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***August
"When an alpha makes a promise, it's for life. Cas, I'll come back for you, both of you, I promise."
Dean's words drifted through Cas' head every night. He would fall asleep at peace because of his alpha's promise. They were to be mated and wed as soon as Dean got back. He could hardly wait.
Cas had hoped to transfer from Stanford to MIT, where Dean was going, but his college fund had disappeared the instant he told his family of his pregnancy. As an unmated/unwed pregnant omega, he was an embarrassment to them and their church. Disowned and thrown out with just the clothes on his back, Cas cried on Dean's shoulder the night before he was to leave.
"I can put off going until after the baby is born." Dean soothed. "I can get my job back."
"No," said Cas, wiping his face with his T-shirt. "You go. I don't want you to lose your scholarship."
Reluctantly, Dean promised to go, but was going to transfer to the local college as soon as he was able.
"I'll be back in a couple of months at most." Dean smiled that smile that told Cas everything was going to work out his way. He kissed him and they made love in the back of his car one last time.
"Cas, I'll come back for both of you, I promise."
Thankful for his job at the gas station, Cas remembered Dean's words and worked as much as he could to make enough to get him through September.
***October
"I miss you so much. I'm having such a hard time." Dean sounded so sad on the phone. "It's the scholarship, it's got all these rules. They're making it hard. You know I love you."
"I love you." Rubbing his bump, Cas felt for Dean, all alone at college, far from home, far from his omega. But soon Dean would get the transfer figured out, and they would be together. "I know you will be back as soon as you can. It's just taking longer than expected."
"Thank you for understanding, Cas." Dean sounded lighter. "Hey, since you are showing, you should go see Sammy. Man, you would think it was his kid the way he talks."
Cas had visited Sam, once. It was awkward and uncomfortable with Dean's father staring daggers at him. The alpha never cared for Cas, calling him a stuck up snob and spoiled rich bitch. Sam had gone on and on, saying he was excited to be an uncle. He did tell Cas that he didn't think Dean would be coming home for Thanksgiving.
***December
"I told you, I'm working on it." Dean sounded exasperated. "I got to get my grades up." He sighed and Cas knew he was running his neck. "I'm working hard."
"I know yo--" Loud yelling over the phone cut him off.
"Knock it off, I'm on the phone." Dean's muffled voice sounded strained. He cleared his throat before speaking again. "Cas, you know I got finals in a couple of weeks. I need to study. After they're over, I'll call."
Cas didn't hear from Dean for weeks. He shouldn't have pressured Dean who was struggling so he wouldn't lose his scholarship. Cas wished the transfer process wasn't so wrought with red tape.
Winter was hard. Cas lost his job before Christmas, and finding another was harder since he was so huge. Due in a few months, no one wanted to hire an omega, let alone one about to have a baby. Housing was problematic without money. Cas needed something more permanent than the basement of the Lutheran church. They were going to discover him one day. Luckily, the snow had held off.
***February
"I'm not asking you to drop everything and rush back," said Cas, softly, "it's just, I felt the baby kick." He rubbed his belly like the stereotypical omega he was. A smile pulled the frown from his face. "I thought maybe you could come back for the ultrasound to find out if it's a boy or a girl?"
"Look, you're not due for a while. Okay?" Dean sounded annoyed. "Hey, Spring Break's coming up in March. I'll see if I can make it."
"I understand." Cas had hoped, yearning to see his alpha. "I'll make the appointment for that week, just in case."
He trusted Dean, he just didn't understand what was the hold up. Why wasn't he granted a transfer? He had stopped asking because it made Dean mad. "I miss you."
"I miss you too, man. I gotta go."
"I love you," Cas said quietly into the silence. He hung up the phone and walked to the shelter, hoping to get a bed.
Spring Break came and went without so much as a text. Alone, Cas found out he was carrying a boy. He held onto the news until he broke down and left a message.
As his due date approached, he became more desperate. Dean hadn't returned his calls. Despite vowing never to go back, Cas went to Dean's father's, hoping for less animosity. Surely the alpha would want his grandchild safe, but Cas discovered the house empty. They had moved, to where he had no clue. Dean hadn't said anything, and he was always telling Cas about Sam.
***April
"My old man had to go to South Dakota for a job. I told you at New Year's." Dean sounded guarded. "Anyway, I'm waiting on stuff, ya know."
"I must have forgotten." Cas rubbed his belly, feeling the baby kick. Smiling, he said, "I love you."
"Yeah," replied Dean, distractedly. "Bye."
***May
"Dean, I need you. He's coming. Our baby's coming."
Cas went into labor while filling out the paperwork for omega aide. After leaving Dean a quick message, he went to the hospital, and struggled alone through fourteen hours of labor. Jackson Daniel Winchester arrived in the early morning hours to an exhausted, yet happy, Cas. He called several times the next day, but had gotten Dean's voicemail every time.
***June
"I'm back!"
Dean looked radiant and happy, driving his big, black car with the windows down, radio blaring, and friends with him. Benny, Ash, and Jo laughed with him as they cruised by.
Cas had only one call with Dean since Jack was born. Dean went on and on about how great it was, and how proud he was of Cas.
"I knew he would be beautiful, just look at me." Dean laughed. "I'll be down as soon as I can. Hell, I'll skip some classes."
Cas laughed as well, but insisted that Dean complete his semester. "It's just a couple of weeks."
Cas sent multiple pictures, sometimes several times a day. Dean responded with such happy emojis.
"Cas, I'll come back for you, both of you, I promise."
When Cas finally got approved for the low income housing, he left Dean a message with their address. Maybe Dean was going to surprise them since he hadn't heard anything. Dean loved surprising Cas when they were dating.
So when Cas saw Dean at the gas station, he made himself stay away. He would wait, he had work anyway. But afterwards, he would go home and clean up, feed Jack, and be ready to be a family with their alpha.
He pushed down his excitement, and cringed as he went back inside. He prayed Dean wouldn't find out how far he had sunk, but he had bills to pay and Jack needed medicine. Luckily, this one paid double for bare.
***August
"Hello Dean."
"Hey Cas." Dean chuckled easily. "Sorry, I was so busy this summer and now the start of Fall term, I couldn't come down." Dean's voice was as smooth as glass. "But you know how it is."
"No, I don't." Having sold his cell phone for a few dollars cash, Cas stood at a pay phone, a relic from a long forgotten time, listening to his alpha lie. He gripped the receiver tight, stomach cramping. Why did I bother calling Dean? It had been a week since he left that message. That horrible, terrible message that should have elicited some type of response. Deep down, Cas knew.
"Hey, how's Jake? You haven't--"
"Goodbye, Dean." Cas grit his teeth. He couldn't even be bothered to remember his child's name. The child he never even met.
"Ca--"
He hung up and took a deep breath. Tears filled his eyes as Cas left, making the three mile walk to see his baby, his sweet Jack. Rocks and other debris dug into the soles of his feet through his worn out shoes. He needed new ones, but he would have to go to the thrift store another day. Today he needed to get to Jack.
The sky was overcast, though the rain held off, thankfully. Cas knew, perhaps he had known before Jack came into this world, that Dean had abandoned them. Yet, like a fool, he held onto that Alpha Promise.
"When an alpha makes a promise, it's for life."
Cas laughed bitterly, swiping at his eyes. He climbed the hill, went around the grove of trees, and to the far corner. He sat down, his legs tired and feet aching.
"I came back for you." Cas cried silently. "I will always come back for you, Jack."
He gently removed the wilted flowers and carefully arranged the new ones he picked along the way.
"I love you, Jack."
***