Oh thank you, thank you, thank you everyone for all the wonderful feedback! Thank you Andra B, Kathy, Leann Nickerson, Secretwrittenword, Long Live BRUCAS, Allison and Blondie 20000! Thank you to everyone who is following and favoriting this story.

Well it's Christmas time for the Winchesters (hey I'm going with Christmas in July ?. Aww a sweet little scene with Dean and John too.

Author Notes at the bottom.

Thank you and enjoy!

Chapter 14

"Hey Dad," Sam said as he came in the back door. John looked up and shook his head when he saw the bag he put down by the door.

"Sam," he said in greeting. "You know he can only play with so many toys."

"I got him some new clothes," Sam explained.

"Oh," John said. He knew Dean needed some new clothes since he had a little growth spurt.

"So Dad, Christmas is next week." He said tentatively.

"The tree in the living room was a dead giveaway." The elder Winchester quipped.

Sam gave us father a small smile as he cleared his throat. "Look Dad…I know you don't really believe in Christmas and all that goes along with it."

"I've never turned down an eggnog with rum," he teased.

Sam laughed, "right. Dad…Dean's been asking about Santa. He's afraid if he doesn't see him that he won't know what he wants for Christmas."

"Sam are you asking to take Dean to see some overweight man wearing a fake beard and bad wig to sit on his lap and ask for gifts?" John asked as he hardened his face and folded his arms across his chest.

"Come on Dad…" Sam started too whine slightly. He wanted to take Dean to see Santa…he wanted his brother to have this experience.

"Would you mind grabbing me a beer," John said.

Sam sighed as he went over to the fridge. He stopped short when he saw a photo under a magnet. He reached out and took the picture down and turned towards his smirking father and said, "funny."

He looked down at the picture again. It was Dean sitting on Santa's lap grinning up at the big guy. "Dad couldn't you have at least comb his hair and is that ketchup on his face?"

"I had to go to the mall to pick up something for my boss and took Dean with me. We had just finished lunch when the Santa booth opened and your brother immediately asked to meet Santa." He explained before adding. "He's a kid, he's supposed to look like that."

"Well the library is having a family Christmas party tomorrow and Santa is going to be there. I was hoping you wouldn't mind if we brought Dean." He asked.

"We?" John asked.

Sam rolled his eyes, "well we are a family. Come on Dad. The garage is closed until after the New Year so you don't have to work and the party starts at midafternoon after Dean takes his nap."

"Fine by me but we aren't the only ones in this family. Rufus and Bobby both called and each will be getting here sometime tonight and Caleb showed up an hour ago and is playing with Dean in the other room." He told his son.

"I didn't see his car outside," Sam said.

"Parked it at the garage actually, he had an accident and I'm going to repair it while he's here." John explained as he pulled out the chicken pot pie he had picked up earlier out of the fridge before going over and preheating the oven.

"I thought the hunt he was working on that he said he wasn't going to be here until Christmas Eve," Sam said unable to hide his annoyance.

John frowned at his son, "he finished early. Is that a problem?"

Sam grabbed a beer and popped it open for himself before asking, "Dad don't get me wrong. I know Caleb has been a big help but it seems like he's been spending more time here than hunting."

John shrugged his shoulders, "Dean and you were like little brothers to him growing up."

"Dad he wasn't around that much when we were kids," Sam said as he took a swig of his beer.

John shook his head, "that's because you're remembering from when you were six or seven. First time I brought you and Dean here was about a year after your mother died and Dean was five. Caleb was fifteen and Dean followed him around the same way you use to follow Dean around. Actually Caleb was the one who got your brother talking again."

Sam stared at his father, "you mean that was true? That Dean didn't speak after the fire?"

"Yeah," John said sadly realizing that was just another way he failed one of his boys when they were children.

"And Caleb was the one who got him to talk?" Sam asked tentatively.

John nodded his head, "yeah…funny how kids seem to know how to handle things like that. Dean wanted a cookie and Caleb told him if he wanted a cookie then he better open his mouth and ask or he would eat them all."

"Really?" Sam asked slightly shocked.

"Yup," John said as he put the dish into the oven. "Caleb's always been a little protective of you boys."

"Guess I forget he really isn't that much older than us," Sam admitted.

John looked at his son, "are you jealous of Caleb spending time with Dean?"

"What...no," Sam said, blushing at how ridiculous he sounded.

"Good because it would make it a little awkward if you were jealous," John said with a knowing smile. Sam busied himself by taking a sip of beer as the man in questing came in carrying Dean on his back.

"Okay Squirt, this is the end of the ride," Caleb told him as swatted down so that the child could climb down. "Hey Sam," the other hunter said as he patted Dean on his head before going over to grab a beer while Dean clamber over to Sam and climbed up on his lap.

"Caleb," Sam called back as he accepted a hug from Dean.

"Sammy...me saw Santa!" Dean told him excitedly.

"So I heard," Sam said with a chuckle.

"And you will continue to hear...I just spent an hour listening about the big guy." Caleb told him before starting towards the door. "I'm gonna grab a shower before chow time."

"Sammy...Sammy...Sammy!" Dean cried to get his brother's attention. "Santa said me good boy!"

Sam grinned at his brother while John snorted in amusement. "Well he would know...he gets that naughty and nice list every year."

Dean's eyes widened, "me nice!" he insisted.

"Yup you are," Sam reassured him before asking. "Hey Dean would you like to meet Santa again tomorrow? He's going to come to the library for our Christmas party. Would you like to go to the party?"

"Daddy come?" he asked.

"Of course Dad's coming and I bet if we ask nicely Uncle Jim, Uncle Bobby, Uncle Rufus and Caleb will come too."

Dean looked down at the dog bed in the corner. "Artie come?"

"I don't think Artie would have fun at the library Ace," John told the child as he handed him a sippy cup of water. "Here you go Bud have some water."

"Okay," Dean agreed as he held his cup out to Sam and exclaimed, "CHEERS!" before clicking his cup against Sam's beer bottle.

"Who showed you that?" Sam asked with a chuckle but he had a sneaky suspicion he already knew.

"Daddy," he told him proudly.

"Hey Caleb's been trying to get him to say skoal so I taught him cheers." John said in his own defense as he reached over and ruffled Dean's hair.

"So Dean, do you want to go to the party tomorrow?"

"Okay," he said as he took a sip of water.

"Good because I got you some new duds." Sam told him.

Dean looked at his father, "Daddy me got new duds!"

"I heard," John said as he put the plates and silverware down.

"Daddy," Dean said as father began setting the table.

"Yeah Ace," he said as he continued his task.

"What duds?" The child asked.

John turned and looked at his little boy before looking at up Sam and both men began to laugh as Dean crossed his arms across his chest and huffed in annoyance at the indignation of his father and brother clearly laughing at him.

SPNSPNSPN

John sat in the living room as Dean spun happily on the sit and spin Rufus gave him for Hanukah last night.

How he never knew the other hunter was Jewish was beyond him but last night after the men had dinner they went into the living room where Jim had placed a menorah on the mantle place and watched as Rufus performed the ritual of lightning the menorah.

Dean had been fascinated, especially when Rufus had donned his yarmulke. John didn't say anything when Rufus asked the child to help him light the candles and pulled a small yarmulke out of his pocket for Dean to wear.

John had stood and watched as Rufus settled Dean on his hip as they lit the candles, starting with the Shamash. After he had laughed as Rufus taught them all the dradel song before the other hunter had gone upstairs to his room and returned with a gift for his helper…the sit and spin Dean was currently on making himself dizzy in a way only a child could enjoy.

They had gone to the party earlier in the day all dressed in the outfits Sam approved before leaving for work that morning. Of course each man took numerous pictures of Dean sitting on Santa's lap as he told the jolly old elf what he wanted for Christmas.

As the party was winding down Sam had come over to introduce a pretty young woman to John and Dean. He had spoken a few times about his coworker before but John hadn't realized his son was attracted to the woman he had spoken about on several occasions.

Of course he hadn't been surprised when he saw Caleb chatting up the pretty office manager and had come over to say that him and Sam were going out after the library closed with the two women.

So as the younger hunters left to go on their double date Rufus and Bobby decided to hit a few of the seedier bars to hustle some pool to make some extra cash which always comes in handy when hunting.

Jim, John and Dean had gone to the diner a few doors down from the library for dinner before heading back to the rectory. Jim had excused himself so that he could work on his sermons for midnight mass and Christmas Day while John enjoy a few hours with Dean.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when Dean stopped spinning and dramatically fell backwards and flung his arms out and declared, "Daddy me drunk!"

John laughed as he got up and picked up his giggling son. "Enough spinning for you," he announced as he sat back down and settled Dean on his lap.

Dean sighed as he leaned back slightly. John kissed the top of his head and asked, "did you have fun today?"

"Unhun," the child said around a yawn as he gazed up at the Christmas tree.

John bent slightly so he could see Dean's face and frown at the look on his small face. "What are you staring at?" He asked him.

"Pretty," Dean said as he pointed at the tree topper. "Mama pretty angel?" he asked as rested his head on his father's chest.

John swallowed as he looked up to the angel when he realized what Dean was saying. "Oh Baby yeah your Mama is the prettiest angel in Heaven."

"Mama has wings?" Dean asked as he pointed at the angel.

"Yup, she has beautiful wings and she watching us from Heaven." John told the child.

Dean sighed as he snuggled closer to his father, "me miss Mama."

John blinked back his own tears as he kissed Dean on the top of his and whispered, "me too Baby...me too."

John looked up when he heard Jim heading towards the living room and quickly composed himself as the other man came into the room.

"Well I finished both my sermons and I think I deserve some of that peppermint stick ice cream we bought yesterday and thought a certain little boy might like a bowl too."

John smiled and again found himself grateful that at this age Dean could be so easily distracted from his sadness with something as simple as a bowl of ice cream but he smiled when the child began to squirm so that he could get down and follow Jim into the kitchen for the treat.

"Not too much, you need to get ready for bed soon." John said told the other man as he slowly stood up and went to follow them. He stopped and turned back around to gaze at the angel on the tree before lifting his head and saying, "I'm sorry Mary...I'm so sorry I stole our sons childhoods like I did. I know you never would have wanted that and I'm trying to make it right now...just hopefully it really isn't too late."

SPNSPNSPN

Dean yawned as he woke up. Turning he looked over at his father and brother before slipping out of his bed. Artie looked up from where he was sleeping at the foot of Dean's bed and he leaned over and gave his best friend a kiss on the forehead before scampering out of the room and heading towards the stairs.

He chewed on his lower lip. Daddy told him he wasn't supposed to go down the stairs by himself...he told Dean that it wasn't safe cuz they were steep and he had to hold somebody's hand while going down. He just wished Daddy or Sammy told him what steep was he thought with a sigh.

He looked over as Artie came out of their bedroom and sat down next to him. Dean sighed as he sat down next to Artie on the top step as he longed to go down the stairs and to see if Santa came.

He turned when Artie leaned over and licked his face before starting down the stairs. He grinned when he realized that he wasn't allowed to walk down the stair but Daddy never said he couldn't go down on his bum. Holding onto the banister balusters he slowly but surely scooted down the stairs on his bum.

Soon the little boy was peeking into the living room and he gasped as he saw all the presents Santa left under the tree. He made his way into the room and stopped short when he saw the empty milk glass and the cookie crumbs on the plate he had help Sammy set out for Santa.

Grinning he turned around and crawled back up the stairs as fast as he could to get his father and brother to show them Santa came.

SPNSPNSPN

"Daddy! Sammy! Daddy! Sammy!" Dean shouted as he came running into their room. "Santa came! Come See Daddy!" The toddled climbed up on his father's bed and shook him with all his might. "DADDDYYYY!"

"I'm up...I'm up," John said as he forced his eyes open to see his Little Man kneeling next to him as Sam rolled over and looked at the clock.

"Dean...Dude...it's only 5:30AM. Don't you want to try and get some more sleep?" Sam asked hopefully.

"Daddy! Sammy! PLEASSSEEEE! Me need to open toys!" Dean begged.

"Okay but first thing first...do you need to go potty?" John asked as Dean climbed down as John sat up. Dean shook his head no but John smirked as the child wiggled in front of him. "Bathroom first, then presents. Hop to it soldier," John order and watched as Dean turned and ran out of the room and headed down the hall towards the bathroom.

John started to follow but stopped he saw his other son had rolled on his stomach and buried his head under his pillow. John reached out and slapped Sam ass. "Come on Sleeping Beauty you heard your brother he needs to open his toys."

"Owww," Sam groaned as he slowly sat up, "right behind you."

SPNSPNSPN

Sam yawned as he sat at the kitchen table and sniffed appreciably the aroma of the extra strong coffee Bobby was pouring in his cup. He turned when his father walked into the room. He went over and took the cup of coffee Bobby held out towards him before joining Sam at the table.

"What happened to Taz?" Caleb asked as he began cracking the eggs into the bowl while Rufus manned the pancakes.

Sam snorted at the new nickname his brother earned this morning. He really did look like the Tazmanian Devil from the cartoon the way he ripped into the gifts under the tree. Of course he had all the pent up excitement as their father made he wait while the other men got up and joined them. Those we definitely the longest five minutes of Dean's life.

"He fell asleep while playing with his new fire truck." John explained with a chuckle as he placed a box in front of Sam. "Hey, you missed your present from Santa."

Sam looked at his father in shock but shrugged his shoulders and opened the box. He frowned when he saw the folders in the box and looked up at his father questioningly.

"We all called in some favors," is all John said as he patted his son on the shoulder before heading back towards the living room. "I'm going to grab a nap while Dean's out. Wake us when breakfast is ready."

Sam watched his father leave before he turned his attention back to the folders in front of him. He pulled out the first folder and began to read the documents inside in shock.

SPNSPNSPN

Sam walked into the living room to see his father laying on the couch with his eyes closed and his brother lying on the floor in front of the tree sound a sleep hugging his new fire truck and Artie curl up by his side.

"I was thinking we would move the weekend after New Year's," his father said.

"Dad," Sam said as he sat in the chair next to the couch. "Is this what you really want?"

John snorted, "wouldn't have pulled in all my markers and half of Bobby, Rufus and Caleb if I weren't sure."

Sam just shook his head. His father had given him paperwork and documents clearing not only his father but Dean police record too, income tax returns going back to 1983, school records for him and Dean. As if that wasn't shocking enough it was the documents in the last folder that took his breath away.

His father with Jim as a co-signer had taken a loan out and had bought the auto shop he had been working in since June and signed a lease for a small three bedroom home closer to town.

Jim had explained that he and John had spoken to his boss Ted when he gave John a heads up he was retiring an planning to sell the garage back in October. He wanted to give John the chance to make an offer if he was interested in buying the shop. They had come clean that John was working under a false name...surprisingly Ted didn't bat an eye.

He had his own run in with the law and understood. Far as he was concern he saw John as a hard working single father. John had asked him to give him a little time to see if he could straighten things out and he had agreed. Then his Dad, Jim, Bobby and Caleb began calling people to help lay the trail to turning John, Dean and Sam Winchester into law abiding citizens.

"Dad I never expected you to give up hunting..." Sam started to say but stopped when John held a hand up.

"It's time. Taking care of your brother has made me realize it's time." He told him sincerely as he sat up. "Now I don't know what Dean will want when this is over but I want to do something I should have done the first time around for both of you boys. I want to give him and you both options. If you want to go back to school and become a lawyer that's fine or if you want to stay her at Blue Earth at the library that's fine too."

"And Dean?" Sam asked as he realized his father was serious.

"Well the paperwork says Winchester and Sons. I don't know what he'll want Sam. Maybe he'll want to continue hunting. He's a damn good mechanic and he loves cars so maybe he'll join in with your old man or who knows maybe he'll go back to school. Either way it's his choice."

Sam smiled at his father, "maybe you should have called it Winchester and Son. I'm not exactly mechanic material."

John laughed, "tell me something I don't know but if Dean is anything like me…we'll need you to do the books."

Sam grinned at his father as he stuck his hand out and said, "deals."

"Hey you two, breakfasts ready. Want to wake Taz up?" Caleb said as he ducked his head around the corner.

"Will do," John said as he went over lifted Dean up, "wake up Ace, time for breakfast."

TBC

A/N:

#1 Okay I know Sam being jealous of the time Caleb was spending at the house was a little out of left field but I kinda wanted to give more back story to Caleb because I realized how much I inserted him in this story. I don't know how much of an age difference there really was between the characters but I went with 10 years and I like the idea that it was Caleb who basically got Dean to start to talk again...plus I love a jealous Sam even if the green eye monster only visits for a few minutes.

#2 I know I've said it before but this 'blessing' is healing some much more than just Dean's insecurities and fears. I want to give John the chance to redeem himself. John's not perfect and he can't make everything right for his boys but he can do the one thing he should have done when they were younger...give them options and respect their choices.

Thank you again everyone,

Val