Thank you so much Angels-heart1, Leann Nickerson, carmengmtr, Blondie 20000, Allison and Jaspersgrl2010.

I'm so sorry I haven't updated this in so long but I'm hoping that once I finish up Shattered Worlds and Daddy's Little Buddy I'll be able to finish up this and In the Beginning.

Thank you for all the encouragement and support! You all are the best!

I hope you enjoy this next part,

Val

Chapter 23

Jo looked around in awe as her and Dean finally drove up to their new home. The past two weeks she had agreed to stay away while a small army of hunters put to use their real life occupations to remodel the home they purchased from Bobby.

Things has been pushed out due to the team each taking time to check out hunts using Jo's program and they were able to prove that it worked and they added a few more keywords to begin monitoring for ritual that may be used by the two witches to raise Samhain.

"Are you sure you're okay with waiting until spring for us to tackle the barn and the apartment for Bobby?" He asked her for what felt like the million time.

"Yes I'm sure," she told him as he helped her out of the car.

Dean smiled as he placed his hand on her lower back and rubbed it gently. She was going into her eighth month and he marveled at the changes in her body. Now that Maggie was more active he loved watching Jo's stomach and catching a glimpse of a foot or hand pushing just hard enough that he could see the movement.

He was secretly happy they held off. He felt like things were ramping up considering how many hits Jo's algorithm was getting. Knowing the baby would be coming soon and that him and Sam would need to start prepping to stop the rising of Samhain he liked the idea of having Bobby and Ellen close by.

Jo smiled as she leaned into Dean, "let's do this," she urged as she grinned up at him.

"Okay," Dean agreed as the walked up the front walk.

Jo shook her head in amazement and gushed, "I can't believe we have a front lawn…this was just dirt a few weeks ago…and flower beds too." She said as she took in the pansies, sunflowers and chrysanthemums.

"That was Sammy gift to us. Said Maggie deserves a front yard to play in. Too late in the years for daisies but we can plant them in the spring." Dean explained.

"They're perfect," she told him as she looked up from the pansy she picked. "Hey where is everyone?"

"They figured we might want a chance to go into our new home together so they went to pick up lunch and will be back in an hour or so. Come on, let me show you inside." He said with a grin as the slowly made their way up the front stairs.

Dean opened the door before turning and grinning at Jo, "let's do this."

Jo laughed, "you had a hard time the last time you carried me over. I think we can skip it."

"No way!" Dean cried. "This is officially our new home as a married couple. I'm carrying you over the threshold, even if I pull my back out."

"Real romantic Dean," Jo huffed as she wrinkled her nose at her husband before adding, "hey I'm not that heavy. Besides this is all you buddy," she said pointing at her belly.

Dean grunted as he lifted Jo in his arms and mumbled, "yeah it has nothing to do with the multiple hobbit breakfasts, cheesecake, nightly hot fudge sundaes or jars of peanut butter you can go through in three days."

"Hey," Jo said as she slapped his arm. "I can't help that Maggie likes those foods."

Dean chuckled in amusement as he leaned forward to kissed her and teasingly whispered, "yes Dear."

Jo wrapping her arms around Dean's neck as he carried her over the threshold into the living room. "Oh," she said in awes as she looked around the room that a month ago had beat up wood flooring and pealing wallpaper.

Now all the wallpaper had been stripped and the walls were painted a creamy yellow and the floor had been sanded and varnish. They had debated briefly if Bobby's living room furniture and kitchen set could be salvageable but the older man told them not to worry…even he knew that furniture was on it last legs. They had decided on a sectional couch with an oversized ottoman in the middle that double as a coffee table.

Dean grinned as he gently lower Jo so that she was standing next to him. "Come on, let me show you everything."

Jo nodded her head as she eagerly followed Dean through the first floor, touching all the surfaces as if she was afraid they would disappear.

"Oh wow," Jo gushed as they crossed from the living room into the dining room they convert into a proper den/library to do their research and set up Bobby phone lines that they all decided they would start taking turns to cover and give Bobby some back up.

They had set up the bookcases Jo had bought and lined them along three walls. There was a desk for Bobby, a table set up for the phone station and along one wall was a one of two daybeds they had bought as this room was doubling as a bedroom for Bobby and a small chest of drawers for his clothes.

The second daybed had been set up in the panic room along with the rest of the bookcases, another desk as well as some items that Ellen insisted on if Jo and the baby had to go to take refuge there.

Bobby had been in charge of splitting up the archives and moved the more occult books and objects to the panic room. It was the hunter's version of baby proofing the house.

Gradually they made their way upstairs, stopping in front of the room they chose to be the nursery and Dean said, "close your eyes." Jo gave him an indulging smile as she closed her eyes and he guided her into the room. He stopped when they were in the center of the room and said, "okay open your eyes."

She opened her eyes and saw their daughter's nursery for the first time. "Oh Dean," she murmured as she rubbed her belly. She shook her head in awe. She smiled as she took in the crib, changing table and dresser they had picked out. She made her way over to the glider her Mom had bought and slowly sat down.

It was when she looked up at the wall across from her that she gasped in surprise. They had decided on baby giraffes as a theme and she couldn't believe what she was seeing. Dean had painted the nursery the soft pink paint that Jo had picked out.

Well three of the walls he painted pink but on the fourth wall he had painted it to look like the savanna with willowy green grassland, trees, blues skies and puffy white clouds. It was the family of giraffes that were on the wall that took her breath away though.

She looked up at her husband, "oh Dean…it's amazing."

"They're wall decals. The woman at the store said we might like them," he explained shyly.

Jo looked down at her belly and said, "you're a very lucky little girl…your Daddy is a good man."

Dean reached down and held his hand out, "do you want to see the other bedrooms and the bathroom?"

Dean showed Jo the bathroom and the other two bedrooms before stopping in front of their bedroom. "Should I carry you across?"

"Nope I'm good. I just want to see it." She told him with a grin.

"Right," he said as he opened the door for her and she walked in. Like with the other rooms they had strip the wallpaper refinish the wood floors.

Jo and Dean had realized there really wasn't anything wrong with the furniture upstairs other than needing to buy new mattresses and box springs for the beds.

Rufus and Ellen took the job of sanding down the bedside tables, dressers and vanity in the master bedroom before coating them with polyurethane to bring out the natural wood tones versus the dark varnish.

"Wow…it's hard to believe it's the same room and furniture," she murmured.

"Yeah, Rufus and your Mom did an amazing job refinishing everything," he told her.

"It's just so..." Jo murmured as she shook her head, unable to stop the tears that we was reaching up to wipe away.

"My hormonal little huntress." Dean teased and laughed when Jo elbowed him in the ribs. Dean wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her from behind. "It's really ours," he whispered in her ear.

"Yeah it is," she agreed as she leaned her head back and rested it against Dean's chest.

"Can you believe we're standing here in our home…that in a few weeks we'll have a little person to take care of?" He asked as he kissed her collarbone.

"I know…crazy isn't it," Jo agreed as she let him turn her around so that he could kiss her.

"Speaking of crazy…I think I know how I want to celebrate our first night in our new home." He told her.

Jo snorted, "like I don't know where this is heading."

Dean opened his mouth to tell Jo what he was thinking only to hear the front door open and their family making their way inside, shouting that the food was there. "I tell you later, let's go eat…I'm sure Maggie's hungry."

"As a matter of fact she is hungry," Jo said as they went and joined the others.

SPNSPNSPN

Jo stood and looked at herself in the mirror as her mother helped her tie the strings of the sundress she put on. She still couldn't believe what Dean had told her he really wanted to do celebrate their first night in their new home.

They were going to renew their vows with Sam standing by his brother's side like he was always meant to be. This was a fresh start for all of them.

"Thank goodness this dress has a lot of give," her mother said. They tried to put on Jo's wedding dress but that ended with too many tears of frustration when Ellen couldn't zipper it. Finally Dean had convinced Jo that one of her sun dresses would be perfect for the occasion.

Not that their first wedding was a huge affair but tonight it was just them, Sam, her mother, Rufus and Bobby who had the honor of performing the ceremony again.

Jo thought her mother was going to kill Dean for not giving her enough time to prepare everything for a celebration dinner but the older woman surprised her son in law by sending Rufus to the bakery to pick up a cake she ordered at the last minute as she pulled out a tray of lasagna she had made and frozen a few days earlier when she had prepared some meals for when the baby came.

"Ready Baby?" Ellen asked her daughter as she adjusted the dress.

"Is it weird that I'm nervous?" Jo asked her mother.

"I think this is the real ceremony for you both because all of our family here." Ellen reasoned.

Jo smiled as she nodded her head, "we are a family…a little odd but a family. Without Sam here the first time it didn't feel right."

"Well he's here now and he's healthy. He's not that bitch Ruby's Ken doll any more." The older woman reassured her.

Last time Ruby contacted Sam he had told her he would reach out to her when he needed a care package but if they wanted Dean to fall into line she needed to keep her distance.

Seemed the demon bitch was more than willing to stay away if Sam was able to bring his brother around to their side.

Jo took a deep breath as she gazed at her mother in the mirror. "I'm ready," she said as Ellen squeezed her shoulder.

"Then let's get you re-hitched," Ellen teased.

SPNSPNSPN

Dean tugged at his collar as Sam finished putting on his tie. "Don't know why we had to put on monkey suits. This is just a renewal ceremony. Jo's not wearing her wedding dress."

Sam snorted, "Dean it's not that she won't wear her wedding dress, she doesn't fit into it now because of Maggie."

Dean got a goofy grin on his face, "I know…everything is getting a little bigger too. Her boobs use to fit in the palm of my hand and now…"

"Oh Dude! TMI…TMI…that's my sister you're talking about!" Sam huffed.

The elder Winchester wanted to tell his brother not to be such a prude but he only smiled as Sam referred to Jo as his sister…not sister-in-law.

They were becoming a real family…something the demons worked so hard to destroy. Tonight was more important than their first ceremony…that night the demons were on the road of winning. He had cut his brother out of his life that night and if Sam hadn't gone to Jo the next day and if Jo hadn't begun using tough love with Sam they would have lost him forever.

Funny their father had always stressed family above everything else. The three of them were the only people the could ever count on but his father was wrong. John Winchester had started the unhealthy codependency Dean and Sam had with each other…the same codependency their enemies used against them. They needed to let others into their lives…let themselves fall in love.

Loving the others…becoming a family wasn't wrong…wasn't a betrayal to each other or their parents. This was what was meant to be…they were stronger accepting the place these people had in the brothers lives.

Sam would always be Dean's weakness and Dean would always be Sam's. Now though they could admit it and they had a father and mother who would guide them. A wife and sister who would tell them the truth no matter how hard and they had Rufus…mentor…friend.

Then there was the key….the one who hadn't even made her appearance yet but she brought them all together. She was their touchstone…their Maggie. No tonight was more than Jo and him renewing their vows. This was the new beginning for all of them.

Smiling Dean looked over at his brother and said, "come on Bitch…time to get this show on the road."

Sam rolled his eyes as he taunted, "still can't believe Jo agreed to marry you again Jerk."

"What can I say…she loves m,." Dean gloated as he wrapped an arm around his brother's shoulder.

SPNSPNSPN

Bobby shook his head in amusement as Dean grinned like a fool with Sammy by his side and elbowing his brother saying, "seriously check out her boobs…they're getting huge."

"Dude…just no," Sam laughed as Ellen and Jo stood in the doorway before Rufus slipped the cassette his brother gave the older hunter earlier and the open chords of Styx's 'Lady' began playing.

Sam gave his brother a sideways glance and Dean mouthed, "what?" and Sam could only help smiling. It might not have been the most traditional wedding song but the lyrics fit Dean's relationship with Jo perfectly.

Jo beamed happily as her and Ellen slowly walked into the room until Jo stood by Dean. She looked over at Sam and nodded her head slightly as she and Dean turned to look in each others in eyes as they joined hands.

Bobby cleared his throat and teased, "you do know most people renew their vows on special occasions."

"This is a special occasion," Jo said as she looked over at Sam. "Now our whole family is here to celebrate with us."

"So it is," the gruff hunter agreed with a smile as he opened the book in his hand and soon Dean and Jo were promising themselves to each other again while their small family stood beside them.

SPNSPNSPN

Unlike their first ceremony this time it was a true celebration. Good food…good booze for those who could drink and good music(at least as far as Dean was concerned since he had provide several mix tapes to Rufus to play).

Ellen and Sam had finished cleaning up and putting the leftovers away as Jo, Dean, Rufus and Bobby talked in the living room.

"Sam can you turn the coffee on while I make a pot of peppermint tea for Jo." Ellen asked as she pulled the cake box of of the fridge. She smiled when she saw the second smaller bakery box sitting on top and knew Dean would be thrilled at the treat she had ordered for him especially.

Sam pushed the button on the coffee maker as Ellen set the boxes on the table before going over to the stove and turning the burner on under the tea kettle she had filled earlier.

Soon the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and steeped tea filled the air as Sam put the cups and saucers on a tray along with the he coffee carafe and teapot. Ellen manned the other tray with the wedding cake, serving knife, plates and forks.

Sam smiled at the plate with a napkin over it. He had seen what Ellen had ordered and knew his brother would be as giddy as a kid in a candy shop when his mother-in-law showed him what was beneath the napkin.

They both made their way back into the living room and Ellen said a silent thank you that Jo and Dean had decided when buying the new living room furniture they had gotten the oversized ottoman that double as a coffee table and both trays easily fit on it.

Dean sat next to Jo as Ellen placed the tray down so that the cake was in front of them. "Okay you two…ready to cut your cake?"

"Sure…we're practically experts." Dean teased as Jo lifted the cake knife and the smile when Sam raised his digital camera to capture the moment. Jo felt a little silly as her and Dean cut the cake together and each feed a few bites to each other before Ellen took over the duty of serving the cake.

"Oh Dean," Ellen said as she passed Bobby a piece of cake. "Why don't you check out what's under that napkin."

Dean eyed where his mother-in-law nodded towards and pulled back the napkin to reveal three mini pies. He grinned when she said, "cherry, apple and blueberry."

"There's ice cream in the freezer," Rufus told him as he accepted his cake that Jo passed over to him.

"Ellen…you're awesome!" Dean exclaimed as he jumped up, kissed the older woman on the cheek and headed into the kitchen to grab the ice cream and the scooper.

He just made it back into the living room when there was a loud knock on the front door. "Who the Hell is that?" Bobby asked as he went to stand up.

"I got it Bobby," Sam told him as he stood up and headed towards the door as Dean sat back down by Jo and held up the ice cream in silent invitation. Sam smiled as he shook his head that he was good before he went to the door and opened it to reveal the last person he ever thought he would see again.

TBC

A/N...ohhhh cliff hanger...who's at the door? I'm curious what people think. Don't be shy...let me know *grin*.

I caught a few minutes of Dog Dean Afternoon and Dean was defending Dennis DeYoung so I decided to use one of my favorite Styx song.

Anywho thank you again,

Val