Title: The Baby Blues

Author: Athar Riordan

Summary: Dean's life is changed forever with a startling revelation from Castiel, causing the brothers and Bobby to re-think their place in the upcoming war and for Dean in particular to contemplate his own future after his time in Hell.

Disclaimer: Sadly I do not own anything except the story idea and any characters which do not appear in Kripke's creation…

Author Notes: Well this is my first fan fiction so please let me know whether or not I should continue with this story. All comments are welcome but please try not to flame, this is my first time…

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Prologue

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Forks of lightening streaked across the darkness, illuminating chains that criss-crossed in the vast expanse. Cries and screams could be heard all around. There was no way to block them out...

Dean Winchester came around from a troubled sleep, only partly knowing why he was awake. It had been another dream. Another nightmare... another memory. Dean had tried so hard to hide them from his family. He drank more, hoping the alcohol would not only dull his senses but also his mind. But nothing worked. He was always brought back to those Four months in Hell.

Those closest to him had tried to help, attempting to understand. But how could they? How can you tell your little brother of the horrors you had witnessed- the horror's which you committed- just so that he could live?

The answer was that Dean couldn't answer any of those questions because there were no words which could fully comprehend what he had witnessed in the pit. That was what he had told Sam when the truth about his nightmares had come to light.

Lying amidst the sheets of the latest motel, Dean's mind returned to the events of the past eight months.

He had been sent to Hell. Ripped to shreds by a hellhound in front of his brother as the deal he had made came due. He had then spent four months- no, forty years- in the pit being cut and sliced, in ways which could not be fathomed, until there had been nothing left- only to become whole for the process to begin again. Then an angel of the Lord had proceeded to 'raise him from perdition' to do God's work which involved stopping Sam from using his psychic mojo and preventing a damn apocalypse.

And then there had been Anna.

Dean felt his chest constrict ever so slightly as he pictured the once frightened young woman, who people had believed to be insane, all because she could hear the conversations of Angels. She had been hunted by Alistair - a reminder of Dean's time spent downstairs- who had wished to use Anna to find out what the other side was planning, while also wanted dead by Castiel and Uriel. Why? Because Anna was a Fallen Angel.

Anna had fallen from grace because she and wanted to feel emotions and to understand what it meant to be human after thousands of years watching in silence, with a yearning for home. Dean and Anna had hit it off immediately, and for one perfect night, had sought the solace of each other's arms. Dean could still remember it with perfect clarity. He could also remember the fight which had ensued after, resulting in Anna retaining her grace and returning to heaven, but not before she had claimed Alistair's life.

Even after nearly three months, Dean's thoughts still returned to Anna, and he couldn't deny the feelings he had for her. Knowing also, that the love they had would remain a memory which would fade over time, but leave a pain Dean would carry with him for the rest of his life.

"Hello Dean,"

Dean immediately twisted and sat up, turning Green eyes to see the familiar figure of Castiel sitting on the edge of the bed, just as he had done so many times before. Only this time, the angel was holding something in his arms,

Dean relaxed and let out a slight groan. " urgh, what do you want?"

"We need to talk, Dean," Castiel answered as a small whimpering began to sound from the bundle the and had began to bounce slightly in his arms. "Hush, Little One."

Dean sat up, the blankets falling from him, as he pushed himself up and peered over Castiel's shoulder. Only to find the angel holding a small child who appeared to be no more that a week old.

"What the-" Dean began, swinging his feet over the edge of the bed as he came to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Castiel as he demanded. "Whose kid is this?"

Castiel noted the undertone of suspicion in the humans voice. Ever since Anna had returned to heaven, Dean had lost some of the trust which he had placed in Castiel, and the Angel had unconsciously tried to restore some of what they had lost. It was a slow process. But over time, the wound caused by Castile's 'betrayal', as Dean had called it, after Anna's departure had slowly healed. Even though there was still a long way to go.

But now was not the time to worry about past grievances. Not with this new development, Castiel mused as he turned to look Dean in the eye. The angel let out an uncharacteristically weary breath.

"Anna was… with child, Dean, when she attained her grace."

The angel's voice was unnervingly calm. But Castiel could feel the human's dumbstruck feeling wash over him. Dean tensed. The words slowly seeping through his tired mind until their meaning became clear. Leaving the older Winchester at a loss for words.

Green eyes turned away from piercing blue as Dean let out a breath he hadn't realised he had been holding. Angels don't joke- they don't know how, Dean thought as he remembered the conversation he had partaken with Anna regarding the motives in choosing to fall and become human.

His eyes closed, and head bowed, Dean asked with a hint of uncertainty in his voice, "What are you saying?"

Castiel looked down to the child in his arms, now settled one more and deep in slumber, with a fistful of Castiel's trench coat in her small grip. She needed to be protected. Something his kind could not do because they did not understand the concepts of Human feelings, the Human heart. The child needed her father to keep her safe.

"The Child is yours, Dean. Your's and Anna's."

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TBC…