react to it on and off over the last three weeks, but he just changes—"

"Hold up. Three WEEKS ago, and you said nothing?!"

April scrunched her head into her shoulders, hoping the floor would open and swallow her.

"Does your younger brother know?"

April answered with a shake of her head. Jamie had no notion Wes was alive. He'd have to be home to know.

Gwen nodded and continued to quietly tidy up. God, it was so fucking awkward.

"So, April, I couldn't help but notice you had your hand down his pants."

Ugh. Oh Lord, here comes the vomit.

"Look, if you are going to give me the birds and the bees talk, my mom did years ago, Gwen."

"No, no...I know Abby did, I mean, you're eighteen. It is none of my business. I just want to make sure," Gwen said, her eyes searching the wood floor for the words. "That you're...safe." They both shut their eyes. Oh, good, Lord. Cringe. A wave of embarrassment washed over April, rising from her stomach to her throat.

"Gwen...uh, we're being...careful…"

"Good," Gwen sighed with relief, putting the last rag of spilled red sauce in the bag. Then Gwen's shoulders sagged, and she looked at April. "The last thing your dad needs right now...nevermind. Forget it. And I know you're a good girl, and I don't worry about you doing something stupid. So, I remember that you and Wes had been out on dates before all this shit hit the fan."

Sure, dates if you counted hunting and crashing at hotel rooms after getting drunk or injured, then sure... They had dated. "We did."

"Well, I can see why. He's not rough to look at."

Oh, good gravy.

"Ew, Gwen. That's as awful as my mom saying that."

"I'm not dead—well, not entirely dead. He's a hottie."

"Can I just go die now? Please?"

Now Gwen was full-on laughing her ass off. So nice. "Seriously, you should be thanking your lucky stars I am talking to you like this instead of your dad or your mom. Holy hell, Abby would have thrown him through the wall," Gwen chuckled. "But, April….does he treat you well? Are—are you...happy? Because that is the most important part."

April thought about that for a minute. Yeah, for the first time in not just months, but years, she was overjoyed. He made her deliriously happy. April adored Wes and entrusted him with her heart. They had risked their lives for each other and, dammit, they'd do it again. Yet, she couldn't say that without tears coming to her eyes because she was bursting with her feelings for him. So, she nodded, the edges of her mouth tipped up in a wide grin. Hell, she even felt her eyes were smiling. Gwen mirrored her expression.

"Well, I'm glad, hon. I really am." Gwen stood up from the floor, the bag of the broken sauce and damp rags in hand, offering a hand to April up onto her own feet. While Gwen threw the trash bag of the fail-sauce in the trash in the kitchen, April took a seat at the dining room table. Her aunt returned to the table with two beers and slid one to a shocked April across the table. April twisted off the lid with pop and hiss, taking a long swig. They were drinking her dad's El Sols. Gwen better have bought replacements.

"Are...you going to tell Dad what you...saw?" A nervous April fidgeted, her eyes focused on the bottle cap spinning on the table.

"Oh Lord, NO! Your Dad does not need that image in his head. Hell, I don't. But...look, I was your age... your age, once. I remember what it feels like to be in love the first time. And first loves are...great. So I get it. So, I'm not going to tell him. It'll be our little secret," Gwen motioned to zip her lips. "So, has WES been staying here with you this whole time?"

"For now. We haven't gotten to anything beyond...well, anything." Other than getting the sex part down.

"I'll get him set up at the Nest next week. He could pretty much have an apartment of his own. I can set him up with hunting gigs. Besides, someone should look at his arm. We've got a new doctor there who has essentially been a miracle worker for injuries. Until then, if you are going to do...things...and not encouraging or being a hip aunt here," Gwen stopped to chuckle. "Just...maybe not so public? Maybe keep any of that in a bedroom, okay? That way if you heard a car door, you'd have time to— Honestly, I do not understand how neither of you guys even heard me, considering I was telling you how I was there and I was coming over to get clothes for Jamie."

"You were talking to me? Yeah...ugh, no. I didn't hear a thing," April admitted, her body shaking with laughter before she took another sip of her icy beer.

"Guess the hand up your shirt had you preoccupied, huh," Gwen wagged her eyebrows and raised her drink to her across the wooden table before taking a long gulp.

"STOP," April snorted, choking on her beer as it dribbled down her chin. She needed to change the subject matter and fast. "So, you mentioned Jamie?"

"Yeah, he decided, he wants to stay with Cas and me. It's nothing to do with you, I guess—he just misses your dad and uncle. Cas and Jamie have always been close, and Cas is there pretty much all the time. He's had clothes and stuff from his sleepovers at Danny's, but he said he needed his baseball jersey for try-outs next week. Have any idea where it could be?"

"Yeah, it's possibly thrown in his closet. I just finished laundry, or I thought I did until I opened J's closet and saw an enormous pile of clothes on the floor. Let me go check," April said, chugging the beer and bounding up the stairs.

She made it to her brother's bedroom door, the one with the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series poster, and entered. She didn't enjoy going into any boy's room, particularly one of his age. Nope. But the kid needed his damn jersey. April slid open the door and dug through the pile of clothes on the floor, freaking out when her hand touched one pair of underwear.

"Gross!"

Tossing the dirty clothes off the floor was reminiscent of the haircutting scene in Edward Scissorhands. She found his jersey at the very bottom. Thank God. As April took it, she noticed books that had been concealed underneath the laundry. Now, a normal teen boy would have a pile of nudie magazines, which was what she was expecting, but what she saw made her wish for them to be magazines of naked girls.

They were old books, a few written in Latin, and she recognized the one—the Malleus Maleficarum. Oh shit. The others were topics on demons and books of spells. One edition spoke on legends and their connection with hunting. Her heart jumped to her throat, and her eyes grew wide. Did he know about their actual lives—was he hunting? Did he know Latin? Her eyes skirted over the scene, and it hit her that her brother had been acting strange, she had just caulked it up to hormones, but this made her wonder—and worry. The dread was a rock in the pit of her stomach.

April threw the clothes back on the pile of evidence and ran downstairs, jersey in hand. She walked to her aunt and handed it to her.

"Something wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost," Gwen ribbed.

"Has Jamie been acting...off to you?"

"Any more than any kid his age after losing his mom? Not really. It's going to take him a while to adjust. Why do you ask, April?"

"It's just...nothing. You're right."

"Ugh, god, teen boys reek," Gwen said, double bagging the jersey into the plastic bag. "Okay, I need to go pick up dinner for the boys at home. Well, do you need anything else? I stocked you up with groceries, so you should be good for the week."

April shook her head no and hugged Gwen.

"Thank you," she whispered to her aunt. "Seriously. Thank you." Gwen's arms went around her surrogate niece, the bags crinkling in their embrace.

"No problem, A.C. Just remember to stay smart. I mean it," Gwen squeezed once more before she left the door and traversed the porch steps to her car.

April texted Wes and gave him the all-clear to come back. She put the groceries away alone, her thoughts not on how she nearly had sex on the couch, but on what she had found in her little brother's closet. April's mind focused on one thing—what was Jamie up to with those books? And how much did he know?