Nadia had woken up in the middle of the night to find herself practically in Dean’s arms. He had one arm under her head and the other on her waist heavy and uncalculating with sleep but still close enough to make her heart face fast. Reaching for Luke who was snuggled between them, she checked him for a fever to find that he was still a bit hot. As she got out of bed to fetch the cold compress and Dean’s eyes cracked open as his hand reached for her empty space. The simple gesture surprised her and the familiarity with which he seemed to unconsciously deal with their unusual situation struck her again. Making her way back into the room, she found Dean and Luke snuggling into each other peacefully asleep. Once she changed the compress, she debated whether to get back into bed with them. Her tired body got the better of her and she got back into bed with them. As soon as she could feel their warmth, Luke’s small hand reached to clutch her shirt at her stomach while Dean’s hand stret
Nadia stood awkwardly in front of the door staring at the woman who was just standing there watching them with a narrowed gaze. Her designer suit and the leather bag she carried spoke volumes about her career. And the way her clear green eyes pierced into Nadia would make you think that she was still in her early fifties. But the woman was well into her sixties… “Mommy? Who is this?” Luke asked grabbing her leg and looking at the woman with open curiosity his eyes sparkling. Surprisingly, and unlike how he greeted Dean from behind her skirts, he seemed more at ease now. “This is the person who had been taking care of Mommy since she was little,” Nadia explained and Luke looked up at her his eyes sparkling. “Is she my grandma then?” He asked. “No, she’s not,” Nadia said wondering where the obsession with grandparents came from in her son. When Nadia looked back, the woman’s eyes softened as she looked at Luke then she smiled. She had always been weak to children. Nadia knew that s
“Is it safe to come in?” Dean asked peeking his head through the door. “Yeah, come on in,” Nadia said with a sigh from the kitchen counter. “Woah! Drinking in broad daylight?” He asked glimpsing the wine glass in her hand. “It’s just one glass. And I deserve it after dealing with Donna,” She complained and he smirked. “She sounds like a piece of work,” He said sitting in front of her. “She’s a hard ass who doesn’t take anyone’s bull. She managed to singlehandedly raise me and take care of my mom’s assets and manage them perfectly,” She explained. “Sounds to me like you admire her,” Dean said softly and she smirked. “Of course I admire her. That damned old lady is amazing,” Nadia admitted and Dean chuckled. “Now I want to meet her…” She had messaged Dean as soon as she got the news of Donna coming telling him not to stop by. She didn’t know what was going to happen and she had honestly expected a full-blown fight after ghosting her for five years. But Donna was more worried tha
“Now that everything is settled, why don’t you head into the office of yours and actually take care of some of the work I brought with me for you?” Donna told Nadia who frowned at her. Dean smiled as he watched the interaction between them. Those two had a dysfunctional relationship for sure. But they were clearly a family. “But I need to help Dean with Dinner preparations,” Nadia protested. “It’s okay. I will be the one helping him. You don’t need to worry.” Donna said and Nadia’s eyes went to him. “It’s okay, Donna and I will have things covered for now,” Dean reassured her and she reluctantly made her way into her office looking concerned. Dean knew that Nadia was trying to protect him from Donna. The woman didn’t seem to like him that much and he had the impression that she wouldn’t like him even if he was the most perfect man in the universe. She clearly had high standards for Nadia’s partner and no one was filling those standards as far as she was concerned. “Hmph, she thi
“Remind me again why are we doing this?” Nadia asked Dean who was standing beside her staring at the chaotic performance in front of them. “Because Donna and Mother decided that we need to be involved in the planning of our engagement party,” Dean answered as he carefully held Luke who was sitting on his lap clapping at the juggling of the clown before them. “ Well at least someone is having fun in all this,” Nadia trailed off and Dean gave her a tired smile looking down at Luke fondly. Looking at the long list of performers they still had to go through, Nadia checked out a few not bothering to even think about going to see them. Who wants a pool dancer in their engagement anyway. “How about we keep it to classical music or something? The list is too long and even though I would like to humor them, I think that they’re trying to find a way to keep us out of the preparations by giving us meaningless tasks.” Nadia complained and Dean nodded. “I agree. Classical is safe, and it would
Nadia woke up with a start to find herself staring at the TV which was still on. Her tablet having toppled to the side on the couch was off and as she tried to move, the weight on her knees stopped her from making any abrupt movement. Dean was sleeping soundly his head on her knees looking much better than he had been earlier. Nadia smiled and reached out to touch his forehead only to stop midway realizing what she was going to do. A few hours earlier, after Dean fell asleep against her shoulder, Donna had stopped by to pick up Luke and bring her her stuff. Taking the liberty to change and shower, she came out of the room to find Dean still drowsy with sleep as he sat up on the couch. As she came to sit down beside him, he reached for her settling his head on her knees, and went back to sleep not even finishing his sentence. Glad that she could still get some work done with him sleeping on her knees. She continued working until she dozed off too. As she reached for her tablet aga
“Soo, when are the two of you going to buy the engagement ring?” Keith asked as the three of them sat down to have dinner. Nadia paused the fork midway toward her mouth and Dean who was sitting beside her groaned looking at the sky. “What?” Keith asked his eyes widening, “Did I step into a landmine?” He asked his eyes going from her to Dean. More like pointed out a fatal flaw in their so-called relationship. No ring, who proposes without a ring?! “I know it sounds impossible but I completely forgot about that,” Dean sighed. “Me too…” Nadia added. “Woah. you two are really hopeless workaholics. No wonder you were working even in your chill time. Do you remember the last time either one of you took a vacation just to chill?” Keith asked. “I don’t want to hear that from the one who works three days a week and is a rare sight in his own office,” Dean retorted. “Well, unlike you, I value my time off more than my working hours. And I have enough money to chill and not work too hard
“Uncle Dean, is this you and Mommy’s wedding?” Luke asked as he sat beside Dean in his parents’ house. He was wearing his tuxedo matching Dean’s which made him look even more adorable. Apparently, it was a collaboration between Nadia and his mother. Which he didn’t mind in the least. In fact, he quite liked it. “No, this is our engagement, it's what happens before the wedding,” He explained and Luke nodded pensively. “Are there going to be a lot of people at the party?” Luke asked. “Yes, there are going to be a lot of guests, so you have to make sure that you always stay near me, Mommy, Aunty Donna, or Grandma,” Dean instructed knowing the kid would still slip out and they would have to keep an eye on him. “Okay!” Luke said cheerfully swinging both legs. Dean smiled as he watched him wondering when Nadia was going to be there. They were waiting for her to make their entrance. She was hauled by Donna and his mother hours ago claiming that she needed a spa day before the big event
Nadia woke up with a start breathing heavily as sweat dampened her temple. Feeling someone shift beside her, she shivered at the whisk of air passing through her damp skin as Dean sat up in bed beside her.“Hey…” he whispered and Nadia sighed covering her face with her palms.“I’m so tired of this…” she said hotly as she tried to suppress the frustration tears that threatened to fall down her cheeks.She felt a blanket being thrown on her shoulders before Dean’s big and warm hands stroked her back slowly soothing away the nerves that had been keeping her body tense.“Come on, lay down…” he said in a soft tone and Nadia followed his command laying against him as he circled his arms around her.His fingers combed through her hair slowly massaging her skull. Her heartbeat was begin in to slowly return to its natural rhythm when he finally spoke again.“Maybe you need to say your goodbyes..” he said slowly.The way Dean spoke and how he acted was becoming their routine. Since her days in t
Three weeks later, "So, how was your last check-up with the doctor?" Nadia asked as she sat at the bedside of the huge man before her.The man chucked and gave her a wry look as if asking her if she was really asking him this question."I should be the one asking you this question, Miss. You're the one who got admitted recently," he said with a smile."Oh, come on, Blake! Mine was just a flesh wound and too much drama. You're the one who was about to cross to the other side for a moment there," She answered with a fake frown.Blake, the man who saved Luke when he was kidnapped, regained consciousness only after Nadia was admitted to the hospital. The first thing the man asked for was his hospitalized daughter and Luke.Nadia had made a vow to herself that she would do her best to protect the man and his daughter no matter what. So once she heard that he was awake, she visited him and they began talking. It turned out that the man wasn't a criminal and that he only did this mission b
Dean raced down the seemingly endless corridor, each step echoing with a sense of dread. This floor had been reserved exclusively for Nadia's penthouse, accessible only with her permission or a special keycard. Yet, Dean knew that Mark had the potential to breach the security. Nadia had been aware of this vulnerability in the system, which was why she'd consented to have a bodyguard with them at all times.But Miller, in his attempt to spring this trap, had incapacitated their bodyguard, leaving them vulnerable just when Mark arrived. As they approached the open door, Dean's heart raced with a mix of fear and determination. Agents ahead of him cautiously entered the room, assessing the situation. When Dean was finally permitted to move forward, the sound that greeted him was heart-wrenching.Nadia's muffled sobs pierced the air, a stark contrast to the chaos within. Mark lay on the ground, his face a grotesque mask of brutality. Nadia was in Karl's arms, her tears flowing uncontrollab
"It's nice to see you always running to the rescue of your fiance... But we can't have you going in there ruining our plans yet," Miller said with a smile as he looked at his agents and nodded."Make sure they won't run away," he ordered."Hey! What are you doing!" Keith protested as they surrounded him."You were in on this all along..." Dean said gritting his teeth as he struggled against the agents that were holding his hands back.How had he not seen this?"Wait a minute, What are you talking about?" Miller asked looking at him with a frown."You're acting like nothing is wrong, then why are you standing at the door of our apartment building stopping me from getting inside? Is the agency now supporting Mark, or were you on his side all along and we were the idiots believing you?" Dean asked feeling helplessly frustrated as he pushed back against the men holding him only to be overpowered again."Wait a minute, I think there is a misunderstanding here..." Miller trailed off and Dea
"Dad, call the bodyguards and make sure to keep an eye on Luke!" Dean told his father as he made his way to the front of the house where he parked his car."What's going on?" He asked following him."Mark managed to escape from the police. The first place he would be heading to is where Nadia is. I need to head there right now," Dean explained and his father nodded."Okay, be careful. I will call the police to make their way there too." His father said as he closed Dean's car door after he got in.Dean nodded and started his car starting to back up when the passenger door opened and Keith jumped inside."Think that I would let you go alone this time too?" He asked with a smirk."It's gonna be dangerous," Dean warned."The more reason I need to go with you," Keith insisted, "What are you waiting for?"Dean sighed and backed away from the spot making his way toward the penthouse. He sped through the street his car eating up the road between them. He had never regretted the distance bet
Nadia opened her eyes as she felt someone lean against the bed beside her. Looking up, she found Dean smiling down at her the sunlight streaming through the window making him look as if there was a halo around his head.Groaning, she shidted to her back readying herself to cover her face with the blanket only for him to stop her with both arms."You need to wake up," He said softly."Said the guy who wore me out last night," She retorted with a sigh, "You're way too bright for me to look at, go away,"He chuckled finding her statement funny, even though she wasn't joking."It's already noon, you're going to sleep all day at this rate," He informed her but she simply shook her head stubbornly."I can't move... My muscles are sore," She complained.Dean smiled and leaned down against her pressing a kiss against her neck, right where he left a mark last night."Realy? Even though I went easy on you last night. I was having such a hard time holding back while you called out my name, in mo
"Oh, it's finally here..." Nadia remarked as she walked past Dean at the kitchen counter. He nodded absently as he stared at the test making Nadia wonder for a moment if there was something wrong with it. Leaning over his shoulder, she could see the positive green letters standing out like neon lights in the darkness."It's positive," She stated."Yeah..." He said with a satisfied smile kissing the palm of her hand as he resumed staring at the paper. Nadia smiled shaking her head at the man, he was just way too cute. Ruffling his hair, she resumed walking toward Luke's room to see if he was ready."He should be here anytime now," She informed Dean who nodded again not moving from his spot.Nadia found Luke in a similar state to his father bent over his toy his shoes and socks only half worn."Luke! You're supposed to wear your socks. Our guests will be here any moment," She said with a smile."Who's our guest?" Luke asked as he finished wearing his socks."It's my father..." Nadia s
"You..." Dean took an exasperated breath letting it out slowly..Nadia sat on the couch uncomfortable as she looked away from him. She was readying herself for another scolding when she felt a hand on her head softly patting it. Dean was looking at her with a gentle smile."If this is going to give you some peace of mind then by all means, let them meet. But I don't want you to do it at the expense of your feelings," Dean reassured her."I want Luke to meet him and know that he has a grandfather... But I can't bring myself to trust him. I don't believe that someone can change like that overnight..." She explained.Dean leaned back and she leaned against him snuggling into his arms."I always thought that it was strange that your father seemed to always think that he was the victim. It was as if he felt like he was betrayed by you but in fact it was Kate who was lying to him about you all the time. Perhaps he was never that bad of a person in the first place..." Dean said, then he corr
Standing before the hole in the ground, Nadia was filled with so many thoughts and feelings. One of them was that she was probably a hypocrite standing there wearing black and listening intently to the prayers of a man who knew nothing.Another thought is that... Well... It was sunny. Nadia always had this conception that it never was sunny on funerals, it was always raining or gloomily grey. But no, it wasn't, it was sunny, and flowers were blooming around while butterflies were mating. Burds chirping and most of all... it was warm and pleasant.To sum it up, it was the weather that destroyed her conception of funerals...Nadia watched silently as they started lowering the coffin to the ground. The coffin was made from dark wood. One Kate would have hated. And decorated with white spider lilies. Kate hated white. She always said it wasn't a color. Although she would conveniently wear it whenever she felt like the situation would require from her to add a flare of innocence. Mainly w