Disclaimer - I unfortunately don't own Supernatural, I only own Beth and any other OC's that may make an appearance during the story.
September 29th, 2003
(Adam and Bethany's 13th birthday)
"Bethany! Adam! Look who's here," Kate called from a few feet away.
Beth glanced up from the magazine her and her two friends were looking at to find her dad standing beside her mom and the barbecue. She grinned and stood up, running across the grass and lunging at John, he caught her and lifted her into a hug.
"Dad," she smiled as she locked her arms around his neck.
After meeting his two young children a year previous, John had visited every so often whenever he could find time between hunting and making sure Dean wasn't getting into any trouble and had gotten to know them more and Beth had slowly welcomed him into her life. She was more willing to spend time with him without being encouraged by her mom or brother.
"Hey champ." John set her down and patted Adam's back roughly.
"Hello dad," Adam returned quietly before wandering back over to his friends to continue with their game of soccer.
"What have you two been up to since I last saw you?" John questioned as he followed Beth over to the fold up picnic table they'd borrowed from their neighbours.
"I've moved up a level in dance class," she told him and reached for a grape soda. "Adam passed his biology test; he got full marks."
"That's great news."
"What's that?" she asked curiously, staring at the newspaper wrapped gifts as he set one in front of her and kept the other beside him.
"Your present... open it."
Beth hesitantly pulled it towards her and began ripping the newspaper open. Her eyes lit up as she took hold on the chain and lifted it up look at it properly. It was a gold locket with swirls on the cover. She opened it carefully and smiled at the picture of her, Adam, her mom and her dad that had been taken at the diner by Jenny last Christmas.
"It's... it's beautiful, thank you." She looked up at him with a wide grin.
"Look at the other side," John encouraged, pointing to the other side.
On the other side of the locket were the words To Bethany Winchester-Milligan, love dad written in cursive. John took it from her, closing it and clasped it around her neck.
"Thanks." Beth hugged him again, burying her face in his chest. "What did you get Adam?"
"A couple of video games, ones he said he didn't have," John replied quietly.
"You best go give them to him then," she grinned. "He looks impatient."
John nodded and left the table, approaching Adam in two, quick strides and handing the present to him. Beth rubbed her locket gently, thinking that she was glad that she now had the chance to grow up with her dad in her life, even if he'd only been around for about year now.
September 29th, 2006
Adam and Beth's 16th birthday.
"Where is he, mom?" Beth stared up at her mom with confused eyes.
"I don't know sweetie," Kate sighed, stroking Beth's curly brown hair.
"But he said he was going to continue teaching us how to drive the Impala."
"I doubt he's gonna show up," Adam scoffed as he ran his hand through his own blonde hair. "He's three hours late."
Beth frowned, staring down at the table as she pried the bow from her hair and dropped it on her empty plate. Her hair fell in neat waves to her shoulders. She stood up, eyes sweeping over the pizza, salad and cake she had made especially for John before turning and leaving the room, running upstairs and slamming her bedroom door.
"I guess I'll put the food in the fridge... the pizza's gonna have to go in the cupboard," Kate sighed and climbed to her feet and began packing up the food.
"I'll help," Adam said and took the salad bowl and cake tray from her, heading to the kitchen and carefully setting them in the fridge.
Beth lay face down on her bed, staring out of her open window as she thought back to her last two birthdays and the time John decided to teach her and Adam how to drive.
"What?" Beth couldn't believe her ears, she stared up at him in shock. "You're gonna teach us how to drive your car. The car you're fiercely protective over?"
"That's what I said," John nodded, a smirk on his face as he rested his arm on the top of the car.
Adam shared a shocked look with his sister, both were thinking the same think, John had disappeared for an entire year and then he suddenly popped up again with the promise of teaching them how to drive. The past two birthdays had been eventful, on their 14th birthday, John took her, Adam and their mom to a baseball game and someone had ended up getting hit in the face with the ball, resulting in a broken nose and a bloody shirt. Their 15th birthday saw them being taught how to play poker, something that Beth failed epically at and Adam was surprisingly good at. John had also bought them their first beers, Beth didn't like the taste of the beer and they both promised not to tell their mom that they'd had alcohol, knowing she would overreact and most likely ground them for a month.
"Who wants to go first?" he asked, opening the driver's door and gesturing for one of them to get in.
"Beth can go first," Adam smirked and pushed her forwards.
She swallowed nervously and climbed into the car, looking extremely awkward as she stared at the steering wheel. John explained slowly how to readjust the seat in case she need to be closer to the wheel of the car or further back. When she moved the seat to what she deemed the right position, he closed the door and headed for the passenger seat, telling Adam to get in the back.
"I-I don't think this is a good idea," Beth's voice wavered. "I mean, I couldn't even ride a bike without crashing into the wall until I was 10."
"You'll be fine, just listen to my instructions and you'll be driving a car properly in no time," John reassured her.
Beth nodded jerkily, clutching the steering wheel with a vice like grip and breathed deeply, listening to her dad as he told her what to do first. Adam relaxed against the back of his seat, staring out of the window and tapping his fingers against his knee in time with the music that played quietly in the background.
"I told you that was a bad idea!" Beth shrieked, slamming on the brakes and turning the engine off, she shot out of the car and slammed the door.
"You're a beginner, of course it's gonna be difficult for you," John said in a calming tone.
"I thought that was hilarious, the look on your face when we went over the bump." Adam burst out laughing, clutching his sides tightly, even as Beth shot him an icy glare, clearly not finding the situation funny at all.
"You're an ass," she snapped, folded her arms over her chest and pouted pathetically.
"That's why you love me." Adam hugged her from behind, their cheeks pressed together as he squeezed her tightly.
"I suppose I do."
Beth was jolted from her thoughts as a knock sounded at her door and it opened to reveal her brother. She sighed, waving a hand carelessly at him. He closed the door behind him and crossed the room, flopping down on the bed and resting his legs on her back.
"Your legs are heavy," she whined, voice muffled by the pillow.
"And you're pouting like a child," he retorted before sighing, "I know you're angry, but what did you expect? He shows up for birthdays and then disappears until the following year. He doesn't tell us where he goes or what he's doing."
"I thought he would care enough to show up for our sweet sixteen," she whispered and rolled over, fiddling with the frayed bottoms of Adam's jeans.
"I'm sorry," he shrugged, "but I'm not surprised."
"You know, it's funny; I started out resenting him for not being a part of our lives and you were more welcoming, and now the roles are reversed, I wish he was here and you couldn't care less," Beth chuckled dryly.
Adam smiled bitterly, cursing his dad for ruining their birthday for Beth, who had spent all morning—from about 5am—in the kitchen, making the pizza and cake from scratch and preparing the living room for him coming, pinning up birthday banners and arranging the music and setting the table. It was almost as if it was John's birthday and not theirs.
"It's okay," he whispered and drew her into a tight hug. "He'll show up sooner or later."
"I hope so," she replied and buried her face in his neck.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
November 28th, 2008
"Adam!" Beth squealed and ran towards her brother, throwing her arms around his neck and laughing as he spun her in a circle. "I've missed you!"
"I missed you too," he grinned and set her down. "I can't believe it's been two months since you've been gone."
"How's mom?" she asked, tugging at his sleeve to get him to follow her.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Adam pointed at a blonde woman standing with her back to them.
"Mom?" Beth called and the woman turned around, smiling at the sight of her daughter. "Mom!"
"Hey baby," Kate chuckled, drawing her into a hug.
"I can't believe you're here as well." Beth pulled away with an accusing look. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise," Adam replied and tossed his arms around their shoulders.
Beth had applied for a position at the University earlier in the year and had had an interview during summer vacation, to her relief—and joy—she'd been accepted to do The Bachelor of Science Degree for Dance. She'd left just after her and Adam's 18th birthday and had been at school for two months, staying in one of the apartments offered by the University.
"Come on." She took her mom's bag from her and slung it over her shoulder. "How long are you gonna be here?"
"A few days, mom's taking time off work, and I don't have to go back to Uni until Saturday." Adam ruffled her hair.
"I can't believe you're studying to become a Doctor," she cackled at him.
"Yeah well, it's something I've always wanted to do," Adam replied.
"I know. I think you'll be an excellent Doctor," she told him honestly, glancing up at him. "Now come on, my roommate is visiting her boyfriend, so you can stay in her room."
"Thanks for having us," Kate told her daughter, squeezing her hand lightly.
"Don't be silly, I love having you here," she grinned.
And it was true, Beth often got homesick and wished her mom would come and visit more often, or that she could find some time in between studying and working at the bar just down the road from her shared apartment. She was just grateful that Adam was also attending the same University as her, even if he lived 4 miles away and struggled to visit her.
She just wished that her dad had bothered to show up for her 17th and 18th birthday, and that he'd been there to see her and Adam off to University.
Author's Note - Hey! I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I'd like to let you know that the next chapter will be Adam and Beth returning from Uni, worried about their mom, who they haven't heard from for a period of time and then the events from Jump the Shark will happen. :D
So, enjoy! And let me know what you think.
Fire and Ash.