"...the moment at hand is the only thing we really own." John Denver "Wings of a Dream"

"Okay, that's it. My childhood is officially over."

"What are you talking about?"

Dean gestured to his computer, "The guy who wrote the songs for 'School House Rock' died."

"Oh, that's, uh – too bad. I guess."

"Wow, he was ninety-four. How long ago was that show on?"

"You are thirty-nine, now, Dean. It's been a while."

"And you're going to be thirty-five in a week. You're no spring chicken, either."

Sam smiled and went back to his research and because he could never have just one thought at a time on his mind, his smile faded into a thoughtful look that pulled into a pained look.

"What?"

"Nothing. Ten years ago –" Sam shook his head and shrugged and gave a poor imitation of a smile. "Our childhoods ended a long time ago." Then his research absorbed his interest again.

Ten years ago. Dean looked at Sam, measuring it out. Ten years ago Sam had been a week away from turning twenty-five which was a week away from – losing Dean to hell. Sam had celebrated his twenty-fourth birthday being stabbed to death by Jake and his twenty-fifth birthday losing Dean to hell. And every birthday after that had been 'celebrated' with some piece of nastiness, misery, or loss.

Dean couldn't promise him anything different this year. They were up against Evil and rifts and bad guys from who knew how many universes. The odds were that Sam's birthday this year was going to be as nasty, miserable, and bloody as every other year.

"What?" Sam asked, noticing Dean staring at him.

Well, Dean wasn't going to let this moment be miserable for Sam. He lifted his eyebrows in invitation. "'Conjunction junction – what's your function?' C'mon, Sam – sing it. 'Hooking up words and phrases and clauses. Conjunction junction -' Sam, don't make me start singing 'Naughty Number Nine'. C'mon."

Sam huffed loudly and rolled his eyes. "I'm gonna go get a beer. You want one?"

"Yeah. Hey – you know what. I think we're running low. I'm gonna head out and get some more. You be all right without me?"

Sam rolled his eyes so hard that time it had to hurt. "Yes, Dean."

Dean headed for the car humming 'Conjunction Junction'. He'd pick up a birthday cake, too, while he was at the store.

The End

A/N: the creator of Schoolhouse Rock, Bob Dorough, died this week.