paradisalogs | ✶ Here we are as in olden days; Happy golden days of yore ✶

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✶ Here we are as in olden days; Happy golden days of yore ✶

Who: The Winchester family! ~~Castiel~~ Clarence, Meg, Dean, Katniss, Danny, Mabel, and the beloved bouncing bundle of joy, baby Sammy! ~~yes really~~
What: Domestic holiday bliss and ~quality time~ with visiting family!
When: Anytime during Stepford
Where: The Winchester family home
Rating: PG-13 tops for once

There were a few brief moments of confusion when Meg woke up in a lovely, yet completely foreign bedroom. She fingered the lace of her light blue nightgown fondly for a moment - not quite her usual taste, but it sure was pretty. The mid-century looking decor flooded her with a sense of nostalgia as she sat up in bed, careful not to disturb Cas as she did, and she smiled a little dreamily as she stretched.

As she looked down at Castiel, she immediately recognized the now-familiar surge of feelings that always accompanied any world change during which Paradisa saw fit to make her human. When she noticed that he seemed to be free of the lingering cuts and bruises and swelling and that his expression was peaceful rather than strained, her smile widened and she sighed with relief.

She pulled back the lovely floral print duvet and gasped, clapping her right hand over her mouth as she stared at her left, where there was a lovely, vintage looking diamond ring on a very important finger. Meg couldn't help the tears of joy that welled up when she peeked over cautiously and saw that there was, indeed, a simple gold band on Cas. Well then.

Whatever the castle was up to this time was a mystery, but at the moment, she was frankly too happy to give a damn.

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The rumble of a car on the street announced Dean's arrival. Cars weren't quiet things, but his baby purred. Besides, he wouldn't be Dean Winchester if he didn't raise a bit of a fuss. That was just his style.

Dean was glad to spend another holiday with his cousin and his kids, even if it meant that he had to put up with his cousin's witch of a wife (who he'd never admit wasn't really that bad). He'd be lying if he said he didn't have a soft spot for little baby Sammy, either.

He parked the black Chevy in the drive and pulled the keys from the ignition, slipping his hat on as he stepped out and shut the door. After a quick trip to the trunk, he had his suitcase and two large bags of presents, and it was with these in tow that he knocked solidly upon the door.

Danny was nice enough to open the door. He was being a good fake son.

He takes one look at who was at the door and firmly shuts it again.

Dean's face lit up in a smile when he saw his nephew, memories of a ghost that looked similar to the kid totally gone, completely replaced by those of a happy Stepford family. But his face froze comically as Danny realized who was at the door and the thing was promptly slammed back in his face.

It took Dean a minute to recover from the shock, but instead of getting angry, he just laughed and set his suitcase down on the front step before reaching for the doorknob.

"Danny! Daniel, my boy! Don't treat your uncle that way! It's Christmas, look, I've even brought you all gifts!" He punctuated his shouts through the swinging door with a chuckle and a shake of his head. "Ah, teenagers, what can you do." The man peeked in from under his hat and held out one of the bags of presents. "C'mon, help me out with these," he implored his reluctant nephew.

Out of all the guys in the castle who could ave ended up as his fake Uncle, why did it have to be this guy? Danny opens the door a crack, just enough to scowl at him.

"Its Danny. Never Daniel. Go away."

"Alright, alright, don't gimme the cold shoulder. Danny it is. Daniel's for squares then, huh?" Dean smiles at his nephew and raises both eyebrows to try and further convince the teen to help him when the teen caves enough to open the door.

"Anyway, if I go away, how're you gonna get your presents! Some of these are for you, y'know. Give your uncle Dean a hand."

"Pass." None of this was changing Danny's mind.

"And maybe I don't want any presents."

"Poor Uncle Dean, not even his nephew will help him." The man sighs theatrically and resigns himself to carrying all the bags himself. He slides one bag's handles up his forearm and reaches for the doorknob, trying to open the door further so he and his luggage can make it indoors.

"Besides, who doesn't like presents? Even if it's coal," Dean says with a smirk.

"I don't. Presents are stupid."

Danny wasn't budging.

When even this gets him nowhere, Dean finally accepted that something more might be up than just normal teenage tendencies. Maybe Meg had told him about that one time Dean dressed Danny up like he was a ghost and played around in front of all the neighbors when he was younger; he didn't know.

He set all his bags down on the front porch with care before looking back at his nephew again.

"Seriously, Danny, what's the problem? You know I come over for the holidays. I get it, the first bit was funny with the shutting the door in my face soon as you saw me - " he shook his head - "but this is a little over the top."

"Wait, don't tell me you're seriously buying into all of this happy families Christmas nonsense?"

At least Meg had been sane, even if she'd been a little too enthusiastic about the situation.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion; it was starting to hurt a little, if he were honest, but he was going to do his best to make sure that it didn't show on his face.

"Look, I know your mother and I aren't exactly on the best terms, but that doesn't change the fact that we're family."

Edited (tenses!) 2014-02-02 19:53 (UTC)

"Um, no we're not. I don't know you,and I barely know Meg."

Meg heard the car, and she heard the scuffle at the front door, stifling laughter as she sipped a martini and smoked a cigarette in the kitchen. She largely shared Danny's sentiments, but it was beyond amusing that Dean seemed to be brainwashed with false memories and she couldn't wait to see this.

Somehow she doubted that even fake memories could make them get along, but that would remain to be seen. She sauntered into the entry way and stood waiting to greet her guest.

Dean's smile remained on his face but lost some of its luster when he saw his cousin-in-law waiting for him at the door. They weren't exactly friends, and Dean much preferred his actual cousin, but things were generally kept civil. Generally. "Meg. How lovely to see you, aren't you all dolled up," he said nonchalantly as he set his bags by the door and began removing his coat and hat.

"Be a dear and take my coat, would you? My hat, too. I'll go let my cousin know I'm here, where is he? And I should say hello to my youngest nephew, maybe he'll be a little happier to see me than your oldest."

The competition was yet to be seen - that would be when he had time to get in the kitchen. For now he was simply dismissive.

Edited 2013-12-28 06:06 (UTC)

Meg could hardly hide the smirk that crossed her face over how much Dean wasn't quite Dean. She tried to cover it up with a sweet smile as she leaned in to take his coat and hat, just as ladylike as she was compelled to be.

She laughed airily as she hung them on the coat rack that he damn well could have reached himself. "Don't mind Danny. Just one of those teenage moods they get in, I'm sure. Sammy will be much happier to see you. He's just finishing a nap, but I suppose we can wake him up a bit early. You haven't seen the nursery since I redecorated, have you?"

The domestic small talk that was flowing out of her in this whacked out world change was just too much, and Meg couldn't help rolling her eyes at herself as she turned to head up the stairs to the baby's room.

Edited 2013-12-31 00:57 (UTC)

Katniss came down the stairs well after Dean arrived, having freshened up finally from the long bus ride from the University. She'd heard someone arrive - had thought it might be Clarence? But she wasn't surprised when she realized it was Dean.

One corner of her mouth lifted, and she shook her head a little as she finished walking down the last of the steps and flouncing into the living room. "Hello Dean - making my sister do her lemon face again, I see?"

Her tone was amused, if not a little tart. "Did she get you a drink, or are you still waiting?"

By the time Katniss made her appearance, Dean had already had a chance to greet most of the other inhabitants of the house, including his baby nephew Sammy, whom he was currently entertaining. He looked up from the happily gurgling baby as she entered the living room.

"Katniss the college queen, lovely as ever, I see," he smiled, ignoring the small bite in her tone. His problem was with Meg, not the rest of her family; he liked the rest of them well enough, even if he knew he wasn't the most popular with them in return. "I keep telling your sister her face is going to get stuck like that if she keeps it up, and I don't think Clare would be too fond of that. Maybe you could give her a reminder. Ain't that right, Sammy?" He chuckled a bit at his own joke.

"No, I'm all set. She knows I'll have my cigar later. What about you?"

Dean had always had a strangeness to him that manifested in what were typically more feminine hobbies. Perhaps it was that similarity and competition with Meg that made them chafe.

Katniss rolled her eyes good naturedly, but she did take a seat close to him. She really didn't have any problems with Dean - she loved Clarence after all and Dean was his closest family. But with the way Meg and Dean came at each other? She made sure that Meg knew she would never choose sides.

Case in point ... "You know, you say those things, and you wonder why she get so irritated with you? Come on, Dean." She knelt in front of her nephew and Dean, tickling Sam's chubby little feet.

"I'll probably have a glass of wine with dinner, but otherwise, I'm fine." She flopped down next to him, so she could have a proper chat with the closest thing she had to another brother in law. "How are things? I feel like we haven't talked in ... well ...forever."

Sam giggled and kicked his feet in delight, which only made Dean's smile grow. He loved little Sammy amost as if...well, almost as if the baby were his own kid.

"Now, now, a little teasing never did anyone any harm," he answered as he was gently chided. Dean maneuvered himself just slightly as to make sure Katniss had enough room to make herself comfortable on the sofa. "Besides, I hate to say it, but your sister's quite skilled at defending herself."

"It has been awhile, hasn't it," he mused aloud. "But nothing much has changed for me. I'm still keeping up with the family business, that takes up most of my time. But never let it be said that Dean Winchester doesn't have time for a lady or can't feed himself. I've got some new recipes to share over the course of my visit." Whether or not the 'lady' he refers to was only his car he left unsaid. Submarine races weren't what you talked about to nice young ladies. "Nonetheless, I'm sure that university is far less of a drag than the biz. Everybody misses those golden days."

She smiled brightly, tickling Sammy's toes to make him giggle more. She wasn't sure why she had such an infinity for children -- but all she could feel was this fierce protectiveness towards anything small.

"Hmm ... and you two tease each little by little. Like rats going at cheese." She took the gentle chiding, with a quiet smile. "And yes, she's very skilled. Years of practice, I'm guessing. She was the one who got me to go to school after all, after she got all that guff for wanting to finish her degree first."

Now that made her beam - more recipes meant more food - and Katniss had a very healthy appetite. "Oh, it's marvelous ... I'm learning so much and it's only been my first semester. But those midterms were simply dreadfu!"

Dean didn't object to Katniss's classification of his relationship to Meg, shrugging instead. "Yes, in as long as I've known her, she's always been a stubborn one... Not that I can claim any different. She did good by that, though. Some education's important. It's good to see enterprising young women nowadays."

He chuckled at her mention of midterms, remembering his own. "No, I daresay that they're one of the few things we don't miss. But you're through for now at least." He bounced Sammy on his knee lightly. "You've got a lot more to look forward to in your next few years. Will you be rushing in the spring?"

"I don't think she's the only stubborn on here...but it's not a bad thing. You're both strong people, with strong opinions." She sat up a little, feeling proud at the compliment. "Well, I think having more teachers out there is a good thing. And it's a good way to find a husband, after all."

She wrinkled her nose, cutely, as she sat up a little. "Yes, and thank goodness for that." Her smile turned back on. "Oh, I hope to. I'm not sure where, though. I was thinking Meg's old sorority - legacy, and all."

Dean smiled, a little bashfully, at the compliment; it wasn't unwelcome, but he was far more used to talk being about his work - or occasionally, the food he made - rather than himself.

"So it is. Sammy here's gonna need a good teacher, same as all the other kids. A respectable job." He chuckled at the rest of her explanation. "Got a boy chasing after you then, hmm?"

He nodded again commiseratingly when she made a little face in recognition of her midterms but refrained from shaking his head as he thought about Meg and her 'band of demons'. "Ah, yes, I'm sure she'll be pleased you're interested in keeping up family traditions. But wherever you do end up, I hope you're happy. That's what's important." He added on, in a more serious tone, "Not that you'd be shy of backup if you needed it." Sammy coos as if in agreement.

She smiled as Dean looked a little bashful, before she made the blowfish face at Sammy. It wasn't often she got to make Dean blush, so she took her victories where she could get them.

"Exactly. Some day, I hope to teach Sammy all about music." Now it was her turn to blush, before she shook her head. "No, not even a little. I guess I'm too shy to really talk to any boy."

She looked up at him, grey eyes warm. "Thank you, Dean. I appreciate you thinking of me and my feelings." Which made her grin at Sam, tickling his toes again. "And I am always happy about back-up."

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✶ Here we are as in olden days; Happy golden days of yore ✶

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