Introduction

11th September 1997

„Mommy, why are you crying? "The tiny blue-eyed girl was completely puzzled by her Mother's tears.

„I'm just sad that you are leaving, baby "The brown-haired woman cried.

„But I will be back soon, right? "The girl asked. „I will be staying with my Godfather for some time and then I will be back, right? "

„That's right, darling! "Grayson said, wiping tears from the corner of her wife's eyes. He was sorry for giving her away, but this was the only way they could keep their children and themselves away from the pain of knowing that their firstborn child died. Just as he said that, the black Chevy Impala pulled into their driveway. The teen who got out of the car had blonde hair and piercing green eyes.

„Grayson! "He greeted casually.

„Dean! You've grown so much since I saw you last time! "Grayson said.

„Has it really been 4 years? "Miranda asked.

„Yes, ma'am. "Dean muttered, trying not to show his dislike toward the pair. He looked toward the small child, oblivious to her selfish parents' decision. „And who is this cute girl? "

„This is Anastasia Alexandria Gilbert. "Her Mother said, since the girl was hiding behind her Mother's knees shyly. Her Father put her in the car and loaded her bags in the trunk. Dean started the engine without another word to the girl-s parents. After some time, he spoke up.

„I'm Dean Winchester. "He said, seeing as she was still hiding her face from him. „I promise I'm not a boogieman. "

The girl looked at him and blinked her eyes, before giggling.

„You have pretty eyes. "She said.

„I'm Dean. "He said.

„I know, but I need to find a nickname for you. "

„Why? My name is Dean. "As a teenager he is, he was annoyed by the kid's announcement.

„Because I give nicknames to people I like. "She muttered. „Do you not like me giving you a nickname? "She was on the verge of tears. She always gave people she liked nicknames, because she wanted them to know they are special to her.

„No, no, no, don't cry. "He said, seeing the tears in her eyes through the rear-view mirror. She was a small kid. He didn't like seeing kids cry. „You can call me anything, just don't cry! "

„No, you are a meanie and I don't like you anymore. You don't get a nickname. "She cried. After few moments, she wiped her tears, and laid down on the backseat. She fell asleep, but was woken up couple hours later by one of her favorite songs. She heard Dean singing along, and she chimed in when the chorus started.

„Ramble on
And now's the time, the time is now
To sing my song
I'm going around the world, I got to find my girl
On my way
I've been this way ten years to the day
Ramble on
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams" She was quiet at first, but nearing the second verse she was getting louder. She snapped Dean out of the song, and he listened to her instead of singing along. He was amazed by the 7-year-old's voice. The girl's voice was better than of the other kids her age.

„Got no time to for spreading roots
The time has come to be gone
And tho' our health we drank a thousand times, it's time to ramble on" She was so into the song that she never noticed that Dean actually stopped singing. He listened to her, occasionally throwing a glance at her through the rear-view mirror, he would see her eyes closed, head bobbing to the music, and she sang like her life was depending on it. She was the most amazing kid he has ever met, including his brother, Sammy.

„Ramble on
And now the time, the time is now
To sing my song
I'm going around the world, I got to find my girl
On my way
I've been this way ten years to the day
I gotta ramble on
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams

I tell you no lie "As she finished the bridge, she felt someone's stare on her. She blushed and looked down.

„Don't stop on my account, darling. "Dean said. „You have a beautiful voice. "

„T-Thank you, Dean! "She stuttered out. „Your voice sounds amazing, as well. "

„What kind of music do you like to listen to? "He asked her after three more songs of Led Zeppelin.

„Usually everything my Aunt listens, some of which my parents don't really approve. "She muttered.

„Like? "

„Metallica, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Moorhead, etcetera "She said. „And there is this new band in Canada. I've met them through my Aunt when they were visiting someone they knew in Virginia. They are called Three Days Grace. "

„Never heard of them. "He muttered.

„You will, I've heard their covers of Metallica and AC/DC. They are good. "She said.

„If they ever make it big, I will check them out. "He said.

„When they do, I'll make you check them out. Maybe I'll even ask Adam if you can meet them. "She

„I can't wait. "He laughed.

„When we get to my Godfather, I will show you some awesome stuff my parents and grandparents got me. "She said.

„Like what, dolls? "He laughed.

„Nope, autographed shirts from concerts. "She said.

„Yeah, right! "He laughed. The kid didn't have those. Or so he thought.

They made it to their destination 7 hours later. John was out as soon as he heard the engine of the Impala.

„Hello, Annie-bear! "He said, hugging her.

"Uncle Johnny!" She exclaimed, hugging him. Dean snorted.

"How was your trip?" He asked Dean.

"It was alright. The kid was okay." He said.

"I'm 8 years old, I'm not a kid." She said. "Besides, last time I checked I have a name."

"You have an attitude, young lady!" John said, looking her in the eye.

"Mom and Dad said I picked it up from Aunt J. She's awesome!" Annie sassed, making John chuckle at her. He dragged them inside, where a boy was reading a book.

"Is that Sunset Of The Sabertooth?" Annie asked with excitement.

"Y-Yes, it is." The boy said.

"Which chapter are you on?" She asked him.

"Chapter Six"

"That's when sorcerer gives you-know-what to Jack, right?" She asks him, he nods his head. "Terrific book choice, although, I prefer this book I got from my Great Auntie's trip to the UK. It's called Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's stone. I could borrow it to you, after you finish that one."

"What is it about?" The boy asked her.

"There is this boy, who lives with his Aunt's family, in a room under their stairs, since his parents died. He finds out something about his heritage and he starts a special type of school where he finds friends, enemies and family. I'm waiting for the next book, though."

"It sounds interesting." She heard Dean's voice behind her. "And what is the secret? Are his parents alive?"

"No." She trailed off. "I won't tell. If you want to find out, you'll have to read the book." She turned back toward the other boy. "I'm Anastasia, by the way. What's your name?"

"His name is Samuel."

"I didn't ask you, jerk. I asked him." Annie sassed.

"You're eight. Do you even know what jerk means?" Dean asked.

"A person who treats other badly." She stated simply. "My Auntie taught me things. Besides, the fact that I'm eight doesn't mean I can't be smarter than other people..."

John laughed at the way an eight-year-old girl annoyed his eighteen-year-old son. Samuel joined his Dad and it made Dean angry. He went out and slammed the door shut.

"Thanks." Samuel said.

"So, do you have nicknames, Samuel?" She asked him.

"Sam or Sammy."

"Can I call you Eli?" She asked.

"Why Eli?" He asked.

"Because your name ends with El." She said. "Samuel means heard God, while Eli means my God."

"That's cool." Sam said. "What does Dean mean?"

"Leader or Valley, if I remembered correctly. I looked it up in the name book when Mum told me your and your brother's names." Annie said

"What should be his nickname, then?" Sam was puzzled by the eight-year-old's knowledge. She was a smart girl.

"He's mean, he doesn't get a nickname."

"Why not?"

"I don't like mean people." She said simply, which made Sam chuckle and John shook his head slightly. Sam took a book with names and skimmed through it.

"How long will I be staying here, Uncle Johnny?" She asked him.

"Your parents didn't tell you?"

"No."

"Annie, honey, you know you have some…health issues." He muttered.

"I do. But doesn't that make me special?"

"Of course, it does!" John muttered. He would rip Grayson's head off, for taking the chicken's way out and casting his child away. "But your Dad needed to find a cure for that, and he needed you to be away until he finishes."

"O-Okay." She shrugs it off. She knew he was lying, but she stayed quiet. "Are you going to teach me how to save people?"

"S-Save people?"

"Yes, like all other hunters who fight terrible things." She said. Sam's jaw dropped. "I learned a lot with my Gruncle."

"Gruncle?"

"Great Uncle. Duuh"

"Annie, are you hungry?"

"A little."

"What would you like to eat?" He asked.

"Apple pie, if you have some, if you don't anything is okay." John nodded his head and went to the kitchen.

"Aurora or Amarillys?" Sam said.

"What?"

"For your nickname. They also mean rebirth, just like your name."

"I don't like Aurora." She scrunched her nose. "That's the name of the sleeping beauty."

"Okay, then I will call you Amarillys. Or shorter versions of that Amara or Riley, since it has Rillys?"

"Okie dokie. Eli, can I hug you?" She asked at him, and when he nodded his head, she beamed. After dinner, Annie Sammy and Annie went to the room where she was supposed to sleep in.

"Can you, please, sleep with me?" She asked. "I always slept next to Elena, but she's not here. I can't sleep without talking to someone ..."

"Of course." Sam said. "My room's second door to the right. Come when you're ready."

She put on her Lion King pjs, brushed her teeth, tied her hair and got out of the room.

"Where are you going?" Someone asked, which made her jump.

"To bed." She shrugged.

"You just got out of the room you're supposed to be sleeping in." He said.

"I know, I'm sleeping with Eli." She shrugged and started walking further into the hallway.

Dean got into his room, without seeing where the little rascal went He took of his shirt and jeans and lied down on his bed. He thought about many thing when he closed his eyes, one of them clouding his mind. He sat up and muttered "Who the hell is Eli?" He made a mental note to find that out tomorrow.

Annie and Sammy were playing game of twenty questions before bed. They went through questions about favorite food, music, colors, books, movies, drinks, snacks, sweets, games and then got into an argument about some comic books. They fell asleep without finishing the argument.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

NEXT UP CHAPTER WITH FEW FLASHFORWARDS. 😊

R&R

'TILL NEXT UPDATE