Thank you so much Blondie 20000, Leann Nickerson, Kathy, Secretwrittenword and Bing-a-Ling27 for all the feedback on this story! Not a lot of Sam here but there will be more in Chapter 11. Awww John really acknowledges his shortcoming as a father here and he's trying to be a real father to Dean...the father he was prior to the fire.

Thank you again and I hope people enjoy this chapter. Thanks Val

Chapter 10

John looked up when the school bell range from his spot on the front porch. Last night while giving Dean his bath the child declared that since he was Daddy's 'Little Man' that he was big enough to walk to school by himself.

Watching Dean become more independent was harder this time around than John had imagined it could be. Probably because he knew when this spell was over his son would be a grown man overnight and wouldn't need him the same way anymore.

If that realization wasn't hard enough to deal with now time seemed to be rushing too quickly for John. Tomorrow was Halloween and he had agreed with Sam to allow Dean to go trick or treating.

He had wanted to tell Dean that he was too little to walk to school by himself but considering the 'walk' was on the other side of the garden path that connected the rectory's side yard to the church side yard where the entrance for the school was he knew he couldn't say no….not without Sam and Jim giving him grief.

So this morning after Dean was dressed and fed John made sure his backpack was ready, that his little lunchbox had his mid-morning snack and juice box before helping him into his jacket to fight off the October early morning chill.

Then with a heavy heart (and for the millionth time since his son had been de aged he wondered when he became so damn sentimental) he kissed Dean on the top of his head and watched him run across the yard, along the path and up to his teacher Ms. Jenny, hugging the young woman.

That was something else he knew he (and Sam he was sure) was going to miss. How affectionate Dean was. Sure he was always quick with a hug when he was a little fella before the fire and he always was affectionate with Sammy when he was little but he barely hugged John after his mother died.

At first he would get a quick hug when John returned from a job but the older he got the more Dean pulled away from showing affectionate with him and he had no one to blame but himself for that.

Now it had been eight months since this began and he cherished every hug, cuddle and kiss the toddler bestowed or requested. He watched as he said goodbye to his best buddy Tommy before rushing over to give Ms. Jenny a goodbye hug.

He smiled when Dean ran to the garden path and crossed over into the side yard. His smile turned into a full blown grin when Dean called out to him.

"DADDY!" He shouted as he ran to him and wrapped his arms around his leg, tilting his little face up to gaze at John. "I missed you lots," the toddler announced.

"I missed you too Ace," John said as he reached down and lifted Dean up so that he could hug him. "Did you have a good day at school?"

"Un-hun, me Ms. Jenny's helper," he told his father proudly.

"Did you do a good job?" John asked as he rested his forehead against Dean's.

"Yes Daddy," Dean said. "Ms. Jenny said me do soupy doopy."

"I think that's super-duper," John said with a chuckle as he put him down. "You ready for lunch?"

"Yes Daddy. Me tummy hungry," Dean said as he took his father's hand as he bounced up and down.

"Then let's go fill that tummy," John told him as they turned to go inside. "Go wash your hands," John said as he helped Dean out of his jacket.

"Okay," Dean said as he ran over to the kitchen sink and moved his step stool over so that he could wash his hands. "Daddy Artie?"

"Probably napping in Pastor Jim's den. You can play with him after your nap." John said as he handed Dean a towel to dry his hands before lifting him up and securing him in his high chair.

John put down a small bowl of chili, with a piece of corn bread for Dean. "Here's your milk Ace," John told him as he put the sippy cup down.

"Tank you Daddy," Dean said as he scooped up some chili and brought it to his mouth. John watch Dean for a second before taking a bowl and serving himself. He had just sat down at the table when he heard the front door open and close before hearing Caleb calling out, 'hello'.

"In the kitchen," John called back. The younger hunter had called and said he had finished a hunt with Rufus a couple of states over and decided to come for a visit.

"Hey John, Dean." He said as he came into the room. He went over and ruffled Dean's hair. He couldn't help smiling at the tomato sauce smeared around the little boy's mouth. "Is your lunch yummy kiddo?"

Dean nodded his head happily as Caleb went and grabbed a bowl, serving himself a hearty portion before joining John at the table. "So how's everything going here?" the hunter asked the elder Winchester as he grabbed the tabasco sauce on the table. John made a mean chili but since he now made it for a toddler he didn't put any heat in it, the men just added it themselves.

"Fine, Sam seems to be enjoying working at the library and I have to admit it's kinda nice to be working on cars again." John told him.

"I can dig that. I actually don't mind taking a real job in between hunts…makes you feel normal." Caleb said as he took a piece of corn bread and slathered it with butter.

"It's been so long since I worked a real job. I've mostly hustle pool, played poker or ran credit card scams since I started hunting." John admitted.

"Don't worry John, it's like riding a bike. You'll get back into the swing of it when you hit the road again." Caleb told him with a laugh.

"Yeah, I guess so." John said as he turned towards Dean and saw that the little boy had cleaned his bowl and was almost done with his bread. "Wow your tummy was hungry, do you want some more Ace?"

"Yes Daddy," Dean said as he lifted his cup and took a sip of milk.

Caleb watched as John took Dean's bowl and ladle some chili into it before placing it in front of his son. "Man…he always had an appetite didn't he."

John chuckled, "yup."

Caleb smiled at the former hunter, "so Dean what are you going to be for Halloween?"

Dean looked over at his father who smiled and said, "gone on Dean tell Caleb what you're gonna be for Halloween."

The little boy looked at his father before turning towards Caleb. "It excret."

"Secret," John corrected Dean as he got up to pour himself and Caleb a cup of coffee.

Caleb leaned over and tickled Dean's chin. "You keeping secrets from me Dude! Not cool!"

Dean giggled as he wiggled to escape the tickling fingers, "Daddy…help!"

"Sorry Ace…you and Sam are keeping secrets so you get the tickle monster." John teased.

John smiled as he watched the carefree way Dean laughed and had that familiar stab of guilt for denying both his boys this freedom from the moment their mother died.

Dean suddenly stopped squirming and held his hands out. "Daddy me need potty."

"I got him John," Caleb said as he unstrapped Dean and lifted him up. "Come on Squirt," Caleb said as he put Dean down and followed the child out of the room.

SPNSPNSPN

The men sat in Jim's living room while Dean sat on the floor playing with his cars on the new cartoon roadway rug that Sam had bought him a few days ago.

Caleb smiled as he watched Dean playing before looking over at his friends. "We need to talk."

"Should I…" Sam nodded towards Dean but Caleb shook his head.

"No…nothing like that…not really. Remember I told you about Eabha, the high priestess who confirmed the spell was a blessing."

"Yeah," John said cautiously.

"It's nothing bad John. She's coming to the states next month and asked me if you would be willing to allow her to come and see him. She said she wants to ensure there won't be any long term issues for him." Caleb explained.

John gaped at Caleb, shocked that this Eabha would want to see his son. He turned his attention to Dean when the little boy came over and patted his knee.

"Daddy play?" The toddler asked.

John smiled as he reached out and ruffled the child's hair. "Not right now Ace, Daddy's talking to Uncle Jim, Caleb and Sammy. I'll play with you when I'm done."

The men smirked when the child sighed and mumbled, "okay."

John reached out and lifted Dean so they were eye level. "Promise Bud…we'll play for a little bit before you go to bed." He told Dean before kissing him on the forehead and placing him back on the ground. "Now be a good boy and play with your cars."

The child nodded his head as John patted his bottom, urging him towards the play area they had set up for Dean.

They waited until the child was playing again before John turned to Caleb. "Does she think he's in danger?" John asked.

"No…all she told me is that usually this blessing isn't evoke for such a long period and wants to look in on him. I think she feels a responsibility since the witch used one of their blessing for the spell." He explained.

Sam gazed over at Dean who was happily running his cars over the cartoon roads in the rug before turning towards his father. "Maybe we should let her see him just to make sure that the witch didn't do something that will harm him."

"John, I swear I would never bring someone here who would hurt him. She's a good person." Caleb reassured the older man.

Jim reached over and placed his hand on the other man's shoulder. "Caleb has a point. We all want the same thing…to make sure he's safe until this spell ends."

John watched as Dean giggle when Artie joined him and began licking his face. His heart swelled every time he saw Dean laugh at something so innocent as the dog licking his face. He wanted his son to be safe of course but more than anything now he wanted him to happy.

He stole Dean's and Sam's childhoods. He couldn't blame demons, vampires, wendigos or banshees on how he treated his children…no matter what it was his choice to force his sons to act as soldiers.

It was his choice to stop being a father and become his sons drill sergeant instead. Then Dean was de-aged and he was faced with his beautiful baby boy again. Truthfully, he wasn't sure who was benefitting from this blessing more…Dean or him.

Sighing he nodded his head, "fine but she's never left alone with him…not for a second."

Caleb smiled, "of course but trust me, she would never hurt him."

John looked at his watch and saw it was close to Dean's bed time. "Come on Ace, how about we play boats while I give you your bath."

"No Daddy wanna play cars," Dean pouted.

"Tomorrow I'll play cars with you but tonight we'll play boats. Say your good nights." He told the little boy as he held his hand out for him to take. "Now Dean, Daddy isn't fooling around."

Dean looked up at his father and saw he had his frowny face on and knew Daddy would spank his bum if he didn't take his hand and do as he was told. Finally he stood up and asked defeatedly, "promise play cars 'morrow?"

John smiled as he nodded his head. "Promise Ace," he told him.

Dean went around and quickly gave the other men in the room a hug good night before returning to his father and placing his little hand in his father's large hand.

John leaned down and spoke in a stage whisper, "you know I think I'm gonna be the red boat tonight."

Dean gasped in horror, "no Daddy. Me red boat! Daddy yellow boat!"

"Oh," John said as the others watched the father and son walk out of the room together.

Sam smiled at how his father distracted Dean from his bad mood. He listened as the little boy excitedly said he was the red boat again.

Caleb watched the father and son too and waited until he heard the sound of the bath running before looking at the other men. "I didn't want to say anything in front of John and get his hopes up but Eabha said she may not be able to reverse the blessing but she's spoke to several other high priestess and they think that she may be able to alter it to change when it ends."

Sam stared at his friend, "you mean this could be over next month?"

"I don't think next month necessarily," Caleb admitted.

"But if this isn't hurting Dean we could just let it run its course couldn't we? There's no reason to say anything to my Dad?" Sam asked.

"Samuel, this isn't something we can keep from your father. No matter what he is Dean's father and ultimately he is responsible to make this decision for him since Dean is unable to make this decision for himself." Jim said.

Sam looked over towards the stairs when the sound of Dean's giggles and his father's laughter drifted downstairs. "Listen to them…have you ever heard either of them laugh like that before together?"

Caleb looked up towards the sound, "never." He admitted wondering if he was wrong to even share Eabha's thoughts.

Jim smiled at the sound, "Sam trust me I know how you feel but John needs to be made aware of this and then you and him can discuss it."

Sam nodded his head sadly because he knew the older man was right. "Then when he comes down we'll need to tell him."

Caleb reached over cupped Sam on the back of his neck. "We may be jumping the gun. Eabha might think the magic surrounding the spell is too strong to even attempt to alter the spell."

"I guess but you still think we need to tell my Dad." Sam said to Jim.

"Sam, he might surprise you." Jim said. The pastor had seen the change in his friend. The older Winchester had completely embraced his second chance of being a father.

It wasn't only that him embracing this spell was good for Dean but it was good for John too.

He saw the change this was having on the other man. He wasn't drinking as heavily, he was sleeping a good eight hours a night, he was eating better and he was not only holding down a job but he had heard a number of comments from his friend that John was the best worker he had and would love to get him full time.

Not only was this having a positive effect on John but also on John and Sam relationship too. Oh sure they still butted heads but it was more good natured now since they actually had a common goal now…Dean.

Jim smiled at Sam and repeated reassuringly, "your father may surprise all of us."

TBC