DISCLAIMER: Supernatural does not belong to me. It wouldn't be half so much fun to watch if it did because no one would have gone to hell, there wouldn't be nearly as much turmoil between the brothers, and then where would we get our dose of angst?

SUMMARY/TEASER: Everyone has regrets, things they wish that they could go back and change, do something different, do something better. What if they got their chance? A series of various characters and the things they might have changed. Anna, John, Gabriel

RECOMMENDATION: If you like time-travel/fix-it fics, like this one, you should definitely read "It's All in the Details" by Colleen. It's amazing, one of my favorite Supernatural fanfics ever.

WARNINGS: Updates on this WILL be sporadic; my muses are fickle and I have 'Viera' and 'Giants' to work on too. I'm not completely caught up on current events in the world of Supernatural and I'm inclined to write the characters the way I want them to be more than how they're sometimes shown, so they might come across as out of character. I may also mess with the theology of the show. Just so you're aware.

PART ONE – ANNA

Chapter One – Unexpected Miracles

"Here goes nothin'."
"Sammy! - Sam!"
"I'm really sorry."
"Anna."
"Michael-"

A scream tore from Anna's throat as the archangel's power burned her mortal form to ash before she could so much as take another breath. The price for going against heaven's plans, and all for nothing. She hadn't stopped Sam from being born, and there was nothing to stop the apocalypse from ripping the world to pieces except the battered wills of two human brothers. No matter how much she'd liked the Winchesters once, there was no doubt in her mind that the angels and demons would get their way eventually. No one could stand against such might forever. If only she'd been strong enough to stop it. If only she'd acted sooner.

The whisper of power that curled around her tattered, fading grace took Anna by surprise, but she didn't fight it. Even if she'd felt well enough to struggle away, there was something calming in that power, something that tugged at her heart and made it ache with longing. She let it take her where it willed.

So it was that Anna found herself drifting, wounded and weak, over a big white tent next to a country house in Nebraska. Prayers drifted up from the dispersing throng below; fervent, angry, disappointed, pleading, confused. Unsurprising. Familiar. They felt like an echo of her own weary soul. But there was faith there too, stubborn and hopeful and certain, if a little tattered around the edges. It seemed like far too long since Anna had felt faith like that herself. The warmth of it drew her closer, and soon she was searching out the brightest light among the thinning crowd.

It was one heck of a surprise to find that bright light in the presence of none other than Dean Winchester. Anna hovered, invisible and uncertain. He looked… young. He was grown up and all, there was a familiar weight of responsibility dragging at his shoulders, but the lines of his face were softer somehow and the spreading taint of desperation was nowhere to be seen. She winced a little, wondering how much she'd added to his burdens when she'd gone after Sam. They hadn't deserved that betrayal, but she hadn't seen any other way. Not that it had done any good in the end anyways.

"You know...I went back to see Roy," said the blond woman.

Discomfort flickered briefly across Dean's face, but he made himself nod. His usual bravado was nowhere to be seen. He wasn't faking bravery or cheer or even clinging to anger. It was… odd to see him in such a state of weary calm. "What happened?"

"Nothing." Layla settled gingerly on the end of the bed, meeting Dean's gaze when he sat down beside her. "He laid his hands on my forehead but nothing happened."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry it didn't work."

"And Sue Ann. She's dead you know? Stroke."

"Yeah I heard. You know Roy's a good man. He doesn't deserve what's happened." They were quiet a moment before Dean pushed forward, a mix of guilt and apology hidden in his even tones. "Must be rough. To believe in something so much, and have it disappoint you."

A gentle smile pulled at her lips. "You wanna hear something weird?" He met her eyes almost reluctantly. "I'm Ok. Really. I guess if you're gonna have faith...you can't just have it when the miracles happen. You have to have it when they don't."

He could only stare at her, but his resigned mood seemed to lighten just a little, and a flicker of something Anna was tempted to call awe slip into his eyes. "So what now?"

Layla shrugged. "God works in mysterious ways." She lingered, reaching out to touch his face. Then she stood. "Good Bye Dean."

Layla couldn't see Dean's face as she walked to the door, couldn't see the way he closed his eyes fighting pain and longing, but Anna could. It tugged at her heart, and made her wish…

"Hey," Dean stopped her, pushing to his feet. Nervous, a bit uncertain, he cleared his throat. "Um. Well... I'm not much of the praying type...but...I'm gonna pray for you."

And Layla's face lit up. "Well...There's a miracle right there."

The woman left and Anna stayed just a moment, silent and unseen, to watch the emotions flicker across Dean's face. Longing, loss, guilt. Wondering. Then she slipped out of the building, an idea burning bright in her mind.

Maybe she hadn't completely failed after all. Maybe she could still change things. She'd already broken most of the rules of messing with time; what were a few more? And this time she wouldn't do it at the cost of hurting her friends.

Layla didn't even question when Anna came to her and told her she was an angel of the Lord. Even before Anna told her she could heal her, there was a "yes" on her lips.