The best day
Taylor Swift
3:17 ——————————•———
𝑫𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒚𝒔 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒕,
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕
𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒆
𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 2 : 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 6
𝑵𝒐 𝑬𝒙𝒊𝒕

☆

2006

"Los Angeles, California" the Winchesters were at the Roadhouse where they were walking towards the Impala, Jovi skipped along to her side of Baby, Dean by her side. She wore her usual blue jeans and doc martens boots with a light blue sweatshirt, her brown leather jacket had been tossed inside the impala as the child refused to wear it. Her blonde hair fell in soft waves down her back "what's in LA?" Sam asked his brother looking over at him from the other side of the car "a young girls been kidnapped by an evil cult" Dean answered meanwhile Sam's eyes fell onto Jovi who he could barely see over the roof of baby, the girl was jumping up and down holding the car handle. Usually Dean would say something but he didn't mind he burning her energy off before a long car ride "yeah? The girl got a name?"

"Katie Holmes" Dean told his brother who paused before laughing stuffing his hands into his pockets "that's funny and for you, so bitchy"

"What does bitchy mean?" Jovi said looking up at her dad who had to hold back a laugh as she said bitchy, it was the way she said it that made him laugh. For someone so cute and innocent she spoke the word with so much sass something she'd seemed to pick up from Sam "uh-"

"I'm going!" Jo's voice cut Dean off making the three look towards the bar "over my dead body!" Ellen's came next her yelling having the same amount of attitude Jo's did "you're flipping out over nothing!"

Dean looked back at Sam "of course, on the other hand, catfight" he took Jovi into his arms as the three walked back towards the bar quietly walking inside spotting Ellen walking away from her annoyed daughter "are you gonna chain me up in the basement?!" Jo yelled stepping in front of her mother who stepped around her "you've had worse ideas than that recently. You don't want to stay? Don't. Go back to school!"

Jovi hid her face in Dean's neck not liking all of the shouting, he noticed this putting his free hand over her other ear "I didn't belong there! I was a freak with a knife collection!"

"Getting yourself killed on some dusty back road — that's where you belong?!" Ellen yelled before Jo paused her eyes finding The Winchesters stood at the door, her gaze softened spotting the small blonde hiding in Deans neck. Ellen turned following Jo's gaze spotting the three, Dean gave a nervous smile "guys, bad time"

"Yes, Ma'am" the two brothers spoke together "we rarely drink before 10 anyway" Dean turned on his heel with Sam following "wait" Jo's voice made them pause as the feisty blonde stormed towards them "I want to know what they think about this"

A family walked inside of the bar all wearing matching T-shirts looking like something out of a commercial "I don't care what they think!" Ellen yelled back at her daughter "are you guys open?" The father of the family questioned at the same time the mother daughter duo yelled "yes! No!" The mother and father shared a look before the father chuckled awkwardly "well just check out the Arbys down the road" they walked out, The Winchesters turned back to face the Harvelles with blank expressions. The phone on the wall then began to ring, Jovi muttered a small "uh-oh" Dean quickly hushed her not wanting to receive anymore harsh glares from Ellen or Jo

The blonde turned to look at her mother with a challenging look not making any moves to answer it, she then raised her eyebrows at her mother telling her to answer it. Ellen gave in walking around the counter grabbing the phone, Jo turned to the Winchesters with a bunch of papers "three weeks ago, a young girl disappears from a Philadelphia apartment" Dean still hadn't taken the file, Jo gestured with her eyes for him to take it "take it, it won't bite"

"No, but your mom might" Dean answered making his daughter giggle, Jo sent him a look. Dean sighed handing Jovi over to Sam before taking the file from the blonde with a pout "and this girl wasn't the first, over the past 80 years, 6 women have vanished. All from the same building, all young blondes, it only happens every decade or two so cops never eyeball the pattern. So we're either dealing with one very old serial killer—"

Dean cut Jo off as he flicked through the pages "who put this together? Ash?"

"I did it myself" Dean looked between the well put together file and the blonde who was looking up at him standing up straight, Dean hummed in approval. "I got to admit, we hit the road for a lot less" Sam chipped in his eyes also focused down on the file "lot less" Jovi repeated trying to add to the conversation "good, you like the case so much, you take it" Ellen spoke walking towards them now off of the phone, Jo turned "mom!"

"Joanna Beth, this family has lost enough. I won't lose you too..." Ellen sent the Winchesters a look that made Dean look away before she glanced back at her daughter "I just won't".

☆

After finding ectoplasm inside the most recent victims apartment the three Winchester's exited walking down the corridors towards the buildings exit, Dean held Jovi's hand in his his daughter swinging their hands backwards and forwards. A voice made the brothers stop in their tracks "yeah, it's a great building. I fixed it up real nice" Dean gently pulled Jovi back into a doorway putting a finger to his lips, Jovi nodded in understanding. A familiar voice caught the elder Winchesters attention the two sharing a confused look "yeah, I love the furnishings, it's so spacious and the location is so convenient for me" Jo said as she came round the corner, Sam and Dean came out from their hiding spot Dean bringing Jovi with him as his slightly annoyed eyes locked onto Jo "what the hell are you doing here?"

Jo smiled walking towards him "there you are, honey" she sent him a look as she picked up Jovi "I missed you so much!" She put on a high pitched voice pecking the child's cheek making her giggle before she wrapped a arm around deans waist him looking at her with a clenched jaw knowing what she was doing "this is my boyfriend, Dean, and his daughter, Jovi. And his buddy Sam" Jo looked back at the guy that was showing her the apartment, he reached out shaking deans hand "good to meet you. Quite a gal you got there" Dean faked a smile slapping Jo's rear making her smile fall in annoyance though she tried to hide it "yeah, she's a pistol!" Sam side eyed the two glancing at Jovi who was playing with a stand of Jo's hair innocently unaware of the situation

"So, did you already check out the apartment?" Jo asked which resulted in Dean staring at her blankly "...the one for rent" she added, Dean put his smile back on "yeah. Yes, loved it, great flow"

The guy tilted his head "how'd you get in?"

"It was open"

"Now, Ed, when did the last tenant move out?" Jo asked Ed who responded "uh, about a month ago. Cut and run, too. Stiffed me for rent" Jo smiled adjusting Jovi in her hip "well, her loss, our gain. 'Cause if Deano loves it, it's good enough for me and Jov" Dean sarcastically laughed smiling down at Jovi "oh, sweetie" Jo let go of Dean to grab the stack of cash from her pocket "we'll take it"

"Whoa" Jovi gasped eyeing the large stack of cash in surprise and shock, Sam and Dean both staring with the same expression.

☆

"I'll flip you for the sofa" Jo spoke now in their new apartment, Jovi was sat cross legged on the wooden floor with a book Sam had given her to read. Since she'd never been to school Sam had become her teacher in all things bookish whereas Dean taught her everyday skills - arguably things she'd actually use in life. Sam was at one end of the table while Dean sat on the other end of the table with his back to the woman he twisted slightly "does your mother even know you're here?"

"I told her I was going to Vegas" Jo answered

"You think she's gonna buy that?" Dean questioned her his brow slightly raised "I'm not an idiot. I got Ash to lay a credit card trail all the way to the casinos" Jo told him, Dean looked away from her at towards his daughter who'd now changed her position lying on her stomach her feet in the air "you shouldn't lie to your mom. You shouldn't be here, either" his voice was a lot softer as he said this, he hoped his daughter would never feel the need to lie to him. He wanted her to trust him and come to him when she needed help, but he also knew she wouldn't stay that young innocent little kid forever no matter how much he wanted her to

"Well, I am, so untwist your boxers and deal with it" Jovi giggled finding Jo's words funny, Dean turned back to the blonde eyeing her while Sam asked "where'd you get all that money from, anyways?"

"Working at the roadhouse"

"Hunters don't tip that well" Dean quickly cut in his face scrunched up not believing the woman's words "they aren't that good at poker, either" Jo sent him a smile as his phone began to ring, begrudgingly he stood up answering it "yeah?"

Deans eyes met Jos "oh, hi, Ellen" Jo paused her eyes following Dean who stepped into the living room catching his daughters attention, the blonde woman rushed towards Dean with a dead serious look "don't you dare" she whispered pointing a finger at him "I'm telling her" Dean whispered back the two having a almost silent argument before Dean caved "I haven't seen her"

Jo reeled back relief falling into her face "yeah, I'm sure...absolutely" he took the phone away from his ear looking down at Jo who's face lit up in a victorious smile.

Jovi sighed as she clung to her dad's back, him giving her a piggy back as they'd dragged her to search the place with the EMF meters. Jo was with them too which made the young girl happier, she'd taken a liking to Jo and Ellen. They were the only reoccurring women in her life and Jo had a comforting and fun aura that drew the child towards her, Dean sometimes thinks she can read peoples minds. She always seemed to know when someone was good or bad, maybe it was just because she'd grown up in this life so she'd just learnt from observing people. Jo on the other hand adored the little girl, she found her adorable she struggled to come to terms with how Dean had raised such a perfect daughter

"So are you gonna buy me dinner?" Jo asked her EMF pointing towards the walls to her left, Dean who's free hand was pointing at the wall to his right looked at her quizzically "What are you talking about?"

"It's just if you're gonna ride me this close, it's only decent you buy me dinner"

"Oh, that's hilarious. It's bad enough I lied to your mom but if you think I'm letting you out of my sight. I don't know if you noticed but you're kind of the spirits type" Dean told her as they turned a corner, Jovi furrowed her brows "I'm blonde too" Dean turned his head ever since slightly so he could see his daughters little face that rested on his shoulder "which is why you're not leaving my sight" Jovi snuggled her face into his shoulder feeling safe in her fathers arms, Dean could've sworn his heart melted a little bit more "exactly" Jo spoke to Dean previous statement. he looked at her "you want to be bait?"

"The quickest way to draw it out and you know it"

Dean chuckled earning a look from the blonde woman "what?"

"I'm so regretting this"

Jo stopped making Dean turn to face her "I've had it up to here with your crap" the man looked at her while Jovi let out a deep huff she'd heard enough arguing for one day "excuse me?"

"Your chauvinist crap. You think women can't do the job"

Dean smirked "sweetheart, this ain't gender studies. Women can do the job fine, amateurs can't. You got no experience, what you do have is a bunch of half baked romantic notions that some barfly has put in your head"

Jo nodded "and now you sound like my mother"

"Oh, and that's a bad thing? Because let me tell you..." Dean then paused as he looked the woman over, he felt his daughter's arms tense up at the arguing which made him stand down "what?" Jo asked expecting him to go on, Dean subtly shook his head "forget it"

"No, you started this" Jo told him her eyes fell onto the child who was once again hiding her face in deans shoulder which made her feel slightly guilty "Jo, you got options. No one in their right mind chooses this life. My dad started me in this when I was so young I wish I could do something else, give my daughter a different life" Dean told her honestly, he meant those words too he really didn't want Jovi in this life. He swore he'd always protect her and she'd already been hurt - caught up in the line of fire. Jo looked up at him in confusion "you love the job"

"Yeah, but I'm a little twisted"

Jo smiled "you don't think I'm a little twisted, too?" Dean pursed his lips "Jo, you got a mother that worries about you, who wants something more for you, those are good things...you don't throw things like that away, they might be hard to find later" he turned beginning to walk away as Jovi mumbled "I like Ellen" Dean chuckled "I know you do"

They kept walking until Jo suddenly stopped breathing heavily which caught Dean and Jovi's attention, the child jumped down from her father's back running up to Jo "are you okay?"

"I-I'm not sure" Jo said looking between the two Winchesters, Dean walked up behind his daughter sniffing the air, he looked down at his daughter "that ain't you is it?" Jovi gasped "no!" The two adults smiled before Jo looked around "what is it, a gas leak?"

Dean face was scrunched up in confusion not being able to exactly pinpoint the smell "no. It's something else. I know it, I just can't put my finger on it" Jo moved her EMF around before it started beeping towards the vent in the wall, she knelt down pointing it directly at the vent the EMF going crazy and didn't even realise the child copying her movements kneeling beside her. Dean smiled "mazel tov. You just found your first spirit"

"It's inside there!" Jovi said pointing at the vent looking up at her father "it is, move back Jov" he said kneeling beside her pointing his flashlight into the vent, he passed the light to his daughter "can you man the flashlight for me?" She grinned nodding "yep!" Dean then worked on the vent taking the metal off and then taking the light back from Jovi, he pointed it inside taking a look before he spotting something "there's something there, here" he handed the light to Jo before putting his hand into the vent feeling around until he finally grabbed something pulling it out of the vent. When he did Jovi dramatically gagged at the sight of a thick piece of skin and hair, Jo moved the child behind her so she wasn't looking at the hair "someone's keeping souvenirs".

☆

It was the next day, Jovi had wandered out of the bedroom finding Jo at the table and her dad curled up on the couch in a position that even had the child asking how that was comfortable. She waddled up to Jo who smiled at the child "morning Joy"

Joy was the nickname Jo had given to the little girl as the name Jovie with a E meant Joyful so that became a Jo only nickname, Sam and Dean had Jo or Jov or Vi to use Joy was only to be used by Jo. Jovi raised her arms out to the woman tiredly, the blonde woman chuckled picking the child up lifting her into her arms moving her knife away from where the girls hands could reach it "you want breakfast?" The woman asked looking down at where the child's head rested against her chest, she hummed in response, she then shot up as an idea hit her "can you braid my hair?" Braiding was something Dean hadn't quite grasped and he's never really had the chance to properly learn how to do it and neither had Jovi.

Dean woke up not long after to poking in his shoulder, he groaned turning over from his awkward position on the couch seeing his grinning daughter standing there practically bouncing on her heels with excitement "Jovi?" He questioned brow raised the exhaustion clear in his voice, he noticed how her hair was pulled back into two French braids - he guessed that's what she was so excited about "Jo did my hair! Look! It's so pretty!" The child did a spin showing him the back, even in his tired state he put on a smile "they look beautiful, Jov. You look like a princess" her eyes lit up with pure joy he then pulled her into his arms making his daughter squirm around as he tickled her sides "you're gonna mess my hair up!" Jovi yelled giggling, Dean finally gave in pressing a kiss to her cheek letting her go "you win" he mumbled watching as the little girl ran off back to Jo, he turned spotting the blonde playing with her knife at the table "morning, princess"

"Where's Sam?"

"Went to get coffee and milkshakes, right Joy?" Jo said turning to look at Deans mini me who jumped with both hands on the table "yep!"

Dean sat up groaning "my back" Jovi's eyes lit up with amusement as she glanced over her shoulder at him "you're getting old daddy" Deans face fell into offence "I'm 28, that's not old" Jovi looked him up and down as if she was silently judging him with a hum "be quiet" Dean told her before he looked over at Jo with narrowed eyes "how'd you two sleep on that big, soft bed?" He strolled over to the woman "I didn't, Jovi loved it though" Jo told him before sighing "I've just been going over everything" Dean just looked at Jo and her knife before he went to his own bag pulling out a bigger blade, he unsheathed it before handing it over to her with a smug smile "here"

Jo took it "what's this for?"

"It'll work a hell of a lot better than that little pig stick you've been twirling around" Jo handed Dean her knife, he looked it over before he paused his brows furrowing at the initials engraved into the metal "William Antony Harvelle" Jo said catching Jovi's attention, she stood by deans side pulling on his arm slightly so she could see. He lowered the knife slightly just so she could see the initials before he handed it back to Jo "I'm sorry, my mistake"

Jo handed his own blade back before she looked up at him "what do you...what do you remember about your dad? What's the first thing that pops into your head?" Jovi craned her head up to look at her dad curiously, when she thought of her grandpa John she remembered all the weapons training and fighting her dad and him would have about her...it was safe to say she didn't have the fondest memories of him - the bad outweighed the good. Dean shook his head not meeting Jo's eyes as he put the blade away "come on, tell me" Jo said her voice slightly shaky as she offered a smile but it quickly turned into a frown when he met deans eyes "I was 6 or 7..." Dean started picking up Jovi as he sat down at the table the child leaning back against his chest "and uh, he took me shooting for the first time" he leaned forward slighting looking Jo in the eye one arm securely around his daughter "bottles on a fence — that kind of thing." Dean then smiled "I bulls-eyed every one of them and