Dean reached out and rang the doorbell before the sounds of the door being unlocked from the other side made Finn hold her breath.

Garth answered, pulling the red door open wide, a huge smile on his face. "Hey guys, glad y'all made it." He hugged Sam, then Dean before his eyes fell on Finn. "Hey Finn..." She felt her throat tighten and the air around them thicken. Finn forced a smile and took a step forward between the two brothers for a long overdue hug from her ex before they were interrupted by a tiny shriek.

"Unca Sam! Unca Dee!" A mess of dark honeyed curls shoved past Garth's long legs and bolted to the two men who flanked the brunette. Sam leaned down to ruffle her hair playfully and she giggled before Dean reached down and swung the tiny girl up into his arms and settled her onto his left hip.

"There's my special girl." His eyes sparkled and Finn watched the little girl wave a sticky hand at Sam. "You miss me and Uncle Sam?"

Her chubby arm slid around his neck and she canted her head, nuzzling her head into his, her bright blue eyes on Sam, who was grinning at her. She waved her fingers at him somewhat impatiently and he grinned before taking her hand.

"Nice to see you, princess Ava." She wiggled in Dean's arms, clearly pleased with Sam's words. "Where's your mommy?"

"Right here." Bess was slightly out of breath as she approached the group. She was as beautiful as Finn remembered and was very clearly pregnant. "C'mon in, dinner's about ready." Garth stepped back after prying his daughter from Dean's arms and the blonde hugged each of the brothers before hugging a very surprised Finn as well. "Why don't you boys wash up and we'll finish things in the kitchen?"

Garth shot Finn an apologetic look before the three men headed down a corridor, the little girl in tow before Finn followed Bess into a country styled kitchen. The cabinets were an off white and the countertops were some sort of gray swirly marble. A round oak table sat in the bay window over a built in bench and two chairs sat on the other side. Of course there were fresh flowers in a vase in the center of the table. Everything looked like a magazine cover.

The appliances were white and the refrigerator was littered with scribbled pictures, presumably by Ava, and various alphabet magnets of all colors. Bess watched Finn look around her kitchen before she spoke softly, knowing how nervous the other woman must be.

"Finn, I'm so glad you're here. Garth has been so worried about you." She pulled a stack of plates down from a cabinet near the stove and handed them to brunette, nodding to the table.

"I know." Her voice was quiet and unsure as she turned from the blonde towards the table again.

Bess pulled open the drawer between the oven and the fridge and counted out enough flatware for the adults and got out plastic ones for her daughter. "This doesn't have to be weird, you know."

"I used to date your husband. How can this not be weird for you?" There was a sense of shame in her voice and Bess tugged at her apron a bit before she spoke.

"I know you did." Bess watched Finn set the plates down on the table and she handed her the forks and spoons. "That doesn't matter to me. If Sam and Dean are family, then so are you." Bess brushed by her to move the clear glass vase with the flowers to the closest countertop as so not to obstruct their views across the table during dinner.

The brunette turned to look out the window to the patio when she was done with the place settings. "Ava's just beautiful." Her eyes were on the little girl who was on Dean's hip again as the trio stood on the deck, chatting animatedly. "She loves Dean. Do the boys come here often?" Finn glanced back at Garth's wife, awaiting her answer.

"Once a month or so, seems like. They always make over Ava and she just eats it right up." Bess smiled fondly to herself as she shut off the oven. "She certainly has Dean wrapped around her little finger, that one."

"She sure does." Finn's gaze shifted back to the window, her eyes focused on the little girl in Dean's arms who was currently petting his stubbled cheek fondly as he spoke to her daddy.

"I bet if Ava asked any one of those three for the moon, they'd find a way." Bess leaned over to pull out the meatloaf and the scalloped potatoes to place on the stove top, oven mitts adorning her hands.

"Probably." Finn turned her attention to the young woman behind her. "When are you due?" She felt intrusive asking and the woman sighed and fanned herself with an oven mitt as she leaned against the counter.

"Not soon enough." Bess blew her wispy bangs back before puling out a spatula and a spoon. "You wanna tell the kids we're eating with or without them?"

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After dinner was eaten and the dishes rinsed and stacked in the dishwasher by Finn and Dean, the group moved out onto the patio. Dean and Sam led Ava out onto the lawn were they started kicking a pink rubber ball back and forth while she squealed with laughter. Bess patted Garth's back as she pushed herself up off the white wicker chair. "I'm gonna put on some coffee." She gave him a meaningful look which Finn didn't see.

She was leaning forward as she watched two of the baddest hunters she'd ever known turn into two giant kids, her forearms on the deck railing. The sliding door closed behind them and Garth spoke. "I'm glad you're here."

"I didn't really wanna come."

"I just needed to know you were alright."

Finn hung her head for a few seconds, feeling the guilt creep up her spine. "I'm sorry for ignoring your calls."

"You were mad... I get that." He leaned against the railing next to Finn and she glanced over at him. "I always wanted you to be happy, Josephine, whether it was with me or not." That made tears sting her eyes.

"Me too." They were quiet for a moment before she spoke again. "Thank you for worrying about me. Sometimes that was the only thing that got me through the really bad days."

"You're safe now."

"I know."

Garth studied her profile and spoke quietly. "You can't keep it inside, you know. Bottling it all up... you know that won't ever do you any good." His voice was gentle and she nodded. "I'll never stop worrying about you, Jospehine."

"I'm okay now." That was a lie and they both knew it.

"I hope so."

The sliding door opened behind them and Bess called out. "Who wants coffee?"

"Meeee!" Ava squealed and Sam scooped her up to carry her up the couple of steps to where Garth, Finn and Bess were moving to sit at the patio table. Bess was armed with a handful of mugs and a carafe.

"You're too small for coffee." Sam set her down and she ran to Garth, pouting. Finn watched him give her a pointed look as she climbed onto his lap. Ava put her chubby hands on the sides of his face, making him look her in the eyes.

"Daddy. I want to have coffee."

Garth eyed his daughter, her green eyes sparkling. "Baby, no coffee. How about hot chocolate?"

Dean slid into the chair at the table next to Finn. "You're spoiling her." He teased.

That made Bess laugh. "Well he learned it from watching you, Dean."

The oldest man shrugged as Finn poured herself a mug and slid the carafe and a yellow mug his way. "I don't have kids, and besides," He poured some steaming coffee for himself. "That's what you're supposed to do when you're her favorite uncle."

Sam snorted and pulled the carafe his way. "Favorite uncle, my ass."

Ava watched the exchange between the adults before she spoke. "Hot chocolate, Daddy." With a sigh, he handed her over to Dean and went inside the sliding doors.

"So you guys, I hate to be the party pooper, but I am exhausted." Bess moved to get up and Dean got up to help her. She waved him off, smiling ruefully. "This kid is zapping all my energy before he's even here. I'm gonna get a bath and go to bed. I'll have Garth pick up some doughnuts or something for us in the morning."

"The morning?" Finn sounded surprised. Sam and Dean exchanged glances over the table and Bess didn't notice as she slid by Garth as he was coming out the patio slider. They shared a quick kiss and he sat down at his place again, sliding the half full coffee cup to his daughter on Dean's knee.

Dean took a long sip of his coffee and Ava mimicked him, sipping her lukewarm chocolate milk. Sam grinned at the little girl and Finn did too. Couldn't help herself. "So when you're done, Ava Grace, it's time for a bath and then to bed."

Ava groaned loudly, her head falling back against Dean's shoulder. "But I don't wanna."

"Tell you what," Sam leaned forward, gaining her attention. "You finish up here and get washed up, I'll read you a story before bed." Her eyes lit up and she took another sip of her hot chocolate, a light brown mustache on her upper lip.

"Okay." Garth smiled gratefully at Sam and Finn relaxed back in the chair, enjoying her coffee as the crickets started to chirp. Ava took two more tiny sips before sliding off Dean's lap to tug on her dad's hand.

"C'mon Daddy." Garth picked his cup up and reached for hers and Finn's quiet voice stopped them.

"We got it."

"Thanks," His eyes held hers for a few seconds before the disappeared into the house. Finn finished her coffee before looking around, realizing that somehow, the sun begun to set, casting a warm orange glow in the sky.

"I thought we were heading to a hotel and home in the morning, you two."

"Garth wanted us to stay here." Sam ventured carefully. Finn's throat worked to swallow as she stared off into the yard. "Finn, we should have-..."

"Yeah, you're damn right you should have." Her tone was a mixture of hurt and angry. "This is unbelievable." Finn pushed her chair back and picked up her mug before disappearing into the house, pulling the silder closed behind her.

"You're such a kiss ass." Dean rolled his eyes. "Sam, you know damn well she would've said no had we asked." He and his brother got up to collect the mugs to take inside, locking the door behind them.

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Garth was standing in the kitchen with Finn ten minutes later, their gazes on Sam and Ava on the couch as he read to her. "I put fresh sheets on the bed in the guest room and got some for the couch." He broke the awkward silence.

"I shouldn't be here."

"There's no where else you should be." Garth spoke softly. He saw her push a tear back somewhat angrily.

"It hurts to see you like this."

He was confused. "Like what?"

"You're married. Kid. One on the way."

"I don't have a picket fence." She swatted his arm. "You know what I mean. Shit ain't perfect. I still want all these things for you."

"Bess and Ava are wonderful."

That made him smile, his eyes on his daughter and Sam, who was sitting on the floor with his back against the couch. Ava was on her tummy on the couch behind him so she could see the pictures. "They are." He looked over. "Dean and Sam said you probably wouldn't come, but I'm glad you're here." She gave him a small smile. When the story was over, Ava came running to her dad and he picked her up. "Say night night."

"Night night." Ava repeated, waving to Sam and Finn. Garth disappeared upstairs and Sam got up, his knees cracking.

"Dean's in the shower. You wanna go next?"

"I'm fine. You two were the ones chasing Ava around the yard getting sweaty and gross."

"True." He passed by, tugging on her hand. "I'll show ya the guest room." Finn let Sam lead her down the hall to a room that was probably 12x12. Dean had carried their bags in, presumably while she and Garth were in the kitchen watching Sam read to Ava. "You and Dean can sleep here. I'll take the couch."

"I might kill him in his sleep for lying about us staying here." Finn warned him, her anger had cooled down a bit, but not completely.

Sam shrugged. "It is what it is." Dean appeared in the doorway in a towel, his jeans and shirt over his forearm. Finn averted her eyes and Sam smirked, seeing her do so. "I'm gonna grab a shower." She sat down on the full sized bed, her back to Dean and she heard his duffle bag being unzipped. He got dressed quietly and she sat there while he did so, a million thoughts swirling around in her mind.

"I'm sorry for deceiving ya."

"I know."

"You gonna kill me while I sleep tonight?"

"Maybe."

He yanked on his gray tshirt. "Fair enough." She felt his weight behind her. "I sleep with the fan on, that okay?"

Finn nodded and got up to shuffle around in her own bag. Dean saw her look over her shoulder at him and he took the hint, laying down and rolling over on his side, his back to her so she could change. She slipped on some shorts and a tank top, slipping off her bra when she froze, hearing his phone buzz.

"I gotta take this real quick," Dean sat up, his eyes on his phone's screen before pushing off the bed and slipping out the door, pulling it closed behind him.

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A/N:

So sorry for the lack of updates. Writer's block and end of the school year make for a long month. Thanks for being patient with me. Have a wonderful week. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

CitrineMama