Chapter Text
Cas would catch Dean watching Eileen as she cradled her stomach.
The angel couldn’t help but notice a touch of sadness hidden behind his smile whenever the new baby — or any baby for that matter — was mentioned.
When little Dean was born, (Big) Dean absolutely gushed over him. He was always the first to offer to watch him so Eileen could rest. He had no problems stepping in when it was Sam’s turn for diaper duty, and the younger brother just “couldn’t handle the smell”.
When he wasn’t needed he resorted to overly babying Liane.
•••••¥•••••
“Uh oh.” Jody laughed. She and Donna had taken a couple days off together and drove down to the bunker to meet the newest Winchester. “Somebody has Baby Fever!”
“Oh yeah…” Donna added. The women, along with the new parents and Cas watched from across the room as Dean made faces at Little Dean while gently bounced the newborn.
The angel studied his husband. He didn’t look sick. Why would he have a fever, and how did having a fever coincide with babies?
Without saying anything he stood and walked over to Dean, and felt his forehead. There was soft laughter from the others as Dean looked up at Cas, confused.
“Hmm..” Cas hummed as he turned and walked back to his seat. “He doesn't feel warm at all.”
Jody shook her head and sighed. “Cas, it’s an expression. It means he wants another baby.” She explained, dropping her voice to a whisper as Dean stood and began walking towards them.
Cas tilted his head, now even more confused. “How can you tell?”
“Well…”
“If y’all are gonna talk about me, you should try to hide it better.” Dean grumbled and joined them on the couch. Everyone fell awkwardly quietly.
“Dean… are you aware that you have the baby fever?” Cas asked bluntly, causing Jody to facepalm herself.
Dean’s eyes widened and he seemed suddenly uncomfortable, avoiding looking at any of them. “W-What… n-no I don’t!”
“So you don’t want another child?”
Dean sighed, fidgeting with the buttons on Little Dean's sleeper. “I mean… I- I don’t know…” he could feel all the eyes on him, and it made his skin crawl. “M-maybe…” Then, in true Dean fashion — when situations get too deep, too personal — he fled. “I need to go check on Liane, or — or something… here, Sammy.” he muttered as he handed Little Dean to his father and rushed out of the room.
“Oof. He’s got it bad.” Donna said, smiling at Cas.
“You really think so?”
“You betcha.” She nodded with a soft smile. “How about you, angel. You want another little tike running around?”
Cas had honestly never thought about having more children. He wasn’t exactly against the idea, he just thought with how stressful Liane’s pregnancy had been for Dean, paired with her pretty traumatic birth, the hunter wouldn’t want to go through it all again. He didn’t answer Donna, instead just disappearing, and popping up in their room to a clearly emotional Dean.
“Dammit Cas!” The hunter gasped, stepping back from his husband and quickly wiping his eyes.
“Dean… why are you crying?”
“I’m not— I just…” the angel gave him his familiar look of sympathy, and Dean knew cas knew he was about to try to lie his way out of confronting his feelings.
Cas reached out and took Dean’s hands, pulling the hunter back to him. “Talk to me.” Dean tried to look away, but Cas quickly cupped his face, turning it back to him. “Do you want another child?” The hunter sighed, annoyed at the tears rushing back to his eyes. “Dean…” Cas pleaded with him.
“Y-yes…” he finally admitted.