The day that the Winchester's found out Mary was pregnant with their first child was arguably the happiest yet most nerve racking experience either had been in. Mary had been showing the signs, but they were too stubborn to accept the reality until it slapped them both in the face.
The sickness, the exhaustion and strange changes in taste; it was all there. But the young couple was scared, scared as to how they were going to raise this surprise child. John's job as a mechanic and Mary's as a waitress supported the two of them comfortably, but children were expensive.
They were so young, only just married and still adjusting to life together. Enjoying the bliss of life filled with love. How were they to change their life to accommodate a child? The both of them just barely looked after themselves; the two had had hard lives in the past. Maybe this child would be that extra ray of light to make the world look safe again.
Mary was sat on their bed, hands on her stomach, like she was trying to find the life she knew she held inside her. It just didn't seem real yet. Tears slowly fell down her face, she wasn't sure if it was from fear or happiness. They just wouldn't stop falling.
John sat next to his wife, similar emotion swirling inside him. His stomach felt like it was doing flips and it was only because of his sheer will that his tears didn't also fall. He pulled his wife to him, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
"We'll make sure this kid is raised properly. We'll give them everything we can and we will love them with everything we got." John announced, whispering the words into Mary's ear, the intimate moment bringing out the rarely seen softer side of John Winchester.
The blonde woman laughed her agreement and brought her husband into a passionate kiss. They didn't plan for this, they certainly weren't ready for a child, but they would need to be when the child arrived.
It was going to be a long drive.
John had just arrived home from work, and to be honest, it had been a crap day. He just wanted to see his wife, see the roundness of her stomach that proved their love. He knew the second he saw his glowing angel, everything would just be right with the world.
"Honey, I'm home!" he chuckled to himself as he closed the front door. It was so very cheesy and cliché but the two loved it.
His bright smile went just that little bit more radiant when he saw his wife sat at the kitchen table. The loving look reflected in the golden face of Mary Winchester, he jokingly scrunched his nose when he realised just what the apple of his eye was eating.
"Is that a pickle, ham, syrup and orange sandwich?" A weak glare was sent his way before Mary took another bite of the horrible food.
"I blame you. They must have gotten their appetite from you. And I don't see why you're the one complaining, I am eating it! This is extreme even for a pregnant woman!"
Cautious of his wife's extreme mood swings, the veteran slowly made his way to the seat opposite her. He made it a point to not look at the pathetic excuse for a meal, he wasn't sure if he could keep the contents of his stomach where they belong if he caught another glimpse.
"They're just getting everything they can to be big and strong. At least we know they're going to have no problems when it comes to food."
The pregnant woman simply sighed and finished the sandwich. A moment of contented silence surrounded the couple before Mary spoke.
"We still need to choose a name for the little one John. You keep avoiding the issue; we need to pick a few options. I won't let you escape the responsibility this time."
John sighed deeply. It didn't seem fair to name a child before they even got to know them. A name should represent the child, or that's what he believed. But when his wife really wanted something there was no way to stop her.
"Mary, I love the two of you so much. But I feel we should wait until their born. It's not like there's a rush for them to be named."
The determined look forced John to realise that he wasn't going to win this argument. Mary saw the defeat in his eyes and grinned widely.
"I've thought of a few names, both girl and boy names. I need you to tell me if you like any, okay?"
The small nod from her husband was all she needed to start her list of many names.
"If they're a boy I've picked out a few good ones. Let's see…" she took out a few sheets of paper from her pocket. They were small and John recognised them from Mary's diner notepad.
She had been thinking of names even through work. Something about that thought made John fall more in love with his wife. She was no longer scared of having this child and was giving it her all.
It made him feel a bit inadequate. He was supposed to be the big military man of the house, yet his wife was so much stronger than him mentally.
It made him think of the quote 'Behind every great man is a great woman rolling her eyes'. But his wife was so much more than that. She would stand right next to him and let him know just how badly he had messed up.
Of course he would do the same. What is marriage if not to prove that they are equal?
"Daniel?" Mary asked. John snapped to attention.
"Hmm, what are you on about?" Mary's eyebrows furrowed.
"Names, John, what do you think about Daniel?"
"Too common, don't you think?"
"Harry?"
"Make sure he has friends Tom and Dick. Let's choose something unusual, our child is going to stand out from all other children!"
Mary smiled at John's antics. Truth be told, she didn't care if her baby stood out or not. She just couldn't wait to have a child to love, to teach and to watch grow up. Sure, her husband had grand plans for the little one, it was lovely to see how determined he was to give their child the best life.
But it was her child too, and she was going to let them become whoever they want to be.
"Okay John, then how about Ryker?"
"Sounds good… Ryker…" John let it roll on his tongue. It was a strong name, and unique.
"There's also Auden?"
"No, Ryker is the best. You've set my heart on that one."
Mary barely blinked at her love's attitude. To be honest she loved that name as well. She had thought of naming their child Dean or Deanna after her mother, she was always closer to her than her father, but the wound was too fresh. Maybe if they have another child in the future, perhaps she would be able to honour her parent's lives then.
"Now onto girl's names, knowing our luck, we'll be set on a boy's name and end up with a girl. I'd hate to have our little girl bullied because we gave her a boy's name. How about Remy? Sounds like a strong name right?"
"I thought you said that you didn't want to give a girl a boy's name? Don't be so cruel." The soon to be mother mock glared at her laughing love.
"How about Lola then, or is it too girly for you, Mister 'Strong army man'?" She teased, feeling proud of her self for taking revenge.
"No, I don't like that name. Reminds me too much of the blonde air head Lola from high school. I don't want to even chance at our child being as stupid as she was."
Mary slapped him on the arm. He knew how much she hated it when he said cruel things about others. But judging by the stories he told her of high school, Lola was even empty of air in that head of hers.
"Alright, I've got a good one. I think this one will make her sound strong but kind at the same time."
She paused for suspense, but was enjoying irritating John at the same time. There were just times where she couldn't help herself. It was too perfect a moment.
"How do you feel about Mercy?"
"I love it. I'm sure Ryker or Mercy will love their name too."
"John! John my water just broke! They're on their way!"
John ran to the kitchen where his wife had been making them sandwiches. Matching faces of fear and anticipation looked to one another.
The child wasn't supposed to arrive yet, there was still a month before the due date, what could be wrong to make the child arrive early. Mary hadn't been under any stress nor had she fallen into anything. It made no sense!
"Mary, I'll get the stuff we need. Quickly get into the impala we'll drive to the hospital." John, ever the stoic one, pulled Mary out of her pain addled mind.
She nodded to him and made her way out of the house as John rushed up to the nursery. He made sure to grab the child seat before rushing to the car.
The two of them were taut with anxiety; Mary was more focused on the pain than anything else. But John's hands were progressively getting more clenched to the point that when he looked at the wheel after all this, he would see the hand prints of where he was holding the wheel.
It felt like time had slowed down but also sped up. It's amazing what panic does to ones perception of time.
Mary wasn't sure how long it was before John was pulling her out of the car. She just noticed that they were at the entrance of the hospital before another wave of pain overtook her body.
It wasn't anything like her midwife had said. The pain, contractions her mind whispered, was meant to have long periods before it started again. But these were very close together. Either there was something very wrong with her baby or the little one just couldn't wait to see the world.
She hoped to God and all his angels it was the latter. She had been through too much to have this small life taken from her as well.
"That's it Mrs Winchester, deep breaths and push when your body tells you to. I know it hurts but think about that little baby you'll get to hold at the end of all this."
Mary tried to listen to the midwife, she really did, but the pain was too much to cope with. Why she hadn't accepted the pain killers she didn't know. But it was definitely a thought for the next time.
Mary burst out laughing at the thought. Here she was screaming in pain because of their child and she was thinking of having another one.
John looked at her in confusion before he started laughing as well. He knew his wife too well; he knew exactly what she was thinking about.
"Maybe in a few years, okay hun?"
Mary was about to reply only to be interrupted by a particularly powerful contraction. She screamed bloody murder and the midwife looked slightly relieved.
John was quickly shoved out of the room and had the door shut behind him. He turned to hear one of the nurses encourage his poor wife.
"Only a little bit more Mrs Winchester. The little ones head is showing, just a few more pushes and a new life will be brought into this world!"
It was another fifteen minutes before the screaming was replaced by a baby's cry and John was let back into the room.
The first thing he saw was his wife, pale and sweaty, but looking more radiant than he had ever seen. He breathed a sigh of relief that his wife was fine, exhausted but fine.
His eyes were then drawn to the small yellow bundle in her arms. His child (Oh wow, wasn't that a strange thought) had calmed down but was still squirming in a way that only babes could, uncoordinated and unable to fully control those pesky limbs.
He placed his arm around his wife, the two of them looking down at the wonder they had created. There were no words for the experience, to see your child for the first time. It made John cry with joy; his baby was in the world. He could hold his baby.
Oh sure it was all red and wrinkly, but it could be excused for that. You'd be red and wrinkly if you had been stuck in a liquid for eight months.
"So, what are we calling this little one?" He asked. He needed to know what he and his wife had created; whether they had a little son or daughter.
"It would seem that we have our own little Mercy Winchester."
John didn't know he could smile so widely yet cry such huge tears at the same time.