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gracious-twilight · 3 years

Text

the unexpected return

He could feel Bobby wanting to say something. Could feel something lying in the air, settling on his skin like a mist. Like it’s lying and brewing and any second now the sound of the timer will come and you’re gonna jump even though you expected it.

“You’re really good with him,” Bobby said.

There it was. He opened the mugs cupboard and took out Cas’ favourite, his own comfort mug, as well as one Jack picked at Miss Angus’ booth. He flexed his shoulders, plastering on a fake smile even though Bobby couldn’t see him.

notes: HERE IT IS! my 6k bobby returns fic. inspired by some bobby talk in the transnatural server. big thank you to everyone who wanted to be tagged in it, you’re the reason this fic was really made. also i don’t really know apocalypse world bobby yet so he simply does not exist. love and light.

wordcount: 6.5k | ao3

Dean was throwing the broken pieces of an old toy in the trash can when he first noticed movement in his side view. At first he thought it was an animal, it was rare but it happened. A couple of raccoons have made a visit, even a skunk at one point. But when he actually looked up and saw what it was, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

The day had started just like any regular Saturday. Cas had set an alarm as to not miss the farmer’s market so they were all up by 8am. (Sometimes Jack and Dean went with him. Today they didn’t.)

The sun shone through the blinds and Dean had to squint to be able to actually look around. (They had a shade to keep their room dark during the summer but sometimes they forget to pull it down. Today they did.)

Cas managed to slip out of bed first, making a beeline for the bathroom. Dean could hear the little pitter patter of a child’s bare feet walking on the wooden floor. He sat up in bed just in time for Jack to peek in.

Seeing that Dean was awake he ran over and climbed up on the bed. That’s how Cas found them a few minutes later; buried in a mountain of pillows and a comforter. Dean saw the restraint on his features and internally applauded him for not getting swept in and joining them in bed. Instead he announced that he was making breakfast.

He made some toast and fried some eggs. They fit in a family breakfast as they tried to most days before Cas had to run off. They kissed goodbye and Cas hopped into the truck. He bought the truck specifically for this purpose, and it’s not like they didn’t have the space.

Dean and Jack spent the rest of the morning playing, switching between legos and dolls and cars. Jack crashed one of the toy cars a little too hard into the other and broke it about an hour into playtime. Thankfully it was not his favourite so no protests were made when Dean suggested they throw it out.

He was put down for his midday nap at noon and Dean scraped together all the plastic pieces and took it out to the kitchen. Which led him to this moment.

He threw the net door open.

“Bobby?”

Bobby turned in Dean’s direction. He took one look at him and scoffed.

“Right, fun trick. Very original.” He looked around at the house and the yard, eyebrows furrowed sceptically, “Well, you sure went all out. Very nice house for a demon disguised as a hunter.”

“Bobby, what are you talking about?” Dean asked, frowning at the man in front of him.

“You can drop the act, alright? I've already figured you out, go report to your boss or something.”

Bobby waved him off with a twitch of his wrist. Dean scoffed in disbelief, shaking his head and taking a step forward. Bobby automatically reached for his belt and he looked surprised to find that he was actually armed. Seizing the opportunity he grabbed his knife.

“Whoa!” Dean said, holding his hands up and backing up.

Bobby frowned.

“A demon scared of a lame silver knife? That’s a first for me.”

“That’s because I’m not a demon, Bobby.”

Bobby raised the knife a little higher.

Dean sighed and took yet another step back. He caught something in his side view and thanked whoever in the house had left a bottle of holy water sitting out on the porch.

“Look, I can prove myself, okay?” he said.

He took slow and careful steps over to the bottle, arms still raised above his head. It was almost empty and he used the last bit to pour on his arm.

Bobby straightened up at the lack of hissing and burning.

“This is a trick.”

Dean sighed, “It’s not a trick, Bobby. It’s really me.”

He still looked sceptical so Dean improvised.

“Okay, uhm, your name’s Robert Steven Singer. You were born 1950. You had a wife named Karen. You didn’t have any kids but you ended up getting two anyway.”

Bobby stiffened at the mention of Karen but remained otherwise unphased. Dean groaned.

“You were born at night,” he continued, “You— you speak Japanese, you had a dog named Rumsfeld. Your favourite singer is Joni Mitchell!”

For every thing Dean listed off, Bobby’s eyes widened more and more.

Dean made one last attempt, “Okay, what about your free pedicure at the Mall of America? You made me swear to never tell another living soul how it changed your life.”

His shoulders dropped, recognising the man in front of him for who he is.

“Dean? Is it really you?”

He sounded out of breath.

Dean sighed in relief, “It’s really me, Bobby.”

Bobby exhaled shakily, slowly walking over to Dean and wrapping him up in a hug. Dean sighed, relaxing into his arms.

It didn’t last very long, not more than just a few seconds later Bobby was separating them.

“Here, I can— I’ll prove myself too.”

Dean shook his head, “You don’t have to. I know it’s you.”

Bobby rolled his eyes and shook his head as he took the silver knife back out from his belt.

“You two really are a couplea idjits. Thought I taught you better than that,” he muttered under his breath as he made a hole on his index finger, “See? Real blood and silver knife.”

“I know it’s you, Bobby,” Dean repeated.

“You got any more holy water?”

Dean nodded to the hose.

“You don’t need—“

Bobby threw some in his own face, “Not a demon either.”

“Bobby…” Dean said in an exhale.

Bobby put his hands on his hips.

“You look like you seen a ghost.”

“Aren’t I?”

Dean smiled and threw his arms around him, hugging him for a second time. He held on tightly, screwing his eyes shut. He wasn’t a ghost. He was warm and solid and he was right in front of him.

He held on longer this time, held on with everything he had. For every time he’s thought of Bobby when working a case. For every time he’s met an old hunter friend of his and had to explain what happened to him. For every time he’s wished for him to come back.

He sniffed, willing his tears to go away. He almost succeeded.

“So… how long have I been gone?” Bobby asked as Dean pulled away, keeping a hand on his shoulder.

“Eight years,” Dean answered too quickly. He wiped his nose. “But we’ve met while you’ve… I mean, that wasn’t the last we saw of each other.”

Bobby furrowed his eyebrows.

“What are you talking about?”

Dean frowned. Maybe coming back from the dead just made your memory a little wonky.

“We— we released you from hell, we got you into heaven,” he reminded him.

“Heaven? I ain’t been to heaven.”

“No, I know for a fact that you’ve been in heav—” he cut himself off, “Sam and Cas have contacted you. In heaven.”

Bobby crossed his arms, slowly raising his shoulder in a shrug.

“I don't know what to tell you. Last I remember is hell.” He added, “And Cas being dead.”

“Yeah, well, lots have changed since then.”

“I’ll say.”

Dean looked at Bobby. Bobby who hasn’t aged a day since he last saw him, Bobby who’s covered in dirt and blood and doesn’t seem to care. Bobby who laughed humorlessly and said,

“Eight years, huh?”

Dean nodded.

“Eight years,” he confirmed.

“You do look older.”

Dean scoffed, “Fuck off.”

They both turned to look when they heard the whine of the backdoors hinges. Out came a stumbling Jack. He slowly went down the three steps, each foot on each level and a hand on the lower railing, before half running over to Dean. He wrapped his arms around his leg and looked up.

“Momma.”

Dean threw a glance at Bobby, trying to catch a glimpse of his expression before having to turn his attention to Jack. There was a look, Dean just didn’t know what it meant.

He put a hand on the top of Jack’s head, “Hey, pumpkin.”

He crouched down to his level.

“You just wake up?”

A nod.

Dean brushed some hair away from his face, it was unruly and uncoordinated after the deep sleep. Jack rubbed his eye with his hand.

“Momma, ‘m firsty.”

“You’re thirsty?” he asked, resulting in another nod. “I’ll get you some water then. Or do you want juice?”

“Juice.”

“Alright,” he said, smiling. He picked Jack up by his armpits and balanced him on his hip, “There’s someone I want you to meet first.”

Jack seemed to finally notice another man being present and looked at Bobby. Dean smiled at them both before saying,

“Bobby, this is Jack, my son. And Jack, this is…” he looked at Bobby for a second, “this is your grandfather.”

Bobby looked surprised. His eyes moved between Dean and Jack a couple rounds before settling on Dean. Dean gave him a single nod and he nodded back.

“Hi, Jack,” he said, his voice calm and careful.

Jack was half turned away, his head leaned on Dean’s chest and his eyes cast up at Bobby.

“Hi,” he said quietly.

Jack just recently reached the age where he starts being pretty cautious and shy around others, especially adults. It usually leads to him hiding behind someone he already knows.

Dean smiled and kissed the side of his head.

“He’s probably still a little tired, he just woke up,” he explained.

Bobby raised his hands, “Completely fine. No rush.”

But his eyes were gleaming with unshed tears and his hands were twitching, Dean noticed. Twitching to reach out.

Dean looked back at Jack.

“You know how momma has talked about grandpa Bobby?”

“Dada?”

Dean smiled and nodded.

“Yes, exactly!” He secured his grip on Jack with his left arm so he could use his right one. He put the hand on his own chest, “My dad”— he turned his hand, holding it to Jack —“your grandfather.”

Dean didn’t miss the sharp intake of breath next to him, he knew this was… big information to just throw out to him. Just because Dean’s gotten used to saying it doesn’t mean Bobby has gotten used to hearing it. This being the first time and everything.

Jack didn’t say anything more, seeming to have gotten the answers to all the questions he had at the moment. Instead he tugged at Dean’s shirt and said, “Juice.”.

—

“Slow down, champ. You’re gonna get full too fast.”

Dean pulled the cup downwards a little, forcing Jack to slow down. Jack looked at him as he drank the whole cup. Dean smiled and fondly shook Jack’s head by his chin, making him giggle.

He told him he could go play if he wanted and the floor he almost left tire tracks after the way he was off. Just a minute later Dean heard the familiar rattle of Lego pieces being poured out.

Dean laughed and sat down at the table with two mugs of fresh coffee. He had called Sam with the good news while the coffee was puttering away, telling him to get his ass over there to see for himself and no, this was in fact not a trick.

“So…” Bobby started, “A son, huh?”

“Yeah,” Dean laughed, “Who woulda thought? Me with a kid.”

Bobby gently shook his head, “I always knew you had it in you, Dean. You’re the only one who doubted that.”

Dean shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable. He looked back down in his mug, tapping his nail against the porcelain. It was Cas’ favourite mugs. Made by Miss Angus, an older lady with a booth at the farmer’s market. They almost had an entire cupboard with just her things in it.

Bobby changed the subject, “Is it too presumptuous to assume Cas is the father of that little boy of yours?”

Dean smiled bashfully, taking a sip of his coffee to hide his blush.

“I didn’t carry him,” he said, “Jack, I mean. Sometimes I tell people I did to make it easier but… no, I guess we adopted him.”

Bobby nodded slowly, pursing his lips, “Looks like you, though.”

Dean’s eyes unmistakably lit up at that. He’s heard it before, but it never fails to surprise him.

“People have said that, yeah. He’s a nephil so I guess he just chooses to do that.”

“A nephil?” Bobby asked, attempting to hide his surprise.

“Yeah, you know, the offspring of an angel and a hu—”

“I know what it is.”

“Right.”

They were quiet again. Neither knew what to say. Last time someone was gone like this it was Dean himself, and while stuff had changed after coming back from hell, he wasn’t gone more than four months earth wise. But now Bobby’s back after having been gone for eight years and Dean’s significantly older and he has a child.

“And you’re trying to tell me he’s not you and Cas’?” Bobby asked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Dean chuckled.

“It definitely would’ve been easier.” His strained smile fell before he said the next part. He took a sip of his coffee, his hand shaking, trying to appear casual as he said, “No, his… his father is Lucifer.”

Bobby choked on his coffee, “He’s whose?!”

Dean grimaced, biting the inside of his lips nervously. Bobby looked shocked, obviously, but also… something else. Something Dean couldn’t place. Bobby’s pretty unreadable most of the time and it used to frustrate Dean to no end.

“Lucifer’s,” he repeated.

Bobby was quiet.

“But he’s good!” Dean added urgently, leaning forward in his chair and clutching his mug, “I promise. I promise, he’s good.”

Bobby nodded slowly, not saying anything, just taking another long, long sip of his coffee. Dean was staring at him with wide eyes.

He shrugged after a moment.

“Well, you know him better than I do. If you say he’s good, then… he’s good.”

Dean exhaled, sinking down in his seat. He felt as if a weight had been lifted off his chest.

The rest of the conversation flowed more naturally now that the elephant in the room had been acknowledged. Dean was only a little relieved to hear the familiar sound of keys in the hall.

He hurried out of his seat to meet Cas at the front door. Cas’ arms were full and Dean relieved him of some of the bags.

“Damn, you got a lot of stuff,” Dean said, looking at the four tote bags filled up to the brim. “Is that— that’s like a hundred apples, Cas.”

“I came to Mr. Palmer just in time, got the last good batch an—” he paused when he noticed the extra pair of shoes, “Do we have company?”

Dean didn’t say anything, just gave a weak nod when Cas looked up. Cas frowned before he noticed the man in the doorway. It took him a second, like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“Bobby?”

Bobby raised his arms, in a Here I Am sort of way.

“In the flesh.”

“What… but— how?”

Dean shrugged at the same time as Bobby said, “Beats me.”

“I—” He looked at Dean, he wasn’t meeting his eye. He laughed, “Well, hello. It’s very nice to see you again.”

He put his bags down and walked over to Bobby. They looked at each other for a moment before silently deciding to give a hug a shot.

“Wow,” Bobby said, “You’re not as stiff as when I last saw you. Before the souls and all, that is.”

Cas flushed, probably at the horrible memory.

“Right, apologies for that.”

“No worries. Dean’s filled me in on everything.”

“Right.”

Cas looked back at Dean. He looked big from where he was standing, and Dean felt small.

Bobby, probably noticing the shift in the air, took a step back towards the kitchen.

“Do you want some coffee?” he asked Cas.

Cas nodded once, “Please.”

Bobby nodded before slipping into the kitchen. Cas turned back to Dean with a sad look. Dean felt his resolve crumble with the way he was looking at him. Like everything he’s kept inside of him the past two hours are on the brim of spilling out. And he needs somewhere to put it.

Cas took the bags from Dean’s hands and put them down. He said something before cupping his face, pulling him into a hug. With a shaky exhale, Dean leaned his head on Cas’ shoulder.

Cas held him as he tried to get his breathing under control. This wasn’t the time to let go, this wasn’t the time to let the tears run free. He had people here, people he needed to take care of. But Cas was holding him so nicely, so carefully. Maybe he could close his eyes for just a second, maybe he could stop fighting the tears, maybe he could let himself be held. Just for a second, just until he can put himself back together.

There came a point when the hug did more harm than good and Dean had to take a step back. Cas was hesitant to let him go and put his right hand on his cheek, dragging his thumb along his eyebrow.

“Are you okay, my love?”

Dean nodded quickly, “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.”

Cas nodded. He looked unsure but dropped his hand nonetheless.

“Do you think, uh…” Dean sniffed and wiped his eyes, “Do you think Jack could’ve brought him back? I mean, he brought you back when he was just a baby.”

“It’s possible.”

Dean nodded and looked down.

“Hey,” Cas said quietly, grabbing Dean’s face and tilting his head back up, “He’s back!”

Dean smiled, his chin wobbling, “He’s back.”

Cas pressed his lips to his in a firm kiss. Dean let out a deep sigh, sinking into it. He barely got to enjoy it before it was taken from him. Before he was forced back into the real world, naked and exposed. But not alone.

“Let’s go,” Cas whispered, pecking him once before he picked the bags back up and took them to the kitchen. Not alone, Dean repeated to himself.

Bobby had just put down the third mug on the table as they walked in.

“Wasn’t sure if you had anything with it… I don’t know how angels take their coffee.”

Cas smiled sincerely, “Just some milk.”

“‘Some milk’”,” Dean teased, snapping back into his regular mode, “That man has more milk in his coffee than actual coffee.”

“Do not,” Cas argued weakly.

They sat down at the table, Dean resuming his position opposite to Bobby and Cas taking the seat next to him. He put his arm around Cas’ chair, his hand touching his back. Staying connected. Always connected.

“So…” Bobby said, not unlike earlier, “When did this happen?”

He pointed between the two of them. Cas smiled and turned to Dean, raising his eyebrows in question.

“Uh…” Dean rubbed his neck self-consciously, “It’s a long story.”

Bobby shrugged, “I have time.”

Dean huffed, covering his face with his hands and sinking down in his chair. Cas chuckled and had just opened his mouth to talk when they were interrupted.

“Dada!”

Cas’ eyes lit up and he got up from his chair to meet Jack in the doorway. He picked him up and spun him around in his arms.

“Hi, my little honeybee.”

Dean and Bobby watched as Cas showed Jack what he got at the market. He made a smooth, unpredictable transition from berries to blowing raspberries on Jack’s neck. Jack giggled loudly and something exploded in Dean’s chest.

“Look how many apples I got. What do you say we bake a pie? Would you like that?”

“Momma’s favourite!” Jack bursted out, clapping his hands.

Cas spun around, grinning at Dean.

“That’s right, baby. Momma’s favourite.”

Dean propped his head up on his hand and smiled.

—

Dean and Cas made the joint decision to ask Jack straight out if he was responsible for Bobby coming back. They discussed how to do it while Jack was distracted by the idea of making a pie.

They decided on Cas asking, having experience with powers and whatnot. They took him to the couch and Cas crouched on the floor in front of him, having Jack be the one looking down on him.

“Jack, I’m gonna ask you a question. And I want you to be completely honest with me. Nothing you say will get you in trouble, do you understand?”

Jack nodded.

Cas took a deep breath and looked back at Dean, asking him a silent question. Dean nodded for him to continue.

“Before today,” he started, “Grandpa Bobby wasn’t here, and he couldn’t come here. He was somewhere else where we couldn’t reach him. So today when he got here, we were all very surprised.”

Jack was quiet, but it was clear he was trying to follow.

“Jack, did you bring Grandpa here? Was that you?”

Jack looked over at Bobby and then back to Cas.

“I don’ know,” he said, shrugging his shoulders all the way up to his ears, “Momma was talking ‘bout him and he look sad. I jus’ wanted to make momma happy.”

Dean felt Bobby’s eyes on him but he couldn’t face him, couldn’t look at him. Not now. He dragged a hand down his face, scratching at his chin, before he sat down next to Jack.

He brushed some hair away from his face, “That was very nice of you, sweetheart.”

Jack looked up at him with big eyes.

“Am I in trouble?”

Dean sighed and picked Jack up, seating him on his lap.

“No, baby. You’re not in trouble.”

Jack wrapped his arms around Dean. Let his tiny little arms connect against Dean’s neck and hold on tight. Dean suspected Jack could feel his emotions on some cosmic level, the way he clung to him without being visibly upset himself. Dean sighed and closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around him too. Jack just kept holding on.

Dean could easily get lost in it, the embrace of his son. Jack wouldn’t be the one pulling away first, not when Dean’s emotions are spilling out of him like a radiator trying to warm up a two story home.

Cas tapped him on the leg and Dean sighed. He took a deep breath before letting up on Jack. Jack looked at him like he was trying to read him. He was way too young for the expression on his face, way too young to already be caring for others the way he did.

After a moment, he seemed satisfied. He switched back to being a kid. It hurt, the stark difference between the two versions of him. Jack shouldn’t have to be anything but a kid. Dean felt the tears threatening to surface again and attempted to shake out of it.

“You want a snack, baby?” he asked, straightening out Jack’s shirt.

Jack nodded quickly.

Dean chuckled, “Give me a kiss and then you can go to the kitchen with daddy, okay? I’m sure he’ll give you something.”

Jack gave him one quick kiss on the cheek before sliding off his lap and running off. Dean chuckled fondly, letting the hand previously wrapped around his son fall. Cas smiled and then followed Jack.

“Thank you,” he whispered to himself.

Bobby sat down in the armchair next to him but Dean didn’t look at him, not yet. His gaze stayed locked on his son and his husband in the other room. Cas was feeding him pieces of apple and Jack was holding them with both hands, cheeks round as he quickly munched away at them.

Bobby made a low hum, making Dean steal a glance at him. He looked like he was thinking.

“So the kid brought me back, huh?”

Dean nodded slowly.

“It’s good news,” he said, clearing his throat, “He brought Cas back before and that didn’t seem to have any big consequences.”

“Bringing back a dead person without any consequences?” Bobby asked incredulously, “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

“You are seeing it,” Dean argued, finally looking at him, “With Cas, with you. You haven’t seen it so you don’t know but, Jack is almost the most powerful being in the universe. He literally opened a rift to another world before he was born.”

“That kid?” Bobby asked, pointing in his general direction, “The toddler in there?”

Dean sighed, “I know it seems crazy.”

“No, no. Seems completely sane to me,” he said sarcastically.

“Bobby, please,” Dean begged, leaning over the armrest, “Just believe we’re good. Just for a few days at least.”

Bobby gave him a look, like he was thinking it over. Dean kept his gaze.

“You have a guest room in this joint?” he asked eventually.

—

They ate dinner together. Dean cooked, as he usually does. And by around five o’clock there was a wild knock on the door. Knowing who it was, Dean sent Bobby to open it. He heard more than saw their interaction.

Dean offered Sam some food after the drive but he said he couldn’t eat.

“Will you cut it out, boy?” Bobby asked after Sam hadn’t taken his eyes off him in minutes.

“Sorry, sorry,” he chuckled, “It’s just— you’re back! For real this time.”

“Seems that way.”

He didn’t stay long, he had left Eileen alone on a case almost half a day’s worth of a trip away and he needed to go back. They also only had one guest bed, Dean had reminded them.

They said their goodbyes and Sam promised he would be back with Eileen as soon as they wrapped up the case. He was still hesitant about leaving and Dean understood. There was no guarantee Bobby would be here when he got back. Hell, there was no guarantee he would still be here tomorrow. But Dean had faith.

—

Jack started yawning around 7 o’clock, but refused to admit it until his jaws were almost popping. He put up a bit of a fight when Cas took him to brush his teeth but it was quickly forgotten, as things usually are.

Dean was on the floor picking up after him when Jack came running from the bathroom and crashed right into him. He giggled as Dean fell over and let out an, “Oof.” He landed right on his ass, and he’s gonna pay the price for that later.

“You ready for bed now?”

Jack nodded.

“Will you say goodnight to grandpa?”

Jack looked at Bobby and waved.

“Night, Grandpa.”

Bobby grinned and did a little wave back, “Night, Jack.”

Dean wrapped his arms around Jack and kissed his forehead.

“I love you.”

“Love you!” Jack said back, putting his hands on Dean’s face. Dean grinned and sneaked in one more kiss. Jack giggled.

Dean tightened his arms around him, putting one hand on the back of his head.

“So much,” he whispered. He closed his eyes and rocked from left to right. “Mommy loves you so much.”

“You say that already!”

“I know, it’s just important that you know.”

Jack sighed. He leaned forward and put all his weight down on Dean, giving up on leaving anytime soon. Dean got a little lost in his head and didn’t realise how much time had passed until Cas stuck his head out the doorway.

“What’s taking so long?”

“Momma won’t let me go.”

Cas smiled, sending him an amused look.

Dean did finally let him go with a goodnight and another kiss. He followed him with his eyes as he disappeared around the corner, smiling to himself. As soon as Jack was gone his pain from sitting on the floor made itself known and he got up… not very gracefully.

He groaned and limped for a step or two. He passed Bobby on his way to the kitchen, mumbling out a, “Coffee,” on the way.

“Coffee?” Bobby asked, “At 8 o’clock?”

Dean shrugged, “It doesn’t really energise me anymore.”

Fixing the pot was easy, second nature by this point. He doesn’t even look at the coffee grounds or the leaves anymore. It all comes automatically. He moves like a dance. A routine he follows every night.

“You’re really good with him,” Bobby said.

“Thank you,” he said, trying to appear casual about his answer, “It was a learning journey. Still is.”

“Yeah, I don’t doubt that.”

Dean was already finished with the preparations and had no other choice than to face Bobby. He turned around, dragging a hand through his hair. He sighed and leaned against the counter.

“You’re nothing like your old man, you know,” Bobby said, gently but it still cut through Dean like a freshly sharpened knife.

He grimaced and looked down. Bobby continued.

“I’ve been back for less than a day but it’s already strikingly obvious.”

“Bobby—” his voice gave out, “I don’t…”

“I know you’re worried about it. I was worried about it too. But you’re a better parent than me and John ever were combined.”

Dean doesn’t think his jaw has ever been this clenched. He thinks maybe he’ll break it, maybe he’s pressing down so tightly he’ll break his own jaw. Unlikely.

“Do you and Cas… talk about it?”

“He knows.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

Bobby seemed to catch on to the fact there was no use talking about this, having gone quiet after that. Dean was staring at the floor.

“Uhm,” Bobby started. He cleared his throat and scratched his nose, ��How did you decide on the… mom or dad thing?”

“Oh. That. It just— uh, well, it just sort of happened.” He shrugged. “I’ve never felt like a father, so mom was just the option that made more sense, I guess.”

The difference in stance was painfully obvious, not even Dean could claim this was because of something else. Change of topic, change of mood. He’s a fucking rollercoaster.

They sat down at the dining table just in time for Cas to walk into the kitchen. He smiled, unaware of the tension that filled the room.

Dean tilted his head back, grateful for the distraction. His heart eased up just by seeing him.

“He’s out?”

Cas leaned over and kissed him chastely on the lips.

“Yup. Out like a light, didn’t even get to finish the story.”

“It was a busy day,” Dean stated.

The three of them stayed up and talked all evening. It was closer to 1am when they finally called it a night. Dean had already prepped the guest room but unfortunately the only clean sheets they had were ones Jack picked out. Barbie.

—

The Barbie sheets didn’t affect any quality of sleep, Bobby informed them next morning as they all met in the kitchen.

The same couldn’t be said for Dean, who got approximately one hour of sleep. Cas didn’t sleep every night, didn’t need to, so he had stayed up with him. Kept him company. They played Wordfeud at one point. Lying face to face and giggling whenever they came up with a funny word. When it was a reasonable time to get up they did. Dean made french toast.

Jack woke up by himself at 7.30. He was dragging a stuffed dragon by its tail as he shuffled into the kitchen.

“Hey, pumpkin.”

Jack blinked at him. Dean pulled out his chair and he dropped the dragon to climb up.

“Do you want some milk, sweetheart?”

Jack rubbed his eye, “Yes, mommy.”

Dean and Cas caught each other’s eyes and smiled. Cas grabbed the milk out of the fridge and poured it into a sippy-cup. Jack politely thanked him before he took a sip.

Bobby entered the kitchen just as Dean finished the first french toast. Cas cut it into little pieces and Jack made grabby hands for it.

“It’s hot, baby. You can’t have it yet.”

Jack scowled. They all turned to look at Bobby when he snorted.

“Sorry, sorry. I’m just— not used to young kids again.”

Dean smiled, looking down.

When he finished the toasts, they all sat down and ate together. Jack finished first and ran off to do whatever in his room, leaving Dean, Cas, and Bobby alone in the kitchen. It got a little quiet at first when Jack wasn’t there to distract them but Cas told a story about the previous day’s market business. He went on and on and Dean gladly listened. After a moment however they were interrupted,

“Grandpa?” a small voice asked. Jack was standing next to his chair, his little hands clutching the leg of the table. “Do you wanna play?”

Bobby turned in his seat, “Sure, buddy. What do you wanna play?”

Dean could just about make up a shrug with the table blocking his vision. Bobby turned back to them.

“You have a football or something?”

Dean nodded, “Shed in the backyard.”

Bobby got up from his chair and Jack held up his hand. Dean’s breath hitched and he snapped his head to look at Cas. Cas’ mouth was open in shock, Dean figured he didn’t look much different.

This was big, Jack didn’t offer his hand to just anyone.

Bobby opened the door into the yard.

“And Jack,” Cas said, making Jack turn around, “Play fair.”

Jack nodded and smiled. Bobby gave them a weird look but was pulled away by Jack before he got the chance to ask any questions.

As soon as the door closed Dean broke out in laughter.

Cas grinned.

“I assumed you didn’t tell him.”

Dean started laughing harder, making it impossible for Cas not to join in. They laughed until they couldn’t breathe, and until the laughing crashed over to tears. Until Dean put his face in his hands and sobbed.

The sound of a chair being pulled out was distant. So was the hand on his back. Cas pressed his lips to his forehead and Dean leaned on him. Cas held him as he got it all out.

“Are you happy?” Cas whispered.

Dean sighed and burrowed his head into Cas’ neck. He grabbed Cas’ hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it.

“I’m so happy.”

Cas moved his hand up to Dean’s face, putting his thumb under his chin to tilt his face up. Dean exhaled, his eyes fluttering. Cas smiled before he kissed him. Dean sighed, pressing up against him.

“Holy shit!” was heard from outside the house and they broke apart and started laughing again.

“Go,” Cas said, nodding out, “I’ll take the dishes.”

Dean smiled, pulling him in for one more kiss.

“Thank you.”

—

Turned out Jack had kicked the football so hard it broke the goalpost. He had looked at Dean with guilt-ridden but mostly mischievous eyes when Bobby told him. As long as he didn’t hurt anyone Dean and Cas didn’t care much when he broke things. Things could always be replaced, people couldn’t. Jack had snapped on to that obviously as he no longer really felt that guilty when having accidentally used his powers. Which of course was a problem in and of itself but they were dealing with it.

With Dean’s eyes on him he took it a little easier. Giving Bobby more of a chance to actually be a part of the game.

When Jack ran inside to get some water, Bobby walked up to Dean, who was bent in half trying to catch his breath.

“How do you ever keep up with that kid?”

“Does it look like I do?” Dean asked, still breathing heavily. Bobby laughed. Dean signaled for the bench and they sat down, both panting like dogs.

Bobby could probably sense that Dean was working up to say something, choosing to stay quiet and wait.

“It does feel a little weird sometimes,” Dean continued after a moment, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, almost hurting. “Being the only human in the family, it sometimes makes me wish I… I don’t know, could be immortal or something.”

“Yeah, uh, is Jack… I mean, he’s gonna grow up, right?”

“Oh, yeah,” Dean nodded, “Of course. He’ll grow until he’s an adult and then stop there, I guess.”

He looked down at his hands and started picking at his nails. A bad habit he’s picked up. Cas usually covers his hands with his own when he catches him. More on reflex nowadays. Just drops one of his hands from whatever he’s doing and puts it on his.

Dean looked up over the yard. The grass needed some cutting, the shed to be rebuilt. Cas had a little area for vegetables. It was fairly new and pretty small, hence the continued trips to the farmer’s market.

Dean looked over at Bobby. He was waiting patiently. Dean sighed.

“To be honest, I don’t— I don’t like thinking about it. The fact that I’m gonna grow out of them one day.”

He instinctively looked towards the door, seeing Cas and Jack through the net. The smiles he’s gotten so used to seeing that he almost took them for granted sometimes.

He already felt like an outsider now and then, the token human. He couldn’t bond with Jack the same way Cas can. He has no powers to offer, he can’t talk to Jack telepathically, can’t feel his feelings any more than he could Sam’s.

“You could always become a witch or something,” Bobby joked, pushing Dean out of his thoughts.

He let out a startled laugh.

“Really?! You’re suggesting I become a witch?”

Bobby shrugged and looked away.

“Or something else that lets you live a few centuries. Maybe not a demon, though.”

Dean froze. Bobby looked over but Dean didn’t meet his eye.

“Dean?”

He laughed awkwardly. This isn’t a story he would ever think he would be telling in such a lighthearted manner. But here he is, with his surrogate dad who just came back from the dead, telling a story of when he died and became a demon. While laughing.

Bobby didn’t seem to be surprised, just a widened eyed stare and a shake of his head.

Dean laughed and covered his face with his hands, groaning for one long second before looking back up.

“God… the things that have happened since you left.”

“I’m hoping you’re gonna tell me about them.”

He said it as a statement, but his eyes were asking. His eyes were unsure.

Dean nodded.

“Of course.”

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