Chapter 18

Michelle and Kaia were splashing around in their backyard pool in Texas one hot Summer day. Renee and her 6 month old blonde haired, blue eyed baby girl were spinning around in the water with the protection of a baby floatie. Renee turned to see Dean and Mark sitting on the poolside furniture relaxing. Renee moved Megan's right arm up and down in a wave to the two men. They laughed and waved back. Renee blew a kiss to her husband. Dean rose from the chair and kneeled near the edge of the pool as Renee pulled herself and Megan closer to him.

"Hey, darling," Dean said.

"Hi," she greeted with a kiss on the lips.

Dean turned to Megan and placed multiple kisses all over her face, bringing out a laugh from her. He rose from the cement and went to sit back down by Mark.

"I tell ya, bud. That little girl loves you."

"I love her too."

"Boy, it's a warm one today. Care for a cold one?" Mark asked reaching into the plastic cooler sitting to his right.

"I don't drink anymore, remember?"

Mark pulled out a Diet Dr. Pepper and held it out to Dean.

"Oh," Dean chuckled taking the can. "Of course."

They pulled the tabs back on the can, then tapped them together before taking a swig.

"Aaaahhhh..." Dean sighed.

"That hit's the spot perfectly."

"Agreed."

Kaia left the pool and walked up towards her step-brother and father.

"Hi, Daddy. Hi, Dean."

"Hey, honey," Mark greeted.

"Hiya, kiddo."

"Having fun?"

"Yep. What are you drinking?"

"Soda. Want a sip?"

Kaia nodded as Mark passed the can over to his daughter. She took a drink, then gave the can back to her father.

"Don't forget. 4th of July fireworks tonight."

"Yay! I'm gonna go swim some more."

"Could I have a hug?"

Kaia wrapped her arms around her father, then hugged Dean before going back towards the pool. She jumped back into the pool when Michelle was close by to catch her.

"So, Ambrose. How's fatherly life treating you?"

"Really well. Of course changing the diapers is no easy task."

"Tell me about it. How could something so stinky come out of something so tiny?"

"I don't know," Dean replied shaking his head.

A thought crossed Mark's mind. "Um...you're not mad at me for that night in Vegas, are you?"

Dean looked at Mark. "No. Never. He was going to kill me. You saved my life. I could never be mad at you for what you did."

"Just curious."

"I do want to thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything. What you did for me. What you did for my mother."

"Jonathan, I saw a good kid in you. Today, I see a good man in you." He patted him on the shoulder. "I'm proud of you."

Dean smiled. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. I also think that your mother would be proud of you too."

Dean sat his can aside. "You think?"

"I know."

Dean shook his head back and forth. "No, no no no no no no no. You said 'think'."

"You know what I meant."

Dean cocked an eyebrow and challenged with a smirk. "Do I really?"

Mark took another drink before sitting his can on the cooler. He stood from the chair and in front of Dean. "You're not too old to whip, buddy."

Dean stood from his chair and Renee took notice.

"Uh-oh," Renee said. "Michelle, they're at it again."

Michelle, with Kaia in her arms, made her way to where Renee and Megan were wading in the pool.

"Oh, boy. Kaia, your father and stepbrother were quite competitive back then. Even today."

"Dean told me the same thing. Him and Mark always loved pushing each other's buttons just a little bit."

"Who's the younger of the two, pal?" Dean asked.

"Age is just a number, son."

"Is that a fact, old man?"

"Oh no," Michelle whispered as Renee chuckled.

"I'm gonna make you regret that old man comment. Remember the last time we competed in the ring together? I made you tap out."

"I remember that, although I wish to forget it. But do you remember what happened after that match? If you don't, maybe this will jog your memory a little bit. Undertaker, party of one. Your table is ready. Courtesy...of The Shield."

Mark smirked, then looked in the direction of the pool. "Hey, Kaia. Want to see something funny?"

"Yeah!"

"Oh, I don't think that there's gonna be anything funny about..."

Dean's head snapped to the right when Mark landed an open-handed smack to Dean's jaw. Dean gasped as he quickly turned his eyes towards Mark.

"Wow." Dean said rubbing his sore jaw.

"Funny for me. Not for you, little man." Mark taunted with a wink.

Dean flexed his jaw. "Okay. Okay. Fine. Nothing personal, but..."

Dean went for an open-palm strike of his only. Mark ducked, then wrapped a hand around Dean's throat. Mark turned towards the pool, pushing Dean closer to the edge.

"Oh, crap..." Dean strained.

One moment he found himself in the air, the next, he went splashing back first into the water. Renee, Michelle and Kaia were laughing at the play of events.

"You still got it!" the girls chanted as they clapped.

Dean rose to the surface sputtering and coughing. Mark stood at the edge of the pool, hands resting on his hips.

"Haven't you learned anything by now? Don't cross the Deadman."

Dean swam towards the pool steps, then exited out of the pool. He walked over to a chair that had a towel and picked it up.

"You okay," Mark asked, all kidding around aside.

Dean rubbed at his face with the towel. "Oh, yeah. I'm good. It's just that you have forgotten the fact that..."

Dean dropped the towel and charged at Mark. Both men fell into the deep end of the pool, causing the girls to laugh even harder. Dean popped up for air and turned looking for Mark. Mark appeared to his left, eyes only visible.

"As I was saying. You have forgotten the fact that your life changes when I am your enemy."

Mark's full face came into view. He spit a mouth-full of water into Dean's face, then pulled him under water. The girls continued laughing at the two men wrestling in the pool. Seconds later, Dean climbed out of the pool with Mark close behind him giving chase.

"Get back here!"

"Try to stop me!"

"They're acting like a couple of kids," Michelle stated.

Renee chuckled, shaking her head back and forth. "Men."