Dean had been in a lot of surreal situations: hell, he had been in some beyond weird ones! He had even been to Hell! He had been to Heaven! He had been backwards and forwards in time…
But looking at an almost mirror-perfect living reflection of himself, (albeit the other was dressed in well-cut sand-coloured trousers and a green sweater the same exact shade as both their sets of eyes rather than denims and layers of plaid), was the most… mind-boggling thing that he had ever, could ever…
… it was just insane.
And then the other… him… who had momentarily been staring back at him in just as stunned a fashion, suddenly squeaked with excitement and rushed to throw his arms around Dean, trapping the elder Winchester's own limbs against his body, such was the intensity of the hold, and almost toppling them both over as he fought to regain his balance, and resisted the instinct to head-butt first, give excuses later.
"Whoa!" "You're here, you're here, you're here! And… oh by Our Lady! Johnny! You've Presented! Are you okay? Where have you both been? We've been worried sick! How did you manage? Has… has anyone… ? Nobody hurt…?"
Dean had been abandoned as suddenly as he had been rushed by approximately the end of the third short sentence, and it was the younger omega who was now trying to fend off his mother's anxious hands: "Mom, No! I'm okay! Dean looked after me! Our Lady took us to him…"
The other Dean was instantly upset: "But… but… I would have looked after you. You know that…"
"We were attacked by Alphas, mom. Out in the open. You couldn't have protected me from them. Our Lady did though, and brought me to Dean. And Samuel of course, to his mate and daughter…"
"Daughter? Evie-Marie's here as well?" And the other Dean was turning again, once more bouncing on his toes in anticipation as his grand-daughter, shy for probably the first time in her precocious life, peered out from behind her father in amazement at his carbon copy. "Hello sweetheart! I've been desperate to meet you!"
"Daddy?" The little girl grabbed for his hand even as the other Dean went to his knees in front of her, already reaching for a hug…
Samuel took pity and also knelt beside his daughter: "This is my mom. Your nana! You can see how he looks exactly like your dad: it caused all sorts of confusion last time! But you're going to love him: you'll see! It's a bit bewildering right now but just give it time…"
"Oh, oh! I didn't mean to overwhelm you, I'm sorry!" And the other Dean was already hurriedly getting up again and stepping back, his face full of nervous concern that he had made a bad first impression. "There's someone else here who'd love to meet you! Cassie! Cass, darling… come and meet your niece! And Samuel's mate. And…!"
His eyes had finally lighted upon Sam and Castiel, standing silently and somewhat embarrassed at the back of the group. The other Dean couldn't help but blush slightly at the sight of his two previous lovers, but then his thoughts were overtaken by something else entirely: "Johnny! Your Heat! How did you…? I mean… who helped…? They didn't…?"
"No, they didn't!" Dean was by now beyond being bemused by the sudden onslaught of constantly competing emotions that his counterpart seemed to be capable of, not when his brother and friend were being unfairly accused of something. "Nobody needed to touch Johnny in any shape, size of form! He managed just fine alone…"
While at exactly the same time, the young omega in question spoke up to defend himself as well: "I did it all on my own, mom! It was every bit as horrible as I'd heard, but Dean was always there if I needed someone to hold my hand or he'd sit and stroke my hair and talk to me even when I was out of my mind raving, and he gave me… erm… things to use to help make it less… desperate.
He was brilliant. And at least now that I've survived it once, I know I can do it again if I have to. Can I go on suppressants though, mom? As soon as possible."
The other Dean blinked, thrown a bit by both the sudden confidence that his youngest son was showing and the underlying anger that he was all too aware of in his doppelganger's tone just then.
The lack of amusement on Samuel, Sam and Castiel's faces as well probably didn't help.
There was a momentary uncomfortable silence in the room.
Then the other Dean disconcerted them all by bursting into tears.
"I'm sorry," he sniffled. "I'm handling this all wrong! I was so looking forward to getting to meet you, and was hoping to Our Lady that She would allow us to, and now you're here and you looked after Johnny, and I'm, I'm ruining it all…"
"Mom…" Samuel hated this: all his Alpha instincts turned against him when his omega mother cried. Johnny also hurried towards the sobbing man to console him: "C'mon mom, it's okay..."
"Hey!" The sticcatoed outburst startled them all. Dean stared somewhat coldly at his counterpart, who stopped the tears almost immediately at the weight of the steely gaze upon him. But the older Winchester's voice was kind. "Enough now. No harm done. But let's get one thing straight: nothing was done in any way that was against anyone's wishes. Got it?"
"Got it!" The other nodded frantically, the wide smile back on his face. "Oh, I'm so glad you're here!" as he all but danced where he stood in his enthusiasm. "Come here! Let's get something to eat and then you can tell me all about it! I want to hear everything!"
And with that, he was grabbing for Dean's hand with one of his, and for Evie's hand with his other and all but pulling them both into the kitchen after him. The little girl held fast to her dad with her remaining free limb, and he looked to his mate with a momentarily completely horrified look covering his face…
Sam couldn't help but laugh.
And then he laughed even more at the glare that his elder brother gave him even as he was dragged out of sight.
"Give me your bags and go on through." Samuel grabbed all their combined belongings into two huge handfuls and started up the stairs: "Sam? Dean and Evie will obviously be in with me. Will you two be okay sharing the guest bedroom? There's a twin and a pull-out single."
"They can have my room if there's not enough space!" Johnny piped in, his green eyes shining brightly. "I can go in with M-A…"
"Not now you've presented, Squirt," came the ominous response from the seemingly disembodied voice as Samuel had now passed from their view up the stairs. "Mary-Anne may not have presented herself yet, but it's coming closer. And being in close proximity to an un-mated omega is not the best way to find out if she is indeed going to be an Alpha!"
"Ew. But she's my sister…!" Johnny's words failed him momentarily. He almost looked faint, as if he had suddenly finally fully understood something that he had never quite done before...
Then he was abruptly racing out into the kitchen.
The two men… well, man and angel… were left standing on their own in the large open living room. Unsure of what to do, they also followed through into the rear of the house that everyone else but Samuel had disappeared to…
Where they found an equally large kitchen diner, including a vast expanse of island, seemingly endless cupboards and work-top, and full light shining in through full-width to the room Bifold doors. And a lot of plants.
A lot of plants!
Green was the over-riding first impression, in all of its known shades and most of them not, and it covered just about all the available surfaces with the exception of part of the kitchen counter, all of the island, and a family-size dining table that occupied the other end of the room. But amidst the green was colour: pinks and reds and yellows and peaches and whites and blue and brighter pinks and reds and yellows and peaches and whites and blues, and the occasional dark purple of black flowers.
Sam and Castiel stared in amazement, (and the angel in full appreciation), as they both recalled Samuel's description of his mother, and of the omega trying to bring the terrifying outside into the safe confines of his home.
The other room - the living room that they had just left, was the standard 'normal' family room: designed and set up for show. Here was the actual 'living' area of the house: where the other Dean probably spent most of his time. Where he cooked, and gardened, and enjoyed his family, and even on occasion perhaps dare to relax.
That Dean in question was now standing leaning against the work-top beside a gurgling (and heavenly) smelling coffee percolator, looking surprised but hugging his younger son in just as tight a grasp as Johnny was doing to him, pressing against his mom with the silent urgency of sudden appreciation and recognition.
Dean himself was already sitting on a sofa across the room and also engaged in embraces, but in his case he was affectionately squeezing a very pretty woman. A very pretty woman, Sam's mind instantly informed him. She was small-boned in features: petite cute upturned nose; dark brown eyes, long dark hair; dressed casually yet looking lovely in a delicate, flowery-patterned dress that looked incongruous next to the bright-coloured plaid over-shirt of the man beside her.
Also involved in the embrace were a couple of young girls, probably about to enter their teens: one of whom had clambered right onto Dean's lap and was crying tears of sobbed joy. The other was leaning right across her mother to join in the reunion. And slightly apart from all of them was a child who looked to be approximately Evie's age, standing staring at them all in the room (especially the unknown-to-her little girl whom had just been literally pulled into the room by her mother) in slight apprehension as to what exactly was going on…
"Sam! Hey! This is Annie! She was my best friend the last time. Well…" Dean was already getting up, still with the young teenager clinging to him, arms and legs like a limpet. "She was my only friend." He corrected himself. "And her daughter Lauren!"
The girl still on the couch smiled in welcome. As did her mother. The girl in Dean's arms only burst into louder (and more spectacular) tears: "I thought that I was your friend!"
But the wails quickly ceased as the elder Winchester somehow bounced her in his strong biceps to turn her enough to be able to meet his eyes direct: "You, Mary-Anne. Are my family. And I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you as well! We've been so worried that we'd never see you again! Don't you ever go away again! Please!" And she was burying her face into his bright shirt and crying some more, but somehow with the hint of joy in her sobs.
Dean didn't need to respond. He just hugged her tighter. And then managed to extend his arms while still juggling M-A enough to fit around Evie and Johnny as they also ran across the room to join in.
And then to fit the other Dean in as well.
And Samuel.
And then little Cassie, as she decided that if this look-alike of her mom was being so welcomed by the rest of her family then he might, perhaps, be good enough for her to get to know. Maybe.
(Although she and Evie were definitely eyeing each other as possible Best Friends For Ever. Or the alternative at the age of almost four years old: bitter enemies for life.)
"What's going on here?"
Sam had been in a lot of surreal situations: hell, he had been in some beyond weird ones!
But staring at himself, albeit that the other self was dressed in an extremely well-cut and very smart suit completed by perfectly polished shoes, was probably the mind-blowing thing that he had ever known.
The other stared back, both momentarily at a loss for words.
But then the look-alike was catching sight of Johnny across the room in the huddle of human… were… bodies and he was sighing in sudden relief. "Thank Our Lady that you're alright! I was praying that you hadn't been taken by… And when Samuel was missing as well? It just seemed so…
I've had the police looking for you everywhere and we've been trying to drum up the local news to put out an alert… Where have you been?"
By this time his long legs had also taken him to the other side of the long kitchen diner and he had his arms tight around his younger son, trying to blink away his tears of stress and cover his dread of what might have been happening despite all his efforts. His long hair fell into his face and he shook it away with annoyance, even as his concern began to morph into anger: "Where have you been?"
But even that was abruptly cut off as he registered the presence of Dean.
Both of them.
Still with their arms around each other (well, his mate's were more around Dean as the human turned were's arms were now aching due to the weight of the twelve or so year old still clinging to him). The Alpha's mouth opened and closed uncannily reminiscent of a goldfish for a good few moments as he couldn't do anything but stare at them…
… and then he hazily looked back at Sam…
And then the Alpha was stumbling across to sit down beside Annie suddenly - she had to scootch up on the couch quickly as he seemed so dazed that he came close to squashing her – to just gape at everyone in the room.
There was a long silence. Not an unpleasant one. But it seemed that everyone was waiting for… someone else to start the conversations that would surely come…
"So." It was the Alpha Sam who decided to break the pause. He looked back across the room at Sam, who was still standing with Castiel in the kitchen area of the room: "So. You're… the other Sam? From… that… world?"
Sam couldn't help it: he dropped his head to instead stare at his feet. "Yeah. Listen, I…"
"And you?" Sam risked a glance up. The Alpha was now addressing Castiel, who was also looking uncharacteristically abashed. "You're the… angel? The angel who smells like his soul m…? You're…"
"That's Castiel." His mate finished for him. "They kept me alive and sane there. You reaped the benefits when I returned, remember?" He motioned at their newest daughter and raised his eyebrows at the Alpha. "So you better be nice."
The Alpha's Adam's apple visibly moved as he swallowed down all the things that he might have perhaps said, but then, with a noticeable effort, he broke the silence once more: "I'm grateful to you. I was frantic when my Dean vanished and probably not as welcoming as I could have been to yours.
Thank you for looking my mate for me and keeping him safe."
There was another pause in the room. Sam tried frantically to think of what to say… but what could he say? Sorry that I had sex… a lot of sex… with your life-partner who just happened to look exactly like my very own human big brother… yeah, there was nothing in that sentence that he particularly wanted to say out loud…
It was Castiel who stepped up: "Thank you for your acceptance." His tone was deep and grave. "I understand that this might be a… somewhat delicate situation for you. And for us as well. Neither Sam nor I are very proud of ourselves about how we…
We could have been better…."
"You both were brilliant." The original omega Dean was now trying to calm the definite hint of rising tension in the room. "I have never been so terrified as I was when I found myself in that strange… in your world." He hastily corrected himself. "I wanted comfort and you gave it. I needed solace and companionship and you were there. Both of you. Thank you for getting me through that."
He was smiling at them from where he was still clinging white-knuckled to Dean and their combined children, (the latter now finally having been able to persuade Mary-Anne to get down and stand on her own two feet: reluctantly she had, but she still refused to let go of him. Johnny and Evie were also gripping tightly to his shirts. As for Samuel… well, he wasn't going anywhere but beside his mate and child.) Sam and the angel kept their position beside the kitchen cupboards behind the safety of the island. Alpha Sam was still sitting on the couch beside Annie.
There was another silence.
The Alpha tried again: "I'm not going to be able to say that I am… fully happy with what happened. I love my Dean with every hair on my ancestors' backs, and the thought that he had to…"
He swallowed again. "I must admit that my worst fear was that he might meet the one… the one that I would have to step away from him from, that I wouldn't be able to keep him from being with, because that bonding over-rides all others…
I was terrified not that he wouldn't be able to return… but that he wouldn't want to." The smart-suited Sam quietly admitted, his long bangs hanging over his face as he took a sudden interest in the hand-stitching on his shoes.
His mate gasped slightly and finally left the other Dean's side to approach his Alpha: "I would never not have come back! That was all I wanted, to return to my children. They knew that." This was with a nod at Castiel and Sam. "It was incredible to just get a… whiff of what my Special one would have smelt and probably looked like, and I apologise… I have apologised… that I couldn't resist from acting upon it, but I knew that it was only… just a momentary pretence.
Everything was about coming home. Everything." He was kneeling in front of his mate now, his green eyes shining with emotion as he peered up beneath the locks and saw the strain on the Alpha's face. Dean put his hand onto Sam's knee and squeezed it in emphasis. "I belong here. Nowhere else."
Sam smiled at him and blinked the dust that had got into his eyes away. Alphas didn't have eyes that watered. But he covered his mate's hand with his own larger one and squeezed back, feeling that he wanted never to let it go again.
"So." He began again. "You are all here? How…?"
"Our Lady took us through to their world." Samuel now had his arm curled around his mate's waist and was holding him back against his chest, while Dean was still occupied in somehow remaining in physical contact with both of his mate's younger sisters and their own daughter, (who by this time had made up her mind and was also holding hands with her new Best Friend, Ever, as well as her dad's with her other.)
"We found Dean and the Bunker, and have staying there a few days until She brought us all back here."
His father gaped at him: "Why…?"
"Because there's something to finish here." Dean responded.
"We asked if we all could come this time and She gracefully allowed us." Sam added from across the room, determined to get through his discomfort of the last few minutes. "Just as your brother didn't want to be parted from you, we didn't want to risk never being able to see our Dean again. And the thought of missing Evie growing up…?
Well, that would have been unbearable." It was his turn to blink dust from his eye. "But we understand if you would prefer us to be elsewhere than your home."
"They're staying here!" Omega Dean was in a panic at the thought of his family being separated again. "Tell them they're staying here!" His green eyes were openly filled with tears as he pleadingly looked up at his mate: no dust there.
The Alpha smiled down at him, unable to resist. "Of course they are. We'll sort out the rooms and…."
"Already taken the bags upstairs!" His eldest son informed him. "Sam and Cas in the smaller guest room but we can make up the pull-up; Annie and Lauren are of course in the larger one; Dean and our daughter in with me."
The pride in his voice at the mention of Evie-Marie was evident to all, and finally drew his father's attention. "Of course. Of course!" he shook his head at himself, his hair shaggily wafting with the motion. "I'm so sorry. I've not handled this well at all. So.
You're my grand-pup? I'm so proud to meet you…."
He smiled a genuine smile at the little girl. Who didn't move a muscle, with the exception of tightening her already vice-like grip on both Dean's and Cassie's hands. The man was surprised that the other girl didn't cry out because his daughter was definitely hurting him.
"She's just shy at the moment." He said by way of an explanation at his usually unstoppable child's extraordinary silence. "Being transported here, and then seeing the both of you… it's been a bit of an unusual day."
Sam blinked at his brother's display of his mastery of the talent for understatement, but sought to come across the room and meet his hosts properly. It was with an open, outstretched hand that he walked across the large kitchen-diner to greet his look-alike: "Let's start again. Hello, I'm Sam."
It was even more surreal when the other nodded and got to his feet to return the handshake: "I am also Sam. Which is going to get extremely confusing: it's a good job that you don't seem to have a scent at the moment, much like Dean didn't when he first arrived. But."
The Alpha's composure suddenly shook again and his face paled as he realised: "That changed fairly quickly! It was only about a month and Dean smelt full amazing omega! What if the same happens and you…?"
He was now staring at Castiel in horror.
Both Deans realised quickly what he meant. "No," his mate hurried to his feet to try and calm the stink of panic and rage that had abruptly filled the room. "That doesn't matter! I came back to you: I will always choose you!"
At the same time, the newer turned omega also spoke: "It won't happen. Cas is a smell-alike, not a soul-mate. Believe me." As the Alpha's now slightly red-tinted eyes turned to him. "I got the full soul-mate experience with Samuel and I was helpless against it. I knew all the arguments that I should have stopped him with: I'm too old for him; different species; different dimensions even! But nothing mattered in that moment and I couldn't have stopped it from happening if I'd wanted to. Which I didn't by the way."
This last bit was added to assure his young mate, who was suddenly looking a bit green in his features at the thought that his lover might not have been fully in agreement with their mating. Samuel hugged the older man tighter back against his chest and buried his face into the back of the short hair to breathe in much-needed scent while he tried to recover from his own panic.
"What I mean is." Dean was calm as he stared across at the older Alpha. "If Cas was your Dean's true soul-mate, then slight scent or not, there'd have been no stopping it. Just as Samuel said from day one that I had a different aroma than his mom, so Cas is just that bit different…
There'll be no trouble like that."
The lawyer nodded thoughtfully: logic overcoming his instincts and returning his eyes to their normal colour from the tinge of red that had begun. "Of course. Samuel noticed immediately that you had a sweeter scent even if I couldn't sense it. To me, you smelt the same as my Dean. But he knew. Even before he presented. That was you blossoming as his…"
"Ew. Blossoming?" Dean was offended. His annoyance eased the tension in the room though.
Samuel snorted into the back of his neck and hastily rushed to apologise as his mate twisted in his arms to look up at him with a raised eyebrow: "Sorry! That's just… not a word that I'd ever had described you with!
But dad's right. Your scent was amazing to me. I wanted to be with you every minute even though I didn't quite understand why. And when I did…? It nearly broke me when Our Lady took you away again. Those dream nights weren't for your benefit, Dean: they were given with necessity for me!"
It was with an assuring nod that he looked back across at his father: "Dad, Dean's right. If this Castiel was mom's true soul-mate, then mom would never have been able to leave him to return here. He just… smells similar. Close. But not exact. Just a counterpart from another dimension…"
"And I can assure you," the angel's voice was equally sincere. Not to mention grave. "I meant it when I said that I am very ashamed of how I behaved. There will be no problem here."
The Alpha lawyer studied him for a moment, and then nodded once more. Although he still didn't look completely convinced. But he did reach out his hand towards Castiel in a gesture of possible friendship. "You are welcome to stay here. It's good to see Dean again, and I desperately want to get to know my grand-pup and her family, so please… make yourself at home."
It was a somewhat friendlier group that settled round the large table, with the host omega happily bustling around the kitchen, pulling out food from the large refrigerator and setting it to heat up. Annie began to help, but Dean shooed her to sit down next to his brother, (his amusement at Sam's noticeably reddening face when beside such a pretty woman having nothing whatsoever to do with his suggestion), and went to assist his counter-part himself and prepare a salad.
Where he was almost immediately followed by his daughter, who was still anxious enough not to want to be out of any small distance from him, and then by her brand new best friend cousin. Both girls were immediately set to work counting out the cutlery for Samuel (who also didn't want to be too far from his mate after waiting all those years) to take to the table and lay out for everyone.
And then Johnny, Mary-Anne and Lauren also joined them in the increasingly crowded space behind the large island, having already gotten bored with the small talk of the other adults. It was an excited babble of noise for a few minutes as lives and adventures were told and caught up with, on both sides.
The Dean from that world was beside himself with happiness: all his dreams were coming true. His home was full with a sudden other family. And he knew the other Dean to be family: his children had made that very clear upon his return. Whereas he had been ecstatic to get back to them, he had become aware almost instantly of their misery and… grief… that it had also meant that his counter-part had been forced to leave.
And the other Dean had obviously made such an impression on them that he had definitely been sorely missed.
And not just by his young mate, but by all of them.
The omega had also been stunned and dismayed that he had not only missed the most important moment of his eldest son's life, that of his Presentation, but also that Samuel had immediately been lucky enough to have found his soul-mate and together forged the strongest bonds that any were could ever create.
Only to have his mate torn from him.
The omega Dean had left his son as a tall, studious, often stubborn (from his father's side), still slightly immature but sometimes serious young adult… and returned to find him suddenly a grown Man with a capital M.
An Alpha.
In love.
And completely broken.
How many nights had the omega prayed to Our Lady as She shone her precious light around the night sky and begged Her to bring peace to his son? To bring his mate back to him? Even to take Samuel to Dean, even if it meant that his mother would probably never see him again…?
And when Samuel had woken from those dreams, made more peaceful in his mind from his visions of his mate but also now crying that he had a beautiful daughter, just barely older than Cassie, and he could see her smile and the way her hair had a little curl at the front, but he could never touch or hold her…?
The omega had tried to hold on to his faith but he couldn't help but silently rage at Our Lady Moon for putting his poor son through all that heartache. How could She have done that? What did it achieve?
But now his son's mate was there. And Samuel's daughter, his grand-pup, even more beautiful than described. And the other Sam and Castiel.
They were all together.
They were all a family.
His family.
At the table, the Alpha had gone to fetch a bottle of good red wine that he had been saving and some glasses. The alcohol was definitely helping the two Sams to get along much better, and even Castiel had accepted a small glass to be polite. Their conversation got easier, especially once the Alpha realised that it had been his counterpart's dream to also become a lawyer. It also got more than a bit louder.
"Again," Sam felt that he had to keep apologising, if only for his own peace of mind: "I'm really sorry for what happened. Dean… our Dean… was really furious when he came back and realised. He had a few choice words for the both of us…"
"It's forgotten." His look-alike smiled at him and poured another glass-full for himself. "I can't pretend that I wasn't a bit upset, but hey… you know what omegas are like. Well, you didn't but you probably do now: they just can't help themselves…"
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?!"
Everyone fell silent immediately at Dean's furious outburst from across the room.
The Alpha looked around to see the angry man glaring at him where he was standing at the counter. And then he saw Samuel and Johnny also looking at him with clear disgust in their expressions.
And Dean… his Dean? Well, he was standing staring at his mate with tears already escaping his eyes.
"Is…is that what you think of me? Of us? All this time and that's what you think…?"
The Alpha hastily tried to backtrack: "No, I… No! That was a stupid thing to say. I'm so sorry, I don't know why I said that. I…"
"That is precisely what we're fighting, dad." Samuel's disdain for his father at that moment was obvious. "What we have spent the last four or so years fighting. And now you just come out and say…"
"I didn't mean it." The Alpha was getting angry. Angry at himself. Angry for putting that look on his mate's face. Angry at how his children were suddenly viewing him.
Angry at everything.
"You know I didn't mean it. But you must admit that omegas have got this reputation deservedly. They're built for emotions and, well… s… breeding." (Having remembered that the two little girls were in the room, although he noted bitterly, no one had called the other Dean out for swearing just then. They were only mad at him!)
"They're not logical like Alphas. They can't control themselves like an Alpha can. That's all I'm saying…"
"Like you did, you mean?" Dean's deep voice cut across his bluster with a voice as cold as perfectly sharpened tempered steel. "You behaved soooo perfectly, didn't you? As the perfectly controlled Alpha you are."
There was another silence in the room. This time a very ominous one as the human-turned-omega's words were considered…
The Alpha also considered them… and his face went white as he remembered just how he had behaved during the time that Dean had been living with his family…
"Wait." His mate began: "Did you…?" He turned to his plaid-dressed look-alike. "Did… he…?"
"Dean?" Sam was now also on his feet and crossing to where the other man had been standing preparing tomatoes for the salad. It didn't matter that Samuel has already moved to his mate's side: Sam had to be near his big brother.
"I… I'm sorry." The Alpha Sam spoke suddenly: it was his turn to be looking at his feet. "Dean's correct: I behaved very badly towards him, and I was completely out of turn with what I just said. I'm so sorry, my darling." This last was to his mate. "I love you so much, and I certainly do not think of you as anything 'lesser'. I don't know why I said those words just then…
Please forgive me."
There was another silence.
Sam had by this time gotten close enough to his brother to be able to put his hand on the other's shoulder in support, grateful that Samuel had immediately nodded his approval for the move and instead had himself stepped to the other side to put the smaller (than them both) man between them.
He could feel how tense Dean was beneath his touch and cursed himself: all the times that his brother had told his story of this dimension to himself and Castiel… and to Jody and Claire and Charlie… he suddenly was now aware that probably none of them had ever gotten the complete account of what had happened…
… and, knowing his big brother, they probably never would.
Perhaps his first reaction to the elder Winchester's re-appearance all those years ago had been closer to the truth than he had realised…
But Dean was speaking.
"All of that is in the past. Me here in this world. Dean here", indicating his still-sniffling omega look-alike, "with my Sammy and Cas. That's the past.
But you ever let me hear you say anything like that again, and you and me are going to have a major problem.
Everyone… everyone… chooses their behaviour. Good or bad: it's their decision. It might not be right: it might be completely wrong, but everyone has that freedom of choice. Or bloody well should have. And to write a whole gender off as being…"
"I'm sorry, Dean." The Alpha cut him off with earnest sincerity. "Both for what I said just then, and for how I behaved towards you previously. You're quite correct: that was a disgraceful thing to say, and exactly what we've been fighting against, and I… I just opened my mouth and let the misogynistic things that I've heard all my life… that we've all heard through our lives… come out anyway and I'm so very, very ashamed…
It will never happen again. And I don't really think that, I don't know why I said it…"
He paused momentarily: "I guess that that's what expected, and even I… I'm not immune. I wanted to show off in front of my would-be competition and I completely spoke out of turn…
I'm so, so sorry."
The apology was to the room in general, but to both Deans in particular. And it seemed genuine: the Alpha really did look very contrite and ashamed.
But there was still another silence…
The Alpha nodded miserably. "I'll go and get on with some work, and leave you all to get to know each other. We'll talk later?" This last was to his mate, who by now had taken the couple of steps sideways to be close to his look-alike, tears drying on his cheeks but still threatening to fall.
Dean glanced out of the corner of his eye at the now miserable looking omega and pulled him into a one-hand hug: the other man going willingly and with a slight sniffle even as Samuel stepped back to give his mother some room. "Nah. Just sit back down: there's been too much happened already to cause even more friction now. In fact, come and get some drinks for the girls and Johnny? You all want sodas? Or juice?"
Alpha Sam looked slightly surprised at the order but accepted the olive branch immediately and came across to the refrigerator to sort out everyone's requests, glancing at his mate anxiously as he did so: the other still gripping tightly onto his look-alike almost in a bear-hug (Sam and Samuel having mutually and sensibly decided to back off completely and give the two Deans some space).
Dean rubbed at the other's back while simultaneously (and unconsciously) covering him with his own soothing scent until he could feel the angst inside the omega settle. "Did he hurt you?" It was a whisper into his ear.
"No." Dean whispered back. "But it came close, and he has no right to judge you but I handled myself and I can handle myself, so don't worry about that."
The omega against him nodded imperceptibly: "I hope you beat his ass!"
Dean couldn't help but snort, which drew everyone else attention once more. "I sure did!" he declared loudly, and the other couldn't help but laugh against him in response.
Breaking apart, they resumed the last preparations for lunch and the happier mood they had created was eagerly snatched up by everyone else. The Alpha handed the rest of the wine bottle and his glass to Castiel and Annie, and went and got himself a soda instead. Then they were all sitting down to eat the quickly prepared chicken, salad, and warm fresh-baked rolls of bread directly from the oven (courtesy of the freezer), and the good humour was carefully adhered to.
The conversations flowed; there was so much to still catch up on. Omega Dean and Alpha Sam wanted to hear all about Evie-Marie, and Dean in turn was polite enough to ask a lot of questions about Cassie despite already having been told most of it by Samuel through their nightly conversations. The two little girls in question were bonding far too well: Cassie gave the impression of also being an Alpha in later years, and both Deans were secretly dreading both the foreseeable, and more importantly un-foreseeable, antics that they would be now surely getting up to together.
Mary-Anne sulked a little bit at not being able to sit next to her hero: she had had to settle for sitting next to her father and on the other side of the table as Dean already had the omega Dean on one side of him who was seated next to his Alpha (who had taken his customary place as the head of the table), and Evie had jumped in immediately next to her dad on the other, instantly accompanied by her new best friend to sit on her other side.
Samuel to his chagrin also had to settle for being only opposite his mate as the closest that he could get. Sam and Annie sat next to him, then the angel, and Johnny right down at the end of the table much to his Alpha father's dismay. His omega mate might be forgiving, but he didn't think that his omega son was going to be. Lauren completed the group by sitting next to Cassie's right, and offering assistance to the smaller girls although neither really needed it.
But eventually, as the food was eaten, and the (now non-alcoholic) drinks were drunk, the subject, as they all knew it must, became slightly more serious.
"So." Dean finally asked. "Sammy's told us most of what's been happening here and the problems I've caused…"
"You haven't caused the problems!" Samuel was frustrated at him. "You only started something that's needed to be started for a long time…"
"Yeah, well," Dean continued, doggedly ignoring the interruption. "So I gather that it's come out that there's actually two of us? So I'm also assuming that we can't both be called Dean when we're outside…?"
"No," the Alpha agreed with him. "You are called…"
"The press call you the Demon Dean!" Johnny jumped in with a laugh. "Or the Demon omega! The Alphas hate it!"
"Huh. Demon Dean? I kinda like that…"
He smirked at his younger brother, but it quickly faded at the look that Sam gave him in return. "No, Dean. Don't even joke about it. Just… no."
"I was going to say," the Alpha broke in. "is that Bobby came up with not only an alias for you but somehow he produced paperwork to prove it, Our Lady knows how. I mean, it was fairly easy to say that you and my Dean's existence as omegas was hidden: that's very common here and probably happens far more than anyone knows even now, but, somehow, he had 'proof' of a double pregnancy and pictures of two pups in photos where there should only have been one…
I didn't ask." He finished lamely.
"Good old Bobby." Dean smirked. "I can't wait to see him. Well. I'm hoping he's like ours was: I miss that old codger something rotten."
"Me too." Sam agreed immediately and whole-heartedly.
"He's…? He's not in your world anymore…?" The other Dean was already getting upset just at the thought.
"Nah." To distract his counter-part from full-scale tears, he hurried on: "So what am I being called here?" This was to the Alpha. "I better know so that I can respond to it…"
"Bobby kept it simple." That Sam told him. "Easier that way. You are 'officially' the older twin by three minutes, and as the oldest male child you were given your dad's name. You, Dean,
are John Winchester Junior."
He said it as if it was expected to be an amazing announcement. Instead he, and just about all the others were surprised as the smile faded instantly and completely off of Dean's face, and if anything, he looked a bit nauseous at the thought. "I'm… I've been named after him?"
"Don't worry." Sam understood his brother immediately and reached across the table to cover the other's right hand with his own two larger ones. "You're nothing like him. Nothing. It's just a name. We can call you Junior when we're out. Not John."
"Oh. Oh." And the other Dean was also reaching in a hurry to join in and cover both brothers' hands with his own and squeeze them all. "Was your father not…? Well, you can share mine. He was a good man. He would have been so proud if he had known of you. He would have been so proud. Just as I am of you."
If Sam hadn't liked his brother's mate's mother… brother's look-alike from another dimension… god, this was so confusing!.. beforehand, then he definitely did at that moment. With a grateful smile at the omega and an extra squish from his own strong hands, he withdrew them before Dean could start to think about being embarrassed. But he was secretly pleased when the other Dean kept a tight steadying grip and didn't seem to be showing any signs of letting go any time soon. Not even when Samuel also reached to touch his mate's arm and smile at him as well.
The Alpha cleared his throat: "As to that, Sam. Well. Convincing everyone that these two have been twins all the way through has just about been possible considering they're both omegas, and that's not a slur," he hastily added, " just a fact. Hiding the existence of omegas is believable. Hiding an extra Alpha…? And yet another set of twins in a family at that…?"
"What are you meaning?" Sam felt frustrated. He hadn't come all this way just to hide.
But his brother only nodded, although he still didn't let go of the other omega's hand. Not his mate's. Nor Evie's, who had also sneaked her smaller hand across the table to be held firmly in her dad's firm grasp for comfort. "You know what he's saying, Sammy. We were lucky that those Alphas earlier mistook you for him: remember, they called you 'Lawyer'? You'll be better keeping out of sight, especially if there's violence that might be directed this way because of it."
"But I want to help." Sam was aware that he was suddenly sounding like a petulant child. But he didn't care. "What do you expect me to do? Just sit here and watch it all on TV?"
"Simply put, yes." His Alpha look-alike responded. "And what do you mean, Alphas earlier? Have you already been seen here?" This was a definite concern that he had been neglected to be informed of. "Who's seen you? What happened? Did they confront you? Are you all okay?"
"More than they are!" Dean informed him with a smirk. The Alpha looked at him in horror.
Then at the rest of them all in horror.
But at least he was momentarily speechless. Dean took advantage.
"You can't go out looking like him." he gently pointed out to his little brother. "But perhaps we can disguise you… cut that long hair off for starters…"
Sam stared at him. Then glared. Trust his brother to make a joke about him at such a serious moment. "You're not touching my hair." He muttered moodily.
Annie touched his hand: "I like your hair" she ventured mildly. Sam blushed.
Dean grinned: "What do you say? Shall we cut those girly locks…?"
But it was the other Dean who shut him up: "I like long hair on an Alpha. I think it makes my Sam look… very strong. Very… warrior-like. It's a good look and you should ignore your brother!" He told the younger Winchester. Who decided that he did really like this Dean very much indeed.
The Alpha couldn't help but ask his mate: "You like my hair like this? I was wondering if I should get it cut…?"
"Don't you dare." The omega instructed him. "Your hair is very sexy like that: you're not to touch it!"
It was the Alpha's turn to blush.
Dean blinked: "And on that particular image, the subject is done! But seriously little brother… you gotta sit this one out. I'm sorry."
Sam pouted. But he knew that Dean was right.
For the moment, anyway.
"Oh!" the Alpha was suddenly realising. "I should have called the police sooner: I've had them out looking for you both. I thought… well, you know what I would have thought. That Johnny had been snatched, and that Samuel was probably dead in a ditch somewhere having tried to protect him…"
"Dear!" His omega mate was upset at the thought, his green eyes already filling with moisture again.
But Sam was already on his feet: "What else could have happened, my darling? Do you think anyone's going to believe that Our Lady took them…? I bet the disappearance is on the news!"
He was already through into the living room and turning on the large flat-screen in the corner (his mate having refused to have a television in the family area), while at the same time looking for his cell phone. "Oh Shit!"
They all hurried through to the other room at his exclamation: "What is it..? I…?"
But then they all saw it.
The local news on the screen wasn't about Johnny and Samuel's disappearance. Nor was it on the main news.
But.
All the news instead was showing a CCTV image, obviously taken from a house's front porch in a leafy street, and showing a fight that had taken place in the road opposite…
The fight between Dean, Sam, Castiel and the Alphas from earlier…
…all caught on a camera and now being broadcast around the country.
With the caption underneath:
EXCLUSIVE: THE DEMON OMEGA IS BACK
"Oh we are so screwed!"