The man all but jumped out of the black Impala after parking in front of the second-rate hotel where he had left his most prized possessions a couple days before. Tucking a wrapped package under his arm, he hurried along the walk towards the room. It was already rather late, he realized with a sting of guilt, glancing at his watch. Dean and Sam would probably be in bed already. That was fine, though. He would just wake up Sammy and give him his present while it was still his birthday—he'd already missed so many of them...

"Happy birthday, dear Sam-my, happy birthday to you!" Dean was singing, his voice breaking in that way only a boy's in puberty could. John paused outside the door, peering through the slight opening in the curtain at the window. His boys were seated at the little hotel table in their pajamas, store-bought cupcakes with lighted candles placed between them.

"Those little rascals," John murmured to himself with a smile, reaching for the doorknob.

"C'mon, Sammy, blow out the candles," the older child prompted. His father paused.

"Dean?" asked Sam.

"What is it?"

"Do you think it would work if I wished for Dad not to go away anymore?" The wistfulness in the little voice tore at John's heart.

"I don't know, Sam," Dean told his brother. "But even if Dad can't, I'll always be here for you. I'll never leave you, understand?" The boy's eyes shone with a resolve that was beyond his years.

"Yeah," the younger Winchester nodded, a small smile playing his lips. "Thanks, Dean." He closed his eyes for a moment before blowing out the candles.

"Here. Open this."

Sam tore open the small package his brother gave to him. "Alright!" he exclaimed. "Thank you!" John was unable to see what the greatly coveted gift was from his perspective, but he was certain it suited Sam much better than what he had gotten for him.

"You're welcome," Dean replied, grinning like he owned the world. Sam leaned towards him across the table.

"Wanna know what I wished for?" he asked.

"If you tell me, it won't come true," his brother told him, handing him a cupcake. "Eat this and go to bed."

The younger child accepted the proffered dessert. "It doesn't have to be secret to come true," he said as he removed the paper. "I just wished we could always be together—forever." Dean stared at him a moment, then ruffled his hair.

"Of course we will," he said, his voice a bit tight. "I promise." John turned from the scene, his own throat tightening with emotion as tears began to trickle down his face. He felt like an outsider looking in on his own life. Once again, he wondered if he hadn't sacrificed too much in his search for the creature that had killed the mother of his children. Perhaps they would all be better off if he simply dropped his quest and stayed at home like a normal father.

But what if the beast returned?

John mustered up his resolve and opened the door, putting on a smile for those he loved more than anything else. "Hey, Sammy!" he exclaimed. "Happy birthday!"

"Dad!" his boys cried out in unison, jumping up and running to his open arms. As he held them tight, listening to their declarations of affection, he knew. He knew he had given up more than he cared to admit. But he'd make it up to them—to Dean and to Sammy. Somehow, he'd make up for his absence in their young lives... just as soon as he killed that monster.

End.

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A/N: If you please, kindly review. I'm a sucker for feedback (just no flames, please), as I know many other writers are, also. Tell me your thoughts... fanfiction is, by and large, for the readers. Besides, how am I s'posed to know if anyone's even reading this stuff?