Yay! You love a good family barbeque! I know not much happens in those chaps but they're so much fun to write and it's happiness in a Hooters tee! If you thought that chap was long you ain't seen nothing yet and this is my gift to you guys; 10,500 words of LoA.
So it's on to Vegas baby and God only knows what Dean's gonna be like, pity Sam now! This is going to be one of the last chapters and will wind this part of the story up before the mega-epilogue. Don't be sad because there are some surprises in store: a mini hunt, the return of the monster-in-law, a wedding, some resolution for Sam and an unexpected guest (hint: it's not Elvis).
Considering where I live there was only one place the boys could lay their heads this time and it's a real treat for me to go there in my mind. Also, it's the hotel and casino currently home to a certain Criss Angel…and we all know he's a douchebag right? This was fun for me and a further showcase of Hope's powers, Johnny's humour, Dean's protectiveness and my drunken madness.ever have a real phantom pregnancy on the show (a womb with a BOO!)…you'll know who to blame!
Also girlies, I have finally reached a pinnacle!!! The one woman who I love above all others has become my online "friend". Yes Ms Gamble and I are actually conversing!!! I sent her some ideas (yes, I was very drunk) and she said that my thoughts on ghosts who possess people's anuses "made her day" I am basking in those words…I love a woman who is willing to discuss the possibility of rectal hauntings and if they
Have a very Merry Christmas, I hope that you enjoy this xxx
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Dean juggled Logan in his arms as he paced around the arrivals gate. At six months old he was almost the size of a two year old and was becoming a real handful. He was glad that Bonnie had the energy to care for this child because once he started walking he was going to be unstoppable.
"Quit squirming." Dean told him gruffly. "You can't be hungry already, c'mon."
Logan grabbed Dean's sleeve and shoved it in his slobbery mouth as a hot stewardess halted in front of them. "Aww he's gorgeous." She said as she let go of her small suitcase to tickle him.
"Ya know a lot of people say he looks just like me." Dean smirked as he turned the baby around.
She looked up at Dean and smiled. "I can see the resemblance."
There was a cough behind him and Dean turned to see Bonnie stood holding two coffees looking pretty unimpressed with him.
"Hey sweetheart." He stuttered.
Bonnie glared at the stewardess in her natty suit and she scurried away quickly.
"Maybe I should hold him."
"And deprive the female population of such a beautiful sight?" Bonnie rolled her eyes at him. "C'mon you can trust me."
"It's not you I worry about Dean. Are your hormones ever going to get old?"
"Can I help it if women find me irresistible?"
"No, but we can minimize the effect." She said swapping Logan for one of the coffees as he grabbed a chunk of her hair and put it in his mouth.
"I think they're coming through." He changed the subject as the doors opened and the passengers started to emerge.
Nearly the entire flight had disembarked before Dean saw Sam in the corridor. He had one arm around Brooke and leaned heavily on a crutch.
"There they are." Dean shoved his arm into the air and whistled loudly getting a smile in return.
It had taken a long time and a lot of hard work for Sam to get this far and they knew it wasn't over yet. Further tests had shown that he had suffered a spinal aneurism at some point which had been a blow for the entire family. As always the Doctors were pessimistic but Hope and her father had other ideas and she had spent weeks of being poked and prodded by scientists to find some way to help her Uncle. Through it all Sam had become closer to her than he ever thought possible as she selflessly endured spinal taps and blood tests. Dean hated seeing his daughter go through it but she remained cheerful and modest about the entire thing.
There was still no cure but Doctors all over the States were having orgasms over her inner workings in a way that was normally reserved for her outer body. Like the last time, all the fees were waived and she kept her anonymity. One hospital even set up a life insurance policy on her that ran into tens of millions of dollars which made Dean laugh considering Hope's main hobbies were playing with guns and fighting demons. At that moment she was possibly the most valuable person in the world and Dean couldn't bear it knowing that the government was probably watching their every move.
As a short term solution though she had found that by giving Sam a massive transfusion of her blood it could keep him on his feet for up to two weeks at a time which was tiring for her but worth it for him to feel relatively normal half the time. Thankfully she recovered quickly and it gave Sam the impetus to keep up his workouts knowing a cure which would give millions of people their lives back was on its way.
Dylan ran forwards a small suitcase flying behind him. "We're here!" He announced needlessly.
"You have a good flight?" Dean said crouching to hug him.
"Yeah, I sat by the window and I saw the mountains and the desert and the strip!" He almost screamed with excitement. "Lily didn't like take off or landing though, she cried a lot."
Brooke was holding the baby and followed slowly behind with Sam who looked slightly ashen. "You ok?" Dean asked as he took Brooke's place. "You need to sit down?"
"God no, I've been sitting for hours. How about you?" He smiled.
"Really good, we're gonna head to the hotel and meet the others then go see Rita."
"Ouch, that's a conversation I don't envy you having."
Dean walked slowly with him as their wives walked ahead of them back to the Impala. "I really don't need it to be honest but what can I do?"
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When they had left Alaska that morning it had been cold and raining but Vegas was hot and Sam felt the ache in his bones ease almost immediately. His mood was further lifted by Dean's obvious enthusiasm which was infectious, like a kid in a candy store. Driving the Impala down the strip Bonnie pointed out some of the sights and they all stared in awe at the tackiness.
"Where are we staying Uncle Dean?"
"Well, I figured your Dad likes history so we're stayin' at The Luxor, ya know…where the pyramids are."
"The pyramids aren't in Luxor though." Dylan informed him.
"They were this mornin'." He turned in his seat.
Sam laughed. "He means the real ones…where are they Dyl?"
"In Giza: just outside Cairo."
Dean pulled a face. "Well color me stupid. What about the sphinx thing?"
"Same place."
"So why call it The Luxor?"
"Sounds better than The Giza?" The little boy ventured a guess.
"Americans…" Bonnie muttered with a smile.
"Put a sock in it back there Princess Di." Dean shot her a look in the rear view mirror.
"Actually Luxor is what the Arabs call it, the original name is Thebes and it was the capitol of Egypt during the Phaoronic era which lasted two thousand years."
"Your kid's scary smart." Dean said to Sam whose pride was obvious.
"They don't have the laser there though."
"What laser?" Brooke asked her son.
"The Luxor hotel has a laser shooting out of the top of the pyramid that can be seen ten miles into space."
"Woah." Dean was finally impressed. "Where do you pick up this stuff?"
"It's called reading Dean." Sam answered.
"Here we are." Dean said pulling up in front of the massive hotel. "A bit more impressive than our usual haunts eh Sam?"
"About that…"
"Don't worry about cash dude, I'm gettin' married, we haven't had a holiday in…ever so we're goin' all out."
"You fenced the gold didn't you?"
"Pretty much." He said with no regret. "Only half a wall though, there's still loads there."
"That's so wrong."
"Yet I don't feel bad about it at all." Dean said as he parked and got out passing his keys and a twenty to the valet. "Don't scratch her or else…" He warned.
"Don't worry about it Sir."
"He called me Sir." He smiled at Bonnie as he opened her door. "I love this place."
"You look right at home." She said as Dylan bolted past her.
"Dylan!" Sam yelled. "Stay with us, this place is bigger than most of the towns we lived in."
"Dad!"
"Don't Dad me…"
"He's right." Dean told him. "We'll go up to the room and then Johnny can show you around later."
"Whoooo."
As they left their small bag with a bell captain Dean led them through the sphinx and Casino to a bank of elevators. "The kids are stayin' with some friends of Johnny's but they'll hang here most of the time, Bobby's at a motel in the seedy part of town and Johnny's here with Steve so they can watch the little ones."
"It's even tackier than I thought." Sam said to his wife. "Christ."
"Somehow I think you'd be more at home in a real pyramid." She laughed holding his free hand.
"God, I wish."
"Maybe when the kids are older we'll get there."
They seemed to have been walking forever before they got to a room. "These are Johnny's digs." Dean explained looking pleased with himself as he knocked. "We have suites."
Johnny opened the door with a flourish. "Ahlan my friends, welcome to Egypt!" Johnny was wearing tight shorts and an even tighter tee shirt with flip flops, his hair was styled into a quiff and Dean laughed at him.
"Hey, the fifties called and they want their clothes back."
"Ha, ha." He stuck out his tongue as he ushered them all in. "May as well look the part…I'm going to dress Bonita up like Ann Margaret and really go for it."
Bonnie kissed him over Logan's head and the two of them broke into a rendition of 'Viva Las Vegas'.
"This isn't a suite?" Brooke looked around. "My God it's bigger than our house in Bethlehem.
"I know." Dean said happily as the others walked in from the balcony holding drinks.
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The drinks were flowing and everyone was sat or stood on the balcony looking over the bright desert cityscape. It was a world away from Anchorage and Sam couldn't believe how happy Dean seemed.
"Well I guess it's time for a family meeting." Dean said sipping his beer. "Here's the plan: the wedding's tomorrow so we got a lot to get done."
"Like what?" Bobby asked.
"Go wake Rita up and bring her entire world crashing down around her ears? Me and Bonnie have that covered so the rest of you chill and enjoy the place, the girls have beauty stuff booked which I don't wanna hear about but Johnny sorted."
"As soon as you have Rita medicated then get back here because I have the most amazing thing planned for ma bitches." Johnny said sipping a margarita happily.
"Count me out." Hope said. "What? I'm sorry Mom but if I get any more gorgeous then no one could handle it and I already made plans."
"This is family time. No arguments." Dean scowled.
"Sorry Dad but I'm booked."
Dean knew there was only one thing that was more important to Hope than her family. "We didn't come here lookin' for trouble."
"Dad, we're in Vegas, trouble and sunburn come with the territory."
"We're gettin' married and you wanna hunt?"
"That's what I told her." Luc said tiredly.
"Whose side are you on?" Hope growled. "There's a case and someone has to deal."
"There are hunters in Vegas right Bobby?" Sam could see Dean getting tense at the thought of Hope on a mission.
He shrugged. "Could be."
"What's the case?" Sam asked.
"A couple of missing people."
"Well I hate to break it to ya sweetheart but they're probably lying in a shallow grave courtesy of the Cosa Nostra." Dean shot back.
Hope took out a piece of paper and unfolded it onto the table showing a hand drawn photo fit. "One of them was last seen with this."
They all leaned in to look and Dean raised his eyebrows. "That's Mickey Mouse."
"Nope that's a man that looks like a rat."
"How many Mimosa's have you had?"
"She's right Dad, witnesses described it." Cole said.
Dean looked at Bobby and Sam. "You're yankin' my chain."
"They thought it was a circus performer or something but I think it's a real time freak: a rat boy."
"Rat boy?" Dylan frowned.
"Don't worry, there's no such thing." Sam assured him.
"That's what you said about the Sasquatch." Dean came back.
"What about the other vics?" Bobby said.
"I'm going to find out." Hope smiled. "So am I excused?"
Everyone looked at Dean who was proud of her tenacity but wondered if she was ever going to stop traumatizing him. "Ok, you can go…what about you Cole?"
"I'll go with her."
"I guess Luc's goin' too then?"
He sighed. "Oui."
"Keep your phones switched on at all times and call if you need back up. You have weapons?"
"I have some on loan; we're just paying for the ammo." Cole told him.
"I don't even wanna know who you know in this town that makes that kinda deal but the Colt's in my safe." Dean threw his room key to his son. "You know the combination."
The three of them got up to leave and Bonnie threw her drink down her neck. "Ok hon', we should go see Mom."
"Can't I have a few more drinks first?"
"No!" They all shouted knowing if Dean was tanked up it would end in disaster.
"You want us to watch Logan?" Johnny asked.
"Nah, we're gonna take him too." Dean stood up. "If I'm holding him then she can't scratch my eyes out."
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Dean stared at the old women drifting like ghosts through the reception area of the apartment complex. "My God this is like a living graveyard of showgirls."
Bonnie hit his shoulder. "Don't be mean."
"I tell ya, the Dude that cornered the local market in velour sweatsuits must be laughin' on a beach somewhere."
"Dean?"
He sighed and turned her around. "Wait here, let's stick to the plan. I'll come get you when she's ready." He settled Logan under his right arm.
"I feel sick."
Dean held her to him. "Whatever happens you still have me and the kids and that's never changing ok?"
"Yeah."
"Look at me." He lifted her chin with his free hand. "She's not my biggest fan but since when can any woman resist the brow?" He raised it knowing it would get a smile.
"Ok, I'll wait here."
"Good girl." He kissed her, gave her a smile and headed for the elevator with Logan. As the doors closed he looked at the little boy. "You haven't seen your Grandma in a while but I need you to be cool ok?" He said seriously. "I don't want you to worry 'cos you take after my side of the family but just try and soften her up a little bit, this is for your Mom."
Logan smiled as usual and Dean waited for the doors to open humming Metallica quietly to himself as they did.
When Rita opened her door Dean was almost as shocked as she was. She looked nothing like the woman he knew; she looked old and he felt terrible about it.
"Mr Winchester." She said cheerlessly as she turned from the door in her robe sloshing her gin and tonic ignoring Logan entirely. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Dean walked in and closed the door behind him. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought. "I need to talk to you." Dean took the bull by the horns as he walked through the condo into the den. Rita was sat on the couch in what he had to admit was a pretty tasteful room. The main ornaments were the photographs and Dean was mesmerized by them as he walked around the room looking at the candid shots of her with famous actors and politicians. "Is that you?"
"Yeah, I had it once."
"You still do." He said and meant it. "Is that Steve Tyler?!"
"What do you want Dean?"
"Right." He remembered himself and sat down opposite her on the edge of a love seat. "You wanna hold him?"
"I'm ok." She said sipping her drink but he could tell in her eyes she was just being proud and couldn't wait to cuddle Logan.
"Look, I know we haven't always gotten along and now that you know what we do it's probably worse but I don't think it's that different from what your mafia buddies get up to."
"They don't mess with the occult."
"You've seen a little of what we deal with but it's just the tip of the iceberg and the stuff that's out there only responds to our tactics."
"Why are you telling me this after all this time?"
Dean took a deep breath. "Because there aren't many perks to my job; I mean we don't get paid and we can't settle down but there are some advantages."
"I'm losing my buzz here Dean."
"Yeah, you wanna keep hold of that." He shifted Logan on his knee. "Look what I'm tryin' to get at is that we have access to certain powers; incredible powers."
Rita lowered her glass and stared at him. "What are you trying to tell me?"
"We brought Bonnie back to life." He felt instant relief on saying the words but it was short lived when he saw the reaction. Rita flung her crystal tumbler at the wall and he ducked when it smashed above his head. "Hey!"
"Hey?!" She said getting up. "Hey?"
"Er…"
"Is this some kind of sick joke Dean?"
"No, I swear…just hear me out." He said getting up as Logan began to scream. "She's back but she just doesn't look the same."
"Being worm food for six months will do that to a woman." She screamed wiping tears from her eyes. "I can't believe you!"
"Shit." Dean muttered as he lost control of the situation.
"It's true Mum." Bonnie said from the doorway.
"Who the fuck are you and how did you get in here?!" Rita looked like she needed a vodka I.V and was seriously losing it.
"Bonnie, maybe you should leave." He told her raising his hand.
"I'm not scared of her, don't worry." She said walking forwards as Dean soothed Logan. "I was there when she got dumped by Rossano Fettucci and we got evicted from the home he paid for. I was also there when the repo man came around and found her near death. I stayed with you while you had your stomach pumped Mum and got a job singing in a bar at nights so I could help pay the medical bills. You remember the time when Tony's wife came over with a knife and I fought her off? She was a crazy bitch but I would have done anything for you. I even missed my graduation because you flashed your tits to the PTA."
Dean raised his eyebrows. "She's so not babysittin' again."
"I was there for all the break ups and all the evictions right mum?"
"Who are you?" Rita sat down in shock.
"I'm your daughter, and I still love you despite everything I went through when I was a kid, I just need a little understanding right now."
"You're English and you don't even look like her!"
"That's because my body was wrecked and I had to get a new one."
Rita genuflected rapidly. "Stay away from me!" She yelled.
"Jesus." Dean muttered shielding Logan from the madwoman.
"You brought one of your demons in here!"
Dean rolled his eyes. "Why don't you lay off the sauce for five minutes woman and open your ears. This is your daughter!" He yelled back.
"Demon!"
"That's it." Dean grabbed Bonnie and pushed her towards the door. "I'm not havin' you listen to that, take Logan and go back to the Impala, I'll meet you there." She went to object but he gave her a look. "It's about time someone woke that woman up to herself."
Once he closed the door Dean walked back into the lounge and grabbed Rita slapping her hard across the face. "Calm down!"
"Get your hands off me! Help!!" She yelled and the noise was like nails on a blackboard to him.
"You better freakin' calm down now or I swear I will bring a demon here and you can see the difference for yourself when it tears you to shreds!"
Rita gulped and stared at him as tears ran down her face. "God…"
"I seem to remember you cursin' him for takin' her away in the first place and now you're asking for his help?"
"What did you do?" She started to slump and he sat her back down.
"I did what I had to, she wasn't ready to go." He didn't want to bring the kids into this and cause even more problems. "I brought her soul back and put it into another body."
"Why?"
"Is that a trick question?"
"Heaven was her reward after all that suffering and you wanted her to stay here?" She looked around her.
"I may not look like much to you but she thinks I'm worth stickin' around for which makes me feel pretty damn good."
"I need something."
"Vegetable, animal or narcotic?" Dean asked getting up. "Don't worry I'll take a wild guess." He went to the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and opened it. "Uppers or downers?" He shouted through.
"Surprise me."
Dean came back a second later passing by the kitchen and handed her a glass of water and some Valium. "I'm gonna keep hold of the rest of these." He put her numerous vials of tablets into his pocket. "I don't wanna have to bring you back from the dead too."
"You really did it?"
Dean felt bad about lying but she already treated Cole like a freak, he didn't want Hope to have the same. "Yeah, I did. Look, you wouldn't come up to the house so we came here to tell you. Bonnie's real cut up about you and wants you to be a part of our life. Personally I couldn't give a shit 'cos you bust my balls every chance you get but I'll do anythin' to make her happy."
That actually got a smile and Dean suddenly realized the sickening truth about his monster-in-law; the worse you treated her the more she liked you.
"She always loved you Dean."
"You never did get that."
Rita sniggered. "You don't know anything. You're exactly the type I went for back in the day I never wanted that for her but…"
"What?" He asked.
"You're different. I still think you're a pagan and an asshole but you gave my girl everything she ever wanted and that's all any woman dreams of."
Dean realized a second thing about her all of a sudden. All this time he thought she hated him but she was just jealous because her daughter had what she had been searching years for. He immediately felt sorry for her. "Look, I know this is a huge shock but the whole family's in town 'cos me and Bonnie are gettin' married again tomorrow."
"This is a dream."
"If it was, I'd be Tom Jones and you'd be laying back against a pillow suckin' on a cancer stick right now. C'mon Rita, you know what we can do…this has happened so you have to be the Mom for once and put your kid first because she needs you."
"Leave me alone." She said quietly.
"If you don't wanna come tomorrow then that's fine by me but if you do decide to show your face then you're gonna be happy about it and you're gonna treat all my kids equally, got it?" Dean stood up with a sigh looking back at the crying woman before he left the apartment.
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"I can't believe we're in Vegas and instead of gambling and going to shows we're looking for a Rat Boy." Cole said.
Hope rolled her eyes. "If you wanna go check out a stage show then don't let me stop you but I'm going to try to save some lives ok? Besides, who doesn't want to see a Rat Boy?"
Luc raised his hand and Hope hit him. "He's right, Rat Boy. Seriously?"
"Two separate independent witnesses Luc."
"So this guy worked here?" Cole looked up at Caesar's Palace.
"Yup, he was a Gladiator."
"Putain d'Americains bastardizing other cultures into some plexiglass consumerist shit!"
"Oh my God, you want some evening primrose oil for your cramps there Lucy?"
"Bitch."
"Hey." Cole intervened.
"She is."
Cole hated hunting with Luc and Hope knowing the saying 'three's company' never applied better than to a situation like this. Although he knew Luc would defend her to the death Cole was the only one who Dean would trust with her for the time being. If he left them to it he couldn't be sure they wouldn't end up killing each other before anyone else got the chance.
"Ok," Hope didn't get offended easily when it came to Luc and that riled him even more. "So I checked and three other people got killed who worked here."
"Rat boy?" Cole asked.
"No, really freaky stuff though. One was a dancer who got flattened by a stage prop during the show, another was a pit boss who was killed by…get this…a pit bull."
"You seeing a connection?" Cole asked Luc.
"Non, she's crazy."
"The third was a croupier who played the roulette table."
"And how did he die?"
"Playing Russian Roulette what else? Only witnesses claim the gun levitated by itself." She raised her hands.
"What does this have to do with the Rat?"
"Nothing but they all worked in the same place and it's weird."
"Look at this place." Cole gestured at the building. "There must be two thousand people working there!"
"You don't like a challenge?" She smirked as she walked towards the building.
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"Are you ok?" Brooke asked Bonnie yet again.
"Yeah." She sniffed. "I don't know what I expected but to be rejected by your own mother is kind of harsh."
"It was a shock for her darling, she'll come around. Dean said he talked to her."
"He slapped her and he never hits women."
"Well I'm sure he had his reasons." Which translated as 'I'm just shocked he didn't do it years ago'.
"It's all my fault." She cried.
"You haven't done anything wrong."
"What if she never talks to me again?"
Like the rest of them Brooke took Rita with a pinch of salt and a large dose of whiskey. She was a necessary evil in their lives but she was still Bonnie's mother and they respected that.
Johnny stormed in. "I've delayed Fabrizio as long as I can but you're gonna have to go down there or you'll miss your slot and believe me you don't want to miss Fabrizio's slot!" He flipped his phone shut and sat on the bed with the two girls. "I'm your wedding planner and I say you need to get prettied up. Forget about Rita, let me deal with her."
"You will?" Bonnie looked up hopefully.
"Of course, there isn't an aged showgirl in Vegas who's immune to my charms."
"Thank you."
"Ok, get your hot asses downstairs." He said as his phone rang again "You only have a couple of hours until you have to go get the dresses."
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"This is the life eh Bobby?" Dean said as he drank his beer on the sunlounger watching Sam and Dylan splashing in the water with Logan. No one would ever have thought Sam had any issues at all and it was great to watch.
Bobby sat in the shade wearing garish Bermuda shorts and his trusty cap whilst Lily slept against his furry chest. "It's the dream but it ain't reality son."
"It's my reality for a coupla days at least."
"This place is weird." Steve said as he sat down with a drink containing more parasols than units of alcohol. "Some woman just grabbed my ass."
"Where is she?" Dean looked around. "Was she hot?"
"Do you normally sunbathe in jeans?"
Bobby laughed as Dean ignored the question. "Where's Johnny?"
"He's gone mental over this wedding…God knows where he is." He leaned forward. "He has a file."
"Huh?" Bobby tried.
"A wedding file, it's scary."
Dean shrugged. "Ah well, as long as he keeps Bonnie happy…I swear she looked less upset when she was dying."
"Uncle Dean!" Dylan bounded over shaking water off his hair like he was an over-enthusiastic golden retriever. "Are you coming to swim?"
"In a minute."
"C'mon Dean!" Sam shouted.
Dean got up and ignored Bobby's look as he removed his jeans revealing his trunks and white legs.
"So that's why." Steve said like he understood finally and felt happy that Dean wasn't as flawless as he made out.
"There's nothin' wrong with my legs Dude!"
"No but if you stood with your feet together you could still fit a full sized pig between your knees." Bobby laughed into his bottle.
"You're hilarious old man." Lily suddenly woke up and deposited a load into her diaper. "Have fun with that." Dean smiled as he jumped into the pool to join his brother.
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"We may be onto something here." Cole said as he joined his sister and Luc in the bar. "I spoke to a waitress who said that everyone hated the pit boss."
"Same thing with mine." Luc said. "The croupier never split the tips…total bastard."
"The dancer that died was a whore." Hope said without further explanation.
"Was the Gladiator a shit too?" Luc asked.
"He was a grown man dressed as a Gladiator; he had out-of-work-model practically tattooed on his ass."
"What can I get you?" The barman asked cheerfully.
"Three beers." Hope said. "Don't give me that look." She said to her brother. "We need this."
"Can I see some I.D?"
All three of them looked up at him in shock and although it took a full minute Hope slowly removed her I.D from her purse. "There ya go."
"Just turned twenty one? How convenient."
"You want mine too?" Cole asked.
"I could always cut you in half and count the rings."
Cole showed him his I.D and flipped his wallet shut quickly.
"Twins?" The barman asked jovially. "That's nice." He put the beers down and walked away.
"That bastard's not getting a tip." Hope muttered into her beer.
"So what do we do?" Luc asked. "You wanna look into these people?"
"It seems a bit random to me." Cole was still not getting it. "I mean, they worked in the same place so what?"
Hope suddenly went red. "Are you ok?" Luc asked her.
"Yeah. Oh God…you guys…what else do they all have in common?"
"Apart from working together?" Cole shrugged.
Hope was frantic as she dug their Dad's journal out of her purse. "It's the Winchester Holy Grail."
"What?!"
"Ssh…" She whispered as she flipped the journal open to a page and pointed. "They're all dicks."
Both men leaned in and Cole's heart almost stopped. "No way."
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"Will you stop bein' such an old woman and come play Blackjack?" Dean asked his brother as he put another coin into the slot.
"Ya know statistically speaking slots have a better chance of paying out because…"
"My brain stopped workin' as soon as you said 'statistically' so get your ass off the stool and let another granny take a shot at the one armed bandit." Dean grabbed his arm and Sam grabbed his crutch. "I'm feelin' lucky today."
"So we're playing Blackjack then?"
"I dunno how're you feelin'?" Dean gestured at the Casino. "You gettin' any vibes?"
"You want me to get a nosebleed so you can win money Dean?"
"Sometimes you gotta take one for the team Sam."
"I should go check on the kids."
"They're with Johnny, they're fine…he's got Dylan watching a Harrison Ford marathon." He saw Sam's look. "They have salt, a bathful of holy water and a 'Do Not Disturb' sign. Chill."
"I guess."
"We're on holiday Sam. Embrace it."
"Ok, do you want your wedding present now then?" Sam asked.
"Totally."
"Let's hit the roulette wheel, you bring the tissues for my nose."
"I love you Sammy!" He said slapping his shoulder.
"We're going to hell for this."
"We're goin' to hell anyway, may as well go rich."
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"We have to go to Dad with this." Cole said.
"Dad's on holiday." Hope replied. "This is our hunt."
Luc grabbed her shoulder. "Hope, ca suffit."
"What?"
"You have the power to heal the sick and make the crippled walk but you're still a child in a lot of ways and you're not ready for a demigod."
"Who says?"
"Your father?" He pointed at the journal. "He took on the Trickster twice and didn't kill him."
"I'm not my Dad."
"You won't live to be as great as him if you do this alone. We're going to talk to him."
"Ya know you should really listen to him if I were you kiddo." The barman suddenly said. "Your Daddy couldn't gank me and I doubt you could either."
They all almost fell off their stools in shock as he laughed. "Don't panic, I could kill you right now but I won't."
Cole looked around at the other people in the bar. "You're him? You're the Trickster?!"
He pointed at the journal laughing. "Dean wrote about me huh? I feel almost humble but not quite."
"Let's see what he wrote." Hope frowned reading from the journal. "A stain on the butt of humanity. That mean anything to you?"
The Trickster turned to Luc. "She's a real firecracker huh? How's that working out for you butch, I mean do you ever get to wear the trousers?"
"Fils de pute."
"Steady there Frenchie, I'll take that as a no." He put down the glass he was cleaning and leaned on the bar casually reminiscing. "I used to have so much fun with Sam and Dean, they were total whacko's. I miss them."
"What are you doing here?" Cole asked.
He laughed. "I came for the wedding of the century of course; it's not every day a hunter gets married to a dead woman, kudos on that Hope." He wagged a finger at her. "I always knew you had it in you but I can't quite believe he made you quit Hooters, it's worth killing him for that alone."
"What do you want?" Hope asked.
"What? No witty repartee? And I thought you were your father's daughter…the new Messiah." He laughed again as he praised the sky. "If only all those freaks living in the Bible belt had a clue that the second coming came clad in cheap polyester with a libido that would make Jenna Jameson blush…?"
Cole watched her carefully as she chose her words. "I live my life how I want to."
"How does it feel Cole?" He asked suddenly. "Sam never stood up to Dean but he was the older one and a guy, you have it really tough having to answer to a girl."
Cole drank his beer. "I'm ok."
"Really? You've got a bit of a thing for older women don't you Ashton? Hey, who can blame you after losing your mother and living in your sister's shadow? You need a strong woman to make you her bitch."
Cole went to leap over the bar and Hope stopped him with one hand.
"Did I hit a nerve there?! Woah Hulkess!…I'm getting a little turned on right now. You're awesome." He smiled irritatingly as he clapped.
"Save it. Why did you kill those people?" Hope asked as Cole stood by his stool glowering.
"To get your attention and…" He pointed again at the journal. "'Cos they were dicks, no one'll miss them, why do you care?"
"We care."
The Trickster leaned across the bar towards her. "Hope." He said sincerely. "I know you've had a lot of tests done and stuff but are you sure they didn't find a pair of undescended testicles?"
She glared at him and he laughed once more making her even angrier. "You're not messing with my head."
"You have no idea what I'm capable of; just ask your Daddy."
"We know you swapped their bodies but you've met your match this time."
"Hope." Cole grabbed her arm. "Drop it."
"Listen to your brother little girl."
"I'm gonna wipe that smirk right off your face." She promised.
"You want a wedding to remember? You got it sister." The Trickster snapped his fingers and promptly disappeared.
"What the hell did you just do?" Cole shouted at her.
"Merde, she just pissed off a God." Luc said angrily taking her hand before storming out of the bar dragging her behind him.
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The trio drove in tense silence back to The Luxor and made their way straight to Johnny's room.
"Are Dad and Sam here?" Cole asked as soon as Steve opened the door.
"No, just the children, I think they're in the Casino with Bobby, your Mom and the others are doing something weddingy." He shrugged.
"Thanks!" He shouted as they ran back towards the elevators. Hope's phone rang suddenly and she grabbed it.
"It's Bobby." She paused and put it on speakerphone. "Hi Grandpa."
"Somethin' you kids wanna tell me?" He asked gruffly.
"No, why?" Hope grimaced.
"Get your asses to room 2430. NOW!" He promptly hung up and they got into the elevator.
"Shit, he better not have done anything to them." Cole prayed.
Luc stewed in angry silence casting scowls over at Hope occasionally as she attempted to keep her heart from beating right out of her chest.
They finally got to the room which was marked as the Honeymoon Suite. Cole knocked even as he put a hand on his gun. "It's us."
Bobby opened the door and ushered them in looking more pissed off than panic stricken. "What's up?" Hope asked.
"Why don't you tell me?"
They all glanced at one another then heard a squeal.
"I thought the kids were with Steve?" Cole asked.
"They are; it's just me, your Daddy and your Uncle in here." Bobby said in a sing-song voice that was dripping with sarcasm.
Cole frowned as he moved into the suite and stopped dead. "Oh my God!"
Hope paused behind him and her mouth hung open in shock as a naked four year old Dean bounced up and down on the four poster bed as his baby brother crawled along the carpet happily.
"They're babies." She said
"Nothin' escapes you. Do you know anythin' about this?" He growled angrily.
"It's the Trickster." Luc said. "We just met him he said he was going to do something, mon Dieu."
"I hate that guy." Bobby removed his cap and scratched his head. "Well, you're gonna have to fix it. Dean, watch your brother!" Bobby shouted suddenly.
"How?" Cole watched as Dean jumped off the bed and stopped Sam from crawling out onto the balcony before closing the sliding door.
"No Sammy, stay in the room."
"Good boy." Bobby told him.
"This is too weird." Hope felt sick.
"Ya think? You better get it fixed before your Mom and Brooke get back here or there'll be hell to pay."
"We'll fix it, don't worry." She was thinking and pacing frantically.
"How?!" Cole tried again.
"We just have to summon him and reason with him."
"He's watchin' and havin' a real laugh about this dontcha worry none." Bobby said. "But if you think he's about to do Dean any favours before he's had his fun then you're gonna be disappointed."
Hope looked around and grabbed Dean's discarded jeans removing the keys from the pocket. "I'll go get the books out of the Impala, there's got to be some way to stop this guy for good."
"I'll save you the bother. The only way to kill him is a stake to the heart and he ain't exactly gonna stand still long enough for you to turn him into kebab."
"There must be something we can do to strip his powers at least." She tried.
"I don't think anyone's ever tried it." He scratched his head again. "Dean, get that outta your brother's nose!"
"Well, if we can't kill him we're gonna find a way to make the bastard mortal." Hope said leaving the room confidently.
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Johnny turned up at the door a little later and Bobby checked the corridor. "The girls ain't with you are they?"
"No they're still in the spa, why?"
"As a weddin' co-ordinator have you ever come across this?" Bobby gestured into the room.
"You set up a day care facility Bobby? I didn't have you pegged as the type."
The old man watched as he tickled Dean under the chin making him kick his shin violently. "Ouch…who is this kid?" He rubbed at his leg with a frown.
"Take a wild guess."
Johnny looked at the green eyes and screamed suddenly making Sam follow suit so Cole had to pick him up to calm him down. "No?!"
"Yup."
"Dean?" He pointed as his face drained of color. "I thought I was going to faint when the florist screwed up the buttonholes! What the hell happened?!"
"The Trickster." Bobby said by way of explanation.
"Turn them back!"
"We're trying." Hope sat on the bed calmly surrounded by books. "Believe me."
"The girls are going to flip out!" He walked over to Cole looking at Baby Sam and took a moment. "Aww, he was always adorable then?"
"Get off him!" Dean kicked him again.
Johnny turned around slowly. "I always wanted to spank you Dean but this isn't exactly what I had in mind."
"Bite me!" He shouted.
"That answers that question: now we know he was born with a bad attitude."
"Just keep Mom and Brooke distracted and we'll take care of this." Cole said.
"This is a freakin' disaster." He yelled dramatically.
"You could always move the wedding dinner to Chucky Cheese." Hope laughed.
"You think this is funny?!" Johnny turned on her. "Bonnie's gonna spend her wedding night playing hide and seek instead of hide the salami and Brooke's going to be breast feeding her husband!"
"I doubt it would be the first time." Hope smirked.
"Gross." Cole grimaced and held Sam away from him slightly.
"Less wise cracks and more readin' Missy." Bobby pointed at her threateningly. "Just keep the girls away, we'll be in touch."
Johnny sighed heavily. "Ok, so what's your ETA on this?" He looked at his watch.
"All we have to do is find a way to turn a God into a mortal and Dad should be back to normal."
"Couple of hours then?" He muttered sarcastically as he headed for the door. "Sometimes I curse the day I got involved with this family."
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Hope rubbed her sore head as Luc came in with food and drink. "I need a break."
"Five minutes." Bobby said as he picked up another book.
Hope looked at Dean who was frantically pushing buttons on the remote whilst keeping a wary eye on everyone around him. "Is this the age they were when ya know…?"
"Yeah." Bobby looked up briefly.
"Do you think he knows who we are?" She whispered.
"I doubt he even knows who I am."
"He must be scared."
"Yeah, but he'll hide it."
Cole exhaled as Luc handed him a bottle for Sam. "I'm always left holding the baby."
"I'll do it." Dean said as he turned the TV off and went to take Sam away from Cole. They all watched as he sat calmly on a chair and fed his brother like it was no big deal.
"Wow." Hope muttered.
"What, you thought he was only protective later in life?" Bobby said. "He always looked out for Sam, we could go out now and leave 'em home alone and he'd muddle through."
She felt renewed admiration for her father and started reading again. "There has to be something here."
"I miss Talia, she knew everything about Gods." Cole said absent-mindedly as he headed for the sandwiches.
"What?" Hope looked up.
He took a bite and turned. "She knew all about the Gods and stuff."
"You're a genius." Hope said as she looked at them. "We need to find a God, or at least a demigod."
"What?" Cole asked.
"We have to find a God."
Luc laughed. "In Vegas?"
"She's not wrong." Bobby said. "Only another person of equal strength could take him on."
"What are you thinking?" Cole sat down with them.
"Talia said something about the family being descendents of Gods so we summon one to strip him of his powers."
"It's a bit far-fetched sis."
Hope stared at him. "Our mother just came back from the dead to marry our four year old father so that their baby who can time travel won't be a bastard."
"Yeah ok but why would any God do what we asked?"
"He's right, they don't tend to bow to our whims." Bobby pointed out.
"But…" Cole took a second. "If you think about it…what she said was that Dad was a descendent of Heracles and Sam of Apollo right?"
"OK…" Hope was remembering.
"I took more of my powers from the Shifter but you have the strength and Dylan has foresight…like Logan and Lily right? So who's to say you can't get the power to strip him of his?"
"How would I do that?"
"Get possessed by the power of a Goddess." Bobby smiled. "It can be done but only by someone strong enough."
"Woah!" Luc shouted making Dean look up. "She just went to purgatory and now you want her to get possessed by a Goddess? This is heresy."
"Nope just Wednesday." She smiled at him. "Well I'm up for it so what do I have to do?"
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Cole tapped away on the computer as Dean looked on in awe. "Well, we can't pick anyone too powerful as that's overdoing it slightly but we can pick a lesser known Goddess whose powers should be enough to take him out."
"Any takers?" Hope asked as Luc paced restlessly trying to burp Sam.
"This one's perfect. She's the goddess of strength, speed and victory."
"Sounds good, what's her name?"
Cole laughed. "What else? Nike."
"You're kidding? There's a Goddess called Nike?!"
"She was the daughter of Pallas and Styx and she drove Zeus's chariot." Bobby said from memory.
"Huh," She looked at Dean. "Hear that? Zeus let her drive!"
"She was pretty brave; she was the first to sign up for the clash of the Titans." Cole added.
"Sounds like my kinda girl. So, what now?"
"We need to move fast 'cos the Trickster'll be onto us soon enough, he's not all seein' but he has enough powers." Bobby took a few notes. "Luc, can you head over to this shop and pick up some stuff?"
"Sure." He looked unhappy about it but seemed pleased that he was off babysitting duty.
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Not knowing what they were getting into they had driven out into the desert and had set up the summoning ritual in the glare of the Impala's headlights. Sam was quite happy in his car seat but Dean was on the verge of getting a dose of Ritalin as he got more and more restless with the strangers.
When nothing happened they all looked at Hope who lay on the ground staring at the galaxy of stars above her head. "You think it worked?" She sat up.
"Don't you feel different?" Cole asked her.
"I always feel superior to mere mortals." She smiled as she stood up and dusted off her clothes.
Cole's phone rang and he answered it. "Yeah, we're on it. It's Johnny." He explained to the others. "Yes we have a plan." He raised his eyebrows and pulled the phone away from his ear. "Just tell them they went to a strip club, I'll call you when it's done." He hung up and pushed the phone into his pocket. "He's going ape."
"Get them out of the car." Hope said to Bobby who grabbed Sam knowing Dean would follow.
"Get off him." Dean yelled at Bobby.
"I'm not gonna hurt him, here you hold him and go stand over there ok?" Dean eyed the old man suspiciously as Hope stood in front of the Impala.
"I just wanna try something." She placed her right hand under the fender and with little effort managed to raise the front wheels out of the dirt.
"Oh my God." Cole said.
"Goddess." She corrected as she placed her other hand on the car and lifted the front clear of her head. She lowered it back down and looked at them. "I guess it did work."
"Try runnin'." Bobby said.
Hope disappeared in a gust of wind. "Where'd she go?" Cole spun in a circle.
"Right here." She tapped him on the shoulder and disappeared again leaving a trail of dust.
"I guess she has the speed too."
"Hope?!" Cole shouted waiting for her to come back.
"I think we're ready to go get him." She said returning in a flash. "Gimme a stake and we're good to go."
"How do we find him?" Luc asked.
"He'll be in plain sight, he's a cocky bastard." Bobby said.
"Caesar's Palace it is then, I'll race you there." Hope smiled and was gone.
Luc growled in frustration and kicked one of the tires on the car. "That woman drives me crazy!"
Dean ran over and kicked Luc in retaliation. "My Dad's gonna kill you for that!"
"This family…nom de Dieu!" He screamed as Cole restrained him and Bobby picked Dean up and got him out of the firing line.
"Calm down!" Cole shouted.
"I can't…I can't do it any more…it's over." Luc said.
"Get in the car son and let's talk this through." Bobby said as he put Sam back in the Impala and fastened him in.
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"She was bad enough before but now she's eighteen?" Luc raged as he sat next to a silent Cole. "I'm a trained killer! Men fear me…"
"Yeah, she's not like most men Dude."
"She's got bigger balls." Bobby stated. "Don't mean she doesn't need you."
"To do what; make her breakfast and babysit?" He calmed for a second. "I remember after the thing with the Chimera and after her mother died, she needed me but now…?"
Bobby spoke firmly and with no small amount of respect for the man who had put up with her for more than a year. "You can't wish hurt on a girl just so you can feel more of a man. If you can't handle it walk away now and no one will think less of you for it."
"Except Dean."
"What?" Came a little voice.
"Not you kid, he means another Dean." Bobby answered.
They drove in silence the rest of the way and could tell as soon as they got to Caesar's Palace that Hope was already there. As people ran out of the building the fire alarms went into overdrive instructing everyone to make their way outside.
"You boys get in there. I'll stay with Sam and Dean." Bobby shouted over the sirens as Cole pulled into the kerb making sure they were clear of hydrants.
Grabbing the Colt Cole ran past security but got stopped in the foyer. He dug a badge out of his pocket. "We're cops, we had a call about a terror alert."
"There's been an explosion in the main auditorium, we still got performers in there. Bomb Squad's on its' way."
"Where?!" Luc yelled over the noise as pit bosses got into full on brawls with people scrambling for chips on the floor heedless of any emergency.
The guy pointed over to the auditorium and Cole started to run with Luc behind him. When they got into the theatre it was mayhem as all hell broke loose.
Hope was on the stage in a stand off with the Trickster who was using the Cirque de Soleil acrobats as fodder for any amount of monsters that he could create.
Hope was fighting him off s scenery fell all around them. Cole saw a man in a unitard being assaulted by Freddy Krueger and stepped in as Luc climbed up into the rafters to free a woman from a trapeze who was being attacked by vampire bats.
"I think I underestimated you, you little minx." The Trickster laughed.
"You're good but I'm better." She said as she got him in a choke hold. He vaporized quickly and reappeared behind her.
"Boo!"
She jumped. "You're not that good sister I can kill your entire family like that." He clicked the fingers of his right hand.
Hope closed her eyes and paused a second as she concentrated. Suddenly a forcefield appeared around the stage and she looked back at him. "It's just you and me now."
The Trickster clicked his fingers but nothing happened. He clicked again and frowned making her smile. "What did you do?"
"I think my testicles just dropped." Hope laughed as she walked towards him and grabbed his hand in one of hers. "You ever wonder why you're just a demigod?" His fingers crunched beneath hers and he howled. "It's 'cos you're the biggest dick of all."
The Trickster yelled. "I'll do anything you want." He tried as he fell to his knees in front of her.
Releasing his right hand she watched him with satisfaction. "Turn my Dad and Sam back."
"I can't…not with the forcefield…"
"I'll just kill you then." She shrugged.
"Ok, ok!" He raised his shaking left hand and snapped his fingers. "It's done. Now please…"
"Please what?"
The Trickster raised his shoulders. "Don't kill me."
"Oh I'm going to do worse than kill you."
His eyes widened as she stood over him and placed a hand on his head closing her eyes. "By the power of Grayskull: I have the POWER!!!!"
There was a huge flash of light and everything suddenly went quiet. The Trickster opened one eye and squinted up at her and then looked around. The forcefield was gone and the room was filled with a bunch of people in lycra who would need counselling for the rest of their lives.
Cole stood up in the aisle. "You ok?" He shouted through the massive arena.
"I always wanted to say those words and it felt amazing!" She smiled as she helped her opponent up. "How are you Bucko?"
"You took my powers." He said in shock. "They're gone."
She shrugged. "You messed with the Winchester's one too many times, game over."
"What?" He asked helplessly.
"Now you're just a barman but look on the bright side at least the tips'll be good here."
"You can't leave me like this!" He shouted as she jumped off the stage.
"Oh I think I can."
"I'll be your slave…"
Hope laughed as she joined Cole and Luc. "No man's my slave."
"Yeah right." Luc snorted.
"I mean it." She said turning to him. "I don't wanna be a dick and if you think that's what I'm being then just slap me."
"How about if I just kiss you instead?"
"That'll work."
The Trickster was still screaming as the three of them walked out and returned to find a very pissed off and naked Sam and Dean waiting for them in the Impala.
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Dean sat at the bar and knocked back his third shot.
"Nervous?" Sam asked.
"About gettin' married? I think I got over that already. Nah, I'm just scared about Hope."
"Don't be, she's strong but she's got a good support system."
"Can you believe she took out the Trickster?"
"Well, I can't believe she did it without killing him."
Dean paused as he thought about it. "I hear he makes a mean mojito though. Think we should stop by and see him at work later, rub it in just a little?"
Sam laughed out loud. "That's harsh but yeah, totally!"
Dean laughed with him as they considered the day before and what the others had told them. "You think it's time to hand over the reins?"
Sam threw back his own shot. "You feeling old?"
"No chance."
"Well then, no more crazy talk, you're still the best in the business."
"I know." Dean smiled as they got a refill. "But I can't do it without my wing man."
"Why am I always the sidekick?"
"'Cos I'm older. C'mon Sammy don't be sore, there are cool sidekicks."
"Name one."
"Chewbacca." Dean said confidently.
Sam laughed again. "I should just be thankful you didn't say Robin."
"Dude they were totally gay."
"And Chewie's all man?"
"He was all Sasquatch and that's you bro."
They were interrupted when Cole and Luc walked in and grabbed seats. It was early afternoon but that never mattered in Vegas as they knocked back the alcohol with the sun still high in the sky.
"Everyone ok?" Sam asked.
"Johnny's driving everyone crazy and Mom's wondering why she hasn't seen anyone is hours, I think she's stressed."
"She never wanted all the fuss, I think she's just goin' along with it to make up for Johnny missin' her all that time." Dean said.
"How about me?" An unmistakeable voice said from behind them.
They all turned on their stools.
"Rita." Cole was the first to speak.
She looked like she used to; all sequins, glitter and falseness. "You can call me Grandma."
Dean's eyebrows shot up knowing it took a lot of balls for her to be there. He stood up. "Here, have my seat."
"Thanks." She was glad he wasn't going to make a big deal of it and knew she could count on him to know when someone was making an effort.
"Barman?" Dean said. "Another round."
They all had a few more drinks before they had to meet the others in the lobby and soon it was time to leave.
"You alright?" Dean checked with Sam who was without his crutch for once knowing that if he had any problems everyone else would be there for him.
"I'm really good." He said slinging an arm around his brother as they walked through the Casino. "It's not so shabby being your sidekick you know?"
"Yeah? I'll remind you of that next time you bitch at me."
"I know I go mad sometimes but you're a pretty cool brother."
"Save the speech for dinner Dude."
"Aww I embarrassed you." Sam nudged him.
"You're such a lush, I can't take you anywhere."
"I'm just kiddin' this is a good day to be a Winchester."
As Dean stood in the lobby and watched the most stunning woman in the world walk towards him he had to agree. "Sam, we finally have it all and no one's ever takin' it away from us again."
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That's the end of Supremacy but I did promise an epilogue which you'll get some time soon...you have to meet Lily after all and see what happens to make the Winchesters reign Supreme! It's going to be an add on to this and possibly as long as one chapter but then that's your lot! I love you guys and can't wait to hear from you.
Well, I turn 32 in 2 hours and here I am with my wine and the world of porn. I don't have my family with me for my birthday but I have you lot and that's not too shabby!