Adam told Seth about Jade. Seth promised to explain to the McMahon's. He and Roman watched as Dean and Adam left.
Dean soon had the Mustang headed toward Adam's house. "I've got my bag in the back. Do you trust me to see to Jade or do you want your doctor?" Dean asked as he threaded through some slower traffic.
"I trust you, Dean. Doctor Ross doesn't make house calls. They never get sick, Dean. What could have happened so fast?" Adam wasn't thinking as a nurse, he was a very worried parent.
"Is she allergic to anything?" Dean questioned as he made a quick turn.
Adam shook his head. "No, none of them are. Oh… what if a spider bite. They were in their playhouse. Oh… hurry, Dean." Adam was close to panic. All he could see was a million black widow spiders attacking Jade in the playhouse.
"Do you want to call Randy? We will be there in about fifteen minutes. A spider bite would have affected her sooner. Adam, it could be a summer cold. A lot of the year round private schools have outbreaks." Dean was calm. It was what Adam needed at the moment.
Adam let out a breath as he worked to calm himself. "Yes, the summer cold is going around the Academy. It's just, the quads usually don't get sick. I give them vitamins and am very strict about hand washing. No, I won't worry Randy if it is just a cold."
"It will be alright, Adam. You're doing well. Calm heads are reasonable heads. Just hang in there. I bet tomorrow you'll be laughing and playing at the park." Dean turned onto Gladstone Boulevard.
Five minutes later, Dean pulled the Mustang into Adam's driveway. Adam was out of the car before Dean could even open his door. Adam dashed into the house and left the front door open. Dean grabbed his doctor's bag, locked the car and went into the house. He closed the front door. He wasn't exactly sure where to go.
Miss Ida called from the top of the stairs. "Up here, Doctor Ambrose." She waved Dean up.
Dean went up the stairs, two at a time. Ida led him to Jade's room at the end of the hall. She went to the other three children who were in Jan's room across the hall.
Adam knelt by Jade's bed, Shawn sat at the foot. Dean went around to the other side. "Hello, little lioness. Let's check your temperature." Dean checked her pulse, then her temperature. He used a normal thermometer. He looked at Shawn. "Tell me what happened."
"We were playing Candy Land. All of a sudden, Jade said her tummy hurt. Next thing, she vomited. We got her cleaned up, then she threw up again. That's when I thought it best to call." Shawn explained as he sipped on a bottle of water. He could handle blood, but vomit was hard. He still felt queasy from it.
"Her temperature and pulse are normal. Miss Jade, did you eat something besides your dinner? Maybe something you shouldn't have eaten?" Dean looked at Jade, his brow arched.
Adam saw the expression on his daughter's face. He knew guilt when he saw it. "Jade Marie, answer Doctor Ambrose." He was firm, but full of love.
Jordan stuck his head into the room. "She ate all the blueberries! The whole box!"
Adam looked at his son. "Thank you for being honest. However, what I have told you about tattling? Go back to your brother and sister. We will talk later..." He then turned back to Jade. "Did you do that? The entire two pint box?" Adam gave Jade a pointed look.
Jade scooted down in her bed. "Yes, daddy. When Miss Ida went to take her bath, and grandpa Shawn listened to Jan and James' song. I'm sorry..." She started to cry. "...my tummy hurts" She cried a bit more.
Dean held in his chuckle, but it shone in his eyes. He reached into his bag. He poured a dose of clear liquid into a little plastic cup.
"Here little lioness, drink this. I promise, you will feel better soon." Dean held the cup out to Jade.
"Loperamide?" Adam asked as a parent, but also as a nurse.
"Yes. Will have her up and about very soon." Dean still held the cup.
Adam grinned a bit. He knew the medicine would work, but tasted just terrible. "Take it, Jade. You will feel better, daddy promises." He nodded to the cup in Dean's hand.
Jade took the cup. She knew it would be terrible. She held her nose and drank the very bitter liquid. "Yuck!" Jade exclaimed as Dean took the little cup and threw it in the trash.
"It will make you think twice about trying to eat two pints of blueberries. You better watch it, you might turn blue next time." Dean gently patted Jade's head.
Jade laughed. "You're a good doctor. You didn't shoot me like Doctor R."
Dean laughed in return. "I don't shoot my patients, I just press them in a juicer. You know, I do like blueberry juice..." He paused and dug into his bag. "Now, where did I put my toe squeezer, it juices so well..." He dug a bit more. "Well, I can't find it. But here, you can have this, when daddy says you can." He held up a small lollipop. He handed it to Adam.
Dean spoke again. "Better give him one for your sister and brothers." He gave Adam three more of the lollipops.
Jade really laughed. "You're funny. I like you." She gave Dean a hug. Dean returned the hug with a huge smile.
"I like you too, lioness. Now, you stay in bed and get some sleep. You will be fine by morning." Dean closed his bag and stood.
Adam kissed his daughter. "What am I going to do with you? Daddy loves you, very much. Go to sleep." He tucked Jade deeply into her bed.
Dean leaned down and kissed Jade. "Goodnight, lioness." He left the room and went downstairs to wait for Adam.
A few minutes later, Adam and Shawn came downstairs. Miss Ida supervised the others as they took baths before bed.
"I am sorry I bothered you for a tummy ache, but, she threw up so much. Now I know why it was such a strange color. A bloody nose, I could handle, but not… " Shawn nearly gagged again.
Adam rubbed Shawn's back. "It's alright, Shawn. I am glad you called. Go home, honey. You look exhausted." He kissed the older man's cheek.
"I think I will. Hunter and Meg got home an hour ago. Dean, if I may be so informal, we would like to talk to you about Meg. Would you take her as a private patient? Doctor Jim Wilson has been with her since birth, but, he is… well… old school. He won't consider the insulin pump. Anyway, I just wanted to know if would be possible?" Shawn looked at Dean. He loved the way Dean had been with Jade.
Dean smiled warmly at Shawn. "Please, do call me Dean. Yes, I would be glad to take Megan as a patient. I keep my private practice patients limited, but I have an opening. I think an insulin pack would be good. I recall, Megan gets needle angst on occasion. Call my office and we will talk. Oh, and when you get home, one teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of warm water. It will settle your tummy. Would you like a ride home?" He handed Shawn a business card for his private practice.
Shawn took the card. "Thank you. I will call. No thank you, to the ride. It's only a few minutes walk. Hunter will come meet me. Goodnight, Dean. Goodnight, Adam. Sorry to have called you home. Have fun at the park tomorrow. Love you, son." Shawn hugged and kissed Adam.
"Love you, Shawn. Don't fret, never hesitate to call. Thanks, I am looking forward to the park. Talk to you soon. Love to Meggie and Hunter. Goodnight." Adam walked Shawn to the door, let him out, then closed and locked the door. He went back to Dean. Ida came downstairs.
"They are ready for their story. I let them sit with Jade. I am sorry she got into the berries. Would you like some coffee?" The housekeeper asked with a smile.
Adam looked at Dean. "Would you like to stay for coffee? I need to read to the children first though."
"I would enjoy that, thank you. Could I read to them? You could change if you want. I really would like to read to them." Dean spoke in earnest to Adam.
Adam looked at Ida. "Yes please, Ida. Then go to bed, I can pour. Thank you for taking care of everything." He turned to Dean. "Sure, they would love to have you read to them. Won't take me long to change."
Fifteen minutes later, Adam went to Jade's room. He'd changed into a Saint Luke's tee shirt and comfy sweat pants. Adam had pulled his hair into a low ponytail. He smiled. Dean sat in the middle of Jade's junior queen sized bed. The four children leaned against Dean as he read.
Dean read the Disney version of Cinderella. He was at the part where Jaq and Gus were trying to get the key up the stairs to let Cinderella out of her room. He did a near perfect imitation of the voices from the animated movie.
Adam silently sat next to Jade. He pulled his daughter into his arms. She looked much better, but he could tell she'd not felt well. Jade snuggled into her daddy's arms. She listened to the story with adoration for Dean in her eyes.
Dean held the book so the quads could see the pictures that were taken from the animation. He turned to the last page. "...and they all lived happily ever after." He closed the book with a flourish.
"Oh, read another one, please! Please, Doctor Dean! You read like they talk!" Janice asked with bright eyes that shone.
Dean tapped Jan gently on the nose. "That depends on daddy. He may want you to go to bed. You want to be rested for the park." He was more than willing to read more, but, it was up to Adam. He was glad that Jade looked much better as well.
James spoke up. "Please, daddy? Can Doctor Dean read another story? Robin Hood? Please, daddy?" James almost begged, something he never did. His eyes were filled with hope.
Adam looked at his four angels. They were all filled with bright eyed hope. He looked at Dean. He saw the same gleam of hope in the physician's eyes. Adam smiled.
"Well, one more, just one. Then bed or no park tomorrow. Are you really sure, Dean? You don't have to." Adam looked at his children, then Dean. He actually looked forward to hearing Dean read again himself.
"I'd love to. Robin Hood was my favorite. Prince John wants his mommy!" Dean sucked his thumb like the character in the movie. James handed Dean the large, over sized book. At least the books were just short parts of the movie, so they were easy to read at bed time.
Twenty minutes later, Dean turned to the last page. "…King Richard laughed, I have an outlaw for an in-law! Then end." Dean again closed the book with a flourish.
The four children clapped their hands "Oh, thank you, Doctor Dean. You the bestest reader ever!" Jordan exclaimed as he took the book. It was his and James'. It was their favorite story.
"Thank you." Jade, Jan, and James spoke at the same time. All four hugged Dean and he hugged them back.
Dean went downstairs so Adam could say goodnight to his children in private. He removed his tie and put it in his pocket. He sat on the couch and waited for Adam. He could easily fall in love with the children… and Adam.
Adam went down the backstairs to the kitchen. He filled two mugs with coffee and carried them to the living room. He sat on the couch with Dean, not right next to him, but close. Adam put the cups on the coffee table.
"Thank you, Dean. The really enjoyed that. I can't do the voices at all. Thanks also for taking such good care of Jade. I can't believe she ate two pints of berries. I am surprised she isn't camped on the toilet." Adam gave Dean a smile of thanks.
Dean chuckled a bit. "She will, but the Loperamide will help prevent… an explosion. Do you have some on hand? Give her another fifteen milligrams if she does have problems. Reminds me of the time I ate a whole watermelon, haven't touched it since. Thank you for letting me read to them. I enjoyed it as much as they did." He sipped his coffee.
Adam swallowed his own sip of coffee. "Yes, I do. I keep it on hand. A whole watermelon would make anyone sick. Sorry they conned you into a second story, but they really liked it. Will you come to the park tomorrow? Don't feel obligated."
"I would love to. Should I meet you there or come here first?" Dean asked with a smile and another sip of coffee.
Adan chewed his lip in thought. "Can you come here at ten tomorrow morning or do you go to church?" He also smiled and sipped his coffee.
Dean gave a light laugh. "Yes, I can. I do go to church, but I am one of those that the Pastor calls a CEO Christian. I believe, but, you don't have to go to a building called church to pray. A beautiful place like Parade Park, with new friends, makes a fine church." Dean finished his coffee with a firm nod.
"I feel the same. We used to go, but the snobby blue haired biddies didn't look kindly on four babies making normal baby noises during the service. So we stopped going. Wait… what the heck is a CEO Christian? You donate but don't attend service?" Adam was a bit confused, he'd never heard the term before.
Dean laughed from his belly. "A CEO Christian is, Christmas and Easter only. CEO, get it?" He arched his brow at Adam.
Adam laughed. "Yeah, I get it. Very clever of the Pastor to think of that. Um… Dean, I don't mean to be rude… it's been a nice evening, thank you… for everything." He stood and made it clear it was time for Dean to leave.
Dean stood. "It isn't rude. You need your rest for tomorrow. I'll be here, ten sharp. If something comes up at the hospital, I will call. I'm glad you had a good time, I sure did as well. Jade should be fine, but, if something does change, do not hesitate to call me. Well, see you tomorrow. Goodnight and sleep well." Dean wanted to kiss Adam, but it wasn't his decision. He would never force.
Adam wanted to kiss Dean, but resisted. Now was not the time to rush into anything. He didn't want Dean to be a rebound from Hunter. He had to be sure and careful.
"I will call, thank you. Goodnight and drive safely. See you in the morning." Adam gave Dean a pretty smile and warm hug, but no kiss. He closed and locked the door behind Dean. Adam set the security and went up to bed.
By ten thirty Sunday morning, Adam drove his Kia to the Parade Park. His passengers included his four children and Doctor Dean Ambrose. The children had been thrilled that Doctor Dean was going with them to the park. The best thing of all was that Jade felt perfectly fine and had eaten two blueberry muffins for breakfast. Adam also gave Miss Ida the day off to go visit her mother.
"Jordan Michael, did you apologize to your sister for being a tattletale?" Adam glanced at his son in the rear view mirror.
Jordan looked at his daddy's reflection. "Yes, daddy. But… I'm… what if… what's the difference between tattling and… well… helping? What if Jade had… I dunno drank poison, but I didn't tattle?" He was confused.
Adam sighed a bit. Sometimes, just sometimes his children were just too smart. He searched for the right way to answer his child's question.
Dean saw the confusion on Adam's face. He spoke before Adam could. "Tattling is when you want to get someone in trouble, on purpose..." He was interrupted by Adam.
"Excuse me for interrupting, Dean. Doctor Dean is right. You wanted Jade to get in trouble, because of your argument about the blueberries at breakfast. Am I right, Jor?" Adam again looked at his son in the mirror.
Jordan hung his head. "Yes, sir. I did. I understand. Tattling for trouble is wrong. Jade, I am really sorry." He looked over at his sister who sat next to him.
"Good, son. However, if Jade or anyone had done something like drinking poison, tell me. Saving a life is not tattling. Tattling is petty revenge. If you are ever in doubt, it is always better to tell the truth. Then we can decide if it is tattling or not. I know, at seven years old, these things are hard to understand. You can always talk to me or dad. Even Shawn, Hunter and Miss Ida will listen too. I bet even Doctor Dean would listen." Adam glanced over at the doctor who rode shotgun.
Dean turned to look Jordan in the eye. "Yes, I will. Any time any of you need a good, older friend, I will be there. If your daddy agrees, you can call me uncle Dean." He smiled at the four children, then turned back to smile at Adam.
"If you don't mind, I don't mind. Uncle Dean it is then. Well, here we are. The Parade Park. Anyone want to get out and play?" Adam put the Kia in park and cut off the engine. The children happily laughed and unbuckled their seat belts.
Adam liked the fact that they were the only ones currently at the park. It would be busy later, after church. But, now they had free choice of where to "camp" for the day.
"That looks like a prime spot. What do my little lions think?" Dean pointed to a beautiful spot under a large oak tree. There was a large patch of soft, thick, green grass under the tree.
Adam grinned. "Perfect. Come on, everyone carry something, then you can play all you want. Uncle Dean will you carry the picnic basket, please?" He grabbed a cooler filled with drinks.
"Be glad to. Come on, little lions. Let's go!" Dean made sure each child carried something. They had blankets and things like a bag of fruit.
Janice and James spread out two large blankets with help from Adam. Dean helped Jade and Jordan put the containers of food, the basket and cooler on another blanket. With a wave of his hands, Adam sent his children to play on the swings, slides and other playground equipment. They happily ran off with shouts of great joy It was a lovely late July day.
Adam sat down and leaned back against the tree. He had a relaxed, peaceful expression on his face. Dean couldn't help but stare. He'd always had a crush on Adam, but seeing him so relaxed stirred even deeper feelings.
Adam opened his eyes, he could feel Dean's stare. Adam rubbed his nose. "Do I have dirt on my face? You are staring at me."
Dean smiled with a duck of his head, and a slight flush on his cheeks. "No, not at all. Sorry, I didn't mean to stare. You just looked so relaxed. I've only ever seen your work or worried parent face. Don't think me terrible or… fresh, but you are so… beautiful. I guess I'll lay my heart open here. I would really like to… date you. I don't meant to sound so high school, but dating is the only word I can think of. What I want is to get to know you and the children. Be someone steady all five of you can count on. I'm thirty one years old, Adam. I want a family. I know it is way too soon to talk like that, but, I am asking for a chance..." Dean paused. He sat up and moved closer to Adam, so he could look the blond directly in the eye and continued.
"I know you're fear of someone walking into your lives then leaving. I would promise you, if we did date, and it didn't work out, I won't just abandon you or the children. No matter what, I will always be a friend. What happens between us does not have to affect them. Randy is an example of that, right? I would be the same." Dean was open and completely honest.
Adam looked at Dean. "That is a huge promise, Dean. I am not worried so much about myself, but it's the children. I have to protect them. I don't want you to think I have a revolving dating door. I've only dated a few times since the divorce, but, it was either my work or the didn't like Randy being so active in our lives. Also, please don't think I am still in love with Randy, because I'm not, but, Randal Orton was my first, and because of that, and of course, the children, he will always have a corner of my heart. Can you deal with that, Doctor Ambrose?" He gave Dean a serious look, directly in the eye.
Dean moved a bit closer and laid a hand on Adam's knee. "I would question if you didn't have him in your heart. I understand, and I will be just as honest. Drake will always have a piece of my heart. Tell you what, let's just see how it goes. It is really up to them, isn't it?" He looked over at the quads as they played on the playground.
Adam nodded. "I am glad to know about Drake. If I can share mine, it's nice to know you can share yours. Yes, it is up to them… to a point. I love them, dearly and I would do anything for them. I won't give up my entire life though. One day, they will grow up and leave. I don't want to be left wondering what to do. It's hard to put what I mean into words. It makes me sound a bit selfish..." He let his words fade before he sounded even more stupid.
Dean squeezed Adam's knee. "You don't sound selfish at all, Adam. It's okay to want things for yourself. A lot of parents make the mistake of giving up everything for their kids, and then are left with nothing after they leave home. I've had a few parents who've said they find their spouse a stranger once the kids are gone. So, don't feel bad, for raising your kids to be independent individuals and that is nothing to do with them being quads."
Adam smiled. "It is nice to have someone that can understand It's also good to talk… adult. I mean, I have the Helmsley's and Seth, but… you have an understanding they don't. I'm not nosy but if you ever want to talk, I will listen." Adam looked from Dean to the children, they were having a grand old time.
"I appreciate that, Adam. I may sometime, but not today. Today is a fun, relaxing day. Not talking about… not happy things. Now, come on..." Dean stood and held his hand out to Adam. "Let's go play."
Adam took Dean's hand and laughed as he stood. "You're right, fun day. Race you to the swings!" Adam took off for the playground, Dean on his heels.
The four little quads laughed when Adam sat on a swing and Dean pushed him. Adam laughed when Dean gave an over dramatic grunt when he pushed Adam like he weighed a ton.
"Uncle Dean, push me, please!" Jade shouted as she jumped on the swing seat next to her daddy.
Dean grinned. "My pleasure, little lioness. Hang on tight." He gave her a gentle push.
Jan sat on the other side of Adam. "Me too, Uncle Dean. Please?" She was quieter than her twin.
"I'll push daddy." Jordan chimed in as he watched Dean try to push all three.
Adam hopped out of the swing. "How about if daddy pushes you, Jor?" He held the swing for his son.
"Me too!" James jumped on the last swing. Adam pushed Jan and Jordan as Dean pushed James and Jade.
"Okay, give uncle Dean and daddy a break. We are going to sit back down. Be careful." Adam warned his children, then led Dean back to sit under the tree.
"That was fun. I usually struggle to push them all at once. Unless Randy or the Helmsley's are with us." Adam pulled a water out of the cooler for himself and one for Dean.
Dean took the water with a nod of thanks. He took a deep drink, swallowed then spoke. "Thanks. Glad to help. I enjoyed it. So, may I ask? How do you know Roman's boss so well?"
Adam explained about his relationship with Shawn and Hunter. Of course he did not mention his other relationship with Hunter. "… so, now they are like fathers to me, especially Shawn. That's why he is grandpa Shawn." He finished with a sip of water.
"Wow, your mom sounds like she was a wonderful lady. I am sorry she passed away so soon. Now I understand why you are such a good parent. It would be easy with… well… your financial situation to spoil them and just… not work. You know what it means to earn that money. I know Randy is, well, to be frank, a multimillionaire, but, he worked for it. Now, I am the one not putting things right." Dean did his boyish head duck with a flush.
Adam smiled softly at Dean. "No, you put it fine. It is true, we were lucky, or rather Randy was. I guess as long as we are getting to know each other, as I told you, I take nothing from Randy, but he pays support for the children. I am not ashamed to take the kids to the hospital thrift shop for clothes. They learn to give back that way. They also have to earn their spending money. Randy and I also try not to spoil them at Christmas or on their birthdays. I don't want them to think material possessions matter. That is part of why I like the Academy, the uniforms are equalizers. In public school, kids bully each other over things like clothes and shoes. Sorry, I've gone on to much."
Dean chuckled. "No you haven't. We are getting to know each other. So, any questions for me?" He wanted Adam to know he was willing to be open.
"I know why you are a doctor. Again, I am sorry about your sister, Cathy. What about your parents?" Adam asked as he glanced over at his kids.
Dean's look changed to one Adam couldn't read. "Mom was great and dad used to be. They were great parents, then Cathy got sick. At first we were all tight. Getting Cathy taken care of was all that mattered. Then, when the doctors finally said, there was nothing more they could do… dad lost it… to the bottle. When Cathy died, I think dad died with her. He was just… a person in the house. He never got abusive, but he simply didn't care any more. He lost his job and one day… he never came home. All mom knows is, he is alive, but who knows. Mom and I looked after each other. I get back to Cinci when I can. I send her money, but she still works as a secretary for the school district. She has her life and her friends. They go on bus trips, have book clubs and play cards. That's also why I don't drink." Dean sighed and sipped his water.
"I am sorry about your dad. Good for your mom. She and my mom sound alike. They could have been friends. I've never been to Ohio. Is it nice?" Adam asked as he adjusted against the tree.
Dean smiled. "I honestly don't know. I only know Cincinnati. It's like any city, good side, bad side. We just went camping up at Lake Erie for vacations. Dad was really into fishing. So yeah, I guess that part is very nice. We did go to the Indianapolis five hundred one year, for my tenth birthday. Cathy was just barely walking and not sick. I miss her, Adam, more than dad. We were really close. I was the only one who could make her laugh during chemo or other trials and treatments. The bad thing is, as you well know, neuroblastoma is so damn fast, most treatments are too slow to stop the growth of tumors. That's why I love children so much. Things can happen in the blink of an eye. I want to do everything I possibly can to help them. Even that means all I can do is make them smile and laugh in the face of death. Okay… yeah..." Dean swiped his eyes. He'd gotten emotional as he spoke of Cathy and other sick children.
Adam leaned up and pulled Dean in for a hug. "Thanks for sharing that, Dean. I understand you a lot better now. I just… thought you were… not that serious at work. You're a great doctor, I mean why you're… so silly at times. You know what I mean, I hope." Adam bit his lip and let Dean go.
"Yeah, I do know. I get silly with the kids. I'd rather see them laugh. I am glad you understand now. Maybe you can help at work, let them know I am very serious about medicine but not afraid to make the kids happy." Dean gave Adam another boyish look.
Adam laughed. "It will be my pleasure, Doctor Ambrose. Well, help me get lunch ready. There will be some ravenous lions in about fifteen minutes."
It was Dean's turn to laugh. "I see lions has caught on. Let's get busy then." Dean opened the picnic basket.
Miss Ida had packed fried chicken, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers, fruit, homemade rolls, potato salad and chocolate cake. Another bag had paper plates, plastic silverware and a couple of rolls of paper towels, plus a pack of baby wipes for greasy fingers.
"Oh boy! Fried chicken, all for us!" Dean nearly shouted, but not quite. He picked up a chicken thigh and bit into it.
Adam did the same. "Oh yummy! And, we get it all!" He kept up with Dean's joke.
"Guys! They are eating all the fried chicken! Let's go get em!" Jade yelled at her siblings.
Soon four children came running to the blanket. Dean and Adam made them wash their hands with hand sanitizer and the baby wipes. When the children were clean, they waited as Adam dished up their plates. The children waited till each plate was dished up and handed out. Their mouths watered as they waited.
"Alright, my monkeys. Eat up." Adam gave a nod with a smile.
"Lions, daddy, not monkeys." Jade spoke as she bit into a chicken leg.
Adam gave a little bow. "Sorry, my lions. But you know, you will always be grandpa Shawn's monkeys." He bit into a tomato slice.
As the little group ate, more families arrived at the park. Some had picnics, some went right to the playground equipment, some went off down the hiking trails.
No one noticed the two men that sat on a bench, not far from Adam, Dean and the quadruplets. No one noticed the pictures they took with their cell phones. No one noticed the shoulder holsters that held their weapons. No one noticed they watched Adam's children with smirks on their faces. No one noticed when they got up and left, with even bigger smirks on their faces. One was on his cell phone, no one heard what he said.
Dean looked at the children. "I bet daddy will agree, lions who don't eat their veggies, can't have cake." He noticed the kids didn't eat their tomatoes and cucumbers.
Adam nodded, he swallowed his mouthful of potato salad. "I was about to say the same thing. Two tomato slices and four cucumber slices or no cake." He was firm.
"Lions don't eat veggies." Jade said with a grimace on her face. She was not fond of veggies.
Dean held up a tomato slice to eat. "Lion's don't eat chocolate either. So daddy, I guess you and I get all the cake. We ate our veggies." He popped the tomato slice into his mouth with a wink to Jade.
"That's right." Adam popped another slice of cucumber into his mouth. He nearly choked when all four children quickly ate their veggies.
"Darn, daddy. Now we have to let them eat cake." Dean pretended to cry, once again in a very over dramatic fashion.
Adam and the children laughed at Dean. Dean happily put a piece of cake on six clean plates. Adam gave everyone a clean fork. The children chattered happily as they ate their cake. It was a wonderful time.
"Now, boys take the trash to the cans and girls pack up the leftovers and put them in the cooler, please. Then come back and sit down." Adam instructed his children.
The children did as they were asked. While they were busy, Adam and Dean shook out the blankets to get rid of crumbs. They neatly spread them out again. Dean jogged to the car and brought something back he'd put in the doctor's bag he always carried.
Adam spoke to his children. "I want you to sit or lay quietly for a while, let your food settle. It is too hot to run around with a full tummy."
Dean sat down next to Adam. He showed the children what he had in his hand. "Who wants to hear a story?" He had a book of Grimm's Fairy Tales.
"Oh yes please, Uncle Dean." Jan spoke up as she lay on the blanket.
Adam noticed the book was older and well worn. When Dean opened the cover, he saw "CATHY AMBROSE" written in red crayon, by a young child's hand. He smiled softly, he could see young Dean reading to his little sister.
Dean opened the book. "I'll read one of my favorites, about Briar Rose. A long time ago, there was a King and Queen who said every day, Ah, if we only had a child, but they never had one..." He continued to quietly read as the children listened.
Some time later, "… and then the marriage of the King's son with Briar Rose was celebrated with all splendor, and they lived, contented to the end of their days. The end." Dean closed the book silently. Not only were the children sound asleep, so was Adam. Jade and Janice's heads on Adam's left thigh, Jordan and James' on his right.
Dean smiled softly at the adorable sight. He knew he wanted to be in Adam's life and the lives of Jade, Janice, James and Jordan. He even let himself dare to dream that one day, he and Adam would marry. He wanted to be the step-father to the quads and maybe, just maybe have a baby with Adam. Dean opened the book and read silently, he kept a close eye on the five sleeping angels.
No one noticed when the two men returned to the bench by the tree. No one noticed when they once again took pictures. No one noticed the smirks they still wore on their faces.
Dean looked up when an uneasy feeling washed over him. He looked around. He saw kids and parents playing. He looked in the other direction, the bench was empty. The uneasy feeling drained away. Dean gave a shrug, maybe he was just influenced by the semi gruesome fairy tales. He closed the book when Adam began to wake up.
"Hey sleepyhead. Did you have a good nap?" Dean asked in a whisper. He handed Adam a fresh bottle of cold water.
Adam took the water. "Yeah, I did. Thanks for watching over us." He took a drink of water.
It wasn't long before the quads woke up, ready to play again. Adam and Dean went with them. They rode on the merry go round, then took another turn on the swings.
At four in the afternoon, the little group loaded up and headed home. When they pulled into the garage, Adam spoke.
"Everyone help unload, then upstairs for baths." Adam opened the door to the kitchen.
By six, four children and two tired adults enjoyed a supper of Miss Ida's homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.
"… mother was good today. Thank you." Ida had responded to Adam's question about her mother's health.
Dean sighed. "Maybe some day, there will be something that can help." He wished no one had to ever be sick. Sometimes, as a doctor, he felt even more helpless.
The evening ended when the quads were tucked into their beds by nine. It was, after all, a school night.
Downstairs, Adam and Dean stood at the front door. Dean was headed home.
"Thanks, Adam. I had a wonderful time today So, could we go out again, maybe on Saturday?" Dean spoke softly to the blond.
Adam smiled. "I enjoyed today too. Thank you for making it special. Yeah… we can go out. I would like that, Dean. I'll see you tomorrow at work."
"See you there. I'll let you know about Saturday. Adam… could I… kiss you?" Dean looked at Adam with his boyish grin.
Adam nodded. He allowed Dean to lean in and kiss him. Dean kept his tongue to himself, but, he put all his feelings of hope into the kiss. It was the best kiss in a long, long time.
Dean left and Adam closed the door. Adam grinned… maybe there was something between himself and Dean.
There was a spark.