The one where Juliet doesn't make it

"I'll be with you both, always and forever. Goodbye, my love."
—
"Always and forever."

• • •

Dean sits down in the waiting room of the hospital, his head in his hands as he can hear the screams coming from the room adjacent to where he is sitting.

Juliet's water broke around three hours since they admitted her into the ward, at first everything was okay, he was sitting in the hospital room with her, holding her hand as she uses all the strength she can muster to give birth to their baby and then everything happened all at once. He was sitting by her bedside and the next minute he's pushed out of the hospital room by two nurses as the machine that's hooked up to his girlfriend started to beep erraticaly.

All he heard before the door shut on him was how she's losing a lot of blood.

That was fifteen minutes ago.

In that time he's paced up and down the linoleum floor so much, he's surprised he hasn't worn a hole into the floor. Now he sits in a plastic blue chair that's causing his back to ache, but he doesn't care. The only thing that is on his mind is Juliet and their unborn baby.

Another fifteen minutes roll by and Dean's just about at his wits end, tired of sitting around waiting when all he wants is information on if his girlfriend is okay.

It's then something hits him, the screams have stopped and he doesn't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. The hospital is now eerily quiet, so silent that the only thing that can be heard is his heart beating ten to a dozen. He feels like it's going to burst.

Just when he feels like he's about to pick up the chair he's sitting on and toss it at the nearby white pristine wall, the door to Juliet's hospital room opens and a doctor walks out with a clipboard in hand. His eyes instantly find Dean's.

"Are you Mr. Winchester?"

Dean's standing in a blink of an eye and is quick to nod his head, "Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" The Doctor gives him a look at his questions and it isn't a good one. The look the doctors sends him is enough to make Dean sit down again, his legs feel wobbly, like jelly. Dean feels like what the Doctor's going to say next, won't be good.

"The baby's fine, she's healthy and happy."

Those words have Dean sighing in relief as he musters the strength to stand back up, "And Juliet?"

A downcast look flashes across the Doctor's face.

"I'm sorry, but she didn't make it. There was complications with the birth, the baby came out breech and your wife, she was hemmorrhaging badly, she lost a lot of blood. We couldn't save her in time. I'm very sorry, sir."

Dean doesn't hear the rest of the Doctor's words, the only sound he can hear is his ears ringing and the sound of his heart shattering into a million pieces. His world crumbles from beneath his feet, he's forgotten how to stand on his own two feet as he crumples to the floor, the pain in his knees not being registered, not even slightly.

He wails, a sound so heartbreaking that some of the nurses have to hold back their tears as they watch the now single father fall to his knees at being told such heart wrenching news.

The only thought he's thinking is that she's dead.

His whole world, his everything has been taken from him.

Death has never been so cruel.

All he can think is why her? Why him? What did he do to be dealt with the cruel hand of fate? Of death?

The sound of crying pierces through his thoughts, the sound so shrill and loud. The noise has him slowly rising to his feet and he numbly follows the sound. His feet take him to a nurse who's holding a pink bundle in her arms, not having heard Dean's footsteps, she jumps when she sees him standing behind her, but she doesn't say anything and instead, sends him a small yet sad smile.

"Would you like to hold your daughter?"

Tears stream down Dean's face as he nods his head.

As soon as his little girl is in his arms, her crying stops. She holds out her little hand and wraps it around her father's finger.

The nurse smiles at the interaction. "Have you thought of a name?"

Dean sniffs as he nods his head, "Harlow Mary Winchester."

The nurse smile widens, "What a perfect and fitting name for such a beautiful baby girl." She eyes them before noding her head, "I'll leave you guys be. If you need anything, Mr. Winchester, don't hesitate to ask." With that, she leaves them to it.

Dean looks down at his newborn daughter, tear stains blotching his cheeks. He wants nothing more than to curl up into a ball and cry and wallow in his sadness until his heart's content, but he has to be strong for his daughter. He looks down at her in his arms and plants a kiss her tiny head.

"I promise you that I will love you unconditionally and to help with you with the things you'll find hard in life. I will be both a mother and father, but I won't try and replace her. As you grow up, I'll tell you stories of your mom, keep her memory alive. It's just us now, kid and I'm gonna try my damned hardest to be the best dad I can be."

Unbeknowst to both father and daughter, a certain brown haired huntress stands behind them, her spirit being felt as nothing but a breeze.

Tears cascade down her face as she watches her daughter, sad that she won't get to hold her or be there for all her firsts but she also knows that Dean will stick to his promise and she'll be sure to watch over them, let them both know that she's still there with them.

A cold hand lays itself on her shoulder.

"It's time."

Juliet exhales, giving one last longing look to her lover and her daughter.

"I'll be with you both, always and forever. Goodbye, my love."

With those being her last words, that only she and Death can hear, she kisses Dean on the cheek before making her way into the light. Ready to face her heaven, she doesn't know what lies on the other side, but she knows it'll be an adventure.

Dean feels the hairs on the back of his neck stand to attention and he swears he felt a slight breeze kiss his right cheek.

He smiles down at his daughter, "You're mom, she'll always be with us, in here." He places his hand over his newborn daughter's beating heart as he kisses her head.

"Always and forever."

—

Auhtor's note

I can already feel the emotions from you guys...I'm sorry! I just felt like a sad one shot was needed!

Disclaimer, this is an AU take from TJB! Obviously, in the main book Juliet survives the birth and lives on, but I just wanted to go down a what if route, if that makes sense!

I promise, the last part of bugs for TJB is being written and will be uploaded before y'all know it! I just felt like I hadn't posted a one shot for this book in quite some time.

The next one shot will be a Jack and Harlow one, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

As always if you have any one-shot ideas, feel free to comment them and will I add them to my growing list!

And please don't forget to comment and vote! It always brightens my day!

Until next time...