A/N: In this story Mary never died on that night in November, John was the one in the nursery instead. Dean happened to walk in on Azazel, preventing him from giving Sam blood. This AU focuses on what the brothers' life with Mary looks like, a life without hunting. As a mother she's very protective but her attempts to keep them safe are jeopardized when the past catches up to her.

April, 1998, Salt Lake City, Utah

The light coming in through the windows woke Dean. He rolled over with a sigh, waiting. His mom would come in any minute, informing him that it was time for breakfast. Sure enough, the door opened and his mom's head peaked inside.

"Breakfast, Dean." He hummed in response and forced himself out of bed. Sam was already up, sitting in the small kitchen of their apartment.

"Morning." Dean said as he ruffled his brother's hair, earning himself an annoyed huff. As he sat down Mary handed him a bowl of cereal. Dean saw his brother hesitate, there was something he wanted to say. Questioningly Dean raised one eyebrow but Sam ignored him and turned to their mom.

"Mom, Jake asked me if I wanted to join him and Tom to Heber City, his dad has a place there. Is it okay if I go after school? I wouldn't be home too late." Dean saw his mom's shoulders tense and he sighed. Seriously? Again? She turned to Sam with stern eyes.

"You know I don't like that Sam. I can't risk something happening to you." She said and opened the fridge, pouring herself a glass of juice.

"But mom-"

"I said no, Sam." Her definite tone made Sam fall quiet, frustrated defeat written across his face. Dean pinched the bridge of his nose; he was so tired of this.

"What could happen to him mom?" She met Dean's gaze; she obviously hadn't expected him to say anything.

"Dean, don't." She said with a clear warning in her voice.

"No, seriously mom, what could happen? Is some demon going to find us all these years?" Her eyes hardened with anger.

"Dean, stop-" Dean ignored his brother.

"The chance of you smothering him to death with this protective crap is more probable than him actually running into a demon. You can't protect us forever, mom." Mary looked at him, anger and sadness filling her eyes. She nervously fiddled with the wedding ring she still wore. Setting the glass down, she headed to her bedroom without a word. Sam sighed and stood up.

"Thanks a lot, Dean." He said with a glare.

"Well, you weren't exactly standing up for yourself Sammy. Go with your friends after school, I'll deal with her." Sam rolled his eyes and grabbed his backpack.

"Whatever, see you later." Dean stayed in his seat when Sam had left. He knew he had to get to the garage, Jim wouldn't be happy if he was late again. Before he left he paused to listen, there was no sound coming from his mom's room. Dean hated this, her silence when they had fought. Usually it would be better between them after a few hours. He hoped this time wouldn't be different.

When Dean came home he wasn't surprised to find Sam by the table studying. Yet frustration filled him; he had decided not to go with his friends after all. Dean sat down opposite his brother. Sam noticed Dean's tense jaw and put his pen down.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't do this anymore Sammy. This fighting, it's tiring. I- I have to find that demon who killed dad; it's all I can think about. Mom…you know that's all she thinks about too, but she won't actually look for the demon, she won't risk our safety." Sam met his eyes and nodded.

"Are you with me Sammy? Will you help me? Cause if you are we can't tell mom, she'd kill me." Sam chuckled lightly and stared down at his lap. Feeling Dean's wondering eyes on him he looked up after a minute.

"Yeah. I always am Dean, you know that." Sam said with a small smile. A spark of hope ignited within Dean, they could do this. He knew deep down that he couldn't bring himself to do it alone, but they could do this together, he was sure of that.

"Well, then." He stood up, smiling down at his brother's face. "We got work to do."

October, 1987, Missoula, Montana.

The room was quiet; the only sound was Dean's even breathing. Sleep wouldn't come and Dean turned frustratedly. He heard small steps outside and then someone carefully opened the door. Dean sat up and scooted to the side, bringing the covers aside so his little brother could climb in.

"Did you have a bad dream, Sammy?" Sam huddled closer as he settled down, his ice cold tiny feet making Dean jerk slightly.

"No, mommy was sad again." He heard the anxious tone in his brother's voice. As he put a reassuring hand on Sam's arm he sighed, it wasn't the first time this had happened. Dean could feel Sam looking up at him with big eyes.

"It's alright Sammy, she'll be fine, okay?" Sam nodded and closed his eyes, seemingly somewhat comforted by Dean's words. Just when Dean felt himself start to drift off Sam broke the silence; he hadn't been asleep like he'd thought.

"Is she sad because of daddy?" Dean felt the lump in his throat grow and he shut his eyes. He couldn't talk to his brother about this, not yet, he was too young. A four year-old shouldn't have to worry about these things.

"Go to sleep now, okay Sammy?" After a minute or so he could hear his brother's light snores. Dean let out a sigh of relief.

April, 1998, Salt Lake City, Utah

It wasn't the screams that woke Dean this time. The dreams of his mom's screaming coming from the house had haunted his dreams for years. Dean would like to think that after all these years he'd gotten fairly used to them but still he found himself bolting upright covered in sweat, every time. This time it was the demon with yellow eyes. The one that had killed their dad. Dean couldn't be sure if it was just a dream or some part of his memory surfacing but before he woke up he saw those eyes, coming closer. He sat up in his bed, casting a look at the clock on his bedside table. Dean didn't have to get up for another 20 minutes but he didn't want to go back to sleep, those yellow eyes sent chills down his spine. As he headed into the kitchen he was a bit surprised to see that no one was up. Smirking to himself, he made his way to Sam's room.

Sam was brutally forced to consciousness by sudden light as the blinds were pulled to the sides. He groaned and dragged the covers over his head, the snicker coming from his side revealing Dean's presence.

"Time to wake up Sammy! Get your lazy ass out of bed, another day to study 'til your brain fries, am I right?"

"Seriously Dean? Don't you have anything better to do? It's early you idiot." Sam heard his brother's chuckle.

"Nah, nothing brings me greater joy than to wake you up, Sammy." Sam sat up sharply, irritation forcing him fully awake. He tried to smooth down his tousled hair but failed.

"I am going to kill you Dean." He said through clenched teeth.

"I'd like to see you try." Dean hollered as he went to the kitchen.

"Let's see how much you'll enjoy it when I start waking you up like this." Sam called after him but only got an amused scoff as a response. Reluctantly he got up and quickly made his bed. Muttering curses about his brother under his breath, he headed to the kitchen. Their mother wasn't up yet. Sam rolled his eyes at the sight of Dean struggling by the stove. He leaned back against the counter, debating whether he should save their apartment from an imminent fire.

"Need help?" Dean cast him a dark look and turned back to the stove.

"Shit-no, I'm fine, Sammy." Sam looked over his brother's shoulder and frowned.

"Really? Because that looks like World War III." Dean snorted but didn't say anything, too preoccupied with the disaster taking place in front of them. Sam wrinkled his nose.

"Uhm, Dean? It smells burnt."

"Thank you Sammy for your input. How freaking hard can it be to make an omelet anyway?" Dean said exasperatedly.

"What's with the sudden effort? You never cook, for a good reason I might add." Dean adjusted the heat on the stove and turned to him, running a hand through his hair.

"Well, mom's still kind of pissed and I just thought…you know." Dean sighed and looked at his failed attempt of an apology, his shoulder sagging. "Never mind." Sam felt a little bad; he knew what his brother was feeling. Dean and their mother were often at each other's throats but they usually made peace the same day.

"Hey, know what?" Sam grabbed the pan and threw the contents in the trash can. "Let me do it, I think I know how to make an omelet." Dean chuckled and ruffled Sam's hair.

"Thanks Sammy, but it's okay. Guess I'll just have to talk to her, right?" Sam irritably shrugged his brother's hand away which had only enhanced his hairs resemblance to a bird's nest. Dean gave his hair an amused look.

"Seriously dude, just give me a pair of scissors and-"

"Shut up Dean." Sam muttered and opened the fridge. He sighed when he realized that there was no milk.

"Did you use up all the milk?" Dean raised one eyebrow at Sam's tense jaw and shrugged happily.

"Maybe." He turned his back to Sam, putting the pan in the sink.

"So what the hell am I supposed to put in my cereal, Dean?" His brother scratched his head in mock deep thought.

"Don't know. Juice?" Sam pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience running thin. He stepped closer with clenched fists.

"You know what Dean? I'm so sick of you-"

"Hah, as if that's possible. If you want milk so desperately, I guess you're going to have to go the store or find yourself a cow, Sammy."

"And good morning to you too boys. I see you're showering each other with love as always." Sam and Dean jumped slightly at their mother's voice, both of them stepping back with annoyed scoffs.

"What's that smell?" Mary asked and wrinkled her nose as she poured herself some coffee.

"Sammy's fault." Dean said quickly and gathered his things.

"What?" Sam's voice climbed a few octaves. "Dean, what the hell?" Dean rolled his eyes and ignored him, hesitating before opening the front door.

"Mom, about yesterday, I'm sorry-" She put her cup down and gave him a small smile.

"It's okay Dean, we're fine." He nodded and Sam could see the relieved set to his shoulders. Mary stopped him before he could leave the apartment.

"Wait, will you be home at 6?" Dean pondered for a few seconds and sighed.

"No, mom I have to work late tonight and then I have a date." Sam raised an eyebrow.

"Really, who is it this time? Kate or Emily?" Sam asked. Dean was caught off guard, lips pursed in thought.

"Uhm…"
"Seriously, you don't know? You're all charm, Dean." Sam could hardly be surprised anymore. Dean winked and snickered. Mary sighed and met Dean's eyes.

"Dean, we've talked about this. I don't want you home too late. Be home at 9, okay?" Dean chuckled bitterly, his eyes darkening.

"Yeah mom, I've heard that one-sided conversation before." He grabbed his jacket and opened the door. "Make it 10." He slammed the door after him. Sam sighed inwardly, so much for that peace.

Dean was relieved to find out that it was Kate he was going on a date with, he'd taken a chance when they'd greeted each other. She'd suggested that they'd go to the diner close to the garage where he worked; she said that she had to work anyway at her store at 21:30. They picked a table close to the windows.

"So," Kate said, looking at the menu. "I guess you're a frequent customer here, what's good?" Dean's stomach rumbled. He'd barely had time to eat today; he'd been so busy with work.

"Yup, but I'm not much for variety, I usually go for the burgers." She laughed and tucked one dark strand of hair behind her ear.

"Well, guess I'll just have to trust you then." After ordering they waited, the conversation flowing easily. Dean liked her; they'd only met once before at a party but he hadn't been sober enough to remember much.

"You have a brother right?" She asked curiously. He nodded.

"Yeah, Sammy. Doesn't appreciate me calling him that though. Hardworking kid, guess one of us had to be ambitious." She smiled lightly.

"I don't think you give yourself enough credit Dean, I've heard your friends talk about how hard you work at the garage." He scratched his neck, looking down.

"I guess, but Sammy, he's going to be something someday. Lawyer probably, he deserves it." The waitress arrived with their food, setting it down with a smile. Dean salted his fries and then held it above Kate's plate, pausing when he realized that he should probably ask first.

"Salt?" Her head snapped up, eyes fixing on the little salt container in his hand.

"No, I'm fine." Kate said a little too quickly, pushing his hand away. The sudden movement caused some salt to spill on her hand. She hissed and flinched away. Dean blinked, what had just happened? Her eyes flashed but he couldn't quite see them since she wasn't meeting his puzzled gaze.

"Sorry, you okay?" He asked hesitantly. She looked up hastily; an angelic smile spreading on her lips. Uneasiness filled Dean, something wasn't right.

"Of course, just a muscle spasm I guess." And mom says I'm a bad liar.