Ben rubbed at his eyes, and got up, clicking off his alarm. He groaned. They really were making him go to school on his birthday weren't they? Finals soon. /Sigh./ He pulled on his shirt, trying to wake up still, and through the collar, he saw a box on the end of his bed.

What in the world could it be? He shook it. A light noise echoed through the wrapping paper. He chewed on his lip, untangling the bow from it, and pulling away the design enveloping it. What he found was a box of condoms. Why did he have to be turning sixteen? Couldn't he be turning some other, not-awkward age? He groaned again, and walked down stairs. "I hate you guys."

Cas smiled, and Dean played it cool. "I don't know what you're talking about." He was standing by the kitchen table, where Cas was sitting.

"We just want you to be safe." Cas offered.

Ben gave him a look of pure annoyance. "Yeah. Well, if I could get a girl to come anywhere within twenty feet of me, that'd be a swell idea, and a great thing to be worried about. But I can't, so."

Dean shrugged. "Hey, I can't get anyone to come that far away either. It's okay."

Cas reached around the back of his chair at the table and slapped Dean's side. "You're a pig."

Dean rolled his eyes. "It was funny, you have to admit-" He shook his head. Ben shook his head. Dean chuckled softly. "It's a little funny."

-
"Heya, Ben." Sam ruffled Ben's shaggy hair. "God, you look like your dad." He shook his head. "You're growing up too fast, boy." He wrapped an arm around the kid, and squeezed his shoulders. "Where's Cas at? I've got the cake Jess made for ya. Not sure what he wants me to do with it." He said, showing ben the container.

Cas pointed to the kitchen. "He's always in the kitchen or the library. He's making funnel cakes right now."

"Funnel cakes?" Sam asked, looking to the kitchen, then glancing back to Ben.

Ben shrugged. "I don't know, man, I don't know."

An hour or so later, Sam and Jess, and Dean and Cas, and a friend or two of Ben's were singing to him. He blew out the candles, and pretended that he wasn't near as happy as he was. He loved having a family. He loved being here with all these people, and making them happy. He tried not to, but he couldn't help comparing his birthdays here to the ones in foster care.

Eighth: In the living room. Eight people were there. No one knew it was his birthday.

Ninth: Again, no one knew. He sat in the room he shared with two others for six hours, then snuck out to skate board in the alley out back.

Tenth: He found a dog, and named it Atticus. Atticus ran off by the end of the night. He was alone again. His new foster mom told him happy birthday.

Eleven: Lisa wrote him a letter. He tore it up, but decided to keep the pieces in a plastic baggy. He was ran away, but by the end of the week, he was back in the home he'd ran from. He didn't like his foster parents at this one. They felt too enthusiastic sometimes, but then didn't seem to care at all about his presence at others. At least the other mom didn't pretend to care.

Twelth: He was put with another home. He met a girl named Celeste. Her dad's house was at the end of the street. They rode bikes together on Wednesday night. She was with her dad those nights, but she didn't care for him much so she played outside. She gave him her address. He still had it somewhere. He wondered if maybe he should write her. See how she was doing. He liked that they had some mututal anger toward a parental figure. It was nice.

He chewed on his lip, like he always did when he was deep in thought. He felt a hand griping his shoulder. It was Dean. "Hi Dad." He said, looking back at him.

"How you feelin' kid?" He asked, leaning down closer. The rest of the kitchen was full of their guests for the day. They were all conversing and having a good time. Ben was sitting by the remainants of his cake and his empty plate still, staring off into space.

"Dean, I'm really glad you found me. And I'm really, really glad that you fought for me. God knows if I'd even be here today had you not." He stood up and hugged Dean suddenly. The sound of his chair scooting across the floor had caused heads to turn.

Sam noticed the action, so did Jess. And the two or three friends. And Cas. They tried to continue their chatting, but everyone watched as Ben sniffled and Dean tightened his grip on the boy. "I love you, Dad." He said.

Dean kissed the top of his head. "I love you too."