Hello lovely humans. You'll probably be surprised to see a new chapter up. So much time has gone by. Its been a rather crazy couple of years. I want to apologize. I never wanted to be that author who started a story and never finished it. I got really close to just deleting the whole story, but every time I went to do that, I just felt so bad. I really, really had wanted to give you an ending. So then I thought, maybe I'll just write the epilogue I always knew I was going to write, but that didn't seem right either. So in moments of inspiration, I've been writing. So much time has passed in the SPN fandom, so some of my characters and inspirations might seem a little outdated, but I'm going with it. I'm going to finish this story (hopefully add some of the newer elements of our beloved SPN world). I don't know how many chapters are left to be told, but I'm going to finish through with this tale as best as I can. So to those of you who have held onto the hope I'd return to give you more, here you go - thanks for favoriting, reviewing, and staying strong. And to any new readers, I really hope you enjoy this story.
Disclaimer: all characters belong to SPN creators and such and such :)
Dean opened his eyes, blinking away the sleep and letting himself get adjusted to the light. He felt a strain on his neck and groaned as he turned his body, not feeling the familiar mold of his mattress. His eyes opened wider and he turned more, propping his hands underneath himself and pushing up, looking around his surroundings. Light was streaming in from Cass' window and Dean looked over to the bed. The covers were pushed back and the bed was empty. Dean rubbed his eyes and pushed himself until he was finally standing. The door was slightly ajar so Dean headed down to the stairs. He walked slowly, listening for activity and was met with soft laughter and voices.
"Cass?"
"Dean," Cass said. His head peaked around the corner from the kitchen a moment later. "You're up!"
"And so are you...really early," Dean said. He went down the rest of the stairs.
"That's my fault," Rebekah said, as both boys rounded the corner. "I'm only really up in the morning, so the kids all wake up early."
"It's the norm. I didn't want to bother you so I left you sleeping." Dean and Cass joined Anna, Michael, and Rebekah at the kitchen table. "Did you know you snore?"
"What? I do not!" Dean said. He filled his plate and poured some juice for himself.
"Just a little one."
"How would you know?" Dean asked.
"I watched you."
"You watched me sleep. Cass, I like the gesture, but you've got to admit that's a little strange."
"Having someone else in your room can be strange too. I just had to listen for a bit and then I fell asleep."
"Cass figure's himself a guardian angel sometimes. Watching over his little lambs," Rebekah said.
Dean blushed. It was too early for this embarrassment.
"Cass told me about the Winter Dance that you're planning on going to. I'm so excited for you two. Do you know what the theme will be?"
"I think they're probably going back and forth with Snowflake Serenade or Crystal Courtyard. So basically, it's going to have paper snowflakes and silver tinsel."
"Sounds nice, " Rebekah said. She sipped at her tea.
"Yeah, it's not really my normal thing. But I feel like Cass will really like it."
"I'm just glad that everything is working out so well for you both. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to see my little baby-"
"Mom!" Cass said. She playfully messed with his hair.
"Well I think both of you are gross," Michael said. Anna nodded in agreement, but she smiled to herself nonetheless.
"So what are your plans for the day?" Rebekah asked.
"I thought I would take Dean to the place," Cass said.
"The place?" Dean asked.
"It would be a surprise. But a surprise that requires a ride."
"Michael can take you," Rebekah said.
"I can?" Michael interjected.
"You can." Rebekah looked at her eldest out of view from Dean, and seemed to mouth something to him. Michael rolled his eyes a little.
"Fine."
"Thanks, Michael. Anna, honey, would you mind staying with me this morning?"
"Of course, this is perfect anyway. I have to work on some Christmas gift wrapping."
"It's still November, how do you already have Christmas gifts ready?"
"The cheer squad always exchanges gifts on the first of December, or whatever day the first school day in December is. Its tradition."
"I still can't believe the middle school has a cheer squad. What do you guys even cheer at?"
"We compete during the spring, and we cheer at the basketball games. We cheer at some of the girl's high school teams games."
"They actually are really good. Plus it gives the high school cheer coach a look at who will be good recruitment for freshman year," Cass said.
"You can get college scholarships for cheer. It's a really big deal," Anna said.
"Okay, was just curious. Hope you don't turn into a crazy high school cheerleader."
Anna rolled her eyes. "Your stereotypes are so outdated."
"Lisa never got that memo," Dean said.
"Is that the girl who instigated the scene during your lunch hall?" Michael asked.
"Yeah."
"Braeden?"
"You know them?" Dean asked.
"I remember her older brother, Cole. He was a pain in the ass."
"Language, Michael."
"He was," Michael said.
"I totally forgot she had an older brother. Where is he now anyway?" Dean asked.
"He graduated a couple years before me. I think they might have been step-siblings. But I have no idea where he went off. Probably stuck in some cubicle somewhere."
"Well, I'm not going to turn into any Lisa Braeden," Anna said.
"Good to hear it," Cass said.
"When I'm in high school I'm going to make sure it's a place where you can be whoever you want to be. Nobody will get bullied, nobody will feel left out."
"My sister is going to take over the world one day," Michael said. Dean couldn't help but notice that there was a little bit of pride. Michael might be the most outright fighter of his family, but all the Novaks seemed to have a secret edge to them. Dean would not want to be near anyone who messed with this family.
"Maybe that's why you and Sam have been building those robots," Dean said. "They have a plan," he added softly, whispering to Cass.
Cass laughed and Anna turned and glared at her brother.
"Why do you think that's funny?"
"Oh, I don't, Anna. I just wonder how long it will take you."
"I give them a week," Michael said.
"You have sweet ideas dear," Rebekah said.
"Thanks, Mom."
Dean took a sip of orange juice.
"So what is this place you're taking us to?" he finally asked.
"It's a secret."
Anna giggled.
"That seems rather unfair. You have all these secret places. Makes me feel bad that I spent most of my time hanging with friends in my backyard."
Rebekah smiled, and slid the plate of scrambled eggs over to Dean. "You'll be needing fresh clothes. You might want to see if Castiel has a pair of pants you can borrow, but Michael will probably have a more comfortable top for you."
Anna giggled even louder. Dean took a bite from his eggs. Did he have something on his face? What was so funny?
"I told them this morning about the teddy bear," Cass said.
Dean could feel his ears get hot. "Cass! You are the worst!"
"It was probably my fault," Rebekah said. "I sometimes mix up their rooms."
"Mom refuses to let us do any laundry."
"It relaxes me."
"I can't believe you even fit in that shirt," Anna said.
"I didn't want complain. I didn't want to be rude!" Dean defended.
"You can borrow one of mine, it might be a little long, but it'll fit better."
Dean finished his food quickly and downed it with the last of his OJ. "Come on, I'll get it for you," Michael said.
"I'll be up in a moment," Cass said.
Dean followed Michael up the stairs and into a small bedroom. There was just a bed and a desk with a laptop. Most everything else was boxed up or in the duffle bag in the corner.
"You ready to head out."
"Just trying to make more space for Dad to use this space how they need to. He might try to sell it out to someone to help bring in some money."
"Won't you need it when you come back?" Dean asked.
"I can always crash on the couch. I'm not fussy."
Dean was handed a dark t-shirt and flannel.
"You'll want the layers."
"Thanks."
"There are towels in the bathroom."
"Okay."
Dean exited the bedroom.
"Hey, Dean," Michael popped his head out from the room.
"You're not that bad."
"Thanks," Dean said. He felt like he should say something else, but Michael quickly closed the door without another word.
Dean could hear Cass, Anna, and Rebekah chatting down in the kitchen. He put the new clothes on Cass' bed. He took more time to look around Cass' room. It was simple, but definitely Cass. He looked at a photo of Cass when he was little. Another youngster, who must have been Michael was pushing him in a swing with Rebekah smiling in the background. Cass looked like he had never changed. The shock of dark messy hair was a dead give-away in any photo.
"You spying on me?"
Dean jumped. Cass laughed.
"I'm collecting dirt for future."
"Any questions you know you can always ask."
Cass sat on his bed. Dean came over and sat next to him. They didn't say anything for a bit. They just sat there. It wasn't awkward. It wasn't rushed. It was just normal. Dean thought back to the end of the summer. He wouldn't have seen this coming, never would have imagined this. He didn't really think about it, but he had started playing with Cass' hand. Cass just watches him. They stay silent. Dean feels completely calm. He traces the lines in Cass' palms like the psychics at the town fairs do in there little pop-up stands. He remembers what they always said. A strong, defined line means a long and happy life. He thinks about his own hand. How she had said that he had a wonderful future ahead of him. He had laughed about it with Jo and Benny. He had a "grand adventure ahead of him," she'd said. He hopes its true. He traces the line on Cass' hand. He really hopes its true.
I'm hoping that I can post again soon. I have a lot more free time now that I'm doing this crazy thing called adulting.
Much love to you all!
~IAmAPurpleLewie