Three months later

Lawrence, Kansas

St. Mary's Hospital

John Winchester ran through the hospital at full speed. He was finalizing the paperwork on the ownership of his new garage when he received a phone call telling him that Mary had gone into labor. John nearly knocked over three nurses just trying to get to the maternity ward. He had not been this happy since he found out about Mary's pregnancy back in Vietnam.

John got to the maternity ward and stopped at the nurses' station. The nurses, having seen their share of frantic fathers before, quietly ignored John until he began waving his arms to get their attention. The nurses, John noticed, were laughing at him.

"Yes?" asked a nurse with dark green eyes who was barely containing her amusement.

"Mary Winchester?" responded John who was not amused.

"Mrs. Winchester is in the delivery room," replied the green-eyed nurse. "You'll just have to wait." With that, she gestured John toward a waiting room where he could see at least five other fathers frantically pacing. John did not want to wait; he wanted to be there when his son was born.

"I'm John Winchester.," said John to the nurse who was now taking time to ignore him.

She looked up at him without amusement this time and pointed her pen directly at him.

"Sir" said the nurse using her pen to emphasize each word. "Fathers are to wait in that room; now please take your seat."

Reluctantly, John took his seat and watched as the other fathers were pacing and taking turns using the pay phone. He wanted to call his mother and sister, but decided to wait until the baby was born. Sitting there, John tried to control his breathing and often closed his eyes, but all he saw when he closed his eyes was the yellow-eyed demon. The demon alternated its appearance in John's nightly dreams between the little girl, Hathaway, Dean and often shockingly Mary. John had not had a good night's sleep since Xuan-Loc and he seriously doubted that he ever would again. Opening his eyes, John reached into his coat pocket and grabbed the ownership papers to his new garage. John was excited to be the owner of his own business, the garage, he knew, would provide Mary, and their baby would all the comforts they would ever need. John was also looking at a house in the suburb of Lawrence to buy for their family. Closing the papers, John put them back in his coat pocket and settled in to wait.

Nearly, five hours later, he was still waiting and now was frantically pacing like the other fathers. Christ, he thought, how long did it take to have a baby?

"Winchester!" called out a voice and John turned to see the green-eyed nurse genuinely smiling at him. Walking over to her, John could feel his heart pounding out of his chest. Please, he thought, I usually do not pray, but please God, let my wife and baby be all right.

"Yes?" said John anxiously.

"Congratulations," said the nurse. "You are the proud father of a baby boy."

Although John knew that the baby was a boy, he was still in shock over it. The other waiting fathers walked over and patted John on the shoulders to congratulate him. John looked at the nurse.

"Is Mary alright?" asked John.

"Your wife is fine," said the nurse. "We have brought her down from the delivery room to her room, and she is waiting for you."

Finding his feet, John moved and followed the nurse down the hallway to Mary's room. In front of the door, John paused. He had been waiting for the last three months for the baby to be born and in doing so, he hide his nightmares from Mary. He wanted this moment to be perfect. Saying another quick prayer, John walked into the room.

Upon seeing Mary, John figured that God must have answered his prayers. The room was awash in light and Mary was sitting up on the baby holding the baby. She was glowing and the baby was making cooing sounds and reaching for his mother's face. Looking up, Mary saw John and grinned happily. Walking over, John leaned in and kissed Mary. He did not want that kiss to end. When they did part, Mary smiled and looked down at their baby.

"He's so beautiful," said Mary softly. "He has the most amazing green eyes."

"Like his mom," whispered John.

Mary smiled at John and held out the baby to him. "Do you want to hold your son?"

John hesitated. He had never held a baby in his life. Still, his paternal instinct overtook his fear and he allowed Mary to place the baby into his arms. At that moment, for only the second time in his life, John Winchester fell in love. The baby looked at him and as he did with his mother, the baby reached for John's face. Feeling those tiny hands touching his bare skin, John nearly cried. Mary sat there watching him grinning.

"You're in love with him too, eh?" said Mary with a smile.

John just managed to look up at her and smile back. Strolling around the bed, John walked to the window and held his son up so the boy could see outside.

"There's the world, son," whispered John to the baby. "It's a big place, but I'll make sure that you're always protected."

Turning back to Mary, he asked, "What should we name him?"

Mary smiled as she answered. "I've been thinking. We should name him Dean, Dean Winchester." She cocked her head to one side and looked at John. "I think it's appropriate, don't you?"

John felt the tears fall freely now. His best friend would live on in his son. "Yeah," he said softly. "I think it's appropriate."

For the next two hours, John and Mary spent time with their baby, planning his future. John wanted his son to join the Marines and then go to college. Mary did not want her son anywhere near the armed forces, but agreed that Dean should definitely attend college. Both wanted to start a college fund for their son and provide him with a sibling someday. John wanted another boy, but Mary wanted a girl, and the two tussled with the idea as Mary wanted a daughter and John wanted to avoid having to protect his little girl from bad boys. John and Mary laughed and joked until the nurse came in and told them that visiting hours were up. John kissed his wife and his baby and left the hospital feeling like Gene Kelly in Singing in the Rain. If he could have, he would have danced his way to his car. Instead, he walked out of the maternity ward with a grin that would not quit.

Pulling out his keys, John began to whistle as he walked toward the 1967 Impala, a car he lovingly restored prior to his last deployment. Looking at the car, John realized that it could be a gift for his son, Dean when the boy grew up. He heard a voice and turned. It was the green-eyed nurse who had given John a hard time when he first arrived at the hospital. At this moment, John felt nothing but love for the woman who told him that his son was born. Running up, the nurse smiled and handed John a pendant. John turned it over in his hand. He did not recognize it, but it appeared to be some sort of amulet. He looked at the nurse and when he did so, he dropped the amulet.

The nurse's green eyes were black.

Looking at John disgusted, she bent over and picked up the amulet and handed it back to John. He refused to take it. Shaking John walked over to the trunk of the Impala and opened it. Pulling out a sawed-off shotgun, he aimed it squarely at the nurse. The demon merely shook her head disgusted.

"You don't need that gun, Winchester," she said. "I'm here to help you.

Not lowering his gun, John stood his ground. He would kill this woman if it meant that protecting Mary and Dean. Pulling the trigger, the blast knocked John back and threw the demon to the ground, but instead of dying, she merely lifted her head and looked at John pissed.

"That was rude," she remarked, getting up off the ground and looking at her outfit. "I just cleaned this."

John cocked the gun, emptying the shell and loading another one. He realized that it was useless, but it was worth a try. The nurse looked disgusted.

"I'm here to help you," she said slowly enunciating each word. "Can you get that through your thick Cro-Magnon skull?"

John stood there wearily. "Why do you want to help me?" he asked.

"Because I need an ally for the coming war," she explained. "And you are the strongest one I can find."

"Me?" said John, who was now lowering his weapon. "Why me?"

"You took out the Yellow-Eyed demon in Vietnam." she replied. "No man has ever done that before."

John felt confused. "Who are you?"

The nurse actually smiled and tossed her long blonde hair. "My name is Ruby." "I was a witch during the Middle Ages and I gave up my soul for more power." Ruby put her hand on her hips and shook her head. "Boy, was that a dumb decision."

John turned and put his gun back in his trunk. As he did so, Ruby's eyes changed from black to green as they did so, she palmed the amulet and took two more out of her pocket. With one movement, she tossed them to John

"Wear this and give the other two to your family," she told him. "It will protect you from being possessed."

Turning she started back to the hospital. John called after her. "Why are you helping me?"

Ruby stopped and looked at John. "I haven't forgotten what it means to be human." "Believe me," she said with a shrug. "Sometimes, with the things I've seen in the pit, I wish I had."

Turning again, Ruby stopped and looked at John. "I can promise you that I will do my best to help you look after your family." With that, she walked back to the hospital. John had to wonder how she was going to explain the blood spatter on his clothes, but then an ambulance pulled up.

Let it to a demon, John thought, to have things worked out in advance.

John knew logically that he should not trust a demon, but his instincts told him that Ruby was on the level. Walking to the door of the Impala, he opened it and sat inside. He had hoped that what happened in Vietnam would stay there, but apparently, the war had followed him home.

Turning on the engine, John felt himself smile as the Impala roared to life. Putting the car in reverse, John drove home. That night, he did not dream of the Yellow-Eyed demon, but of Mary and Dean. The next morning, John picked up his family from the hospital. As he was leaving, he saw Ruby waving to him. John nodded to her and drove his family home. That night as he and Mary put Dean to bed, John watched his son's sleeping face and realized that he needed to enjoy this, for this would be the last time he would experience peace for a long time.

Note: Thanks to all those who have read and commented on this story. I hope that you enjoy the ending!