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1.
Dean wasn’t a mind reader. Even when Sam had gone through that period when he had superpowers the youngest Winchester could never read minds.
So no, Dean couldn’t read minds.
However, when his daughter got into the car when Dean picked her up from school and she didn’t immediately start talking about her day, Dean got suspicious. Dad senses activated. Something was wrong.
Emma sat in the front seat passenger seat -because she was twelve now and had passed the height and weight limit. She kept shifting, fingers tapping, legs bouncing. The kid was oozing anxiety.
“Okay, what is it?” Dean asked after the third time his daughter had opened her mouth as of to say something and then closed it.
“I…nothing.” Emma said super convincingly.
“Anything happen today?” Who did Dean have to kill?
“No.” Emma shrugged.
“Okay.” Dean nodded. “But if you want to talk about-“
“It’s nothing, Dad.” Emma rolled her eyes with all of the sass of the preteen girl she was.
“Hey, watch the tone.” Dean warned.
“God, Dad! I need a bra, okay?” Emma snapped.
Dean’s brain went offline.
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Try again later.
“Uh…” Get it together. Dean swallowed. Emma was shrinking in on herself and Dean needed to be cool. She needed him to be cool, so Dean would be cool. Cool as a damn cucumber. “Okay, so we’ll go to the mall get what you need and then pick up supper. I didn’t really want to cook anyway. What do you want, pizza, burgers?”
“Pizza sounds good.” Emma said tentatively.
“I was thinking the same thing.” Dean winked at his daughter and ruffled her hair.
A weight seemed to have been lifted off of Emma’s shoulders and she began talking about her day, the gossip of middle school and what not.
Dean tried his best to listen. He was more invested in the Willow and Troy break up than he was willing to admit, but his brain was still not firing on all cylinders.
He was buying his daughter her first bra. Fuck.
When they got to the mall Emma’s cheery mood stifled again. She got shy and it looked as if she was trying to become a turtle with the way her head was shoving down into her neck.
Dean put a hand on her shoulder as they entered the sparkly store. They had shopped at Justice before, so Dean knew they had a bra section. He had just pointedly avoided it until now.
One of the workers thankfully saw the big red SOS sign on the father-daughter pair and came over with a bright smile. “Hi there, can I help you two?”
“Uh,” Dean scratched at the back of his neck. “She, uh, she’s, um, bra.”
“Smooth, Dad.” Emma grumbled.
Dean couldn’t blame her.
“That’s alright.” The worker smiled. Her name tag read Megan. “Dad’s get nervous about new things too. I’ll show you our undergarment section and we’ll go from there. How does that sound?”
“Okay.” Emma said. Dean had half a mind to go stand outside the store, but Emma’s hand latched on to his. He wasn’t going anywhere.
Megan led them to the area where they had bras and underwear. She then began explaining the differences in the sizes, styles, and whatnot. Dean hoped Emma was listening because he was just focusing on not looking like a pervert.
A bit later Emma disappeared into a fitting room with a handful of bras. Dean sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Relax.” He jumped when Megan spoke up next to him. He hadn’t realized she had been standing there.
“Sorry, I just have no idea what I’m doing.” Dean let out a nervous laugh. “She’s growing up. What am I supposed to do with that?”
“You seem to be doing just fine to me.” Megan shrugged.
“Maybe my husband would have been better with this.” Cas could be cool under pressure, maybe Dean should have waited for Cas to take her. Then Emma wouldn’t have a babbling Dean making everything even more uncomfortable.
“I don’t mean to overstep, but your husband would be her step father?”
Dean nodded. He always forgot about that. It wasn’t like he and Lydia had ever gone through a divorce.
“Well, I’m sure your daughter and husband are very close, but I think she needs you right now.” Megan smiled. “You’re doing fine, just breath.”
They leave with a pink bag filled with a handful of bras. Then they got pizza.
When they arrived home Cas was in the living room reading. He looked up with that adorable worry brow.
“Where did you two go?”
“Just ran some errands.” Dean shrugged, going for nonchalance. “We picked up pizza for dinner.”
“Oh, alright.” Cas stood and kissed Dean.
Emma had scampered upstairs with her bag already. Dean went into the kitchen to put the pizza on the counter. Cas followed.
Dean made sure Emma was out of ear shot before he let out a sigh and rested his head on Cas’ shoulder. Cas immediately wrapped his arms around Dean, squeezing him tightly. Cas gave the best hugs.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Nothing.” Dean picked his head up but stayed in Cas’ arms. “Nothing’s wrong, she’s just growing up.”
Cas’ eyes squinted and his head tilted in his confusion.
“We went to the mall and got her a couple of bras.” Dean explained.
“Ah.” Understanding crossed Cas’ face along with a small smile. “Puberty.”
“Don’t say it.” Dean put his face back in Cas’ shoulder. “She’s getting old, and what does that make me? Older. Do I have grey hairs? I feel like I have grey hairs.”
Cas chuckled. What an ass, laughing at Dean’s misery. “You are as handsome as the day we met. Besides, she’s only thirteen. She is not old.”
Dean sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry for freaking out.”
“It’s alright.” Cas kissed him softly. “It’s natural to freak out, but it’ll be okay. Our daughter is growing into a strong and independent young woman. That is something to be proud of.”
“Couldn’t hurt her to be a little less independent.” Dean mumbled.
Cas just kissed him.
“Gross, guys, come on.” Sam grumbled as he stomped into the kitchen.
Dean rolled his eyes. “And where have you been?”
“Out with Eileen.” Sam replied, taking a piece of pizza.
Soon Emma rejoined them and they all sat down for dinner.
Normal conversation began and Dean forgot about his mini crisis. Just because things were changing didn’t mean everything would change. Somethings simply couldn’t be changed.
2.
Where the hell was the peanut butter? Sam swore as he ducked his head further into the cabinet.
It had to be in there somewhere. He had just seen it.
“Uncle Sammy?” Sam hit his head on the top of the cabinet.
“What’s up Em?” Sam asked, rubbing at his head.
“Could we go to the store?” Emma asked, picking at her cuticle.
“Yeah, sure.” Sam nodded.
He gave up on his peanut butter search and sipped his coffee.
“Like right now?” Emma continued.
“I’ve got some paper work to do then we’ll go. How does that sound?” Sam leaned against the counter.
“Uh, no, no thank you. I really need to go now.”
Sam felt his brow furrow. He took in his niece. She was fiddling with the sleeves of her sweatshirt that was wrapped around her waist. Her eyes were trained on the floor like she was trying to smite a whole into it.
“Why?”
Emma’s hands fisted in her sweatshirt. “I need some things.” Emma stressed the last word.
Sam stared blankly.
Some things.
What.
Emma shifted from one foot to the other.
Oh.
Oh!
“Y, yeah, okay.” Sam nodded. “I want some peanut butter too. I can’t find the jar I know we have somewhere, might as well go get another one.”
“Yeah, okay.” Emma shuffled to the front door to get her shoes and coat.
Ten minutes later the uncle-niece combo found themselves staring at the rows and rows of colorful boxes in the feminine hygiene aisle.
There were so many.
“Uh.” Emma started.
“Um.” Sam replied.
He spotted the product Jess used to have him pick up, but he knew that each woman had a preference when it came to this sort of thing. Did younger girls need different stuff than older ones? Was there a starter pack?
Sam had no clue, and from the looks of Emma she didn’t either.
Right.
“Ima call Eileen.” Sam decided, pulling out his phone.
“Yep.” Emma just nodded.
Sam pulled out his phone and started a video chat with his girlfriend -because that’s what they were, boyfriend and girlfriend. No, it didn’t make Sam want to squeal and jump up and down with excitement.
“Hey, Sam.” Eileen answered as she popped up on his screen. She was so pretty. “What’s up?”
Right, reality.
“Uh, so, uh…” Sam ran a hand through his hair. “We’re at the store, and Emma needs some girl stuff and we, uh, don’t know which…”
“Ah, okay.” Eileen nodded. “Flip the camera.”
Sam did so. He slowly moved the phone across the many shelves of products. It was just as overwhelming through the phone lens.
“The little pink boxes with the white writing on the top of the shelf is good.” Eileen said, flipping his camera around to see Eileen again.
Emma reached for the box, standing on her toes and stretching upwards to let her finger tips tip the box into her hands. “These?” She asked, holding the box up to the phone for Eileen to see.
“Yep, those will be good.” Eileen nodded. “And the little blue box next to it are tampons, those are for swimming or if you don’t want to wear the pads.”
“Right.” Emma nodded. Sam turned the phone so Eileen could read Emma’s lips. “I remember all of that from school. I just needed the stuff.”
“I’m happy to help.” Eileen smiled. “Call if you need anything else, alright?”
“Yep, thanks, Eileen!” Emma signed thank you.
Sam turned the phone back to him. “Thank you!”
“Bye, Sam. I’ll see you this weekend.” Eileen made a crude gesture in sign language.
“Y-yeah. See you.” Sam felt his face turn red.
After he hung up, Emma and Sam paid for their products before heading back home.
“I like Eileen.” Emma said as they drove home.
“Yeah, me too.” Sam nodded.
“You two are dating, right?”
“Uh, yes.” What was protocol for telling your niece you were dating? Was there one?
“Good.” Emma nodded. “Otherwise that would have been even more painful.”
“Painful?” Sam asked but his niece was already getting out of the car. When had they gotten home? “Em, what do you mean, painful?”
Emma didn’t answer she just went into the house with her grocery bag.
Fuck.
3.
It was a quiet afternoon. The sun was warm and high in the sky. Castiel and Emma were sitting outside in hammocks strung next to the each other both immersed in their books.
Castiel was reading The Hobbit. Dean had recommended it and then Emma and enthusiastically agreed with him. So far it was an entertaining book.
“Papa, I don’t like guys.”
Castiel looked up from his book at the abrupt statement from his daughter.
“Um, okay?” Castiel tilted his head in confusion.
“Like I like Billy and Tommy, but I couldn’t ever like like them.” Emma explained. “Like how Addie likes Billy, gross.”
“What made you consider this?” Castiel asked carefully.
“I was talking with Addie and when she had a crush on Andrew I knew he was a guy but Addie pointed out how cute he was or whatever and I realized I hadn’t noticed.“ Emma looked up from her book.
“It’s completely nature to be attracted to different people.”
“Yeah.” Emma took a big sigh, blowing her hair out of her eyes. “I kind of noticed it when all the girls were talking about how hot Leo DiCaprio is or Zac Efron. I think Emma Watson is hot.”
Castiel was trying so so hard to be supportive, but if his daughter referred to someone as hot one more time he was going to slap his hands over his ears and run away screaming about cooties. Yes, she was thirteen and he did remember being a thirteen year old with crushes. On the other hand he selfishly wished she wasn’t interested in dating.
But that wasn’t how life worked.
“You know your dad, Grandpa Bobby, Sam, me, we’re all going to love you no matter what.”
Emma’s throat bobbed. She cleared her throat and rolled her eyes. “I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about Dad letting me date at all.”
Castiel laughed. He couldn’t help it. “I’d say that’s a valid concern.”
“Do you think he’d be better since it won’t be a boy?”
Castiel chuckled again. “No, no, I don’t think so.”
“Ugh.” Emma deflated into her hammock. “He needs a hobby, or maybe a dog or something.”
“Who needs a dog?” Emma jumped as Dean appeared a few feet from them. He was in his work shirt with grease stains smudged on his face.
“Dean!” Castiel struggled to get out of the hammock to greet his husband. He let out a squawk as the hammock beneath him protested him getting out, causing him to fall back into it. “Hello.” Castiel settled for, accepting defeat against the fabric.
“Hey, angel.” Dean laughed and leaned down to kiss Cas. “Who’s getting a dog?”
“Uh…” Emma’s green eyes looked panicked. “I’m gay!”
Castiel had a feeling that was not how she had wanted to come out to her dad.
“Hi, Gay. I’m Dad.” Dean replied, not missing a beat.
Emma stared at him.
“Dad, no.” She grumbled before struggled to step out of the hammock.
“What?” Dean laughed. “It was the perfect opportunity!”
“No.” She stumbled out of the hammock, her book in hand.
“Hey, bring it in.” Dean opened his arms and Emma grumbled but walked into them. Her own arms wrapped around Dean.
Castiel heard Dean whisper something into Emma’s ear that he couldn’t hear, but Emma nodded her head.
“Love you.” Dean kissed her forehead before Emma pulled away and walked into the house.
“But we should get a dog!” She called.
“Not a chance!” Dean smiled.
Dean let out a sigh. Castiel wrapped his arms around his husband’s waist and let Dean lean into him.
“Fuck, she’s growing up.” Dean gave a small smile.
“Yes.” Castiel kissed Dean’s cheek. “She’s worried about you not letting her date.”
Dean snorted. “She should be. Ain’t nobody good enough for my little girl.”
“Dean.” Castiel rolled his eyes. He was trying really hard to be the sane one and not share the same sentiment. Maybe Sam would be able to be on Emma’s side on the matter of dating. “You’ve raised her right. She’ll make good choices.” Castiel squeezed Dean tight in his arms. “And she knows we’re here if she ever needs.”
“We’ve raised her right.” Dean corrected. “And damn straight we’ll be here.”