Act One
"By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks!"
—W. Shakespeare

Playlist
i.One Night Ed Sheeran
ii. You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC
iii. Say You Won't Let Go James Arthur
iv. Coming Down Halsey
v. Miss Missing You Fall Out Boy
vi. Give Me Love Ed Sheeran
vii. Twin Skeleton's Fall Out Boy
viii. Work Song Hozier
ix. We Are Broken Paramore

01.
Penelope

There was a fresh spring rain, with a cool breeze that contrasted the warmer weather in Charleston, Illinois. It was a nice break from the harsh winter temperatures. She was driving on the damp streets toward her home on the edge of town.

Penelope Sawyer was a journalist and a damn good one. She was young, just turning twenty-four, but she had graduated from Emerson College in Boston as one of the top students. She was exceptionally smart, witty and quite perceptive. She excelled in her job, picking up stories left and right and even having the ability to turn some down if she was too busy.

Penny was glad the work day was over, she was looking forward to relaxing at home. Her deep blue eyes monitored the road, flickering from the asphalt to the area in front of her.

"Mama!" called the almost two-year-old toddler in the backseat.

Penny glanced behind her, at her son, "Yes, baby?" Her voice was sweet and soft when she spoke to her little boy.

He was her whole world.

Johnny had not been a planned pregnancy, but she quickly shaped her whole world for him. She made sure she had enough money, enough space, enough knowledge to care for him.

Penny had met his father while she was working on a story, about the mysterious murders in a nearby town. Originally, it was a one night stand that turned into a several night stand that turned into meeting up whenever he was nearby. She had to admit his job wasn't conventional and she even didn't believe him in the beginning, but she slowly warmed up to it after facing a case with a malicious spirit.

Dean Winchester was very panicked in the beginning, knowing he wasn't even close to being prepared on becoming a father. He was scared, but he knew he couldn't leave Penny — the fiery woman that had made a mark on his heart. He tried not to admit to himself that he was falling in love with her, but he was. Especially after the birth of his son, he knew he couldn't run; Johnny felt too soft in his arms and although Dean was scared shitless, Johnny was too precious.

"I hungry," Johnny said, clapping his hands together.

Penny chuckled, smiling, "We're almost home, buddy."

Not too long after she spoke, she pulled into her driveway of a small, but reasonable sized home that she rented. She opened her car door and went around to get Johnny out of his car seat. His olive green eyes met hers when she opened the door and she smiled. He reminded her so much of Dean; they had the same chin, same eyes, practically the same hair color only Johnny's was a little blonder, but a mix of their lips and he had her button nose.

She picked him up and shut the door with her foot. She started towards her house, smiling when her son touched her face with his little hands. She faked trying to eat them and he laughed, grinning at her. She unlocked her front door and let herself in, locking it behind her.

Penny set him down on floor and he ran into the living room to play with his toys. She watched him a moment, smiling to herself before going into the kitchen to make them dinner. Thankful the living room and kitchen were only separated with a half wall, she kept an eye on Johnny. He was playing with one of his trucks, racing it down the hardwood floor and onto the carpet.

At least he's keeping himself entertained, Penny thought, cutting up an orange for him to munch on so he could wait until his dinner time.

"Tanks, Mama." said Johnny, picking up an orange slice and putting it in his mouth. He wasn't the best speaker yet, but he was getting better day by day.

"You're welcome, sweetie." she kissed his forehead before heading back into the kitchen to see what she would be able to make — perhaps the mini ravioli, or a stew.

After deciding on ravioli for her boy, she stepped into the living room and sat down on the couch to wait a little bit longer. By this time, Johnny was done with his oranges, leaving about half of the orange left over so Penny ate that and flipped through a magazine.

She was glad Johnny was a usually laid back toddler, although she knew he could throw the occasional tantrum and be generally stubborn, like she could be. But he was her kid and she loved him more than life itself.

Penny made sure to set his bowl on the table to start cooling down. Johnny tended to dive right into his meals, a trait probably learned from watching his father.

There was a knock on her front door and she got up to see who it was. Opening the door revealed her younger sister, Zoe, whose hair was wet from the rain.

"Hey, Zoe," Penny greeted, inviting her inside. She gave her sister a half hug and closed the door behind her.

"Just wanted to check up on ya," she said, "and see how you and the little man are doing."

Penny smiled, "We're good, about to have dinner, if you want to join us?"

"Oh, sure. That sounds good." Zoe nodded. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

"Oh, God. Not really." Penny chuckled. "Having eight two and three-year-olds running around the house? It sounds so exhausting."

Zoe shrugged, "Well, Audrey and I will be here to help, plus mom and dad. And all the other parents that are staying for the party."

"True." Penny nodded, serving two bowls of ravioli for herself and her sister. "I can't believe he's going to be two already."

Zoe smiled, "He is growing up fast. I remember when you were still as big as a whale." She laughed, earning a side glare from her sister. Smirking, she took a bite and swallowed, "Heard anything from Dean?"

Penny frowned, her family didn't know much about Dean. They hadn't even met him, they only knew him by the lie Penny had told: he was a traveling salesman and only came by every so often.

"No, I'm probably going to call him tonight. I hope he can make his own son's second birthday." Penny said.

"Did he make it last year?" Zoe wanted to meet this mysterious Dean, she had only seen him once at the hospital when Johnny was born.

Penny smiled, "Yeah, he got in that morning. We got to spend it together, as a family."

"See," Zoe smiled back, "he won't let you down."

"I hope so." She placed Johnny's now warm mini ravioli on the table. "Johnny!"

The toddler trotted his way into the kitchen after his name was called. "Auntie!" Johnny called after seeing Zoe, although being so young it came out mumbled, but understandable.

"Hey, buddy-boy! How's my favorite nephew?"

He just giggled and clapped his hands together. "Hi, Auntie Zoe!"

Penny sat him up in his high chair and placed the bowl in front of him. Johnny was good with his food, after his mother took a bite, he followed suit. He was messy with it, with sauce dribbling down his chin, but he was definitely improving. Penny had bought special silverware for him to use, with bigger handles so it was easier for him to grab and hold. Just a few months earlier, Johnny had insisted on feeding himself and the silverware Penny used just didn't cut it.

They all ate together, Zoe and Penny trading conversation about their day and Johnny giving his two cents, even when it didn't make any sense. Zoe left not too long after dinner and then Penny played a quick game of learning numbers with her son before taking Johnny to give him his bath.

Penny read Johnny to sleep with Goodnight Moon, one of his current favorites, and then retired to her own room to work on her articles. After an hours research, she called Dean, on a number she was sure he would answer. When he did not, however, she figured he was working on a case and decided to let him call her when he could.

Not long after, she closed her laptop and went to sleep, knowing Johnny woke early in the morning.