Chapter Nine
((I got two chapters out at once! :D In this version, Charlie is still around, not with Dorothy. Sorry, but I could not resist having Charlie as the aunt to spoil the kids ;D Enjoy~))
After sending an email to Charlie, explaining slightly the situation, Dean's phone began to ring. He blinked and answered.
"What do you mean you're a father?! Oh my God who's the mother?! And how are they-"
"Nice to hear from you Charlie!" Dean interrupted. "Look they're….we just adopted them." Dean moved away from the main room and went into the library. He then explained the case they just finished, and what happened with Alex, Clara and Castiel.
"Aww! Oh my God Dean you're a family man now!" Charlie squealed. Dean chuckled.
"Only problem is that we don't really have the money to start up this little family...so I was wondering-"
"If I could help out by transferring money to an account for the kids to get clothes toys and action figures? Absolutely! Call it a welcome home gift from their Aunt Charlie." Dean snickered. "And you do realize this means I have to visit right?"
"Of course. Man Sam and I would love to see you! And you could meet Kevin, see Cas, and meet the kids. Clara would really love it I'm sure…" Dean spoke fondly.
"I can't wait! I'll work on getting an account set up; it should only take a day or so. And in the meantime, give me one of the credit cards you have, I'll move some money around there so you can get started on some things for them ok?" Dean sighed. He owed Charlie so much.
"Thanks Charlie. I...I really appreciate it."
"It's no problem Dean. Like I said I get to be their aunt, and corrupt their tiny little minds into larping and rpgs and-" Dean's laugh cut her off. "What? I wanna help! Wait...are they gonna...hunt with you?" Dean stopped.
"...I don't know." He didn't want to say no, because he remembers him and Sam able to fight well on their own without their dad when they were young. At the same time, there was his dad. He did not want to become his father. Ever. So the thought of Clara and Alex becoming new versions of Sam and Dean scared him. "We'll figure that out at another time."
"Ok! Well, let's get started on that account."
About thirty minutes later, Dean went upstairs where Castiel had taken the kids. He heard them talking in Clara and Alex's bedroom, and when he peeked in, he smiled fondly. Castiel was trying to teach them how to focus on their wings, so they could hide them and go out. Alex was having a bit of trouble, but Clara managed to do it first try. Clara saw Dean and rushed over.
"Daddy!" Dean would never tire of hearing that. He picked the-no his- little girl up, and chuckled.
"So, I just got off the phone with Charlie...we'll be able to get them some clothes and stock up on food here shortly." Castiel nodded, and smiled. "I'm gonna go let Sam and Kevin know. I think we're gonna split into two cars. You, me, and these two rugrats go get them clothes, while Sam and Kevin get food. That way Kevin can get out. He...really needs to get out."
"I agree. Just give us a few, we'll be down shortly." Dean nodded and took Clara with him while he went to find his brother. After telling Sam his idea, Sam agreed. Kevin needed to get out, and Sam could get food for them.
"Is there anything you don't like?" He asked Clara. Clara thought about it for a moment.
"Mushrooms."
"...Have you had mushrooms before?"
"No. They just sound yucky." Both men chuckled.
"Well I'll make sure to get stuff that isn't yucky ok?"
"Hey Sammy, can you get a cherry pie?" Dean gave him a look that made Sam roll his eyes. "Oh and apple?"
"And cake?" Clara chipped in. Sam chuckled.
"How about...I get some stuff to make a cake?" Clara gasped and clapped her hands.
"Yes! Please Uncle Sammy!" Sam felt his face heat up. He couldn't help but smile at the little girl, and brush some of her blonde locks out of her eyes.
"Of course."
"Of course what?" Kevin had come from the kitchen, drinking a bottle of water.
"We're gonna get stuff to make a cake! Are you gonna help Kevin?" Clara tilted her head, and Dean swore she learned that from his angel. Kevin stopped, and blinked, before looking to Dean and Sam for instructions. Sam nodded to him, and Kevin gave the little girl a small smile.
"Yeah, sure I'll help." Clara cheered, and Dean had to shift her a bit because she was squirming.
"Alright, well Kevin you're going with Sam to the store."
"Wait...you're letting me out?"
"Yeah."
"What about the tablet? The angels?"
"Kid...you could use a break. Cas, Sam and I talked about it. And...I know I owe you an apology. We've been working you too hard, and...it's not right."
"...No, it's not." Kevin said carefully, before continuing. "But it needed to be done. We were supposed to close the gates of hell...not have the angels fall...so I know why we've been working so hard. But...if you wanna give me a little break, I am fine with that." Kevin gave Dean a smile, and went over to shake his hand. He was surprised when Dean pulled him in for a hug. Kevin looked to Sam in a panic, but Sam just stood there and grinned, letting his brother scare their prophet.
"Alright, let's get going." Sam said after Kevin pulled back. Kevin nodded, still dumbfounded by Dean's actions. Castiel and Alex finally came down, both without wings.
"Hey buddy. You ok now?" Alex nodded.
"It was hard to concentrate on making them go away. But Cas-"
"Papa" Clara corrected.
"It's ok Clara. He doesn't have to call me that." Castiel gave Alex a weak smile.
"No I-I meant to! I just...I'm waiting for this to end." Dean put Clara down and went over to Alex.
"What do you mean?"
"All of this...after everything happened with Dad and Mom, and the experiments...it...doesn't seem real." Alex explained. "That we...Clara and I...we already found a family that will take care of us...I'm just waiting for me to wake up back in that basement and all of this is a dream." Dean pulled Alex into a tight hug.
"It's not a dream." Dean whispered to him, feeling a hot prickling behind his eyes. He would not cry, not in front of Alex. He had to be strong. "I promise. You are not dreaming, and we will always, be here for you. Me, Cas...and Clara. Ok?" His voice grew thick as he tried not to let the tears fall from his eyes. Alex clinged to him. He nodded, afraid to speak that he'd start crying on Dean's shoulder. "It's ok. I know, it seems too good to be true. But it is. You've got me. You've got Cas. You've got Clara, and Uncle Sammy, and Kevin...hell you have an aunt who's probably going to spoil you rotten here in the next few days." Dean chuckled. "But I assure you. This is real. Ok?"
"Ok." Alex croaked out, pulling back from the hug slightly. His face was red and puffy from trying not to cry, and Dean realized he must look the same. He gave his boy a kiss on the forehead, before clearing his throat and looking to Castiel.
"Ready?"
They went to a local department store, and got the kids brand new everything. Dean decided toys and such may have to wait for Charlie's account, but while they were there they got not only clothes but bed sheets, towels, all their own bathroom supplies. Clara was having a blast, running around and pointing out all the different things. She never strayed far from Dean or Castiel, however at one point, a woman came up to her as she was looking at shirts with Castiel.
"Sweetheart, where's your mommy?" She asked, not noticing Castiel on the other side.
"She's gone." She spoke quietly, and backed up a bit from the woman.
"I can help you find her if you'd like." Clara gave a soft whine, and in an instant Castiel was behind her.
"Clara?" Clara instantly grabbed onto Castiel's hand, and turned away from the woman.
"Oh...I'm sorry, I thought she was lost." the woman backed up.
"No, she's fine. She's with me."
"Are you her father?"
"He's my papa." Clara said looking at the woman slightly.
"Cas." They all turned to see Dean and Alex standing there with the cart. "Everything ok?"
"I'm sorry; I saw her alone and thought she was lost." The woman stepped back.
"She wasn't alone." Castiel spoke softly, tilting his head.
"My mistake." the woman left, and Dean shook his head.
"Alright then. I think that covers everything for now." He looked at the cart, and went through the list in his head.
"Blankets." Castiel spoke up.
"Blankets?"
"Yes Dean. They need their own blankets. And we will be needing more for our room." He gave Dean a knowing look.
"Oh! Right. Blankets. Yeah let's go get some." They let the kids pick out their own, which Alex thought the Batman one they had was good, and Clara found a TMNT blanket she liked. Dean and Castiel had no problems, only happy that their children were happy. As they began to head to the front to check out, Clara stopped at a display full of stuffed animals. Dean looked over as she stared at a tiger plush that looked a lot like Hobbs from Calvin and Hobbs. He walked over, and picked it up. Clara's eyes widened when Dean handed it to her.
"Really?" She spoke softly.
"Really. Need something to sleep with." He gave her a small grin. He looked over to Alex, and motioned for him to pick one out if he wanted to.
"You sure?"
"Course I am." Alex went over, and picked up a fox. Both children held their new toys as they checked out, only handing them to the cashier for a moment before holding them again. Castiel reached over and held Dean's hand as the cashier finished ringing up their purchase. Dean looked over to Castiel, before giving him a smile. For once in a long time, Dean felt whole.