How Far We've Come
Dean stood with his head tipped upward and his hands on his hips. There was a flower of pride blossoming in his chest. After what felt like forever, the contractors were gone and his last minute touches were done. The home that he and Sam had shared with their angels, Bobby, Kevin, and Charlie was gone. It had been swept away by demonic fire, nearly taking Dean's family with it. Now, after some hard work on his and Sam's part, their home was as good as new.
It was in the early morning of a Tuesday that Sam and Dean looked up at their masterpiece. They were perched on the front patio, beers in hand and smiles on their faces. Their clothes were sticky with sweat from working all night to finish up on the special surprise inside. black paint was speckled across Dean's cheek and stuck in Sam's hair.
"I can't believe we actually finished it," Sam whispered against the lip of his beer bottle.
Dean couldn't help it. His face split into a grin. "Me too," he said. His eyes left the house's siding momentarily and settled on his brother. "I never thought I'd have a house of my own period, but to have helped build one for myself and my own family..."
"It's like a dream," Sam finished for him, sharing a happy smile with his brother.
Dean rolled his eyes away from his little brother's and looked to the front door of their new home. He longed for the sun to rise so he could rush back to Samandriel's and grab his family to pull them over to enjoy it too. He was excited to share this new place with them.
"Your face is going to freeze like that pretty soon," Sam chuckled and Dean huffed.
"Your face is going to freeze," Dean shot back lamely, sipping at his beer. Sam raised a brow at him and Dean rubbed the back of his neck as he lowered the beer from his lips. "I'm happy, Sammy," Dean admitted. His eyes met his brothers. "I'm really happy. If you would have shown up years ago when you and I just rode the country hunting wendigos and told me I'd have a home and family of my own..." Dean shook his head. "I'd laugh in your face."
"Yeah," Sam agreed. "A lot has happened hasn't it?" He absently rubbed his thumb over the condensation on his bottle, tracing stars and squiggly lines. "One second we were hunters and now we're dads."
"To angels."
Sam chuckled. "Yeah, to angels."
Silence fell over them once again. They watched as the sunrise cast shadows and mixes of orange and purple onto the siding of their home. It was some time before Dean suddenly broke the silence.
"I love them."
Sam frowned and turned, staring at his brother as Dean stared off into space. The younger Winchester wondered if Dean had meant to say the words out loud.
"I never thought I'd love anyone more than you, Sammy, but then Bobby came into our lives and I stabbed Cas in the chest." Sam snickered at that. "I thought he was our enemy and now the guy's become my cuddle buddy."
"I know the feeling," Sam agreed. "I hated Gabriel. He killed you so many times in that mystery spot fiasco and drove me to my breaking point."
"And now you're fretting over his eating habits and forcing him to eat his vegetables," Dean snickered. That earned him a light slap. "And don't forget Balthazar," he added. "Guy was a pain in the ass and even more so when he was hit with that damn spell. The kid wouldn't keep his hands off the damn liquor cabinet."
"He still can't," Sam corrected.
"Well, it's not as bad as it was," Dean argued. "Anyway, now he helps Bobby with the gardening and plays Marco Polo in Samandriel's pool." Dean shook his head. "We've come so far." His face fell then. "It...kinda worries me a little," he admitted. "I don't want to lose what I just got."
"You won't," Sam reassured, but Dean could see it in his brother's eyes. Sam was just as worried. "I mean...anything could happen, you know? Hunts can go wrong, Cas could kill his brothers for taking his coat again..." Dean smiled at that. "Honestly, I'm squeamish about moving in without knowing how those hex bags got into our house in the first place."
"Sam," Dean sighed. "We've talked about this. That demon who possessed Cas was strong. He probably did it himself."
"I know." Sam ran a hand through his hair. "Anyway, anything could happen, but what matters is now, right? We have our family and our home." Dean nodded, but his eyes were distant. "Dean?"
"Sorry," Dean sighed, snapping out of whatever world he had drifted into.
"Are you okay?"
"Don't worry about-" He turned. Sam was glaring at him, giving Dean the strongest bitch face he could muster. Dean sighed, defeated. "I had that once before, Sammy. I had Mom, Dad, you, and a house with the white picket fence and everything." Dean squeezed the neck of his bottle tightly. "I lost it."
"You won't this time," Sam said for sure. "I'm not saying crap isn't going to be thrown at us, but we'll get through it. We always do."
"Yeah, Dean sighed. "Yeah, you're right." Dean drained the last of his beer and then stole Sam's, getting another smack from his brother. "You think they'll like it?" Dean asked when Sam stole back the beer.
Sam rolled his eyes. "Of course they will," he huffed. "I love it and it's been giving me stress headaches for the past couple months."
"You wanna complain?" Dean huffed. He pulled at a few strands of hair. "It's turning me gray."
"That's just because you're an old man," Sam chuckled and Dean cracked him over the head, sending Sam's hair flying into his face.
The two glared at each other, green and hazel eyes boring into each other. They held their stare down for a solid two minutes before Dean lost it. He bent over, laughter bubbling from his lips. Sam's face split into a toothy grin and he shared in his brother's laughter.
They stayed like that for some time. It only ended when a light from across the road caught their attention. The brothers turned, watching as Bobby's truck pulled into Samandriel's guardian's driveway. The sun was completely up now and the squirrels and birds were up and about.
"Looks like Bobby and Kevin are home," Sam commented. "Think Kamuel is with them?"
Dean shook his head. "I got a call from Naomi and Kamuel last night for Cas. I asked Cas about it when he gave my phone back. Sounds like Kam already found his home."
Sam grinned. "Good for him."
"Yeah, I just hope it all works out for him," Dean sighed. He stretched his arms above his head, popping his joints. "We better get back and make some breakfast. The kids are going to need their energy if they're going to explore this place later."
Sam nodded. "Waffles I'm guessing?"
"What else?" Dean chuckled. He started down the steps of the patio, stopping to stare up at the house one more time. Whatever was to happen next, Dean was ready for it. As long as he had his family, he'd always be ready.
There you have it. Kam has made his choice, Bobby and Kevin are home, and the new house is built and ready for showing off. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I'll talk to you all next chapter when we do some house exploring.
Question from wiccawoman: Will we see Meg soon?
Answer: Spoilers ;)