Alright! Next big plot arc! Miriam's like 2 and a bit at this point...
I will admit that I have zero idea how closely my timeline is tracking here with what's happening in the show.
But it's early season 11. And Miriam is 2 and a few months.
And we're rolling with it! Suggestions welcome!
Sophie wandered into the library at midnight, fussy baby in her arms, one of Dean's flannels thrown on over her pajamas.
"She won't sleep," Sophie said, rubbing her eyes as Miriam passionately tried to wriggle out of her mother's arms.
"Want to take her for a drive?" Dean asked.
"Walking outside has been the best bet lately," Sophie suggested, "Can you help me get some shoes and a coat and come with us?"
"Of course babe," Dean agreed immediately, "You got this?"
He gestured at the piles of open books spread across the library table. Sam nodded.
"Good luck," the younger Winchester offered.
"We'll need it," Sophie stifled another yawn.
As much as she hated living in Lebanon, Sophie loved being out in the country. While they didn't have any land of their own, the area around the Men of Letters bunker was beyond rural and mostly abandoned. Miriam played in the old, overgrown wheat field across the street almost ever day. And if the baby couldn't sleep or if Sophie needed space to clear her head, they'd head out and walk the old dirt tractor paths. The tracks went on for miles.
It was chilly that night, but the air was still and the crickets were loud.
Miriam dozed off near instantly in the calm night air.
She'd turned two that winter, smart as a whip and full of energy.
"You know she starts preschool soon," Sophie murmured, stroking the Miriam's back and gently carding through her daughter's golden-blond curls as they walked among the overgrown vegetation.
"That happened fast," Dean rubbed the back of his neck. He could remember that terrifying day Sophie delivered Miriam. Alone. At home. With just him and a dying Sam.
"It did," Sophie chuckled.
They walked in companionable silence for a time.
"You know what she told me yesterday?" Sophie said.
"What?" Dean asked.
"That her favorite thing in the world," Sophie said, "She did clarify…her favorite thing, not her favorite person or her favorite food…she's very into noun categorization lately…is working on the car with you."
"She's getting pretty good at it," Dean admitted, "For a toddler."
"She loves it," Sophie repeated, "And she's so excited for school. She met Sister Mary Katherine last week, who teaches the two and three year olds, and she hasn't stopped talking about it since. I've explained…repeatedly…that school doesn't start until fall and it's only springtime now…but she said, I kid you not, good things come to those who wait."
"Sam must've said that to her," Dean replied.
"Must have," Sophie agreed, "I haven't. You sure as heck haven't."
Dean took a deep breath, let the silence hang peacefully between them. It was time. He had to ask.
"Hey Sophie," he stopped, put hands on her shoulders so they were facing each other, "Do you want…another one?"
"Another baby?" Sophie asked.
"Yeah," Dean replied, "Obviously I don't know what's coming. But we've gotten through a really rough stretch. With the mark and the darkness and…And we're not getting any younger. And while you've never out and said it, I kinda always assumed you didn't want just the one and…"
"Let's do it," Sophie's face broke into a huge smile, hugging Miriam tighter up against her chest then shoving her in Dean's direction, "You carry her home and we can get started tonight! Maybe even in the back seat of the Impala!"
He hadn't heard Sophie make that particular excited giggling sound in years.