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Jody sat up, shaking in a cold sweat. She tugged gently at the back of her hair, making sure of her state of awareness as she looked down to her left. A sad smile crossed her lips as she confirmed the presence of Donna laying next to her.
She picked her phone off of the nightstand and checked the time. 3:28 am. She pressed her palm against her forehead, doing nothing to change the time, nor the images still running through her head. Jody took a deep breath and carefully slid out of bed before silently sneaking out of the bedroom.
Jody made her way to the kitchen, desperate for a drink. Whether that was a glass of water or a bottle of beer would be decided when she actually got there. She turned the corner into the kitchen and hit the light switch, squinting slightly and cursing under her breath as light flooded the room. Jody crossed over to the fridge, peeking in and finding a severe lack of beer.
She shrugged as she closed the door and went to write a reminder on the grocery list when she saw it already written in four different handwritings: Claire’s, Donna’s, Alex’s, and Dean’s. She snickered and added her own note, ‘I read you, loud and clear.’ Jody crossed over to the sink, stopping to pull a glass out of a cabinet, and filled it up with cold water.
She took a deep breath before lifting the glass to her lips when a voice cut through the silence around her. “Couldn’t sleep, Jodes?”
“Just a bad dream. Nothing I can’t shake.” Jody turned and smiled at Donna. “My mouth was dry, so I figured I’d come grab a drink.”
“Is that so?” Donna walked over to the fridge and leaned in to read Jody’s added commentary on the shopping list. “Were ya lookin’ for a beer first?”
“I didn’t actually specify what drink I was going for.” Jody raised her eyebrows, then her glass, before taking a drink.
“Well, when we go shoppin’ tomorrow for the party, we’ll make sure to grab…” She tapped the list on each name and laughed. “Yeah, we’re takin’ my truck for the amount we’re gonna need.” Donna crossed over to Jody and wrapped her arm around her waist and rested her head on her shoulder. “So ya gonna tell me what shook ya up so much or am I gonna have to drag it out of ya?”
Jody swirled her glass of water before finishing it off. She stared at the bottom of her empty glass and carefully considered her next words. “Sean and Owen.” When Donna didn’t comment, Jody pulled away slightly and looked at her girlfriend. “What would have been if…”
“Ya don’t hafta finish that thought if ya don’t wanna, but I’m all ears.”
“You always are, Sunshine.” She pulled Donna back in and rested her head against Donna’s. “You know Owen would be about the same age as the girls.”
“That makes sense. Claire’s twenty-five, Alex is twenty-four. Patience and Kaia are both twenty-three. Owen would be twenty-two?”
“He’d also be twenty-three.” Jody sighed and closed her eyes. “In the dream, he was all grown up. Something I always dreamed of. He was talking about his girlfriend and how he was going to propose. Sean joined us as we sat on the porch of our old home, and it felt so right. But then, as we were talking, I asked them if they had seen or talked to any of the girls.”
Donna adjusted, moving away slightly and causing Jody to open her eyes. Her mouth was fixed in a soft, sad smile and she moved to cup Jody’s face in her hand. “Can I guess? Did they ask who the girls are?”
“Yeah.”
“What did they do when ya tried to explain?” Donna ran her thumb over Jody’s cheek, wiping away tears that Jody hadn’t noticed.
“They asked me if I was okay. Sean made a joke about me getting into the wine a little early.” Jody paused and nuzzled into Donna’s hand. “I then asked them about you.”
“Ooof. Bet that didn’t go over well.”
Jody laughed despite herself, and did a mixture of both nodding and shaking her head. “I think that was when my dream converged on itself, and I realized I was dreaming. I heard a noise behind me, looked away for a moment, and when I looked back? They were how they were the last time I saw them.” Jody worried her bottom lip and tried to fight back more tears that threatened to spill. “Owen asked why I forgot him. And I tried to tell him that I never did. Sean asked me why I moved on…”
“Jodes… ya don’t have to keep goin’.” Donna moved her hand to Jody’s chin and held it between her finger and her thumb. She made Jody look her in the eye, and Jody felt some of the fear from her dream drift away. “I know ya love me, and ya know I love you. That doesn’t change the fact that ya loved Sean.”
“I know, Donna. And I know the fact that I love the girls doesn’t take away the love I have for Owen.”
“Then, what’s gotcha all tangled up?”
“We know there’s a Heaven, right?”
Donna nodded, smiling as she waited for Jody to continue.
“When we go to Heaven, will they hate me? Will they feel the way they did in the dream?” Jody tried to hang her head, but Donna’s gentle grip on her chin kept her from doing so. “And is it bad, that I want all of you when I go?”
“Well for starters, ya don’t have a selfish or greedy bone in yer body, Jodes. So askin’ to have all of us? That ain’t so bad. I know I’d love to meet Sean and Owen, because they were a part of yer life and shaped ya into who ya are.” Donna moved her hands and rested them on Jody’s shoulders. “And remember what Dean and Cas told us?”
“That Jack made it an open Heaven?”
“That Jack made it an open Heaven.” Donna gently squeezed. “So no one has to be a stranger. Ya can have whatcha want.”
Jody sniffled. “Is it bad that I want a commune? Our family within walking distance of one another? You and me with our house, the girls with their partners in theirs. Dean and Cas next door, Sam and Eileen next to them? Bobby and Karen across the street…”
“Garth and Bess and their little wolf pack on the same block?” Donna pulled Jody into her arms. “Charlie and Stevie. Cesar and Jesse. All of them.” She kissed Jody’s cheek. “And Sean and Owen can live with us.”
“If they want…”
“Ya really think they’re not gonna want ya, Jody?” Jody nodded in response and felt Donna hug her tighter. “Jody, I bet they’re up there watchin’ over ya, waitin’ to be back with ya.”
“Hello!”
Donna and Jody jumped, with Jody reacting first. “Jack?”
“I’m sorry. I just heard that a member of my family was sad, and I wanted to come and check on you.” He tilted his head to the side. “I know everyone can’t be happy all the time, but I don’t like my family hurting.”
“Jodes had a bad dream, kiddo.”
“Oh, I know. Owen told me.” Jack responded, his smile bright.
Jody stared. “Owen told you?”
“He did. He called for me, because he knew I could come see you.”
“What?” Jody started crying and Donna instantly rewrapped herself around Jody in comfort. “Why?”
“Because he misses you. I made a point of knowing all those who went before. Family shapes us. My dads taught me that. Mary’s been teaching me how to knit And Bobby thinks I should know how to work on cars. Something about how Dean will have a moment.” Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked slightly. “Owen asked me to pass on a message. It’s not something that I normally do, but this was important.”
“I…” Jody looked at Donna, terrified. “Is it bad, Jack?”
Jack shook his head. “No! Owen knows that you had a bad dream, and he knows that it was because you think he would be mad at you. He asked me to tell you that he loves you very much, and that he’s glad you’re happy. He’s patiently waiting for you and can’t wait to meet the rest of his family. Owen wants to see you, but not too soon.”
“I told ya so.” Donna whispered as she kissed Jody’s cheek again.
“He… Owen’s not mad? What about Sean?”
“While I didn’t speak to him today, I know that he misses you and is happy that you found peace.” Jack nodded towards Donna. “It’s one of the reasons Dad helped me fix Heaven. It was cruel. There are so many moments in our life that make us happy and make us whole. To lock souls up in their personal memories was unfair. Tying you to just Donna or just Sean? They both mean so much to you, and it’s not fair to make you forget everyone you’ve ever loved. You have free will here on Earth, you should also have it in Heaven.”
“Thank you, Jack.” Donna replied as Jody tried to organize her thoughts. “That means so much to everyone.”
The brilliant smile on Jack’s face only grew broader. “I hoped it would. My aunts and uncles are helping me, and Dad comes up to check on me when he’s not with Dean. I’m trying to make it the paradise that was promised.”
“Jack? Can you do something for me?” Jody kissed the top of Donna’s head and pulled away before crossing over to the fledgling God. She hesitated a moment before hugging him tightly. “That one is for you.” She hugged him tighter. “And that one is for Owen.”
“It’ll be the first thing I do when I return.” Jack returned the hug. “Go get some rest. I know everyone’s getting together, and I want you to enjoy the time with our family.”
“Will you be there, kiddo?” Donna joined them, hugging the both of them tightly.
“Don’t tell Dad and Dean? It’s going to be a surprise.”
Jody let go of Jack and seamlessly slipped into Donna’s arms. “Your secret is safe with us, Jack.”
“Great! I’ll see you later.” He held his hand up in a wave before disappearing.
A comfortable silence fell over Jody and Donna as the previous few minutes settled over them. They stood there for a few minutes before Donna squeezed Jody tightly again. “Come on, beautiful. Ya heard the kid. To bed. We’ve got family watchin’ over us, and family to see in a few hours.”
“And I’ve got family right here with me.” Jody pressed a kiss against Donna’s temple, her heart lighter than ever.