Dean and Mary

Dean lost Mary when he was 4 ½, but Dean never let her go. He couldn't. He didn't know how.

When Sam was 1 and learned to walk, Dean turned and said "look mommy, Sammy's first steps!" The excited smile on his mom's face was echoed in Dean's own.

When Sam said his first word "Dean", Dean turned to his mom; the light shining in Dean's eyes reflected Mary as she smiled radiantly back.

When Dean baked cookies for Sam the first time, he asked his mom how to do them just right. The cookies were the best John had tasted since Mary died.

The first time Dean baked a cake for John was when John turned 40. Dean was 15 and asked Mary what was John's favorite cake. Mary replied that it was chocolate with white icing. John looked in shock at the cake. How Dean found it that it was his favorite cake had always remained a mystery to John.

When Dean went to his first date, he asked his mom for advice and then asked her if Mary approved of Alice. Mary smiled, and Dean dated Alice for the year they stayed in Colorado. John didn't approve of Alice, but John didn't approve of anyone that would distract Dean from hunting.

When Dean had to leave Alice, his heart broke. Mary said it was for the best, it was time to move on. Dean put his broken heart away and became the hunter who would not look back.

When Sam was 17 and had his first crush, he turned to Dean for advice. Dean turned to Mary. Elizabeth, who was also 17 and had a secret crush on Sam, was surprised when Sam turned up at her door with her favorite flowers, Periwinkles.

When Sam went to college, Dean turned to Mary for comfort, and she wrapped her loving arms around him. Dean felt the warmth and knew he would continue to be strong for Mary.

When Dean was in hell, Mary helped him the strength to hold out until he could not take anymore. Dean still hasn't forgiven himself for letting Mary down.

When God send Castiel to save him, Mary smiled. The angel would be a good friend to her son, and he would watch over her Dean.

When Zachariah showed him cruel Mary, Dean told his real mom that he knew that hellish double wasn't her and embraced the real Mary with his heart. Mary responded, "thank you, son."

When Dean accepted Cas as family, he saw Mary's smile mirrored in Cas' smile.

Dean doesn't have to visit Mary's empty grave. She is with him all the time.