Chapter 2: A Time for Firsts

Co-writer: littlebender-thatcould

Song listened to while writing: "Hallelujah" by Kate Voegele

"Walk to momma, Adam," his mother called to the toddler staring up at her with nervous eyes. Adam shook his head and clung to the coffee table with his honey-colored teddy bear tucked underneath his arm. Kate let out a heavy sigh, exhausted from a long day at work.

"Adam, please? Momma is tired and wants to nap."

Adam's eyes widened when he saw the angel dressed in that familiar red and white outfit appear behind her. A large smile appeared across his face and he took his hands off the table. He squealed and slowly inched his way down the table. The angel nodded in approval, motivating the young child to take his first wobbly step away from the table.

"Oh my God... Yes! Good job, Adam!" Kate cheered.

It took Adam a moment to gain his balance, but once he did, he was able to take a few more steps toward his mom. He giggled and extended his arms, trying to run to reach the angel behind his mother, but Kate scooped him up and Samandriel disappeared. The toy bear fell to the ground.

"I'm so proud of you!" she cooed, kissing him of his cheek. "You did so good! Let's tuck you in for a nap now, okay, baby boy?" Adam's eyes became wet with tears as he tried desperately to pull away and retrieve the teddy bear on the floor. Despite his efforts,his mother held onto him tightly and carried her son back into his nursery.

Kate walked him over to his crib and set him down under the covers. She frowned when Adam raised his arms and let out a whimper.

"Adam, I already fed you," she explained. "You need to take a nap or you'll get fussy." Adam let out wail and started kicking his legs. "No, no, no please? Don't cry."

Kate walked over to his changing table and opened one of the draws to grab his pacifier. He had two, but for some reason, Adam favored the red one. She brought it over to him and stuck the pacifier in Adam's mouth. It calmed him down as the need for sleep started taking over the infant's small body. It had been a tiring day for baby Adam. Kate smiled and pulled the blankets over her son. "Goodnight, my little sweetheart."

The moment his mother left, Samandriel appeared at his bedside with Adam's teddy in his hand. He lowered the bear beside Adam's now sleeping form. "There you go, little guy," he whispered. The angel smiled as the boy wrapped his arms around the toy and tucked it underneath his chin.

-X-

It happened on Christmas Eve.

It was the first Christmas that Kate got to spend with Adam. She had gotten the night off since she had agreed to work Christmas day and the rest of the week. For the nights that she couldn't watch Adam, she would hire one of her co-worker's daughters to babysit or her mother would come over, happy to be spending time with her grandson. It wasn't a great arrangement, but it was the best that she could do.

A cozy fire crackled in the fireplace. It was rare when they had fires, but Kate figured that tonight was a special occasion. She also never found the time or the money to set up any Christmas decorations, so it was the least that she could do. Adam didn't seem to mind. He was sitting on his baby blanket with his favorite bear at his side. It's A Wonderful Life was airing on the television set and served as the source of Adam's interest.

Kate sat next to her mother on the couch with a glass of cheap wine in each of their hands.

"I still think you should have at least put up a tree," Kate's mother sighed. "I think Adam would have enjoyed it."

"Mom, I already told you a thousand times that I have been too busy with work. Do you know how much I've worked overtime? Please, just let it go."

"I know, dear. But Adam wouldn't have any Christmas presents if I hadn't come over. Your father and I made sure that you and Abby had presents when you were both little. Even when we couldn't afford them."

"Actually, mom, I have some things for Adam in the kitchen," Kate lied. "I was hoping that you could wrap them with me." She could feel the tension growing between them and wanted to lure her mother into the kitchen, away from Adam. He was too young and innocent to be exposed to any foul language. He hadn't spoken his first words yet and Kate would never forgive herself if his first word ended up being a curse word. She stood up and closed the screen and the glass doors of the fireplace and led her mother into the kitchen.

Adam sat happily, watching the character George running across the bridge, crying out to the angel Clarence. He couldn't really understand what was going on, but he liked hearing the voices and watching their faces. Adam lifted his teddy and gave it a small squeeze, as if he were hugging George, who looked troubled and sad.

The argument between Kate and her mother lasted for about 20 minutes.

"Maybe if you could have kept that man around you wouldn't have to work so much!" Kate's mother snapped.

"I had to pay for this house all by myself. I didn't even ask for your help or John's. I didn't need John and I still don't need him!"

"But do you honestly think that Adam is happy spending the nights with some strange teenager tucking him in? He's going to wind up being just like his father. He needs his mother, Kate!"

"How dare you," Kate gasped. "I am a damn good mother and John Winchester is a good man. He had his reasons for leaving, but that is none of your business. I don't need you judging how I raise my son. You can get the hell out of my house if you're so against it!"

"Fine!" Kate's mother stormed over to her coat, her short heels clicking against the white tile angrily. She yanked her large, puffy black coat off the hook and whipped out her car keys. "Then obviously, you don't need my help watching him tomorrow," she added. With that, she left the house, slamming the door behind her.

Kate stood there for a long moment, replaying her mother's departing words in her head. She filled up her glass until wine hit the very top of the glass. Her back was pressed against the refrigerator. After a large gulp, she slid down the cool metal until her rear met the floor. Her head ached with stress and she feared the thought of searching for a baby sitter on such short notice. Kate buried her face into her arms as tears streamed down her face. She stayed like that for a while. It wasn't until she heard the happy claps and giggles of her son in the other room that she stopped crying.

"Angel! Angel!" Adam cheered.

For a second, Kate wondered if she was just imagining it. Wiping away her tears, she quickly rose to her feet and dumped the rest of her wine down the sink. She rushed into the living room and saw Adam smiling and waving at one of the windows that Kate remembered being broken.

"Adam? Did you just..?"

Adam jumped up and waddled over to the newly fixed window. He pointed a little finger at the glass and jumped up and down with excitement. "Angel!" he squealed once more.

Kate smiled and wiped away the last of her tears. She didn't understand why he was so fascinated with the window. Perhaps the child mistook the snowflakes as angels, but either way, it was an endearing sight. She walked over to him and pulled her son back into her arms. "Your first words," she sighed softly. "Oh, you know how to make everything better, don't you? I love you so much, Adam."

Once Adam was left alone, tucked in his crib, Samandriel returned to him with his bear and his blanket.

"Goodnight, Adam Milligan," Samandriel said gently, setting the bear beside the youngster and spreading his baby blanket across his little body.

"G'niigh, angel."