Thank you for this great look into Dean Winchester! I've got to admit, the part when Dean held out Rubv's knife to Sam had me wondering too. Also, I liked the way you interjected Lucifer's arrogant gloating and Dean's witty replies. Finally, great comparison of Sam and Dean's characters...how Sam assumes that Dean only wants to study him and prevent him from saying 'the big yes' while Dean simultaneously fears becoming something less than human (the perfect soldier). Thanks again, and keep writing!

Author's Response:

Thank you so much. 

I saw that little flinch, and my heart just broke for Sammy. He was so ill-at-ease, wondering why Dean had changed his mind and what was going to happen. 

But I do think that they did talk, and that Dean would have revealed what happened, just so they could both make sure that it doesn't become their future. And I think it really gave Dean a nasty shock seeing himself and what he became without Sam to balance him. They've always been each other's true north - and I hold out hope that they will be again. 

Jules

I hope the Aurors haven't set any magical traps to catch killers returning to the scene...that would be awkward for Dean and Sam. Also, great to see the brothers confounded by another strange community. Thanks for updating!

Good to see the Winchesters agreeing to work with Riley and Caitlyn...even if two of the four don't like the idea! Now to track down Lilith and stop the killing spree, right? Keep up the great work.

Nice thought, but I doubt Zachariah will care much about impacted bowels. (After all, this is the same angel who gave Dean stomach cancer and removed Sam's lungs.) Though it would be interesting to see Sam try...maybe they could copy some of that angel-proofing from 'Death takes a holiday'...? Thanks for this backstory to Dean's protests regarding the 'Angel Express'!

Author's Response:

Oh, I absolutely know that Zachariah wouldn't care much about impacted bowels.  I do believe that Dean's words were simple snark and no more.

Thanks for giving it a read.

Great loophole...that really reinforces how evil deal-making demons are. The only downside I can think of is that Bela might not learn from this, since she didn't have to suffer the consequences. thanks for this wonderful look at Bela's Deal.

Liked the line about all religions using the 'better safe than sorry motto. Also, the lack of omnicience and differenciation between 'need to know' and 'nice to know' was great!

Author's Response: Thank you SO mcu for all the praise! Yeah I feel that angels on the show are shown as powerful creatures who don't really know what's going on. That idea was supported when I read a book called Discovery of Heaven. Very smart book, very funny and I'd suggest you read it if that kinda thing appeals to you. But that book was pretty much my main inspiration with the addition of a few of my own ideas and thoughts. Thanks for the compliment. :)

I can picture Dean laughing at Cas if Castiel explained why he'd been talking to children, and his earnest, desperate tone in this letter is a perfect mix of child-like belief but very adult concerns about the apocalypse. Very well done!

Author's Response:

Can you imagine Cas trying to talk to children?  Those skeptical adults would think the guy in the trenchcoat was a weirdo.  Ah, Cas you've got to love him.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review!

Very cute, but does Sam realize that would be undermining Dean's test of Santa?

Author's Response:

Thank you and for the stars :) , I am putting them all onto my Christmas tree!

Don't worry Dean swaps the milk and cookies back after Sammy's gone to sleep , but Santa does read the letter and stays away so he's quite safe. 

Jacq

Lucifer is one of the few characters I can imagine delivering an ultimatum to Santa...instead of a wish-list. Thanks for this amusing little fic!

This was a heartwrenching fic, but a good one. It was nice to see a resolution between when Mary was killed and the pilot episoe, that turning point where John decides to be a father and a Hunter. Also, really funny how you had Missouri surprising John the same way she deals with Dean! =)

Author's Response: Thank you for your kind review. So glad you liked it, I love the Missouri character and would imagine that she is the type of person John would have had to have taken notice of. Can you imagine that conversation where Missori discussed what was behind the curtin? (I sidestepped it -LOL, it would have made my dark little CHRISTMAS fic positively bleak I think!!! ) Thanks for reading. Abi

Great one-shot, but they still haven't decided on a codeword...I think it should be 'asthma', lol. Thanks for resolving their disagreements from this episode.

Leave it to Dean to turn a simple workout (doing either pull-ups or pushups?) into a guilt trip about stopping the apocolypse completely by himself. =) Very Dean, even if I think he stands a better chance by working with Sam instead of always trying to protect him.