Coming Home Ch. 6

Disclaimer: See chapter one.

Author's Note: I'm sorry for being so slack on reviews lately. I feel awful for not having replied and will do my best to get back to you on your reviews with this chapter.

Previously: "After he's finished, make sure you both wash your hands," Mary informed the boys as she mixed up the pot of spaghetti, hoping that the boys would actually manage to eat this time. "Supper is nearly ready."

"We will," David informed his foster mother before ushering his sibling up the stairs, breathing a sigh in relief at knowing that maybe John and Mary did actually care since John was so willing to pour out his beer. Maybe he and his sibling had a chance for a happy life with these two people, but then he also knew their luck which meant his hopes would most likely be dashed.

Watching as the children scampered off, Mary then turned to her husband. "Honey, what just happened? I think that's the first time I've actually seen acceptance of the two of us in Dean, I mean David's, eyes."

"I'm hoping he finally realizes that maybe he can trust us, if only just a little" John answered as he tossed the empty beer bottle into the trash can hidden under the sink.

"Why, what happened? I mean that's the first time you've ever poured a half- drank beer down the drain," Mary voiced as she began to rinse some lettuce so that she could make a salad to go with the meal. Don't get her wrong, John wasn't a hard drinker; he just liked to have one after work and such to help him relax.

"Turns out the bastard that raised the boys over the past few years was a mean drunk," John reported somberly as he looked at his wife. "When David, informed me of that, well, let's just say there is no way in hell I am drinking in front of those boys again, at least not in the foreseeable future anyway."

"You are such an awesome father," Mary responded as she turned around and hugged the man she loved with all of her heart. "Me and the boys are so lucky to have you."

"I'm the one who's lucky," John retorted as he returned his wife's hug before kissing her deeply.

"Ummm, should we go back upstairs?" David asked awkwardly as he and Joey came back down the stairs just in time to witness the two adults kissing.

"No, it's alright," Mary voiced with a laugh as she pulled away from her husband and grabbed the pot of spaghetti to place on the table while John grabbed the bowl of salad. "Besides, it's time for dinner. I don't know about the three of you, but I'm starving."

"Me too," John replied as he pulled out a chair for his wife to sit on, while motioning for the boys to take a seat also. As he waited for Mary to sit, he couldn't help but notice how hesitant Joey (or was he Sammy) seemed, as he stood staring at the table, unwilling or unable to approach it.

"You know Kiddo, you don't have to be scared of something else happening," John informed the youngest, hoping to take away some of the anxiety the child was feeling at the moment. "I have a bad habit myself of making sloppy messes at the table, especially when it comes to eating spaghetti."

"He sure does," Mary agreed as she grabbed one of the plates from the table and placed some spaghetti on it before placing the now full plate at one of the empty spots since David had yet to take a seat also. "But it's fine because messes can always be easily cleaned up with a little soap and water

"So, what you're saying is Joey won't get in trouble if he accidentally makes another mess?" David questioned, just to clarify things for his younger sibling.

"No, he won't. I promise," Mary answered with a smile and a slight wink at her knowing husband. "If I punished people for making messes, John would be in trouble all the time. So you two stop fretting and come eat."

"'Kay," Joey whispered, glancing at his big brother before walking over and sitting down in the spot where Mary had placed the plate full of spaghetti since he really was famished.

"That's my boy," John cooed with a smile, reaching out to ruffle the child's chestnut brown locks, elated when the child only slightly trembled at the affectionate touch.

"What about you David, aren't you hungry?" Mary questioned softly as she turned her attention towards the oldest who stood transfixed in the entryway of the kitchen as he watched Joey roll up some spaghetti onto the fork and take a bite.

"Yes Ma'am. I could eat," David stated as he walked over to the table and sat down within close proximity of his brother, but he couldn't help but wonder how long this 'home sweet home' scene would last. If there was one thing he was sure of, it was the fact that he and his sibling had the worst luck in the world.

~Supernatural~~

Later that evening as David helped his baby brother take his bath, he couldn't help but smile at the way that Joey had somehow managed to get more spaghetti on him than in him, and yet, John and Mary hadn't seemed to care. They had even laughed earlier when the kid had smeared the sauce all over his cheek when wiping his mouth with the back of his hand after a particularly big mouthful. If that had been Norman witnessing the event, well, David didn't want to even think about the consequences his brother would have had to pay. So lost was he in his thoughts that David was startled when he felt a wet hand touch his face.

"Huh, did you say something, Little Dude?" David questioned as he focused his attention back on the little one in the tub.

"Yeah, I said Mary sure does make good spaghetti doesn't she De?" Joey restated as he pushed around the small plastic toy boat that Mary had given him to play with in the water-filled tub.

"That's for sure," David answered as he picked up the bottle of baby shampoo and prepared to wash his sibling's hair.

"Joey, I need you to cover your eyes for me Little Man so I can dump some water over your hair to get it wet for washing."

"Okay De, but will you start calling me Sammy again like you did when we were little?" Joey replied as he clenched his eyes shut in preparation for the hair drenching. "I wanna be a Sammy now instead of a Joey."

"Yeah, I guess, if you want me to as long as John and Mary ain't around" David answered as he carefully poured water over his sibling's curly brown locks. "And for your information, you still are little, Squirt."

"Nuh uh," Joey voiced once the water cleared from his face. "I'm almost as big as you are."

"In your dreams Little Man," David laughed as he picked up the bottle of baby shampoo and began to massage it into his brother's scalp as he enjoyed the light hearted moment. It had been too long since he and his brother had shared a time like this, one where they could be just themselves without any fear of reprisal.

"De, can we play on the tire swing again tomorrow?"

"Sure Joey…I mean Sammy, as long as it's okay with John and Mary," David answered, using the treasured name of so long ago, as he finished shampooing his sibling's hair and then had Joey cover his eyes so he could rinse the shampoo out. He didn't want to outright promise because there was always the chance that John and Mary could show their true colors tomorrow. After years of dealing with Norman and his abusive ways, he just couldn't make himself believe that there were actually nice adults in the world; adults who really cared about their children.

"Okay monkey, time for you to get out and get dressed," David informed his brother as he grasped a towel and then wrapped it around Joey after the youngster stood up.

Waiting for Joey to dry off and then get dressed in the pajamas that Mary had provided, he motioned for his brother to sit and look at a book in the corner of the room while he himself took a shower. No way was he leaving the kid in their bedroom all alone and at the mercy of John should he turn violent.

~Ninety Minutes Later~~

"Okay boys, time for bed," John announced as he glanced from the television set over to where the boys were sitting on the sofa as they watched the latest episode of American's Funniest Home Videos to see the youngest in their mist struggling to hold his eyes open while he emitted a jaw popping yawn.

'Yes Sir," David answered as he nudged his brother on the shoulder to make him more alert and then nodded his head towards the stairs to encourage his sibling to get moving. He knew better than to argue when given a direct order, even though he had hoped to stay up a little longer and watch a little more television.

Grasping Joey's hand and leading him up the stairs, David helped his brother into the bed and was just climbing in himself when he heard a knock on the door. "Yeah?" he questioned aloud as he defensively nudged Joey behind him.

"David, it's Mary. Would it be okay if I came in and read you two a story and then tuck you in?" He heard Mary call out with baited breath.

"I...I don't know, I…" David stammered as he glanced from the door, to his brother, and then back again.

"Please De" Joey begged as he beseeched his brother with a woebegone expression. "I can't remember ever having a mama read to me."

"Okay, you can come in I guess," David called out hesitantly as he gave in to his brother's wishes. He never could say no to the kid.

Opening the door, Mary strolled in and over to the shelf where some children's books had been placed in anticipation of the children's arrival. Grasping her favorite, she walked over to the bed where the boys lay and sat down at the bottom of the bed where she hoped she wouldn't seem to threatening even though what she really wanted to do was to climb in the bed between her boys and wrap an arm around each one of them before beginning.

"This is one of my favorite books and I hope you two will like it also," Mary stated as she opened the book and began to read.

'Little Nutbrown Hare who was going to bed, held on very tight, to big Nutbrown Hare's ears. He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening. "Guess how much I love you," he said. "Oh, I don't think I could guess that," said Big Nutbrown Hare.'

Mary then went on to finish the story about a little rabbit who wanted reassurance that his parents' love was deep and unending. Closing the book, she looked lovingly into the expressive eyes of the two boys who lay before her and said, "I want you to know that I too, love the both of you all the way up to the moon and back. John and I both do, and I hope that someday you will both know that you are safe and loved with us."

Standing up, she leaned down to tuck the blanket around the two boys on the bed and then kissed them lightly on the forehead. "Sweet Dreams," she whispered before leaving the room with tear filled eyes. She didn't expect the boys to say anything in return since she knew they had been through too much trauma to just believe her at her words. No, she knew it would take lots of love, patience, and understanding before the boys were ready to accept their love, and she would wait until the end of time if that was what it took.

Watching as Mary left the room, David's eyes misted with tears as he wondered if he and Joey could ever have a life like that, one where they were loved and cherished every day, just the way that Little Nutbrown Hare was. Yes, he wanted for himself, but he wanted it for Joey more than anything else in the world.

TBC. So, are you still interested and want to read more? By the way, the story that Mary read to the boys is titled Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney.