Five years later

The sky was starting to darken as Sam Winchester pulled up outside his house. The living room light was still on, and he could see a little figure jump up at the window. He couldn't help but smile to himself as he got out the car and locked up. While his work was reasonably enjoyable, he always counted down the hours until he could get back home.

"Daddy!" Rosie squealed as Sam opened the front door. With a loving grin he scooped his little girl up into his arms, giving her a gentle squeeze as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Hey, monkey," the young father smiled, pressing a kiss on her cheek and carrying her into the living room, nodding to Jo and Ellen sitting there.

"Thanks for coming at such short notice," he said, placing Rosie back down on her feet and running a hand through his hair.

"No problem, Sam. She was no trouble," Ellen flashed a smile at her surrogate niece as she clung to Sam's hand.

"Auntie Jo-Jo braided my hair," Rosie announced, tugging at her father's arm. Sam knelt down beside her.

"Wow," he whispered, "Well, your hair looks beautiful. What do you say to Auntie Jo?"

"Thank you, Auntie Jo," the six-year-old giggled shyly.

"You're very welcome, sweetie," Jo replied, "We'll have to braid Auntie Ellen's hair sometime, right?"

"Yeah!" Rosie jumped around Sam excitedly, "Make Auntie Ellen's hair pretty too!"

Sam laughed quietly and pulled his daughter close, "We should get you ready for bed, young lady."

"But Daddy," she used the famous Sam Winchester puppy eyes to her advantage, "Not yet. You only just got home!"

The young lawyer raised an eyebrow, "Half an hour. Alright? Then bath and bedtime."

"We should get goin'. Gotta be up tomorrow to get back. Can't leave Ash runnin' the place too long," Ellen stood up and picked up her bag, "Call if you need anything, Sam. Don't be a stranger."

"I won't, thanks," Sam nodded, looking to Rosie with a smile. She ran ahead to Ellen, who knelt down to hug her.

"Thank you for looking after me, Auntie Ellen. And making me pizza," Rosie said, and Ellen chuckled softly.

"Anytime, kiddo," she ruffled Rosie's hair gently, "See you soon, alright?"

"Yeah! Can I come to your house again and see Uncle Ashy?"

Sam rolled his eyes a little but couldn't hold back a smirk. No matter how much his daughter loved that guy, he wasn't so sure. The young father was sure Ash was harmless, he was just…strange.

"I'm sure he'd love to see you, Rosie," Jo hugged the little girl close and kissed her forehead.

"I miss you, Auntie Jo," Rosie said quietly.

"I miss you too, sweetie," Jo smiled, "But if it's okay with your Daddy, you can have my number and we can talk on the phone, right?"

"Can we, Daddy?" Rosie looked up hopefully at Sam, who handed the young blonde some paper and a pen.

"Sure," he said softly, "Daddy's not too good at talking about girl stuff, right?"

Rosie giggled, "But you like Disney, Daddy!"

The young father couldn't deny that. Years of being subject to countless Disney movies had an effect on him. He'd grown to enjoy them, mostly for the smile they put on his little girl's face. He was pretty much an expert in Disney Princesses now. In honesty, Sam had no problem talking to his little girl about anything she asked. But regardless, it would be good for her to have a female role model to talk to.

Jo scribbled down her number and handed it to Rosie, who clutched at it protectively as if it would disappear, "You call anytime you want, alright?"

Rosie nodded, and the Harvelles made their way towards the door.

"Thanks again," Sam nodded, smiling, "We'll call soon."

Ellen pulled him into a gentle hug, looking him in the eyes, "You take care, Sam."

The lone Winchester brother forced a small smile and nodded. Five years and it hadn't got much easier. He'd just got better at hiding it, "I will, thanks."

Sam and Rosie watched the pair drive away, Rosie waving with a huge grin on her face. Sam shut the door and took off his suit jacket, hanging it up.

"Daddy, I don't like it when you gotta work late," the six-year-old said a little sadly, reaching her arms up to him. Sam lifted her into his arms, holding her on his hip.

"I don't have to for a little while," he murmured, "I don't like it either."

The father and daughter sat on the couch, Rosie cuddled close on Sam's knee. He ran his hand through her hair gently as she rested her head on his chest.

"I got a new book to read at school," she told him, clearly starting to flag.

"You did?" Sam smiled, "What's it called?"

"It's called…it's called…" Rosie's voice was turning into a mumble, and her long dark eyelashes fluttered as her eyes closed.

"Bedtime," Sam chuckled softly, standing up and carrying her upstairs.

"No, Daddy. Want to stay with you," Rosie clung on tight to him, "Please, Daddy."

"It's getting late, princess," he smiled, sitting her in the bathroom and going to get her pyjamas.

"But it's Saturday tomorrow."

"And you have ballet in the morning," the young father started filling up the bath tub as Rosie sat on the floor patiently. She really loved her ballet classes, which were kindly paid for by her grandparents. She was a natural too, very graceful and practised all the time. Back when she was just a week old, Dean had teased the new father that he'd be the only Dad sitting amongst the moms watching their kids dancing, and he was right. Sam never missed it, and Rosie loved having her Daddy watch her dance.

"I guess so," Rosie pouted, but got in the bath all the same. She sang Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid as Sam washed her hair, and it never failed to put a smile on his face. She was such a happy kid, she saw the good in everything and everyone and had such a close bond with her father. She wasn't the most confident little girl, she was shy and very sensitive, and often struggled without Sam by her side to guide her. Sam knew he was to blame for that. He'd barely let her leave his sight since he lost Dean. But no matter what, he couldn't be more proud of her.

"Daddy," the six-year old said quietly as Sam helped her dry herself. She put on her princess pyjamas and went to hug him. He knelt beside her and hugged her close.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Why don't I have a Mommy?" Rosie looked up at him with inquisitive eyes. Sam flinched. He knew this day was going to come sometime, he was just surprised it never came sooner. He knew the moment she started school or ballet, as soon as she started mixing with other kids, she'd notice she was different. She was the one with only a father at home, while many of the other kids had a mother too, perhaps only a mother. Sam had vowed to raise his little girl telling her all about Jessica, all the time, but he could never bring himself to. Just like he never mentioned Dean. The pictures were there on the wall, Rosie looked at them all the time. She knew the blonde lady in the pictures with her Dad was her Mom but that was as far as her knowledge went. The Moores hadn't even shared much about Jessica to Rosie. Sue and Peter adored their only grandchild, and Nathan doted on his niece, but they too had held back. Sue would often tell her "you're just like your mom", but Rosie had never queried that.

Sam lifted his little girl into his arms and carried her to her bedroom, where he brushed and braided her hair again ready for bed. Dean would have found it hilarious how good Sam had become at braiding and pigtails. Rosie stayed quiet, just waiting for her father to speak. He left the room and returned with a photo album, then sat on her bed and pulled her onto his knee.

"Your Mom was one of the nicest people you'd ever meet," he said quietly, opening up the album to one of their wedding photos.

"She's pretty," Rosie smiled, looking up at her father, "Like the picture downstairs."

"Just like the picture downstairs," Sam's voice was soft, and he let out a slow sigh, "When we found out we were having you…she got sick. Very sick."

"Is she okay?" Rosie's eyes widened.

"I looked after her to try and make her better, but after you were born, she got worse," Sam felt tears prick his eyes and he tried desperately to blink them away. Rosie had never seen him cry before and he didn't want to scare her, "And now she's up in heaven."

"Is it my fault she got sick?"

"No, baby," Sam kissed his daughter's head, "But now she's watching over you."

Rosie looked up towards the ceiling, "Right now?"

The young father laughed quietly, "All the time."

"But doesn't she sleep?"

"I'm not sure if you need to sleep in heaven," Sam hugged Rosie close, resting his head on hers, "But she's always watched over you."

"Just like Uncle Cas!" the six-year-old smiled.

"Just like Uncle Cas," Sam smiled with her, and Rosie reached to look at more pictures in the album. She stopped at some pictures of Jessica and Sam, just before she got sick.

"Is that me?" she pointed at Jessica's baby bump.

"Yeah, not long before you were born."

"Was I a cute baby?" Rosie grinned up at her father.

"A very cute baby," Sam smirked and turned a few pages to get to a photo of him and new born Rosie, that awkward photo Dean had taken when he first arrived.

"You don't look very happy, Daddy," her smile had turned into a pout.

"I wasn't expecting the photo to be taken," Sam chuckled, "That one better?"

He pointed to the picture beside her bed that Rosie had insisted she wanted. It had been taken last year, on her fifth birthday, just after they got back from a day at the zoo. Sue and Peter had come over to bring her presents and taken the picture just after they arrived. Sam was knelt down beside his little girl, hugging her close and looking at her with undeniable love in his eyes. Rosie was grinning at the camera, her head rested on him. Sam also had a copy in his room, and he couldn't help but think how much Dean would have loved that photo.

"Yeah! That's the bestest picture, Daddy," Rosie grinned, "I love you."

"I love you too," Sam murmured, kissing her head, "More than anything."

Rosie flicked through a few pages until she came across another person she wasn't too familiar with.

"Who's that?" she pointed at the man holding her four month old self at Christmas.

"That's your uncle," Sam sighed.

"But Uncle Nathy doesn't look like that, silly!" Rosie giggled. "Or Uncle Cas, or Uncle Bobby!"

"You had another uncle too. Uncle Dean," Sam ruffled her hair gently, "He really loved you."

"Oh! I remember! There's a picture of him downstairs!"

"He's…in heaven too," Sam grimaced at his lie but it wasn't like he was going to tell her Dean was probably being tortured in Hell as they spoke.

"With Mommy. Uncle Dean and Mommy look after each other," Rosie nodded, "That's nice. They can watch movies and things together."

Sam laughed softly and just held his little girl for a while, stroking her braided curls and just wishing Jess was here. Six years and he still missed her deeply. She should be here, reading their little girl a bedtime story and watching Disney movies with her, watching her at ballet and singing her to sleep. Those were all things Sam did, and while he wouldn't miss them for the world, he couldn't deny that both Rosie and Jess deserved time together. Rosie deserved a Mom.

"Can Uncle Cas read me a bedtime story tonight, Daddy?" Rosie asked quietly, "He hasn't come in ages!"

"He's been very busy at work," more like, trying to find a way to save Dean after all this time, "But try and call him."

Rosie closed her eyes and bowed her head, "Uncle Cas? It's me, Rosie! Me and Daddy want to see you again."

"Hello, Rose," the familiar gravelly voice behind them made Rosie grin. She leapt up from Sam's knee and ran to the trenchcoated angel, who knelt down to hug the little girl with a small smile.

"I missed you, Uncle Cas!" she whispered, hugging him tight.

"I missed you too, Rose," Castiel patted her head as he always had, making Rosie laugh.

"Will you read me a bedtime story? Please?" she ran to her bookshelf where she chose her Lilo and Stitch storybook. Castiel stared at the book for a little while with a frown.

"Do you remember when we watched it, Uncle Cas?" Rosie clambered back on the bed beside Sam, who was watching in amusement.

"I believe I do," Castiel nodded, "The small blue life form that is….cute and fluffy."

Rosie giggled, "Yeah, that's it! Stitch is great!"

Sam watched as Rosie snuggled up on Castiel's knee and listened to him read the story. He'd got the hang of it over the years, not questioning any clear impossibilities and even attempting to read a little theatrically. That's not to say that Dean wouldn't have found it hilarious. Rosie began to droop near the end of the story, yawning and resting her head on the angel and clinging onto his tie. Just as an experiment, Sam had got a tie exactly the same as Castiel's when Rosie was still a baby, but she never grabbed it, she didn't even notice it. Something about that angel's tie must be special to Rosie.

"Uncle Cas?" the little girl mumbled sleepily.

"Yes, Rose?" Castiel looked down at her and put the book down on the bed.

"Daddy said Mommy watches over me in heaven like you do," she yawned and looked up at him, "Do you get to see her?"

"I do," Castiel nodded, "I visit her. She's very proud of you, Rose."

"Can me and Daddy go and visit her in heaven? For a vacation?" she looked up hopefully. Sam sighed and looked at Castiel apologetically as the angel struggled for an answer.

"It's not your time to go to heaven yet, child," Castiel said as softly as he could, "But she always hears you, everything you say. She'll always be listening if you need her to."

Sam wiped away tears from his eyes and took a deep breath. The amount of times he'd talked to Jess, told her he missed her, how Rosie was doing, and how much their daughter was taking after her. To know she'd heard every single word was such a comfort to him.

"Daddy, are you crying?" there was fear in Rosie's voice as she looked up at her father. He blinked away the tears as much as he could.

"Your father misses your mother a lot, Rose," Castiel spoke for him, "She meant a lot to him."

"I'm fine, sweetheart," Sam managed to say, forcing a smile.

"Promise?" Rosie looked hopeful.

"Promise."

Rosie rested her head on the angel's chest, hugging him tight.

"Time to sleep now, Rosie," Sam said softly, "It's getting late."

"But Daddy-"

"Your father is right, Rose," Castiel nodded, "You need your rest."

"Okay," Rosie sighed, reaching up and kissing Castiel's cheek, "Goodnight, Uncle Cas. I love you."

"Good night, Rose," he hugged the little girl close for a second, then stood. He nodded to Sam, who pulled him into a hug.

"It's good to see you again," he murmured.

"You too, Sam," Castiel smiled slightly, before disappearing on the spot. Sam smiled to himself and tucked Rosie in, planting a kiss on her forehead.

"Night night, Daddy," Rosie yawned, "Love you."

"I love you too, princess," Sam whispered, "Sweet dreams."

Almost as soon as Sam had started to get to sleep, he was woken by two little arms attaching themselves to his waist. He slowly, sleepily opened his eyes, groaning from exhaustion, to find Rosie clinging to him tightly.

"What's wrong, Rosie?" he asked quietly, rolling over to face her.

"Had a nightmare," she whimpered, and as Sam turned on the lamp he saw tears trickling down her cheeks, "Yellow-eyed man took me away again."

The young father flinched at the name. Those nightmares had occurred before, but he thought they'd stopped. It had been a good few months since the last one. He had consulted Castiel immediately upon her first report of a yellow eyed man causing trouble in her dreams. The angel was sure it was nothing harmful, merely a repressed memory from her infancy coming into play. He soothed the nightmares when he could, but he wasn't always available.

Sam sat up in bed, just in a shirt and his underwear, and lifted his little girl onto his knee, where she buried her head in his chest and let out a quiet whimper.

"Don't want him to hurt you, Daddy," she let out a sob, "I don't want to be taken away."

"Hey, hey," Sam hushed her softly, running his hands through her hair to sooth her, "He's not real. And Daddy won't let anyone hurt you."

"But he seems real," Rosie mumbled.

"Just your imagination. I promise," he smiled reassuringly, "You're safe. I'll never let anything happen to you."

He stayed sat up, holding her until she fell asleep again. With a proud smile, Sam kissed his daughter's head and laid down with her in his arms. He couldn't help but think back to all that time ago when she was newborn, almost small enough to fit in his hand. Things were so different back then. The loss of Jessica clouded everything. Perhaps it still would if it hadn't been for Dean. He was proud of how far he'd come, how much better a father he was now. He may be without Dean, but he was happy. With one last kiss, the young father settled down to sleep, whispering softly.

"I'll protect you. Always."

So, this is it! The end of my first ever Supernatural fanfic! I just want to say thank you for sticking with it and for all the support :) I'm excited to say I will be writing the PREQUEL to this fic, so far untitled, which will follow Sam and Jess' relationship up until where this fic starts. So follow me to be alerted when I upload it! I do also have an idea for a SEQUEL, but it will need a lot of planning before I actually start it. I may also do a few cute little ficlets based around this fic (but perhaps not following canon of the story itself, e.g. I have an adorable idea about Dean and Sam taking six year old Rosie to Disneyworld - but in actuality Dean is still in hell!). So thanks again, do leave a review and I hope you'll read the prequel when it's up! Also feel free to have a look at my other fics! :)