I woke up on a seemingly-familiar couch, wrapped up in a fuzzy blue blanket. As I untangled myself from the curled-up position I was in, it hit me. I was lying in the middle of the living room of the house I grew up in.

I wracked my brain trying to see what led me to end up here. All I could remember was the Wicked Witch trying to zap Dean with her green magic, and I leapt in to save the day – as usual – but besides that it was all fuzzy.

I looked around trying to assess my surroundings, in an attempt to find any clues as to how I got to my old house. In one corner of the room there was a 4-foot-tall Christmas Tree, reminding me of that year when I had a cold right before Christmas, but my parents refused to buy a tree without me, saying that I had "irreplaceable critiquing skills." So we waited until I was feeling better, and went to the closest place we could find that still had their trees out, but seeing as it was Christmas Eve, the only one we could tree was a little evergreen shrub about my height. My parents were worried that I wouldn't like it, but I assured them that it was the best tree I had ever seen.

I smiled as I looked at the tree, currently adorned with little trinkets and topped with a miniature angel, and I remembered how wonderful mom and dad were. As if I triggered a reaction in this scene unfolding before me, two adults came into the room, smiling as they walked over to me.

I stared in shock before I whispered, "Mom? Dad?"

Dad spoke first, "Hurry, my dear Celeste, its Christmas, and your mom and I have a present just for you."

I've read in Carver Edlund's series "Supernatural" that the Winchesters are sometimes placed in alternate realities, and that might be the case. Either that, or I was dreaming, but no matter the reason, I was going to make the most of this opportunity.

"Good morning," I smiled subconsciously due to the excitement, "Why am I lying on the couch?"

"You fell asleep waiting for Christmas to arrive," mom laughed.

It wasn't necessarily the response I was looking for, but decided to go along with it.

"It's Christmas… today?"

"It sure is!"

I saw a shimmer coming from beneath the tree, and as a naturally curious person, I jumped up running over to the tree. Underneath, I found a small gift wrapped up in red with a gold ribbon on top.

"Can I…?" I asked, gesturing at the present.

"Of course sweetie," mom encouraged, "It is for you."

I grinned, sitting down next to the tree and picking up the present. My intentions were to open it carefully so that the pretty wrapping paper wouldn't tear, but my enthusiasm got the best of me, as I ripped open the gift. Inside I saw a paperback book with a dragon on the cover.

After I finished marveling at the beauty of the design, I looked at the words on the top. After a bit of difficulty perceiving the words, I was able to read "JRR Tolkien" and below it, "The Hobbit."

"Celeste?" I looked up upon hearing mom's voice. "I thought you might want to read it together. Do you like it?"

"I love it!" I replied in complete honesty. It was the most wonderful looking book I had even seen. Not worn or tattered or second-hand. Full of potential. Like a blank canvas.

A sudden nagging feeling struck me, starting very faint, and rising to the point of discomfort. It felt as though my reality was slowly being pulled away, like a rug out from under my feet.

Through my swimming vision, I saw dad smile in sincerity, and said with his voice muffled, "I'm glad you like it darling. Merry Christmas Celeste."

I called out, "Merry Christmas!" back, but it was no use. I had already woken up.