I am slightly hungover as I write and it's no great surprise. I went to my fave bar and the DJ put on Bonnie Tyler as soon as I walked in. Before anyone knew it I was kicking up my knickers in front of a bunch of bemused tourists and American backpackers! Yay - the old bitch still has it!

I was so chuffed to read all the reviews as you get to grips with this story...thanks for the compliments re: my xmas carol! I was laughing so much when I wrote that thinking of Dean and Sam's attempts to butcher Silent Night.

We have another carol here which is so fitting it's scary and also another great great song...if you don't speak French then check Wikipedia for the translation of the French National anthem. I had the Edith Piaf version playing as I wrote...it's rousing to say the least!

More rousing than that? My ability to get the boys BOTH naked in the midst of a demon attack...please send fan mail to the usual address...

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Dean was running out of air, patience and bravado in that order. He'd been in some tight spots before but this took the prize.

The water had long since reached Dylan who was shivering on his ledge and Dean was clinging to a pipe holding Brooke to him. His head was almost touching the ceiling and he figured they had another ten minutes if that.

"I need to push." His sister in law said desperately into Dean's neck as her teeth banged against one another.

Dean pulled her to him, she was so close he could feel each movement in her belly like it was happening to him too. She was in some serious pain but he figured the icyness of the water was as good as any epidural which helped, neverthless he was still astonished by her bravery.

"Guys don't talk about this stuff too much but I know you have some strong pelvic floor shit going on. Just hold that baby in there darlin' I swear he's coming...he won't be long."

"I can't do it." She told him through tears. "Oh god..."

"You can do it Mommy...just think of Lily."

"I'm trying."

Dean could feel the skin of his palm freezing to the pipe in his hand as he felt the muscles in his shoulder struggle to cope with the pressure. His mouth went to Brooke's ear as he took deep breaths urging her to follow. "Just breathe..."

Dylan's little body was shaking badly and his eyes had grown heavy but he hadn't complained once making Dean prouder than he could ever have imagined. "C'mon Dyl, give us a tune."

Dylan had still been in school the previous Christmas and had played Joseph in the nativity play. The whole extended family had come to see it, taking up two entire rows of the hall. Everyone had cried when he had sung his solo, even his Uncle. He tried to remember the song now and he found it helped focus his mind on something other than the cold.

Oh little town of bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim the holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear christ enters in.

Oh holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today
We hear the christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us, our lord emanuel.

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Sam lifted up Talia's shirt and checked the wounds. They were pretty deep and pumping out enough blood for it to be worrying.

"We need to get you some help." He told her as Bonnie handed him some fabric to stem the flow.

"There's no time...the others are in trouble." She struggled. "He did something to them."

"Where are they?" Bonnie asked.

Talia moved and Sam helped her to her feet as she held the cloth to her. "I don't know...but he does."

They turned as Nitro limped out of the store. One of his hind legs was tucked up to his belly as he haltingly moved past them. Sam watched the dog as it turned to him and barked once impatiently like it was calling him a dick.

"Are you ok to walk?" He asked Talia who nodded as they all followed the dog.

Nitro seemed to pick up his pace as he reached the bank and started to bark frantically as Sam knew without a doubt he would find his family in there. He grabbed the Colt and gestured at the women to stay behind him as he walked into the small branch. "Dean?" He called.

He didn't hear anything but Nitro walked past him and went through to the back barking at the vault. Sam realized in horror where they were and looked at his feet as he saw water trickle under the metal door. He holstered the gun and started banging on the metal frantically. "Dean!"

When he heard his brother's voice it was like being home again, but his relief was short-lived as he heard his little boy. "Daddy help us...we're drowning."

"Oh my god." Bonnie whispered as Sam looked frantically at the lock.

"Dean! hang in there!" Sam yelled. "Shit." He said to Bonnie. "It's a time lock. There's no way of opening it."

"Can't we blow it?" She asked him.

"It'd take a mother load of C4 and probably take them all out too." Sam told her, trying to think fast.

"Sammy! The baby's on her way and we got about two inches of free air in here!" Dean yelled. "Now's the time to start fuckin' praying."

Sam knew he only had one option and that was to reawaken his dormant abilities. "Hold on..." he shouted through the door. "Just hold on."

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The Impala was just a block from the Mall when the engine sputtered and died. Johnny turned the key and pumped the clutch but it was useless.

"This car doesn't give out in battle, it's like the metallic version of Dad." Hope said.

"Heads up, there's a demon in the vicinity." Bobby said without having to actually see it to know.

"What do we do?" Steve asked frantically.

"We fight." Luc said.

"We haven't got the Colt." Cole reminded them.

"So I'm thinking we're winging it then?" Johnny asked as hordes of zombies walked towards the car with an extremely pissed off looking young woman leading them.

Hope leaned forwards and squinted through the windscreen as she got a good look at her doppelganger.

"Holy shit!" Cole exclaimed.

"Merde."

They all sat in stunned silence as Hope's twin stood in front of the car waiting for her as the zombie's all paused behind her.

"I guess that's my cue." She said quietly.

"For what?" Steve almost shouted.

"It's me she wants." Hope told them all.

"Over my dead body." Cole replied.

She looked at her brother. "Look, we can run as much as we want or we can end this now."

"How the hell are you gonna take her out without the Colt?" Johnny turned and looked at her.

Hope shrugged. "If she was sent by the forces of darkness, I have to believe that I was put here by the opposition. I'll reason with her."

"Reason with her? Are you kidding?" Her Uncle exclaimed.

"You're not taking her on." Cole told her.

"Watch me." Hope climbed over him batting his hands away as she opened the rear door and scrambled out into the blizzard.

Bobby was the last one to climb out of the car as he watched his adopted granddaughter walk out into the snow fearlessly. He had seen a lot in his day but this was the first time he could honestly say that he was witnessing history in the making.

Hope was covered in blood, it was freezing cold and her hands were blistered but she didn't give a shit as she removed her jacket and let it drop to the ground. She stared into the demon's eyes as she felt her family create a cordon behind her making it a stand off worthy of Hollywood.

"Your bitch of a mother just killed my brother." The demon said through clenched teeth.

Hope smiled. "That sounds like her. Go Mom."

"I almost don't wanna tear you to shreds, you're so pretty."

She shrugged. "I'm not dying tonight."

"You think the Village People are gonna save you?"

"No, I think I'm gonna kick your ass." Hope said taking a step forwards. "You gonna let that bunch of freaks fight your fight, or are you gonna take it like a man?"

The demon laughed. "You don't have any powers...it's almost pathetic."

"I have what it takes but if you don't wanna get your hands dirty, I'll just call you a pussy right now and we can all go home."

The woman sized her up and took a step forwards. "Ok, let's see what you're made of."

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Sam held his head in his hands as he tried to focus his mind. Bonnie and Talia watched him in nervous silence but it was obvious that he was struggling under the massive pressure.

He marched back to the door suddenly and banged on it. "Dylan?!"

He could hear the sound of water splashing and then his son's little voice. "Daddy do something."

"I'm trying sweetheart but I need your help." He said as his hand moved to the top of the door imagining his son doing the same. "If we work together we can open this door! Can you feel my hand?"

There was a moment of silence then, "Yeah! Totally!"

"Ok, focus everything you have..." He shouted through the steel. "...all your fear, anger and love and just channel it." Sam swayed on his feet slightly and closed his eyes as he felt his own emotions overwhelm him.

Bonnie watched as the huge vault door began to groan. Nitro barked and she laid a hand on his fur to calm him.

Sam took a few paces backwards and looked at her and Talia. "Get out of here, once that gives the water will come out like a tidal wave."

They did as he said and left the bank as Sam stood silent and alone feeling all his latent abilities come back. He concentrated on his son's face, his brother's voice and the thought of his baby girl as the metal started to warp.

"It's working!" Dylan shouted.

"Stay focused." His father called out.

It took a couple of minutes of hideous inanimate metallic moans before the locking mechanism suddenly gave and the door flew open spilling out torrents of water and one little boy.

Sam's feet remained steady as he caught Dylan to him and lifted the freezing child up. The little boys arms went around his neck as he cried. "We did it!"

"You did it Dyl." He said kissing his cold cheek and passing him to Bonnie who had waded over.

Sam went back to the vault and saw Dean still clutching onto the pipe in the ceiling holding onto Brooke as he fought to keep a grip.

"I got her." Sam told him as he took his wife in his arms. She collapsed onto him exhausted and cold as Dean finally let go of the pipe and sank to the floor.

"This baby's coming." Brooke managed as her teeth continued to chatter.

Sam hoisted her higher in his arms as Bonnie walked in and helped Dean up. "We're gonna have to deliver that baby right now! Did you get the demon?" He said as he got to his feet.

Bonnie took control as the brothers floundered slightly. "Yeah, he's gone. Follow me. I know where to go."

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Hope raised her fists and assumed the stance that almost came easier to her than breathing.

"You can't trust her not to use her powers." Cole shouted.

Hope eyed her clone menacingly. "Brothers are great aren't they? They really look out for you. Shame yours is toast."

The right fist whipped out but Hope was ready and ducked the blow kicking out her foot causing the demon to fall on her ass. The zombies became restless and began to move towards the Impala.

"Oh my God!" Steve almost squealed as Johnny moved in front of him with a loaded shotgun.

"Cole, you have a plan?" Johnny asked.

"Kick ass?" He replied as he watched his sister pound her double.

Luc engaged his shotgun causing a cracking sound and looked at them all. "It's like the storming of Le Bastille. We hold the line." He yelled before he shocked them all by starting to sing.

Allons enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'étendard sanglant est levé
Entendez vous dans les campagnes,
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
Egorger nos fils, nos compagnes!

As the zombies moved towards them they all stood in front of the Impala with their weapons raised as Luc continued to sing. Johnny stared at the Frenchman in amazement. "Is that his National Anthem?"

Bobby nodded, and Johnny shrugged as he launched himself at the first zombie that arrived.

Aux armes, citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons!
Marchons! Marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!

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Unlike Dean, Bonnie had been to the Mall and knew it inside out. Sam walked behind her carrying Brooke and Dean followed with Dylan as Bonnie kept hold of Talia.

"Ok, here." Bonnie told them as she stepped over the shattered window of Bed Bath and Beyond.

"Works for me." Dean said as he followed her inside.

The interior of the store was blissfully intact and a bedroom furniture display would have to replace the manger as Sam laid his wife on the large bed.

Brooke's teeth wouldn't stop chattering and she was losing consciousness despite the pain as Sam examined her. "Ok..." He said looking at her. "She's on her way." He didn't waste a second as he removed her clothes. "Dean! Get Dylan out of his duds...he'll freeze." He shouted over his shoulder.

Dean knelt in front of his nephew and stripped him as Bonnie handed him a comforter.

"You too Dean." She said.

Bonnie cradled Dylan in her arms trying to get his circulation going as Dean began to strip off his icy clothes. Talia gave him a towel and he wrapped it around him as he went to the bed. "How is she?"

"She's going into shock." Sam said desperately as he wrenched off his own shirt and unbuttoned his jeans.

Dean tried hard to think as he watched his brother climb into bed with his naked wife in an attempt to get some heat back into her body. "Ok...we're gonna need boiling water and..."

"Dean!" Bonnie said. "Don't panic..." She let Dylan go and went to the bed lifting up the covers and shifting Brooke's legs to take a look. "She's about eight centimeters dilated. Don't push Brooke. It's not time." She turned to Dean as Sam frantically rubbed his wife's skin trying to revive her.

"Get me something to clamp the cord and a shit load of towels."

Dean went to do as he was told as Dylan moved to her side. His eyes were like saucers. "Is that her head?!" he asked pointing.

Bonnie smiled but didn't stop him from looking. Not many men could watch childbirth and think it was a miracle but she knew they would all feel differently once the baby was born. "Yeah, that's your little sister."

"Wow."

Bonnie placed her hand on Brooke's ice cold stomach. "Hang in there...you're doing really well." She told her softly.

She left them for a second and turned to Talia who was sat on the floor. "How are you darling?"

"I'm ok." She said quietly.

"Let me see." Bonnie removed the blood soaked cloth and lifted her shirt. Talia's stomach was slashed to ribbons and it wasn't looking good.

Dean came back with towels. "Will bulldog clips do?"

Bonnie shrugged as she stood up. "Talia's not doing so well." She whispered. "But I have to stay with Brooke."

Dean nodded. "It's ok, I'll look out for her." He took a moment to check in. "Do you know what happened to the others?"

Bonnie looked at him sadly. "We haven't seen Johnny or Steve, Marshall's dead and..."

"Ok," He said softly as he hugged her. "Let's get through this and then we'll go find the kids."

She clung to him and gained strength from his body despite the cold. "You think they'll be ok?"

"Bobby and Luc are with them and the kids are both badass. They'll be fine." As he held her he realized just how much he had missed her and thought of the pact that he had made with Johnny to prove just how much she meant to him.

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Hope felt the kick reverberate through her head and down through her body like an electric shock. The bitch was strong and she was trying her best to remember what her father had taught her. All the times she had berated him for his stern training and bitched about the adrenaline not allowing her to sleep, came back to bite her on the ass as she realized what it was all in aid of.

As she lay on her back in the snow she had a sudden memory of making snow angels with her Dad and brother when they were kids. Dean rarely did anything he didn't think was cool unless it was to please his kids. When it came to making them laugh he would always act the moron and they loved him for it. The thought of her father revived her and she pulled her legs up, rolled on her shoulders and flipped onto her feet.

Wiping the blood from her nose she looked at the carnage around her and felt the power rise within her. She may not be able to shoot flames out of her hands or move the Earth but she had the undeniable conviction that she was indestructible. In that one moment Hope suddenly understood her father and her own place in the world.

"C'mon fanny features, you're boring me now." Hope said as she rose to full height and faced her demon.

"You can't do anything to stop us."

"Us? There's you and one more...your success rate against us ain't looking too good."

The demon laughed. "You think we're that dumb? We've had a sleeper in your family the whole time."

Hope paused and looked at her through slitted eyes. "A sleeper?"

"All it takes is one little trigger and you're through girlfriend."

The demon's hand rose and Hope knew instintively she was about to use her powers against her. Looking down she saw her machete. Hooking the toe of her boot under it she flicked it upwards and caught it in her right hand. "Hasta la vista baby." She said as she spun in a circle and decapitated her with one smooth movement. She didn't want to take any chances so she hacked off all the bitches limbs and flung them away from her.

Like magic the noise stopped and the night was silent as Hope turned to the Implala with the bloodied sword dangling in her hand.

"Everyone ok?" She asked.

Cole paused as the zombie in front of him dropped to the ground without him having to do a thing. He looked at his sister and felt the others do the same. She looked the same yet completely different as she walked slowly towards them stepping over the discarded bodies.

"I guess that takes care of that." Johnny said slowly as even the snow seemed to take a rest from falling.

"Piece of cake." Hope said as she held her body to Luc's and kissed him deeply.

When she pulled away even he looked a little rattled by her new vibe. "You ok?"

"I'm better than ok...I'm high!" She shouted into the night sky causing Bobby to flinch.

"What?" Cole asked.

"It's like an orgasm, only a hundred times better." She told him as she spun in a circle.

"Can I get me some?" Johnny asked with a frown.

Hope ignored him as she grabbed the front of her brother's shirt. "Dad told us to channel the adrenaline and the horn...but Christ...I had no idea it could be like this!"

"What the hell's going on?" Johnny asked Bobby.

Bobby smirked. "Christ, this ain't nothin', you shoulda seen Dean when he hit puberty...it was like a freakin' cannon going off, nearly impregnated half of Nebraska."

"Are you saying she just killed a demon with her hormones?"

Bobby shrugged. "It could happen...she's like Dean only ten times worse, feels no pain...no remorse...it's what she was born for and we just witnessed her rebirth."

"Poor Luc. Remind me not to piss her off when she's on rag."

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a helicopter. Flood lights shone down on them as it hovered up above and they all shielded their eyes.

"What the...?" Cole yelled as a voice shouted at them through a megaphone.

"You're surrounded. Put your weapons down and lie on the ground!" Came the demand.

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Dean had finally gone shopping in the mall and had actually found some clothes that he liked. He was feeling like his old self as he picked Talia up and carried her over to one of the beds in the store. Brooke had been revived and he didn't know if he was thankful of that fact as her screams filled the air.

He laid the nymph down and the dog appeared at his side with his limp. Dean knew Dylan wasn't far behind as he laid out the medical supplies he'd gotten from the drugstore.

"Couldn't hack the birth?" He asked his nephew as he sat on the bed.

"Do they always yell like that?" Dylan asked worriedly.

"No idea. It can't be easy though." Dean said with a frown.

Talia kicked out at him. "He needs to be reassured." She tutted as she turned to the little boy. "It hurts but it's what your mother was born to do."

"Why would she want to do it more than once? It sounds horrible!"

Talia smiled at him as Dean began to clean the wounds on her stomach. "You know when you eat too much ice cream and you get that headache?"

"Just there!" Dylan said as he pointed at his forehead.

"It hurts, but it doesn't stop you from eating ice cream again right?"

"Oh, you're gooooood." Dean said with a smile.

"Who are you?" Dylan asked innocently as he looked at the nymph and voiced what Dean had been begging for in all these weeks.

"Just Talia."

"But why are you here?"

"I came here with one of my men." She replied.

"When?" Dean asked.

"If I tell you his name was Columbus, that answer your question?"

"You're joking!"

Dylan looked confused as he glanced between them.

"All great men have a muse, you think Mona Lisa was just some chick?"

Dean shrugged. "Why Cole?"

She smiled as he dabbed at her wounds. "I don't make the choice. They find me...if I'm with Cole then it means he's destined for great things."

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Sam held Brooke in front of him as she bore down.

Bonnie was on the bed in front of her grinning. "Ok...wait!" She said. "We got a shoulder out... one last push and it's all over."

"We're almost there." Sam told her as her face went red and she started to scream.

"Oh my god!" Bonnie yelled as she delivered the baby. "She's here."

Brooke sank back against her husband as Sam waited for the baby to cry. When it didn't come he shot Bonnie a glance.

"It's ok, she's fine." She told him as she clamped off the cord. "You wanna cut it?"

Sam nodded and took the scissors from her, cutting the cord and finally taking the baby.

He looked down at her nestled in his large hands and couldn't believe she was finally there. He took a towel and gently cleaned her as she shook her tiny fists in protest making him smile and fall in love instantly.

"She feels so warm." He told his wife as he leaned back and placed the baby on her chest. "You protected her."

The others finally made their way back and Dylan looked slightly stunned as he looked at the baby. "Woah."

Sam grinned. "I know...do you wanna say hello?" He asked.

Dylan climbed over Sam and stared at his sister on Brooke's chest. "She's so little."

"You were that little too once." Sam told him.

"Hi Lily." He said stroking her cheek. He knew that even if she could hear him she wouldn't understand his words but he felt the need to say them anyway. "I'm your big brother and I'm going to look after you forever. I promise."

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