Epilogue

Jensen smiled as Sam came out of the kitchen carrying a massive cake, lit by candles. Brooke's eyes widened almost comically at the sight of all the frothy pink and purple icing that was set down in front of her. Jared was standing on her right, Jensen on her left and they both bent down to help her blow the candles out. Alex was cooing from his perch in Jared's arms, happily waving his arms about at all the people gathered around to celebrate his sister's second birthday.

There were cousins and aunts and uncles and Jensen's brother and sister-in-law and some fellow ranchers and old college friends and even Jared's sister had come in for the party. Most people spent an equal amount of time cooing and fussing over Jared and Jensen's little ones. The party was fun and exhausting and full of good food and good company and Jensen was so damn happy when it was over.

Brooke was complacent all through their nightly ritual of bathing and fell asleep halfway through Jensen's reading of 'Hop on Pop' and he pressed a soft kiss to her chestnut hair before slipping out into the hallway, leaving her door open a crack. When he closed the door behind himself in the master bedroom, Jared was already in bed, eyes open but clearly exhausted as Jensen was. He smiled and stripped, climbing in beside Jared in just his boxers and the necklace Brooke had gifted him with for Father's Day.

Jared smiled sleepily up at him and then moved until he was curled up along Jensen's side, head on Jensen's shoulder. Jensen sighed, content, and wrapped an arm around Jared.

"Good day," he said, hoping Alex wouldn't be too fussy tonight. Jared yawned and then nodded.

"Good but tiring. I am so not looking forward to this time next year."

Jensen groaned at that and buried his face in Jared's hair. "Kill me now," he mumbled and Jared laughed.

He pulled back and nudged Jared's face up after a few moments. "All kiddin' aside, Jare... You and the kids make me happy. So damn happy."

Jared's eyes lit up and he smiled. "I know. Works both ways, Jen."

Jensen pressed a kiss to those smiling lips and they drifted off not too long after, wrapped tight around each other.

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.

-- Anonymous