rosemariad

[rosemariad]

“Hello, boys,” Crowley said sinisterly over the phone.

“You son of a bitch!” Dean roared into the receiver, hurting Sam’s eardrums, but it didn’t seem to bother Crowley. If anything, the demon was probably smiling, smug as ever.

“I gather you’ve caught on to my little scheme?”

“Why?” Sam demanded. “Those people didn’t do anything to you! They’re innocent!”

“I have to punish you somehow. Do you really expect me to stand by as you shut the gates on my kingdom?” Crowley scoffed. “You must be joking! You don’t get to cancel me, darlings! I’m not through until I bloody well say so, and I’m just getting started! I’ll kill every last soul you ever saved up in that godforsaken country you call home until the States are covered in their blood – or…”

Crowley waited for the brothers to take the bait.

Dean inhaled deeply, his jaw so tense he could feel his teeth cracking. “Or what?” He growled.

“You surrender the tablets to me. Both of them.”

“You’ve got to be joking!” Sam said in outrage.

“Only if all those innocent souls are worth less than your mission. But hey, what’s a few broken eggs? Then again, what would daddy dearest say about the precious ‘family business’ aye? ‘Saving people, hunting things,’ Good God, did you really say that, Squirrel?”

Dean, Sam, and Jess all furrowed their eyebrows. Sam was the first to realize it.

“He’s reading the books!” The Winchesters never hated the cursed Edlund book series more until that very moment.

“And that’s why you’re the smart one, Moose. You have four hours until I kill another. Call me back when you’re ready to surrender.” Crowley ended the call right then.

“Fuck!” Dean thundered. He drove as fast as the Impala allowed, racing toward the hometown of Cassie Robinson. Thankfully, they weren’t too far. They arrived at nightfall, and the hunters were dismayed by the state of the Robinson household. The windows and doors had been torn apart and broken. There appeared to have been a small fire that damaged the house some.

“Cassie!” Dean shouted urgently, tripping over the dead body of a stranger. There were a multitude of corpses scattered about the residence as if Crowley had sent a small militia’s worth of demons, all killed in action. All these enemies for one woman?

“Dean,” But it wasn’t the journalist who responded to Dean’s shout. It was –

“Cas?” Dean uttered in surprise as the seraph stood over the bodies. The house was oversaturated with the smell of sulfur. Behind the angel appeared one Cassie Robinson, who had gotten lovelier in the years since Dean had last laid eyes on her.

“Dean,” Cassie said, voice level. “You want to explain why an angel from Heaven had to kill all these demons from Hell?”

Shit. She was mad. Dean swallowed nervously.

“Hey,” Dean said sheepishly. “Long time. You look great!”

“You gonna ignore my question?” Cassie huffed out. Sam smiled despite himself. Jess looked on in quiet confusion, but she liked this woman so far.

“Cassie,” Dean sighed as the tip of Cassie’s right foot began to tap the floor repeatedly in impatience.

Castiel looked awkwardly between Dean and Cassie. Clearing his throat, he tried to spare the elder Winchester some unpleasantness. “Ms. Robinson, I believe I explained–”

“No,” Cassie interrupted sternly, her eyes never moving away from Dean. “I want to hear it from his mouth.” She pointed at the hunter. “Well, c’mon. You better have a damn good explanation.”

“There’s this guy…” Dean started lamely as the others watched him struggle.

“Guy or demon?” Cassie questioned with a harsh tone.

“Demon,” Dean confessed. “It’s a demon. He’s kind of a boss, a douchey boss, who’s been running around killing people off, people Sam and I saved from monsters and such. You remember Sam?” Sam gave a stiff wave.

“I remember,” Cassie said curtly, her eyes focused on Dean like lasers. “Go on.”

“He’s been killing people off because Sammy and I have been working on shutting Hell off for good, and he doesn't like that too much,” Dean added. “He wants us to stop so –”

“He’s gonna keep murdering people until you give him what he wants?” Cassie finished for him. “And what does he want, aside from keeping Hell open?”

Dean exhaled, “There are these really powerful tablets. One of them tells us how to seal Hell down, and the other can rewrite Heaven or something.”

Cassie whipped her head around sharply to look at Castiel, her curly locks bouncing as she moved. “Is he for real?”

“He is telling the truth, yes,” Castiel affirmed.

“And I’m on the list of people to kill off?”

“Yeah,” Dean frowned.

“Because you helped me with my family back in ‘06?”

Dean nodded.

“Fuck,” Cassie hissed angrily. “How are you gonna fix this?” She demanded of Dean.

“Cassie –”

“Mommy?” A little girl showed up from an adjacent room. She had Cassie’s curly brown hair and dark skin, but her eyes were green – the kind of green that matched Dean’s. Sam, Jess, and Dean were stunned.

“Sweetie,” Cassie rushed over to the child and squatted down, wrapping her arms around her daughter. “I told you to stay. Mommy’s not done yet.”

“I’m hungry,” the child whined, her stomach rumbling loudly.

Cassie sighed as she cradled her daughter, keeping her close. “Are you positive we’re safe?” She asked Castiel.

“Yes,” Castiel asserted. “There are no more demons in the area. I can also place warding sigils to prevent their entry into this house.”

“Do that,” Cassie responded, “Alright, baby. Let me make you a sandwich.” She marched off towards the kitchen, daughter in her arms.

Dean charged after her without hesitation. The little girl noticed the large white man following them but wasn’t afraid. Merely curious. It disarmed Dean in ways he wasn’t ready for.

Where there was doubt with Ben, there was no doubt with this little girl. She was Dean’s, for sure. He just needed to hear the words out of Cassie’s mouth.

Cassie set her daughter down on the nearby kitchen table while she pulled out the bread, ham, and cheese from the fridge. Neither she nor her small daughter paid any mind to the dead demons littered about the house. They appeared to be dead for a while.

“Is she mine?” Dean demanded quietly as he approached Cassie immediately. But Cassie was focused on her sandwich making. Dean placed his hand above her own, stilling her movements.

“Is she mine?” he repeated.

Cassie sighed, turning to face the hunter. “Yes. Lest you forget, the last time we were together wasn’t exactly planned by either of us. You didn’t have protection, and I…” Cassie shook her head. “Point is, we made a baby, and I decided to keep her.” Cassie turned to look back at her daughter. She finishes making the sandwich, putting it on a plate, and handing it over to the little girl, who happily digs into the food. Dean watches the interaction, astonished, without a bit of air in his lungs.

A daughter. He has a daughter.

That makes him…

A father.

Cassie walks back over to Dean with a solemn look on her face. “Look. I didn’t contact you because…well, how could I? Doing what you do, always out on the road, fighting those…things. You’re not safe. Given what happened today, we’re not safe either. But something tells me that if you have a relationship with her,” Cassie nodded towards the child, “we’d be worse off. Even killed. Tell me I’m wrong.”

He couldn’t.

“Yeah,” Cassie noted as she held Dean’s miserable gaze. “That’s what I thought. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“For what it’s worth,” Dean heard himself say, “so am I.”

“Her name is Chloe,” Cassie told him. “She’s six years old. She was born on January 31, 2007. I gave her my last name, all things considered. No one’s listed as the father on her birth certificate. I figured it was safer that way. She’s been asking about you. I haven’t really known what to say to her.” Cassie watched her daughter sadly.

“I do,” Dean said as he approached Chloe. The little girl finished her sandwich and noticed the large man approaching her. She looked to her mother, who gave a nod with a wistful expression.

“Hi,” Dean greeted the child as he squatted down before Chloe. “You’re Chloe, right? I’m Dean,” he gulped, “I’m your dad.”

Chloe looked back at her mother. Cassie gave her another nod. Chloe looked upon Dean with excitement and joy. “Daddy!” Chloe launched herself into Dean’s arms and overwhelmed Dean with a wave of emotion. “Where have you been? Why are you never here with me and Mommy?” He could feel his heart breaking.

Clearing his throat, Dean pressed on as best he could. “I got a job. A job that’s more dangerous than a cop and a firefighter combined and takes me all over. Because of that job and what I do, I can’t be with you.”

Chloe’s face fell. “That’s not fair,” she whined, giving him those big green doe eyes. Dean wanted to crawl into a hole, but he soldiered on.

“I had a mom once. She died when I was four. The way she died was horrible, and if I stick around, what got her, what hurt her, will hurt you and your momma. I’d rather you hate me and live and be safe than love me and die.”

Chloe blinked at Dean, processing his words. “Like your momma did?”

Dean nodded sadly. “Yeah.”

Chloe looked as desolate as Dean felt. But there was no hate in her eyes or resentment as Dean or maybe Cassie was expecting. The girl didn’t cry either. She clung to Dean, wrapping her little arms around him tighter. Dean had to fight to suppress the tears, but Cassie did no such thing. Tears fell quietly from her eyes as she observed this moment between father and daughter.

“Tell you what,” Dean said suddenly, bringing Chloe face to face. “When you’re eighteen, I’ll come find you wherever you’re at, and you and I will have a long talk. But until then,” Dean got an idea. He ran out to the Impala, scouring for what he wanted to find. Dean usually would’ve stashed them somewhere else, like in the bunker or a safe deposit box, but given how often Dean was on the move, the hunter preferred to keep them close. He pulled out a set of golden rings – his parents' wedding bands from when they eloped in the 70’s. John had held onto Mary’s ring since her death, and Dean took John’s after his passing. The eldest Winchester kept the rings close ever since, one of the few tokens of his parents he had left. He returned to his daughter and presented the rings.

“I want you to have these,” Dean said, presenting them to his child. Chloe took them in her tiny hand. “They were my parents’ wedding rings. They’re both gone now, but I need you to take care of them for me. Can you do that?”

Chloe looked up at her father. She nodded, her little brown curls bouncing as she did.

“Alright. I’m gonna come back for those, so don’t lose ‘em. Okay?”

“I promise,” Chloe said.

“My girl,” Dean said with a small smile.

Castiel cautiously entered the kitchen. “I’ve finished with the wardings all over the house. They’re invisible to the human eye, so your home won’t look untoward to your neighbors, and I’ve placed several devil’s traps all over the home, particularly your bedrooms. A simple prayer would suffice in calling for my assistance, but if all else fails, call this number,” Castiel held out a card with a number on it, “and help will arrive. All you’d need to do is hold out long enough to be saved.”

“Thank you,” Cassie said to the angel.

“Of course. I know what you mean to Dean,” Castiel said, carefully avoiding Dean’s gaze. “I…I am glad I reached you in time.”

Chloe ran back to her mother, clutching the rings in her tiny fist. She hid behind Cassie’s leg, looking up at Castiel. Chloe giggled. “Your wings are pretty.”

Dean looked at Castiel but couldn’t see what she was talking about. Though it certainly made Dean curious.

“Thank you, Chloe,” Castiel said politely to the little girl. “Allow me to clear the bodies.”

“I’ll help,” Dean volunteered. He followed Castiel’s lead, the angel carrying two bodies for every one that the hunter handled personally.

“How’d you even find them, Cas?” Dean couldn’t resist the urge to ask his angel friend.

“She prayed,” Cas explained. “For the first time in her life, Cassie Robinson prayed out of sheer desperation. When a human gets like that, it can send waves from quite a distance. The name stuck out to me because I recognized her from your memories. I knew that you were once quite…close.” His tone was tinged with a yearning Dean decided best to ignore. “When she mentioned her daughter, I knew I had to drop everything and try to save them.” Cassie and Chloe were visible from the broken window inside. “As I said, I’m glad I got here when I did. If there had been more delay…”

Dean placed a hand on Castiel’s broad shoulder. “Thanks, man.”

“Are you alright?” the angel asked him.

“What?”

“You just learned that you have a daughter. I can sense the emotional storm within you,” Cas pointed out. “I know you’re not one to speak about your sentiments, but you should know that your daughter shares one quality with you.”

“What’s that?” Dean asked tensely.

“Understanding,” Cas said. “She has an incredible sense of empathy for her age that will only grow over time. Mind you, your sense of empathy is askew, given how often you prioritize your brother, but that’s understandable given your circumstances.”

Dean blinked at Castiel’s words, “Okay,” he expressed dubiously.

“My point is that she won’t grow to resent you,” Castiel clarified. “If that’s what you’re worried about.”

Dean shrugged that off, but Castiel gave him a look that informed the hunter his angel friend knew better.

While Cas and Dean did away with the bodies, Sam was at work using the spell Marion once taught Jess to restore the damage undertaken in the home to everything from the broken windows around the house to the furniture strewn about the interior. Cassie and Chloe watched in amazement as their home was fixed like nothing ever happened.

“Wow,” Cassie remarked to Sam. “So you’re a witch now?”

Sam shrugged sheepishly. “I’ve picked up a few things.” His eyes shifted to the little girl. “So, this is Chloe?”

Cassie gave him a wry smile, “I figured you were listening in.” She ran her hands through her daughter’s hair. “Yeah, this is Chloe.” Chloe looked up shyly at the tall hunter.

“Hi there,” Sam held out a hand. “I’m your Uncle Sam.”

“I have an uncle, too?” Chloe asked in awe.

Cassie and Sam chuckled. “Yes, baby, you have an uncle, too,” Cassie clarified.

Cas and Dean returned from the backyard. Dean watched as Chloe’s little hand fit into Sam’s large one. Sam shook her hand gently.

Castiel cleared his throat. “We finished outside.” The seraph proceeded to give mother and daughter strange Enochian markings meant to protect their bodies from the possession of any demons that would try, dying at the touch of their skin. The spell consumed much of Castiel’s grace, but he was glad to do it—anything to protect Dean’s child.

Dean decided it was time to leave since there was nothing else to do in the house. He figured it better to go now before looking into Chloe’s eyes was too much to bear. Cassie didn’t stop him; her eyes glimmered with guilt and sorrow.

Dean squatted down by Chloe once more, his legs feeling heavy. “I gotta go now.”

Chloe wrapped her tiny arms around her father. “Okay,” she said, sadness edging into her childish voice.

Dean took care to wrap his arms around her. “You take care of those rings, you hear?”

“I won’t lose them, Daddy,” Chloe swore. “I promise.”

Dean blinked and, in what felt like ages, finally let his daughter go. He stood up straight, beelining it for the door. He took one last look, exchanging a somber glance with Cassie.

“Goodbye,” he said but didn’t linger for a response. He retreated to the Impala, waiting for Sam to follow him out.

This super long preview is part of chapter 10 of my fic SPN: Wilderness, a s8 era fic part of a long-running fanfic series, SPN: Roads Untaken, chronicling a canon-divergent take on the Winchesters' story.

[rosemariad]

It's my 7 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

[rosemariad]

no way! you marked my fic for later? Awesome 😁 This is part 10 by the way. Thank you for your interest!

Were you dissatisfied with spn’s ending?

Ever think Sam & Dean deserved better?

Baby jack has arrived but there's great conflict in the family because of it — Cas is dead 😵😭 but like in the show, he’s not gone for long…😏

But since Cas is dead, and it's s13, you know what that means: Dean's widow arc is here! 😅

Part 10 of SPN: Roads Untaken - Book 10 - SPN: New Beginnings (I got 2 more to go in this fanfic series!)

Read here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/64409491

in time, things turn around as Jack settles into the family & our beloved Cas returns. how will Dean fare once the angel comes back into his life? How will he be before Cas even returns, given what else happened at the end of my s12 fic, Family Ties? More importantly, how will this latest s13 era fic end?

[rosemariad]

Were you dissatisfied with spn’s ending?

Ever think Sam & Dean deserved better?

Baby jack has arrived but there's great conflict in the family because of it — Cas is dead 😵😭 but like in the show, he’s not gone for long…😏

But since Cas is dead, and it's s13, you know what that means: Dean's widow arc is here! 😅

Part 10 of SPN: Roads Untaken - Book 10 - SPN: New Beginnings (I got 2 more to go in this fanfic series!)

Read here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/64409491

in time, things turn around as Jack settles into the family & our beloved Cas returns. how will Dean fare once the angel comes back into his life? How will he be before Cas even returns, given what else happened at the end of my s12 fic, Family Ties? More importantly, how will this latest s13 era fic end?

[rosemariad]

Were you dissatisfied with spn’s ending?

Ever think Sam & Dean’s story should’ve ended differently?

We’ve reached the s12 era. In s12, the SPN show brought Mary back. This excellent fanfic: Our Old Heroes by AdelaClancy (a fantastic read, with a bunch of Destiel) did a fantastic take on if John were resurrected instead.

But I’m taking it further - I’m bringing both parents back to deal with both of their sons. And Adam is out there, thanks to the events of my season 8 era fic, SPN: Wilderness (check it out to see how Sam got Adam out of the Cage early!)

The Winchester family is about to have a reunion. Are y’all ready? Y’all aren’t ready.

And for my Destiel peeps, get ready, cuz y’all about to be fed within a couple chapters. it’s about to get downright romantic (and erotic), and John’s just gonna have to deal with it 😁

Part 9 of SPN: Roads Untaken series - Book 9 - SPN: Family Ties (can you believe I’ve written nine of these so far 😅? 3 more to go!)

Read here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62709970/chapters/160538890#workskin

[rosemariad]

real quick: I also wanted to share this fanart commission

I got from Olivia arther, she's awesome, did the whole thing from the line art to the coloring and the background, if you got so money to spare, check her hit her up on discord (oliviaarther)

Were you dissatisfied with spn’s ending?

Think Sam & Dean deserved better?

We’ve entered our s11 era! The Darkness is free, and while the angels give it a good go protecting the humans, someone's gotta deal with Amara, so here's our Godsquad:

Part 8 of SPN: Roads Untaken - Book 8 - Walking in the Darkness

Read here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62046454/chapters/158680174

vs.

but Cas isn't an archangel - right? 😏

Gabriel 😲 coming back ahead of schedule? find out how!

[rosemariad]

Were you dissatisfied with spn’s ending?

Think Sam & Dean deserved better?

We’ve entered our s11 era! The Darkness is free, and while the angels give it a good go protecting the humans, someone's gotta deal with Amara, so here's our Godsquad:

Part 8 of SPN: Roads Untaken - Book 8 - Walking in the Darkness

Read here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62046454/chapters/158680174

vs.

but Cas isn't an archangel - right? 😏

Gabriel 😲 coming back ahead of schedule? find out how!

[rosemariad]

I mean, when, how?

Thank you to everyone who got me to 1000 likes 🥰

[rosemariad]

1 Day in Purgatory:

Hey Cas.

Kind of a dick move to ditch me like that, you son of a bitch.

But seriously, thanks for protecting me. You coulda stayed, though. I ain’t as weak as all that. I’ve fought off a few freaks already.

How’s it going for you? Must’ve killed dozens of them by now, huh?

I never cared much for this praying thing. A little too one-sided for my taste.

I missed it when we could talk on the phone. That way, I could actually hear you back.

So, uh…night, I guess.

1 Week in Purgatory:

Heya Cas —Time flies when you’re running for your life, right? It seems that way to me.

It feels like it's been a week, but in some ways, it feels like it's been longer than that.

How many have you killed? I’ve killed about a dozen or so. I feel like John McClane. Or I guess Rambo, just need the headband and machine gun.

Oh, right. You wouldn’t get who I’m talking about. I need to get you to start watching movies.

So, are you alright? I hope you are. That you’re safe.

Don’t worry, Cas. I’m gonna find you. I promise.

1 Month in Purgatory:

Cas, it’s me. See, this whole praying thing—one of the reasons I don’t care for it is its one-sidedness. I never know if you’re listening to me or just tuning me out and ignoring me. Kind of hurtful, just saying. Given how many times I've prayed to you, I feel like I’m owed a response at some point.

Ever since meeting you, I’ve never prayed more. I guess it’s cuz I learned long ago that you don’t just wait for someone to save you—that’s how you die. Usually, you gotta take your life into your own hands and fight for it with all you got. That's how I learned to survive.

Anyway, I met this vampire. His name is Benny. He’s the first thing in this hellhole that hasn’t automatically tried to eat me. Apparently, he knows a way outta here. We’ll see if that isn’t total bullshit. He’s with me right now. I know, I know. Trusting a vamp? What am I thinking? But it’s better than being alone, stuck with only my thoughts worrying over you.

I hope you’re okay. Please be okay.

I’m gonna find you, Cas. I ain’t leaving here without you.

6 Months in Purgatory:

I've lost count of how many days I've been stuck here. But I ain't leaving you, Cas. Why do you keep running away, huh? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding me. The lack of response ain't helping. Sucks that this is a one-way line.

As gnarly as this place is, though, it's simpler than Earth. Black and white. Haven't been able to see things like that in a while. It's pure in a way. I fight monsters. Don't have much time to think or do much else. Rest and fight, that's it. Fighting’s what I'm best at anyway.

I miss Earth. I miss Sam. Drinking, fooling around and driving. Sam better be looking after my Baby.

But this place is pure, that’s for sure.

Don't have to worry about nothing else but fighting off monsters. It's been a long time since my life has been so simple. No offense Cas, but meeting you made my life so complicated.

Where are you, man?

You know, when I settle down somewhere quiet, I get restless, but there ain't no room for that here. I hate it here, but I don't. I hate it cuz these hungry sons of bitches don't let up.

I hate it cuz you keep running from me, and I can never catch you.

But I like the woods, the quiet. It's unnerving and peaceful at the same time. Well, it would be if not for all the monsters. Maybe I should get a cabin of my own someday…

You know, if I ever catch up to you, we'll make quite a team. These mooks won't stand a chance: you, me and Benny.

9 Months in Purgatory:

You probably know how long we've been here in Purgatory land, right, Cas? You've always been smart like that. You'd have to be, as old as you are.

How old are you, anyhow? As old as the dinosaurs? Were they real? I never bothered to ask. I should’ve asked you. I should’ve asked you so many things...

Remember when you took me out to see the stars? How d’you know I'd like that shit, huh? And that beer? I've been on the lookout for it ever since you turned me onto it. Apparently, they only sell it in Oregon.

Why'd you do that for me, Cas? Were you feeling guilty about Crowley, then? Or did you just wanna do something nice for me? No one ever does that shit for me…not like that.

Why did you say that shit to the other angels? The crap about not being able to live in a world where I'm gone?

You know I'm only human, right? Someday, I'm gonna die. Never pay it much mind. I know I don't got long though. Hunters never do. My dad bit it at 52. Bobby died at 62. I'm lucky if I last that long. Given the shit I've gotten mixed up in the last couple of years, I'm lucky if I make it past forty.

I'm only still around cuz of you, Cas. Look at how we met. You found me in Hell. I was twenty-nine then. If you hadn't gotten me outta there, I might have stayed there forever. Dead at 29. Ain't that sad?

So why did you say it, Cas?

What am I to you?

Aren't we just friends?

I don't know. I guess you could say what we got is unique. It's hard enough for me to make friends as it is, but the way we met was…fucked up.

I don't let people see me, Cas. That ain't a luxury I got. I can't be weak – ever. But you met me at my worst. That's part of the reason you fucked me up the way you did when you walked into that barn. You were this otherworldly being I coulda sworn was made up, and you knew all this shit about me. You didn't say so, but I knew, like, instinctively.

Shit, I've been praying for a while now, huh…

You must be so ticked off. Well, that's what you get for ditching me in the first place.

Good night, Cas. I'm gonna find you.

Soon.

For anyone who was curious about the prayers Dean might’ve made to Cas during their time in Purgatory, my imagination got away from me 😅

Source: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61591894/chapters/157467775

[rosemariad]

did you ever think demon!Dean should have had more time on SPN?

I know I did. And if he's gonna be a demon, let his freak flag fly dammit! so we all know what that means

#deanssluttysummer2015

Part 7 of SPN: Roads Untaken - Book 7 - The Depths We Sink To

Read here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61624714/chapters/157543039

Dean's run off with Crowley like in the show but we see more of that, perhaps that thing with the triplets Crowley talked about 🫨

But as much fun as he has (or not) with Crowley and others, it’s nothing compared to the sexy hijinks he gets up to with Castiel 😈 if you’re a fan of demon!Dean x angel Castiel, you’re gonna have fun 🤩

Dean sleeping around but picture many other people under him that's not Anna (rip Anna, sorry your character got ruined on the show), Cas perhaps? Crowley 🤯?!

Y’all are not ready!

[rosemariad]

Were you dissatisfied with spn’s ending?

Think Sam and Dean’s story should’ve ended differently?

On my latest fic entry:

So remember when Dean finds Cas again after kicking him out cuz of the angel inside of Sam (episode 9x06)? Things go a little differently from there 😄

OK, Destiel kiddies, are y’all ready? cuz we're about to dive in by chp. 4 😁 but first, it gets worse before it gets better. 😬 where will things stand before reaching the season 10 era?

Part 6 of SPN: Roads Untaken - Book 6 - When Angels Fall

Read here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61601395/chapters/157486531

[rosemariad]

Were you dissatisfied with spn’s ending?

Think Sam & Dean’s story should’ve ended differently?

In the next part of my multi-fic canon divergent series, SPN: Roads Untaken, Dean is forced to leave Purgatory without Cas, only managing to escape with his new bestie Benny the vamp! But when Cas finally escapes the wilderness, Dean wonders just how he managed it while dancing around the angel after all the time they spent together in Purgatory and everything he said to the angel in his prayers (in the last chapter of the previous fic).

Oh yeah & Sam still does those demon trials lol. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t go well, BUT if Bobby is resting in Heaven, who gets out of Hell in trial #2 hm? 😬

Part 5 of SPN: Roads Untaken, Book 5 - SPN: Wilderness

Read on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61594150

adam?! still in hell? not for long 😉

[rosemariad]

Were you dissatisfied with spn’s ending?

Think Sam & Dean’s story should’ve ended differently?

While i didn’t enjoy the Leviathan arc as much as others in the show, we did get Charlie & Kevin, even though we lost Bobby (and almost Cas!) so for them we’re gonna speed through this crazy season and get to the juicy part Destiel in Purgaytory!

Part 4 of SPN: Roads Untaken - Book 4 - All Roads Lead to Purgatory

Read here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61591894

[rosemariad]

were you dissatisfied with spn's ending?

ever think Sam & Dean's story should've ended differently?

Part 2 & 3 of my canon-divergent multi fiction series:

Remember SPN's take on the 7 deadly sins? Well, aside from demons personified, I figure they should be a set of 7 trials. Why? Because instead of Sam becoming soulless via Castiel's super secret alliance with Crowley, Dean actually finds a way to get Sam out of hell through those trials, and of course, Cas goes with him as backup.

But if they do that, could Cas still align himself with Crowley? Of course. Why? Raphael still wants to end the world 😒 so naturally, Cas has no choice. And of course I wanted to explore Castiel's POV more after that delicious & iconic 6x20 episode 😁

next up in SPN: Roads Untaken - Books 2 and 3 -

SPN: Inferno, available on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61131511

SPN: Celestial Wars, available on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61135045

[rosemariad]

were you dissatisfied with spn's ending?

ever think Sam and Dean’s story should've ended differently?

I whipped up a little something. all these ideas started flowing in my head when I reached season 8. So I went for it and started writing my take on SPN. Since the concept of multiple universes was thrown out there in the show, I started to play with that a little more, and I've wound up writing a whole canon-divergent (1 of my top 2 fav kinds of fic) series going through most of the events of SPN up to the bitter end.

The perfect diverging point (for me anyway): the end of episode 4x21, after Sam and Dean fight and Sam walks out of that room.

Interested? Buckle up:

series teaser: Sam & Dean are no strangers to violence - far from it. What they don't seem to realize yet is they're locked in a cycle, but not one of their own making. Their only hope - someone no one could have ever foreseen who dramatically changes their lives forever by first causing the return of someone Sam thought he'd never see again.

Part 1 of my series SPN: Roads Untaken - Book 1 - What Show You Been Watching?

read here on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/61122787/chapters/156174859

covering the era between 4x21 and the season 5 finale swan song, but since it's Canon divergent, not everything is exactly the same as you'd remember.

Destiel fans - be forewarned, it's not explicit yet, but i am DEFINITELY working up to their pairing up, by not just revisiting classic Destiel moments, but thanks to this fanfic, some new ones too 😀

why did i add Jessica? well... I did say it was a canon divergent series 😁

[rosemariad]

Best SPN episodes of all time

As the year is almost over and as part of my farewell from this show, I wanted to do 1 final thing and chime in on what I think were the best episodes to ever air for SPN in order of original airdate:

Season 2, Episode 12 | Night Shifter

I know what you’re thinking - not a single S1 episode - naturally without s1 none of the other episodes would follow but I see S1 as the foundation for the entire show - after all where talking about a production that resulted in over 300 episodes across 15 years. There’s just so many to choose from some I’m sticking to the ones I liked best

What won me over for this episode was Ronny. As Sam pointed out, the man was no hunter. He stumbled onto the case because of his encounter with the shapeshifter that impersonated his colleague. I think he was motivated by some culpability and wanted to atone for what happened the best he could. Poor guy was just out of his depth and he died for it. But at least he tried to put up a fight and figure out what was going on. It’s tragic that he dies but it kinda works - it was impactful - I never forgot Ronny, despite the hundreds of other victims and casualties we had to see on this show. Ronny was an ordinary man who was condemned unjustly and untimely.

Season 2, Episode 15 | Tall Tales

This episode was so funny! It perfectly played with the brothers’ relationship and it’s one of the few times we get to see Sam and Dean be so childish with each other and at odds without something terrible at work around them or the fate of the world resting on their broad shoulders. Sam from Dean’s immature point of view & Dean from Sam’s irked perspective was just top tier SPN, and this episode easily cemented itself as a classic. It may be one of my top three. SPN was at its best when it wasn’t so serious.

Season 2, Episode 16 | Roadkill

In the very next episode we go from very silly to very somber but I appreciated this story/case for what it was. We have a woman who had died but didn’t know it, stuck in a loop for several years until the Winchesters run into her and break down to her the sad reality of her situation. That final scene was amazing & emotional and for that this episode is near and dear to my heart.

Though wasn’t the following episode Heart (2x17) more or less the same thing? Madison had no idea what she was until the Winchesters had to explain it all to her. Except that time, the hapless woman is a werewolf instead of a ghost & she becomes enamored with Sam & he with her, with the pair becoming fast lovers in record time before he inevitably puts her down (which is so fucked, when in just 10 years the Winchesters would’ve learned about a cure for werewolves after all - though like the vampire cure that’s unveiled in s6, you can’t have fed on anyone so I don’t know if the cure would’ve worked on Madison at the time).

Season 3, Episode 11 | Mystery Spot

What a ride this episode was! The loop was fun to watch. Who knew Dean could die in so many ways. I wonder if anyone ever made an edit to Dean’s deaths to the Dumb ways to die song -- that’s an idea 😅. The reveal that this was all Gabriel’s I mean the Trickster’s doing to get Sam ready to accept his brother’s imminent demise was sobering but in a good way since we see why Sam had to relive the same freakish day on a loop & watch Dean die all the time. He must hate that Heat of the Moment song so much now. This episode was a great introspective into Sam’s character and the life he’d lead without his brother there but also completely on his own, knowing he can’t live the normal life he’s always wanted.

Season 5, Episode 3 | Free to Be You & Me

Sam & Dean break up because of the previous episodes where Sam had chosen Ruby over his brother, despite the fact that she had corrupted him with demon blood & followed her lead, which caused the devil to go free and Sam had to realize that Ruby had been playing him the whole time. Ever since Dean had been distrustful and angry towards his brother & with good reason (you fucked up Sam) - and while Cas sacrificed himself to give Dean a chance to stop Ruby’s scheme he couldn’t get there in time.

So after dealing with Bobby getting crippled & Cas returning to protect the Winchesters and find God, Sam and Dean go their separate ways with Sam taking a break from hunting & Dean hunting solo until Cas shows up less than three feet away 😂. 😁 I love this episode so much - we get our first glimpse of Samifer, Jess comes back (sort of, not really), we get to see Sam take a stand & really stick to being sober (from demon blood 😅) & we get to see Cas and Dean work together on a proper case & Dean trying to show Cas the ropes of how to handle such things as a Winchester would 🤣 when Cas was terrified of the hooker - classic!

Season 5, Episode 22 | Swan Song

Known as the OG endgame for the SPN story, this was a damn good wrap up to the narrative we’d been seeing for 5 seasons. It really brought Sam’s story in particular together since the pilot as he went from a kid who wanted to escape the horrible life he’d been living to a man willing to sacrifice his entire being to spare the world and his brother a terrible fate. Sam took his own fate in his own hands as best he could without compromising who he was at his core. He was brave, unflinching in his conviction and overcame the devil himself in the end, subverting the prophecy that had been laid out before him.

Damn Sam was so cool.

Season 6, Episode 20 | The Man Who Would be King

What can I say about this episode that hasn’t already been said over the years? The deep dive exposition, the perspective from Castiel’s point of view of what he’d been through - it’s devastating. It frames everything that had been happening in season 6 up to that famous moment when Dean realizes that Sam & Bobby were right & Cas had been compromised and working with Crowley the whole time. It’s not like Cas was doing it all for nefarious reasons, he wanted to spare Dean and the others the bloody apocalypse but Dean was fucking brokenhearted all the same. Dean will be pissed at the angel for a long time after this point but look at that face. Cas wants to take it all back but knows that he can’t cuz the damage is done. The episode should be called The Point of No Return lol but I digress.

Season 7, Episode 10 | Death’s Door

Bobby! Though not the last we see of the man, it was his death episode, certainly the point of no return for the character. The man gave so much to hunting, helping countless others we don’t even know about, and instrumental to Sam and Dean for sure! He came through for those guys time and again, opening up his home to the brothers, seeing both Winchesters through some of their lowest points up to his exit and not judging either one or walking away from the boys even when he should have. In the end, he saw them as his sons even though they shared no blood but as he said it so eloquently - Family don’t end in blood.

Season 9, Episode 5 | Dog Dean Afternoon - I already talked about this one in this post, but gonna reference it again here 😄 such a silly episode: https://www.tumblr.com/rosemariad/718562587697184768/my-favorite-spn-episode-ever

Season 13, Episode 16 | Scoobynatural

Need I say more? I loved Scooby Doo when I was growing up - I’ve watched the one where they’re little kids, some of the OG episodes from back in the day, countless movie specials (Zombie Island was my fav!), the remakes & reboot as well as the live action films. So to hear that SPN did a Scooby Doo crossover was amazing - and it was done so well! I enjoyed the whole thing though Dean trying to say the Scooby Doo line at the end was totally cringe 🤣 he was NOT rocking that ascot - sorry Dean.

Season 15, Episode 10 | The Heroes’ Journey

You could say it was Garth’s swan song as he was part of the reason why this episode was so good! At this point Chuck has fucked with the Winchesters’ luck, subjecting the guys to stuff like getting a cold, the Impala randomly crapping out on the road, Dean having cavities & being lactose intolerant? (He ate waaay too many grilled cheese sandwiches) - all hilarious! We get to see Garth is still with Bess & they have a daughter & 2 babies they named after Sam & Cas (I wonder why he chose Cas for the name of his baby when I don’t recall any interactions with him & the angel but oh well, it was probably just the writers having a laugh at Dean’s expense).

But watching Garth step back into the game and come to Sam & Dean’s rescue while they were struggling (to glorious comedic effect) was a pleasant surprise. We never see Garth again in the show but I’d say he left on a pretty high note and basically got a happy ending for himself and his family (we’re just going to assume that when Jack brought everyone back from wherever Chuck sent them, Garth & Bess & the kids were restored safe and sound).

Honorable mentions - I can only add 10 gifs per post but aside from the above I also really liked:

Season 1, Episodes 11 Scarecrow & 12 Faith

Season 3, Episode 12 Jus in Bello

Season 4, Episodes 16, 17 & 18 | On the Head of Pin, It’s a Terrible Life & The Monster at the End of this Book

Season 5, Episode 18 Point of No Return

[rosemariad]

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