Two years later.....

Just because Chuck's kids had gotten a little older didn't mean they got any more well behaved. If anything, they got worse.

Michael and Satan were eleven year old tyrants, and eight year old Gabriel did everything Lucifer did, so that was two children on the highway to hell already.

Balthazar had a drinking problem at age ten. That was really the only way Chuck could diagnose it. His son had an addiction to soda and grape juice that just wasn't healthy at this point.

Anna had hit a makeup phase, which resulted in everyone in the family being plastered with products at one point or another.

Castiel was the only normal one. Still quiet, still calm, but now desperately addicted to reading. Gabriel was still on picture books, but seven year old Castiel was stealing chapter books from Michael's room and reading them like it was nothing.

Hannah, at just six, had Chuck wrapped around her finger, and the rest of the sibling usually paid her off to make Chuck do something for their own benefit.

It was insanity, and when holidays rolled around, things only got crazier. Especially considering it was the Fourth of July, and Lucifer and Gabriel loved the idea of seeing things blow up in the sky.

The Novaks had a big fireworks display, courtesy of Amara, who loved the holiday, and the kids had even invited some of their friends over. It was a party, and all they had to do now was wait for it to be dark enough to light off the fireworks. Chuck and Amara kept the kids busy with sparklers and snacks, praying they'd stay calm until they could get a distraction going.

Castiel and Charlie, who had been his best friend for three years now, hung out under the lone tree in the Novak's backyard, playing with dolls. Charlie had a barbie, and Castiel had Dean Winchester, the beloved G.I. Joe still intact.

"Are you really still playing with dolls?" Lucifer commented. "That's lame." Michael and Satan had given up G.I. Joes two years ago, but their younger siblings still loved them.

"LUCI!!!" Gabriel screeched, running over. "Check it out, check it out!" He held up a couple packs of firecrackers with a devilish look. Lucifer's eyes gleamed. "Wanna light em off?"

"YES."

"Uh oh," Castiel warned. "Somebody's going to die."

"How do you know that?" Charlie questioned.

"Last time Gabe and Luci had firecrackers, they set the house on fire."

"Uh oh."

"We should warn Aunt Amara." The scrambled away, locating Castiel's aunt.

"Hey Cassie," She smiled. 

"Aunt Amara, Luci-" He started.

"Who's your friend?" She interrupted, smirking.

"Oh, this is Charlie." Castiel said. "She's my best friend." 

"Yep!" Charlie agreed, swinging an arm around Castiel's shoulders.

"Well be careful," Amara offered. "Lots of best friends end up dating each other." Their eyes widened.

"EW!!!!!" They screamed simultaneously. 

"EW EW EW!!!" Charlie shrieked. "Date CASSIE? NO!!!!"

"GROSS GROSS GROSS!!!!" Castiel agreed. "I don't wanna date CHARLIE! YUCK!!!" They glanced at each other and ran away from each other, screaming.

"Amara," Chuck said warningly. "What did you do?"

"Eluded to them becoming a couple. They freaked out." She explained. Chuck rolled his eyes.

"Of course they did. They're seven- they still believe in cooties."

"What, and you don't believe in cooties?"

"Of course not." Amara studied him for a moment.

"Mhmmm," She licked her finger and stuck it in his ear, giving her brother a wet willie. Chuck yelped and jumped away.

"EW!" He proclaimed. "You're so gross!"

"Like father like son," She muttered.

"I have enough children to deal with without you turning into one." Chuck proclaimed.

"Oh loosen up, Chuck. It seems dark enough for fireworks,"

"Well then what are we waiting for? Light them off before Lucifer gets a hold of them."

Somehow, Chuck managed to round up all the kids and get them to sit down a safe distance away from the fireworks as Amara lit them off. They jumped at the boom of the first firework, but then settled back as the sky lit up in bright colors.

"Hey Cassie?" Charlie whispered.

"Yeah?" Castiel whispered back, still clutching Dean Winchester.

"We're still besties even though I'd never date you, right?"

"Of course!"  He declared. "And I don't want to date you either, sorry."

"S'fine.... Who would you date though?" Castiel shrugged. 

"I dunno," He fiddled with the doll and smiled. "Dean Winchester's cute." He and Charlie giggled as the fireworks kept going off. "Who would you date?"

"I dunno." Charlie shrugged.

"Wait, I know! Out of all my siblings, so there's plenty of options, who would you date?"

"Ew. Your siblings are gross."

"I know, but still!"

"Ummmm," Charlie glanced over, examining the Novaks. "....Anna."

"Anna?" Castiel questioned.

"Yeah. She's cute."

"Yeah, but she likes Jackson."

"Who's Jackson?"

"I dunno. Somebody in the fifth grade."

"She deserves better than Jackson."

"I know. Balthie, Gabe, Mikey, Luci, and I are already planning to destroy him."

"Would you destroy me if Anna liked me?"

"Nah, you're my bestie. I can trust you."

"Awww."

"You're not gonna date Anna though, right?"

"Ew, no. Besties don't date their besties sisters."

"That's a good rule."

"I know." They didn't realize that Chuck was listening to the conversation, smiling at their innocence. 

But then, as the last firework was exploding in the sky, Lucifer and Gabriel snuck around, holding the firecrackers and a lighter.

"This is gonna be so funny!" Gabe laughed.

"Shush!!" Lucifer hissed. He snuck up behind Balthazar, lit the firecracker, and then stuffed it down Balthazar's shirt.

"What the-" Balthazar started, but then the firecracker went off with a loud bang, and Balthazar screamed.

"Shit," Amara swore, as Chuck rushed over.

"Uh oh." Castiel paled. "We forgot to warn Aunt Amara." 

******

One trip to the Emergency room later, the Novaks were back at home. Charlie had been dropped off, and Amara was herding the rest of the kids to bed while Chuck and Lucifer sat across from each other at the kitchen table.

Chuck stared sternly at his son while Lucifer fiddled with his hands.

"Am I in trouble?" He finally asked.

"Take a guess." Chuck offered.

".....No?" 

"Take another guess."