Disclaimer: Prove it.

A/N: Nope… got nothing in the way of explanation of my absence. But hey look! It's a new one shot! AND it's a longer one. AND it's a wee-chester story—we all love those! Bonus too… it's got fluff in it… nice, warms your tummy fluff. Now to see if I have any readers left for this monstrosity. C'mon… you one reader that is left out there… make my holiday season and review! (how pathetic am I, begging for reviews, haha!). Well… read on and enjoy.

Title: Something Normal
Genre: A bit suspenseful, and family-fluffy
Summary: Wee-chester… John is wishing life could be normal, and that he could have normal things to worry about instead of supernatural things. Little does he realize that sometimes it's the normal things that can be the scariest.

Something Normal

Demons.

Demons could get them while they're sleeping!

What if Dean hurts himself while training?

What if I hurt myself while training? Who will look after the boys?

Caleb said he'd get that new exorcism for me… what if it doesn't work?

What if a God damn demon gets them!?

John got out of bed and crept down the hall to check on his sons. This was often his routine when his brain wouldn't let up worrying about everything. Trying carefully to not allow the door to creak, John pushed open into the room and looked inside.

A laugh nearly escaped the eldest Winchester.

Six year old Dean snored softly from his bed with his Transformers bedspread (proudly picked out by the young boy the previous Christmas) pushed almost down to his knees and his arms sticking straight up above his head in mock surrender position. Two year old Sammy, on the other hand, didn't fail to amuse John to no end. He lay on his toddler bed with his dinosaur bedspread (picked out with the help of big brother) entirely kicked off. His position, however, made the father wish he had a camera; Sam's entire backend stuck up in the air with one arm dangling through the wooden slats of the guardrail, and one arm with its thumb securely stuck in his mouth.

But they were safe.

John went over and carefully pulled the blanket back up on Dean, then, knowing his youngest could sleep through a hurricane, lifted Sam up and placed him in a slightly more comfortable position and replaced his blanket. Immediately his youngest son's thumb was stuck back into his mouth and John sighed sadly; he'd done that ever since Mary died.

I just wish our lives could be normal. To worry about something normal for a change!

John went back to bed and slept restlessly through the night.

~S~

"Dad, hurry up!" Dean huffed standing impatiently by the door of their apartment.

"Hold your horses Dean," John swung a diaper bag over one shoulder, pushed a folded up stroller with one hand and grabbed Sammy's hand with the other.

"I don't have horses," Dean giggled; the same joke was said each time John spoke the exasperated phrase, and yet Dean had yet to get tired of it.

John smiled and shook his head, "Take Sammy's hand."

"C'mon Sam," Dean grabbed his brother's hand.

John locked the apartment door, and the three headed down the hall and to the main door. The family was having a shopping day at the mall; something that John normally avoided at all costs however inevitably ended up doing at least once a month. Usually it was because Dean begged him as the young boy loved looking around the large mall. That and Sam had recently hit a growth spurt and John found some of the stores in the mall would have good sales.

Within an hour John had parked the car, and loaded Sam in the stroller. The three entered the large, busy mall with Dean bounding ahead and talking excitedly about all the things he wanted to look at.

"Can I pick out a toy?" Dean eagerly asked once inside.

John laughed, "You have five dollars left from your allowance Dean, so you can spend it on whatever you want."

Though Dean had known of the evils in the world for a few years now, he still had some kid left in him when it came to toys and John loved watching his son meticulously go through all the action figures to find just the right one when they'd go into a toy store.

"But you know the rule," John spoke; people whizzing by, "We do the shopping we need to do first. Then you guys can look around."

Dean nodded.

John was impressed. It took just over an hour for him to get some new outfits for his sons, a new shirt for himself, some groceries and other supplies they needed. And through this whole time both Sam and Dean didn't complain or whine about being led around.

"Please Daddy, please!" Sam spoke up as they sat at a bench by the large fountain in the middle of the mall, "Out! Please."

John smiled and looked down at his squirming boy, "Alright Sammy. But don't wander off."

Sam eagerly nodded his head and bounded over to the fountain the moment he was set free.

"Dad," Dean stood in front of John, "How much money did you say I had?"

"Five dollars."

"Is that enough to buy two toys do ya think?" Dean frowned and carefully though in his head a plan.

John shook his head, "I don't know buddy. Probably not; why do you need two toys Dean? You have a lot at home anyways."

"I know," Dean nodded his head, "But I wanted to get me a toy, and Sammy one since he's not old enough to get an allowance yet."

John grinned, "That's a great idea Dean. You guys can both pick out a toy, and I'll give you any money it costs over five dollars. Okay?"

"Yeah!" Dean jumped in excitement, "Hear that Sammy! We get… Sam?"

John had been looking down a receipt in his hand while Dean spoke, and at the sudden drop of his voice father instinct kicked in and John's head shot up. Dean stood less than a foot in front of him and was staring blankly at the fountain.

"Where's Sammy?" Dean whispered.

John jumped up; his eyes darting around, "No… Sam!"

The two year old was nowhere in sight, and John felt an immense wave of panic wash over him. He was only looking away for maybe thirty seconds!

"Sammy!" John ran to the fountain and looked inside.

A brief, fluttering moment of relief washed over him as his initial fear of finding Sam face down in the water was washed away. It lasted only a split second though as a cold feeling filled the pit of his stomach at the lack of small, curly haired Sam.

"Sammy! Answer me!" John's voice scratched in his throat, and numerous people looked over.

"Dad where is he?!" Dean cried rushing to his frantic father.

"I don't know," John breathed, his head spinning as he his eyes searched the crowded mall.

Tears immediately began to crawl down Dean's face, "Sammy!"

"Dean, stay-stay here," John placed his hands on Dean's shoulders and lead him back to the bench, "Stay here in case he comes back. I'm going to get help."

"No!" the true six year old came out in John's eldest boy as tears continued to cascade down his panic-stricken face, "Daddy, I need to help find Sammy!"

"No Dean!" John's whole body shook as he continued to look around, "I need you to stay here. Just in case."

Numerous people were looking over now, whispering to themselves at the scene playing out by the fountain. Dean simply tearfully nodded.

John took one large step away before turning back, going to his knees, and wrapping Dean in a quick hug, "It's okay Dean. I'll find him."

Dean hugged back tightly and again nodded his head and spoke in a quiet whisper, "Please."

John rushed off, and took another quick look around the fountain while asking anyone nearby if they'd seen a small boy. All responses were sympathetic however painstakingly negative as John worked his way down one of the corridors of the mall.

"God Sammy," John swallowed back the tears, "Where are you?"

Again, swinging his head around the Winchester saw no sign of his youngest son and for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past few minutes he kicked himself for letting Sam out of his sight. He would never forgive himself if something happened.

"Sam!" John's voice broke.

What seemed like hours was only five minutes as John continued searching, asking and calling out as he walked the busy shopping center. He was just about to find security and have what he was pretty sure a mini-heart attack when he swung his head to the left towards an ice cream shop.

"Sam…" John voice caught in his throat as he looked at what he could swear was his little boy sitting on the countertop of the small shop.

Squeezing his eyes shut tight momentarily, John then opened them to find them filling with tears as he saw, in fact, that it was Sam.

"Sammy!" John cried out.

"Daddy!"

Similarly the two year old had rivers of tears marking their way down his chubby face as he looked over with evident relief at his Dad. John made it to the counter in two large steps, and grabbed onto Sam's outstretched arms with gusto. Holding tight, nothing else in the world existed as John squeezed Sam's small, trembling body; his face pressed against his hair.

"Shh Sammy, it's okay. I'm here. You're okay," John whispered the reassurances; not sure if for himself or his son.

No words came out of Sam as he could only cry as he held tight. John lovingly kissed the top of his head and had no desire of letting Sam go never mind out of his sight again in the near future.

"Thank you," John's voice was laced with tears as he looked at the smiling worker.

"Awe, it's no problem," the man waved a hand, "Poor thing was walking by here, saw the ice cream and came inside. Once he realized he didn't know where his Daddy and brother were, it was all I could do to get him to stay put. Just put the call into security—they should be here any minute."

"Thank you," John repeated, then cleared his throat, "I got another one back at the fountain. If security has any questions, I'll be back over there."

The man nodded, and John walked out of the shop with Sam still securely in his arms.

"Hey Sammy," John pulled his youngest back slightly and looked into his face, "Are you okay buddy?"

Sam shook his head no and once again collapsed against this father's chest in tears. John felt heartsick at his movement, and had to force control of his own emotions as he rubbed Sam's back reassuringly.

"It's alright Sam," John whispered as they slowly walked back to the fountain, "I know you were scared, but it's alright. You're safe; I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

The walk back to the fountain was much quicker than the way to the ice cream shop, and a final feeling of relief washed through John at the sight of Dean still sitting on the bench; his legs pulled up to his chest and his head resting upon his knees.

"Dad!" Dean shouted and shot up as he saw them walk over, "Sammy!"

John smiled, and walked over, "Hey Dean."

"You found him!" never before had John seen his eldest boy look so happy, "Sammy! Sam!"

Dean tried to pull at his little brother, though Sam still refused to let go of his Dad. John sat on the bench and pulled Sam away slightly to once again get a look at his face. Dean scrambled up beside the two.

"Oh Sammy!" Dean's lower lip trembled as he half leaned onto John and pulled Sam close for a hug.

Much to John's relief, this seemed help pull Sam back to a more happy state as he returned the hug and smiled.

"Is he okay?" Dean eagerly asked John as he wiped his face.

"Yeah, he's alright," John smiled down at Sam, "Aren't you Sammy?"

Sam took a deep, shaking breath, "Yeah."

John smiled, closed his eyes, and once again planted a kiss on the top of his youngest boy's messy hair. For several minutes the three sat on the bench and had one of the most sincere family moments that John could remember having in a long time. By the time they left, John had given a stern lecture on neither of them ever again wandering off, and once a promise was made by both that they never would a quick stop at the toy store was made before heading home.

~S~

John lay in bed that night with a smile on his face. Sammy was snuggled sound asleep beside him on one side with a new teddy bear clutched in his hand, and beside him Dean lay snoring with one arm draped around his little brother. John eventually dozed off, and had one of the best sleeps he could remember having in a long time. No longer did his brain scream out all the supernatural things he had to worry about. He couldn't let himself be preoccupied by those things all the time; sometimes it was the normal things in life that were the scariest. And sometimes it was the normal things in life that made you the happiest.

The End.