AN: Thank you for all of the follows, favorites, and reviews! Please continue to review and let me know anything you might like to see happen within the story. Contructive criticism is always welcome, good or bad. Enjoy the next chapter!
The house is eerily quiet and I feel the warmth of sunshine on my face. Cracking open my eyes are harder than I expected, whether it's from the heavy sleep or the hangover I'm not real sure, but either way it takes me a few minutes to get them open and blink warily at the window. I remember everything from yesterday and my lips still have the pleasant tingle in them from Dean's kisses. I just made everything so much more complicated. John told me to choose but how can I? What my head tells me and what my heart tells me are always conflicting. Emotions are not a logical person's best friend by any means.
I slowly get out of bed and pull my black curls into a messy bun on top of my head, causing it to look a little wild and make my way downstairs in my tank top and sleep shorts. Peeking around the corner I see Sam stretched out on the couch, mouth open slightly, fast asleep. Dean is splayed out on the recliner, book on his chest, lightly snoring while Bobby is face planted into a book at his desk fast asleep still. Letting out a light laugh at the site of them I pad my way into the kitchen to make some coffee and breakfast. Best cure for a hangover is something John taught me, coffee and a big greasy breakfast. While the coffee is brewing I start making eggs, pancakes, bacon, and slicing up some fruit. Bobby's house never has groceries unless I am here and I always make sure to feed him home cooked meals while I am staying with him. His usual diet of alcohol makes me wonder how he is still breathing half of the time. While waiting to flip the pancakes I pour myself a cup of coffee and put in my sugar and creamer and take a small sip so not to burn myself. While cooking the rest of the pancakes I get so lost in thought that I don't realize Dean has been standing in the doorway of the kitchen watching me for several minutes now until I turn around and almost drop the plate in my hand from the startle.
"Jesus Dean you scared me!" I quickly place the plate on the table and hold a hand to my chest to slow my rapid beating heart and slow my breathing.
"Sorry didn't mean to scare you…was just appreciating the site. Haven't seen you like this in a while."
"Like what?"
"You know…cooking, still in your pj's which might I add are really tempting, hair all piled up and crazy from sleep. Don't really realize what you'll miss until it's gone." Dean walks up to me with his hands stuffed in his pockets, pulling one out to brush his thumb across my cheek, causing electricity to shoot down my spine. "Had some flour…there." He crams his hand quickly back in his pocket but makes no move to step back.
"Want some coffee? Breakfast should be done in a minute." He gives me a small smile and nods his head, causing me to take a step back and pour him a mug with 2 sugars, handing it to him.
"Thanks." I give him a small smile and start making up plates for him and me to eat, making sure there's enough on his plate to last him until lunch. The amount of food he consumes isn't really surprising anymore, but it is way more than I can eat. I set his plate down in front of him at the table along with my own, sitting across from him to eat. The silence between us is only mildly awkward and I can feel his eyes on me every so often. He reaches over the table and lays his hand over one of mine, causing me to look up into his eyes.
"You remember much about last night?"
"Yeah…of course. I remember everything that happened yesterday…Can you call Cas after breakfast? Seems like that's probably the best first step, try and get some answers. I mean if demons know things then surely angels do too, right?"
"Yeah…we can do that. Told you we weren't going anywhere." His thumb is rubbing soothing circles over the top of my hand but I still do not feel the pull anymore. Wonder if that means I am controlling it or if he is blocking me out?
"Good cause I wanna talk to Ellen and Jo today, kinda keep them in the loop, ya know?"
"Of course…anymore visions or visits or whatever?" Do I tell him about John or is that going to break this little peace treaty we seem to have going at the moment?
"No visions but Bobby hasn't touched me and neither has Sam. The few times you have, nothing's happened."
"Oh, well that's a good thing though, right?"
"I guess. I don't really know what to think anymore, ya know?" I take a deep breath and I can see the genuine concern in his eyes and I feel a little guilty. Normally I wouldn't keep things from him but I have so many questions when it comes to us now. "I did get a visit last night though, if that's what you want to call it." My voice comes out almost a whisper and he stops eating, taking my one hand in both of his.
"From Mom again?"
"No…not exactly."
"What's that mean?"
"I want to tell you, I just don't know if I should."
"Why the hell not?"
"Dean…when was the last time we got along? I mean honest to God, got along? We are eating breakfast together, in peace, no yelling, no fighting, no animosity…I don't want to ruin that. I don't want you to get pissed off because you think of me in a bad way out of disbelief."
"You've always told me everything, you've never lied to me, not once. I don't want to believe stuff like this happens to you, didn't want to believe it with Sam either and look where that got me. So no, I believe whatever you have to tell me, just don't start keeping things from me. I want this to work, I want my kickass beautiful wife back and I'll do whatever the hell I have to do to make that happen. I saw it yesterday in your eyes and I see it again right now. I am going to tell you right now this one time only and never again…you're not a monster. I don't think you are a monster at all, much less something to hunt. Even if others thought you were, I wouldn't let them near you because I know you better than you know yourself. So spill…"
"Okay…John came to see me last night while I was drunk. I fell asleep in the backseat of Baby and he got a real kick out of me being drunk." His lopsided smile matches my own and his hands grip mine a little tighter.
"What'd Dad have to say?"
"Came to give me some much missed fatherly advice on how to deal with his hard headed sons and apparently myself. He also told me that the demon was kind of on the right track apparently with pregnancy being involved somehow. Said I was supposed to be giving him some badass grandkids, at least 1 by now but the timeline was thrown off because of…well, you know."
"Kids? As in plural?"
"That's what both John and Mary told me…just not sure why or what that has to do with everything else going on with me. They didn't have the answers for that either."
"So if I wasn't such a fuck up, you'd be pregnant right now, huh?"
"Maybe…I don't know."
"We never really talked about kids before."
"Didn't think we would need to really."
"Why? Isn't that a normal topic of discussion between married people?"
"Well yeah, but Dean, you're a hunter. You didn't really ever think you'd want any kids because of the hunting. Plus I went on hunts with you guys more often than not, what good would that be for me to be pregnant. Can't raise kids in the backseat of the Impala." Dean took both of our plates to the sink and leaned back on the counter, arms crossed on his broad chest.
"We could come up with something though. I'd want a family with you. I'd give up hunting for the chance at that kind of life with you."
"Thought you lived for the hunt?"
"I did…still do some days."
"What about the other days?"
"The other days I just want a normal life with my family, with you." Before there is any chance for me to respond Sam walks into the kitchen with a yawn and his long hair disheveled.
"Morning Sammy, hungry? Made coffee and breakfast this morning." He gives me a sleepy smile and kisses the top of my head before plopping down in the chair beside me.
"That'd be great, thanks Jenn."
"No problem." I got up and made Sam a plate along with a big bowl of the fruit salad I made, putting it on front of him. I make his coffee the same way I did mine and also bring him a glass of orange juice, stealing small glances at Dean as I make my way around the kitchen. His confession starts my mind on over drive. Everything I ever wanted to him from him I finally heard.
"This is great Jenn. You have no idea how bad I miss you're cooking." I laugh and kiss his cheek before starting to wash the dishes, Dean making no effort to move or give me any space. "I see you two are finally able to stay in the same room without yelling at each other." Dean and I look briefly at each other before Dean gives a quick reply. "Yeah…it's a start."
"Baby steps Sammy."
"I'm glad…can't stand seeing you two at each other's throats all the time."
Dean puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder with a gentle squeeze before he sits back at the table with Sammy, discussing the events to take place today, starting with calling for Cas and hopefully getting some answers. The fact that demons, especially Crowley is so interested in learning more about me than usual is unsettling, even if I won't willing show or express it. I hear Bobby grunts and groans of protesting movement making his way into the kitchen and I can't help but chuckle and shake my head. I start making him up a plate as well as his coffee, setting it on the table with the boys. It's our routine every time I am here and I know what's coming next so I stand near the table, arms crossed, hip cocked, foot impatiently tapping, one hand held out just in time for him to come through the door. Sam and Dean watch the interaction with amusement, fully grinning at the site in front of them. Bobby stops in the doorway, narrowing eyes at Jenn with a glass of bourbon in his hand.
"Nuh uh kid, not today. You stole the good bottle now leave me to drink in peace."
"Give it up Bobby. Breakfast is on the table, along with a cup of coffee with 3 sugars just how you like it. Besides, you're secret stash hasn't been a secret since we've been teenagers. Why do you think you've had more than that bottle go missing? Hand it over old man."
"Why you little…" Jenn cut him off by taking the drink from his hand and pouring it down the sink with an eyebrow cocked, staring at him with narrowed eyes, daring him to finish his sentence. "How in the hell did you boys ever live with her?" Sam and Dean look over at her, barely containing their laughter.
"She's my wife…kinda comes with the contract."
"Come on Bobby, she's just looking out for you."
"She's gonna kill me is what she's gonna do."
I walk over to the table and give Bobby a kiss on the cheek as he grumpily chews on his pancakes and bacon, seeing that he actually enjoys this little routine of ours in his eyes. His eyes always give away what he is truly feeling.
"Love you old man."
"Yeah yeah…back at ya, devil woman." I laugh whole heartedly at that and start to walk up the stairs before hollering back at them.
"Call Castiel, I'm gonna hop in the shower real quick!" Just as I reach the landing at the top of the stairs I bump into a solid figure and scream, about to fall head first back down the stairs. Before falling a pair of strong arms reaches out and grabs me, setting me back on the landing. Looking up I see the one person I wasn't expecting to see without Dean's help.
"Cas…"