Chapter 1: A New Beginning

John Winchester looked in the rearview of his truck, watching his two boys. Six-year-old Sam was slumped against the door slightly snoring, while ten-year-old Dean sat watching the trees blur by in silence. "Now, Dean, The Swans are good people and can be trusted. Charlie and Renee are like family." Dean shifts in his seat as he looks to his father. "Why couldn't we be with Ellen? At least I know her." He muttered. Dean hated new people. With doing what his dad does, Dean knew from experience that he will never see these new faces except one time. He knew it would come to a point when The Swans would become but a distant memory. "You know why. Ellen is busy and this is a quiet place. They even have a daughter, she's about two now. You two could use the time to be around other kids." He explained. Dean just rolled his eyes and continued looking at the boring green blurs.

John knew Charlie and Renee from a few years back and helped out when they could. Saved his ass a few times than not. They didn't mind this one favor. They just recently retired, but still knew enough of the game to protect themselves. John personally thought they were more open to an attack that way, but they had a baby, and it was their life. John has never personally met Bella except once when she was just born. He just remembered she had big brown eyes and a button nose. That day was when the two decided to stop hunting, and made John promise that if anything happened to them, he'd be the one to take Bella in. He was the only hunter they trusted, and knew that if something happened to them, it would be coming for her. John really hoped that he could leave the boys for a while. He loved him, they were his life, but he didn't know two things about raising kids. Dean practically was raising himself, and spent more time with Sam that he did. He didn't know how to connect with them, and with Azazel still out there, he didn't need them to be in his way. A motel wouldn't have sufficed in this situation as John knew he would be gone for weeks at a time.

John planned for a quick hello, and an even quicker good bye. He slowed down to city limits once he was within distance and Dean started to gently coax his brother awake, none of them having any idea of what was to come. John pursed his lips as police officers swarmed the place in a flurry of movement. He stopped the truck on the curb as he saw two body bags on gurneys. "Shit." He muttered and told Dean to wait in the car. Dean being just like his father didn't listen and hopped out with Sam by his side. John sighed in frustration and picked Sam up as Dean walked next to him. "I'm family. John Swan." John easily lied and the officer nodded. "Your niece is in the playpen." He instructed. John reared back at that. Bella was alive and just sitting in the playpen calmly as if it was a regular day. That is until she saw John standing over the playpen. He was unfamiliar to her and wasn't the man she was expecting. Where was the man with the mustache? The woman with the short brown hair that she called Mommy and Daddy? Where were they? And who were these two mini strangers? Bella looked to them all as her lip quivered in confusion. That's when the waterworks started. John winced and Dean shook his head as he made no move for the child. He walks toward the playpen and Bella wobblily stands. The two were still at a height difference but they stared in one another's eyes and Dean reached for the small girl and shushed her as her arms wrapped around his neck. "I've got you." Her tiny fists pulled at his short brown hair as she sniffled, her chin wobbling every so often.

John gives Dean orders to go back to the truck while he did a quick search. He wanted to see if he could figure out what happened. He made his way upstairs and into their bedroom. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary and by the looks of the carpet downstairs, something happened, and he assumed the two didn't have a swift death. Going back downstairs, he noticed the indentations of the playpen on one side of the room, separate from where it is now. It was currently near the kitchen, a place where a playpen had no business being. His guess was that it might've been moved. Bella was calm, almost too calm. If she saw anything being in the room, she would've been screaming the moment they walked in. Which means she might've been upstairs. Who brought it back down? Why didn't they kill her? John had no time to dwell on that as he made a run upstairs to what he found to be Bella's nursery grabbing any essentials he may need. He even grabbed her car seat. He sure didn't want to get pulled over.

Walking back out, he nodded to the officer and made his way to the truck and set Bella's seat in the middle between the two boys. "Here Dean. Put her in and strap her up." He started the car and decided to put distance between them and Forks. Sam and Bella were currently locked in a staring contest just eying one another in curiosity. "So what now?" Dean asked staring at Bella in bewilderment. "Well…what we usually do. But first, I need to legally make Bella your sister." Dean's eyes widened as he looked between the small girl who was now staring at him and holding his thumb tightly, and back to his father who had a determined look on his face. "But she's….a girl." Dean whispered. John nodded and smiled.

Heaven

Castiel kneeled before his father awaiting orders. "I want you to find a human by the name of Jimmy Novak. He is your human vessel. Jimmy will not be ready for you until eighteen years from now. After that, there is a task you must do. The Winchester siblings are two brothers by blood, and a sister by love. You are to work alongside them in fulfilling their destiny, if Earth ever has a chance in surviving what is to come." Castiel nodded without complaint. He stood ready to leave, but God stopped him once more. "Castiel, I have a gift for you. You've always believed in me, and one of my best warriors. You won't understand it now, but in due time. Please don't ever underestimate my love for all my children." Castiel nodded once again, saying nothing. "I love you my son."

5 Years Later

Christmas Eve

Bella squealed happily as the tiny car she was given was thrusted upon her. "Twank you Dean!" She jumped up and down, her giggling making the boys smile. She just lost a tooth that morning and planned to put it under her pillow that night, so everything she said sounded funny. "You're welcome squirt." Dean ruffled her hair as Sam looked upon his brother and sister. They were everything to him. The only thing he could call family. There was John, but he was never around. At least not for the important days, like birthdays, holidays, like now. Bella smiled over at Sam and tilted her head to the side. Bella was a very intelligent girl. She was like the girl version of Sam in so many ways but also a tough cookie like Dean. But she understood and too noticed that their father was never around. She never understood what he really did, just know that he takes care of the 'bad guys' to keep everyone safe.

Dean tried to be vague when it came to monsters and demons, hoping not to scare his siblings. Although with Sam at eleven, and he personally seeing monsters for himself, he tried not to dwell on it. They made it their mission to keep Bella as far away from it as long as they could. Until the day she will too have to face her fears. After a day of watching nothing but Christmas movies and eating junk food, Sam was already asleep, book in hand and tangled in sheets. Dean sat watching his sister as she watched the motel door in hope. Dean knew though that his father would not show. Although he promised.

2 weeks ago

Dean just shrugged as his father spoke to him, ignoring the words from his mouth. "Sure dad." John shook his head, scrubbing a hand over his face. "I need to do this. People need me." He stated. Sam sat on the bed watching the two in sadness. Bella looked on as well, curiously. "What about us? We need you." Dean looked up at him, his eyes slightly blurring with tears. Dean wiped his eyes with his sleeves and looked away. He wasn't a pussy. Dean Winchester doesn't cry. "I'll be back." He stated, while making his way to the door. Bella perked up at hearing this and made her way over, hugging his leg. "Before Christmas daddy? I don't want you to miss Santa Claus!" Bella smiled up at him brightly. John crouched down and tapped Bella's nose. "Yes Bells." He rose up and made his way once more. A slight tugging on his leg stopped him again. He almost groaned. Don't get him wrong, he loved Bella like his own, but truth was he was scared getting close to them. He could die any day. But nevertheless, John would take a bullet for each one of his kids. He had to be tough and distant. There was no love in this world. Not for hunters. "Yes Bella?" He peered down at her, as she gave him a toothy grin. "You promise?" Dean's throat closed up and Sam watched silently. Waiting. Dean shook his head angrily. "I promise." Sam looked away as if he'd been socked in the gut, because every one of them knew that was an empty promise. No one knows what could happen.

"Come on Bells. Let's get to bed. It's late. Santa won't come if you're not sleeping." Bella tiredly looked back at Dean as she hugged her stuffed lion to her chest. "Daddy promised." She said and blinked at him once, then twice. She turned back towards the door and sat with her favorite orange blanket. Dean sighed and shook his head. He got down to the floor and pulled Bella next to him. She laid against him as she continuously watched the door for any signs of John. Dean stayed awake until Bella fell asleep. He gently put her in the empty bed and smoothed her hair back. Dean jumped slightly at Sam's voice. "He didn't show, did he?" Dean sat on the edge of the bed and stared into space. "Of course not Sammy. Never does." Sam peered at Bella and sighed. "Dean?" Sam asked quietly. Dean hummed in response. "What if he never comes back? What will happen to us?" Dean tilted his head about. "What do you mean?" Sam sat up slowly and leaned on his elbows. "What if there's just us? You, me, and Bella. What then?" Dean looked at the snoring Bella and then Sam. "We'll have each other." Dean answered. Sam nodded quietly. Dean finally slept, as Sam stayed up for a few hours. The morning light awoke Bella as she happily jumped about the bed, successfully waking up a sleeping Dean. "Oh, Bells." He groaned into the pillow. "Wake up! Wake up! Santa came! Santa came! Pwesents! Sammy! Dean!" Dean chuckled and to his disbelief there were boxes under their makeshift tree. Dean and Sam peered around the room looking for any sign of their father. There nothing but a note stuck to the board above Dean's head.

He plucked it off and read it quickly. "Son of a bitch." Dean muttered and shook his head. Bella gasped pointing a tiny hand at Dean. "Oooh! Dean you said a bad word!" Dean laughed and shook his head. "You just better not say them." Bella nodded and ran to the presents. Dean decided to indulge as he and his siblings opened their gifts. They got mostly clothes and CD players. Bella got a few girly things but preferred the boyish looking gifts her brothers had. She enjoyed her things anyway sharing what she thought would interest her brothers. They seemed sad almost and Bella didn't like them being sad. Bella too noticed the absence of their father. She looked to her barbie doll in guilt. She was happy when her brothers were sad. When their father was no where in the room. She shouldn't be happy. Maybe that's why he wasn't there. Was it her? Did she do something wrong? Did he not want them? The boys were shocked as Bella's barbie doll flew across the room. The head snapped right off as Bella stood there with watery eyes. Sam went to collect the doll and looked back to his sister in confusion. "I don't deserve my barbie. I've been bad. I didn't go to sleep when Dean asked and that's why Daddy isn't here. He doesn't like me anymore." Dean reared back as his teeth grinded. That was far from the truth. "Why would you think that Bella?" Sam asked as he came to sit in front of her. Bella shrugged and sat across from him. "Dad loves you Bella. He loves us all. He's just busy." Sam explained. Bella shook her head, her long brown locks swaying. "Not true! He promised! Daddy promised this time! He's not here! He hates me. Sometimes he cries when he looks at you and Dean. He stares at me all…conused? Confused?" She cocked her head to the side trying to get the word right. Sam tilted her chin up and smiled. "Dad loves you Bella. He loves us too. Sometimes Dad has important things to do and he can't always be here. You're our family Bella. Dad loves you just the same. You did nothing wrong." Bella just nodded and crawled into Sam's lap, instantly falling asleep. Sam looks at Dean, his own tears forming. Dean purses his lips.

Late that night, Dean watched as his father finally walked in after three weeks. He made his way over to Sam and Bella, kissing them both on the forehead. Sam was right in some aspects and Dean knew John loved them, he just wasn't good at showing it. That didn't make it any better though. Dean resented John, hated him. "Hey kid, you still up?" Dean just nodded and stared at his father. "What?" Dean just shook his head, wondering if he should say anything. "Bella thinks you hate her." He stared at the wall and then faced his father. "What?" John looked over at Sam who was holding Bella as they slept. "Why?" He questioned. Dean scoffed. "Why do you think? You're never here. She thinks it has something to do with her." John didn't know what to say. He looked down and took a deep breath. Before he could get any words out, Dean's words startled him. "I hate you." Dean turned over, not really regretting anything he just said.

Those words stuck with John for a long time. He realized just how bad he was doing. So for eight years he stayed with his kids, trying to be there, but teach them how to hunt. He was trying and it made up for some of the harsh, lonely moments as kids. Over the years, he would have expected that he and Dean having the tensest relationship, but in reality, it was Bella. The two argued practically everyday and he was the toughest on her. She was the youngest, but also many female hunters never got far her just wanted her safe. He just wanted them all safe. John tried finding hunts that weren't more than two states over. Bobby Singer, an old friend tried helping when he could, and had extra hands on deck. As eight years have gone by, the biggest struggle for the Winchester men were Bella's growing maturity. Physically and mentally. At the age of nine, Bella had her first period scaring the living shit out of all of them. Bella not really having any female figures in life had the internet to prepare her for such precautions. The boys? Totally unprepared. Dean and Sam hated it. At school, Sam has to hear boys talking about his baby sister and try not to kill someone. For Dean and John, it was bras. Dean hated the mere thought of them, and John just didn't want to even think about it. But on some cases and sad to say, it came in handy. Things were good, they were learning, fighting, trying. Until John left again. Azazel had resurfaced and John couldn't let him slip again. This time though John wasn't gone for just weeks, or months. Five years had gone by. He called every so often, they'd meet up occasionally. Hunt, fight the good fight. He'd disappear into the wind. Except this time…things were different. Last year, the siblings decided to go their own way, occasionally meeting here and there to catch up and eat.

Dean pulled up in his black Chevy Impala and cut the engine. Getting out, he smiled at his siblings. Sam was a lot taller than he remembered and Bella was a sight to behold. She was a pretty woman and Dean just hated to think of all the asses he had to kick. He wrapped his arms around Bella as she hugged him tightly. "Hey there Hells Bells." He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her softly. Bella moved away letting he and Sam do their macho hand man-hug thing. "So, we all know why we're here right?" Dean asked as they each leaned against their respective cars. Sam and Bella nodded looking at one another. "Dad's been missing for over a year. Last we spoke he was in Missouri. Something with Hell Hounds." "Hell hounds?" Sam questioned. "Why…you don't think?" Bella gulped and shook her head. Dean shrugged. "I don't know."