A/N: I was out of town for the entirety of the weekend so I apologize for not updating. Here's the next update. A joke from XxZessxX will be used either this chapter or a chapter soon. On with the story!
Six
Dean tried to rush forward, but Holly caught his arm once again. Dean spun around and glared at her, he was getting sick of being held back. He tugged at his wrist and she gladly let go, but something was still holding Dean back as he stared at her. Her stare was chilling to say the least and once again Dean didn't know why. His eyes moved over to the right side of her face, a small gash had appeared above her eyebrow. It wasn't bleeding, but it was there. He hadn't noticed it before.
"Where's my daughter?" Dean asked her, insistent and worried.
"Dean," Holly replied. "Patience."
"If you say that one more fricken time," Dean pointed a finger at her. "I will not hesitate to punch you."
Holly shook her head slightly and pointed towards the doctor speaking with Future Dean and Castiel. Dean gave her a look before listening in.
"She's going to be ok," the doctor explained. "It's something we doctors commonly call croup among children. It labors breathing and can be quite scary for children. It's nothing life threatening unless the child has previous medical conditions, but I'm glad you brought her here for reassurance. Just take her home. Try to keep her comfortable and I'd suggest a radiator while she sleeps or a warm bath. Bundling her up and taking her outside might help too."
"Thank you doctor." Castiel nodded, he seemed less afraid than Future Dean had been.
"Ok ghost of Christmas future," Dean said to Holly. "Why are you showing me things that are going to potentially scare the hell out of me?"
Dean wasn't typically one to admit he was scared. In fact, he was rarely scared, but seeing all the happy moments he had yet to share with his future daughter and then suddenly being thrust into a part of his future that could've resulted in her being lost scared the hell out of him.
"Because life is fragile," Holly said with an insistent tone. "You and Sam among all people should know this. If I showed you every bit of your future that was nice and pleasant without showing you the bad too, I'd be lying to you. Angels know that humans are fragile and they could be among us at any given moment. We also know, however; that humans are strong. They have wills of steel. I'm just trying to show you that the future isn't always as perfect as you want it to be."
Dean looked back over at the doctor letting Future him and Castiel into the room. Their daughter was asleep in the bed. The doctor unhooked the IV. Their daughter started to cry, wheezing and sputtering. Castiel took her into his arms and rocked her a bit. She started to calm and snuggled into him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Papa…" she let out a barky cough.
"I'm here sweetheart." Castiel leaned his head to the side and kissed the back of her head.
Holly transported Dean into the room. He watched as Castiel calmed their daughter and still managed to wear a smile for her even though Dean could sense he was worried. He'd yet to see Castiel really smile like that. Holly's eyes cracked back open and Dean saw her look up at Future him. She let out another barky cough and Future Dean stepped closer, taking her hand. She looked up at him and a small smile broke out across her face. Future Dean smiled warmly and squeezed his daughter's hand. Dean smiled too. His daughter was going to be okay. That was all that mattered to him, even though she didn't even exist yet. Dean looked down at his clenched fist and fathomed how it was the size of his heart and how right now his heart ached like it was much bigger. His heart was making his whole body ache a little and he also fathomed how one little child could make him feel a way he'd never imagined he'd ever feel.
Dean could feel his eyes misting over.
"If you want to see the results of this," Holly came up behind him. "Come with me."
Dean nodded and suddenly they were at the home Future Dean had purchased again. The stars were shining bright above in the sky and the moon was full. The air was a bit chilly, but not bad enough to warrant coats. Future Dean had taken off his jacket and wrapped it around his daughter. Sam and Gabriel followed behind them, walking side by side. Sam pulled his jacket a bit tighter. Gabriel didn't feel the cold, but he looked up at the younger Winchester with admiration and let him go inside first to avoid being cold for a minute longer. Sam graciously smiled back as he removed his jacket and hung it on the wooden coat rack near the front door. Gabriel did the same. Future Dean gingerly removed the jacket from his daughter and Castiel moved her hair from her eyes.
"C'mon beautiful girl," Castiel whispered. "Let's get you to bed."
Future Dean and Castiel took the stair slowly, Castiel keeping their daughter upright in his arms to prevent her discomfort. Holly transported her and Dean upstairs and they watched as Castiel placed their daughter in bed. She opened her eyes.
"Sleep sweetheart," Castiel kissed her warm forehead. "Do you need anything?"
"I-I'm scared Papa…" she croaked out, trying not to cry again.
"I know," Castiel sighed and ran a comforting hand through her hair. "Believe me I know. I'm going to get you some juice for the night and turn up the heat a bit. I'll be right back sweetheart. Daddy will sit with you."
Castiel left the room, walking swiftly downstairs. Future Dean moved closer and sat on the edge of his daughter's bed. He smiled warmly. She smiled a tiny smile back, but then broke into a barking cough. The corners of her eyes watered and she looked up at Future Dean, scared.
"Hey," Future Dean spoke in a soft, gentle voice. "Hey, you're ok princess. You're gonna be ok."
"B-But what if I'm not!" his daughter exclaimed, coughing again.
"You're going to be fine you know why," Future Dean said to her. "Because you've got Papa and me taking care of you. Uncle Sammy and Uncle Gabe they're here too. You're not going to be alone, not tonight, not any night. We're not going to leave you."
"Yes you are," his daughter cried out. "You're gonna go to your room and leave me alone in here! I-I don't wanna fall asleep daddy, I don't wanna be alone!"
To Dean her little voice felt like a punch to his gut. He could tell that Future him felt the same way. Future Dean looked behind him then leaned in close to his daughter.
"Hey," he smiled. "Do you wanna sit outside for awhile? Look at the stars? It'd help your chest."
His daughter nodded and Future Dean smiled. Castiel brought her the juice and kissed her goodnight. He walked out moments later. Future Dean waited before lifting his daughter out of bed. He helped her into her warm hello kitty pajamas and pulled fuzzy socks onto her feet. He grabbed her warmest hoodie out from her small closet and helped her pull it on over her head. He picked her up, supporting her under her butt with one arm and grabbed the glass of juice with the other. Future Dean walked right through Dean and Holly and down the hall, down the stairs, and outside. Holly as if sensing what Dean wanted, zapped him outside and Dean watched as Future him sat down on the front steps with his daughter in his arms. He sat her upright and let her lean on his chest. He smiled down at her and placed the juice beside him. His daughter looked up.
"You see the stars," Future Dean asked her. "They're shining; they're saying "Get better"."
"They're pretty," his daughter croaked out, Future Dean wrapped the blanket he'd grabbed on his way tighter around her. "But…I-I wish I could see them from the tire swing."
Future Dean smiled; she was obsessed with that swing.
"When you're better," Future Dean said. "I promise you, we'll go back."
She nodded and looked back up at the stars and the moon which was shining brightly. Future Dean's breath was visible under the giant natural night light. Future Dean's daughter cuddled further into him and let out a little grunt. Future Dean smiled down at her and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
"Daddy," she said hoarsely. "C-Can you sing me the horse song?"
Future Dean took a deep breath and nodded. He held her close and rocked her as he sang from the beginning verse to the chorus.
"That's the way it's gonna be little darling," Future Dean sang. "We'll go riding on horses…"
Dean's own voice was beginning to put him in a sleep-like trance too. He hadn't sung properly in years. It had always felt better to blare out lyrics from hard rock songs at the top of his lungs, but when he sung slow songs, when he was alone and singing to himself that was when he could actually do it. Holly's hair blew in the wind and Dean looked over towards his angel companion and saw something in her eyes once again. She looked lost, like a child without a mother. Dean could only imagine how hard it was for angels. To be controlled by Heaven and be constantly worried about fighting and protecting that they probably never enjoyed little things like this. They probably never would.
"You ok?" Dean asked her, she jumped out of her trance like she usually did when Dean talked to her and nodded.
"I love you daddy…" his daughter said, moments later she fell asleep.
"I love you too baby girl." Future Dean whispered and kissed her chilly red cheek.
Holly touched Dean's shoulder again.
"We should go." She motioned for him to follow her. "C'mon."
Dean walked down the pathway that led to the house, wanting to look back, but he knew if he did the ache in his heart would grow, so he didn't. Instead he did as he'd been doing and followed Holly to the next event.
-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-
It was a nice sunny day in the next future event. The air was warm and it appeared to be mid-fall. There were balloons outside of the house Future Dean had bought and the sound of children's laughter filled the air. Dean felt a sense of happiness was flowing from the backyard of the house. Holly motioned for him to follow and soon the two of them stood in the backyard. Children ran around playing, tagging one another, some played in the yard with toys. There was a table set up with food and drinks and some gift wrapped bags and boxes. Dean looked over at the children and almost immediately recognized his daughter, chasing around a boy her age. She laughed and smiled brightly as she reached out and tagged him.
"Tag," she yelled. "You're it!"
"Aw c'mon!" the boy yelled back and started running after her.
Various parents mingled with Sam, Gabriel, Future Dean, and Castiel. Some with each other. There was laughter, food, drinks, and general merriment. Dean sat too, for what he perceived to be a few hours. Suddenly though, Future Dean who had been grilling burgers and hot dogs called everyone to order and all of the children ran over towards the table filled with presents. His daughter sat patiently as the presents were dispersed to her and she ripped each one open with gusto. One was a friendship bracelet kit, one was a couple of board games, the others were from friends parents they were books and toys of various kinds. Sam and Future Dean had spent the entire morning apparently building a swing set and subsequently cussing each other out. Cake was eaten and friends were eventually bid farewell until school the next week.
The biggest surprises came at the end of the day. Holly zapped Dean into the house where the two hunters and the two angels sat at the dining room table in the house. Future Dean and Castiel's daughter sat at the head of the table, smiling bright and waiting for her other presents from her family.
"Your parents are gonna kill me for this," Gabriel spoke up, earning a concerned look from Future Dean and a confused one from Castiel. Sam rolled his eyes. "But Uncle Sammy and I got you a special gift."
Gabriel snapped his fingers and the door opened revealing a large wolf dog looking animal. It entered the house and Future Dean resisted the urge to jump up and shoot it with a silver bullet. Dean supposed they'd yet to reveal the hunting world to his future daughter. The wolf dog looked at Future Dean and its eyes flashed yellow before it sat down, cocked its head, and then barked.
"Puppy!" Future Dean's daughter ran over to the wolf dog and hugged it around the neck. The wolf dog drooled then nuzzled the little girl on the side of her face. Future Dean gave Gabriel an "I'm gonna kill you" look.
"This is Titan," Gabriel said to Future Dean. "He's an Angelhound. Think of Hellhound's but less vicious all the time and only when told to protect or attack. Titan's a good dog, he'll watch over your daughter and you guys too."
"I swear an oath that I will Dean." Future Dean jumped in place as the wolf dog Titan spoke to him in his head. Future Dean was going to question it, but he determined he'd seen weirder.
"The puppy talks daddy and papa," his daughter exclaimed. "He's the coolest dog ever! This is the best tenth birthday ever!
So, his future daughter was ten in this event? Dean smiled at her enthusiasm and obvious pure joy.
"Well I don't know how we're going to top that gift," Future Dean chuckled, still getting used to the thought of having an angelic talking dog on their hands. "But we can sure try."
Future Dean walked over to his daughter and Dean watched as he started to pull his necklace off of his neck. It was the amulet Sam had given him for Christmas when they were kids. Dean felt this overwhelming shock rush over him.
"Your Uncle Sammy gave me this when we were kids," Future Dean looked to Sam almost as though for permission. Sam smiled and nodded. "Now though, I want you to have it. It'll keep me close to your heart."
He pulled the amulet over her head and she held the charm in the palm of her hand. She smiled big and hugged Future Dean around the neck. Future Dean smiled big at her and Dean almost shivered from the happy energy he could feel in the room. Future Dean looked to Castiel.
"Your papa and I have one more big surprise we think you're gonna like," Future Dean nodded at Castiel as the angel walked closer to the pair and Titan. "You wanna tell her Cas?"
"The last part of your present," Castiel explained with pride as he took Future Dean's hand. "Is coming because in nine months from now you're going to have a sibling."
Dean's mouth fell open, it must be the little boy at the park. Future Dean and Castiel smiled at each other and kissed. Their daughter hollered with joy and Sam laughed as Gabriel hooted and hollered.
Yes I added an OC of mine. His name is Titan, he's in some of my other stories so some of you may already know him. Reviews are appreciated and I do hope all of you are enjoying the story!