It's Been A Long Time... [Desperate Measures Sequel]

FortyOne.

The morning was quiet, I was alone in the spare room when I woke up. My head was a mess as I thought about everything that happened last night. The girls were such sweethearts and that killed me, killed me to know that this was as close as I would get to having my own children. 

I managed to get myself out of bed, catching my reflection in the mirror as I walked towards the door, turning to the mirror I looked at the woman staring back at me. I leaned forward as I examined myself and pushed my hair away from my face. 

My brown hair was a mess after sleeping, the bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep. Different faces haunted my dreams, my nightmares filled with words from people past. I wished that I could have a decent night sleep at some point but keeping some sleep was better than none. 

I reached for my face, just brushing my fingers across my lips. I could still feel Dean's lips from last night. As much as I wanted everything he could offer me I knew it would take time for me to fully trust anyone again. I know we'd spent three nights together before I flew home to England but during that time we'd not been physical with each other. Last night was just a stark reality of some truths I would have to face if I wanted a normal life. 

My attention pulled away from the mirror when I heard a knock on the bedroom door, I looked at the door before the handle moved and the door opened. I stepped back, my heart racing in my throat before I relaxed seeing it was Cassidy. She smiled at me, she was still in her fluffy pyjamas and on her feet were her little bunny slippers. 

"Good morning!" She was certainly loud and happy this morning, she skipped into the room and sat on the unmade bed before she looked up at me, a grin on her face. 

I leaned against the chest of drawers as I looked at her, "What can I do for you?"

Cassidy twirled the loose strands of her blonde hair as she shrugged her shoulders. "Aubrey and uncle Jon are still sleeping," she laid back on the bed as she moved a pillow and put it under her head. "I heard you moving around."

"Do you want me to make you some breakfast?" I asked her as I stood up straight and smoothed down on top. 

She yawned, "As hungry as I am there is barely any food in the house." She looked up at me, "Can we go out and get some food?"

"Why don't I wake up everyone?" I asked as I shuffled towards the door. "Maybe we could go out for breakfast before your mom picks you up."

"You know we'll be back tomorrow, right?" Cassidy asked me with a slight grin. "Uncle Jon arranged for us all to come over for Thanksgiving."

I raised an eyebrow, "Who is all of us?"

The floor by the door squeaked before we both looked at the door, "You have a lot to say," Dean looked at his niece before shaking his head with a smile on his face. "Not very good at keeping secrets are you, Cassidy?"

She blushed before she looked down at her hands, I smiled and even let out a little laugh as I looked from Cassidy to Dean. "Don't tease her," I told him as I sat next to her on the bed. 

"She shouldn't be giving away all my secrets," he rolled his eyes before he stepped into the room and sat the other side of Cassidy. 

I looked at Dean, "So who exactly is coming over tomorrow for dinner?"

Dean looked at Cassidy before he shook his head and returned his gaze to me. "So, it's supposed to be a surprise," he told me before he put an arm around Cassidy, he looked down at her. "This one here can't keep secrets though."

Cassidy looked at me with an excited look on her face. "Mommy and me and Aubrey are coming by," she was elated, "And..."

"And that's it," Dean said cutting her off, "So what were you saying about going out for breakfast?"

"So I'm not going to lie to you," Dean put his arm around me as we sat on his sofa. It was Saturday morning, 7 AM and I was still yawning. "Today is going to be pretty hectic."

"We're not having that many people over, are we?" I asked him as I leaned against his chest and placed my hand on his abs. 

He breathed heavily, I felt him move underneath me, "Well, actually..."

I sat back up and looked at him, my hand still on his stomach. "What do you mean, well, actually?"

"So my sister and her kids are coming today," he told me before he looked away from me shiftily before he made eye contact again. "Brie and Daniel are coming too."

My eyes widened as I sat back leaning against the arm of the sofa and looked at him, "A bit of warning would have been nice."

"Hey," he looked at me and reached forward pulling me closer to him. "Everything is going to be okay, AJ and Punk are also coming by."

My mouth fell open a little as I looked up at him and smiled, "You've done this for me?"

Dean kissed my forehead, "I would do anything for you." He ran his fingers through my hair with a smile, "I mean I hate to tell you but I haven't finished yet."

I raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

He got up from the sofa and offered me his hand and helped me up, "So the house is going to be pretty full today." We walked through to the kitchen where there were bags covering the sides. "So Seth is swinging by with his new girlfriend."

"I've not really celebrated Thanksgiving before," I explained as I opened a bag on the side and saw it was full of vegetables. "I hope I get this right."

He put his arms around me as he stood behind me, "I'm sure today will be perfect. There's not much you can get wrong."

Leaning my body into him I welcomed his comforting touch. "Thank you," I said as I closed my eyes and just enjoyed the moment.