Christmas 1982
Matt and Amy came to Kansas for Christmas. It was their first time visiting since Dean was born. They wished they were able to get there more often, but they just didn't have the money. They did talk to the family every week on the phone, though. Dean loved talking to Grammy and Grampy.
When John answered the door, Dean came running in. "Grammy! Grampy!" he yelled.
"Dean, you look even bigger than in your pictures," Amy said as Matt scooped him up.
"Guess what! Guess what! Guess what!" he shouted.
Amy laughed. "I have no idea. What?"
"Mommy and Daddy say I'm going to be a big brother."
That wasn't how they had planned on telling them, but this was even better. Mary walked in from the other room just then.
"Oh, Mary. Another baby. I'm so happy for you."
"Thanks. We're so excited. With John and me not having any siblings, we both wondered if we were missing out on something. We wanted to make sure Dean didn't."
"I'm going to be the bestest big brother ever."
"I bet you will be," Matt said as he put his grandson on the floor.
SSS
Matt and Amy stayed for a week. They hated to leave. "We'll be back the end of April for the birth of the baby. Not going to take any chances on you being early and us missing it again," Amy said.
Mary laughed. "Sorry about that. My due date is May 5th. So, if you're here by the end of April, you shouldn't miss it."
John offered to drive them to the airport, but they said they would take a cab. A half an hour later the phone rang. There had been a car accident. Matt and Amy Winchester were dead.
John and Mary were devastated, but they had to keep it together for Dean. Plus, it wasn't good for the baby for Mary to get too upset. The days dragged on.
SSS
May 2nd, 1983
John left Dean with his partner Charlie and went to the hospital to await the birth of his second child. He kind of hoped this one was a girl. He wanted a little Mary running around.
"It's a boy," the doctor said when he came out.
John was not disappointed. He loved his son as much as he would have a daughter.
"Let's name this one Samuel," John said.
"But, I thought," Mary said, not quite knowing how to finish the sentence.
"I don't want to spend the rest of my life holding a grudge against your father. You loved him and he loved you and that's all that matters. I don't know what happened at the end of his life. Maybe he had a brain tumor or something."
"Samuel Matthew it is then," Mary said.
John smiled through his tears. He missed his parents so much. He knew Mary did, too. She also missed hers. He hoped they would be around a long time for their kids. Neither of them saw the man with the yellow eyes smiling at them from the hallway.
SSS
They had fulfilled their heavenly purpose and the writing fell off of their hearts. John slowly felt his feelings for Mary change, but he could figure out exactly how. Mary was so wrapped up in the children she didn't notice.
SSS
Three months later
"Mary, I think we need a break," John said.
"What?" Mary asked confused.
"I'm just not sure I can live this life any more. I don't know if I'm cut out to be a husband and father."
"Where is this coming from?" Mary demanded. She had to admit, the first flush of love had faded a little in the last few months, but surely that was normal. They were settling in to the second phase of their life.
"Charlie said I could stay with him for a few days. I'll go say good-bye to Dean."
SSS
Two days later
Mary hadn't heard anything from John. She had no idea what was happening. She didn't even have a job. If John left her how would she and the kids live? That made her realize it was time for Dean's lunch. She walked up to his room where he was playing with his little cars.
"Are you hungry, Dean?"
Dean nodded vigorously. Mary didn't think he ever answered that question in the negative. They went downstairs and she made him a peanut butter sandwich. She was keeping an ear open for Sammy.
"Want me to cut the crust off?"
"Yes, please," Dean said.
Mary smiled. Dean was so polite. The phone rang. She answered it.
"Hello?"
"Mary, I need more time to think."
"No, John. You have two young boys at home. You belong here." She turned away from Dean. He didn't need to hear this.
But, Dean was hearing it. He was mad at Daddy. How could he make mommy sad like this? When she got off the phone, Dean decided to make everything better. He walked over to him and she got down on her knees to his level. "It's OK, mommy. I still love you."
"You are my little angel," Mary said and hugged him tightly. John might be a jerk, but his son was perfect.
SSS
One week later
John showed up on the front doorstep with his suitcase. "I'm so sorry," he said.
"It's OK," Mary said. If she had learned anything from her father, it was that holding a grudge, only caused the grudge holder pain. Whatever was going on with John seemed to be over.
John had spent the last couple of weeks analyzing his feelings. His feelings had changed, but he still loved Mary. It was just a different kind of love. He wasn't sure why or how. All he did know was that he couldn't live without her.
"Daddy!" Dean yelled and ran up to him. John swept him up.
"Hey, Dean."
"Do you promise never to leave again?"
"I promise," John said as he looked over Dean at Mary. She smiled at him. She could tell he meant it.
