A/N: An AU with no supernatural creatures and the boys got to live a mostly normal life.

***

"Do you see your dad?" you asked Sam as you wove through the crowd in the stadium.

"There's too many people," he complained. At least he could see over the top of them.

"He should be looking for us." Sam's brother Dean was starting for his university football team and you'd all come to watch the game. John had come straight from work which is why you were now looking for him. Next time you were meeting in the parking lot.

Sam glanced back as you pushed through the crowd. "You okay, Y/N?"

You nodded and gave him a smile. Sam's mom had died in a house fire when he was still an infant. Being her best friend, you stepped up and did what you could to take care of her family. As the years went on you were included in every event, every holiday. Just another part of the family. Somewhere along the way you'd forgotten to start your own.

Perhaps it was the fact that Sam and Dean had become your kids. You took them to games, picked them up from school when they were sick and kissed their skinned knees. More likely it was that you had fallen head over heels in love with John Winchester. He didn't see you like that. You knew that. Still, when the night came that you both had a little too much to drink and ended up in bed together, you couldn't bring yourself to regret it.

You'd found yourself waking up beside him more often now that the boys were older and Dean was off at college. But there had been no promises, no whispered words of love. You fulfilled a need for him and you'd take him any way you could get him.

Arms wrapped around your waist and you jumped. John chuckled in your ear. "Hello, sweetheart."

Sam grinned at the two of you and John quickly released you, obviously not wanting either of the boys to get the wrong idea. "Come on. I found our seats." John led you opposite the direction you'd just been walking. Sam made sure you were settled in the chair between the two of them.

The game was well into the second quarter and your throat was raw from screaming for your team. You had just finished a particularly enthusiastic shout for your boy when John chuckled beside you. A glance showed him grinning at you, flashing those dimples that always made you weak in the knees. Heat flooded your face and you turned your attention back to the field. "What?"

"I just love watching you cheer for my boys."

Well, they're my boys too, you thought but bit your lip to keep from saying anything. You had no claim over them. Not really. Getting the feeling you were being watched, you turned to find Sam studying you with that concerned look he specialized in. You were interrupted before you could say anything.

"John?" a soft voice asked. When your eyes fell on the woman in question, you suddenly found it hard to breathe. Annabeth Summers. Blonde hair fell in waves around her perfectly made up face. Even her clothes made it look like she'd just stepped out of a catalog. She was one of John's co-workers and you had never liked the way the two of them interacted. What the hell was she doing here?

"Hey. I was beginning to think you weren't going to make it," John said from behind you answering that question. He'd invited her. She made her way past you and Sam, barely glancing in your direction.

"I wouldn't miss it," she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

She took the seat on the other side of him and his attention was immediately taken by her rather than what was happening on the field. You clenched your teeth together as you did your best to ignore the laughter from beside you. The feminine giggles, the way she touched him oh so casually.

It had been years since you'd seen John with another woman and you liked it even less now than you did then. Warm fingers laced with yours and you glanced down to see Sam holding your hand. He leaned toward you. "You doing okay, Ma?"

You smiled at the name. John wouldn't let the boys call you mom but had grudgingly agreed with Ma. They didn't use it as much now that they were older but it made your insides melt every time. "I'm fine, Sammy." You squeezed his hand but kept hold of it. You needed the contact right now.

It was just before half-time when Dean caught a pass and ran for the endzone. You were on your feet screaming and hopping on your feet. Inches before the line, he went down in a brutal tackle. You sucked in your breath. Nausea rolled in your belly while your eyes stayed glued to the field.

Dean wasn't getting up. When the medical crew and trainers ran out on the field you started to push your way past Sam. A heavy hand on your shoulder stopped you. "Just wait, Y/N," John said. "Let's not overreact. He's moving. He's fine."

With a glare you weren't aware you were capable of, you shoved his hand away. "Don't you touch me, John Winchester."

You took the stairs two at a time as you watched them put Dean on a stretcher to take him off the field. After asking two different guards, you figured out where you needed to go to check on him. When you arrived at the player area, another guard stopped you. "I'm sorry, ma'am. You can't come in here."

"Dean Winchester was just taken off the field. I need to see him."

His expression softened. "Are you his mother?"

"I'm his father. She's with me," came the deep voice behind you. You tensed up but didn't even look at him as the guard stepped aside to let the two of you pass.

"Dean Winchester?" you asked again and again getting directed down one hallway or another. The last time you asked, another voice answered.

"Ma? I'm in here."

You hurried through the door to see Dean laying on a bed while they looked him over. Taking his hand in yours, you pushed the hair off his forehead. "Are you okay? You scared the crap out of me."

He grinned. "It's my knee. I think I just twisted it but they took some x-rays to check it out. One of the trainers and the doc are checking it out."

You closed your eyes and took a deep breath willing yourself to calm down. He was fine. He tugged on your hand to get you to look at him again. He met your gaze. "I'm fine, Mom. I swear."

"She's not your mom—" John started his normal response to one of the boys calling you that when you turned on him and cut him off.

You closed the distance between the two of you and poked two fingers into his chest to push him back. "You listen to me, John Winchester. I am the only mother these boys have ever known. I loved Mary, I still love her, but even she would agree they can call me whatever the hell they want. I raised these boys and you know it, but God forbid someone think that I'm their actual mother."

You took a deep breath in an effort to keep from screaming in frustration. "I am sorry that the thought anyone might think we are together is so abhorrent to you, but get over it. I have given my whole life to you and those boys and you're the only thing that has ever made me regret it. I'm not a fill in. You don't get to use the parts of me you want and forget the rest of me. Now, why don't you go on back to your date and I'll take care of Dean."

He didn't say anything as he stared down at you. You had never yelled at him before. Not like that.

"Date?" Dean asked from behind you.

Your face heated as you turned to him and flashed a sheepish smile. You'd all but forgotten he was there. "Annabeth." You crossed your arms over your chest and made your way back to his side.

His lip curled up in disgust. "Seriously, dad? What the hell? She's as artificial as the turf on our field."

You snorted a laugh before covering your mouth.

"I know she is." John's agreement had you arching a brow in his direction.

"Then why—" Dean started and John held up a hand to stop him.

His eyes never left yours. "Because I don't deserve the woman I'm in love with."

When you didn't say anything, he continued. "I know you gave up everything for us. Don't you ever think I don't know that. I think about it every day. Every day I think I should let you go, let you find your own life, your own family but I can't. At first I was terrified I wouldn't be able to raise the boys on my own. As they grew older I always found another reason to wait, to keep things as they were just a little longer."

He stepped toward you as he raked a hand through his hair. "The truth is I fell in love with you ages ago. I didn't want to let you go. I don't want to let you go but you deserve more than this. More than me. You deserve the world, sweetheart."

You shrugged and gave him a sad smile. "I never wanted anything but you, John. You and Dean and Sam. You are my world, you jackass."

He grinned and pulled you to him to give you a kiss. His fingers threaded into your hair while your arms wrapped around him to keep him close. The two of you had kissed before, but not like this. This was a promise. A beginning.