Sheva's room
Roan, WV
February 2nd
The dim light from the bedside lamp flickered softly, casting gentle shadows across the walls of Sheva's bedroom. It was a familiar space filled with artifacts—books stacked haphazardly, posters of her favorite bands peeling at the corners, and a scattered array of craft supplies. Lilith stood alone at the foot of the bed, her heart heavy with regret as she watched her daughter sleep, oblivious to the turmoil surrounding them.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered, her voice trembling. "I thought I was protecting you, but I was wrong—so very wrong."
Lilith took a deep breath, trying to steady herself against the wave of guilt crashing over her. "You were just a baby. I thought I could handle everything." She stepped closer to the bed, her eyes searching Sheva's peaceful face. "But I see now that I was naive. I never realized how dangerous it could be."
The clock on the wall ticked steadily, each second a reminder of the time lost between them. "I should have been your anchor. Instead, I threw you into the unknown."
Just then, the wind howled outside, rattling the windowpanes as if echoing her emotions. "I wish I could have held you close, taught you everything you needed to know."
A flicker of movement caught her eye, and her breath hitched. "Sheva?" Lilith said, urgency creeping into her voice.
But there was no response, only the steady rise and fall of her daughter's chest. Lilith felt her heart sink. "I just want you to know," she continued, her voice thick with emotion. "I never stopped thinking about you."
Outside, the wind began to quiet, but inside, the storm of emotions raged on. "You're so strong."' She said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've faced so much, and I want to be here for you now."
As the silence stretched, Lilith closed her eyes, willing herself to stay strong. "I promise to be the mother you deserve, if you'll let me."
A few minutes later, the early morning light spilled into the parking lot of Sheva's home. Dean leaned against the hood of Baby, the cool metal pressing against his back. He ran a hand through his unruly hair, the previous weeks events weighing heavily on his mind. He had promised Sheva he would be there.
As he approached the door, he knocked lightly. "Hello? It's Dean."
The door creaked open, revealing Lilith, her expression a mix of surprise and guardedness. "Dean?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Hey." He replied, attempting a reassuring smile. "I wanted to check on Sheva."
Lilith stepped aside, allowing him to enter. "She's still in bed." Lilith said quietly. "I don't know if she can hear us."
Dean nodded, stepping cautiously into the small room. The faint scent of lavender lingered in the air. He glanced around then turned his attention back to Lilith, who stood near the door, her expression softening.
"You care about her." Lilith said softly, almost as if it were a question.
"Of course I do." Dean replied, his voice steady. "Contrary to popular belief."
He took a seat beside the bed. "Hey, sweetheart." He said gently, his voice low and soothing.
Lilith lingered in the background, her heart aching as she watched Dean interact with her daughter. "Thank you for being there." She said quietly.
Dean glanced up at her, his expression softening. "Of course."
A soft groan escaped from Sheva's lips, and both Dean and Lilith leaned closer, their breaths held in anticipation. "Sheva?" Dean called gently.
