![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tebtosca
“It’s gonna be okay, Jared. We’re gonna work this out,” Jeffrey Dean Morgan insists, placing his hand paternally on Jared’s shoulder. His eyes are warm, eyebrows slanting, and that slow drawl in his voice is soothing.
They stand outside the shiny building on Lexington Avenue and stare at the front door as Jared collects himself. On the 17th floor are the law offices of Speight, Pellegrino & Roché and Jared can’t help feeling like it might as well be the ninth circle of Hell for all the trepidation he feels about entering the revolving door.
“I know, Jeff. I just want to thank you again, for everything. I don’t know how I will ever repay you, but I’ll work my ass off to try,” Jared replies earnestly.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan was Sandy’s boss at the small law offices where she worked as a paralegal. They tried to cultivate a sense of family at the firm and Jared and Sandy spent many a Sunday watching football and eating grilled steaks with Jeff and his wife Samantha. Jared knows that they were devastated when Sandy died and are doing their best to help Jared and Kat out in any way they can. Step one was offering to work pro bono on the custody case they are currently fighting. As much as it relieves Jared to know that Jeff is on his side, he knows from the shiny chrome nameplate on the ritzy Manhattan building that the McCoys are going to be hard to defeat.
“C’mon, son. Don’t want to be late,” Jeff prompts gently, urging Jared through the door. They go through security and the closer they get the sicker Jared feels. He sees the studied opulence around them as they check in with the haughty receptionist and are ushered into the main SP&R boardroom. He doesn’t know how a loser vet tech like him and a small-time lawyer like Jeff are going to defeat the fucking machine he knows is cranking on even as they speak.
I can’t lose my little girl, Jared prays, feeling like the world is closing in on him.
“Mr. Morgan, Mr. Padalecki, how good of you to join us,” Sebastian Roché smiles smugly as he sits in the large leather chair at the head of the polished mahogany table. He doesn’t even bother standing up and it makes Jared grit his teeth as the man’s obvious scorn washes over him.
The McCoys sit close together on his left side, looking at each other nervously.
“Hello,” Jared nods curtly at them, trying to keep his dignity intact and the hesitation out of his walk as he strides over and sits down across from them.
“Mr. Roché, didn’t know you were taking on this case personally,” Jeff says, trying to keep the frown off his face.
Jared catches his expression. He knows that Roché is the main partner at the firm and a big power player in Manhattan legal circles. Why in the world is he deigning to take some random custody case?
“Anything for the good of the children,” Roché smirks, tapping his fingers on the table for emphasis.
Jeff sits down to his right, even though Jared can tell the power differential in their placement is bothering him. “Okay, Mr. Roché, let’s not waste our clients’ time. Is there a reason you called us all here today?”
Roché lowers his eyelids momentarily but then the faux-sparkle is back in his eyes. “Indeed, Mr. Morgan, my time is money and I wouldn’t want to waste any of that.”
Jared just barely holds back a snort.
“As you know, the McCoys are requesting custody of their minor grandchild. The child—“
“Her name is Kat,” Jared interrupts firmly, speaking to Roché but looking directly at the McCoys. He’s not going to allow anyone, much less this douchebag in his three thousand dollar suit, treat his daughter like a piece of property that can be traded or inherited.
Roché’s expression sours at being cut off but continues on like Jared isn’t even in the room. “The McCoys believe that the child, Katherine, would be better off in their care since they are much better prepared financially and mentally to deal with the unfortunate turn of events.”
“You mean how my wife died? How my wife died leaving me with only one person in the entire world that I can count on? Only one person that I love, that I would give my life for? That unfortunate turn of events?” Jared rages, his shoulders shaking with all the pain and grief that he’s been pushing aside for months.
“Jared,” Jeff murmurs, putting his palm over Jared’s clenched fist.
All of the air whooshes out of Jared’s lungs and it feels like defeat. “I’m sorry, Jeff. Kat’s all I have.”
“Jared, we know how hard this is for you,” Mrs. McCoy starts gently, the tremor in her voice reflecting how wildly uncomfortable this is.
“We just want what’s best for Katherine,” Mr. McCoy adds, putting his arm around his wife’s shoulders protectively.
“She’s my little girl,” Jared says simply, and his voice breaks.
“And Sandy was ours,” Mrs. McCoy replies, her face open and hurting.
“Sandy wouldn’t want you to do this,” Jared insists, and if he is verging on begging then it can’t be helped.
“I would love to sit around and chat a little longer but I have drinks with the District Attorney in an hour and I need time to pick out a tie that matches my eyes a little better than this one,” Roché interjects and his mysteriously lilting accent makes Jared want to punch him in the face.
“Well then, by all means, finish what you need to say,” Jeff grits his teeth, his voice just a shade gruffer than when the conversation started.
Roché doesn’t waste any more time. “Mr. Padalecki, I hear your landlord finally called in his debt. Do you know where your child is going to be living next week?”
Jared looks at him in surprise. How did he know that? “As a matter of fact, I just found a wonderful new place for Kat and me to live. A big house in the suburbs, as domestic as can be.“ He glances over at the McCoys without hiding his scorn. “You guys would love it.”
Roché looks at him with that penetrative stare again, like he’s reaching right into Jared’s soul. It’s creeping him the fuck out. “Is that so? I have a feeling the McCoys are going to want this new home checked out. I mean, this is their beloved grandchild we’re talking about.”
Mr. McCoy looks like he’s about to say something but Roché turns the glare on him and the man wilts. Jared sees it happening with his own eyes and is stunned. He has never seen Bob McCoy ever back down to anyone, especially not some Manhattan slickster. It was half the reason they got along in the first place. Of course a lot has changed, Jared remembers bitterly.
“I’ll come on their behalf,” Roché offers and his bright face masks something Jared doesn’t even want to think about right now.
The whole room looks at him in shock.
“You want to come do a home check?” Jeff asks incredulously.
Roché’s lip curls up on one side only. “Oh Jeffrey, you make it sound like I can’t mingle amongst the commoners every now and again.”
Jared is about a second and a half away from getting up and walking right out of the room but Jeff’s hand tight around his wrist stops him. He gives Jared a look that says calm down before you fuck this up and it eases just enough of the indignation out of him to keep him sitting.
“So, Jared,” Roché says his name like he wants to bite it. “When you settle in to your humble new abode, we’ll set up some time for me to come make sure little Katherine isn’t getting bitten by rats on a nightly basis.”
Mrs. McCoy shudders at that and Jared flinches. Just knowing they could think he would endanger his daughter like that is almost too much for him to bear.
“Fine,” Jared grits out. He turns to Jeff then, pitching his voice low. “Jeff, I have to get out of here. Now.”
Jeff pats his hand. “Me too, kid.”
They stand up and book it out of there before Jared’s nausea overwhelms him and he’s puking into the elegantly landscaped plant next to the main elevator bank.
With a friendly slap to the cheek and a look that ends up more sad than encouraging, Jeff heads home. Jared stands on the sidewalk for a moment before leaning back against the warmed concrete of the building and closing his eyes. Without even thinking he pulls out his cellphone and dials a number that surprises even him.
“Jared?”
“Hey Jensen,” Jared says and suddenly he can breathe again.
++++++
“Sweet!” Chad crows as Jensen opens the front door. Jared snickers at Jensen’s confused expression.
“Um, hello?” Jensen replies, eyebrow cocking.
“You could be a model, dude, seriously. How would you feel about the word “Folgers” tattooed on your cheekbone? The left side, you won’t even know it’s there,” Chad asks, waving his hand towards Jensen’s face .
Jensen ducks away before Chad can touch him. “Well, I do like coffee.”
“See! This will all work out just fine,” Chad smirks, throwing that one over his shoulder at Jared before pushing past Jensen and showing himself down the hallway.
Jared groans and shrugs in his most apologetic manner but Jensen just laughs and ushers him in.
“So that’s Chad, huh?”
“Yeah, that’s Chad. I’m sorry in advance for anything and everything he does. Ever,” Jared rolls his eyes.
Jensen just keeps smiling at him and Jared can’t help smiling back. It’s like Jensen is feeding his energy right into him and as dirty as that sounds Jared is helpless against it. His life is so twisted in every other respect that he finds himself not wanting to fight whatever it is he is feeling. Jensen smiling at him makes him smile. That is good enough for Jared, at least for the time being.
“So did you bring the kids?” Jensen inquires, peeking around Jared.
“I did, you ready for them?” Jared grins proudly and goes to pull the dogs out of the back of the van he rented. Today is moving day and the first time all of his children will be bombarding the house. He’s a little nervous if he’s being honest, but also strangely excited since having the dogs there will really make this feel like their home.
Their home. Jared breathes in deeply.
Harley lets out a low-pitched and loud woof before racing over to tackle Jensen. Sadie is more demure and wanders over to give him an exploratory sniff or two. Jared is worried at first because the dogs are huge and he doesn’t know how Jensen is going to react but relaxes immediately when he sees that Jensen has lowered himself to the floor to get on their level and let them learn his scent. Jared adds another entry to his Why Jensen is Awesome list. Which is the geekiest thing Jared’s ever thought and god help him but it’s true.
“Kat in the car?” Jensen asks, looking up from his place on the floor.
“Nah, she’s with Chad’s mom for the day. I’ll go get her later after we’re done moving all the stuff.”
“Probably smart, although I’m sure she’s missing her best friend,” Jensen smirks.
“You mean Chris?” Jared snorts. “Trust me, he’s all she’s talked about for the past week.”
“As harsh as they can be, kids are smarter than adults the majority of the time. The things we think are weird are amazing to them.” Jensen pauses and looks wistful and Jared wishes for a moment that he could read his mind. His hand is stroking Sadie’s head absently and Harley has lodged himself fully underneath his left armpit. Even his dogs are in love with Jensen.
Jared looks away quickly and rushes back to the car to start grabbing boxes.
Jensen goes to let the dogs out into the backyard and Jared peeks into the living room to see Chad staring down Misha, who is currently wearing one of Danneel’s glittery caftan-looking things.
Jared clears his throat to break up the stare-off, even though there seems to be some weird kind of competition going on.
Misha’s lips curl into a smile and he curtsies at Chad. “Misha Collins. Enchanté.”
“Chad Michael Murray. No habla espanol, amigo.”
“Alrighty then, I’m gonna just go carry this box somewhere that is not here,” Jared murmurs as Misha’s smile starts to look suspiciously like a shark’s.
Their new bedrooms are on the first floor, same as Jensen’s (which is not a big deal, not a big deal at all, Jared reminds himself) while Misha and Gen and Chris and Danneel share rooms on the second floor. The attic is converted into what is being described as the “swing room” and Jared wants to never, ever think about that again. The basement has been converted into a huge playroom-like space with a pool table and minibar and—hopefully—some kind of play area for Kat. Jared is a little uneasy when he thinks about how lucky they are to have stumbled on to this amazing house, especially considering how cheap the rent is. He knows that Misha owns it so the monthly costs are low, but he can’t help feeling that the other shoe is going to drop sometime and he’s going to finally see what the catch is.
He brushes off his negativity and tries to assure himself that this is the part of his life that’s going right, even if his new roommates are arguably insane and/or wildly inappropriate. He thinks about Jensen’s smile, the way the little lines bursting from the corner of his eyes scrunch up, and how he kind of wiggles his nose when Misha says something particularly offensive. Jared doesn’t know why he’s noticing all these little things about another guy. Well maybe he knows. But he’s not going to think about it. Not now at least, when the rest of his world is falling on top of him.
He heads into Kat’s new room, which is actually a small office they converted into a bedroom when Jared agreed to move in. He looks around in surprise when he realizes that it’s been newly painted in a soft pale purple, Kat’s favorite color. Someone in this house stopped to think about what his daughter would love, what would make her happy, even if it was as simple as a paint color. They wanted her to feel welcome in her new home. Jared feels tears prickle the backs of his eyes that people they don’t even know care about his daughter’s well-being. Even if everything they have left has had to be pared down into what can fit into a meager amount of boxes, that care is something he can cling to in order to make him hopeful for the future.
Jared puts the box down in the corner of the room and wipes a hand across his face. He’ll never live it down if Chad catches him getting emotional over purple paint. He actually guffaws at the thought and wanders back out to start grabbing more stuff.
He passes the glass door leading to the backyard, where Jensen is standing watching something outside with an amused expression on his face. Jared follows his line of vision to where Harley and Sadie are chasing Gen around in circles in the grass.
“Should I be worried for her?” Jared asks, a little nervous that she could be upset about being chased by animals almost larger than she is.
“Just wait. Give it...three…two…one. Yup, there we go.”
Jared looks away from Jensen and back out into the yard where things have reversed and Gen is now chasing the dogs, who are running frantically away from her.
Jared giggles (oh god, what was that, he groans) and Jensen joins in like it’s contagious.
“So, that was odd,” Jared states, after they manage to calm down.
“You have no idea,” Jensen mumbles and Jared decides to stop while he’s ahead.
They manage to get all of their stuff moved into the house within a few hours once they recruit Chris into helping and extract Chad from whatever existential debate he and Misha were engaged in (that Jared doesn’t even want to think about, thank you very much).
“Ah man, I’m so gross,” Jared moans apologetically, pulling his t-shirt away from his sticky skin. It’s still August and the humidity and exertion is making his normal propensity towards sweat even worse.
Jensen looks at him with a flicker of something Jared refuses to name but it’s gone just as quickly. “Why don’t you go take a shower and have Chad go pick up Kat? Dinner should be done soon and you’ll feel better.”
Jared looks over at the bathroom that he’s going to be sharing with Jensen.
Oh my god, I’m sharing a bathroom with Jensen.
That is so not a big deal. It’s a bathroom. Toilet. Sink. Shower. Towel rack. Medicine cabinet.
Naked Jensen.
“I’ll run upstairs to Misha’s bathroom to take one while you’re in there. Remember my sacrifice when I come back smelling like a plant,” Jensen winks before running upstairs.
Jared somehow manages to take a shower without stroking his cock even once.
The doorbell rings as he is shaking the last of the water out of his hair and he doesn’t see anyone around so he heads to answer it. Pulling open the door reveals an attractive blonde with rows upon rows of white teeth and a perfectly measured ponytail.
The mystery blonde pushes a basket full of what smells suspiciously like brownies into his arms. Her ponytail sways. Perfectly.
“Katie Cassidy, president of the community board. You must be the new housemate!” she beams, her smile stretching across her face in a strangely fixed manner.
“Jared Padalecki, nice to meet you,” he says amiably, balancing the basket in one hand and reaching the other one out for her to shake.
Her gaze flickers over him almost too quickly for him to catch and she goes to reach out her hand before pulling it back suddenly. Her eyes narrow slightly. “You aren’t going to try and make me shave my head, are you?”
Jared stifles a laugh. “I promise I will never ask that of you.”
The fixed beam returns instantly. The ponytail bounces. “Great! Then welcome to the neighborhood.“
“Thanks for these, my daughter will love them,” Jared smiles, holding up the basket of baked goods.
“Oh you have a daughter! That’s wonderful. So domestic,” Katie replies and Jared is convinced that she actually purrs.
Jared is suddenly uncomfortable with the way she’s staring at him. “So, Katie, it was great to meet you, but I’m gonna go get ready for dinner.”
Katie tries to peek around him into the house but he manages to block her, massive shoulders finally coming in handy. “Are the rest of the…gang around?”
Jared doesn’t like the sudden shift in the tone of her voice. It’s a mix of suspicion and curiosity that could probably get intense. He suddenly realizes why Jensen doesn’t want to be the “normal” one of the group. Luckily Jared has so many other things to worry about that dealing with a nosy neighbor is a piece of cake.
“Yup, everyone’s already at the table. Sunday dinner, you know? They are a pretty traditional group, after all,” Jared just manages to hold back a smirk.
Her expression is wary for a moment before snapping back into smooth politeness. The ponytail, however, gives her away by twitching. “Well, of course they are. You better get going. Don’t forget to eat all those treats, made them myself!”
“Will do, thanks,” he says and gives her his biggest, brightest, dimpliest smile to take the sting out of shutting the door in her face.
The doorbell rings again before he’s even halfway down the hallway and when he opens it his daughter is staring up at him.
“Where’s Uncle Chad?” he frowns.
Kat rolls her eyes and points a thumb at poor Katie Cassidy getting leered at by his soon-to-be-dead-best-friend up against the mailbox. Nosy neighbor or not, no one deserves that.
“Chad!” Jared hollers and Katie uses the distraction to take off as fast as her pumps will take her.
“Call me!” Chad yells after her, doing his best half wink-half squint thing.
“Get in the house, you moron,” Jared demands, grabbing him by the neck and pushing him through the doorway.
“Such a cockblocker, fuck,” Chad grumbles, and makes what Jared thinks is an attempt to karate chop him. Jared blocks it easily and laughs as he pushes him towards the dining room.
“Do you think you can act like a normal human being for one dinner?” Jared inquires.
“I thought you were the normal one? I’m here for the entertainment, brother,” Chad replies in his best smarmy manner and Jared smacks him on the head. “Ow, fucker!”
“Stop swearing around my kid!”
“Your kid’s not even here, dude, she’s probably off with her new adopted cat father.”
“This is all your fault, asswipe.”
“What, that I saved you from imminent homelessness? Yeah, I’m such a jerk.”
“Fuckwad. Let’s eat.”
“Oh, Chad is the one who swears, huh?”
“Seriously dude, stop speaking about yourself in the third person. It creeps me out.”
“Oh, it’s you,” Misha’s voice interrupts their usual banter. He lowers his eyelids and stares at Chad.
“Why are you wearing a diaper?” Chad inquires, and actually looks mildly interested.
“It’s a dhoti, you American,” Misha corrects.
“You’re American,” Chad replies and makes it sound like a “Yo Mama” joke.
“I’m one with the world.”
Chad nods, inexplicably (for him) accepting the vague answer and turning his attention to more important things. “I’m hungry, pilgrims. Feed me!”
Since it’s their first night all together they decide to use the formal dining room, which Jensen assures Jared is a rarity. Danneel makes jambalaya for the adults and chicken fingers for Kat (and Chad) and the food is delicious and the wine smooth. Jared feels a sense of warmth surround him and he’s not sure whether it’s the booze or the proximity of Jensen’s thigh next to his under the table. He glances over at him and finds Jensen just looking away, the hint of a blush on his cheeks.
Misha and Gen are attempting to debate quantum psychics with Chad during the dessert course, for some reason (Chad’s contribution: “That shit is crazy!”) and Kat is happily stuffing her face with Katie’s delicious chocolate brownies.
“You’re super smart, huh?” Chad finally gives up, ignoring Misha, but looking at Gen admiringly.
“I went to NYU three times,” Gen smirks, wiggling her eyebrows.
Chad looks perplexed. “Did you flunk—“
“In three different decades,” Misha adds proudly, leaning over to wiggle his nose against Gen’s.
Huh? Jared thinks but then he feels Jensen’s thigh muscle tense against his own and oh god that shouldn’t be as hot as it is. The wine is making him mellow enough that he’s not thinking too hard about Gen’s college years, yet all his nerve endings shoot straight up when Jensen leans over and whispers “I’m happy you guys are here” right into his ear with that low husky voice. Jared thinks Jensen is doing that distraction thing again. It's working.
Jared swallows and Jensen’s gaze drifts to his throat. “Me too, Jen. Me too.”
He barely notices Chris and Danneel staring at them with raised eyebrows from across the table.
++++++
It’s the weekend after Labor Day and the weather is still hot and only slightly less humid. Kat started second grade at her new school the week before and through sheer force of will and personality has managed to fit right in. She loves her teacher, a doe-eyed redhead named Miss Julie, and seems to have already made a few friends. She seems content with their current circumstances and Jared is relieved.
It also makes him nervous, though. Kat is just a little girl and losing her mother and being shoved into a house full of rather, well, odd people and into a new school should have taken its toll on her. Instead, she seems to be thriving and as much as that should make him happy (and it does, dammit, it does) he can’t help but think it’s all going to come tumbling down around them.
Now though, it’s the weekend and the grill is out and pitchers of homemade lemonade are laid out on the tables in the backyard. Chris has his shirt off as he flips burgers and Jared takes in his tiger stripped torso and limbs. It’s still a little surprising when he sees the extent of Chris’ tattoos, but he’s getting used to it, day by day. In fact, Jared’s getting used to all of it as the weeks pass, and it unsettles him a bit at how fast the process is happening.
Danneel hands him a glass of lemonade and looks over to where he’s staring at Misha teaching Kat how to hold her breath underwater in the pool.
“He’s a great swimmer, you know. She’s fine,” Danneel insists.
“Is that so?” Jared says dubiously, rubbing the cold glass over his sweaty forehead.
“He spent a year in Bora Bora ‘finding himself’,” she informs him, her voice tinged with amusement.
“Did he find the red speedo and Spongebob floaties in Bora Bora as well?” Jared tries to deadpan, but it’s useless and they both start laughing.
“No, I think those are from Amazon, although knowing Misha he probably could find whatever the Bora Bora version of Spongebob is and work with that.”
Jared grins at Danneel and she returns it. He’s come to really like her and is glad that Kat has a quasi-maternal figure in the house. As much as he loves his daughter, he knows that he’s never going to be her mother. Jared tries not to let the sadness creep into his expression, even as Danneel’s eyes turn soft and fond.
“Daddy, watch!” Kat’s exuberant scream breaks the somber moment, and Jared is way too grateful.
“I’m watching, Kit-Kat, show me what Misha taught you!” Jared hollers back, as she makes a huge show of taking a deep breath and holding her nose before dunking herself.
“Misha teaching her anything should be a terrifying thought, just so you know,” Jensen grins, suddenly next to him.
“I think Kat is smart enough to figure out ‘world domination’ on her own, so Misha can’t do too much damage,” Jared replies, matching Jensen’s grin. Danneel snickers nearby, but Jared barely notices.
“We have guests!” Gen shouts from the sliding glass door leading into the house, and Jared turns to see Jeff and Samantha standing behind her, looking a little wary. Jared glances at Jensen, who is suddenly looking a little nervous for some reason. Jared smiles at him again and gets a muted one in return.
Maybe Jensen just doesn’t like new people, Jared tells himself. Except for me. I was a new person and he liked me just fine.
That thought makes Jared both warm and vaguely uncomfortable, all at the same time.
“Jeff, Sam, welcome to our new digs,” Jared announces, ignoring the weirdness with Jensen and going over to pull them each into a hug.
“What a lovely house you’ve got here,” Samantha says warmly, pushing her blonde bangs out of her eyes and looking around the backyard.
“It’s pretty great, right? The neighborhood is fantastic too,” Jared replies, feeling pretty proud of himself until he realizes he actually has Chad to thank for it. He manages to ignore that part.
“Why don’t you introduce us to your roommates? We’ve met Gen here, she was quite an introduction,” Jeff says, glancing over at Gen, who just shrugs nonchalantly and smirks a little.
“Any friend of yours is a friend of mine, Jared,” Gen insists innocently.
“Even Chad?” Jared laughs.
“Gen likes people with a little bite, isn’t that right honey?” Misha interrupts then, grabbing her into a wet, speedo-ed hug. She grips him by his floaties and starts nibbling on his bottom lip.
Jeff and Samantha stand there a bit shell-shocked, but luckily Jensen pops up then to save them.
“Hey, I’m Jensen, so great to meet you. Jared’s told us a lot about you, and Kat just raves about your peanut butter cup cookies, gotta get you to make some for us sometime,” Jensen gushes smoothly, reaching out to shake their hands and turn them slyly away from Misha and Gen’s cavorting.
Jared sighs and mouths “Thank you” at Jensen, who responds with a secret half smile as he leads Jeff and Samantha over to the table Chris is filling with freshly cooked meat. Kat runs across the grass and launches herself at Samantha.
“Kat, you’re gonna get Aunt Sam all wet!” Jared yells but Samantha just waves him off and pulls Kat into a full body hug.
“Oh, look at you! Did you get bigger since the last time I’ve seen you or what?” Samantha grins, kneeling down to get on Kat’s level.
Kat nods happily and holds up her arm to make a completely invisible muscle. “Danni cooks really weird food but Chris says it’s good for me and it’s going to make me strong like him, so I’m eating it.”
Samantha looks impressed by that and looks up at Jared, who is just rolling his eyes. “This Chris must be pretty strong if that’s all it takes to get you to eat anything other than chicken fingers.”
“Chris is my best friend!” Kat gushes, turning around and pointing to the tattooed figure standing next to the grill with an amused expression on his face.
“That’s right, and don’t you forget it,” Chris agrees, coming over to introduce himself to their guests. “Christian Kane, nice to make your acquaintance.”
Samantha shakes his hand automatically, but Jared senses a slight hesitation from Jeff. It’s only a split second, but it’s there, and it makes Jared’s stomach sink. He knows that Jeff is a tolerant guy, but he realizes that not everyone is used to the things that Jared is already finding himself used to.
A few hours later, after a hearty lunch and a few demonstrations of Kat’s latest aquatic feats, Jared’s fears are realized when Jeff pulls him aside.
“So,” Jeff starts, his voice cautious. “Your roommates seem real nice.”
“Yeah, they’re great. A little eccentric maybe, but you get used to that,” Jared says firmly, wanting Jeff’s approval more than he had previously realized.
“Roché’s going to be coming for a home visit soon,” Jeff says, and pauses. He lets that sit there for a moment before continuing. “Which is completely unorthodox and you don’t have to agree to it.”
Jared sighs, knowing Jeff threw that last part in just to try and make him feel better. “You know as well as I do that refusing the home visit is just going to make me look like I have something to hide.”
Jeff nods in agreement and frowns. “Well, do you think you have something to hide? I mean, this house is great but maybe this isn’t the best…environment for a young kid.”
Jared feels indignation rise up in him without warning. “What’s wrong with this environment, Jeff?”
Jeff holds up his hands in an attempt to smooth his next words. “I’m just saying that your roommate situation might not be the most normal one and that might look bad.”
Jared almost laughs at that, knowing that he himself is the one that is supposed to introduce the normalcy into the household. He knows Jeff’s right to an extent, and it burns inside to think about it. These people are his friends, aren’t they? Or at the very least, they could be someday.
Jared is still thinking about what Jeff said later that night as he goes to tuck Kat into bed. He finds Danneel there instead, with Kat tucked tightly into her side. Kat seems to be asleep, her breath soft and even, but Jared can see dried tear tracks on her cheeks.
“What happened?” Jared whispers, torn between panic and not wanting to wake her up.
Danneel looks up, startled a bit to see him enter the room. There are tears on her cheeks as well and her hand is twisted around Kat’s wrist, lying directly on top of the bracelet made of Venetian glass beads that Sandy had given Kat the Christmas before. Jared hasn’t seen it since Sandy died and realizes that Kat must have been keeping it hidden for some reason.
Danneel pitches her voice low, and starts stroking the bracelet in an almost loving manner. “I’m sorry, Jared. I didn’t mean to interfere. I think, well, I think she just missed her mother.”
Jared tries to think back on the day, trying to remember if anything had happened that might have caused Kat’s grief but not coming up with anything out of the ordinary. They had a good day, good food and swimming in the pool, Jeff’s warnings notwithstanding. Jared realizes with a clenched heart that this is just their reality now and he has to prepare himself for things like this to happen.
He walks over to the bed and kneels down beside them. He shushes Danneel when she makes an attempt to get up and smiles gratefully at her.
“Thanks, Danni, it means a lot that you were here.”
Danneel runs a hand tentatively over his hair and it’s comforting. “It’ll get better, Jared. It always does.”
Jared nods silently and bends down to kiss Kat’s forehead. She murmurs something unintelligible and snuffles a little in her sleep, and it makes Jared laugh softly. Danneel keeps stroking the bracelet.
Jared’s chest lightens when he comes to the decision that no matter what Jeff says, they have the chance to make this their home and it’s a chance he has to take.
Misha opening the door in a pair of purple gauze harem pants while eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is probably not the best way to start Sebastian Roché’s first visit to their home. Jensen just manages to keep Jared from hyperventilating when he realizes that Misha has beaten him to the front entrance.
“You have a lovely head of hair,” Misha muses, looking Roché up and down before opening the door wide enough for him to enter.
Roché narrows his eyes momentarily before obviously deciding Misha’s not interesting enough to answer, and waltzes into the house like he owns the place. He’s followed close behind by a huge bruiser type with prison tattoos, a tiny moustache, and a bald head.
“You, however, do not,” Misha tsks at the bodyguard before shutting the door and wandering closer to Jensen. Misha schools his voice into a stage whisper. “You would think he would make a great super-villain but, alas, no gravitas.”
“Misha, shut up,” Jensen hisses under his breath and then almost groans when Gen pops into the hallway.
“Beetlejuice!” she whispers at the bodyguard, who just growls at her. Misha laughs and Jensen hates himself for joining in. The guy does have a really small head.
Jensen stops laughing immediately when he realizes Jared is on the verge of passing out. He steers their guests into the living room and then offers his hand to Roché, who takes it after a moment of silent, haughty judgment.
Jensen is shocked because he feels…nothing. No buzz, no tingle, no sensation. It’s like there’s an invisible coating between Roché’s nerves and his own and it’s unlike anything Jensen’s experienced since he was fifteen years old.
Roché is looking at him then, his head tilted at an odd angle as his eyes bore into him. After an unknown amount of time, they drop the handshake. Roché looks like he’s trying to decipher something and Jensen finds himself rubbing his own palm compulsively.
Roché’s expression changes instantly and the mask goes right back on as he turns to Jared. “As you know, Mr. Padalecki, I’m not here for a social visit.” He turns and looks with obvious scorn at Misha. “Although I’m sure the possibilities for amusement are endless.”
“I have a wonderful vitamin in my line that will help with regularity,” Misha responds with a lazy smile. “You know, after you have the stick removed.”
Jensen pushes Misha towards the kitchen. “Go do dishes, Misha. Or something.”
“Yes, show us how Mr. Padalecki is playing house, Misha,” Roché smirks, waving at Misha as Jensen forces him from the room.
Jensen sees the moment Jared decides to take control of the situation and it makes him smile involuntarily.
“Ok, Mr. Roché, we both know why you’re here, so let’s get to it.” Jared’s voice is steel and Jensen can feel the freckles on his cheeks heat up.
Jared shows Roché around the ground floor and the backyard. When Roché insists on seeing the upstairs, Jensen thanks his lucky stars that he had Chris take down his suspension unit in the attic. Jensen doesn’t care that Chris likes to hang himself from metal hooks to get a “spiritual buzz”, but Roché might not feel the same way.
Roché doesn’t engage them all that much, but Jensen knows he’s watching and calculating. There is something off about the man, and Jensen can’t put his finger on it. It’s still bugging him later after Roché and his tiny-headed henchman leave and Jared throws himself down on the sofa with an exhausted grunt.
“So that went well,” Jensen starts, handing Jared a beer before sitting down on the loveseat to nurse his own. He let the dogs in before coming into the room and they curl up on the rug next to the couch, sleepy from the heat of the day.
Jared rolls his eyes before downing half the beer in one gulp. Jensen watches his Adam’s apple bob up and down with the movement and sinks back lower into the loveseat. Jared leans down to pet Sadie, who growls happily and rubs her face against his hand.
“OK, it didn’t go as bad as it could have,” Jensen revises and that gets a laugh out of Jared.
“Yeah, Misha’s penis didn’t make an appearance, there is that,” Jared nods and Jensen laughs with him.
They get quiet and sip their beers for a minute. “Hey, I know it sucks, but there’s no judge in the world that’s going to take that little girl away from you. I don’t care how expensive that dude’s suits are.”
Jared finishes his beer and rubs it between his hands, staring down at his lap. He finally looks up and there’s a sad smile on his face. “Thanks, Jensen. I know you guys didn’t sign up for all this drama when we moved in, so it’s awesome that you’re being so supportive.”
“Drama? Have you seen our roommates? Custody hearings are a snoozefest compared to Misha and Gen’s dance of bitey love,” Jensen snorts.
“Yeah, what’s up with the biting? They do that a lot, don’t they?”
Jensen nearly chokes on a mouthful of beer at that, but can’t keep himself from laughing. “Oh, you have no idea. The things I’ve seen….”
Jared holds up his hands in surrender. “Stop right there, I don’t want to know.”
Another silence, but it’s comfortable and nice and Jensen realizes he could get used to this, just this. Harley snores a little and Sadie pushes him with her snout in futile attempt to shut him up.
“So,” Jensen says finally. “You guys seem to be settling in well.”
Jared smiles, a closed-mouthed but genuine one. “Yeah, Kat likes her teacher, the dogs have stopped chasing Gen whenever she enters the room. Pretty good progress. What about you? Are we working out for you guys?”
“I did lose my best friend to your kid, but if it had to be anyone, it might as well be her,” Jensen grins. It’s easy to joke with Jared, comfortable and light. Jensen doesn’t think he’s gotten along this well, this fast with someone since he met Chris. He figured his attraction to Jared would make things awkward, but what Jared doesn’t know, can’t affect him.
Jensen realizes that sentiment can cover a lot of things and feels a bit uneasy. He doesn’t want to lie to Jared, but things are precarious with the custody case and Jensen is afraid he’d bolt if he got even an inkling of the truth behind their abilities. Who is he kidding, Jared would probably think he was crazy if he even brought it up, and that would be reason enough for him to leave. And he doesn’t want Jared to leave, he realizes suddenly. He likes Jared, and Kat, being in his—their—lives.
He fits them. Him. Jared fits him.
“Want another beer?” Jensen asks.
Jared nods and then smiles at him and Jensen feels the buzz of it run through him.
Danneel comes out of the kitchen carrying a basket full of mini-candy bars and props it up on a stool set up next to the front door.
“So we’re really letting Misha and Gen hand out candy? To children? Can we get sued by any parents if something goes tragically wrong?” Jared inquires, staring at Danneel with raised eyebrows.
“You would never know it from the lack of clothing, but Halloween is Misha’s favorite time of year,” Danneel informs him, popping a mini-Butterfinger in her mouth.
“Actually I can see him liking a day that is built around mystery and deceit,” Jared laughs and then spins around as Misha enters the hallway. “Speak of the naked devil.”
Misha twirls to show off his costume. “Not naked at all, my tall friend. Guess what I am.”
Jared takes in the rather surprising outfit. Well-worn Levis. A faded Metallica shirt. A stack of leather bracelets and a couple silver rings. Jared squints and sees what appears to be dots drawn on Misha’s cheeks with brown eyeliner pencil before laughing with delight as it hits him. “You’re Jensen!”
Misha effortlessly catches the Snickers Danneel tosses him and grins. “You are correct, young man. Danni, give the boy a Milky Way.”
“Ewww, no way. Give me a Peanut Butter Cup,” Jared corrects, making grabby hands at the candy bucket until Danneel relents and tosses one at his head.
Gen skips in a moment later, swinging her black and red satin cape dramatically. She hisses and exposes a majestic set of vampire fangs.
Jared leans in closely to admire them. “Damn, Gen, those are the best fake fangs I’ve ever seen. Where did you get them?”
“Opening night of Hadyn’s Armida. Fucking tenor bastard didn’t even let me have my mad scene first,” Gen grumbles wistfully.
Danneel shoves another Reese’s in Jared’s mouth before he can respond.
“Is that my shirt?” Jensen deadpans, standing with his hands on his hips in front of Misha.
“Yes, Young Ackles, and it still has your hearty musk attached to it,” Misha agrees.
“Wait! You still need one more thing for your costume, babe,” Gen says to Misha, before whipping out a tall witch’s hat with a cackle. Misha puts it on his head and faces Jensen for judgment.
“Do I look like a pretty warlock?” Misha asks, batting his eyelashes.
“You’re lucky you have clothes on because I’m ten seconds away from performing my first castration.”
“Hey, those are mine!” Gen pouts, grabbing at Misha’s crotch.
Jensen throws up his hands with a huff and stomps into the living room. Jared laughs and follows him. Chris is in there with Kat prepping her makeup for the evening. She is, of course, the most adorable cat in all of Long Island. She’s already wearing the headband with her cat ears attached and is sitting on her newly smushed tail, which is connected to white tights and her little pink leotard.
“Jensen, c’mere, I need someone’s lap for height,” Chris announces, waving Jensen over to the couch. Jensen flops down and Kat climbs on his lap so she’s high enough for Chris to start attaching fake whiskers to her face with eyelash glue.
“It’s cold!” Kat giggles.
“Don’t move, little lady, or you’re gonna have whiskers on your chin instead of your cheeks!” Chris admonishes lightly.
Kat does her best to stay still, which basically involves squeezing her eyes shut and gritting her teeth together.
Chris laughs. “Girl, what is this face you’re making?”
Jensen peeks over to see it and Kat opens one eye tentatively.
“That’s her concentration face,” Jared offers, grinning from his place leaning against the doorframe.
“Ah well, okay then. That’s a great face,” Chris corrects himself, hiding a smirk as he continues gluing on the synthetic whiskers.
“Nice ears you got there,” Jensen snickers, gesturing up at the headband Chris is wearing to match Kat’s.
Chris moves his head sassily. “You’re just jealous you ain’t as cute as Kat and me.”
“Yeah, Jensen, where is your costume?” Jared challenges, amused.
Jensen looks him up and down and Jared squirms a little. “I don’t see you in a costume, dude.”
“I’m Dad, that’s my costume,” Jared smirks.
“Well, you’re wearing it well,” Jensen replies and his voice is just soft enough that Jared almost doesn’t catch it. He does though, and feels himself blushing a little. Chris very pointedly ignores it.
Thankfully, Chad chooses that exact moment to show up. Of course, it’s hard to tell that it even is Chad, considering he’s wearing a sheet with a ninja mask over it.
“I think the little one tried to bite me. She’s taking her costume way too seriously, dudes,” Chad announces himself, pointing his thumb back towards the front door.
“And what are you supposed to be?” Jensen asks from the couch as he takes in Chad’s costume.
“I’m a ghost ninja, duh.” If Jared could see Chad’s face, he figures he would be rolling his eyes.
“So you’re a dead ninja,” Jensen clarifies.
“Um…yes?” Chad’s voice gets unsure.
“Which basically means you totally suck as a ninja,” Jensen points out finally. Jared bites his lip to keep from laughing.
“Hey! I went out like a badass, dude. Totally sacrificed myself to save the girl. Girls, I mean, many girls, I saved all of the many girls,” Chad insists, waving his sheet-covered arms in emphasis.
“Done,” Chris says, ignoring Chad and patting Kat on the knee.
She hops up and goes over to take Chad’s hand. “Uncle Chad, I think your costume is great and I’m sure all the many girls were happy you died saving them.”
“Children are so much smarter than warlocks,” Chad says, patting Kat on the head.
“I’m not a warlock,” Jensen says at the same time Jared says “He’s not a warlock.” That earns Jared a grin from Jensen that he returns happily before looking away.
“Can we go now?” Kat asks, coming over to Jared and tugging at his hand.
“Sure, Kit-Kat, let’s go.” Jared looks around the room. “You guys want to come with us?”
Chad pulls a pillowcase out from under his sheet and holds it up victoriously. “I’m ready!”
“I gotta go into the shop. Halloween always brings out the late night appointments,” Chris says and continues on quickly when Kat’s face falls. “But I’m keeping my ears on, tail too. Don’t you worry about that, little lady.”
Kat beams and Jared rubs a hand through her hair fondly.
“Jensen’s going, aren’t you Jen?” Chris throws out, fighting a smirk as he looks at Jensen.
Jared looks at Jensen, who is staring at Chris with an unreadable expression. “Yeah, Jensen, come with us. I promise you can hide behind me when we get to the Cassidy house.”
Jensen turns to him slowly and then finally smiles. “Sure, why not. We can always throw Chad at her if she gets too frisky.”
“Are we talking about that tight little blonde neighbor of yours? Because you can throw me at her any day,” Chad agrees, making lewd, albeit sheet-covered movements with his pelvis.
“If you don’t stop that I’m going to let Gen bite you,” Jared warns and Chad stops moving instantly.
The first few blocks of trick-or-treating is quiet, dusk just setting in and only a smattering of neighborhood children out yet. Jared lets Kat go off ahead with Chad as he hangs back with Jensen. They walk along the edge of the sidewalk, close enough to almost touch, but not. They talk about pointless stuff like work and the new supermarket that opened up nearby, but it’s comfortable and Jared finds himself more peaceful than he’s been in a long time.
The rest of the evening is uneventful, except for the fact that Jensen does hide behind Jared when they get to Katie Cassidy’s house. Chad, however, has no qualms about leaning across her doorframe and leering through his ninja-masked sheet as she hands Kat home-baked snickerdoodles instead of pre-packaged candy. It is only when he asks if he can “doodle you somewhere a little more private, sweetheart” that Katie slams the door in his face.
“Well she obviously has no respect for the great art of the ninja,” Chad huffs and Kat pats his arm reassuringly.
Jared watches as Jensen helps a sleepy Kat take off her whiskers using some of Danneel’s makeup remover later that night. She’s sitting on the counter of their shared bathroom and Jensen is laughing when Kat keeps scratching at her cheek after he removes each one.
“It tickles,” she manages to giggle and yawn at the same time.
Jensen picks her up and carries her to bed, lying her down on the vintage Thundercats bed sheets Misha found on eBay and tucking the quilt Mrs. McCoy made her around her up to her chin.
Jared watches Jensen kiss her forehead and wonders to himself why this moment feels so damn perfect.
PART THREE
