PLEASE READ THE AUTHORS NOTE AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER
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DEAD IN THE WATER [PART TWO]
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"What are you drawin' there, sweetheart?"
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"A pictuwe fow Gwampa."

• • •

Andrea leads the hunter family along the street.

Dean turns to Andrea, Harlow still on his shoulders, with a smile on his face. "So, cute kid." Andrea returns the smile and nods her head as they all cross the street.

There's an awkard silence between the two as Juliet and Sam glance at each other in amusement.

"Kids are the best, huh?

Juliet and Sam burst out in a fit laughter as Harlow turns to look at them from on top of her fathers shoulders, a confused look on her face. "Daddy, why awe they laughing?" Dean squeezes his daughters legs, "Because your mother and Uncle are immature." Juliet, hearing this, calls out to Dean. "At least we know how to interact with other people."

Dean playfully rolls his eyes, while Harlow giggles at Juliets jab to his awkwardness when it comes to interacting with people. Andrea gives a small smile of amusement and glances at the older Winchester Brother and shakes her head but doesn't reply to his attempt at making conversation.

The group of five walk a short distance more before stoping outside of the Motel Andrea has lead them to. Juliet looks at the building and notices the Motel is called 'Lakefront Motel.' Andrea points to it, a grin on her face. "There it is. Like I said, two blocks."

Dean lifts Harlow from his shoulders and sets her down on the ground. He grabs her hand as Sam turns to Andrea, a smile of amusement still on his face from Deans awkardness. "Thanks" Andrea nods her head at him before turning to Dean. "Must be hard, with your sense of direction, never being able to find your way to a decent conversation starter." She then walks away, calling back over her shoulder, "Enjoy your stay!" 

Juliet turns to Dean with a smirk on her face, "I like her. She sure put you in your place." Dean laughs sarcastically before grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into a kiss.

When they pull away, they see Sam looking at his Brother with an eyebrow raised. "'Kids are the best'? You don't even like other kids besides Harlow." Dean scoffs at his little Brothers words. "I love kids." Sam shakes his head, "Name three children that you even know." Dean goes to open his mouth but Juliet holds up her hand, stopping him. "Ah-excluding our Daughter." Dean immediately shuts his mouth and thinks it over before coming up empty.

Sam waves his hand, as if Dean has just proved his point, and walks into the motel. Dean scratches his head and turns to Juliet and Harlow, his eyebrows scrunched together in an adorable way.

Juliet laughs and kisses Dean before following after Sam with Harlow behind. Dean turns to his family. "I'm thinking!"

• • •

Dean and Juliet are in their motel room with Harlow. Sam had decided to book his own room for the night, wanting the three to have some time together and also just to have a night to himself.

Dean watches as Harlow sits on his and Juliets bed, drawing a picture. He leans against the wardrobe and glances at the closed bathroom door, where Juliet is currently unpacking all of their toiletries, and then glances back to his daughter.

"What are you drawin' there, sweetheart?"

Harlow doesn't look up from her drawing as she replies to her Dad, "A pictuwe fow Gwampa."

Dean bites his lip as his heartstrings pull and his stomach quenches in worry for his fathers whereabouts, in anger for John leaving them alone and telling them through a piece of paper and sadness for his daughter. He moves over to the bed and sits beside Harlow and grabs her arm, stopping her from drawing. The five-year-old looks up at her father, green eyes meeting green. 

Dean clears his throat, "Look kid, I know you miss him and worry about him. We all do but I need you to know that we will find him." Harlow looks down in thought before looking back up at Dean. "It's just...I miss him but I'm also angwy at Gwampa." 

Dean looks down at Harlow in shock. "Why?" He watches as she twists her mouth into a frown and remains silent, as if she's hesistating.

"You can tell me, Harls. Don't bottle up your feelings, hon." The little girl exhales deeply and shakes her head. "I can't because I don't undwestand."

Dean brings the young girl onto his lap as he can see tears of frustration start to pool in her apple-green eyes. He rubs her back in comfort and gently shushes her. "It's okay, baby. I understand, you are only five years old. But, can I take a guess at why you're upset." His green eyes study his daughter, waiting for her to nod her head before continuing, "See, I think you might be angry because he left without a goodbye and didn't tell you or us where he was going. Am I close?" Harlow hums in thought before nodding her head.

Dean furrows his eyebrows when he sees Harlow look down in shame. "I'm sowwy." His eyes widen at hearing his daughter apologise. "What do you have to be sorry for?" The question is asked with geuine curiosity.

Harlow doesn't look up at him but he can see her shaking her head and hear quiet sniffles. "Fow being angwy at Gwampa." Dean shakes his head, not wanting his daughter to ever be sorry for feeling any sort of emotion. He doesn't want her to ever bottle up any emotions like he does. "Harlow, look at me." She does.

Dean takes her little hands in his and gently squeezes them while looking into her eyes, needing her to know that every word he's about to say is true.

"You don't ever have to apologise for either feeling or being angry." Dean pauses for a moment, considering something, and then looks down at Harlow. "Can I tell you a secret?" The five-year-old immediately nods her head and watches as Dean cups his mouth with his hand to 'whisper' the secret to her.

"I'm angry at him, too."

"Why?"

Dean shrugs his shoulders, "Same reasons as you, kid. Seems you're more like me than I give you credit for." Harlow looks at him in confusion but Dean just waves his hand, dismissing what he said.

"Doesn't matter, the point is. I don't want you to feel like you can't tell me or your Mom anything. I want you to know that you can talk to us both about anything. Understand?" 

Harlow nods her head and hugs her father as Juliet exits the motel bathroom. She surveys the scene in front of her. Harlow in Deans lap hugging him, she takes a closer look at her Daughters face and can see dry tearstains on her face from some of the tears that had fallen from her eyes.

A look of concern falls on the Mothers face as she approaches her boyfriend and daughter. "Everything alright?" Dean looks up at Juliet and nods his head, mouthing 'I'll tell you later'. Juliet nods her head and sits down on the bed next to Dean and rubs Harlows shoulder. Dean smiles at his girlfriend, "I think she needs a family hug." Juliet smiles as Dean opens his other arm, inviting her in on the hug, which she accepts.

Harlow smiles as she feels her Mother and Fathers comfort and warmth surrounding her from their loving and safe embrace. She feels protected, like nothing can get her because they are there.

Sam then walks in at that moment, laptop in hand. He pauses in his tracks upon seeing the three in the middle of a group hug. "Am I interrupting something?" Juliet chuckles as Sam comes closer to them. Harlow smiles when he's close enough for her to grab him, which she does.

Sam lets out a yelp as Harlow uses all her strength to pull him down into the hug. He quickly places the laptop down as Harlow giggles. "Don't twink I fowgot about you, Uncy Sammy." The tallest Winchester Brother lets out a laugh as he's forced to join in on the family hug, not that he would refuse his Niece anyway. 

• • •

A few minutes later the family have broken from the hug and are now spread 'round Dean and Juliets motel room. Sam sits at the motel table with his laptop open, working, while Dean is going through his and Juliets bag of clothes. Harlow had gone back to her drawing as soon as the hug had ended, and Juliet sits on her and Deans bed, reading through some news papers, looking out for any articles about the Lake but Sams voice momentarily distracts her.

"So there's the three drowning victims this year."

"Any other victims before that?"

Sam, while scrolling through the browser window he has open called 'The Lake Manitoc Tribune.', nods his head at his brother, "Uh, yeah." 

Juliet puts down the papers she is reading and takes a peek at Sams laptop and watches as he clicks on a link named;

'DROWNING TAINTS ICE FISHING FESTIVAL'

He then clicks on another, this one intead called...

'12-YEAR-OLD Girl DROWNS IN LAKE, Second drowning in 6 months at Lake Manitoc'

Juliet looks up at Dean and elaborates on Sams earlier 'Yeah' as she moves back to her and Deans bed, "There's six more spread out over the past thirty-five years. There bodies were never recovered either. So, if there is something out there, it's picking up its pace."

Deam hums in thought before smirking as a thought crosses his mind, he steals a quick glance at her and sees all her attention is back on reading the newspapers spread out along their bed. Seeing that she's not got her eyes on him, he picks up an item of his clothing and throws it at Juliet, holding back a chuckle as it hits her in the face causing her to scrunch her nose. The said huntress mock glares at her boyfriend before grabbing one of the pilows from behind her and throwing it at him in retaliation but unfortunately, with Dean having good reflexes, he dodges it.

Juliet rolls her eyes good-heartedly as her childish boyfriend sticks his tongue out at her in triumph.

Harlow smiles at her Mother and Father, having just seen their playful antics. The little Girl can't help but love her Parents love for each other. She hopes that one day, when Dean will allow her to, she'll love someone just as much as her parents love one another. 

The young girl is pulled out of her thoughts by her Fathers voice. "So, what, we got a lake monster on a binge?" Juliet can't help but snort at the way Dean phrased his words. Sam however, shakes his head in frustration, "This whole lake monster theory, it, it bugs me." Juliet and Dean furrow their eyebrows but the former is the one to voice their confusion. "Why?" Juliet watches as Dean makes his way towards his Brother and peer at the laptop over Sams shoulder. 

The younger Winchester Brother shakes his head once more, "Loch Ness, uh, Lake Champlain, there are literally hundreds of eyewitness accounts, but here, almost nothing." He continues to look through the Tribune homepage, "Whatever it is out there, no one's living to talk about it." Sam then scrolls down to the comments section of the article but Juliet is quick to stop him as she spots something. 

"Hey, wait a second. Go back."

Sam does as is instructed and that's when Dean spots it too. "Wait, Barr, Christopher Barr. Where have I heard that name before." Juliet rolls her eyes at Deans hopelessness and goes to remind him but Harlow beats her to it.

"Silly Daddy." Dean looks up at the sound of his daughters voice and makes his way over to her. "How am I being silly? You're more silly out of the both of us, cheeky monkey." Harlow giggles as Dean tickles her socked feet, but then shakes her head once Dean stops. "You silly, Daddy, because the nice lady who shown us the motel told you her second name was Barr."

Dean furrows his eyebrows in thought before his eyes widen and he beams at his daughter. "You, sweetheart, are the best!" Harlow grins as Dean leans foward and places a kiss on her head. 

Sam and Juliet smile at the Father and Daughter before the former turns back to his laptop and reads from the page Juliet had told him to go back to. "Christopher Barr, the victim in May." He then clicks a link, opening a new page called...

'LOCAL Man IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT'

Sams eyes soften as a picture in the article shows a police officer with his arm wrapped around a soaking wet Lucas who has a towel wrapped around his small frame. Sam nods his head as he continues to read the article. "Harlow's right, well done angel." Harlow nods her head and smiles at her Uncle for his praising. Sam then continues reading from the article. ",Christopher Barr was Andrea's husband, Lucas's father. Apparently he took Lucas out swimming. Lucas was on a floating wooden platform when Chris drowned. Two hours before the kid got rescued."

Juliet watches as Sam clicks on the picture to get a better look as he scratches his head. "Maybe we have an eyewitness after all." Dean nods his head, agreeing with his Brother. "No wonder that kid was so freaked out. Watching one of your parents die isn'tsomething you just get over. So, now we need to find Andrea and Lucas."

Before they can start brainstorming ideas on where they could be, Harlow jumps up in excitement. "Oh! I know! I know!" Dean turns to Sam and raises an eyebrow, "Well, apparently she knows." He then looks at Harlow and points at her. "What do you know?" Harlow smiles. "The nice lady and Lucas are at the Park. Can we go to the park, Daddy?" Dean smiles and nods his head, "Sure thing, Harls. Let's grab your coat and shoes."

Dean goes to do just that but stops when Sam clears his throat, the older Winchester brother turns to the taller but younger brother who is motioning to Juliet. Dean turns to his girlfriend and it's then, he notices that she hasn't moved a muscle and her eyes are still locked onto the grainy photo of Lucas with the police officer. 

The two brothers share a look before Dean motions for Sam to help Harlow with her coat and shoes while he'll deal with Juliet.

Sam goes and does just that as Dean approaches the bed and sits down next to Juliet, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Jules, you okay?" She doesn't take her eyes away from the photo as she answers Dean. "That poor boy, having to witness his fathers death at such a young age." She then draws her eyes to Dean, "I was young when my mother died, so I don't remember it but you do, don't you?"

Dean furrows his eyebrows and shakes his head, "I wasn't there when Lydia passed away, I can't remember something that I didn't witness." Juliet shakes her head, "That's not who I mean. I mean Mary. You remember, I know you do. I can see it in your eyes. Now, I ain't gonna push, I'm just sayin' it must be hard seeing a parent die, like you said and it hurts me that you had to witness that at around the same age as Lucas." 

Dean blinks at Juliet, not expecting her to say any of that. "Wait, you're upset because you feel hurt for what younger me had witnessed?" Juliet bites her lip and nods her head. Dean huffs a laugh and pulls her into a hug and kisses her temple. "That's sweet, doll but you don't have to feel upset or hurt, I'm okay. How can I not be?  I've got the most intelligent, beautiful and loving girl as well as the smartest and brightest daughter by my side. You guys stop me dwelling on the past and for that, I'm the luckiest guy in the world."

Juliet smiles, touched by his words but playfully rolls her eyes at the next thing that leaves his mouth. "And let's not forget you have the greatest rack I've ever seen and oh, don't get me started on how skilled you are under the she-" He's cut off by the sound of Juliets laugh and that in turn, gets him to smile. He brushes his thumb along her cheek, "There's that sound that I love." The huntress smiles and leans into is touch before leaning in to kiss him.

"I love you, Mr. Winchester."

"I love you too, future Mrs. Winchester."

They both mumble the words against each others lips before leaning in and kissing one another but before it can get too heated and before the two even have a chance to lean more into the moment, their Motel room bursts open and Harlow comes marching in. She pauses as she looks between her mother and father, both hands on her hips.

The young girl huffs like a mother who has caught her children doing something they shouldn't.

"Come on, come on, come on! We'we gonna miss Wucas if you two don't stop smooching."

Dean and Juliet laugh as they both quickly shrug on their coats before following Harlow out of the motel room, hand in hand. Juliet swings their linked hands as Dean moves in and whispers in her ear, "Never have I been cocked-blocked by a 5-year-old." Juliet laughs before mumbling back, "You're telling me! I thought I was getting told off by my mother."

The two laugh but stop when Harlow turns around and glares at them suspiciously.
—

Authors Note
Aww, who liked that little cute moment between Juliet and Dean, I know I did! AND Harlow acting like an angry mother had me in stitches when writing it 😂

And how cute, seems Harlow had a little thing for Lucas...👀 I wonder how Dean will react to that?

ANNND...Juliet views Mary as her Mother, how sweet. That's not to say she doesn't love her mother and father, she just doesn't remember them, whereas, she can at least remember bits and pieces of Mary.

This chapter hasn't been edited but I will get 'round to doing that tomorrow and I also know that it's not as long as I said it would be, but I've decided that the long chapter will be the last chapter. Looks like there is gonna be three parts for you guys to enjoy.

Oh and before I forget, some of you may or may not know this but I DO have a TikTok where I DO post edits for my Oc's and at the moment I'm posting A LOT of 'The Journey Begins' edits, some of them even featuring little sneak peeks as to what MAY or may NOT happen in future books/chapters.

So please go and check them out, my TikTok is @goldenxangel.wp.

Also as usual, please don't forget to vote and comment and I'll see you all in the next chapter!

Until then...
💋❤️