A/N: The spiderling is born.

Sam rapidly crawled the short two yards to the egg. Dean pulled himself from the silken threads, heaving towards them. His palms felt slick with sweat. There was one thing imagining the spiderling being here, another thing entirely to witness it being born. Abruptly, the baby went from an abstract concept to a tangible being. Dean could hardly believe his eyes.

"It's hatching?" Dean asked, even though that was quite obviously the case. The egg was jarring lightly back and forth. Underneath the silky bundle, small bumps pushed upwards, trying to escape. A small fissure was torn in the side, growing wider by the second. A muffled sound came from the egg. A cry. Sam gently peeled the crack open. Dean saw a flash of pink and black. His heart leapt in his chest. This was the moment of truth. Would a hideous, incestuous freak spring forth, foaming at the mouth, pure unadulterated evil in its eyes?

"Our baby. Yes." Sam said ecstatically, grinning.

Two small, chubby arms broke forth from the sticky, gelatin fluid. Dean caught sight of a head of wet, wispy hair. The newborn let out a whimper that rapidly snowballed into a full-blown cry. The sound, so uncannily human through the gentle thrum of rain outside, vibrated against Dean's eardrum. Dean couldn't remember the last time he'd heard an infant cry-probably not since he was little and was assigned the task of looking after baby Sam. Sam fished the baby out of the confines of its egg. As Sam lifted the spiderling, Dean noted that the bottom half of the creature was all spider, just like Sam. Its spider legs were curled close to its body, dripping with fluid. The cracked, empty egg lay on the web.

"Baby," Sam purred, bringing the newborn to his chest. He rocked the baby back and forth, rubbing its back. The baby flailed its arms, eyes squeezed tight, dripping fluid. From its pink, toothless mouth, it continued to wail.

Dean stared, taken aback. He didn't know what to think, to feel. He had almost wished the spiderling didn't look so…human. So wholly defenseless. So helpless.

"Sam, this is…wow." Dean uttered, speechless. Sam's face was so full of pure, maternal love it was overwhelming.

Sam smiled down at Dean. "Baby. Beautiful."

"Yeah, I guess it is." Dean breathed. Sam maneuvered the baby to its side, allowing Dean to see its face. Even from this angle, Dean could see its features. Where he'd imagined the grotesque, ugly deformities of children born of incestuous couplings, he was taken aback by its familiar facial features. The baby had Dean's nose-there was no doubt about that-even scrunched up. The baby had Sam's wide forehead and even though chubby cheeked, Dean could tell it would go to develop Sam's strong, wide jawline. Its hair was a light brown, wispy and thin. The hair curled on its head like the beginning stages of a sparrow's nest.

"Shhhh," Sam cooed. He brought the baby's mouth to his nipple. The baby stopped crying and its little pink mouth began rooting. Latching on, the baby suckled hungerly. Its tiny fist patted against Sam's chest.

"Sammy, when did you get tits?!" Dean exclaimed. Dean remembered once learning that breast size was irrelevant when it came to how much milk was produced. Sam's pecs certainly didn't look any bigger.

Sam blinked, glancing up at him. "Me give milk. Food for baby."

"Yeah, but I didn't know you could do that." Dean replied. Dean reached up and with the back of one finger, traced the digit down the newborn's sticky, wet back. Beneath the birthing fluid, Dean could feel baby soft skin. He couldn't help the grin that broke on his face. The baby was really here. Sure, it was an Arachne and, yeah, Dean should've been cursing himself for allowing another monster to roam the earth, but dammit Sam was happy. Ecstatic even. And by some twisted turn of fate, the baby looked healthy. The baby which was a combination of Sam and Dean. Truly their child, through and through.

Sam watched the baby nurse, rocking it back and forth with a slight turn of his waist. Dean continued to rub its little back, observing it suckling, soaking in the quiet. Just then, Dean had a thought.

"Is it a boy or a girl?"

Sam maneuvered the baby, checking. It let out a whimper, rooting at the air. "Girl."

He quickly brought her back to his nipple before her whimper could transform into a cry.

"What do you want to name her? She's gotta have a name." Dean smoothed his finger down her chubby cheek.

"Dean?" Sam suggested.

"No, man. That's my name." Dean snorted.

"Sammy?"

"No, that's your name." Dean laughed.

Sam's face scrunched up in concentration.

"How about Mary Jane?" Dean suggested.

Sam cocked his head to the side, as if considering.

"Don't look at me like that. So what I wanna name our daughter after weed? Sue me." Dean said.

"Weed?" Sam said, as if tasting the word on his tongue.

"Never mind." Dean said. The baby-Mary Jane-pulled away from his nipple, smacking her lips. Drool and milk spilled down her chin. Sam wiped her chin lovingly, lifting her up, and pressing a kiss to her forehead. She wiggled in his arms.

"Hold…Mary Jane?" Sam suggested, presenting the baby to Dean.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Hell yeah, dude." Dean said enthusiastically, although trembles raced up his arms. His stomach was tight with nerves. Even though Dean didn't want to admit it, he was a sucker for kids. He knew that the moment he held onto his baby, he was going to bond with her. Come hell or high water, nothing was going to keep them apart.

And that scared Dean. Scared him in a place he rarely showed, deep in the center of himself where vulnerability lay, threatening to tear him asunder. Man, it was all too much. To get everything he'd wanted but had never the self-worth or resources or opportunities to reach? Dean felt a pressure behind his eyelids and before he could stop himself, he was crying.

Dean took the baby in his arms. Her spider legs, black and shiny, were curled against her arachnid abdomen. Her human half was so human, though. So impossibly soft and cute and perfect. She curled and uncurled her little fists, wiggling in his grasp.

"Dean. Crying." Sam said softly, wiping away his tears with the back of his hand.

Dean laughed wetly, "Shut up, man. I am not."

Sam grew quiet. He snaked out one of his spider legs, running the appendage down Dean's back in slow, consolidating swipes.

"Open your eyes, baby." Dean said. "You can do it."

Mary Jane's nose scrunched up. Moments later, her eyes fluttered open. She searched for him with unfocused eyes. Dean noted the shape were like his own: large and doe-like. The color was a vibrant green amber. He cooed at her lovingly. She gurgled in reply.

"Aw, you're a cutie," Dean whispered. He tapped her little hand. She grabbed his finger and held on tight. He flicked his finger back and forth. Still, she did not let go.

Within the week, Sam gave birth to the other eggs. He spung them securely into the web, leaving them to incubate.

Although Dean expected more than two, Sam had twins. Dean couldn't help but think that if there were some higher power out there, it must've had a sense of humor, giving them two babies for the ones they had lost. Dean predicted that Sam would urge him into breeding again, but much to Dean's gratefulness, Sam didn't. Dean assumed Sam's unexpected celibacy was due to the baby. Sam's focus had shifted to caring for the infant-feeding, cuddling, and talking to her. Sam loved holding Mary Jane, but he seemed to love watching Dean hold her even more.

Dean didn't mind the little spiderling clinging onto him at bedtime. Sam made sure to spin silken thread around them both to keep the baby latched onto Dean's chest. Whenever she woke hungry and crying, Sam would pluck her out of her make-shift pouch and breastfeed. When she was full, he would secure her back against Dean's torso. Dean didn't mind being woken by this procedure, even if Mary Jane demanded to be fed multiple times a night. It was worth feeling the press of her smooth skin, to see her scrunch up her little face, to feel the subtle rise and fall of her chest, to hear her coos and babbles.

Dean noticed Mary Jane was growing faster than a human baby. Within three weeks, her upper half was as big as a six-month-old, and her spider half had uncurled from her torso. Dean couldn't help but think about Arachne development. It scared him, really. How long would it take for her to become a full-grown adult? When would she need to be weaned off breastmilk? What would happen then? When Dean began to worry, he made himself mentally step away. He couldn't worry about things he couldn't control. He could only hope Sam would foster in the spiderling a taste for animal meat and not long pig. Sam had been pretty good at not dragging any human-shaped cocoons back to the nest, so Dean had faith that Mary Jane's future hunting would not place humans on the menu.

As the days progressed, Mary Jane seemed more aware of her surroundings, eyes tracking Sam and Dean wherever they moved. She would even reach up for them, silently asking to be held. Dean's favorite thing was to talk to her and watch her eyes flicker over his face. He always wondered what she was thinking, if she understood anything he was saying. She liked to smile at him-all toothless, pink mouth-and giggle uproariously at the most random times, which Dean found contagious.

One evening, when Sam went out to replenish his prey cocoon supply, Dean placed Mary Jane on the plant floor. She whimpered, tears already beginning to brim in her eyes, and reached out for him. Dean took a few steps back, plopped down, and crossed his legs.

"It's okay, baby. I just wanna see if you can walk." He cooed soothingly. He reached out his arms. "Come on, Mary. You can do it."

Mary Jane looked at Dean incredulously as if to say Why are you making me do this, Daddy? She gurgled unhappily, shoving her knuckles into her mouth.

"Come on, honey. Come to Daddy." Dean said, waving her towards him.

Mary Jane eyed him. Her bottom lip trembled. She uncurled her little fist from her mouth.

"Oh, no. It's okay. Don't-"

Mary Jane tilted back her head and wailed, cheeks flushing bright red, tears streaming down her face, reaching out for Dean with her chubby, trembling arms. Dean shot off the floor and scooped her up.

"Shhh, it's okay. You tried. I shouldn't have pushed you to walk. Damn, kid. I forget you aren't but four weeks old." Dean patted her back, rocking her back and forth. She clutched at his shirt, fisting the worn, black material, and buried her face against his neck. Her cries melted into small mews.

Moments later, Sam burst from the entrance. Light shattered across the dark. Sam's face was a mask of rage, his teeth bared. His nostrils flared. His eyes snapped around, eyeing any potential threat.

"It's okay, Sammy," Dean said. "She's okay."

Sam's shoulders slumped in what Dean understood was relief. Sam swiftly crawled over to where Dean stood with Mary Jane in his arms. He plopped down and dragged Dean closer. With one hand he rubbed Dean's back and with his other reached for the back of Mary Jane's head, carting his fingers through her wispy locks.

"Safe?" Sam asked, fingers slipping onto her back.

"Promise, big guy. She's just fussy." Dean said. Sam gave him a small smile.

"Protect Mary Jane." Sam confirmed.

"You know I do," Dean replied. Sam pressed a kiss to Dean's lips. Dean melted into his touch.

A few days later, Dean woke from the confides of the web to find Mary Jane gone from his chest. Panicked, he looked around the huge structure. He couldn't spot Mary Jane nor Sam. At first, he assumed Sam had taken her to watch him hunt. But that didn't make sense. Sam hadn't even taken Dean along with him to hunt. He couldn't see Sam risking the safety of their baby.

"Shit," Dean cursed under his breath, his heart thudding double time against his ribcage, infested with adrenaline. What if someone-or something-took the baby? But wouldn't Dean have felt if some monster had snatched the infant from his grasp?

"Mary Jane! Baby! Where are you?!" He shouted, peeling away from the sticky webbing and carefully shimming down the web. Once he hit the concrete, he searched every nook and cranny of the warehouse. Nothing. Shaking, Dean noticed that one of the steel doors was cracked open. It wasn't enough for a man to slip through, but certainly a baby. He ran to the entrance and with all his strength, wrenched the rusted metal open. Sunlight slashed across his face, fresh air thrusting its way into his lungs. His boots crunched on the gravel as he ran. He spun around.

He cupped his hands, shouted. "Mary Jane! Mary Jane!"

A delighted squeal erupted from somewhere to Dean's left. He spotted a delicate head of light brown hair amongst the overgrown crabgrass. Dean was almost dizzy with relief. He sprinted towards her.

Mary Jane had plopped her spider legs onto the ground and shoved her fist into her mouth. She was watching, delightfully, as a small insect slowly crawled in front of her. She squealed again, popping her fist out. A string of saliva hung onto her lips. She grabbed with both hands, attempting to catch it.

"Mary," Dean said. "What are you doing? Did you crawl down the web all by yourself?"

She peered back at him, smiling her toothless, gummy smile. She squealed, flailing her arms, reaching up and clenching her fists.

"Come here, little one." Dean said. He picked her up. Her spider legs batted at his stomach. Mary Jane cooed in response, curling her hands around Dean's neck.

"Don't run off like that," Dean sighed. "You scared me, honey."

The baby gurgled, grabbing Dean's hair.

"Don't sass me," Dean whispered. He rocked Mary Jane back and forth.

"I can't believe you're walking." Dean said. "I can't wait to tell Mommy. He's going to be so proud."

Mary Jane giggled, yanking his hair.

"Ow," Dean murmured. "You got a death grip, kid."

He unclasped her tiny, tortuous fist. In response, she slumped against him. She mouthed at Dean's shoulder, rooting for milk.

"Mommy will be back soon," Dean said, delicately carting his fingers through her thin, wispy hair. "I know you're hungry."

Dean walked a few paces before he decided he really wanted to see Mary Jane in action.

"I wanna see you walk, Miss Mary. Just to prove I'm not crazy and that you really put yourself out here." Dean said, peeling her away from his body. She wiggled. Dean placed her on the ground. Mary Jane made a grunt of discomfort, raising her hands, and clenching her fists. Her bottom lip trembled, her big eyes filling with unshed tears.

"Shhh, it's okay." He took a couple rapid steps back, crouching. He raised his arms. "Come on, honey."

Mary Jane glanced around her, gurling unhappily.

"Come on, Mary. You can do it!" Dean said enthusiastically, waving her forward. He watched in awe as Mary raised her abdomen off the ground with her arachnid legs. Her legs wobbled for a moment before becoming solid. She stumbled forward.

"Look at you." Dean said, grinning ear-to-ear. "Look at those strong legs go."

Gaining momentum, Mary Jane crawled quickly over to Dean. She curled her hands around Dean's left knee and plopped down. Dean wrapped his arms around her, lifting her up.

"Oh, good job!" He cooed, landing rapid-fire kisses onto her flushed cheek. She giggled, squirming. He placed her back on the ground. She looked up at him, expression a mix of upset and curiosity.

"Come on," he waved her forward, taking a couple steps back. "Follow me, kiddo."

She rose and took a wobbling step. Gaining her footing, she followed. After a couple paces, she caught up to Dean. She wrapped her arms around Dean's leg, peering up at him through thick, dark eyelashes. "Coo."

"Yeah, I hear ya."

She wobbled on her legs and thunked her head against Dean's leg, babbling. She gummed at the fabric.

"Can't eat my jeans, honey." Dean said, barely holding back a grin.

Just then, Dean heard footsteps on gravel. Crunch-crunch-crunch. He instantly knew that wasn't Sam's arachnid footsteps. Those were human.

"Dean?" The voice cut through the air like a razorblade, feminine and familiar.

Dean's gaze snapped up. He caught sight of a pair of dark boots, faded jeans, and a leather jacket. Dark hair spilled over her shoulders like a waterfall of shadow.

Dean's jaw fell open.

"Ruby?"

A/N: Thank you all for your continuous support! Means the world to me. :)