Sam had replayed this scenario over and over in his mind over the past five years. He thought he knew exactly what he was going to say. But now that she was standing in front of him, now that he was staring in her emerald eyes he couldn't think of a damn thing to say. This Alex was softer, not as rough around the edges as the hunter side of her, he could tell that just by looking at her. She was still in her shimmering costume and that reminded Sam that he had brought her a rose. It seemed pitiful compared to the large bouquets placed around her dressing room. Apparently she had quite a few fans.

"You cut your hair." Sam mentally kicked himself. What a stupid thing to say. Well, he already started a stupid sentence so he might as well finish it. "I—I like it. It—uh- frames your face."

Alex couldn't respond. She was afraid to speak and shatter this dream that she was surely having. There was no way that Sam was standing here in one of his plaid shirts, holding a white rose, with that same shaggy hair do that she wanted to run her fingers through. The smell of his cologne drifted toward her nose and she felt her throat tighten. A knock on the door jolted her back to reality.

"Mrs. Winchester?" An intern, some nameless new girl, poked her head in. Sam felt his heart swell with hope when he heard that Alex still used his name. "They're waiting for your costume."

"Thanks. I'll send it over in a minute." Alex promised. Sam offered a polite smile to the intern before she left.

When they were alone again Sam extended the rose to Alex. "This is for you. You were great, Lex."

Alex gingerly took the rose from him but never took her eyes off him. When she spoke, her voice was thick with the tears that Sam could see filling her eyes. "I thought you were dead."

"I'm not." Sam chuckled nervously.

"Where's Dean?" Alex asked, fingering the petals of the rose.

"He's trying to hook up with some chorus dancer, I think." Sam said. They both jumped when Alex's phone rang.

"Mommy, when are you coming home?" Madison had used Castiel's phone to call her.

"Soon, sweetheart. I'm changing right now."

"Okay. Did you do good?"

"I hope so." Alex smiled against the phone. "Get into your pajamas and I'll be home to tuck you in."

"Okay. Bye mommy!" Madison hung up the phone and Alex put her phone back down.

"That was Maddie. Sam, I need to head home." Alex said, uncertainty in her voice.

"Look, I get it. This is a lot to take in." Sam stepped closer to Alex but she moved away from his touch. "Just...can we meet up and talk about this later?"

"Sure." Alex nodded.

"Great. Dean and I are staying at the hotel down the street." Sam wrote down his room number for her. His fingers brushed hers when she took the slip of paper from him. He turned to leave but paused with his hand on the door. "You look beautiful, Lex."

"Could you help me with the zipper?" Alex asked. "It gets stuck and I don't want to ruin the dress."

"Sure." Sam tugged on the zipper gently, lowering it. She still smelled like strawberries and Sam wanted to press his lips to her neck where he could see her pulse throbbing faintly. He felt like he wasn't in control of himself when he closed the small space between them and lowered his head. Alex felt his breath on her skin and her stomach fluttered. Her eyes closed of their own accord and she leaned into him, pressing against his chest, before her sense kicked in. She couldn't do this. Not now.

"I'm sorry." Alex cleared her throat and turned to face him.

"It's okay." Sam cleared his throat. "I have to make sure Dean doesn't get in trouble anyway."

When he was gone, Alex changed quickly and on the cab ride home she tried to slow her heartbeat. Castiel greeted her with a kiss and the children were put to bed quickly.

"Are you alright?" Castiel asked when he found her sitting on their bed.

"Hmm?" Alex brought her mind back to the present. He was standing in front of her and she smiled at him. "Absolutely. How were the kids today?"

"They were great. They mostly stuck together today and Sera made Levi wear a tutu for a tea party." Castiel chuckled. "I took a photo, if you'd like to see it."

"Maybe tomorrow." Alex slipped her fingers into his belt loops and pulled him forward. Taking the hint, Castiel lowered his head to kiss her and placed his hands on either side of her neck so he could deepen the kiss. Alex scooted back on the bed and Castiel helped her, sliding one arm around her waist and pulling her close to his body while they moved, unwilling to break the kiss. The angel was not one to pressure her for intimacy but he wasn't the fool who would refuse it either. Alex wrapped her arms around his neck, weaving her fingers in his hair. He loved the feeling of her nails gently scratching the nape of his neck. Castiel moved his lips along her jaw and kissed her neck tenderly, feeling a bit proud when she moaned softly in response. He knew her body, knew how to show her exactly how much he loved her when all words failed him.

"I need you, Cas." Alex breathed in his ear, moving so she could unbutton his shirt. Her hands were cold against his skin and it startled him for a moment. The scruff on his chin scratched her neck while he kissed her as he pulled her shirt up. She sat up long enough to help him get her shirt off and when he pressed his skin against hers, his stomach got butterflies in it. Eager to feel all of her pressed against them, Castiel discarded the rest of their clothes and pressed a kiss to the tattoo of his wings inked on her hip. He heard her breath catch when the tip of his tongue danced across her skin and she pulled him back to reclaim his lips.

Positioning himself over her, Castiel thrust and it was like electricity all over his body. He thought he'd be able to adapt to the feeling of being so intimate with Alex but each time it shocked him. Alex arched her back underneath him and he pressed his body closer to her. He whispered the depths of his love in Enochian, not bothering to translate his thoughts to English. He knew Alex would understand his words.

Later, when they had finished and Alex was wrapped in his arms, Castiel watched her sleep. If the other angels saw him now, he'd be a disgrace but he would gladly lose the host of Heaven if it meant he could have Alex and their little family. Yes, Levi and Madison were not his children, but he loved them as much as he did Seraphina. They had all been allowed to start over and Castiel was grateful for that chance, even if it came at such a cost as losing the Winchesters.

When Alex woke up the next morning, she knew that she shouldn't have slept with Castiel. It wasn't the right thing to do when she had just found out that Sam was alive. She just needed something familiar, needed to be wrapped in his arms. Her phone buzzed and there was a text.

Good morning beautiful. SW

Alex smiled as she read the text. She could hear commotion downstairs and put her phone down, waiting to reply until later. The kids were getting ready for school and Castiel was trying to wrangle them to get them to eat breakfast. She had to use her "mom voice" but Alex managed to get the kids to sit down and eat. She joined Castiel in the kitchen and kissed his cheek before leaning against the counter. Castiel turned his attention to her and slid his arms around her waist, kissing the tip of her nose.

"Any plans for today?" Alex asked him.

"Nothing definite. The twins have school and Sera is going to day care so it'll be pretty uneventful." Castiel said. He glanced in the dining room and seeing that the children were occupied with breakfast he kissed Alex, chuckling a few seconds later when a chorus of "Ewwww" sounded. Alex laughed and ushered the twins onto the school bus then gave Seraphina a kiss goodbye when Castiel took her to day care.

Alex went upstairs to shower and get dressed. When she was drying her hair, she heard her phone buzz again.

Can I see you today? SW

I've got a show this afternoon.

Do you want to meet up after? SW

I can't. The girls have a dance class.

I miss you. I need to see you. Please. SW

Alex checked the time. I've got some time this morning.

Dean says if you come over, bring pie. SW

I'll come over soon. If Dean's lucky, I'll bring pie.

Alex had chosen a simple enough outfit: black sweater dress, tights, and her favorite boots. It wasn't until after she left her bakery with the pie for Dean and was in the cab on the way to the hotel did she think seeing Sam was a bad idea. When she was standing outside of Sam's door, she hesitated, debating internally if she should just go home. She knocked anyway.

"Pie?" Alex heard Dean ask when Sam opened the door.

"Come on in." Sam chuckled at his brother. Dean almost crushed the pie when he hugged Alex. Then he came to his senses and took the pie, along with the fork, and dug in. It was mostly awkward silence while Alex and Sam stared at each other, unsure of what to say.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" Alex asked. "Or get some coffee or something?"

"Yeah. Sure." Sam grabbed his coat.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do, you crazy kids." Dean called after them with his mouth full.

Sam shot his brother a look and closed the door after him. Alex took Sam to her favorite diner, a place she had found by accident but loved it because she could go here to be alone. They ordered something to eat and some coffee.

"How did you find me?" Alex asked, gripping the coffee mug tightly.

"I got a call from the hospital. I guess you put me down as Levi's emergency contact and they called when he was in the coma." Sam said.

"Yeah. They needed an emergency contact and I didn't know who else to put down." Alex said.

"You could have used Bobby or Ellen."

"I guess a part of me hoped that you'd always come back. That you'd find me and the twins."

Sam took a drink of the coffee. "Why did you move to New York?"

"I spent a year looking for you guys. Cas helped me with the twins, helped me keep them safe while I looked. The last time I came back from looking for you, he begged me to stop. He wanted me to start over and have a life." Alex cleared her throat. "Honestly, it was just too painful to keep looking and not finding you."

Sam nodded in understanding. He couldn't expect her to look for him for five years. Their food came and they picked at their food.

"It looks like you got everything you wanted." Sam said. "The family, your mate, the career on Broadway."

"Yeah, I guess." Alex nudged a fry on her plate. "I don't hunt anymore."

"I'm glad you got out." Sam was sincere. "The twins seem happy."

"They are." Alex smiled a half smile.

"So...Seraphina?" Sam asked.

"Oh." Alex looked awkward. "She's Cas' daughter. Well, his and mine."

Sam and Alex were quiet for a long few minutes. He decided to ask the question he had been afraid to know the answer to. "What does this mean for us?"

"Do you want an honest answer?" Alex waited for Sam to nod before continuing. "I don't know. All I wanted for a long time was to have you home."

"I'm here now." Sam reached across the table and took Alex's hand in her own.

"Yeah, but for how long?" Alex asked, her voice breaking. "How long until one of us dies again? I can't keep doing this."

"I get it." Sam stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. His phone rang and he let go of her hand to answer it. When he hung up he said, "I have to go. Dean needs me."

"I have to get to the theater anyway. The matinee show will start soon." Alex tossed some bills on the table to pay for their lunch.

"Can I see Levi and Madison?" Sam asked while he walked her to the theater.

"Of course. You're their father. Just don't bring up hunting, please. It's going to be a big enough shock to see you as it is." Alex said.

"What did you tell them?"

"I said we worked together and you disappeared on a job."

"When can I see them?" Sam couldn't wait to see his children.

"School's out at three and then the girls have a dance class at 4. I could bring the twins over when the girls get back." Alex said.

"Thank you." Sam didn't know what else to say. Alex smiled and went into the theater. It turns out that Dean just was getting restless and wanted a wingman when he went to a bar. Sam declined and Dean left on his own. Sam basically watched the clock the rest of the afternoon. He tried to read, watch TV, and even tried to nap but his mind was racing. Finally there was a knock on the door and his family was on the other side.

"Levi, Madison, this is your father." Alex said.

"Hi." Sam said.

"You're my daddy?" Madison asked. Levi looked cautious.

"Yes." Sam nodded.

"I thought you said he was gone." Levi asked Alex, not letting go of her hand.

"He came back." Alex said. Kneeling next to Levi, she said, "Give him a chance, sweetie."

Madison and Levi exchanged a look and Madison stepped forward to hug Sam. He held her tightly and kissed her cheek. Alex had sent Seraphina and Castiel out for ice cream while she brought the twins here. Sam eventually won Levi over and before long the twins were talking over each other trying to tell Sam stories.

"Mommy, can we stay with Daddy tonight?" Madison tugged on Alex's hand.

"Not tonight." Alex's answer was definite.

"How come?" Levi asked.

"Because you both have homework to do before bed." Alex put their coats on them. "It's almost time for dinner so let's get home."

"I'll see you guys later." Sam kissed his children on their heads. He stopped Alex on her way out. "Can you come back tomorrow?"

"I can try." Alex promised. "My show is over now so I'll have some free time. Don't worry Winchester. You haven't seen the last of me."

Sam chuckled and closed the door behind her. Every part of him was screaming to run after her and bring her back to him and never let her go. If she didn't have the twins with her, he would have. In the meantime, he had some presents to buy for two very special children.

A/N: To be honest, I started this chapter last night but completely passed out halfway through writing it. I know the story is moving kind of slow but it will pick up soon. Thank you to my lovely readers, reviewers, followers, and favoriters. Finding out that you all enjoy my story makes my day. Feel free to drop a review on your way out. I love all of you! xo