Claire quickly moved forward and picked Penny up off the floor, holding her tiny body to her chest.
"Oh, Pen," she whispered, kissing her daughter on the head.
John walked over to them both, and put one hand on Claire's back and the other on Penny's. Penny turned to look at him, reaching a tiny hand out towards him. Claire smiled softly, as tears filled her eyes.
"Okay, I think we should like.. go now!" Sam whispered, as he kept glancing from the room to the hall.
John looked over at his sons, and nodded. Wrapping his arm around Claire's waist, they made their way down the hall and the stairs. As Claire stood a few feet back with Penny, she watched as John and the boys dumped oil around the house and on the old porch. By the time they were done and at her side, the flames were wrapped around the front of the house.
As the house burned, the Winchester men, Claire and Penny ran off into the night. From a figure stood within the trees and watched, smiling to itself. It would only be a matter of time, before they'd meet face to face.
They walked all night and all day, returning to Claire's house by eight that evening. The back porch light went on, as they walked across the lawn and up the stairs. Penny was asleep, as John carried her into the house.
"There's a bathroom down here, and three upstairs," Claire said, as they dropped their bags near the backdoor.
As Sam and Dean walked through the house, one towards the downstairs bathroom, the other up the stairs, Claire went to turn the heat up in the freezing house. When she came back into the kitchen, John was looking down at the sleeping child in his arms.
"Um, I'll take her up to my bathroom and give her a bath," she said, breaking him out of his daze.
He nodded, and followed her up the stairs to Penny's room. Setting the little girl on the changing table, John watched as Claire moved about the room, searching for clean clothes and a fresh diaper. As she went through the dresser, Claire looked back over at him.
"You can take the bathroom next to your room, I've got her from here," she said, as she found a clean set of pajamas.
John quietly left the bedroom and went to his own, while Claire carried Penny into her room and straight to the bathroom. After a quick bath, she dressed Penny and laid her in the center of her bed. Claire showered and dressed in a pair of pajama bottoms and an old shirt, before stepping out of the bathroom. Penny was still asleep on the bed, and Claire settled herself slowly and quietly next to her.
As Penny slept, Claire watched her. The rise and fall of her tiny chest, and the way she made her hands into little fists as she moved about in her slumber. There was a light knock on the door, making Claire jump.
"Come in," she said softly, before turning her gaze back down to Penny.
The door opened, and John stood in the doorway, watching them both.
"Is she still asleep?" he asked, as he walked over to the bed.
Claire nodded, and looked up at him. Freshly cleaned and wearing his own sleep attire, John sat down on her bed and reached out to brush the damp brown curls away from Penny's forehead. Penny moved her head towards his hand, and yawned. The motion, made Claire want to cry.
"Claire?" John asked, his voice gruff.
"Yeah.." she whispered, watching as Penny took hold of John's finger.
It was silent for what felt like ages, until he finally spoke.
"Is she mine?"