I know he’s going to be furious.

I’ve left it too long; it’s too much to handle all at once. Finding out that you’re a father to not just one child, but two, in the span of thirty seconds is enough to make any man run screaming.

I know Cas loves me. I do. But I have no right to expect him to take all of this on. I won’t saddle him with this, though. I won’t make my children grow up with a father who doesn’t want them.

Cas’s face turns dark, and stormy, and I take a deep breath and wait for him to explode.

“Jenna,” he says, fiercely but with a gentleness that takes me by surprise. “You were never a mistake. Never.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I hang my head and don’t respond for a moment. My heart leaps with hope at the fact that he didn’t immediately get up and leave, but I force myself to admit that this doesn’t mean anything. I’m not going to beg and plead with him to stay with me. I’m just going to tell him the truth — finally tell him the whole truth — and whatever he decides to do with it, I’m just going to have to accept.

“I know I should have told you,” I murmur. “I’ve been trying so hard to figure out how to explain. And every day, it got harder instead of easier to tell you.” I put my hands to my still-flat stomach. “And now this.”

My eyes meet his. “I just found out, Cas. Just a few hours ago. I took the test while I was waiting for you to come back.” I raise my head. “And this time, at least, I knew I couldn’t make the same mistake with you I made last time. I knew I needed to tell you everything, right away. But you’re not under any obligation here,” I continue, my jaw setting with determination. “I’m not asking for anything, Cas. I just wanted to do right by you this time. That’s all.”

“Jenna…” He reaches forward and grabs me by the shoulders. “Do you really think I’d leave you alone in this?”

“I know you’d do the right thing,” I reply sadly. “But that’s just it. I don’t want it to be like that. I don’t want my children’s father to feel obligated to us. I don’t want a… a partner who’s only with me because he thinks he has to be. I’d rather that these children have only one parent who really wants them, than have to suffer through having two but know one of them is only going through the motions.”

“Jenna, stop it!” Cas growls, cutting me off. “Remember what I said to you before? Now that you’re my old lady, Noah’s my responsibility, too. We’re a family. That was true even before I knew this.” His hand goes to my tummy. “Now it’s even more true.” His eyes grow dark again. “So don’t fucking push me away.”

“You’re mad,” I murmur.

“Hell yes, I’m mad!” he half-shouts, then his voice drops as he remembers Noah’s sleeping next door. “But not for the reason you think.” He raises his hands in a frustrated gesture. “I’m mad because you seem determined to believe I don’t want these kids. You’re hell-bent on believing that I’ll be making this huge sacrifice by staying with you. Jenna, Jesus.” His voice breaks a little. “You keep saying you don’t want these kids to feel like mistakes. Why are you letting yourself feel like a mistake?” He takes my head in both of his hands, making me look at his earnest, serious face. “You’re the best fucking mistake I ever made, Jenna Abbott,” he says, his voice husky. “So stop pushing me away and let me love you.”

This time, he doesn’t wait for an answer. He brings his mouth down on mine, in a kiss that’s sweet and soft, but with an intensity behind it that’s unmistakable. Our tongues dance, and in that moment I know he’s telling me the truth: that he wants me. That he wants this.

A life together. Us. With our children.

For the first time maybe ever, a bunch of puzzle pieces seem to fly together in my mind. All my life, all the mistakes I’ve made, seem to reassemble themselves into a picture of wholeness, of perfection.

What if all the mistakes I’ve ever made weren’t mistakes at all? What if they were just all the pieces that needed to happen to get me here? Where I was supposed to be all along?

“Oh, wow,” I breathe as Cas’s lips leave mine.

“What?” His mouth begins to burn a path down my neck. “I thought you were used to my massive size by now.”

In spite of myself, I snort. “That’s not what I was wowing about.”

“What, then?”

His hand slips under my shirt, his thumb grazing my already-taut nipple. I gasp with pleasure. “Tell you later…” I manage to croak out as my hands reach to fist in his hair.

He removes my shirt and bra and his hands cover my breasts, cupping one and bringing it to his mouth. The instant his tongue swirls around the hard bud, I’m overcome by lust, a bolt of electricity jolting straight to my core. He teases me, chuckling low in his throat as I whimper and squirm at his touch. His mouth remains locked on my nipple, but his hands leave my breasts to open the button on my jeans. He slides them over my hips, and I do everything I can to help him, but I can barely think straight, already anticipating what I know he’s about to do to me.

Cas slides a hand between my legs, and they fall open for him of their own accord. “You’re so fucking wet,” he groans against my skin. “God damn it, I love how fucking wet you get for me.”

“I want you inside me,” I whisper. “I need it. I can’t wait.”

I don’t need to beg him. He throws off his clothes and is kneeling next to me in a heartbeat. The beauty of his hard cock never ceases to amaze me. I reach out and wrap my hand around the shaft, loving the hot velvet of his skin. He takes in a sharp breath and watches me, thrusting into my palm just slightly with every stroke.

“Fuck me, Cas,” I ask him simply.

He moves between my legs, sliding his large head against my wet folds. I throw back my head and moan, the anticipation already driving me crazy. I close my eyes and wait for him to enter me, but for a second he hesitates. I open my eyes to see him frowning above me.

“Is it okay to do this?” he asks.

“What, you mean because I’m pregnant?” I giggle. “Considering that the baby’s about the size of a pin head, I think we’ll be okay. Plus, the good news is, I’m already pregnant, so no need for birth control.”

“Good points all,” he growls, grabbing my hips and pulling me closer to him.

Cas slowly slides his shaft into my waiting channel, and I let out a low moan as he fills me up. I clutch at the sheets, my back already arching. He begins to move inside me. “Oh, God,” I gasp. “That’s so good. So, so good.”

Cas’s rhythm starts to speed up. “It’s pretty hot fucking a pregnant chick,” he rasps.

I grip his strong thighs, pulling him into me, wrapping my legs around him. “More. Harder,” I urge. The slide of his cock, slick from my juices, is delicious and hot against my pussy. I arch my hips, adjusting the angle just tiny amounts to increase the pleasure as he continues to slam into me. God, I had no idea how good it felt to be fucked hard until I met Cas. It’s never too much. I’ll never get enough of him.

My breath comes shorter and harder as he thrusts, my need becoming more urgent. Already I’m so close, I know it’s just a matter of seconds before I lose control. Cas grabs my hips and pulls me hard against him. “God, I love fucking you, Jenna. I can’t get enough. Come with me, baby, come now!”

My pussy swells tight around his cock and I come hard, my muscles spasming as he releases deep inside me again and again. It’s just as good as it always is with him. But this time it’s better.

This time, I know it’s forever.