Let it Snow

Chapter four

December 7th
18 days until Christmas

He should have thrown them out, the moment he and Cas had broken up they should have been thrown out. Then the moment they'd been pulled from storage they should have been thrown out. Dean should have thrown the pair of gloves out, he'd told himself that over and over, every time his gaze landed on their fuckin blue fabric. He should throw them and every pained memory that laced them out, though every time he managed to dangle them over the garbage Dean could only picture Cas's blue eyes shining, just a few shades lighter than the gloves themselves. He could still see the wide smile that had spread across Cas's face as he gave Dean the expensive pair of gloves, the kind of smile that warmed his whole face, crinkling the corner of his eyes, and melting Dean's heart. The kind of smile that was so genuine it was impossible not to smile back. 

He should have fucking thrown them out.

He couldn't throw them out, he couldn't lose the leap in his heart that came everytime he pictured Cas's smile, and instead Dean was left to stare at them, heart light as he trekked through the foot of snow covering the forest floor. His gaze lingered on the gloves for another moment before he finally looked up his gaze darting across the forest he walked through, along the tall trees that surrounded him, and the light grey sky above. The whole scene was quiet, calming, making the smile across Dean's lips easy as his gaze darted first to Sam who walked on his right, then to Eileen and Jack who walked hand in hand a few feet ahead.

"When's the baby due?" Dean asked, his gaze staying a head as they walked, locked on Eileen's back. Even without being able to see her he knew the way her left hand would be resting on her stomach, the bump, which was usually hidden under layers of baggy shirts and flannels now completely visible, and impossible not to notice, as her winter coat hugged it tightly.

"The eighteenth," Sam replied. Dean could hear his brother begin to say something else, though it was quickly replaced by a sigh then a blurred rambling. "She shouldn't be here, I told her that, but she just- She says she's fine, but there isn't a hospital for miles and if she's early- maybe we should get the trees some other day- come back-"

"Dude," Dean laughed,"If she says she's fine she's fine, and if makes a baby surprise appearance, well maybe we can find some witch willin' to play doctor. Maybe we could sell Sam Jr for something cooler like pie." Dean grinned to his brother, Sam looking back in an expression Dean knew far too well. His shut up you're an idiot look, though it wasn't like that look had ever stopped Dean before. "-You know how witches have a thing for first borns, and all that shit."

"I'm not selling my kid to a witch,"

"It was just a suggestion."

Sam's expression dropped, and immediately Dean's grin followed, his darting across his brother in concern. "It's stupid," Sam finally mumbeled, Dean's gaze not dropping, and instead watching every movement his brother made. A swipe of his tongue across his bottom lip, his left hand running through his hair, his right hand tightening around the ax he carried. "Everythings going to be fine, but-"

"Dude, It's going to be awesome ."

"I know," Sam brought his hand back to his hair, brushing the strands behind his ears, and for a moment Dean wondered if he'd be able to cut the strands with an ax. That would solve at least one of their problems. "it's hard with Christmas coming up, and-"

"And?" Dean questioned when his brother didn't continue.

Sam's gaze dropped to the ground, a small cloud parting his lips as he sighed. Silence once again fell, only broken by the crunching of their boots as they walked through the snow, Dean's gaze still burning into the side of Sam's head as if that alone would force his brother to speak. It wasn't until Dean began to say something, that Sam looked back up, interrupting him. "Has dad talked to you recently."