Chapter Text
It was a time before ancient heroes like Heracles and Achilles had gone extinct. A time even before the great Trojan War. Turmoil was growing between the Olympians and tensions were rising. Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, and Athena plotted a usurping against the tyrannical Zeus. They attempted to overthrow him with the intention of appointing Poseidon as King, but the god of the sea was ambivalent. His hesitation caused their failure and Zeus punished them all severely except for his favorite daughter, Athena. She managed to talk her way out of suffering his wrath.
Hundreds of years went by and Athena remained loyal to her father. She turned a blind eye to all of the pain he inflicted and the chaos he caused because that was the order.
That loyalty, however, began to chip away like old paint, piece by piece. Growing tired of the injustice she constantly witnessed and endured, Athena walked away and stepped back from being his right hand. To her surprise, Zeus allowed it. He knew she was wise enough to know any plot against him would fail, as they all had before.
Athena and her closest companion, Icarus, Son of Nyx, lived among the humans for nearly a century, keeping their presence quiet everywhere they went. One day, Athena visited the Moirai, or the 3 fates, for guidance. They were prophetic deities, knowing the fates of both gods and men.
All of a sudden the three fates began speaking in unison.
“Fos-Nikitis, born from Glaukopis and Tospathi will bring an end to the reign. The final chapter will come to an end, releasing the wings of creation.”
Despite her reputation, the prophecy was puzzling to Athena. Prophecies were often vague but this one carried a grave tone. Whatever it meant, she knew it was serious. When she discussed it with Icarus, they came to a terrifying possibility.
Athena was to have a child who would overthrow Zeus.
They both believed it was impossible, that Zeus couldn’t be killed or defeated. After much thought, they decided to brush it under the rug and keep it a secret, having no intention of fulfilling the prophecy.
However, the damage had already been done. It had forever changed the way Athena viewed her world and her family. There was a flicker of something within her she could not name. She looked around her at all those who had suffered and continued to suffer at the hand of her father, and she saw despair.
That was when she recognized that flicker, that spark inside her.
It was hope.
The goddess told a handful of her most trusted friends and allies, trying to keep everything under wraps, but a secret of that magnitude was hard to contain for long. Eventually, word got out and it traveled like wildfire straight to Zeus.
The god of thunder was furious.
Not just because of the betrayal, but because it wasn’t a devised plan.
It was a prophecy.
Those were much harder to prevent, impossible even. But Zeus was going to prevent it, no matter the cost.
Athena knew this, but she was not going to stop either.
How do you lift a world out of despair?
You give them hope.
“Mom.”
A soft smile appeared on Athena’s stoic face as she faced her daughter. The wide-eyed nine-year-old girl she left was now standing in front of her a young woman. So much had changed, yet her green eyes still held that magical wonder she hoped would never disappear. Athena’s gaze shifted from Milly to Dean who still stood in shock by the door with an equally stunned Sam beside him.
“Were you followed?”
“Uh no, no I don’t think so.” He replied, managing to find his voice.
“You’ll need to relocate immediately. It’s too risky to stay here now, regardless.”
Milly had no idea what to say as she stared up at the woman in awe. The piece that had been missing from her life for so long was now right in front of her. And it wasn’t a dream.
“What are you doing here?” She finally asked quietly, ignoring the throbbing pain in her leg and Athena looked back down at her.
“You were told to stay hidden. Instead, you went directly into the trap that was set for you.”
Milly suddenly snapped back to reality at the stern tone of her mother and couldn’t stop the response that immediately left her mouth.
“Instead of letting the human race get eaten? Yeah, I did. I’d do it again, too.”
Sam’s eyes widened slightly and he quickly stepped forward, reaching for Milly’s shoulder.
“O-okay, we can hash this out later… I need to stitch up that leg, Mils. C’mon.”
Milly’s feet took a second to budge before she reluctantly limped along with Sam to the other room, leaving Dean and Athena in silence. They just looked at each other before Athena walked past him and stepped out onto the porch without another word. He followed her and watched as she scanned the dark woods surrounding the house, seemingly in thought.
“Where have you been?” Dean asked after a long silence, leaning against the doorway.
“Everywhere.” She answered, looking through a window to see Sam stitch Milly’s cut at the table.
Dean followed her gaze, “Yeah… everywhere but here.”
She turned to him and crossed her arms, “that was the whole point, Dean.”
“Right. To keep her “safe”. Right...”
“I’m sure you have questions.”
Dean scoffed in disbelief and pushed himself away from the doorway, stepping out onto the porch as the door shut behind him.
“Oh so now you wanna explain things? Well, I’ve got one. How the hell could you be so damn selfish?”
Athena looked at Dean in surprise, not expecting such a harsh reaction.
“Selfish? I’ve spent thousands of years in hiding and you call me selfish?”
“It sure as hell wasn’t her fault.” He responded, gesturing towards Milly through the window, “And yet she has to suffer for it.”
Athena’s expression hardened.
“I am aware this is all beyond your comprehension so if it makes you feel better to dump the blame on me, then you go right ahead. But do not pretend to be the picture of selflessness either. She could be living a normal life away from hunting but you couldn’t give it up.”
“Yeah right,” Dean scoffed, “you know that was never going to work out. Besides, how long would that have really lasted before you came knocking on the door to take her off to war? You were gonna have your witch friend take more of her childhood as if she hasn’t already lost enough. Do you even give a damn about her at all? Or is she just a weapon to you?”
Athena shoved him into the side of the house behind him, not enough to hurt, just enough to get his attention. She pointed a finger in his face, her expression darkening.
“Don’t.”
They stared at each other intensely for a few seconds before she released him and stepped back.
“As far as I’m aware, she should be closer to eleven. Care to explain that?”
Dean sighed in exasperation and ran a hand through his hair, “she did that behind our backs. She was scared and thought she’d lose control over herself. She doesn’t deserve that. She should get to be a damn kid. Why is that so hard for you to understand?”
For just a moment, Dean could see a deeply emotional look appear on the goddess’ face but she seemed to push it down and straighten within seconds.
“I envy you, Dean.” She admitted softly, startling him.
“What?”
“You have the privilege of believing that's a priority. You get to know her and love her.”
“No one is stopping you from that, Athena.”
“I am. I cannot,” She shook her head, “If I let myself truly love her, I would let the earth burn for her. I know I would. I would let all of the horrors Zeus commits go on to protect her and that… that would be selfish. What she means to our world matters so much more than what she means to me.”
“I don’t buy that” Dean replied immediately, “if that were true, she would’ve shown up on our doorstep a killing machine, right? Instead, she showed up loving and kind. She showed up like a beacon of light and hope. Believe me, that wasn’t us. She got that from you, the witch, and that other guy.”
Athena rolled her eyes at his description of Icarus, but what he said struck her.
“I’ll take credit for a lot, but I can’t take credit for that.” He continued, crossing his arms, “So you can say you don’t care and run away again, or you can fight for her too. It’s not one or the other. Take it from a guy who’s been there.”
Athena nodded slowly, “not all of us have the liberty to choose family over the fate of the world. Besides, I am not human, I don’t feel the way you feel Dean. I do not operate the way you do. If I did, I would have gone to her the very first night she prayed to me. I listened to her cry and plead for me to come and I didn’t.”
Suddenly the door swung open and Dean turned to see Milly standing there, hurt etched all over her face. Sam stood behind her, having heard everything as well.
“Mils-” Dean began but she interrupted him.
“The walls are thin.”
She stepped out onto the porch and looked up at Athena, “You heard me? When I prayed to you?”
The girl felt her heart break further when Athena nodded.
“Every time.”
Just those two words felt like a punch to her gut. Milly looked away as old feelings resurfaced, along with the vivid memory of sitting alone on the Parthenon steps.
“And you just listened… I begged you to help me. I prayed to you over and over and over again and I begged for your help! I thought you were dead!”
“You survived every time.”
Milly stepped back, looking at her mother in disbelief before shaking her head.
“No, I didn’t. Dad told me he begged you to come get me during the apocalypse but you must’ve ignored him too. You ignored me and I was killed. Lucifer killed me. You didn’t know that, did you? What would you have done if Castiel hadn’t brought me back? Would you have thought, “Oh oops she wasn’t the one.” Are you even sure I am the one?”
Before Athena could respond, Milly kept going, a tear slipping down her cheek.
“You’re saying I had to go through all this alone because if I wasn’t strong enough, the problem was me and not you abandoning me? I have never once understood what I am. I have been afraid of myself all my life. I didn’t need to tough it out, I needed you to tell me I’m not a monster. I needed my mom!”
Athena’s gaze softened ever so slightly and she listened to her daughter.
“You didn’t need me.”
Milly paused and for the first time, she truly saw her mother. The revered and courageous goddess Athena had never looked so human in her eyes.
“Yes I did… but now I don’t. And if that was your plan all along, you really are smart 'cause it worked.” She snapped, turning around to walk back inside.
Athena reached out for Milly’s arm, “Emilia-“
She yanked it away and kept walking inside, slamming the door behind her.
Milly walked away, trying to keep her tears at bay as her entire life flashed before her eyes. All that time thinking her mother was dead or out there unable to hear her prayers. How naive was she to believe Athena would come to her aide if she could?
Just because she was her daughter.
Sam watched Milly walk past him in distress and head towards her room. He stood still, unsure whether to follow or give her space, ultimately deciding to follow her. He stopped in the open doorway, watching her shove things in her duffel bag, trying hard not to break down.
“What are you doing?” He asked softly, but she kept stuffing her bag.
“Packing. We’ve gotta leave now, right?” She replied with a sniffle.
“Why don’t you take a deep breath ladybug, it’s alright.”
Part of Milly wanted to direct some of her anger in his direction simply because he was closest in proximity, but the kindness and gentleness of his voice stopped her and she dropped her bag on her bed.
She glanced up at him and the first thing she saw was that familiar look in his eyes. It was warmth, it was worry, it was empathy, it was love. She stepped forward and threw her arms around him, allowing him to envelope her in his arms. Sam just rubbed her back and did his best to calm her down. It was all he could do.
In a lot of ways Milly had been dealt some of the crummiest cards in the deck but she wouldn’t trade Sam and Dean for anything else.
Outside, Dean let out a weary exhale and sat down on the first step of the porch, letting another silence fall between them before he spoke again.
“You could’ve told me, you know…”
Athena looked over at him, a subtle expression of disbelief on her face and Dean shrugged.
“You could’ve. I would’ve thought you were batshit crazy at first, sure, but I’m in the business of batshit crazy so…”
“You don’t say…”
Dean let out a half-hearted chuckle, causing the corners of her mouth to turn up ever so slightly before she looked at the door that had slammed so harshly just moments ago.
“And now she hates me… the irony of that is almost comical.”
“That’s not hate… that’s pain. You said you don’t feel things like humans do, but she does. Hell, she feels it more. She felt your absence. I can’t even imagine what that alienation must’ve felt like. Cause Sam and I won’t ever get it, no matter how hard we try to.”
“You’re wiser than I took you for…”
Dean chuckled and cocked his head, “Well… you didn’t really get to know me all that well before you took advantage of me, did you?”
Athena let out an amused scoff, “I don’t recall you having any objections.”
“Oh, I didn’t.” He smirked and paused briefly before leaning back in his chair, “So Icarus, huh? What’s he think of me?”
The goddess raised her eyebrows at Dean’s audacity and crossed her arms.
“Just consider yourself fortunate he didn’t accompany me tonight.”
Dean laughed softly and nodded, “Noted. So… what’s the plan here? I get that we can’t stay here but we also can’t just tuck tail and run somewhere. We’ve still got damage control to do. Our friend disappeared after ganking Dick Roman and Crowley took a kid we’re responsible for. He's a prophet. Milly is our top priority, but we can’t abandon them either.”
“I see...” Athena responded, her expression becoming serious once again, “Your friend, the angel I presume?”
“Yeah.”
“Where was this Leviathan sent when it was killed? Likely where it came from, to begin with. I’d assume your friend was taken along with it.”
Dean turned to her in shock, “You’re saying Cas is in Purgatory?”
“I believe that is the most plausible explanation, yes. As for the prophet, I have contacts who can find out where he is.”
“Seriously?”
“Believe it or not, Dean, I am here to help.”
The problem was that Dean didn’t believe it. It had been two years and she was just now showing up with all of the answers? It didn’t seem right, but he nodded anyway.
“I have a place you can go, you’ll be safe there until we know our next steps.”
By the time Milly finished packing, she had calmed down considerably. She and Sam walked into the living room as Dean walked in from outside.
“Where’s Athena?” Sam wondered, glancing down at Milly.
“She uh, took off.”
“She did?”
Milly really wasn’t sure if she was even surprised or not. Why wouldn’t she take off?
“She’s actually gonna help us find Kevin.”
“What? why?” Milly wondered in surprise and Dean shrugged.
“Who cares? Let’s not look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“Unless that horse is big and suspicious, or else it might kill you in your sleep. You know nothing about that Trojan War?” Milly retorted, crossing her arms.
Sam’s eyes widened slightly as he looked from Milly to Dean.
“The Trojan horse was actually her idea to begin with.” She continued narrowing her eyes.
“She’s got you there…” Sam muttered causing Dean to shoot him a glare.
“Okay fine! Maybe that wasn’t the best figure of speech to use, but you know damn well what I mean. Stop being a smart ass.”
Milly let out a huff, but dropped the subject.
“So now what?” Sam asked.
“We hit the road. We’re going to Maine. There’s a safe house for us there.”
“Whose?” Milly wondered curiously causing Dean to hesitate.
“Athena’s got a place for us.”
They could both see the discontent on Milly’s face, but to their relief, she didn’t push it.
Dean nodded in satisfaction before looking at Sam, “Packed?”
“Uh yeah, everything’s set.”
“Awesome. Let’s hit the road then. We’ll take shifts.”
Sam sighed wearily but nodded anyway before helping Dean pack up the car. Milly slung her backpack over her shoulder before walking into the bathroom and shutting the door. She unzipped the front pocket and dug through it, pulling out the letter she had carefully preserved and protected for so long. The letter written to Dean explaining who Milly was and why. She held it in her hand, remembering a time when it was all she had of her mother’s voice. Now Athena had a different voice. One that was a whole lot more significant to her.
She looked at the letter one last time before burning it to ash in her palm, letting the dust fall between her fingers and into the sink. Once the embers extinguished, she turned the faucet on, washing her hands clean of it.
She dried her hands on an old towel before exiting the bathroom to see Dean standing by the door, his duffel over his shoulder.
“Ready?”
“Yeah… I’m ready.”