Title: If Anyone Objects

By: Tidia & Ridley C. James

Disclaimer: This is a Brotherhood AU story

Notes: Thank you for reading, following, reviewing and everything else. Ridley and I are always grateful and humbled.

Part 2

"What happened to Max and JT?" Mackland enjoyed the accolades he received as the official of the wedding. But his part was over, while Esme was checking on the hotel staff. She had been instrumental in planning the wedding, a difficult task when Lydia kept changing her mind. He found Caleb sitting at the table.

Caleb was watching the kids from a distance, a bottle of beer in front of him. Cressida left as she saw Mackland approach. "You mean the fact that they find everything funny and are out their dancing?"

Mac took Cressida's now vacant seat. "Yes. They are a lot more exuberant than usual, though James is as rambunctious as ever."

"Champagne," Caleb used the bottle to gesture to an empty champagne glass. "They accidently had a glass or two."

"Did you tell Joshua?" Mackland asked. Joshua was in a conversation with Adam and some other coven members.

"Somehow anytime his kid does anything wrong, I get blamed for it so I decided to keep an eye on them. I figure they will sleep it off, eventually." Caleb shrugged.

Mackland smiled at the three little boys. "As a grandfather, I can do no wrong."

"And they can't do any wrong in your eyes either. What are you going to say if they put a goat in the headmaster's office?" Caleb referred back to one of the times he was suspended from a pricey school that Mac had sent him to.

Mac relaxed into the chair. "As a grandfather I will find it amusing and a sign of their obvious cleverness."

"Why then when I did it was it a sign of my disrespect for authority and blatant rebellion?"

"Because I'm your father."

"I think I need to go and talk to Cullen for an ego boost." He craned his neck to see if he could spot his own grandfather. "I see that Riley still has him cornered." The young hunter had lost none of his exuberance, only now he was looking for investors in his latest start-up.

"You stay here and keep watch on the boys. I'll go help out Dad, because I don't think your ego needs any boosting with Cressida and the photographer vying for your attention." Mac gave his son's shoulder a squeeze as he left.

Caleb stood up, viewing the scene as everyone; especially the bride and the groom were having a good time. Dean was locked into a conversation with Griffin, however, Ethan was nearby. As he turned he saw that Juliet and Carolyn were taking some determined, yet unsteady steps towards him.

Carolyn and Juliet had both served as bridesmaids, disappearing shortly after the service. He had heard them both complain about the dresses, lavender and strapless. They waved to him, then giggled as they got closer with bright eyes. Caleb frowned. "Are you two drunk?"

Juliet momentarily sobered, fixing the silver necklace Dean had given her. "What? No. We're not drunk."

"Like mothers, like sons," Caleb smiled, extremely amused by this turn of events. In his mind Carolyn and Juliet were as strait-laced as they came. They deserved to cut loose a little. Carolyn leaned in closer to Caleb. "Don't tell Joshua but we went to the other wedding. They thought we were hot," she said in a conspiratorially whisper to her brother in law.

"You two are hot," Caleb affirmed. They both looked beautiful with their hair up and more makeup than usual. Dean and Joshua were both lucky men.

"You have to say that." Juliet rolled her eyes. "It's part of your secret brother code."

Carolyn gave the other woman a push forward, then excused herself. "I'm going to find my husband. I don't want to waste all this Spanx and spackle." She waved her hand from head to toe with a flourish, very unlike a sober Carolyn.

"You go girl," Juliet replied. They both watched Carolyn leave and interrupt Joshua's conversation. Juliet mustered her courage in the meantime. "Caleb, I am going to ask you for something that I promised myself I never would."

Caleb placed a hand on her bare arm, with a feigned seriousness. "Juliet, it's okay. I know you want my body, but I just can't do that to Dean. The secret brother code and all…."

"Shush." She pulled her arm away, putting a finger to her lips then to his. "No. I mean it. This is serious. Really would you pay attention?"

Caleb chuckled. "I'm all ears, Jules."

"LYdia is Sam's wife now."

"Don't remind me."

"That makes her Dean's sister-in-law, married to his only brother, not counting you, that is, but that's a whole other story, one I don't have to worry about because we know you are not getting married anytime soon."

"Okay."

"She doesn't like me." Juliet gave a wayward glance to the happy couple. "I've tried, really, and truly tried, but…"

"Juliet—" Caleb interjected.

"Don't try to convince me it's my imagination." She shook her head. "She gives me the same disappointed look my mother does, and you were not at the bachelorette party. . ."

"But I so wanted to be." Caleb had heard about their plans, fully supported them because he wanted to see how Lydia reacted. He'd even offered to jump out of a cake, convinced no stripper could beat his physique.

"It went badly, very, very badly." Perhaps her and Carolyn had gotten carried away with their idea to hire a few male dancers. They thought it would be fun, not as Lydia referred to it, 'cheap and tawdry.' "I want you to read her mind." She said quickly as if she might lose her nerve. "So, will you do it?"

"Who am I to deny you a request?" Caleb leaned down. "You are practically the mother of my children and besides, we're in luck. The lovely Lydia isn't wearing her usual jewelry tonight. I guess it doesn't go with her big day wardrobe."

"What do you mean her usual jewelry?" Juliet's hand returned to the silver necklace around her neck.

"That pendant she wears all the time. Snowflake obsidian, but with oomph," Caleb explained. "Obsidian can affect my abilities, but not to that degree."

Juliet looked around. She did not ask many questions about Brotherhood business, and when she did she tried to do so privately. "And the oompth?"

"Probably a spell, it blocks me reading her. She started wearing it not too long after she and Sam got serious." Caleb had only read her enough in the beginning to know her intentions. It was his job as The Knight to protect The Scholar, but more importantly he wanted to keep Sam from being hurt emotionally. She wasn't evil and she was into Sam. He had been surprised at the necklace, and had perhaps taken it a little too personally.

"That's why you don't trust her?"

"One of the many reasons." That had made him suspicious. He always respected those around him when it came to his abilities, especially the women. Mac, Missouri, and Pastor Jim had all made a deep impression when it came to respecting boundaries when it came to his gift, even if he often gave lip service to the contrary.

"I want to believe she's a nice person, maybe just private." Juliet bit her nails, then stopped as she noticed they were polished. "So, you can read her today?"

Caleb placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yep. But, I'm not sure I should. You have heard of Pandora's box?"

"Please, I rather know where I stand. This woman is going to be a huge part of our lives. And be honest. I can take it." She gave him a small, encouraging smile.

Juliet had never asked for anything, and had always treated him well, like a brother. "Okay, you need to go up and talk to her for me to know what she thinks about you."

She looked back. The couple was off the dance floor, talking with some guests. "What should I say?"

"Congratulations?" Caleb suggested. He wasn't frequently in these situations. "I don't know, something bridal."

"I've never been a bride." Juliet bit her lip.

"If you really want this. . ." It was enough of a prompt for Juliet to square her shoulders and go to Lydia, engaging her for a full five minutes before Lydia was pulled away by her maid of honor.

Juliet stopped to check on her kids and Max, then returned to Caleb. "Be honest."

Caleb exhaled, nervous that he would be purposefully hurting Juliet. He would start with the good news first. "She's jealous of you-thinks you have amazing hair and killer legs."

Juliet's brow rose. "And?"

Caleb sighed. "She thinks your kids are brats and you make horrible lasagna, which is so not true. I love your lasagna."

Juliet placed her hand over her mouth with a gasp. "She doesn't think I'm a good mother?"

"What? I didn't say that. Where did I say that?" Caleb panicked, looked for Dean or any assistance. He placed his hands on her arms to ground her and himself.

She shook her head. "She thinks I raised bratty children."

"It's a blanket statement. She doesn't like children at all. Doesn't like them running around her wedding." That would have happened if Esme had not hired a babysitter to watch the invited children. They were in a playroom- it was only Max, JT and James who were escapees.

Juliet exhaled slowly, still looking wounded. "And that was it?"

"Yep." Caleb nodded. "You know you now owe me a favor. How about a dance?"

She put her hand up. "I can do that."

Caleb didn't pay attention to the song, but it was slow, and he grinned as he whispered to Juliet. "You do have killer legs, you know. It's no wonder Lydia is jealous."

Juliet rolled her eyes. "You wish it was Dean and I who got married."

"Now who is the psychic?" Caleb led them into a spin, eliciting a laugh from Juliet.

"I love that big jerk, you know. I am committed to him and raising a family with him." Her eyes went to her children who were being tended to by Mac and Esme. "Our kids may be rotten at times, but they're still ours. I love our family."

"He feels the same about you and your rotten kids." Caleb knew how much Dean cared for, loved Juliet. They were a good match, and his sworn protection over Dean included protecting Juliet, too, which is why he'd held back on some of Lydia's thoughts. The song ended and he escorted her from the dance floor.

"That and we are too busy to find other people so you are stuck with me." She gave him a big smile. "Maybe you can find my man and let him know that I would like a dance?"

"I'll do that." He needed to talk to Dean, someone on his side that would fix what Sam had done. He found Dean at the bar; The Guardian had pulled away from the other hunters. "Deuce, Juliet asked me to read Lydia."

"Okay." Dean studied Caleb. "And you said, no, right?"

"No? No. Why would I tell her no? She's practically the mother of my children."

"Last time I checked she was the mother of my children, Damien."

"Same difference, but not the point at the moment."

"And the point is what? This witch hunt you got going for Lydia?"

"It's not a witch hunt. That bitch thinks Juliet's a whore, an immoral woman wasting her life in a tiny podunk town like New Haven, thinks all kids are brats, especially your kids and that I'm an overgrown child you both indulge."

Dean took a sip of whiskey before answering. "One out of three isn't bad."

"Ha ha, that's it? Sam needs to get an annulment. Immediately." He took the glass of whiskey and had a big swallow, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Better yet, maybe The Knight should just make her disappear."

Dean raised his eyebrows, slid the drink back over to his side, covering it with his hand. "Does she love Sam?"

"What? What's that got to do with it?" Caleb spoke loudly garnering some attention so he quieted down. "She doesn't want kids."

Dean rolled the glass, watching how the remaining liquid moved. "Sam's like you- he doesn't want kids either." Dean shrugged. "Plus there are already enough Winchesters around and we even have a mini-Damien in Max. Do you want to take on Jimmy?" Caleb remained silent. "I didn't think so." Dean looked out across the room, tables with long tablecloths, chairs covered in gold, twinkling lights and bunting giving soft lighting with Sam and Lidia in the center of it all. "I asked you does she love him and don't tell me you don't know because I know you."

Caleb had to be truthful. "Yeah, she does." When he had read her mind that thought had come through loud and clear. She was happy and crazy about Sam, despite the family that came with him as a packaged deal. Lydia couldn't wait to start their lives together.

"And what about Sammy? Does he love her?"

"You heard him; he says he does."

"Again, I know you, Damien."

Okay. So Caleb wasn't so respectful of boundaries with his Triad. "He loves her."

"Then you need to let it go, man. I have. It's his decision and we need to support him." Dean finished his drink, not enjoying the sipping whiskey as much as he thought.

"And be there when it all goes south."

"If it goes south." Dean pointed a finger at Caleb. "Where's that nasty streak of optimism?"

"Fine, if it doesn't go as Sam plans, then we will be there for him."

Dean clasped his shoulder. "That's what families do, Damien."

"And then I'll make Lydia disappear."

Dean snorted. "You know it wasn't that long ago that you gave that sickening best man's speech at Joshua's wedding about how love opened up great possibilities. Lydia might surprise you and something good could come from all this."

Rather than submit to Guardian logic, Caleb refocused on his mission.

"Go dance with your girl." He pushed Dean toward Juliet.

"You go find that photographer and join us." Caleb smiled. Cressida was there as his date, but one dance with Cassie would not hurt. In the end, he wasn't able to find Cressida or Cassie anyway, settling for a huge hunk of Sam's groom's cake instead.

"Max and JT ate his entire face." Ben commented, when Caleb slid into a chair at the head table. Most of the guests had retired leaving only a core group.

"Since when does sugar have that side effect on them?" Caleb licked his spoon then used it to gesture to the two boys in question. JT was conked out on his older brother's lap, Max dozing with his face down on the table in the chair between Caleb and Ben.

"Since they took up drinking I guess." Ben laughed. "Don't tell Dad, but it was my slip up with the booze. Sometimes this nanny gig is exhausting. I guy can't control everything."

"Trust me; it only gets worse as they get older." Caleb took another bite of light saber and let his gaze go to the dance floor. Dean and Juliet were swaying; a sleeping Jimmy nestled between them. Sam and Lidia were close by, the bride's head tucked against her husband's shoulder. Sam was smiling.

"But it's worth it, right?"

Caleb let his gaze return to Ben's earnest face, familiar green eyes. He looked to the little boy against his chest. At five JT was practically the spitting image of Dean when Caleb had first met him. Caleb cleared his throat, scooting a little closer to Max's chair just in case the kid tumbled out. "Totally worth it, Kiddo. Totally worth it."

The end