A Bedtime Story
Summary: Sam and Reader have a daughter, and it’s time to put her to bed without breaking any dreams.
Pairing: Sam x reader
Word Count: 1,671
Warnings: None unless you count saying a fairytale creature isn’t real?
A/N: Okay so this is my entry for ‘Sam’s Birthday Celebration challange’ which is also to celebrate @impalaimagining hitting 3k followers. Congrats @impalaimagining on 3k you deserve every single one and more! I hope you like this, I know it is kind of early. Quote I got “Wait, there’s no such thing as unicorns?”. I hope you guys like this, first time writing Sammy so feedback would be much loved.
Sequel: Wild Mountain Thyme
The slowing sounds of Sam’s breathing signal that the story you are reading to your three-year-old daughter was lulling him towards sleep, whilst the bundle of blonde curled up on his chest was looking up at you with eager eyes, showing little sign of fatigue. Leaning towards Odette, you tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, as you playfully whisper, “I think Daddy is falling asleep…” With a gasp she looks up at Sam’s lazy smile, returning her attention to you she nods. Stretching out her tiny fingers to cover as much of her father’s face as possible, she taps him lightly twice before deciding that he needs her fingers in his mouth to wake him up. As he grabs her wrist he pretends to nibble her fingers, laughing as Odette looks back at you with a triumphant grin.
“More” she begs, bouncing excitedly.
Kissing her forehead, you readjust the duvet so that she is buried beneath it, whilst you and Sam curl your bodies around her fragile form. The tattered form of what once your favourite Teddy, Mr Snuggles, becomes squashed beneath your daughter’s arms; His golden fur is matted in areas and his brown, glass eyes stare up at you - Waiting.
“Are we sitting comfortably?”
Nodding in response, she beams up at you, her brows furrowing as she shakes her head dramatically. Wiggling for a moment, she pulls Sam’s large hand onto her back, pointing at him before instructing him rather sternly (much like she has seen her mother do before):
“Stroke!”
Laughing at her stubborn huff, Sam obeys, stroking her back and her hair the way she likes it. Continuing with the story, which you and Sam wrote for her the previous night due to her sudden obsession with unicorns, you knew you were approaching what could potentially be a scary passage. Odette is only three, and living in the bunker with you, Sammy and Dean meant that she was fully aware of some evils in the world.
“Upon discovering a secret door at the end of the gigantic forest, Odette and Sparkles the Unicorn looked at one another. Holding onto Sparkles’ mane, Odette decided to take a step forward. The door slammed shut behind them, revealing a staircase. Climbing down the narrow steps, Sparkles’ horn was the only light in the dark area. Odette was scared when she saw how dark it was, she didn’t like not knowing what monsters could be out there. Usually her daddy and mummy protected her from them, even her Uncles Cas and Dean would comfort her when it was particularly scary. But they were nowhere to be seen, still drinking their tea and eating sandwiches in the forest.”
Odette tugs at the base of the book to get your attention. Humming for her to speak, you feel your heart squeeze as you see pure terror behind her bright (Y/E/C)eyes. “Mamma?” she squeaks out. Sam raises his torso, being careful not to jog your daughter. He says, determined to see what the problem is,
“Yes Baby?”
“You and Daddy will always be close by?” she answers, her brows were deeply furrowed and tears pricking in her eyes.
“Always” you assure as you pull her onto your chest, running your fingers through her short hair.
“We will never let anything hurt you. It’s our job” Sam adds as he kisses the top of her head. “You want Mummy to stop the story?” She shakes her head violently in response. “That’s my brave little princess.”
Taking a breath, you continue on with the bedtime story. “There was enough room for them to walk side by side in the tunnel, so they held hands as they walked further inside. Suddenly, a huge shadow appeared on the wall that towered over Odette and Sparkles; they froze on the spot and shut their eyes tightly.” You pause slightly, looking down to where your daughter is burying her head into the material of her father’s new suit, her brows have become deeply furrowed from concentration. She has shut her eyes so tight that creases are becoming visible around them.
“They both shouted for help. ‘Mummy!? Daddy!? HELP!’ Just as her strong daddy appeared, ready to take down whatever monster dared to threaten his princess, they heard a small squeak and realised that it was nothing more than a tiny mouse who was living in the tunnel. The light from Sparkles’ horn had made the mouse's shadow look gigantic!”
Sam clutches Odette tightly, the muscles in his arm tensing as she attempts to break free from his ‘suffocating love’. With a laugh, you pass the book to your overgrown kid, it is his turn to read and you have to interject otherwise Odette will never get to sleep. You know that Cas gets agitated when you don’t sleep while he babysits. Speaking of which, the angel should be arriving in about 15 minutes. Indicating the time to Sam, he gives you a knowing look before telling your daughter to behave so that he can read.
He doesn’t get more than two lines in before Cas is standing at the foot of the bed, a soft smile on his face as he watches his niece trying to untangle herself from the duvet. As she scrambles across the bed, he reaches down, lifting her up as she yelps “Cassie!” over and over. As he props her against his hip, the signature trench-coat becomes balled up in her tiny fists. His expression is intense yet fond as he greets her the way he knows she finds funny (not that he understands why it’s funny). “Hello Odette”.
Turning his attention towards you two, he attempts to speak whilst she giggles knowing it will be his only chance before he is bombarded with questions, “Y/N, Sam. I will make sure she is asleep no later tha-“
“Look Unca Cas!” Odette interrupts excitedly, grabbing Cas by the cheek with one hand, using the other to point towards the notebook which is resting on the bed. “Mummy’s telling me about Sparsles the Unihorn!”
“She means Sparkles the unicorn…” you decide to clarify, seeing Cas’ look of utter confusion.
When his expression doesn’t change you can feel Sam beginning to shift uncomfortably, undoubtedly over-thinking - worried that there was something bad that Cas isn’t telling you. His head hangs as he rubs his thumb along the palm of his hand - he mulls over whether or not to bring it up. His eyes meet the brilliant blue of Cas’ once he makes a decision. “Cas, what’s wrong?”
“I do not understand your reasoning for telling your young stories about creatures who do not exist. What is the purpose?” You silently thank the stars that Cas speaks in a manner which your daughter sometimes struggles to fully comprehend. Otherwise her whole world would have just come down around her.
“Mamma what did Unca Cassie say?” Taking in her large eyes, spilling over with confusion, you see Cas turn to explain.
“Nothing important baby girl” You interject, deciding that you are the only one who can solve this situation as Sam was staring into space beside you. “It is just so that they get to keep their innocence for a while, same reason that there are Zanna’s. It’s fun and provides them with a little more light in this dark world. Also –“ You don’t get to finish your explanation as a quiet cough comes from beside you.
Timidly, with all the emotion of a toddler who received nothing from Santa, Sam looks between you and Cas. “Wait, there’s no such thing as unicorns?” His voice is barely more than a whisper but your daughter still hears him loud and clear.
You begin laughing, but cut yourself off when you notice how deadly serious he is. His face mirrors that of the three year old in her uncle’s arms whose eyes have grown wide, tears pooling at the edges. A tiny ‘o’ is where her mouth should be, both her and Sam are looking at you intently, waiting for confirmation.
Cas shrugs when you turn to him for help, aware that it was he who put you in this situation in the first place. Swallowing, you run your fingers down Sammy’s cheek, your eyes flitting between the two young hearts before you. Switching on the voice you tend to reserve for when either of them wake in the middle of the night with bad dreams, you purr a response. “Babe, if you believe in something hard enough, than it must be real”.
Getting up from the bed, Sam follows suit, watching as you take your relieved-looking daughter out of her uncle’s arms. “What do we know?” you ask, as your eyes meet hers. “There is always a little magic...” you state as your rub your nose against Odette’s, your (Y/H/C) hair tickling her face in the process - “All you need is faith.” Gently, you lay her down in her bed, tucking her duvet in around her. “Trust,” you add as you look up at Sam, your eyes muttering silent declarations of love , before you look at Cas – he gives a slight nod of the head in response. “And pixie dust.” With that final ingredient you lay Mr Snuggles beside her, kissing her forehead in the process.
Sam slots his large, familiar, calloused hand into yours, as you step back and watch Castiel, your family’s guardian angel, sit beside your contented daughter. As you and Sam are walking out the door, ready to enjoy your evening out, you realise you forgot to say goodnight. Turning round, your spare hand still on the door frame, you finish your nightly ritual. “Goodnight, sweetie.”
As an afterthought, Sam adds to the end of your sentence “Be good for Uncle Cas. Me, Mummy and Uncle Dean are going to go find some magic.”
Together you make the same promise you do every time you walk out the bunker doors. “We promise we will be here when you wake up.”
Tag List: @leatherwhiskeycoffeeplaid, @aiaranradnay, @the-petite-lion, @rosey-persephone, @fairy-kill3r