Notes: Sorry to anyone waiting for this update. This chapter was a headache to write, and even now I'm not entirely satisfied with how it turned out. Many issues in writing it, and many more issues in knowing it has turned out to be a shorter than usual chapter. It was supposed to be longer, but a middle wasn't working no matter what way it was approached, and it got cut.

Hoping it still is up to par with what anyone reading has come to expect from me, and still is worthy of the story.

As always, not too many swear words edited out for this site, and you can always check out it out with that content over on ao3, if you prefer it that way, and updates go up there a day or so earlier.

Hope you still enjoy it, even if it's not a lengthy chapter!

Having talked to Manda for well over an hour and figuring it was now time to tackle talking to Dean, Sam grabbed two bottles of beer out of Bobby's fridge before going to find his brother. Aside from being angry and probably scared about the whole thing, he wasn't sure how Dean was doing now that he'd had a chance to cool off and process the revelation. But regardless of how the older Winchester was feeling about it, the younger one knew he needed to put that aside and talk to the female hunter about everything.

Heading outside with a beer in each hand, it didn't take Sam long to find that Dean was still out by the garage like Bobby had mentioned, and that he was just sitting there on top of the picnic table looking somewhat lost. It was a dead giveaway that his brother was still having a hard time digesting the news.

Dean turned his head as he heard the footsteps crunching on the gravel now. He saw the beers in Sam's hands, and knew this was just his brother doing what they normally did with each other when things got hard or there was something to talk about – sharing a drink so they could have a moment. He got ready for whatever Sam was about to throw at him now, and hoped there were no more surprises with it. "About time. Bobby bitched about me drinking all his whiskey… like I don't have a good reason to, and like he doesn't have at least four more bottles in the house."

"That's Bobby." Sam kind of smirked as he came up and handed a beer to Dean. "So um, I thought we should…"

"Hell no, Sam… don't you dare say it." Dean took the bottle. He wasn't celebrating this, he couldn't.

Sam shook his head. So that's how his brother was playing it. "Dean, it's not every day you find out you're going to be a father. And it's actually amazing this day didn't happen before now. Which is saying something for you."

Shooting his brother a hard glare, and ignoring the comment, Dean just rolled his eyes as Sam sat beside him and then watched as his brother tapped his bottle against the one in his own hand now. Awesome, you're making sure we toast this anyway…

"Congrats… Daddy," Sam said with the hint of a chuckle. That title for his brother just sounded weird out loud, and yet, without any doubt at all, he knew Dean would be a great dad.

Groaning with pure annoyance, the older Winchester took a big sip. He still couldn't fully believe it was true, and part of him wondered if he would ever actually get to be that kid's dad, or even hear them call him that. "Shut up."

Scoffing, Sam just looked at his brother wondering how Dean actually felt now. He sounded torn and heartbroken. "You okay?"

"I'll take stupid questions for a thousand, Alex." Dean fiddled with the label on the bottle, avoided looking at Sam. He wasn't anywhere near okay, but he wasn't showing how much this bothered him and how much he still wanted it at the same time.

Sam sipped on his beer then. "Dude, I get it. Worst case scenario just hit the fan that's already spinning at full blast. You want to yell, go for it. Hit me, if that'll make you feel better. Whatever you have to do right now, do it. But then you're going to have to talk to Manda about it, Dean. You can't sit out here for the rest of the day avoiding her."

"Watch me." He shot his brother a cold glare. "And it's not you I want to yell at or hit, Sammy. But I can't do that to her or whoever wrote this plot twist in my life, can I?"

"Well, you could yell at her again, but look how far that got you." Sam pointed at his brother's cheek and grinned. Dean had pretty much deserved it after all. "Knocked you flat on your ass, and that's bruising already."

Dean touched his cheek. He hadn't even looked at it yet, hadn't bothered to ice it despite the pain either. It still had a dull ache and some part of him knew he deserved to feel it. "Hell of a hook she's got. We've seen her fight so I know Manda can take you with no problem, but not me. Never did when I sparred with her after her back healed to help her adjust to the tightness from the scars when she was with us, remember?"

Sam laughed at the small admittance from his older brother. "I do, and maybe she's got a chance then."

Now Dean chuckled, but it was sad and somewhat broken. "She's got a snowball's chance, Sammy. Hell, the snowball's got a better chance right now."

"She wouldn't be your soul mate if that wasn't the case," he replied with a matter of fact tone. Even if Dean was probably right, the younger Winchester hoped that wasn't true.

"Guess not." Sighing heavily, Dean rubbed his hand hard over his face. He stewed in silence for a few minutes, not hearing Sam leave or say anything else then. Even if he still wanted to be alone, his brother wouldn't quite leave him to it yet. "She okay?" he asked, not even sure he should have.

Quickly swallowing his surprised expression, Sam hadn't been expecting that question from his brother just then. But while Dean was probably seeing red, he couldn't exactly stop caring, and Sam knew that better than anyone. "Physically, she's fine. Everything else… you can figure it out."

Knowing exactly what that meant, Dean nodded. Manda would be stubborn, determined to hide the mess she was but failing to. He'd seen the dark shadows under her eyes, the tension in her that increased at the smallest sounds, the way she had held herself as if ready to defend her growing stomach at all costs. He knew what all of that meant – she was beyond scared of what might happen, of how much there was to lose now.

Sam waited, but Dean said nothing. Just sat there and stared into nothing as if weighing his options.

Dean was silent for a few minutes, and then he took another sip of his beer. "Hit me, Sam. Just hit me and then maybe I'll wake up from this nightmare. You and me will still be chasing after some goddamn Wendigo Dad sent us after instead of drowning in an Apocalypse we started because two of the main stars want to use as hand puppets, and the woman I'm always gonna love… my friggin' soul mate who just so happens to be one of two chicks out there I would have no trouble settling down and doing this with any other time didn't just drop the "you're gonna be a daddy" bombshell on me at the end of the freaking world."

Sam stared at his brother for one long minute, not sure how to handle the loaded outburst. Dean had said a mouthful with it. And he didn't even need to ask who the other chick was because he knew who his brother had thought about before going to Hell – Lisa Braeden. But after he'd been pulled out, things had changed once he met Manda Chambers. So now it was clear Dean definitely wanted this, but Sam also knew Manda had been right – the timing couldn't get any worse in his mind.

"What?" And then Dean realized Sam was just shocked because of what he'd said.

"You just…"

Cursing under his breath, Dean turned around not wanting to look at Sam. "Yeah, Captain Obvious, I did. So what?"

Sighing, Sam shook his head, not believing the way his brother now shrugged it off. "Dean, are you pissed because Manda didn't tell you before now or because she just did?"

Both. The older Winchester's jaw clenched tighter as he remained silent. "What does that matter?"

"I know you, it's both. Because you're the one who's talked about having rug-rats and the whole family package more than once. You've always wanted a family of your own. Now here it is staring you in the face, and you want it, but you still think you can't have it," Sam said with a hint of disbelief.

"Because, Sam… I can't. And like I'm really getting it now anyway. You know Manda's not making it that far. How much longer do you think she can hide before Zachariah finds out and comes for her? Or that the next demon after her doesn't kill her just because that's my kid she's having?" Dean's voice got louder, and his tone got harder.

Sam heard it. The worry was in his brother's voice again. But he said nothing because Dean needed to let this out.

"This is what she got brought back for that night. This. And it's probably why angels were always supposed to come after her one day. But it really doesn't matter what side gets her now. With a Winchester baby on board she's a prize winning target, and they will make sure she's dead for good this time because it'll… it'll rip me apart, Sammy." His voice broke, and then a tear rolled down his cheek because he knew it would. It already was in so many ways. "And I-I don't know how the hell I'm supposed to protect her and my kid now."

There wasn't much Sam could say to his brother then. That was just the reality of the situation, and Dean obviously knew it. "Dean, you don't…"

"Nah. Save it," Dean cut him off. He sighed heavily, wiped away another silent tear, and then chugged what was left of his beer. "Won't change anything."

Sam just sat there for a moment, taking a small sip of his own beer. It was obvious his brother was completely torn up over it already. "No, Dean. I'm going to say it because you're my big brother, man, and I love you. You know I'd die for you because of that… but so would Manda. What you two have, it's different than you and me. She's the woman you fell in love with, and you love her just as much as you do me, but maybe even more in some way because of that. I've seen her get to you in ways even I can't sometimes because of that bond between you. And I get it. I loved Jessica, remember? So I know it'll rip you apart too," he paused, giving Dean a knowing glance then. He'd been down the road of losing the girl he loved. "But I also know you'd still die for her if it came to it. Because if it was her or you, just like when it's been me or you… you don't give a damn about yourself, Dean. You just go straight ahead without a thought and throw yourself in the line of fire first every time. And Manda's the same way with you. So do you really think she wants you protecting her this time? I don't. Looks and sounded more like she's been trying to protect you here."

Dean closed his eyes, swallowing that complete truth. Deep down he knew he would if it came down to it. He'd die for Sam and he'd die for Manda if he had to. She was who he'd fallen in love with even though he'd let her go so many times now. He'd done it to keep her safe, and now that had backfired as usual. "Sammy, I gotta look out for you. You're my little brother, so that's my job. And Manda's… well, next to you she's the biggest pain in my ass that I need to look out for. At least she can throw a decent punch. Hurt more than yours, that's for sure," he teased with the hint of a smirk, rubbing at his cheek then.

Chuckling, Sam just nodded. "Shut up. My punch is better than decent."

Dean just scoffed. "So… you said sounded. Does that mean you talked to her?"

"Yeah... she told me some of what happened to her after I told her about what Eliot did for her, and then what we found out about our parents. Can't say any of that sat well with her. Or that she's had it easy these last few months. But you need to hear her out on that."

The older Winchester stared out at the yard before him. "Yeah," he uttered with a hollow tone.

Sam looked at Dean curiously. He heard it, the way his brother wasn't sure he knew how to talk to her now. "I know you're mad at her, but you still love her. We both know this didn't stop that."

Dean scowled a little, because he really didn't want to admit it, but then he just nodded. "You bet your ass I'm mad at her, but you think she knows that? I might've said something… wrong, and the girl's a bundle of crazy hormones now," he stated.

"Manda knows you didn't mean it," he paused, watching as his brother leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Even if she's hurt by it, she's also worried about everything, but she still loves you too. You know that."

He closed his eyes briefly, knowing that was just the truth again. "That'll be what kills her, Sam."

"Maybe… but do you really blame her? Manda's choosing family. Same as you've always done, Dean. And that kid isn't just hers, they're also yours… so if being your soul mate didn't quite make her family, this definitely does. And it's everything to fight or die for. Hell, both her parents and ours died for just that. Because if Dad hadn't handed himself over to keep you alive, you would've been dead before you even got to sell your soul to keep me alive, and if her parents hadn't sacrificed themselves for her against that demon then she would've been dead long before you met her. But who knows, maybe you both would've been brought back anyway."

Dean looked like he was about to say something, but then took a moment to think it over. The younger Winchester was just pointing out the obvious, reminding him of what he'd chosen time and time again, what he would always choose – family. He sat up straight again and then scratched his scalp. "So uh, Uncle Sam, is that your way of saying you're all for babysitting and changing diapers?"

Sam chortled, and then gave Dean a look that said he had to be kidding. "Yeah… no thanks. Diaper duty's all on you. But look on the bright side – at least it was another hunter you knocked up and not some random chick. She can handle having your kid, she's always handled you. And if anything comes after her, you know she will do whatever it takes to survive if she can."

The look on Dean's face said he agreed with that much. "I don't know if I can be a dad right now, Sam," he admitted with a hint of sadness.

Taking a sip of his beer, Sam just made a face that said he disagreed. He clapped Dean on the back once and then stood up to leave. "Hey, there's still a few months left before that kid's born. And I hope Manda makes it that far and that you get to be a dad because you'll be a great one, Dean. You looked after me more than Dad did most of the time, still do, so trust me, I know you will be. And if not, be thankful your kid's got Manda. She'll be a good mom, or you couldn't you tell just by the way she already loves your unborn baby as much as she loves you?"

Making a surprised expression, Dean hid the smile in hearing all that from his brother. But then he looked at him like he'd just said something weird, and kind of curiously searched Sam's face. He hadn't quite seen that himself, he'd been too angry to notice. "Dude… how could you tell that?"

Sam smiled a little lopsided. "Sometimes reading her is like reading you. But, um… look, before I go back in, I need the keys. You blocked Manda in when we got here and she wanted to go pick up a few other things."

Grabbing the car keys out of his pocket, Dean tossed them at his brother. "No friggin' way. You go instead, get her whatever she wants. I don't care what it is either, but you tell her she's not going anywhere. Manda stays put, got it? I'm not watching her drive off and disappear on me again."

"Okay, I don't think you need to worry about that. And if she hits me because you don't want her to go, I'm punching you next," Sam replied with a chuckle, walking away then. "But maybe while I'm gone you should talk to her."

"Hey, Sammy…" Dean called out, waiting until his brother turned around to look at him. "Thanks… but uh, you know I'm not worried about you decking me. You still hit like a little girl." He smirked impishly to hide the worry he felt about the conversation he still needed to have, and hoped he wouldn't get punched again once he did.

Notes: Well, having a brother chapter felt like the right call despite how much I wanted to get to the talk Dean and Manda are going to have. Maybe you wanted to see it happen here, and I'm disappointed I wasn't able to write the transition into how that happens. It didn't feel right while working on this one, so it isn't happening just yet.

Having Sam and Dean talk it out was how it went, and the dialogue was a task. Hope it wasn't too out of line for either of them, and that it all worked out.

That talk will be coming... there's a fair amount of it written, but it needs some smooth flow into how they get there, and it needs some more work. So fingers crossed it doesn't take too long for the next update.

Input is always welcome, and will be appreciated. Totally curious to find out if anyone over here is actually liking the story because it took me ten years to get back to working on this fanfic.

Thanks for reading, and if you've been sticking with the story throughout it – thanks for that too!