Disclaimer; I own nothing but the writing.

xxx

The snow fell silently around the Winchester brothers as they stood and watched Christmas morning dawn on the world. There was something magical about the way the rising sun turned the icy ground brilliant shades of orange and pink and violet. And the rest of the world was asleep, missing the beauty that surrounded them.

"Merry Christmas, Dean," Sam said softly, his breath puffing out in a cloud of steam in front of his mouth. Dean glanced down at him – he was still taller, but only just; his little brother was catching up – and smiled softly.

"Whatcha ask Santa for?" he teased lightly, nudging his brother in the side. Sam flushed and punched Dean's arm, just hard enough for it to sting.

"I'm fourteen, man. I don't believe in kid's stuff like that." Dean laughed and nodded, throwing an arm round Sam's shoulder and pulling him closer.

"Of course you don't." His tone was patronising, but both brothers knew he was joking, so he got away with nothing worse than another punch to his side.

Their dad was away, out on a hunt that was too dangerous for a couple of teenagers, so they were alone. Dean glanced at Sam out of the corner of his eye, trying to gauge whether Sam was okay with that or not. He didn't think his brother had ever had a proper Christmas before, and it broke his heart.

"What?" Sam was immediately defensive, pulling away from his older brother and walking over to the edge of the cliff they were standing on. "Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" Dean followed instinctively, needing to make sure his brother was safe.

"Like… I dunno. Like I'm something in a science lab and you're trying to work out what's the best way to dissect me or whatever." There was silence for a moment, then Dean burst out laughing.

"Maybe that is what I was doing. Maybe as soon as we get inside I'll tie you up and cut you open." The older Winchester lunged towards his brother, who dodged him and caught one arm, twisting it round and forcing Dean to the ground.

Dean landed with a thump, still laughing, and Sam dropped on top of him, a proud smile on his face.

"You're getting too tall, Sammy," Dean prodded his brother in the side and raised an eyebrow, "You might overtake me one of these days." Sam beamed, and for a moment he looked like any other fourteen-year old, play fighting with his older brother.

"When do you think Dad'll be back?" Sam asked softly, and Dean's smile fell.

"I don't know, Sammy. He didn't say."

"Do you think he'll be home in time for Christmas?" Dean hesitated, then nodded his head.

"I'm sure he will, Sam. He wouldn't want to miss any of the fun, would he? So why don't you go find the Christmas cassette, and I'll start on dinner, okay?" Sam's grin widened and he shot to his feet, dashing inside like a shot.

"You'd best come home in time for this Dad. Or you'll break Sammy's heart all over again," Dean muttered to the sky, fists clenching slightly.

It was times like these that made him wish for a normal life.