New Years with Dan and Ezra

Life was great for Dan and Ezra. Dan's new job as a trombone tutor was going awesome and he even managed to get a second job at the local music store. The pay was good too. It was so good that Dan had managed to save up in order to find a bigger, better home for him and Ezra to live and that's where they were now. They had moved into their light blue house with the gravel driveway and scary basement a few weeks before Christmas. They had very little, so there wasn't much to unpack when they entered their new home. Ezra picked out his room and so did Dan, both choosing to have rooms across from each other. They got an old box TV and a couch along with a few other things to help make their house more livable. It was better than what Dan or Ezra had ever imagined.

Now, in the warmth of their home, Ezra and Dan sat on their couch as Rudolph's Shiny New Year played on the television. The two wore brightly colored New Year hats covered in sixteens and at their feet were tons of noisemakers Dan had picked up for them to use when the clock finally struck 12.

"I tired," Ezra yawned, rubbing at his eyes with his small fist. Dan rubbed the angel's back lightly with a gentle hand.

"Just a few more minutes, Ezzy, I promise," Dan whispered. Ezra yawned again, but gave Dan a quick nod before looking back to the TV. Dan was tired too, but tonight was the night they entered the new year of 2016. Dan hadn't had many good years before, but now that he had Ezra all that had turned around. Life had slowly started to get better and Dan wanted to welcome another one of those brilliant years with Ezzy cheering at his side.

Buzz!

Ezra's head shot up from where it had fallen onto his chest. He looked around, tired eyes wide with surprise.

"What's that?" he questioned. Dan grabbed the blanket thrown over the back of the couch and wrapped it around Ezra to hide his wings.

"That's the door bell," Dan told the startled angel. "Someone's at the door." Ezra frowned and looked at the clock hanging at the wall. Dan followed his gaze and chewed on his lip as he stared at the two hands pointing out the time. "Yeah, 11:30 doesn't seem like a usual visiting hour, huh?" Ezra shook his head in agreement and clung tightly to Dan's shirt as the trombone player walked over to the front door. Together they peered through the window, mouths falling open at who was standing in the cold covered in snow and slush. Without hesitation, Dan unlocked the door and yanked it open wide. "W…what are you two doing here?" He questioned.

A woman with short brown hair and almond eyes stood at the doorway. In her arms, bundled in a puffy pink coat, was a little girl with blue-grey hair and eyes that shifted from a color that resembled bright glowing embers to a star-like grey.

"H…hey, f…fellas," the woman said, teeth chattering. "Can we c…come in?" Dan shook himself and quickly stepped aside, holding the door open wider.

"Oh! Yeah, of course. Sorry, Brittany," he said to the brown haired woman. Brittany gave him a thankful smile and stepped into the warm house Dan and Ezra shared alone. She set her adopted daughter Ambriel down on the floor and quickly unzipped the snow wetted jacket before removing her own. Dan set Ezra down on the ground next to Ambriel and took the girls' coats and hung them up on the coatrack nearby. He led them into the living room then, motioning for them to make themselves comfy while he went and made them some hot chocolate.

"Sorry to bother you like this, Dan," Brittany called from the living room as Dan fiddled around the kitchen.

"No, its fine, Britt, but what are you doing in Minnesota?" Dan questioned, keeping his voice raised so he could be heard. "Last I saw you guys were at the Winchesters' in Kansas for their Christmas party." He dropped a few marshmallows into the mugs of hot chocolate he had quickly mixed together and walked into the living room, finding Brittany snuggled on one side of the couch with Ambriel curled up next to her. He handed them each a hot chocolate and sat down on the cushion next to them with Ezra.

"Thank you," Brittany murmured as she took a sip of her warm drink. She hummed happily as it warmed her up. "After we left the bunker we left for Ontario, Canada for Christmas with my sister and her family. We stayed up there for a day or two and started to make our drive back home, but it started snowing and…" She took another sip of her hot chocolate. "We got stuck. Luckily, Sam gave me everyone's address just in case someone needed me to do a checkup on their angels and you we were only a few blocks from you so…" She shrugged then and waved a hand at the couch. "…now we're here."

"Yikes," Dan chuckled. "Sounds like you guys have had quite the journey."

"That's for sure," Brittany agreed. She looked around the living room, eyes falling on the noise makers and New Year's hats on both Dan and Ezra's heads. "Nice hats by the way." Dan's cheeks turned a bright pink then.

"Oh, uh…yeah," he stammered. "Gotta jump into the new year with a bang right?" Brittany reached out, taking the hat from Dan's head and putting it on her own. He looked up from the floor into her eyes and was greeted with a wide smile.

"Right," she agreed. Brittany stood then and disappeared with her now empty mug into the kitchen. Dan watched her go, the corners of his lips twitched upward slightly.

"Twitterpated," Ambriel said suddenly as she poked at the fat little marshmallows in her drink. Dan's blush grew and he turned his head, staring at the rainbow winged angel.

"Am not," he told her.

"Is to!" Ezra said from Dan's lap.

"Traitor," Dan said under his breath before slouching in his seat and staring at the TV screen. Yes, maybe he was a little twitterpated, but who wouldn't be? Brittany was nice and fun to hang out with. The only time Dan ever got to see her was during the holidays, birthday parties, or when Ezzy needed a checkup. He wouldn't mind asking her to go see a movie with him or something, but with living in two different states that weren't exactly close it wasn't like that was an option.

Brittany walked back into the room after disposing her mug and took back her seat. She took off the hat she'd stolen from Dan and set it back onto his head.

"Hope it is okay that we crash your new year's party," she said, a look of guilt shimmering in the corners of her eyes. "It didn't even occur to me that—"

"No, no!" Dan said quickly, holding his hands up in attempt to stop her. "It's fine." He looked to Ezra then and ran a hand through the angel's creamy feathers. "Right, Ez?" Ezra grinned up at Dan and Brittany, giving them both a big nod. The guilt drained from Brittany's eyes a little and she let out a small sigh of relief, shoulder's slouching as she relaxed.

"Uncle Dan?" Ambriel called suddenly. She crawled over to Dan's lap and held out her now empty mug. She looked up at him with her chocolate smeared mouth. "More please?" Dan laughed and took the little angel's cup before pushing her off his lap.

"Okay, Amber. You want more marshmallows too?" Amber nodded enthusiastically and Ezra bounced back from Dan so he was by her side.

"Me too?" he questioned. Dan ruffled his angel's hair.

"Course, Ez."

Dan left for the kitchen then with Brittany following at his side. He glanced at her over his shoulder and pushed down the delusional thought that her cheeks looked a little pinker than usual when their eyes met.

"Um, I'll help you if that's okay," she said. Dan just grinned and showed her how to make his famous gingerbread hot cocoa.

Rudolph's Shiny New Year was long over and the TV screen was now on the countdown for the New Year. When the countdown began Dan, Ezzy, Brittany, and Ambriel were all piled on the couch with noise makers in hand.

"Four, three, two, one…"

The ball dropped and the house was suddenly filled with the sound of screeching voices and loud whistles and horns. Ambriel and Ezra jumped of the couch and danced around the carpeted flooring. Brittany and Dan both hugged, faces burning hot as they did so. This time it didn't go unnoticed by either of them though and they didn't knock it down as some illusion.

"Um, Dan?"

"Yeah?" Dan asked, pulling out of Brittany's arms and smiling at her sheepishly. She smiled back much the same way.

"If the snow plows don't make it out tomorrow is it okay that Amber and I stick with you and Ezzy? I know it's asking a lot, but—" Dan tapped her mouth with one of the noise makers, stopping her from saying anything more.

"We'd be happy to have you."

And so the brilliant year of 2016 began.

Happy New Year everyone!

These cutie patooties are just so adorable when put together it is no wonder that the shipping fairy attacked this chapter. Ezra and Ambriel are already helping me in planning the wedding of course. It's a bit soon, but I think we can all agree that the first "date" went pretty well and that there will be plenty more ;)