Hell found me. Cold, dark, and caring for a newborn child, hell found me. I no longer know who to turn to. In this small town word gets around fast. And having a child at my age, well that makes you an outcast. You wait until you are married and all grown up. I always hated growing up here. Everybody knew everybody. If you stepped out of line, the town knew within minutes. And man, did I step out of line this time. Or did I? I don't recall actually doing anything, to anybody. I'm still the same person I was, just more mature, more grown up. I'm still sweet little Ava Ross. Or I was. The world hates me, threw me out on my own. They say I did terrible things, but they don't truly know. They also say terrible things were done to me. Like that man. That muscular, beautiful man. I don't even know his full name, but he told me to call him Cas. That's what he liked. I knew him a short time, but I loved him. I let him do what he want. Which is why I now have this child at the tender age of 19. He told me he was an angel. I knew he was lying, but he was an angel to my eyes, and to my heart. He stayed with me for a week. One week, then he left.

0 0 0

"You know I will never come back right?" he whispered to me as we laid naked in his bed.

"You keep saying that, but for some reason I know you'll come back. You love me right?" I tried to stay calm. I knew this was coming, and I was going to stay strong, for him.

"Ava Hope Santiago, I love you. You are my heaven, and my salvation. I will keep you safe, but I must keep a distance."

"Cas, do you understand?! You leaving me will not keep me safe! Cas I need you!" So much for staying strong. Those last words brought the water works.

"You need me?"

"More than life itself."

He looked at me coldly before he replied, "Would you die for me?"

"In a heartbeat."

"Then fine. I still have to leave, but I will come back. Give me one year. On this exact day next year I will be in this exact apartment which I expect you to live in until I return for you, is that understood?"

"Why are you leaving me alone?"

He kissed me goodbye and told me he loved me for the last time before walking out the door. No explanation, no second glance, second thought, nothing. He just left me here, alone.

0 0 0

That's my worst memory. It's a sad one, but it will be over soon. He comes back tomorrow. He promised me. He wouldn't lie. But then again, how do I know? I fell in love with a stranger. I stared at our 3 month old daughter. She had the most beautiful blue eyes, just like him but my blonde hair, even though there wasn't much of it yet. I named her Eden Angelina Santiago. I knew that was a mouth full, but I figured he would be happy since he was so devoted to God. I mean Cas prayed more times a day than anyone in my little God-fearing town. I picked up Eden as she started crying her little lungs out.

"It's okay Eden. You're okay. You excited to see Daddy tomorrow?" After a while I got Eden down to bed, and then somebody knocked on the door of the tiny apartment and woke her back up. I picked her up, my heart was racing. Could that be Cas?

I walked over the door, carrying Eden. I opened it, excited but scared. Am I going to see the man I waited for, for a year? I opened the door. Two guys around my age, maybe a few years older stood in front of me. Neither one of them was Cas. My disappointment showed on my face. I was heartbroken but quickly changed realizing two strangers were standing in front of me.

"Uhm, can I help you?" My voice caught in my throat, so I cleared it.

The taller one replied. "Are you," he looked down at a piece of paper, "Ava Santiago?"

"Yes..." Now I was scared.

"Don't be scared," guess they could tell, "Castiel sent us."

"Cas? Is he okay? He's still coming tomorrow right?" My mind was racing. I pulled Eden closer to me, almost crying.

The shorter one spoke up this time. "Cas is fine Ava. But instead of him coming to get you, we are. You can trust us. We're going to take you to him. I promise we will not hurt you."

"Why isn't he coming?" I could feel the tears come down. Did I wait for a year to be stood up?

"It's hard to explain, but I promise Cas will. We are staying in the motel right down the street. We can take you there, or you can follow behind in your car. We could even walk if that's what you would prefer."

"I want to walk."

"Okay, would you like to go now?"

"As soon as possible. I need to get her stroller."

They both looked down to Eden, as if realizing for the first time that she was there. They looked at me with sad eyes. I was tired of seeing that look on everyone's face when they saw I had a child.

"I'm Sam by the way. Sam Winchester. This is my brother Dean."

I walked to get her stroller from the closet. Struggling to hold her and grab the stroller, the shorter one named Dean grabbed the stroller for me. "Thank you. I'm Ava, as you obviously know. This is my daughter, Eden. She's Castiel's."

They both looked at each other. They looked shocked, it scared me a bit. "Well, let's get going."

0 0 0

The walk was quiet, but quick. Eden was sleeping in her stroller, which usually happens when I take her for a walk. I was nervous. My heart was racing, but I was beyond happy. I couldn't get the smile off my face. Castiel, using his full name now, was mere steps away from me. We got to the motel and went to room 232. We had to go up the stairs and Sam helped me take the stroller up the stairs. He was a nice guy. We stood outside the door while Dean unlocked it. They let me go in first, but I couldn't move. Here stood Castiel, the man I loved, the father of only child. I walked forward and ran to hug him. He wrapped his arms around me, kissing me. I was so in love and, for the first time that year, happy.