Final chapter.
A LOVE THAT LASTS A LIFETIME OR SEVEN
The sun was setting as Dean and Sam led the last of the horses into the barn.
Winchester Haven was booming since they now gave riding lessons and had a polo team.
Mary had opened a bakery for her pies and other pastries and was doing well with that as well.
"I never ever thought I would be on a polo team." Sam huffed.
Dean snickered. "Who ever thought we'd actually be so good at it?"
"Well it has a lot to do with horses."
They walked together towards their parent's house where the women were setting up dinner outside.
"Daddy!" A raven haired little boy with amazing green eyes came running.
Dean laughed huge and lifted his son into the air and spun him around. "Hey squeaker have you been good for your mom and granny?"
DJ nodded.
"Alright good now let's go wash up for dinner before granny pulls the hose on us."
Mary huffed but happily watched her boys go.
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Dean tucked in DJ for bed. He was worn out from a busy day and even his two year old overabundance of energy had shut down for the day.
Dean kissed him on the forehead and stood and watched him fondly for a couple of minutes.
If his parents loved him just half as much as he loved his son then he was truly blessed. Not to mention the love of his wife who in his eyes only grew more beautiful by the day.
He headed to his room for bed but found the room empty and a quick search of the house found no Arandi. He stepped onto the porch and noticed the light in the barn.
He found her there grooming Winchester.
"If he gets any shinier they are going to use him in place of a lighthouse beacon." Dean chuckled.
Arandi smiled but he noticed the brightness in her eyes.
"Baby what's wrong?"
"Three years have gone by so fast my love. Why does it all have to go so fast? In the blink of an eye DJ will be in love and married and…."
"Arandi baby the way I love you and you love me we could have forever and it still wouldn't be enough time with you." He hugged her close. "Now if I may have the pleasure of making love to my beautifully sexy wife?"
"Mmm that sounds nice but make love to me here like you used to do when we were sneaking around."
Dean smiled huge and pulled Arandi into a searing kiss and then lifted her up so that she could wrap her legs around him.
It was a good thing the horses couldn't talk.
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Dean finally accepted that his life was going to be good. It had taken him a long time to let go of the feeling of impending doom.
Horse trainer by trade, king by marriage. How many people could claim that? He had been openly accepted as a king and even had a fan following. Who knew?
He smiled as he watched Arandi teaching a young girl how to control her horse.
If he loved her any stronger he feared that he would explode. Every day he was amazed at how blessed he was.
He watched as Arandi passed the girl off to Jade and started to walk towards him.
"Your look is so intense it is making me melt." She said once she reached him.
"I can't help myself. You are so beautiful and I still can't believe that you are mine."
"Believe it my love, now and for infinity."
"How about a quick tryst?" Dean wagged his eyebrows.
"I'm supposed to be training Emily so you will have to wait."
Dean went into a full on pout.
Arandi kissed it away. "You act as if you never get any."
"When I feel the way you make me feel what do you expect?" Dean pulled her into a scorching kiss.
They parted when Jade cleared her throat.
"I'll meet you in ten minutes." Arandi whispered.
Dean smiled wide. He loved getting to her like that.
She went back to her lesson and Dean busied himself finishing up what he was supposed to be doing.
His heart skipped when he heard the frantic scream from Emily and Jade cried out for her sister.
He ran out of the barn and sped up when he saw Arandi sprawled on the ground and was beside her in a baseball slide. "What happened?"
"I pulled too hard on Percy's reigns and he spun and hit her." Emily was sobbing.
Dean gently tapped Arandi's face. "Baby hey come on wake up."
Arandi's eyes fluttered open. "What happened?"
"You got bumped by the horse but I'm taking you to the hospital to make sure that you're ok. No arguments."
Arandi huffed but nodded. Dean stood up then bent to lift her into his arms. He wasn't taking any chances.
"Jade tell everyone where we're going and I know I'll see you there in a few."
Jade nodded and rushed to get Emily off the horse and back to the house where her mom was waiting with Mary.
Dean had Arandi in his truck and gone before Jade was half way there.
Arandi wanted to think that Dean was over reacting but the movement of the truck had her super nauseas and dizzy.
They reached the hospital in record time.
Dean ran to her side to help her out of the truck. The second she stepped out everything tilted horribly.
He caught her and seeing her unconscious made the sense of impending doom come crashing over him all over again. He lifted her into his arms and ran for the ER doors yelling for help.
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Dean tried to stay still as the doctor examined Arandi but he was so anxious to make sure that she was going to be ok. He didn't like the way that the doctor frowned.
"I'm going to run a couple of tests just for precautionary reasons." Was all he said before walking out.
Dean moved closer to her and took her hand. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm tired and my head hurts." She replied. Her eyes bleary.
"Rest while we wait." He encouraged.
Hours later sitting in the room that Arandi had been admitted to for overnight observation Dean sent everyone else home, kissed DJ and told him to be good then he sat in the dark and cried.
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"You're pregnant." The doctor stated the following morning.
Dean breathed in relief and he was ready to jump for joy but the doctor was still frowning.
Arandi saw it too and reached for Dean's hand.
"I wish I could tell you more good news but I'm afraid that I can't do that." The doctor said solemnly. "This pregnancy is very dangerous for you and you and the babies could die."
"Babies?" Dean and Arandi said at the same time.
"You are pregnant with twins and you are already well into your fifteenth week."
"But I was still getting my period." Arandi said.
"It was probably just bleeding but though you had a healthy first pregnancy this one will be the complete opposite. There was damage that went on undetected and you shouldn't even have gotten pregnant. Your best bet is to have an abortion now."
Dean felt as if someone had stabbed him in the heart.
"Doctor, can I please speak to my husband alone." Arandi murmured.
The doctor nodded and walked out.
"I can't lose you." Dean blurted the second they were alone.
"I'm sorry Dean but I will not have an abortion. Twins my love that are made from our love and I would rather die than end their lives."
"Arandi." He whispered brokenly.
"Nothing you say will change my mind." She said tears spilling from her eyes.
Dean nodded unable to speak. He kissed her and walked out into the hall barely able to see because of the tears.
His parents and Sam and Jade took one look at him and rushed to him. He couldn't say anything and collapsed into his brother's arms racked with sobs.
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She was stubborn and Dean loved her all the more. She was sick every day and was losing weight instead of gaining. She was restricted to complete bed rest which made her like a rabid grizzly on most days.
She was determined though to bring her boys into the world at all costs. They had found out they were having boys after the last doctor's appointment.
Dean was with her every second he could be. If he lost her he was going to lose his mind. How was he supposed to raise three boys without a mom because she would never be replaced? What if his boys didn't make it either?
He had to believe in that slim chance that her stubbornness would pull them all through.
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Dean stood in the cold air numb from the inside out. He stared at the opened graves and could barely believe that he was there.
Tears streamed down his face and Sam was there helping him to stand. His mom and Dad were close by and Dean didn't hear a word spoken. It wasn't supposed to be like this.
They were supposed to grow old together and be there for each other through the thick and thin.
His knees buckled but Sam held him strong.
It all passed in a numbing buzz.
The drive home was silent and his chest felt so heavy. He headed to his house without a word and only shook his head when Sam asked if he wanted him to follow.
He just wanted to feel the warmth of his home and put the pain away even for just a little while.
He headed to his bedroom and peeled off the suit jacket before settling on the edge of the bed.
DJ walked in and didn't say anything only looked at his daddy sadly and wrapped his tiny arms as far as he could get them around his dad. He walked out then and headed to his own room.
"You need this."
A hot cup of tea appeared in his vision and he took it. "You shouldn't be standing too long." He said his voice wrecked.
"It's bad enough I couldn't be there for you my love. Please let me take care of you."
Dean nodded and the tears fell. Arandi sat beside him and took his hand. "It's not right that he died because some idiot wanted to drink and drive. They were going to get married in a month and he couldn't wait to have kids so we could…." He couldn't even finish the words. He sobbed until sleep took him.
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Arandi had pulled it off and everyone survived despite the grim start to the pregnancy. She had to have an early C-section and the boys were small but they were fighters. Arandi had been touch and go too and Dean had barely been able to stand the death of his best friend let alone even think of losing the love of his life forever.
It had been her idea to name the boys Chris and Jeremy. He had loved the thought even though every time he called his son's name he would be reminded of what he had lost.
He visited Chris and Darlene's graves to tell them about their god sons and Dean could swear that he felt someone pat his back as a soft breeze blew over him on a day that had thus been calm and still. He turned to look expecting to see nothing but nearly fell over in shock to see Chris standing before him.
"Hey bro." Chris said calmly.
Dean could only stare in wide eyed terror.
"I'm not a ghost." Chris continued. "I'm so sorry that I had to put you through that grief."
Dean reached out and put his hand to Chris's chest. He felt solid warm flesh under the shirt. "I don't understand." He whispered.
"Witness protection. Darlene put away some really bad men and we were in a lot of danger but now they are all dead and we're coming home."
Dean was speechless, angry, happy, and confused. He yanked Chris into a brutal hug. Feeling him there, really there alive and beautiful he would forgive him anything.
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The house was alive with people as everyone got ready for Christmas Eve dinner. Presents were piled high under the tree and Dean never felt more complete and content than he did right at the moment.
Arandi had recovered well. His parents had celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary. Sam and Jade had gotten married and were expecting their first baby boy. Chris and Darlene were alive, married and expecting a baby girl.
Tobian and Jeremy had come down for the holidays and they had their own two boys that they had adopted and they were so happy together. Dean was thrilled that his match making had paid off so well.
Arandi looked happy but Dean knew from watching her shop for baby things for Chris and Darlene's baby gift that she had wanted a baby girl so much and she would never be able to have her.
The last pregnancy had been it for her and even if she had been able to get pregnant Dean would have forbid it. They had been under enough stress during the last one.
Chris and Jeremy were growing fast and DJ was the ever protective big brother who took his duty very seriously.
"Who knows where he got that from?" Sam snickered.
Dean threw a bread roll at him and clocked him between the eyes but Sam still picked it up and stuffed it in his mouth.
Everyone laughed and the room buzzed as they ate.
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It had been far from easy to get DJ to go to sleep. Even though all the presents were under the tree he was still sure that Santa would bring him and his brothers more.
Of course no one could stand to see him disappointed. As the gifts were added while he slept, Dean held mistletoe over his head and grinned slyly at his wife.
"You don't need that to get me to kiss you." She smiled and kissed him hotly.
"All I want for Christmas is you." Dean sang in her ear.
"Christmas sex mmm." Arandi hummed.
"You guys do realize that you're not alone right?" John snickered.
Arandi blushed deep. It was very easy to forget everything around them when Dean got her motivated in the right direction.
Dean ducked his head but chuckled. "Sorry didn't mean to fog up your glasses grandpa."
"I don't wear glasses smart ass." John huffed. "Anyway we should be heading to bed ourselves our grandson is going to beat the roosters to the wakeup call."
"Yeah Christmas sex sounds good to me too." Sam grinned and got swatted by his mom.
Tobian and Jeremy were staying in one of the cabins so everyone headed to get some sleep.
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It was Dean that was up first. He had a couple of presents that he needed to add for Arandi under the tree and he started making some hot chocolate for when everyone arrived.
He could hardly believe his eyes when he looked outside to see snow. It wasn't very thick but it was snow.
DJ was going to flip.
Dean started to head back up the stairs to snuggle with Arandi when he heard the knock at the door.
He wondered who else would be up before the sun and was very shocked to find Stepheno on the porch.
"I saw the light on and took a chance." He said.
Dean pulled him into a hug. "Man I haven't seen you in months. Arandi said that you had taken some time off for family reasons?"
Stepheno nodded as Dean motioned for him to head to the living room.
Stepheno looked behind him. "I need to talk to you about something. I need your help and it would benefit Arandi as well."
Dean furrowed his brows and listened.
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Dean never made it back to bed and soon DJ came bounding down the stairs. Arandi followed yawning with the twins and Dean met her half way to help her.
Everyone else soon arrived and DJ ran back and forth with way to much energy.
Dean passed out hot chocolate and it wasn't long before the living room was strewn with wrapping paper and gift bags.
A thousand pictures later everyone sat looking at their gifts and DJ was one thrilled little boy as well as James and Byron, the boys that Tobian and Jeremy had adopted. They took off to DJ's playroom to try out all their new things.
Arandi had been thrilled with the necklace and ring that Dean had gotten for her and still he was about to bust at the seams.
"I have one more present for you." He said and headed to the back of the house where he had hidden Stepheno away in a guest room.
"Stepheno!" Arandi and Jade yelled excitedly to see their friend and guard after so long.
It took Arandi a few minutes to realize that Dean was holding a bundle in his arms.
"Dean?"
He stepped up to her and pulled back the tiny blanket to reveal a beautiful sleeping baby girl all in pink.
"Her name is Jasmine and she's ours baby." Dean smiled. "Merry Christmas."
The entire room was suddenly quiet as Dean passed the baby girl to Arandi, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I don't understand." She whispered but her heart was already in love with the precious baby.
"She is my niece." Stepheno said. "My sister became pregnant out of wedlock and the man left her as soon as he realized what had happened. My sister did not survive the delivery. My brother cannot take her and I have my own wife now and she's expecting twins so knowing how much you want a little girl I would be honored if you raised her as your own and I could still be in her life."
"He already has all the paperwork ready to go." Dean said softly. He slid his arm around Arandi's shoulders.
"I have everything I have ever dared to want." She murmured. "Thank you Stepheno."
"No thank you for giving her a loving home."
"Finally a little girl!" Mary squealed and rushed to Arandi to get her turn at holding Jasmine.
"See I told you if you pray it's just like asking Santa for things." DJ appeared in the middle. "I asked for mom to be happy and it happened."
"Oh baby I love you. Thank you." Arandi gushed lifting her son into her arms.
"Love you more." DJ smiled.
"Feeling very left out over here." Dean chimed.
He was soon laughing as his wife and son knocked him onto the sofa and kissed him all over his face.
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Stepheno had brought everything that Jasmine could possibly need with him and he, Dean, and Sam had set everything up in the twin's nursery.
They had celebrated late into the night and everyone had headed to their own places.
Stepheno had left to get back to his own little family.
Dean stood in the doorway of the nursery and watched Arandi settling the boys in for the night and then she stood over Jasmine and watched her.
"She's real." Dean said.
"Is she? Because I feel as if I'm dreaming and any minute I'll wake up and she'll be gone."
Dean walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "She's here for the long haul, another Winchester through and through."
Arandi turned to face her husband. "I still think sometimes that you're a dream too."
"I'm a dream boat baby." Dean teased.
"I never understood that saying." Arandi sighed.
"Yeah it is kind of corny."
"They are all asleep so let's head to bed my love."
"I like the sound of that." Dean kissed into her neck.
"Mmm, I have one more present for you and it comes from Victoria's Secret." She purred.
"You tease." Dean rasped but was already highly aroused just from the thought.
"Oh I'm going to tease you alright until you're begging for me to stop. I like it when you beg."
"Arandi please…" Dean groaned.
"Just like that." She said and pulled him along with her as she walked with her finger in one of his belt loops.
Dean was lost and loving every minute of it.
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Jasmine had awakened early and Dean had taken care of her so that Arandi could rest.
Needless to say he had gone to the extreme once he had seen the sexy red lacy number Arandi had put on for him. There was no doubt in his mind that he would always have a fire burning for his wife. No way in hell would things ever go stale with them and red was his new favorite color.
The things they had done to each other. He stood and watched Arandi sleeping on her belly barely covered by the sheet on the bed still very much naked. He felt heat pooling low and he bit his lower lip.
She had all day to rest. He hurriedly pulled off his pajamas and slid into bed beside her. He kissed her back knowing how much that got to her.
She sighed awake and rolled to look at him.
"Who's the insatiable one now?" She asked.
"As if you don't like it." He rasped dipping down to kiss her neck.
In seconds they were completely wrapped up in each other, moans and cried out names filled their bedroom.
"I love you." Arandi whispered into his ear.
For Dean there was no better fuel to get him over the brink.
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He should be exhausted but he was wide awake. He pulled out everything he would need to make his family breakfast but for now he poured himself a cup of coffee and bundled up he stepped onto the porch to watch the sun come up.
He was surprised to see Sam heading his way.
"Everything alright?" Sam asked.
Dean smiled huge. "Damn near perfect bro."
Sam returned his own dimply grin.
"What brings you out this early? I thought dad had hired some people to cover us for a couple of weeks?"
"He did but Jade has some awful morning sickness and she barely fell asleep and I couldn't sleep."
"Been there Sammy."
The sun slowly came up and they watched in silence for a few minutes.
"I'll never get tired of that." Sam said wistfully.
"You know it." Dean sighed.
"You know you're not even thirty and you already have four kids?"
Dean smiled. "Your point?"
"Doesn't it freak you out a bit?"
"It would if I didn't have Arandi, the best parents in the world and a little kick ass brother and sister in law to have my back. The same way we are going to be there for you." Dean said as he threw his arm around his brother's shoulders.
Sam quickly pulled his big brother into a huge bear hug. "Thank you I needed to hear that."
"I'm always here Sammy. You know that right?"
"You have so much to deal with already I just didn't….." Sam huffed.
"Don't ever think that I'm too busy for you. I may be a husband and have four kids but you are my little brother forever dude. I will still be taking care of you and trying to protect you when I'm ninety."
Sam's eyes got bright and he ducked his head. "I'm so blessed to have a brother like you."
Dean swallowed the lump in his throat and ducked his head too. He was saved from having to respond when the cries of one of the twins drifted to them.
"Alright Uncle Sammy time to practice with your nephew." Dean declared as he ushered Sam into the house.
Sam started for the stairs and Dean watched him go. He really did have it all and he hoped that whoever mattered knew how grateful he was.
For now he was starting breakfast for everyone and calling his parents to come join them and then Sam could bring over Jade. So they could sit and laugh and have the family time that would live in their hearts as long as they lived.
He looked up to see Arandi at the top of the stairs and she smiled at him.
He smiled back and decided right then and there that there was one thing that rivaled the rising sun.
The love of his life. His queen.
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Thanks for reading!