49
(3 weeks later)
"I love Christmas." Abbie declared as she sat on Bobby's couch, untangling his Christmas lights. "Everyone's always in a better mood, the kids are all excited. It's so cool. Didn't enjoy it much last year, making up for it this year though."
"Good for you, girl." Bobby smiled, Christmas normally just meant a lull in business for Bobby, and not much more to Sam and Dean, who usually got by with token presents from whatever gas station was near their motel. "Just holler if you need a hand putting stuff on the tree."
Bobby walked into his kitchen where Sam was making lunch for everyone. "Better not put much on Abbie's sandwich, she threw such a hissy fit this morning when she struggled to get her jeans fastened. And of course, it's all my fault..." Dean grumbled, glancing towards the living room, where Abbie was humming Christmas carols to herself. "I'm gonna need to brave the mall, or else she'll start stealing my shirts."
"Good luck with that, malls at Christmas are crazy."
"Yeah, thanks for that, Sammy." Dean thought for a moment, "How about your gift to me this year is you taking Abbie shopping?"
"Hey, I don't mind shopping. Did it with Jess all the time. Why don't I take her out later?" Sam suggested, sitting at the table, pulling out a newspaper.
"That'd give us a chance to work on that surprise." Dean told Bobby, "She has no clue." He grinned, "Hey, grub's up!" He called through to her.
"I'm starving." She announced as she walked in, and picked up her sandwich. "Jeez, Sam, you trying to put me on a diet?"
"Dean said-" Sam defended himself.
"Dean was just saying how beautiful you are." Dean interrupted, avoiding eye contact with her. "Maybe we shrunk those jeans at the laundromat."
"I think we know it wasn't the laundromat." Abbie sighed, taking a bite of her sandwich. "I'm officially fat."
"No, you're officially in your second trimester." Dean corrected, "Sam's offered to take you to the mall today. Kinda early Christmas gift."
"For me or you?" Abbie asked with a smirk, "I know you hate the mall."
"Actually, Dean and I had planned to paint your room today, so it's probably better to be outta the house." Bobby told her.
"You guys are trying to get rid of me?" Abbie asked, "What you planning?"
"Nothing, honestly, we just got some DIY to do." Dean answered.
"Actually..." Sam handed the newspaper to Dean, "Two guys have went missing in Seattle, taken from their homes..."
"Don't do this to us, Sam." Abbie sighed, "It's a week before Christmas."
"I know, Abbie, but we need to check this out before any more little kids lose their dads." Sam tried to reason.
"Our only Christmas." She reminded him.
"Sweetheart, how about Sam and I check this out, and I promise you we'll be back before Christmas Eve?" Dean bargained, "We'll still have Christmas together."
"Maybe we can have Ellen and Jo here instead of going to the Roadhouse." Sam suggested, while Bobby nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, whatever." Abbie mumbled, "I'm not so hungry anymore." She put down the sandwich and walked back through to the living room.
"Great." Dean sighed, "Guess I gotta sort this out."
"Given it's your fault she's hormonal." Sam smirked, eating his sandwich.
"I appreciate the support, Sammy, really." Dean snarked, walking through to the lounge. "So, I'm getting you're less than happy." He commented, standing at the door to the lounge, watching as she threw the Christmas decorations back in their box. "Honey, you know this is what we do."
"Go do it then." She told him flatly, "I'm not stopping you."
"You ok here with Bobby? We'll only be a couple of days tops."
"I'll be fine, go save the strangers." She sighed.
"C'mon, Abs." Dean looked at her, "I don't wanna go if you're gonna be upset over it."
"Just go, I'll be fine." She told him, "I can help Bobby with the painting."
"If you'd much rather we stayed-"
"Of course I'd much rather you were here, but that's not gonna happen. Just leave me a credit card and I'll hit the mall. God knows it's because of you I need to go shopping for a new wardrobe."
"It's my fault now, huh?" He asked with an edge to his voice. "Takes two, Abbie."
"Yeah, I get that, I studied biology you know." She snapped, "Don't even think about asking Bobby to supervise me shopping, I'm a big girl."
"Clearly." He eyed her tight jeans, smirking.
"You'd better go, if you want to be back for Christmas Eve." She looked at the clock, "Call me, ok?"
"Sure thing." Dean gave her a quick hug, and walked back into the kitchen. "All fixed."
"Am I going to the mall?" Bobby asked with a grimace.
"No, I've been warned to not ask you to babysit." Dean answered, "But I mean, if you happened to need to be at the mall..."
"She's not stupid, Dean." Bobby told him, "Anyways, I thought you were gonna let her off the leash a little."
"Shouldn't you guys be leaving?" Abbie walked back into the kitchen. "People to save and all?" Dean nodded and went to grab his and Sam's bag.
"Sorry about this, but you know we need to check it out." Sam told her.
"It's ok, I know you guys don't exactly have regular holidays." She conceded, "You bring him back for Christmas."
"Maybe I'll even put a bow on him." Sam laughed, "Stick him under the tree."
"Just bring him back in one piece in time for Christmas, that's all I'm asking Sam. I just want this to be a nice Christmas for all of us."
"OK, shall we?" Dean had reappeared in the kitchen, "For you." He handed Abbie a new credit card. "Merry early Christmas."
"Can you drop me at the mall?" Abbie asked.
"How you gonna get back?" Dean questioned, looking at the heavy rain outside.
"Umm, bus or cab."
"Call me when you're all done and I'll come pick you up." Bobby offered, "I have some stuff to pick up from town anyway."
"Why don't you guys go shopping together?" Dean suggested, feigning non interest.
"I don't think Bobby wants to come shopping for stretch jeans and maternity tops, I'm sure he has better things to do than babysit me." Abbie laughed, "Right Bobby?"
"Yeah, I got a load of stuff to translate anyway." Bobby told her, "I don't mind picking you up."
"Why don't you help Bobby with the translation instead of hitting the mall?" Dean again tried to dissuade her from going out.
"Because these jeans are verging on cutting off vital circulation, my shirts too tight...and I'm not wearing nothing but sweats from now until May." Abbie argued, "Are we going or what?"
"K, let's move out guys." Dean told Abbie and Sam, "Bye Bobby."
(At the mall)
"Knock yourself out." Dean told Abbie as he hugged her goodbye, "Not literally of course."
"I know." She smiled, "Take care, ok?"
"Always do." He smirked, getting back into the car.
"Bye guys."
Abbie browsed through some stores, picking out some new clothes to wear for now, and some small gifts for the guys. She was just about to call Bobby when she caught sight of a familiar figure. "K, who the hell are you?" She asked him, storming up to him.
"I mean you no harm." The man told her, calmly. "You should be calm, Dean would not approve of your elevated heart rate and blood pressure."
"I doubt he'd take too kindly to a stalker either."
"Stalker?" The man asked, "I am merely ensuring you and the child are safe."
"Safe?" Abbie asked, "Were we in danger?"
"I have observed Dean's..." The man thought, "apprehension at you being out alone."
"Dean worries too much." Abbie told him, "And believe me, you following me isn't helping."
"It was not my intention to scare you, or Dean."
"How do you know all about us?"
"I have been charged with ensuring your safety and the continuation of the Winchester line."
"Who charged you with that? No one asked me if I wanted a freaking babysitter."
"My father." The man answered, raising his eyes skyward, "Dean asked it of him."
"Dean asked-"
"I had already spoken to you, eased your fears, then Dean confirmed that it was what he wanted, so I was officially charged."
"I'm calling Dean." She pulled out her cell phone, frowning when it refused to work.
"It is not necessary for him to know of my....presence, just know that I will do all in my power to protect you if needs be."
"What's your name?"
"Castiel." The man replied, "I am an angel of the Lord. Dean will not believe I am so, his faith is weak, he may misunderstand my reason for watching over you. Believe I mean you harm."
"You appear in my dreams."
"I chose this way to communicate with you, you are more open to my influence then. You must realise yourself that I mean no harm. I know you already confided to Ellen Harvelle what you suspected my true nature to be. She is not so sure of my good intentions. That is why it is important that this stays between us."
"Can you save Dean?"
"I have not been charged with that task, I'm sorry." Castiel looked regretful. "Bobby is worried about you, you should go to the exit to meet him." He took her bags and walked alongside her until she reached the door.
Abbie spied Bobby's old truck parked nearby, and took her bags back from Castiel. "Thank you, Castiel." But he had already gone.
