An Unexpected Turning 8/?
Title: A Unexpected Turning (8/?)
Author: vivhasarifle
Rating: R
Genre and/or Pairing: Dean/Cas, AU, creature!fic, angst, eventual Sam/Gabriel.
Characters: Dean, Sam, Castiel, Gabriel.
Spoilers: None
Warnings: MPREG. This is my first time writing both creature!fic and mpreg as per requests from the lovely Gedry and 888mph, submissive!Dean. I guess technically this fic contains hermaphrodites, as there are male characters with ‘extra’ parts. Swearing. Mention of character death. Also, there will be a romantic relationship between Sam and Gabriel, and Sam’s character in this is only sixteen, so legal in some states and countries but not in others; if you are in one of the others please be aware that this will contain a relationship between an underage character and an adult. Porn. There is a graphic FEMALE birth scene in this chapter. This story also brings up the death of a child. One more thing, in this chapter male!breastfeeding is mentioned. Yes, this is one of those stories. I mulled over it a lot and I just couldn’t think of any other way they would feed the babies, seeing as mpreg is biologically common in this verse. If any of this bothers you, feel free not to read.
Word Count: 4277
Summary: Dean is a member of a pack of lynx and much to his surprise he discovers he is a carrier. Fearing the reactions of his pack, he runs, and encounters an interesting jaguar with piercing blue eyes.
Notes: Thanks to my fantastic beta highermagic, whose fic ‘Instinct’ leant great inspiration to this, and to Gedry and 888mph for the prompts and support! Throughout this fic I refer to the two different packs as ‘lynx’ and ‘jaguars’ respectively, but just to be clear they are in fact, shifters. For the purposes of this fic it is easier to have Sam be two years younger than Dean, as opposed to four, like on the show. I hope this isn’t too distracting.
Disclaimer: Not mine, just playing.
Dean groaned and rubbed his back as he woke up. Since he had started to get bigger he had begun to find it impossible to sleep in a comfortable position. His third month of pregnancy had flown by mercifully quickly, and his morning sickness had abated. Dean had been overjoyed at first; sure that now that he was no longer being sick in the mornings, he would finally get some respite from his pregnancy symptoms.
He couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Hey Deano, rise and shine!”
Dean groaned at the sound of his brother-in-law’s voice.
“Gabriel! Go away!”
Gabriel snorted and sat down next to Dean, a hand cradling his swelling stomach as he did so. True to his own prediction, Gabriel was growing bigger and faster than Dean was. At three months Gabriel was the same size as Dean at four, which Dean had playfully poked fun at until Gabriel gave him a very detailed description of just how sexy Sam found Gabriel pregnant, and Dean learned after that traumatizing experience never to bring up the matter again.
“Ready for your check-up, big boy?” Gabriel petted his belly amicably, which was now a small but definitely pronounced bulge.
“Whatever,” Dean groaned and rolled onto his back, “you’re the same size as me.”
“Hey! I have an excuse, what’s yours?”
“Um, how about I’m four months pregnant?”
Gabriel smiled and placed his hands on Dean’s belly. “I know, I’m just teasing you, dummy. Wow, you and Ruby have more in common than I thought. Pregnancy turns you both into bitches.”
Dean groaned and sat up. “Shut up, I’m tired. My feet hurt, and my back aches and...”
Gabriel arched an eyebrow. “And?”
Dean blushed. “And my chest hurts.”
Gabriel sighed. “Dean, that’s normal. Your body is beginning to form colostrum in your mammary glands.”
Dean made a face. “Colo-what?”
Gabriel rolled his eyes. “Colostrum, Dean. It’s what turns into milk when your baby’s born so you can feed it.”
Dean blinked. “Jesus, that’s a weird thought.”
Gabriel shrugged. “Yeah, it seems weird but when it happens it’s totally natural. In fact, half of the time everyone in the pack ends up pitching in with feeding each other’s kids, especially if you have multiples. It’s just easier.”
“You guys breast-feed each other’s kids?”
Gabriel huffed. “It’s not abnormal Dean. We’re a pack, it’s what we do. Think about it, what if Azazel attacks after you’ve given birth to the baby? You’ll probably be fighting, wouldn’t you prefer to know that a member of our pack was looking after your baby; making sure he or she was fed and taken care of?”
Dean’s face softened. “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry. But...”
Gabriel grimaced. “What now?”
“Am I going to get like...boobs?”
Gabriel laughed. “No, Dean, you’re not going to get boobs. You didn’t have them to begin with, so it’s not like you’re suddenly going to grow a full pair,” Gabriel’s eyes twinkled with mirth. “No, your pectorals will be swollen, but you’re not going to be sporting some nice cleavage any time soon.”
Dean let out a sigh of relief. “Good.”
Gabriel nodded. “You done whining?”
Dean smirked. “Possibly, why?”
“You ready for your first full physical examination? I can tell you how many babies you’ve got in there.”
Dean’s eyes widened. “Yeah! I’m totally ready.”
“Well lie on your back then.” Gabriel prodded Dean down gently and then began to apply light pressure to his stomach, sliding his hands back and forth.
“Okay...” he said, frowning in concentration, “it feels like you have,” Gabriel smiled, “one baby in there, just like I thought.” Gabriel looked up at his brother in-law and smiled. “Congratulations, Deano.”
Dean grinned. “Thank God, I mean yeah, we would have dealt with it but I’m not sure I was ready for twins or anything...” Dean saw Gabriel’s face and blanched. “Uh...sorry, dude.”
Gabriel chuckled. “It’s fine, Deano. It’s your first kid, I get it.”
Dean looked at Gabriel sideways. “So, do you want me to perform a physical exam on you yet?”
Gabriel shook his head. “No, it’s too early for me.”
Dean frowned. “But you look big enough.”
Gabriel snorted. “Thanks for that, man, and like I said, people tend to show sooner in their second pregnancies, or if they’re carrying multiples, but that doesn’t mean the actual babies are any bigger. You won’t feel anything worth feeling at this point.”
Dean shrugged. “Alright...hey, when will I be able to feel the baby moving?”
Gabriel grinned. “Probably soon. Some people feel it as early as four months, others not until six. Knowing you and your inability to hold still or stay put? I’m surprised you didn’t feel kicks at the moment of conception.”
Dean shoved Gabriel’s shoulder. “Shut up...do you know where Cas is?”
Gabriel nodded. “In the meeting tent, I think.”
Dean stood up and stretched. “Cool, I think I’m going to go and tell him. Do we have anything to do today?”
Gabriel shook his head. “I’m going to give Ruby a quick check up, seeing as she’s about to pop, but I can do that on my own.”
Dean nodded and started to walk out. “Okay, call me if you need me,” he said, before making his way over to the meeting tent.
The meeting tent was rarely used, since most of the important, pack-wide announcements took place in the clearing, but Castiel still used the tent to take care of private business. When Castiel had said that to Dean the younger man had chuckled and dubbed it ‘Castiel’s masturbation tent,’ earning a glare from the jaguar.
Dean approached the tent and listened at the door for a second, not wanting to interrupt any private business, and he was shocked when he heard his cousin Adam’s voice.
“Alpha, you know my plan could work.”
Plan? Dean moved around to the side of the tent so no one could see him listening and pressed his ear to the side of the tent.
“Adam, I will not allow you to put yourself in danger, as your new Alpha, I forbid it.” Dean could tell by the tone of Cas’ voice that the jaguar was probably frowning.
Adam sighed. “Castiel, you know this could work! If you let me go back to Azazel -.”
“No -.”
Adam sighed and interrupted. “If you let me go back to Azazel, I can pretend I’ve seen the error of my ways, and I can start to work from inside the pack. I know there are others who disagree with Azazel’s ways and with a little pushing -.”
“Adam, it is too dangerous. What if they found you out? What if they refuse to hear you out and kill you the minute you step back into the camp?”
For once, Dean was glad that Castiel was bossy. There was no way Adam should be allowed to go to Azazel - the kid was barely sixteen, just a few months younger than Sammy.
“They won’t,” Adam said, his voice confident, “I can make it so that when they come to attack us, members of their own pack will turn on them. It will be the ultimate surprise attack.” Dean heard Adam’s voice soften. “Let me do this, Alpha. You don’t know how much it has meant to me to be here, and to see Dean and Sam happily and safely mated. This pack is a safe haven, not only for me but for my family. I want to make sure it’s protected.”
Castiel sighed. “I understand where you’re going with this, Adam, and it is a good plan, but you are related to Sam and Dean! Do you think Azazel won’t suspect you?”
“I’m dominant,” Adam said, firmly, “I can tell them I tried to mate with one of your pack and I was refused. I can tell them you cast me out, and I can say that I hate the way breeders are treated like equal citizens here.” Adam paused. “I can lie.”
Castiel sighed and Dean panicked at the sound of assent he heard in his mate’s voice.
“I’m not going to be able to stop you, am I?”
“No, no you’re not.”
Dean was struggling to keep his erratic breathing inaudible. He had always been protective over Adam, since his mother had died giving birth to him. He silently cursed himself for being so preoccupied recently with Castiel and his baby, thinking that perhaps if he had spent more time with Adam since he joined the pack, he wouldn’t be acting so crazy.
Castiel took in a deep breath. “Very well,” he said, finally, “but you do not leave until I give my assent, do you understand?”
“Yes, Alpha...Castiel?”
“Yes, Adam?”
“I have one more favour to ask of you.”
Dean heard Castiel sit down. “What is it?”
Adam took a deep, shuddering breath. “I need you to tell Sam and Dean something if I...if I don’t come back.”
“What is it?”
For a fleeting moment Dean felt guilty, and thought about moving away from the tent, but his curiosity got the best of him and leaned in closer, silently.
“Has Dean ever told you the story of my birth?”
Castiel must have shaken his head no, because Adam continued.
“My mother was mated to John’s brother, and she and him were trying to conceive when Mary was about four months pregnant with Sam. John’s brother, James, died shortly after I was conceived, and then my mother died in childbirth.”
“Adam, I am so sorry.”
Adam’s voice sounded grave. “That is the story everyone knows.”
Dean’s ears piqued at that sentence, and he held his breath.
“The story?” Castiel sounded confused.
“The truth is, James died when my mother was still in heat; she hadn’t conceived yet. She was terrified that she would be given to someone else in the pack. James was a lot like his brother, and she and he had a good relationship, similar to John and Mary’s.”
“I see.”
“My mother went to Mary the night James died, and confided her fears. Mary...Mary came up with a solution.”
Dean heard Castiel take in a sharp breath. “You...”
“Yes.” Adam’s voice was shaking. “Mary asked John to sleep with my mother in order to protect her. If she was pregnant, she couldn’t be claimed. She...” Adam gulped, “she fell pregnant that night, and then John, Mary and my mother spread the lie that James had conceived with her before he died. John was not a favorite in the pack, and they wanted to protect her, and me.”
“You’re their brother.”
Dean sat back on his heels, suddenly. How...why had no one ever told him?
“Why hasn’t anyone told them?” Castiel voiced Dean’s question for him.
“After my mother died the only people that knew were John and Mary. Then, when I was a small child John told me, right before he challenged Azazel for the pack. I think he knew he might die, and he told me,” Dean could hear Adam choking up, “he wanted me to know that he loved me. Then he was killed, and so was Mary, and I was the only one that knew the truth.”
“Why have you never told them?”
“Sam and Dean have a rare claim among our old pack; their parents loved them, loved each other, and were always faithful. I couldn’t take that away from them.”
Castiel sighed. “Adam...you should tell them.”
“What good would it do now? All I wanted to say was, if I die, tell them their brother loved them, and he’s sorry; he never meant to tear apart their family.”
Dean closed his eyes, guiltily. He couldn’t believe Adam had lived with that secret for so long. He hadn’t torn apart their family, he was family.
“I will do as you wish,” Castiel said, “however, should you return alive - which you will - I hope you will tell them. Family is very important to Sam and Dean, and I am sure they will bear you no ill-will.”
“Thank you, Alpha, I’ll leave you now.”
Dean panicked and scrambled quickly away from the tent, not wanting to be seen by either Castiel or his...brother. A surge of anger rose up in Dean’s heart, not against Adam, but for him, he was angry that Adam had been denied a relationship with his brothers, and angry that the younger boy believed that he was born out of something sordid. Of course it hurt Dean to think of his father being with any woman other than his mother, but Dean would have done the same thing in his place. Dean had always been proud that he had been born out of love, rather than heated lust, but Adam didn’t realize he had been born out of love too, the love Dean’s parents had borne for a friend.
Dean made his way towards the center of camp, unsure of how he was going to proceed. He wasn’t sure if he could act normally around Adam and Castiel, knowing that they were keeping such a great secret from him, but he also wasn’t sure if he should tell them he knew. And Sammy...should Dean tell Sam? He thought about how upset he felt at being lied to, but then he also thought about the fact that it wasn’t really his secret to tell.
“Hello, Dean.”
Dean jumped at the sound of Castiel’s voice and turned around, ready to snap at his mate for sneaking up on him yet again, but then he took a deep breath and reminded himself that it was just the way that Cas was, and he might as well get used to it.
“Hey Cas,” he breathed softly, wrapping his arms around the older man. He could do this. Castiel nuzzled Dean’s nose with his own.
“How are you feeling today?”
Dean made a face. “Okay, I suppose...Gabriel examined me today.”
Castiel smiled. “And?”
“Definitely just one baby in there,” Dean said playfully, leaning forward to nip at Castiel’s ear.
Castiel grinned. “Wonderful. I wonder if it’s a boy or girl, do you have any feeling one way or the other?”
Dean shook his head. “No idea.”
“Then I suppose we will just have to be surprised.”
“Dean!” Dean looked over and saw Sam running to him, a strained look on his face. Dean frowned.
“Sammy? What’s wrong?”
Sam’s breathing was labored. “Gabriel needs you, in Ruby’s tent. She’s having the baby.”
Deans eyes widened and he turned to Castiel, who nodded.
“Go, Dean. Knowing Ruby, Gabriel will need all the help he can get.”
Dean took off running in the direction of Ruby’s tent and reached it in record time. He took a deep breath, and then stepped inside.
Ruby was crouched low on all fours, groaning, while Crowley held a damp cloth to the back of her neck and Gabriel rubbed her lower back. Gabriel looked up when Dean entered.
“Good,” he said, “you’re here. Not long now.” The last part he directed gently at Ruby, who only moaned in response.
Dean washed his hands in the bowl of water Gabriel nodded at before kneeling on the other side of Ruby.
“What should I do?” he asked Gabriel.
“Right now, we’re just helping Ruby through this contraction, and then we’re going to see how dilated she is,” Gabriel’s voice was quiet and calm, and he rubbed soothing circles onto Ruby’s lower back as she cried through the last stretch of the contraction.
“Good girl,” Gabriel said, gently, as the contraction ebbed away, “remember to breathe. Dean?”
“Yes?”
“Go ahead and check to see how dilated she is.”
Dean’s eyes widened. He had never done that before. Of course, Gabriel had explained to him how to do it, but he hadn’t expected to have to do it any time soon. He glanced nervously at Ruby, who seemed to be too far into labor to protest, and shrugged.
Dean slid his fingers carefully and gently into Ruby’s opening, and stretched them open gingerly when he reached her cervix.
Ruby moaned again, and some instinct in Dean took over. He reached out with his free hand and gently rubbed at the woman’s back.
“Shh,” he said, “I know it’s uncomfortable, it’ll be over soon.”
Gabriel smiled at him, and Dean felt a warm feeling in his chest at the look of pride on his mentor’s face. Dean withdrew his hand and held out his fingers for Gabriel to inspect, holding in the position they had stopped at in Ruby’s cervix. Gabriel smiled again.
“Looks like you’re at about eight centimetres, you’re almost there.” Gabriel chuckled a little. “You must have been in labor for hours, why didn’t you call us?”
“Didn’t think it was labor,” Ruby said, breathily, “just felt uncomfortable...I need to move.”
Gabriel nodded. “Sure, how do you want to be?”
“I want...ugh...I want to lie on my side.”
“Sure thing. Dean?” Gabriel turned to the lynx. “Help me move her.”
Together Dean and Gabriel eased Ruby onto her side, and Crowley changed positions, sitting beside her and continuing to rub her back.
Ruby moaned again as another contraction hit her. “How much longer?” she wailed, a note of panic creeping into her voice.
“Not long now,” Dean said, surprising himself at his own surety.
They comforted and stayed by Ruby’s side for next hour; the atmosphere in the tent remaining calm and tranquil, until Ruby rolled onto her back and moaned.
“I need to push,” she said firmly, grabbing Crowley’s hand.
Gabriel put his hand into her opening and nodded.
“You’re ready,” he agreed. “Okay, at the next contraction, you can start pushing. Dean, I need you down here.”
Dean moved next to Gabriel who gestured at Ruby’s right leg. “Hold her leg back to help. Crowley, you take the other one, ready Ruby?”
Ruby nodded, her face and hair slick with sweat. “Ready.”
“Okay, push!”
Dean watched in fascination as Ruby’s face turned bright red and she grunted, pushing as hard as she could.
“Good girl,” Gabriel said, peering between her legs, “not long now.”
“You people keep fucking saying that!” Ruby snapped at them, and Dean snorted.
“Don’t you laugh at me, Dean, just wait ‘til it’s your - ARG!”
Another contraction had hit and Ruby started pushing again, her eyes squeezed shut. A few moments later she collapsed backwards onto the fur behind her. She continues to push every time a contraction came until eventually she wailed.
“Oh God! Is it almost over?” Ruby croaked, blearily.
“Yes,” Gabriel said, peering between her legs, “I can see the head! A few more pushes and you’ll be crowning, Ruby! Just a bit longer!”
Ruby groaned and pushed again, and then suddenly, she started to scream.
“Fuck! FUCK! Oh God something’s wrong! Something’s wrong!”
“Nothing’s wrong, Ruby, the baby is crowning, he’s almost here!” Gabriel sounded excited and Dean peered around Ruby’s leg to see what was happening.
He was not prepared for the sight that met his eyes. Ruby’s opening was stretched out and red, and a bloody head was bulging outward. Gabriel’s hands were gently braced either side, guiding the baby’s head.
“Just a bit more, Ruby,” Dean tried to make sure there was no tremor in his voice, “I can see the baby; he’s almost out.”
Ruby screamed but pushed again, until eventually the baby’s head was all the way out.
“You’re doing it, Ruby!” Dean heard the joy in his own voice.
“Just the shoulders, Ruby,” Gabriel said, grinning, “just one push and you’ll have your baby!”
At that Ruby let out an almighty scream, and Dean watched in fascination as Gabriel pulled out the baby, which immediately started bawling.
“It’s a boy,” Dean said, turning to Ruby and Crowley with tears in his eyes, “you two have a little boy.”
Ruby let out a happy sob and held her hands out, waiting for her baby. Gabriel cut the umbilical cord, wrapped the baby in a piece of linen and handed him to Ruby, who cradled the baby to her chest.
“Look at him, love,” Crowley said softly, “you’ve done so well. He’s beautiful.” He laid his hand over the baby’s bloody head.
“Crowley, take the baby for a moment and clean him off. Ruby, we need to deliver the placenta.”
Ruby handed Crowley the baby, who began to lick him clean. Dean braced himself for more screams, but the placenta came away easily, and Gabriel placed it into a bucket next to him.
“Congratulations, you two,” Dean said, looking at the three of them.
“Thanks,” Ruby said, turning to Dean and smiling, “actually, Crowley and I have been talking...and we think we’re going to name the baby Dean.”
Dean’s eyes widened. “Really?”
Ruby snorted. “No, idiot. His name is Fergus.”
Gabriel cleared his throat and avoided looking at Dean, who was holding back a smile. “Fergus?”
Crowley nodded. “It’s a family name.”
Gabriel bit his lip. “I...see.”
Ruby took the baby back from Crowley and cradled him to her breast. He immediately started whining and she frowned.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Gabriel laughed. “He needs to eat. Here, let me show you how to breastfeed.”
Dean watched as Gabriel crouched next to Ruby and showed her how make sure the baby latched onto her nipple correctly, and how to massage her breast to make sure milk was coming out.
“That’s it,” he said gently, watching the baby eat.
Crowley stood up and walked over to Dean, holding out his hand.
“Thank you,” he said, “thank you for helping to deliver my son.”
Dean grinned. “You’re...more than welcome. He’s beautiful. Congratulations.”
Crowley chuckled. “Sure is...looks just like his old man.”
They stayed with Ruby and Crowley for another hour or so, Gabriel checked on them both and made sure they were both healthy, and then they left the couple with their new baby.
When they got outside Gabriel pulled Dean into a hug.
“You were amazing in there Dean,” Gabriel said proudly, squeezing the younger man’s shoulders. He pulled away and looked Dean straight in the face. “You are a complete natural.”
Dean blushed and looked at the ground. “Nah, I mean, you did almost everything.”
Gabriel shook his head. “No, Dean,” he said, firmly, “you were amazing. And I did the majority of the actual birthing so that you could observe it for when you do it yourself. I’ve already talked to George and his mate, and they’re willing to let you deliver their child when it’s born.”
Dean blanched. “Gabriel, I can’t -.”
“Dean, I’ll be there every step of the way. I have faith in you.”
Dean smiled nervously. “Okay, Gabriel...I’ll do it. But we have to make sure I am completely ready for this! You have to drill me until that day comes.”
Gabriel snorted. “I believe that’s my baby brother’s job.”
“You have a ridiculously filthy mind.”
“What can I say? It’s why you love me...and it’s why your brother really loves me.”
Dean laughed and clapped Gabriel on the back. “Okay dude, that one did me in. I’m going to bed.”
Gabriel let out a deep breath. “Yeah, me too. Goodnight Dean.”
“‘Night Gabriel.”
When Dean got back to his tent he found Castiel waiting for him, and he collapsed next to his mate, exhausted. Castiel kissed his brow and started to pet his hair.
“How was it?” Castiel’s blue eyes looked inquisitively at Dean.
“It was...beautiful, and kinda nasty.”
Castiel laughed. “How did you do?”
“Gabriel said I did really well.”
Castiel smiled and kissed Dean’s hand. “I knew you would. Did they have a girl or a boy?”
Dean turned on his side so that he was facing Castiel. “They had a little boy.”
Castiel grinned. “How wonderful. What did they name him?”
Dean bit his lip. “Fergus.”
Castiel blinked. “...Oh.”
Dean laughed. “Yeah.”
Castiel draped an arm over Dean’s waist. “When Ruby and Crowley are feeling up for it we’ll have to do a welcoming ceremony for little...Fergus. I am never going to get used to saying that.”
“I know right? And what’s a welcoming ceremony?”
Castiel ran his hand down Dean’s side. “When a new baby is born in our pack we present it to the pack after a few days, and then I claim the baby as part of my pack, and everyone else pledges to protect and help raise the child. Then we throw the parents a party.”
Dean laughed and shook his head. “You jaguars, any excuse to throw a party.”
“A baby isn’t a good occasion for a party?”
Dean leaned forward and kissed Castiel. “Of course it is...and I’ve been thinking.”
“Yes?”
“Well, we don’t want our kid to end up with a name like Fergus.”
Castiel chuckled. “Certainly not.”
“I think we should talk about names.”
Castiel nodded. “Do you have any?”
Dean bit his lip. “Well, when Sammy and I were younger we decided that if I ever had a boy, I could use the name John, and if he ever had a girl, he could name her Mary.”
Castiel carded his fingers through Dean’s hair. “So, John for a boy. I like it. What about a girl?”
Dean shook his head. “I don’t have any girls names.”
Castiel met Dean’s eyes. “What do you think of the name Eva? Or Evie for a nickname?”
Dean nodded. “That’s pretty.”
“It was my grandmother’s name.”
Dean leaned into Castiel’s side and curled towards the older man’s body. “I like it,” he said, “Evie or John.”