When Salvatore stepped over John, pistol aimed at his head to dispatch the man that sold his own Omega child John kicked out with a boot connecting with Sal's left kneecap. The big man toppled over into the slush filled tire tracks.

Omegas ran the spectrum when it came to bravery, foolish or not. Quite a few Omegas fell heavily on one side or the other. Wanting protection for their young and themselves while others ran head on into the fray to protect what was theirs.

Terry was a prime example of Omega bravery. He considered Salvatore his Alpha that coupled with a deep hatred for men like John Winchester sent the Omega running toward danger.

John's arm darted out quick as a snake strike and grabbed the lightweight Omega pulling him to the ground. The Hunter dragged Terry in a sitting position against his chest and pressed a pistol to the Omega's temple.

"Drop the gun big boy or your bitch gets it right through the temple."

The killer for hire struggled to a sitting position putting his weight against the Impala, "Ok just…just don't hurt him." Sal slid the gun away from him but not toward Winchester.

"Good. Now tell me who you are and what you want."

Sal hoped that even in moonlight Terry could see the look on his face. The look that said, "I've got you and this will be ok."

"You sold your son to a fucking monster that's why I'm here. I was hired to track down everyone involved in his abduction and sale."

John gave a bitter laugh, "That's why? I'm not the first to do it and I won't be the last. Dean was useless to me and would have just drawn danger my way. What I got for him wasn't enough for all the years wasted training him. Besides he's set up good by now with some rich Alpha."

Salvatore growled, "Alphas like you don't deserve to have children. I lost my Omega son and not a day goes by that I don't miss him. You gave Dean up like an unwanted dog. You make me fucking sick!"

Terry shed tears that quickly froze on his cheeks. He cursed what he saw as his weakness and tried to break away. John grabbed the Omega by the hair and dragged him to his feet. The Hunter shoved him over the trunk of the Impala and placed handcuffs on Terry's wrists.

"I'll take your bitch right after I put a bullet in your head."

Sal glanced over at his gun then back to Terry, "Do what you gotta do to me but please just let him go."

John aimed at Salvatore but before he could end the man's life Terry swung his leg up in a back kick connecting good and hard with the Winchester family jewels. John's shot went harmlessly into the graveyard. The Hunter collapsed to the ground howling in pain.

Salvatore dragged himself to the gun cast aside and when Winchester went for his own Sal shot straight through the Hunter's heart. John Winchester's life ended flat on his back staring up at a sea of winter stars.

It was more than what he deserved.

….

Dean found himself barefoot standing on frozen ground. It was dark, quiet and familiar somehow. Surrounded by leafless trees, a fingernail moon above and a cemetery close by it felt like hunting grounds the teen had seen a hundred times before.

He shivered pulling Castiel's long flannel robe tighter around his body and prayed a pair of boots would magically appear. No such luck.

Dean knew somehow he wouldn't die out here in the elements. Everything in this godforsaken place was already dead. The rows of tombstones stood as testament to it.

He trailed his nose through the air picking up a scent that he recognized. It belonged to a man whose scent used to be spicy, warm and inviting. It used to fill Dean with a feeling of comfort and unconditional love, safety and protection.

That was a very long time ago when the Omega was just a little boy.

Now the scent carried a strong undertone that was sour, bitter and rolled up in a blanket of loneliness, misguided anger and self-loathing.

Dean whispered, "Dad."

He picked his way over to a large form on the ground just outside the graveyard. Dean crouched down and looked over the body of John Winchester. The Hunter's chest was blown open, milky eyes staring up at nothing, blue lips coated with frost and crystallized blood covering his formerly handsome face like macabre clusters of rubies.

Dean fell over next to his dad burying his face in the man's coat and holding John's cold, stiff fingers. The crying turned into a wail that echoed through the air. It was the gut wrenching sound of loss and pain.

Dean felt a warm little body spooned up behind him. Breath ghosted over his ear, "Come on Dee, let's go home."

The Omega turned his head and there was Sam, eyes filled with tears, "Sammy?"

Sam nuzzled into his pregnant brother's shoulder, hand protectively placed on Dean's belly, "We gotta let go."

…..

Dean's eyes snapped open, he found himself next to Castiel warm and safe right where he should be. A figure stood in the doorway, it was Sam.

The boy called out softly, "Dee."

Dean slipped out of bed and followed Sam to his room. The brothers did something they hadn't done for years, fell asleep holding each other for comfort.

The next day Sam stayed home from school claiming he was sick. The brothers stayed glued together in front of Scotty's computer doing some sort of research.

The older Omega noticed the brothers seemed withdrawn and morose. He plied them will grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate milk but still neither seemed to want to share what was on their minds.

He let it be figuring it was something only the Winchesters understood and needed to work out together.

…..

Sam sat back rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands, "Astral projection."

Dean frowned at the drawing on the screen of a person standing outside his sleeping body, "Seriously?"

"As best as I can figure out. Do you have any ideas?"

Dean shook his head, "Nope, it felt so real…both of us were there Sam. So that means dad is really dead."

Raised in a world where the impossible was very possible the boys accepted astral projection as the explanation for their shared experience. John Winchester was truly dead and they knew it as a fact.

Sam and Dean would deal with the impact the rest of their lives differently but as with the rest of the pain from their pasts the Winchester brothers would have each other to lean on and understand in a way no one else could.

….

It was Friday, the last day off Castiel's forced "vacation". He sat up, back against the headboard watching the sunrise just peeking above the band of bare trees. It was a week before Christmas and the day before his date with Dean.

He decided tomorrow he would take Dean for dinner and instead of a movie maybe go dancing. Castiel would run the idea by Dean after dinner and see how he felt about it.

The Alpha looked down at his Omega curled up next to him warm, safe and currently carrying precious cargo. Cas had made an appointment with a female physician. It was the same woman Scotty was going to for his care. Castiel hoped Dean would be accepting and open minded about the appointment.

That was a matter for another day. Today The Alpha would go out alone and take care of little details to make their first date memorable.

He slid his hand under the blanket and over Dean's flat belly. Dean smiled in his sleep and placed a hand over Castiel's.

….

Sam fussed with Dean's tie as big brother complained over having to wear one at all. "Shut up jerk, this is a big deal. Don't you wanna look good for your man?" Then Sam poked Dean's abdomen, "Chubby."

Dean shoved his brother away, "Oh my fucking God I swear if you call me chubby again I'll waylay you bitch. I haven't gained any weight!"

Sam came at him with a lint roller, "You should be called bitch because that's all you ever do. Besides I think you're going to look cute with a round belly."

Flustered, Dean couldn't think of a good comeback, "A lint roller…really Sam, what kid owns a lint roller?"

Sam made his patented bitch face and ignored his brother.

Dean decided to pick on his Sammy boy just a little. It was his privilege as a big brother to tease him unmercifully when the mood struck him.

"So Sam, is Alfie coming for the Novak Christmas party?"

Sam got a little frown that was most pronounced right between the eyebrows. One that he would eventually perfect in adulthood, "Yeah I asked him and he said he would."

"Your first real date then?"

The frown deepened, "No."

"Hey Sammy, you know what that ball is hanging in the entryway right?"

"No."

"It's a mistletoe kissing ball. Scotty hung them in a couple places. Just think, it'll be your big chance to give your BFF a smooch."

Sam turned pink right up to his nose, "Shut up Dean. I'm not going around stealing kisses from people."

"Not just anybody, Alfie. Didn't they teach you about kissing in sex ed.?"

"No, we just learn about Alpha, Beta, Omega puberty and our changing bodies. Besides, if I kiss someone someday I won't even tell you."

Dean was mock shocked, "Me, your very own brother and you wouldn't share the details? Fine, be that way." He slipped on his black jacket over his black dress shirt then did a spin in front of the mirror, "I look good right?"

Scotty had bought Dean a complete new set of clothes and although the young Omega acted like it was no big deal Sam knew better. Dean never had a set of new dress clothes before and he was riding the high of lookin' good.

"You look really handsome."

A wave of Omega tenderness washed over Dean and he impulsively hugged his brother, "Thanks Sammy."

Sam took a sniff of Dean and sighed happily, "You smell like doughnuts."

Dean took that as a compliment.

…

Scotty peeked out the front window as the Ford Fiesta chugged into the driveway, "Dean your date is here!"

Spencer let out an audible sigh and snapped his newspaper, "Ridiculous…this entire thing is weird I tell you. For fucks sake they sleep together under my roof every night and the kid is already knocked up. Tell me the point of this date charade?"

Scotty plopped on his lap and tossed the paper aside, "Don't be a grump. I think it's cute. You said Cas was socially retarded as a teen so maybe he's making up for lost time."

Spencer tried to bounce his wife on his lap but Scotty was far from tiny, "I can't wait until you get a big fat ass with the baby weight. I'm gonna make that rump jiggle real good."

There was a lot of giggling from Scotty that sounded a little like a donkey braying but it was cut short by the doorbell.

Sam dashed over to answer it. There was Castiel all dressed up and holding a bouquet of daisies and a box of candy, "Good evening, I'm here to pick up Dean."

Sam played along, "Hmmm…you don't look too much like a weirdo, I guess you can come in." He yelled, "Dean your date is here!"

Castiel sat on the chair across from Spencer and Scotty. Spencer looked around his wife and snorted, "Hey you want to put those flowers in water? I think you know where the vases are since you live here."

Scotty whispered something in his husband's ear, Spencer added, "No kissing on the first date and definitely no screwing around."

Scotty pinched him on the arm.

"Ow! Goddamn it woman!" Spencer smacked him on the ass with his rolled up newspaper, "I'm going to have to start disciplining you. I've got an uppity Omega on my hands. Castiel make sure Dean doesn't get like this…mind of his own and thinking you're pussy whipped."

Cas ignored them.

When Dean came in Scotty took a "first date" photo of them for posterity then Dean handed the flowers over to Sam to take care of. Castiel took Dean by the hand and gave him a slow twirl, "You look gorgeous."

The Omega was sittin' on a cloud. Everything about his teacher, mate, father of his fetus and soon to be legal husband set Dean on fire. Every emotion for Castiel was raw, real and right at the surface.

Dean wanted to be the good Omega and please his Alpha. That was his true reward. The teen batted his thick lashes at Castiel, "Thanks babe, you look pretty hot yourself."

It would be a night to remember.

…

When Castiel pulled up to the valet parking for Morels restaurant he hopped out and opened the door for Dean then held out his hand. Dean smiled through his protest that he wasn't a girl or a baby.

Cas handed the keys to the valet and accepted his ticket, "Be careful with her. I still have eight payments to go."

The Beta valet looked over the lime green Fiesta "Will do Sir." He was very professional and kept his laughter on the inside.

…..

Dean kept a tight grasp on Castiel's hand as he looked around the fancy restaurant. The Omega teen hadn't eaten in a place like this before and he was a little intimidated although in true Dean Winchester fashion he would rather eat glass than admit he was nervous.

They followed the waiter to their table. When the young man pulled out Dean's chair the Omega hesitated. Castiel nodded, "Go on Dean, have a seat."

Tucked in with a menu Dean perused the selections and locked onto the surf 'n turf, "Cas what should I order? The chicken looks good."

Blue eyes twinkling, Castiel smiled at his lover, "I know you don't want chicken. It's a first date my angel, order what you want."

Mock concern on his face, Dean answered, "What if I order the surf 'n turf and then you think I'm too high maintenance and dump me?" I don't know if it's worth the lobster tail to be honest."

Finding Dean a never ending source of amusement Castiel asked, "What does the baby have a craving for?"

Dean pretended to be listening to something, "Ok…I'll let him know, Junior wants Surf 'n turf."

…

Dean finished everything on his platter and still had room for apple berry pie with a slice of melted cheddar on top. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his stuffed belly, "Junior is full." Say these things out load were acknowledgements that he was indeed pregnant.

Castiel noticed his satisfied smile slowly vanish and worry cross Dean's sweet face, "What's wrong?"

"Most days I can pretend I'm not knocked up…that everything is normal. Then I get sorta sick feeling or I say something like that and it hits me hard."

Hoping this was the right opportunity to bring up the Omega's medical care Castiel dove right in, "Dean I've made an appointment for you with an ob-gyn. She's actually Scotty's doctor, her name is Martha Kamada. You're a month along and it's time. I've also set you up with a primary care physician. If you don't like him…"

"Him? I'm not going to any male doctors, forget it!"

Castiel grabbed his hand when Dean tried to stand, "Relax, Dr. Gunderson is a Beta and even if he was an Alpha we all aren't bad Dean. If you don't like him then we can find someone else."

"Do you promise?"

"I swear…it's your body and if you don't feel comfortable with either of these people I promise we will keep looking. Will you give them a chance?"

His flight response receding, Dean settled back down, "Ok, they both get one shot to impress me otherwise I'm outta there."

Cas extended his hand and Dean took it, they shook on the bargain. "Trying is all I ask out of you Dean. I love you; remember that. You can trust me."

….

Castiel broke their kiss, the Fiesta wasn't very conducive to a make out session and he had learned his lesson about public indecency although he doubted doing it at night parked in front of a gas pump would get them arrested.

Dean whined, "Why'd you stop?"

"Do you want to see that new horror flick or go to a club?"

"Yuck, I can see horror in real life if I want to go hunting. Is there anything else playing?"

"The choices are horror, a chick flick or a kid's movie."

Dean wrinkled up his nose, "No thanks. What kind of club?"

"A place called Avalon. Benny went there with Javi and said it was pretty nice. Maybe we could slow dance."

The Omega thought it would be nice to show off his sexy Alpha, "Sure I'm game. I don't know how though. You're a good dancer, maybe you could show me. Wiggle your butt a little."

Dean laughed when Cas got that worried look of his, "You don't have to wiggle your butt if you don't want." He lowered his voice, "Castiel it's your body and if you don't feel comfortable showing off your hot dance moves…"

"Smart ass."

"Hey you picked me."

TBC