Chapter Text
Under the Willow
Chapter 4
My Girl
That first sleepover that Emma had with Eileen, Sam, and Robbie started a once-a-week sleepover trend. Dean and Cas didn’t mind as long as Sam and Eileen didn’t mind, and they didn’t. They loved it. Ellen caught wind of the weekly sleepovers right before Valentine's Day and wanted in on the fun. Her and Bobby wanted to spend as much time as they could with Emma to make up for the years that they lost. Dean teared up when Bobby came to get Emma for that first sleepover on Valentine's Day. Watching Emma jump excitedly into her grandpa’s arms for a big hug melted Dean’s heart and he didn’t think he would ever get used to the sight.
Now Emma swapped weekly sleepovers between Sam and Eileen, and Bobby and Ellen. Dean and Cas were glad to have the weekly date night as well. They usually did the same thing; Dean came in from working and told Emma bye before Bobby or Sam came to pick her up. Once she had left, they would go shower together, make love, get some takeout and watch a movie or tv show. Valentine’s Day was no different and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Now with Valentines Day out of the way, Dean was focusing back on working the ranch and Cas had graciously taken over planning Emma’s 5th birthday. They felt a little bad that she didn’t really have any friends her age yet but that would come with time, she hadn’t been there very long anyway.
Cas hadn’t had any luck in finding the person that trained The Colonel, though he hadn’t stopped looking. He was hopeful that the lawyer he contacted could find out more information. In the meantime, Cas found a trainer who sent them an email containing a list of common commands for personal protection dogs and how to use them. It was a big help. The Colonel attached himself to Emma right away. He wasn’t generally far from her unless he was doing his daily rounds of checking the house. He slept with Emma after he checked the house with Dean, and he followed her downstairs and would sit with his back towards her in a watchful and protective manner while she ate or played.
Dean and Cas watched them closely always, but it just seemed that he had claimed her as his girl, so they shrugged and went along with it; glad to know she was never really alone in the house if one of them wasn’t with her. The first day Dean took Goose out with him and Cain to check the cattle went perfectly. Dean came back for lunch and kissed Cas and thanked him multiple times for rescuing Goose. Dean was kicking himself for not getting a cattle dog sooner. All was going just fine in the Winchester-Novak house.
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Tuesday March 1st, 2011.
Emma’s birthday landed on a Tuesday, that would’ve been inconvenient if there would’ve been anyone outside of their family coming over to celebrate. They went ahead and decided to have the party on her actual birthday, knowing this would not be the case in the coming years once she makes friends and starts school eventually. Dean was out tending to the horses and cattle with Cain while Cas was in the house with Eileen setting up for Emma’s birthday party. There was a snowstorm coming that evening that would make the roads impassable after it dropped several more feet of snow on the already 6ft that covered the pastures. Ellen was closing the bar for the next few days like she always did.
Dean and Cas had tried to move Emma’s party to the next weekend after the snowstorm, but Ellen and Bobby wouldn’t hear of it. They said that it was her first birthday as a part of the family, and they were going to do it right and on the day. They said they would just stay at the ranch and help out with the animals the next few days after the storm. They knew Dean would need a few extra hands afterwards and Dean wasn’t about to say no to that. Plus, he enjoyed his family and thought if they had to be snowed in, it might as well be all under one roof.
Dean had gotten the horses mostly settled and the cows had been moved to a closer pasture the day before. He wanted the heifers closer to the house so he wouldn’t have to ride out too far in all that snow if they started calving sooner than he expected. Cain was working on the hole in the chicken coop that needed fixing when Dean walked into the house about one o’clock, ready to lend a hand at getting ready for the party.
“Hey, it looks great in here!” Dean called as he walked into the kitchen through the dining room where there were pink streamers and balloons set up throughout both rooms. Pink was one of Emma’s favorite colors and what she asked for as decorations.
“Thank you love.” Cas beamed from where he was icing chocolate cupcakes with pink icing per Emma’s request.
“Ellen, Bobby, and Jo should be here any minute.” Dean said as he walked over and kissed Cas on the cheek, swiping his finger through the bowl of vanilla buttercream icing while he was there.
Cas swatted his hand and Dean chuckled. “Sorry sweetheart.”
Cas shook his head in amusement. “Do they have the uh…” Cas looked towards the living room where Emma was watching SpongeBob SquarePants and coloring, making sure she wouldn’t hear what he was about to ask Dean. “Did they pick up the surprise?” he whispered.
“Yeah, they picked him up at 11:30. Should put them here right on time.” Dean pulled his phone out to make sure he hadn’t missed anything from Ellen or Bobby.
“Good. She’s going to love it.” Cas smiled.
“I sure hope so. I just want her to have a good first birthday with us.” Dean said, shyly. He had been struggling the last few weeks with wanting to make sure he was doing everything right for her and make her feel loved and like she belonged, especially for her 5th birthday.
“I know she is going to love everything she is getting.” Cas assured Dean.
Just then Eileen came down the stairs with a baby monitor in hand. “Little man is down. Thanks for letting me use your room.” Eileen said and signed.
“You’re welcome.” Cas smiled and signed back.
They talked for the next few minutes while Cas finished the cupcakes, and Dean went about mixing the BBQ sauce into the pulled pork he smoked the day before. When Dean thought of children’s birthday parties, he thought of snacks, and drinks. When they asked Emma what she wanted for snacks, she said she wanted pulled pork sandwiches to which Dean threw his head back in a full body laugh and said, “That’s my girl”. Then he proceeded to go buy a pork shoulder and smoke it for 12 hours just for his little girl.
“Dean!” Sam called as he walked through the front door. He had two presents under each arm. One in a square box wrapped in rainbow birthday wrapping paper, and one larger, rectangle present wrapped in the same paper.
“Hey Sammy!” Dean pulled the slider buns from the oven as Sam came into the kitchen.
Sam set the presents on the island and said, “Bobby and Ellen just pulled up.”
“Oh great!” Dean said as he ran to the entryway closet and grabbed his coat. He quietly went outside to meet them.
“Hey Dean. Got a special delivery.” Bobby called as he stepped out of the old pickup he was driving.
“Hey Bobby! Thanks for picking him up.” Dean said as he gave Bobby a quick hug.
“Of course. Ellen and Jo are almost here. They stopped at the tack store for a few more things.” Bobby and Dean walked around to the back of the small trailer. Dean hopped up on one of the tires and peaked inside.
“Hey buddy. Your gonna make one little girl very happy.” Dean smiled. “Did he load up good?”
“Like a dream.” Bobby pulled a folder from inside his coat. “Here are his papers.”
“Thanks Bobby. Really appreciate it.”
“Anything for that little girl.”
HONK HONK!
They turned to see Jo and Ellen in Jo’s SUV.
Once parked, Dean and Bobby walked over to greet them and help pull out the rest of the gifts.
“Hey! Hope the drive wasn’t too bad?” Dean greeted as Ellen stepped out of the car and pulled him into a hug. Ellen and Jo had to go to the tack store that was in Bozeman to pick up one of Emma’s presents.
“Jo’s driving is always scary but other than that it wasn’t bad.” Ellen joked. Dean chuckled and nodded his agreement.
“Hey! It’s not that bad.” Jo defended. “If I’m a bad driver, it’s his fault.” She pointed to Bobby.
“My fault? How is it my fault?” Bobby asked.
Ellen patted him on the shoulder as she passed him to walk towards the house. “You taught her how to drive honey.”
“Oh. At least she doesn’t drive like Sam.” Bobby deadpanned.
Dean threw his head back in a full body laugh. “You mean like an overgrown grandma because that’s how Sam drives.”
“Exactly” Bobby agreed.
“Alright boys, that’s enough. let’s get this stuff in to that little girl so she can have the best birthday ever.” Ellen announced as she pulled a large box from the trunk of the SUV.
Dean went back to the trailer and pulled out the most important part of the party and put him in the extra stall in the barn with some fresh water and some hay and switching his old rope halter for a new soft pink halter and lead rope, hanging the rope on the hook outside the stall before he headed back to the house. He walked into Ellen and Bobby sitting on the couch as Emma showed them the new tricks she had taught The Colonel.
Dean chuckled as he shook his head in amusement. Sam came around the corner from the dining room, “Hey. Everything ready?”
“Heyya Sammy. Yeah, I think so. Need to check with Cas to make sure the cupcakes he was decorating are done and then we can eat.” Dean led the way into the kitchen where Eileen, and Jo were talking and laughing with Cas as he placed the final cupcake on the tower.
“We ready to eat?” Dean asked as he walked behind Cas and wrapped his arms around his waist and placed a kiss on his neck.
A shiver ran down Cas’s spine and he smiled, “Yes we can eat now.”
Dean called for everyone to come to the kitchen to make their plates while he grabbed one of Emma’s plates that had Rapunzel on it and made her a pulled pork sandwich with chips and ranch to dip. He was thankful every day that she wasn’t a picky eater and loved all of his favorite foods. But in Castiel’s words: “No child that shares your DNA would not like burgers and pie Dean?” to which Dean narrowed his eyes and said, “Touché.” With a chuckle as he hip-checked Cas.
Once they all had full plates, they gathered around the large dining room table. Cas and Dean both had to keep reminding Emma to eat because she kept getting lost staring at all the different sized presents and trying really hard to guess what the largest box was.
When half her sandwich and chips were gone, she turned to Dean and Cas and said, “Daddy, Pappa, can I pweeeaaassee open my presents now?” The puppy dog face she was giving them, complete with a pouted bottom lip could rival her uncle Sam’s any day.
Dean and Cas chuckled, “Sure baby. Let’s blow out your candles first though.” Dean said.
“YAY!” She exclaimed as she bounced in her seat.
Cas got up and brought the cupcake tower into the dining room and set it in front of her. Dean helped her stand in the chair as Cas lit the singular #5 candle that sat in the middle of the last cupcake on the top tier. Jo pulled out her phone and took a video of them singing Happy Birthday and Emma blowing out the candle. They all laughed as she grabbed the top cupcake and took a big bite after Dean took the candle out, icing covering her mouth and some on the tip of her nose.
Emma loved horses, and since the week following her arrival, Dean would take her out daily to help him clean stalls, feed the horses and groom them. The few days it had been sunny and not ridiculously cold outside, Dean would take her riding around the house or up to visit Sam, Eileen, and Robby on Zeppelin or Sadie. She loved getting in the saddle with him and learning how to steer the horse. Castiel had taken many photos of the two riding with his phone and camera. Cas had printed several of the photo’s that were his favorite and framed them, hanging them around the house and giving a few to Ellen and Bobby. Cas and Dean both had one of the pictures as their background on their phones as well. Both Dean and Emma always had a beaming smile on their face the whole time or were laughing about something. Right before Valentine’s Day, Dean had brought up the idea of buying her a small horse of her own for her birthday. Cas agreed right away, and they started looking the next day. Dean had called Crowley and asked him to keep an eye out for any kid safe, smaller horses that maybe one of his clients was looking to sell; and that is exactly what happened.
Crowley called the week before Emma’s birthday, right when Dean was getting discouraged about finding the perfect horse that would take care of his baby girl. He had gone to look and try 8 different horses over the last few weeks and none of them fit the bill for what he was looking for. Dean got the contact information from Crowley and went to look at the horse the same day. He was near Billings Montana, around an hour and a half away.
Dean was immediately pleased with the demeanor of the small horse the minute he started interacting with him. He did everything Dean asked of him, loaded and unloaded in a trailer like a dream, allowed all grooming and tacking up while taking a catnap, and even passed Dean’s “bombproof” test with flying colors, all while maintaining a sweet but not boring personality. Dean was too big to do the actual riding portion of the test but the owner; a very short woman, rode him and then one of her children rode him.
Dean was thoroughly impressed by the little horse and made an offer. They accepted and he was thrilled and put more at ease when he met the petite woman’s husband and found that he was an old friend of his from his college days when he would ride at the local rodeo’s. He knew the man well and trusted him to sell a good and safe animal. The couple were sad to see the little horse go but happy he would be with another child since the only reason for them selling him was their children losing interest in riding. They had brought him along since he was two years old, and he was now only eight years old. Dean could see the love they had for such a special animal. Dean promised he would have a good life and live out the rest of his long life at the Winchester Ranch.
Dean started handing Emma the presents from smallest to largest, glad to know that she wouldn’t suspect getting a horse since Dean told her she would be getting her own riding tack soon so she could learn to ride Sadie by herself. The first presents were individually wrapped grooming supplies and a pink tote to keep it all in from Jo. Emma was already so excited to have her own supplies that her thank you’s were hard to understand through her squeals. Another present was her own cowgirl boots and cowgirl had that they told her were from her grandpa Chuck in New York and her Uncle Gabriel. The next present was a pink horse winter blanket for the cold nights from Sam and Eileen. Dean and Cas were thankful again that she didn’t notice that the size of the blanket wouldn’t fit Sadie.
The next present was a pink and black saddle pad that Dean and Cas told her was from Charlie. And the last present was a custom fit western saddle with a matching breast collar and headstall with pink inlays in the leather design from Ellen and Bobby. She absolutely adored it and gave Ellen and Bobby the biggest hugs.
Dean tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned around from where she was admiring her new saddle with a beaming smile and looked up at him.
“Wanna go see what Pappa and I got you?” Dean asked her with a smile.
“Yesyesyes!” She bounced on the spot.
“Let’s go then! It’s outside so we gotta put on our coats.”
“Ok!” She exclaimed and ran to the closet by the front door.
They all put on their coats and hats; Emma, clad in her new boots, hat, and heavy jacket, they headed outside. Emma ran down the stairs and jumped in the snow while everyone else came out of the house. She stopped when she realized that she didn’t know where her present would be.
“Where’s my present?” She ran up to Dean and Cas.
They smiled to one another, “It’s in the barn.” Cas said, pointing towards the barn a few yards away. She grinned and sprinted towards the barn, tripping in the snow and almost falling multiple times as she giggled in joy.
She reached the big door and pushed it open with all her might, just enough for her to slip inside. Dean got to the door next and pushed it all the way open. When he looked up from the door, he saw Emma standing statue still, staring in awe at the stall next to Zeppelin’s that was decorated in pink balloons, pink streamers, and a sign over the top of the stall that read: HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA!
Right then the little horse stuck his nose over the stall door, he was just too short to put his head all the way over like the other horses. Dean made a mental note to shorten the door for him so Emma could pet him easier.
She gasped when she saw him. “Is he mine?” she asked tentatively in a small voice; you could hear the excitement but unsureness in her voice.
“He’s all yours, baby girl.” Dean assured her. Her smile got impossibly bigger as tears started to stream down her face. She turned and launched herself into Dean’s arms where he held her tightly. Cas squatted down when she let go of Dean and turned to him, almost knocking him over with the force of her hug.
“Why don’t you go see him.” Cas said gently as he wiped the tears from her face. She nodded and took both Dean and Castiel’s hands and they walked towards the stall. Little did they know that Jo had taken some video and pictures of the moment that they would come to cherish, especially the one where they were walking hand in hand with Emma towards the stall.
Dean opened the stall door, and the horse Immediately put his head down to her level and gently nuzzled into her. She giggled and gave him a kiss on his head as he licked her hand, looking for treats.
“I love him so much.” She said with a sniffle.
“I think he loves you too. Do you want to know more about him?” Dean asked.
“Yes pwease.” She said as she walked into the stall to pet his neck and run her hands through his long black mane.
“He’s a Quarter Horse Pony breed cross, he’s 8 years old and around 13 hands tall so he’s the perfect height for you to learn on and ride for a very long time. The family he came from had kids that loved him, but they outgrew him, so now he’s looking forward to being loved by you.” Dean smiled.
“Wow. I will love him for ever and ever.” She hugged his neck and gave him a kiss. He seemed to be enjoying himself, Dean noticed his eyes were slowly drifting closed and one of his back legs was cocked in a relaxed manner.
“I know you will.” Dean patted the horse on the shoulder and smiled at Cas who was grinning from ear to ear.
“He looks like Zeppy.” Emma commented.
Dean laughed, “He does. I thought you would like that he was all black like Zeppelin.”
Emma nodded in agreement as she continued to pet him.
They had almost forgotten that the others were there until they heard a sniffle and looked up to see Bobby handing Ellen a handkerchief to wipe her eyes with. Dean and Cas chuckled and invited everyone to come and say hello to the little horse.
“What are you going to name him?” Bobby asked Emma.
“I get to name him?” she asked excitedly.
“Of course! He has a new home, so he needs a new name.” Dean said.
“Ummmmm.” She thought as she looked him over, walking to his front to look at his face. “He looks like a Shadow to me. Like Zeppy’s Shadow.”
“Shadow it is!” Dean agreed. He was going to make her a name plaque from some old wood he had by the house next week after the garage was completed.
The rest of the day was spent with Emma giving Shadow a thorough grooming and learned to pick his feet all by herself, then helping Dean feed all the horses and feeding him herself since he was officially hers. Only an hour after they showed her Shadow did it start to snow quite hard, the wind picking up and snow falling fast. The storm was coming in a few hours earlier than expected. Bobby, Cas, and Sam helped Dean and Cain check all the animals and make sure everything was secure for the storm before they retreated to the house. Sam and Eileen took Robbie home for dinner and bedtime while Cas and Dean reheated some leftover stew from the night before for themselves, Emma, Ellen, Bobby, and Jo.
Dean got everyone settled into the guest rooms and Emma fell asleep between Dean and Cas on the couch watching Spirit, while the dogs curled up around the fire. Needless to say, it was a great birthday for Emma, and they couldn’t wait to see what the rest of the year brought for them all.
Dean and Cas ended up being extremely grateful that Ellen, Bobby, Jo got snowed in at the ranch; all hell seemed to have broken loose the next day while snow was still falling after the initial overnight of heavy snowfall. Ellen stayed inside with Emma so Cas could go help Dean, Bobby, Sam, and Cain with getting the barn door open since snow needed to be shoveled away from the door to open it. Everything was buried in snow, and they were having a hard to walking in it with how deep it was. Jo offered to start digging the snow plow out so they could get around the ranch easier.
For those next few days before the snow melted enough for Bobby, Ellen and Jo to leave, they helped several cows have their babies because for some reason, the cows always chose to give birth in the worst conditions. They plowed a smaller pasture with a large run-in shelter to put the momma’s and babies in so they could keep an eye on them. They helped put out round bales of hay and mend a cow that decided to try and go 3 rounds with the fence and lost. Needless to say, they were all exhausted when the snow finally melted enough for everyone to leave the ranch. Dean and Cas thanked them profusely and Dean promised to come to the salvage yard or the bar to help get whatever Bobby or Ellen needed done.
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The next week
Dean was transferring all his tools and car tools to the new garage they had just finished building on the left side of the house the day before. The truck Cas bought him was finally under some shelter and he couldn’t wait to start on it; the Impala had a dry place to stay too since it was an oversized two car garage. Emma had been helping Dean move some of the smaller items but had just gone inside when Cas came and got her to eat her lunch; Dean would be heading in for lunch as soon as he was finished since he only had one more toolbox to move.
Dean stood up and looked towards the driveway when he heard tires and snow chains coming down the road. He was confused since he had just talked to Sam, who had been home helping with Robbie since Eileen was sick, Cas was inside with Emma, and Cain was down in the barn mucking out stalls; they weren’t expecting anyone.
The small SUV came to a stop not far from the garage and a short, young man got out and waved to Dean.
Dean smiled and laughed, “Kevin! Kevin Tran! How the hell are you?” He greeted Kevin with a bone crushing hug. He was the son of Linda Tran, the owner of the diner in town. Kevin had known Dean since he was 8 years old when Dean had first moved to Montana and Kevin begged his mom to let Dean give him riding lessons.
“Dean! I’ve been ok. It’s good to see you!” Kevin said, voice a little strangled as Dean tightened his hug before letting go.
“aren’t you supposed to be at college?” Dean asked quizzically.
“Well, it’s spring break so I’m home for the week but technically yes.” Kevin sighed and looked down at his feet.
“What’s wrong kid? Not liking college life?” Dean asked, concerned about the boy he had taken under his wing when he had first moved to Montana.
“Not at all.” Kevin looked back up at Dean and took a deep breath, he then blurted, “I hate it. I’ve done it for two years and I just can’t do it anymore. It’s not what I want to do… It’s what my mom wants me to do.” He whispered the last part like his mom was standing right next to him.
Dean sighed and put a comforting hand on Kevin’s shoulder. “I know but, you’re gonna be the top neurosurgeon in the world one day. That’s real exciting.”
Kevin glared at Dean, “You’re just saying that because you’re afraid of my mother.”
“You bet your ass I am.” Dean deadpanned and let his hand fall from Kevin’s shoulder. Kevin rolled his eyes. “Look she may be a tiny woman, but she can be scary.” Dean added.
“I really don’t want to do it anymore. I want to do something else, something I love.” Kevin sighed.
Dean wanted to help him, he really did, but he didn’t know what he could do. Kevin’s mother had been planning this future for him since before he met the Trans, and she never budged on it, not once. But Kevin was an adult and technically could do whatever he wanted regardless of what his mother wanted.
“What do you want to do Kevin? If there is something else, then you’ve never told me about it.” Dean said.
“I want to be a horse trainer. I’ve wanted that for years, but my mom always shut the idea down every time I brought it up.” Kevin looked defeated, and Dean hated to see that.
“I had no idea. You know your mom just wants you to have everything you need or want. That’s what every good parent wants for their kids, even if it seems like they are being overbearing or controlling about it.” Dean said, trying to help Kevin see it from his mother’s perspective and not as her just being controlling.
Kevin’s face fell and he looked even more defeated than he had just a few minutes prior.
Dean sighed. Linda might kill him for this, but he had to do it. “But sometimes you have to stand up to those parents and make them see that you are truly unhappy, and hopefully they are understanding and willing to support what you really want to do. Sometimes, you need a friend to stand behind you and with you on what you want.” Dean started; Kevin’s face lit up as he caught on to what Dean was saying. “I’ll help you tell your mom that school isn’t for you and that you want to be a trainer. And then you come to work for me. Get yourself back into it with my help and support. I’m gonna need another hand and trainer once I can get this breeding and training business on its feet. You can even take on some outside client horses when you feel ready.” Dean suggested with a smile.
He really did love the idea of Kevin coming to work for him and helping him become the best trainer he possibly could become. “Are you serious?” Kevin asked disbelief clear in his voice.
“As a heart attack.” Dean smiled. “But remember, this life isn’t easy. It’s hard work with long hours that can go late into the night, but in the end its rewarding and if you really love it then it won’t feel like work.”
“I know, I helped you every summer since I was nine remember. I’ve seen more calves be born than any twenty-year-old ever has.” They both laughed, then Kevin continued, “This is what I want to do. You showed me what this life is like and the care and compassion it takes to do it and it’s what I want.”
“Then all that’s left is to make your mom see it that way too.” Dean said.
“That’s like picking a fight with a bear.” Kevin chuckled.
Dean snorted, “A very small bear but a bear, nonetheless. I’ll meet you at the diner tomorrow at 2pm so we can talk to your mom.”
Kevin smiled widely, “Ok, thanks Dean.”
“No problem kiddo. It’ll be good to have you join the crew. That is if I survive your mother.” Dean laughed nervously.
Kevin laughed along with him before waving goodbye and getting back in his car to head down the driveway.
Dean smiled and waved at the back of the car before mumbling to himself, “She’s gonna kill me. Emma! I’ll take Emma. She won’t hit me if Emma’s with me.” And with that plan in his mind, he headed inside to tell Cas the news of a new employee and that they would be going to lunch at the diner tomorrow.