Fighter: Dean Winchester (REVAMPED VERSION)

αɴ αɴɢel ιѕ вorɴ; pαrт тнree

Nadia had spent over an hour talking about Dean. Vanessa didn't interrupt once; all she could do was listen and stare at her daughter. Since deciding to face Raphael, she'd hated the thought of never seeing Nadia grow up. And now, sitting in front of her, she felt an odd sense of satisfaction.

Nadia's life might have been difficult, but at least she'd managed to grow up without angels, which was all Vanessa had ever wanted for her. She believed the best thing for Nadia was to be raised as a normal human being. Raising her to be an angel would have been too much responsibility for someone so young. Even now, as an adult, it was evidently taking a toll on her.

"It was kind of sad, finding out Michael had been the one guiding me toward Dean all along, but..." Nadia rubbed her face roughly. "I don't know. What Dean and I have—it's different than anything I've ever experienced with other guys. My whole life, I've been the person everyone depends on. Everyone feels like they can rely on me."

"That's the angel in you," Vanessa said, gesturing to her half-empty glass of whiskey.

"I know that now. With Dean, though, it's different. I can depend on him, and he can depend on me. You know?"

"I know exactly what you mean," Vanessa said softly. "All my life, people depended on me. Then I met your father, and he didn't want anything from me. He just wanted to spoil me. I never even opened a car door myself when I was with him. Never paid for a meal."

"Dad? A romantic?" Nadia grinned. "I can't picture that."

"Neither could he," Vanessa chuckled. "He said I brought out his soft side. As uncomfortable as it made him, he couldn't help it. Is that how it is with Dean?"

"Yeah," Nadia smiled. "I really care about him, Mom."

"I can tell, honey." Vanessa stood up, pacing slowly with her glass in hand. "But there's something you need to understand. This is bigger than you two. Dean doesn't have a choice in this. The apocalypse is coming."

"And how do you know that?" Nadia stood up, her eyes wide. "Who says we can't stop it?"

Vanessa's voice softened. "Why do you think I'm so calm about my daughter visiting me from the future? I've seen it. Michael's seen it. It's going to happen. And if you somehow figure out how to stop it, all you'll do is delay the inevitable."

Nadia's heart sank. "I can't believe you're saying this. Where's your hope, Mom? Where's the zeal to save humanity?"

"Nadia, this isn't about humanity. It's about Lucifer and Michael. It's personal. I know it's not what you want to hear. I wish I could tell you differently, but..."

"If this is about Lucifer and Michael, why do they need Dean? The only reason he'd help is to save the world. Not for some petty sibling rivalry."

Vanessa fell silent, hesitant to speak.

"Mom, I need to know."

"If I tell you, you'll tell Dean, and he won't do it. It's too soon. You two aren't even deep enough into it yet."

Vanessa turned away, her expression a mix of guilt and sadness.

"Well, riddle me this—who are the letters from?"

Vanessa stiffened.

"Gabriel, you know that."

"The other ones."

Vanessa took a deep breath, then set her glass down on the counter. "They're from my Father."

Nadia's brow furrowed. She'd heard Vanessa mention her Father, but it hadn't fully clicked until now.