The Winchester family's time at the cabin lasted until the first part of December right after a snowfall threatened to make the road out impassable. By then the twins were seven months old and crawling, sitting up and cutting teeth. It wasn't only the snowy road but the holidays that spurred Dean into deciding to head back to their second home. He was sentimental like that; he wanted the kids to be with Bobby for their first Christmas.

….

The tree was patchy and skinny and would not have made the cover of any magazine but Bobby and Cayden found it together, that was what counted. It was their first Christmas together, in the past Bobby put a tree up for the boys because it made them happy and this year, he wanted to make Cayden happy. The hunter also hoped Sam, Dean and the grandbabies would come home and if they didn't, Bobby was prepared to get them. When everyone left, leaving just him, Cayden and the cat, it was a shock to the system after having such a loud and lively home. The couple took that few months to really get to know each other and enjoyed researching together or listening to music on the radio, now that a few stations worked. One station only talked about the apocalypse and what was happening around them but the other was music all the time. The last week whoever was manning the radio station played Christmas music.

Bobby stepped back to admire their work on the tree and to cop a squeeze of his squeeze's butt, "Looks good honey, but why did you put lights on it?"

He looked at himself in the reflection of a shiny ball and tucked an errant curl behind his ear, "Because we might get power. There have been a few times already. Maybe someone out there is trying to restore electricity…the government, a company, someone, I'm thinking positive. You never know, maybe the Wizard is working behind the curtain to set things right. What can I say, I believe in miracles."

"Nice Baum reference." A proud Bobby wrapped his arms about his Cay's waist, and patted the nonexistent bump, "Speaking of miracles, how are you feeling?"

"Great," the omega laughed softly, "I knew I should have locked you in with the chickens during my heat. I know you said you never wanted children. To be honest, I was afraid to tell you, worried you would reject me."

"You should know by now I'd never do that." The hunter sat on the couch and pulled Cayden down next to him, "Given your condition, I need to tell you about my family history and whatever you do next, well, I wouldn't blame you."

Bobby thought back to his childhood and that night where he got the brunt of his father's verbal abuse. It happened at dinner where he accidentally tipped over a glass of milk off the table, leaving glass everywhere.

"My dad, he was a nasty drunk, a pit viper ready to strike for every mistake or wrong word. He said, "You break everything you touch." I don't know why but those words got to me worse than any beating. I remember my mom on her hands and knees cleaning up the mess…she looked up at me and said "Why do you always provoke him?" Mom was scared and I never blamed her for saying that, the words just came out. Ed, my dad, he delt the final blow, he said it was because I was a bad kid. I kept hearing that in my head for years, it affects a child, you know."

Cayden listened quietly, only nodding now and then.

"Well, the beatings and the yelling kept on until one day I couldn't take it anymore. Dad was beating Mom and…and I got a gun and shot him dead." Bobby hitched his thumb toward the window, "Buried him behind the woodshed, buried him deep. Mom and I never talked about it; it was our secret. She got to live what was left of her life in peace and after all that I decided I never wanted kids. I didn't want to mess them up like I was."

"Bobby I-"

"I'm not done. I've got one more thing to tell you." He pointed to the photo of Karen on the mantle, "Before Karen died, we had a big fight, she wanted kids and I didn't. We didn't talk after that…a big regret of mine. Karen became possessed by a demon and I ended up killing her. Rufus Turner helped me cover it up. He was the one who introduced me to the supernatural and hunting."

The hunter's head was bowed and hands clenched together, "I wouldn't blame you for going back to the compound after hearing all that. I wanted to tell you before but decided not to but now that your pregnant, I had to come clean." Bobby waited for the verdict; their future was in Cayden's hands now.

After giving the stories some thought, the omega knelt in front of the broken man and placed his hands on Bobby's knees, "I had a good father and a good homelife so I can't imagine how terrible it must have been to grow up like that. Your dad was the one who broke everything he touched and he was the bad person, not you. You put down a vicious dog, that's how I see it. I've always felt some people shouldn't have the privilege of living. What happened to Karen…you were put in an awful position and I don't know who this Rufus is but it was a good thing he was there. I'd like to meet him one day. There is no blame to place except on the demon." He placed his hand over his stomach, "We aren't going anywhere. You're a wonderful father, just look at Sam and Dean and how great they turned out." He tickled Bobby's beard and made the morose man smile, "Remember how much the twins love you and what a great granddad you are. I know you will be everything this kid deserves. I love you, Bobby Singer."

Bobby, who always sacrificed for others and endured such deep wounds felt maybe now the universe was on his side even if just a little and maybe he did deserve to be a father to this baby.

"Marry me, Cay. I don't know what that means in this world anymore but I want a ring on your finger, hell, I'll even wear on. Does spring sound good?"

The omega's pale skin flushed pink and Bobby thought it was the cutest thing ever.

"Spring would be fine, spring would be great."

…..

Once the truck passed through the iron gate of Singer Salvage, the brothers felt at ease and happy to be back after over two months away. Dean looked back at the twins all bundled up in their snow suits and pointed out the window, "Look, Grandpa is outside with the chickens." Nick and Emma craned their necks trying to see but were strapped down in the car seats. The words "Grandpa" and "chickens" were ones they understood perfectly and they hadn't seen either in forever. Emma started crying and said something that sounded like "Guh," Dean wondered if she was trying to say "Grandpa" but that certainly couldn't be it since he was sure her first words would be "mommy".

"Hey Dean, maybe she's trying to say "grandpa"!

"No, she's not, their first words are going to be "mommy."

"Humph, what about "daddy"?

Nick, tired of being locked in the car seat, pulled at the straps to no avail and started crying out of frustration.

Bobby was at the truck door as soon as it came to a stop. He embraced both his boys, giving them each a manly clap on the back. He stuck his head in the cab and grinned at the babies, "What are you little chicks squawking about?" They instantly stopped crying and reached out to him, working cubby fingers in the air trying to grab his beard. He didn't know what the two were babbling about but they seemed to have all sorts of stories to tell.

….

The school looked completely abandoned though there were signs of people who had tried to get inside the building. The big glass doors in front were covered in plywood and chicken wire as were the lower windows of the building. Dean was impressed because it must have taken a lot of effort to fortify, especially single handed. Sam circled around the high school, knowing every nook and cranny from his time as a student. Every entrance was locked up tight from the inside. He jogged back to his brother, "I can't find a way in." Dean pounded on the boarded door again.

An upper window opened and Alfie stuck his head out, waving cheerily to his friends, "I'm so happy to see you guys! Hang on, Shea will let you in."

One of the double doors opened up and there was the principal bigger than life and sporting an impressive, bushy beard with streaks of silver. He welcomed the brothers with hugs tight enough to even knock the air out of Sam and ushered them inside before locking the door again.

Sam and Dean entered the cafeteria where a big fake Christmas tree stood in the corner, adored with ornaments. Alfie attacked them from behind with hugs, happy to see his family again.

After Dean pried him off, he took a good look at the omega and was glad to see Alfie looked healthy and happy, glowing even.

"You look great. He hitched his thumb toward Sheamus, "Is this big lug treating you right?"

"Oh yeah, he treats me like a princess," Alfie did a spin to show off his gown, "I even get to dress like one when I feel like it. This was a costume from the play Cinderella the high school put on. There are all sorts of cool clothes in storage. I could dress you like a king or a queen."

"King, please. What am I saying, I'm not gonna wear a costume but you have at it." Sam told his friend he looked beautiful and Alfie's cheeks colored from the compliment.

They were invited to stay for a dinner of mutton but the Winchesters declined. Neither liked being away from their babies for too long. Dean polished off the mug of instant coffee before asking if they were coming for Christmas.

"We really want you there, we can stay in the nursery and you can take our bed. Bobby is going to make a ham, baked potatoes and corn. He's even going to try making fry bread on the grill. Cayden is dipping into the flour and sugar and making pies." Dean's eyes glazed over just thinking about the mouthwatering food, especially the pies.

Sam jumped in, "Bobby even has gifts under the tree, I don't know how he managed that. I think most of them are for the twins, who knows."

Alfie spoke for the both of them, "Of course. We were planning on coming anyway." He looked up at Sheamus with adoration.

Sheamus looked down at Alfie with the same level of adoration and slipped his arm around his omega's waist, "Should we….?

"Tell them? Yes, better them to know first so they can ease Bobby into it." Alfie stood straight shoulders back to make himself look as big as possible which was about the size of bread box compared to the three huge men in the room.

"I'm pregnant."

Sam got a grip on his brother's hand and squeezed, a warning he should watch what he said next. Dean wasn't one to hold back. His smile got bigger but it was a strained smile. "I uh, I-congratulations. I guess those condoms I gave you didn't work." Sam squeezed his hand tighter. "Fuck, your gonna break my fingers."

The alpha let go, "Like Dean said, congratulations. The twins will have a playmate now."

Sheamus held up his big hands as if warding the brothers off, "I know what you're thinking. He ran out of pills and we did use the condoms but they were expired and I guess it broke and it was a big surprise." He scolded himself, "It's my fault, I was going to go hunting around for a pharmacy that wasn't already ransacked and I didn't and abracadabra, he ended up pregnant. I knew I should have moved to the other side of the school."

"Oooh, abracadabra would be a great baby name, Shea!"

"No darling, no it wouldn't."

…..

Nick and Emma sat in front of the Christmas tree marveling at all the shiny ornaments and boxes under the tree. The crackling fire reflected off the vintage glass baubles making them even more enticing. The problem was they couldn't reach any of shiny objects because the bottom of the tree wasn't decorated except with lights.

Sam inquired about that, what was the point of lights when they wouldn't work? Cayden told him how there had been a few times the electricity flicked on and how the Wizard was working behind the big curtain to give the people power. Sam was familiar with the The Wizard of Oz and loved the reference. He wished there really was a wizard out there trying to set things right.

The family were all in the living room that Christmas Eve mostly to stay warm by the fire but just to be together. Alfie and Sheamus on the floor with a blanket, Sam, Dean and the babies on their laps keeping warm and Bobby and Cayden on the couch wrapped up in a comforter.

They held mugs full of warm instant cocoa loaded with stale marshmallows, Dean's was more marshmallows than liquid. The family was full of ham, roasted potatoes, fry bread and pie. Even though the world outside was cold and dangerous and the future uncertain, they had each other.

Suddenly the tree lights began to flicker and to the families delight, stayed on. Nick's eyes open wide and his little lips were the shape of an O, Emma excitedly grabbed her mother's arm and pointed.

The Wizard came through after all.

TBC