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chapter 000 :

⤵︎ ⤹
⤷ A BLACKWELL FAMILY CHRISTMAS ⤶
( an original chapter )

❝ NO ONE DESERVES TO BE ALONE ON CHRISTMAS.  ❞

❝ HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT I DESERVE ?? ❞

WARNINGS ━━━━ sad Eirene, drinking ( specifically drinking too much to forget trauma ), suppressed feelings / emotions, death mention, fire / mention of fire, smoking, and cigarettes to cope / deal with emotions + past trauma.

❏❐❑

EIRENE BLACKWELL always loved Christmas. She loved the powdery white snow that would fall from the sky covering the ground in a beautiful white blanket of comfort. She loved going Christmas shopping for people and choosing which gifs would be the best for for them, and most importantly, she loved sitting back with her family and watching a cheesy Christmas film donning matching pyjamas and a mug of hot chocolate.

All in all, it was the best time of the year.

Until it wasn't . . . but we'll get more onto that later.

For now, Christmas was amazing. It was always just the four of them. And it was perfect.

"I'm home !" The brunette shouted as she entered their family home with a plethora of bags. She placed her car keys on the hook near the doorway and closed the door with the back of her foot, not having any free hands due to the amount she had bought. White dusty snow littered the woman's hair as a light shade of pink tinted her ear, cheeks, and nose.

"Christmas shopping, again ??" Her mother asked while eyeing the multiple bags in her daughters hands. "You'll spoil us all."

Eurene rolled her eyes. "As if that's even possible. Besides, you know I don't want anything this year. Just having all this is enough." The brunette replied with a small smile and gestured around the house. It was more than she could ever ask for.

"Now, you can help by taking some of these bags before Lydia gets her hands on them." She said with a knowing look to the kitchen where her dad and sister were currently inside baking some cookies.

As if she heard their conversation,    Lydia herself came barrelling out the room and ran towards her older sister. She peered upwards on her tiptoes, trying to get a look as to what could be in the bags. "Are those presents ?? Are they for me ??" She asked with in a hopeful tone while clasping her hands and jumping animatedly up and down. 

Eirene chuckled warmly as she lifted the bags up higher. "You won't be getting any presents if I catch you snooping. Now run along, I'm sure he'll burn the kitchen down without some sort of guidance."

Her sister laughed at the accusation but went back to the kitchen anyway. Clarissa also joined them, knowing what her husband could be like when there were ovens involved.

The huntress hung back as a photo frame on the wall caught her eye. It was of them three years back. The family had gone to the beach in order to celebrate one of Eirene's first successful hunts by herself. Of course, Lydia didn't know why they were there but was all too happy to collect the pretty seashells that lined the coast and build sandcastles with her dad.

It had been a great day. If only it had lasted. But there goes the saying. All good things must come to an end. As well as you can only have too much of a good thing.

That applied heavily to her current situation.

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ONE YEAR LATER

That had been one year ago. Terror struck, and that was the last Blackwell family Christmas. If Eirene had known that it would all come to an end just a few mere months later, she never would have left that day. She would've stayed and fought with her family. Fought for her family.

But like always, the brunettes mind was just positively filled to the brim of what ifs ?? They racked her brain day and night on a constant loop, never allowing her the time to really grieve.

Of course, at first, she'd tried to find the monster that had done this to her family. But to no avail. Every hunter Eirene had called didn't know a thing. She'd call, and they would sympahise and ask to help, but the huntress would decline. Her dear parents had already been murdered because of their profession. She couldn't risk anyone else dying for her. Risking their life for her.

But that was before she met Sam Winchester.

But anyway, a bar on the other side of town was where she found herself currently situated. It was dark and dimly lit. Perfect to hide out in and drown her feelings. A way to escape the endless doubt swirling in her mind like a powerful gust of wind. A way to forget it all.

The black something or other it was called. Or at least she thinks. She'd been to many bars since that night to drink her feelings away. Yet this was the first time the brunette had done so on Christmas day.

There weren't many people situated inside, and she, being the only woman in there, didn't help. Eirene pretended not to notice the lingering gaze she got from the barman as he served her yet another drink ( she was on her fifth one now ), or the looks of want from the other men that were occupying the seats around her.

The woman sighed heavily and swirled around the liquid in her glass. The stool she was sat on was uncomfortable and squirmed with each movement she made, but it would do. For now.

The huntress decided that she didn't really care anymore. I mean, she was in a bar, alone, on Christmas day. How more pathetic could she be ?? It's not like drinking would bring those happy memories back. Bring her family back. And it certainly wouldn't make her forget the bloody sight before her eyes as she opened the door to their family home one last time.

Eirene scrunched her eyes tightly shut, trying her best to shut it out of her mind. Just for a second. Just for today. But of course, when do good things happen to good people ?? Or at least, people who try to be good.

Letting out a deep breath, she got up and threw her jacket back on before throwing some money down on the counter and walking through the door.

It was cold. Bitterly cold. Not the kind when you could feel it transitioning from the warm summer breeze to a crisp autumn chill, but how it was on those freezing winter nights that made your hands numb and nose run.

And if to make matters worse, it had begun to snow.

The walk to her apartment thankfully wasn't far. But the journey was heinous. All around her were family homes just like hers. That occupied a family just like hers, celebrating. Having fun.

They were eating a hearty meal and playing Christmas music as loud as it could go. Down one road, they were playing Happy Xmas by John Lennon. That had been her father's favourite seasonal song and, in turn, hers. But now ?? If she ever heard it again after this, the brunette would quite literally want to rip her hair out.

After a long ten minutes, the hunter had finally made her way back to her apartment. It wasn't anything too special, but it was hers ( and also the only one not decorated with festive Christmas lights or a leafy green wreath ).

As she was ruffling through her bag for her door key, the couple that lived opposite came out and seemed to be happy that they bumped into her. The pair ( James and Lucy ) had moved in not too long ago and were only too thrilled about not only having a neighbour the same age as her but with getting to know the brunette.

Lucy had cornered Eirene one too many times to ask her to go out for lunch or to watch a movie ( the poor girl just wanted to be friends ). Though the huntress had declined her offer every time. It's not that she didn't want to. It was just that Eirene found herself having much better things to do than gossip about the latest news over a nice warm meal in a homey café. Such as hunting down the monster that killed her family and killing the son of a bitch. Making them suffer as he had made her parents suffer during the last moments of their lives.

"Oh, Eirene ! I'm so glad we caught you. Me and James were just about to go the park not too far from here. Supposedly theirs supposed to be some sort of market down there. There's going to be hot chocolate, and food and games. You should come with us !"

Eirene frowned. Had she known Lucy a few years prior, the brunette would've jumped at the chance. But now ?? Christmas was a waste of her time. Why would she be sipping on a hot chocolate or going ice skating when she could be spending her time piecing together anything and everything she had on that godamnn werewolf.

"Uhm . . . no. I'm alright. But thanks though. I appreciate the offer." Eirene denied. She didn't want to sound too rude yet she also just wanted to get into her bed, hide deep under the covers, and wait for this dreaded day to be over.

Not wanting to stay around them any longer, she put the key in the lock and twisted it open.

That was until she spoke up once again. Could she really not get the hint ??

"Are you sure ?? I mean, it could be fun. And . . . well . . ." The red head trailed off as if thinking what to say and if she should say it. She then peered up to her boyfriend who nodded slowly.

Eirene raised a brow and crossed her arms. What was she waiting for ?? If she had something to say then she should just say it already.

"I couldn't help but notice ━━━ we couldn't help but notice you were all alone in there. Nobody deserves to be alone on Christmas."

"How do you you what I deserve ??"

Her eyes widened in shock. Clearly she hadn't been expecting that. "What . . . ??"

"I said, how do you know what I deserve ?? You don't know me. Hell you've only been here for a couple of months ! I've been here for nearly a year. And it sucks !"

Lucy swallowed nervously as she met the fiery blue ━━ eyed woman's gaze while James tightened his grip on her shoulder.

"What, you think ━━ you think I want to be alone on Christmas day ?? You think I want to be drinking my life away in a shitty bar just waiting for the memories to just fade !? Because I don't !" 

Admittedly, there was no need for the brunette to have been so harsh, but Lucy just wasn't getting the hint. And there was only so much she could take. Only so many times that she could refuse Lucy's offers and kind gestures.

The red heads eyes watered ever so slightly at the admission. Just what else was her neighbour hiding from the world ?? From her ??

Eirene sighed at their gaping mouths and wide eyes but said nothing. All she did was push the door open and slam it closed. The only sounds that could be heard were the keys jingling on the other side locking the door once more.

◤━━━━━━━━━━━◥

THE BRUNETTE woman dropped backwards onto her bed and sighed heavily. Her head on the pillow and legs draped across the sheets. She hadn't even taken her shoes off, but at this point, what did it matter ?? It's not like there'd be anyone to scold her for it. So it simply didn't matter.

Eirene sat up slightly to adjust herself on her bed, just wanting to go sleep and forget this day ever even existed, but halted in her movements when a loud clatter echoed put through the dull and dark room.

The huntress groaned and threw her head back slightly in annoyance. Couldn't this day just end already ??

Eirene shuffled to the edge of the mattress and leaned down so she could search for her phone. Only to see a small and all too familiar box occupying the space next to it.

A box of cigarettes.

It had been a long time since she'd smoked ( she'd only ever done it a couple of times ) and had sworn never to do it again. But that was before today. And she figured just one wouldn't hurt.

And so, making her decision final, Eirene grabbed her phone and the box of cigarettes and a lighter that was in one of the drawers of her bedside table and wandered off to the kitchen. It was just as gloomy and dimly lit as the bedroom. The curtains that covered the window were a faded white colour, turning them an odd shade of grey. The table that sat in the middle was clearly meant for a family ( or at least a large group of people ). However, the only other people Eirene had around were a couple of random guys from her local bar on nights when they were rammed with people desperate to have one.

After making sure the door was properly locked, the brunette made her way to the table and collapsed into a seat, throwing the lighter, the box of cigarettes, and her phone all with a loud clatter. Though she didn't wince. She only reached for the fridge next to her and took out a bottle of wine. Albeit probably not the best idea to have while smoking ( not like it was ever a good idea to mix cigarettes with alcohol ) but what did she care ??

It was Christmas day, and she lived alone. She could do whatever the hell she wanted. No questions asked.

◤━━━━━━━━━━━◥

AFTER THAT one Christmas, Eirene was sure that the next one couldn't get any worse.

Spoiler alert, she was wrong.

The woman had just come back from the bar and frowned at the smoke in the distance. It was thick and black, and no doubt they were having trouble trying to get it under control. Nevertheless, she kept on walking, only to have the smell of burning come closer and closer until it practically swallowed her whole.

Eirene ran forward, eyes wide as she tried to rush inside. It was hers. Her apartment was on fire. And now everything she owned and, more importantly, everything she had on the werewolf was gone. No doubt burnt to a crisp by now. But she had to try. She had to try and save something, anything. But then an arm grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. Eirene frowned as she struggled in the person's arms only to be met with Lucy. She looked just as terrified as the brunette, if not more, but she was going a good job at holding her back.

"Eirene ! What are you doing ?? You can't go in there !" The redhead had practically all but yelled. Ongoing passerbys were now stopping, curious at both the scene of the fire and the two women struggling.

"You don't understand, I need to go back in there. I have to !" The woman tried getting out of her grip once more, but her eyes narrowed when Lucy didn't loosen her grip.

"Let me go, Lucy !" She pleaded.

Lucy shook her head vehemently. "No ! Are you crazy ?? You'll get yourself killed. I know all of your stuff is in there, but there's nothing you can do now . . . We have to leave it to the professionals."

Her eyes widened, but deep down, Eirene knew her neighbour was right. The fire was too big, an inferno that seemed to only capture her apartment. And in that moment, she knew that it wasn't accidental. It wasn't a case of faulty wiring or a left on oven. Someone had done this deliberately. And she bet she knew exactly who.

"Ma'am ??" A sudden voice called out.

Eirene tore her gaze away from the scene to the firefighter now stood next to her with something in his hands. This only gave her a horrid feeling of deja vu to the night of her parents murder. When that police officer had called her ma'am while he had her sisters belongings in his hands. And oh, how she hated that feeling.

The woman clenched her eyes shut and sighed deeply through her nose before opening them again. "What ??"

"We were able to retrieve this from the scene." He said while handing her a piece of paper.

The brunette took it out of his hands, and almost immediately, she could tell what it was. After all, how could she not ?? It'd only been plastered on the wall of the room that she was in almost all day every day.

It was a list of contacts that had been given to her by her father. Numbered one by one, it was a list of various hunters that her mother and father had worked with before or knew they could trust. Most of the names were barely legible now or only had the first or last name, with a couple digits of their number being written underneath. But only three names were completely left unharmed. I think you can guess who they were.

Lucy peered over her neighbours shoulder, and her brows furrowed in confusion. "Who's John Winchester ??"

Eirene tore the piece of paper away from her gaze and shoved it in her pocket, forgetting she was still there. "He's no one." The huntress had only met the man once, but he seemed a pretty reasonable guy. And she knew he must be good, really good, if he was on this list.

Below his name was a Dean Winchester ( who the woman assumed was the man she saw in the car the day of her parents' funeral ). Below his name was his number.

Then, finally, there was a man called Bobby Singer. Whoever the hell that was, must be good.

"Eirene ??" She felt a sudden tap on her shoulder.

The woman jumped but turned around, only to see Lucy and James standing by her.

"We were going to go down to that hotel down the street, seeing as they don't want anyone going back inside yet. Would you like to come with us ?? I'm sure I could lend you sole clothes, and then tomorrow we could go shopping. To you know, replace what got burned." The redhead offered while placing her hand in James'.

For once in her miserable life, Eirene took the offer. She nodded slowly, which Lucy grinned at. The woman grabbed Eirene's hand and pulled her along, all too happy to finally get a chance to speak to the reserved brunette that was her neighbour.

◤━━━━━━━━━━━◥

ONE YEAR LATER

MEETING SAM Winchester and becoming his friend was quite possibly one of the best decisions she'd ever made.

After he'd found out about what had happened to Eirene's family, and then later on to her apartment, he'd made it his mission to make this the best Christmas she'd had in a while. With the help of Jessica and their friend Brady, they'd organised a small party at the couples shared apartment ( Sam had told the pair that Eirene was just missing her family a little bit so he wanted to put as much effort into it as possible ). They'd admired Sam's dedication and thought it was incredibly thoughtful of him to do so. And so the party preparation had begun.

There were red and gold fairy lights strung up on the walls, illuminating the place in a harmonious glow. And the tree they'd all worked so hard to decorate was filled with presents underneath. A couple for each of them.

Finally, the smell of all of the different foods cooking lingered through the apartment. All that was missing was their dear friend.

Jessica's phone buzzed, and she was barely able to conceal a smile as she read the message. "She's coming ! Sam, get in your position !" She announced, but once she noticed the boys weren't where she'd told them to be, she scolded them. "And you too !" The blonde gave a knowing look to Brady. "This needs to be perfect."

The trio all waited in anticipation as the door opened and the sound of keys being placed down echoed ( Sam and Jessica had seen it fit that the brunette received a spare key to their apartment, not that she used it often though ).

As if on cue, Happy Xmas started playing by John Lennon, and a speck of dread filled her stomach instantly but she only grinned when she saw her friends stood in front of the tree. Paper crowns were on their heads ( they'd made sure to save the purple one for Eirene ), and Jessica was dressed in a Mrs. Clause outfit, very fitting for the occasion ( though she was saddened when Sam had said he wouldn't be dressing up as Mr Clause ).

Eirene's eyes widened at all the decorations. "What is all this ??"

"Well . . ." Jessica began. "Sam told us all about how you were missing your parents, so we decided to throw you this party ! It's not much but . . ." She reached over to the radio and turned up the volume. "I heard this is your dad's favourite song. And also yours . . . ??" By now, the blonde had walked over to her friend and took her hands in hers with a wide smile.

Well, Sam wasn't wrong, she supposed. She did miss her parents. She missed them every second of every day. And it was only worse during the holidays, when they should be spending their time together as a family. Not six feet under the ground.

"So . . . do you like it ??" Brady questioned, speaking for the first time. He'd been the one to wrap the presents and cook most of the food ( aka "most of the work" he'd claimed ).

Eirene smiled wildly, appreciating her friends more than ever. "Of course I do. Thank you, guys." The huntress then brought the trio into a group hug.

Yeah, this had been the best Christmas in a long time.

◤━━━━━━━━━━━◥

ODI SPEAKS ! ━━━━ HERE IT is !! I ended up writing much more than I thought I would in one go, so it came way sooner than expected. I hope you all enjoyed this and that it fills the gap somewhat during the wait for the next chapter.

It mostly is sad as you can see and contains some heavy topics so I hope I didn't offend anyone or portray it incorrectly. 🙏🏻 if so please let me know and I'll change it right away !!

As you may be able to see, I lost a lot of motivation at the end. There was supposed to be this whole scene where they open the presents and maybe just reminisce over the memories they've shared in the past year. I may write another deleted scenes chapter during the wait for the next chapter including those moments.

In the meantime, thank you all for reading and staying with this book as I know how slow the updates can be. And a special mention to stvrlvghtt for all the support you've given to not only this fic but a couple of my others as well. It really means the world to me. ♡♡♡

©️coast_by_coast