Chapter 11

Dean

Saying goodbye to Jody was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. She stayed for about three weeks after Everett and Glory were born, soaking up as much baby time as she could. It wasn't as if she was moving far (her new apartment was about ten minutes from our place) but just knowing that we couldn't use her to our beck and call anymore was a little unnerving.

Lib wasn't sure what was happening, but she went along with it anyway, making "Gamma" Jody promise that she would come over to play within the week.

"You're leaving me with three kids?" I asked once more as she pulled me into an embrace. "You know life is going to crumble around us without you here."

"You're a big boy," she said, smiling. "You and that gorgeous wife of yours will be fine."

I glanced at Grace and grinned. "She is gorgeous, isn't she?"

Jody kissed me on the cheek and wrapped Libby in a hug, swinging her around. "You help Momma take care of your brother and sister, you hear?" she said, stern. "I want to hear that you're being helpful, Liberty Adeline."

Lib nodded once, beaming. "Roly and Rhett. I help."

Tears came to Jody's eyes, hearing Lib speak her sibling's names. We had spent the day celebrating Lib's second birthday and now, she felt like she was grown up, ready to be at Grace's right hand whenever she needed her. I was incredibly proud of her and how well she was handling being a big sister.

"You call me when your cousin is born," Jody said, putting Libby down next to Grace. "I can't wait to meet him." She looked up to Grace, standing near me with Everett in her arms. "And you," she said, speaking now to Grace and only Grace. "You take care of yourself and don't let anyone else think they can screw with this family."

Nodding, a sly grin spread across my wife's face. "Not on their lives."

I watched them embrace and Jody nodded to the thoughts that Grace pushed into her brain. I had no idea what she said, but I had a feeling that it was about me. I looked away, knowing it was stupid to get this worked up over Jody leaving…but it was like a part of our lives would be empty without her filling the downstairs apartment. She had gotten us through so much in such a short amount of time and I would be forever grateful to the woman that felt like a mother to me.

Finally letting go, Grace took a step back and let Jody kiss Everett's forehead and then she bent to kiss Glory's hand while she slept in the swing. "We'll see you soon," I said, walking her to the front door.

"You'd better," Jody said, stepping down the porch and heading to her car.

I closed the door and turned to Grace, using a tissue to wipe her face and I smiled weakly. "She'll be back," I said, walking to Grace.

"I know," she said, knowingly. "Maybe when she retires."

I nodded and looked down at Liberty who was spinning around in a circle, arms out, attempting to stay on her feet. "Come on, Prima Ballerina. Bed time."

…

Liberty was in her own room now on a regular basis and the twins each had their own room as well, all on the top floor with us. We were officially out of bedrooms on the top floor, though, so if Grace got knocked up again, we'd have to start doubling up, or Grace and I would have to move downstairs. I shuddered at the thought and padded down the hall to my wife.

The freshly oiled door no longer squeaked when I pushed it open, so the only thing that would have given me away was my thoughts. Standing in the middle of the room, Grace was completely nude, inspecting her body in the full-length mirror. She was obviously too lost in her own thoughts to hear my own and I stood, watching her momentarily.

For the last three weeks, Grace had avoided my touch and we had barely even kissed since bringing the babies home. I knew what it stemmed from: she was terrified of accidentally touching The Mark, and of halting her aging process completely. I was more on edge than I was used to around her, mainly because she was the reason The Mark had faded the way it had. Without her touch, the heat and the anger was pushing against the outer ring of my subconscious and I knew she knew it as well. I wasn't upset at her for building up her walls again, I could see the reasons behind it, but I also knew we were stronger together than apart and we needed to fix the problem, and fast.

I took another step into the room and smiled, watching her turn slightly to see the swallows etched onto her back. They hadn't faded any more that I had noticed, but to her nephilim senses, that might not be the case. I marveled at her figure; her curves were in all the right places, true to the classic hourglass form. I wanted her so badly…longing for her touch and I took another step towards her.

My movements finally gave me away and she turned, smiling at me. "Hey gorgeous," I whispered, taking a deep, shaky breath.

"Hi stranger," she said, turning completely to me. I closed our bedroom door with a gentle click and turned back towards my wife, slowly, begging permission. She was listening to me now, her eyes searching my face again, like she did in the hospital after figuring out I wasn't aging either.

I miss you, I thought, taking another step.

She nodded. "I miss you, too," she whispered.

I pulled my feet out of the boots and socks I was wearing and unbuttoned the top button of my flannel. I took another step towards her. We can't live like this, Grace.

Another whisper, "I know."

We'll be okay, I continued, taking another silent step and undoing another button. The kids will be okay. I know they will.

"How do you know?" she said, barely loud enough to hear.

I shook my head, "I don't." Another button. "But you're their mother and anyone raised by you will understand more about this world and the next than anyone else out there." I pulled off my flannel and closed the space between us. "Whatever happens, we have to be able to live, Grace. We can't be immortals and not enjoy ourselves."

She smiled, just barely, but I saw it. "The idea that I might have to watch them die," she said, struggling to take a breath, "or Serra, Levi, and Sam," she hid her face, "I don't know how to cope."

"Grace," I said gently, pulling her hands down, "stop. We have a lifetime to figure out what to do next. I'm used to dealing with stuff right down to the wire. This," I smiled, "this is cake."

I held her hand with my right as I cupped her face with my left. She leaned into my touch, sending electricity down my arm, making me sigh with pleasure. Not realizing how tense I had been from her lack of contact, it was like she was revitalizing me, calming me. The Mark responded to her touch as well; I saw it glow momentarily and then immediately fade, just by me making contact with her. Leaning down ever so slightly, I waited for her to look up at me with those bright blue eyes. Finally, her eyes flicked up to mine and I knew I had her.

I kissed her then, pulling her face close to mine. I could feel her lips turn upwards into a smile and immediately, her entire body relaxed. She wrapped her free arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer as I let go of her hand and felt the warmth from her bare back against my palm.

We kissed like we were still dating, just standing in the middle of our bedroom and making out like we did so long ago after our first pie date. Somewhere along the line, she realized that she was the only one that was completely naked and she backed away, tugging at my black undershirt. Pulling as high as she could, she gave up, not tall enough to take it off over my fingertips, so I brought down my arms, letting it fall to the ground next to her. I curved back around her then, picking her up off the floor and turning in place to head back towards the bed.

Slowly, I pushed her down, not breaking contact from our kiss as I bent down over her. She worked my belt, trying her best not to have to stop kissing me. My belt has never been her strong suit; she gave up quickly and cupped my face with her hands instead, leaving me to fumble with the leather. Finally, I was able to drop my jeans and join her on the bed.

I took my time, getting to know my wife again.

We were sweaty our second time around, the passion getting the better of us. We were hard into a rhythm, completely ignorant of anything that may happen around us. Grace was sitting, her legs wrapped around my waist and as she pulled herself closer to me, her eyes went wide and she gasped, looking at something over my shoulder.

I turned too, shock taking over and with a thump; we slid out of the bed and landed on the floor, still tangled around one another. "Jesus fucking Christ, Cas," I said, rubbing my back as Grace reached for the sheet to cover herself. "I know you can hear her! Do us all a favor and listen for a minute before you just appear in the middle of our bedroom while we're fucking."

"Is a position like that difficult to achieve?" Castiel asked, completely ignoring my scolding.

Grace's face was priceless. "Are you taking notes?" she asked, pushing her hair out of her face and struggling to stand, still trying to wrap the sheet around her body.

He tilted his head, furrowing his eyebrows and shaking his head. "I have no paper. Should I be?"

"Holy shit," I said under my breath. I grabbed the pair of boxers that lay on the ground next to me. Pulling them on and standing up in front of my still-naked wife, I sighed. "What do you want, Cas?"

"It's still early in the evening," he said, turning away from us to look out the window. "I assumed you would still be downstairs. I thought I would come to see the babies."

"Privacy, doors. Knocking," I was saying, gesturing to our bedroom door. "These are a few very human, but very necessary things you need to keep in mind." He nodded, apologetic. A thought occurred to me then, still staring at Cas, "Why do you care what position we were in?"

"I find my lack of experience to be challenging at times with Lucia," he responded, turning back to face us nonchalantly. "We still enjoy copulating very much, but I feel we have a lot to learn."

"Wait, wait, wait," Grace said from behind me, "you. And Lucia?"

Castiel nodded once, seemingly confused at her confusion. "Yes. We have been seeing each other on a regular basis for about five weeks."

Grace nodded slowly, her mouth dropped open. "Five weeks," she repeated.

"Five weeks."

I raised my eyebrows at Grace and shook my head. "That's awesome, man," I said, "but you gotta get the fuck out of our room."

"I understand," Cas said, nodding once. With a swoosh of his wings, he was gone.

"What," I said, rubbing my face, "the fuck."

Grace was giggling, her hand over her eyes, shaking her head. "That's like, the fourth time he's done that!" I shook my head as well; intent on finding the rhythm we had, only moments ago. I bent to kiss her again, but, just as we were finding where we left off, one of the twins began to cry, echoing through the baby monitor on the dresser behind us.

"Of course," I sighed, backing away from Grace. She smiled and kissed me again, taking my face in her hands.

"This isn't over," she said, standing and opening the door, still completely nude. She disappeared into the dark hall and a few minutes later, came back, Everett in tow, already nursing.

I watched her get settled on the bed, dimming the lights more than they already had been, and stroked my son's head as I marveled at my wife. Breastfeeding Liberty had been difficult for her, but two years had passed. She was a natural now, more than enough milk for both of the twins, and keeping them happy had been easy. Everett seemed to eat more often than Glory did, and he favored Grace over me. Obviously, he was a Momma's Boy, right from the start.

"Listen here, son," I said, stroking his head gently. "We were in the middle of something, so don't you think you get to set up shop here." His eyes opened and stared at me momentarily, his eyebrows narrowing in a judgy way. "Don't you look at me like that," I whispered, getting closer to his face. "She's mine."

Everett kicked his feet and pushed my face away. "The battle for my attention begins," Grace said quietly, laughing softly. I laid my head on Grace's thigh and waited patiently for my turn to have Grace in my arms again.