When Spencer's shiny new Land Rover pulled up to the farm house, Grace began wiggling all over in her attempt to escape Dean's arms. Castiel told his baby girl that she wouldn't get anywhere even if Dean did put her down. She had no idea what her dad was babbling on about, Grace was completely focused on her favorite people exiting the big, noisy monster.

"Saaaaa!"

Dean looked from Grace to his taller by the minute, brother now climbing the porch steps, "Holy crap, I think she's trying to say Sam's name. Our kid is barely four months out of the bat cave and she's trying to talk!"

Castiel said proudly, "I knew we'd create genius progeny."

Sam burst through the front door and held it open for the rest of the family, Scotty, along with Alex and then Mason with Adam, followed by Alfie and finally Spencer.

While a long, complicated baby pass around went on, Sam decided to take the opportunity to get in some brotherly bonding. He playfully punched his brother in the bicep, "Come on Dean, you can help me carry in the stuff from the Rover."

Dean was more than happy to leave the land of grown-up stuff for awhile, "First I'll show you my man cave."

…

Sam strolled around the machine shed that Dean was in the process of converting into his personal space. He was pretty impressed with his big brother's efforts, "Whoa, this place is cool." Sam took a swing at the punching bag suspended from an overhead beam then plunked his butt down on a ancient captain's chair with wheels.

The teen proudly pointed to the work bench he had made from reclaimed lumber, "You can come over any time to hang out or tinker on stuff. I'll show you how to maintain a vehicle. We can even train in here. I'd like to get electricity to this building when we can afford it." Dean patted a center floor beam, "She's got great bones."

Sam stifled a laugh.

"What?"

"It's a girl?"

"Well it can't be a boy, Cas would get jealous."

"Wont Baby get jealous?"

"Nope, Betty is a really old gal and Baby respects her elders. Between you and me, Baby is sexy and Betty is past her prime."

Sam rolled his eyes, "You are such weirdo."

"Takes one to know one, Sam," Dean took his foot and shoved the captain's chair right into a pile of junk, it tipped over sending Sam to the floor.

Dean thought it was pretty hilarious until Sam jumped up and told Dean the face wash of a lifetime was headed his way. Dean took off running with Sam right behind him. It's not that Dean felt his baby brother was stronger than him, at least not yet but he didn't want to get tackled and caught up in Sam's long limbs. If that happened he was a goner.

…..

Castiel handed Mason a mug of hot cocoa from the tray then sat down next to him. The nervous Omega gripped the mug tightly, "Thank you."

The Alpha touched his arm lightly, "We want to welcome you to our family properly and bring you into the fold. I know the Winchester brothers are keen on getting to know you and spending more time with Adam, we all are."

Mason relaxed a little. There was something about the Alpha's deep voice that was soothing to the Omega's nerves and Castiel had the most beautiful blue eyes that held strength and tenderness within. It Mason felt he could trust this person.

"Thank you Castiel." Mason looked around, "Where are Sam and Dean?"

Alfie pointed out the window, "I think they're fighting." Everyone gathered at the window to see what was happening.

Spencer chuckled around a mug of heavily laced eggnog. "Hilarious."

….

Sam was faster than Dean thought. He easily caught up to his big brother and tackled him, sending them both into a snow bank. Sam rubbed a handful of snow against Dean's face, "That'll teach you to dump me on the floor, jerk."

When Dean let out a snarl, the strong teen flipped Sam flat on his back, pinning his chest with a forearm. When Sam looked up into his brother's green eyes filled with mischief, he knew he was a goner.

"No Dean, no!"

Dean stuffed a couple hands full of snow right down the front of Sam's pants. He brayed with laughter when his little brother let out a yelp.

"How are your snowballs, Sammy?" Dean slapped his brother's soaked denim clad crotch. Dean took a snowball in to the face and it escalated from there.

…

Alfie clutched Castiel by the arm, "Should we stop them?"

"I believe this is some sort of brotherly ritual or bonding. Death doesn't seem to imminent."

The Alpha sipped his cup of coffee while watching the Winchesters with amusement. The brothers rolled from the snow bank onto the gravel. The wrestling became halfhearted as the damp, cold and exertion started getting to them.

Spencer clapped his son on the back, "Let's get the cooler of food and the luggage and gifts from the Rover. That way they have an excuse to stop even if neither of them won. That way both can save face."

…

"Here you go, Kitten."

Cas handed Dean a hot cup of coffee laced with cream. He pulled the blanket tighter around his naked Omega. "The fire will warm you up." Castiel sat on the braided rug and took one of Dean's bare feet in both hands then began to give the Omega a foot massage. Dean let out a contented sigh and slid farther down in the leather recliner.

Sam clumped down the stairs like a Clydesdale, came into the living room and flopped on the couch between Scotty and Alfie. "I'm hungry. When can we open presents?"

Scotty gingerly touched a bruise on his charge's cheek. "We didn't bring all your gifts, Sam. Most are back at the house. You'll have a few to open tomorrow plus your stocking. We're going to eat soon; Spencer is finishing up the platters of food."

Dean listened to the chatter with eyes still closed; he smiled slightly when Sam grumbled over being hungry and then enquiring about gifts. All those years on the road with John, never knowing where the next meal was coming or if he'd have to switch schools again had been everyday fears for Sam. It warmed Dean's heart to hear his baby brother sounding like a regular teenager.

…

Mason sat on Grace's future bed where he'd be sleeping that weekend. He touched one of the smooth, white spindles on the headboard. "The kid can't even sleep in this for ages…it is pretty though."

One of the three napping babies in the crib smacked their lips causing Mason to freeze until the sound stopped.

He picked up Adam's stuffed rattle giraffe and stroked the blue fur, "I don't know what to do." The Omega kicked off his shoes then settled back on the purple comforter and fell into a fitful sleep. He woke up an hour later to the sound of a baby crying, Mason went over to find it was Grace making the racket. Alex had a smile on his face and Adam was furiously sucking his thumb.

Mason hesitated, then picked up Grace and held her at arm's length, "I'm terrible at this stuff, what do you need, are you wet, hungry…what?" Dean burst through the door like his knight in shining armor. Mason quickly handed the baby over, "I'm not sure what's wrong."

Dean stuck his finger in her diaper, "She did a poop and pee." He gestured to the boys, "check them." Mason did the finger test and found Adam was wet and smiley Alex was dry.

"Adam is wet."

Dean rolled up the sleeves on his flannel shirt, preparing for Grace's double whammy diaper, "Put Adam up here and change him." When there was no response or movement, the Dean turned to find the Omega frozen on the spot. "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing." Mason scooped up Adam and placed him next to Grace on the changing table. With trembling hands he popped the snaps on the babies clothing then stopped. "I'm so bad at this."

Dean set a clean diaper next to Adam and a container of wipes. "Changing diapers?"

"Being a mother."

Dean had raised Sam and done a lot of diaper duty, learning to be a mother on the fly. The much more experienced Omega draped his arm around Mason's slight shoulders, "Have you been crying a lot, feel sorta hopeless and low energy?" Mason broke down crying.

Dean pointed to the bed, "Go sit down, I'll handle the diapers and then we'll have a talk."

….

Spencer sat on the back porch with his son, freezing his stones off while he read the letter Castiel had given him. He folded it up and handed it back. The elder Alpha downed the rest of his hot toddy before speaking.

Castiel gnawed at a hangnail as he waited for his dad to answer.

"So it's a meeting to hear your side of things. Depending on how the meeting goes, you might need the advice of an attorney. Do you think they'll suspend you until they make a decision?"

Castiel drained his glass of wine and then went silent for a few moments. "As of right now I'm scheduled to go back to work after the New Year. I believe things will go on as normal until the meeting at least."

The young teacher dropped his head in his hands, "I've missed so much work. This is my first teaching job and only my second year there so I don't have tenure. In this state you have to be employed for three years to get approval." He looked up at his dad with the saddest eyes ever, "I love my job and love my students."

Spencer, fiddled with the doodads on his hideous Christmas sweater to buy himself time. "Do I hug him?" Instead the elder Alpha went for a shoulder squeeze and answered his dejected son in a strong, steady voice.

"You are an excellent teacher, Castiel. The board will see that and understand the circumstances of your absences. Just give 'em the Novak big baby blues and I guarantee if there are any women on that board they'll be goners."

Castiel frowned, "I don't want a job because of the way I look, I want a job because I deserve it. Besides, the Alphas and Betas on the board won't give two fucks what I look like…in fact they could hold it against me. Also remember, Dean was my student and in their eyes I took advantage of him."

Spencer let out a bitter laugh, "Please, I bet some of those finger pointers each have an Omega on a leash somewhere or are oppressing some female. If anything they would be envious that you both in love and you treat Dean in the manner of the Old Ways…the right does Dean say about this?"

"I don't want to tell him until after the holidays. This is our first Christmas in our very own house with our new baby and Dean is so proud and happy, I won't spoil that for him."

…

Sam got himself and Alfie hot cocoa from the thermal pot on the kitchen counter. He spied the bottle of Baileys sitting among the other bottles of liquor. The teens looked at each other and smiled. Sam pointed to the Baileys, "Wanna try some in the cocoa?"

Alfie's eyes darted around the kitchen as if a SWAT team would burst through the windows at any moment, "Yeah, I heard its really good stuff." He took Sam's mug and emptied half of the cocoa into the sink. "Here, fill the rest with Baileys."

Without hesitation, Sam topped off their mugs with the forbidden drink. They each took a sip. Alfie made a face, "It tastes funny."

Sam took a big gulp, "I kinda like it." He topped both mugs off again and they headed for the basement.

TBC