AN: And another Dean and Jo fic! Yay! Also, another multi-chapter fic. What am I even doing? Anyway, I do have Chapter 5 of Old Cars & Motel Rooms started. I'm not sure when this takes place. Let's just say that for now, they beat the devil at some point and Sam doesn't go to hell. Yay again!
Um, they rebuilt the Roadhouse. Ellen and Jo are alive.
That's all. Okay, read!
– – –
The soft light of morning comes through the window and shines down on the pair. Dean's eyes slowly drift open and his first thought is of Jo. He smiles down at the blonde in his arms and once again is struck by her beauty. Jo's eyelids open to reveal her sleepy brown eyes. She grins up at the man that gave up hunting for her.
They'd agreed that they should both stop for a while after they got married, and Bobby, Ellen, and Sam had made them the second they found out that Jo was pregnant. When Jo told Dean he had been both terrified and ecstatic. He was afraid that he would mess up, but he later found out that Jo harbored the same fears. How could a hunter raise a child?
Now, Dean is working in a car garage and Jo works at the Roadhouse which is a short drive from their own home.
"I've got to be crushing you," Dean says to the small blonde that's practically underneath him.
"I'm actually very comfortable, Dean-o."
The oldest Winchester kisses the former Harvelle, but the moment is over at the sound of a crying child. Jo closes her eyes and sighs before rolling away from her pajama pants clad husband to go feed their daughter, Bailey Anthony Harvelle. Jo'd chosen the name Bailey, she said she'd always loved it as a kid, and just never grown out of it, and Dean had been the one to suggest using her father's name.
Jo walks into the nursery of their eight month old daughter who has pulled herself up to look over the bars of her crib. She's grinning now and Jo smiles back, picks her up and says, "Mornin', princess. How are you today?" Bailey giggles and smiles at her mother before babbling mindlessly. "You sure are chatty this morning. You hungry?" At this Bailey nods her head. She doesn't talk yet, only babble, nodding or shaking her head, and pointing.
Bailey has her father's eyes and her mother's smile. With the combination of the piercing green eyes, a beautiful smile, and tufts of dirty blonde hair, she has Dean just about wrapped around her chubby little fingers.
Dean chuckles from behind her, grabbing Bailey's attention. She starts to reach for Dean and he comes over and takes her out of Jo's arms. He's now wearing a t-shirt, but he still has somewhat of a bedhead.
"Hey, Bailey. What d'ya say if we go eat and Mommy takes a shower?" Bailey coos and Dean winks at Jo who is very grateful.
Ten minutes later, Jo was downstairs and fully dressed in jeans and plaid. She grabs a handful of Lucky Charms and Bailey, and says, "Bye!"
"Woah, woah, woah!"
"Mmm?"
"You're forgetting something," Dean says with a smirk.
"And what would that be?" Jo raises an eyebrow.
"Diaper bag."
"Oh, thanks. I love you," she grabs it and kisses her husband goodbye.
– – –
When Jo gets to the Roadhouse, Ellen begins her daily routine of fussing over Bailey. Jo passes the child off to her and takes the diaper bag to the back before setting up the Roadhouse for the day.
Throughout the day they had several tourists come in for lunch, but it was mostly empty until that evening when the hunters began to come through the door. Jo listens to the hunters talking, and learns more about what's going on in that world. They were out of the life, but they'd never stop being a part of it.
It wasn't long before the usual hunters began to play with the tiny Winchester. Bailey was hope for the younger hunters that still wanted a family, and brought back memories for the older hunters that had had a family long ago. Either way, the little girl drew lots of attention at the Roadhouse. Dean and Jo had requested that Bailey be kept away from the life that had so many of them ensnared. The hunters were good on their word, and never speak about the things that go bump in the night. Everyone in the Roadhouse cares for the kid and does their part to protect her, to give her the childhood many of them never had.
Bailey begins to fall asleep in the arms of a young hunter. He looks up for her mother, and quickly hands her over.
"You afraid of a sleeping baby?" Jo teases the young man.
"Not usually, but if it has Winchester and Harvelle blood, yeah."
Jo laughs, "Good instinct."
The young man chuckles, but there is a small trace of fear in his eyes. Everyone knows what he's thinking. Everyone agrees. The little girl is the child of two of the most well known names in the hunter community. Jo had become one of the most well known hunters in a few years. She'd grown up hearing the lore, and she had been given tips and small lessons when Ellen wasn't around ever since she turned fourteen. They all know that the kid has hunting in her blood, and that she has to be a target.
A silence falls over the group before Jo turns and quickly walks away. She lays Bailey down in her crib in the back, and watches her sleeping child. After a minute she curls up against the wall of the small room. She stays that way for a while in silence and doesn't even move when she hears the door open and close softly.
"Jo?" Dean asks softly. He kneels down next to her and rubs her arm comfortingly. "What is it? What's wrong?"
Jo peers up at her husband with fear and uncertainty in her eyes. His heart breaks at the sight. "Bailey," Jo whispers.
"What about her?" Dean whispers back.
"She's our kid, Dean. She- she's got hunting in her blood. What are we doing? How can we raise a kid?"
"I know, I know. We're doing the best we can."
"I'm scared, Dean. I'm scared for her. I- I'm scared for…" She buries her head into his chest, and his arms wrap around her crying form.
"Shhhh. We can keep her safe. Look at us, Jo. We're Winchesters. And we have Ellen and all of those hunters out there."
"Don't- don't ever leave," Jo pleads softly from the safety of his arms.
"Never," Dean assures her. "I love you," he murmurs into her hair.
"I need you, Dean. I- I can't - "
"- I know, Jo. I know. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
The two stay curled up in the floor like that for a while. Jo falls asleep and Dean continues to rub her back in circles. He finally moves when he hears his daughter cry out. He looks up to see her sleepy face looking at them curiously. She bounces and grins at her father who was slowly standing. To the infant's dismay, he gently lifts her mother into his arms. He plants a soft kiss on her head before carrying her over to the small sofa across the room and setting her down.
Bailey coos when Dean turns to come get her. He lifts her up and walks back out into the main part of the Roadhouse.
"Never thought I'd see you with a baby, Dean."
The father in question turns to see Bobby Singer at the bar. "Hey, Bobby."
"Ellen said you were here. Where's Jo?" the old fart asks.
Dean smiles to himself and glances toward the back rooms. "She'll be out later." Bobby nods. "Have you heard from Sam?"
"Yeah, he should be stopping in here in a couple days, a week at the most. He's taking out a vamp's nest."
"Alone?!" Dean's eyes fill with concern for his little brother.
"D'ya think I'm a moron? He's with Garth."
"Oh, now I know you're a moron."
"He'll be fine, Dean," Bobby grunts in assurance. Dean shakes his head, chuckling.
After a few more minutes of conversation, Jo emerges and walks toward Dean and Bobby. Bailey is the first to notice her mother approaching. She grins and reaches for her mother, making noises. Dean turns toward Jo which causes Bailey to lose sight of her. She squeaks in protest, so Dean turns her around in his arms so she is facing Jo. When she reaches out for her mother, Dean passes her over.
Bailey grins up at her mother who says, "Hi, Bailey." When Bailey grins wider, and waves by clenching her tiny fist a few times, Jo's own smile brightens. "Hi," she coos and waves back at her daughter with her free hand.
Bailey giggles before saying her first word, "Ma-ma."
Jo and Dean both immediately brighten. "That's right, Bailey! Good job!" Jo congratulates her toddler who is still grinning ecstatically.
"Can you say dada?" Dean asks. Jo rolls her eyes at him.
"Dean," Jo says playfully scolding him. "Are you hungry, Bailey? Do you want something to eat?" Bailey just stares at her mother. "Eat?" This time Bailey realizes what she means and nods vigorously. Jo heads off to the kitchen to feed her daughter.
– – –
AN: How did you like it? I hope you liked it.
I'd be very happy if you'd review.
Oh, and if you have any ideas for the name of the I Won't Let It sequel, please tell me 'cause I'm drawing a blank.
Thanks!
XOXO,
Seraphina Jones