Disclaimer: The characters of Supernatural do not belong to me. The original characters of Savannah and Morgan Winchester do.

A/N: To all the regular readers of my Evy stories-I promise I am going to continue 'Year by Year-Second Time Around' and that I have a lot of other ideas for her. I will get back to Evy.

But it's this story that my muse seems stuck on right now. This is the third, and, I'm 99% certain, the last part to the Savannah series. I was NOT intending to make this a series. But a friend of mine told me the story that I use in the first chapter here. His parents forgot the weekend that he was supposed to start college, so he ended up going by himself. I thought that was incredibly sad, and later on, I got to thinking that it fit with the whole clueless parent routine I had going with the first two Savannah stories. So I took his story and expanded it. I have this story 98% worked out, I just have to translate my notes/outline to the page. This is a several chapter story, and I just want to ask everyone to read all the way through to the end. Hopefully by the last chapter, you'll see why I made that request. I plan to have 1 chapter up at least every 2-3 days, assuming life/school/work/responsibilities don't get in the way too much. Thanks a lot! Enjoy!

Chapter One

A New Life

It's okay. You got this. You made it.

Savannah had said this to herself all summer, and she'd needed to say it more and more lately. She started college tonight. Her emotions were threatening to short circuit. She was sad to leave her family. They hadn't always gotten along. Because Savannah was very soft spoken, her parents had a tendency to forget that she needed their attention, which was at the core of the majority of the arguments they'd had. But for the last few months, with Savannah prepping for college, her parents had focused almost all their attention exclusively on her. She was excited about school starting. She'd won a full scholarship to the Duke University, so her tuition, room and board, and food were completely taken care of. Her father was flying to Raleigh with her that night, and spending a few days with her to help her get settled in. She was nervous. Would she do well at school? Would she make friends? Would she love it? Would she hate it?

Stop it, Savannah thought. Daddy'll be there. It'll be okay. Savannah walked up the front steps, surprised not to see her dad's car in the driveway. She had left to take a walk thirty minutes earlier, and they now had two hours before they needed to leave for the airport. He's probably just getting some last minute 'supplies', Savannah thought with a smile. She had thought her mother would be the one to panic with Savannah moving out of state by herself, but it turned out to be Sam. When she'd teased him about it a few weeks earlier, she'd ended up feeling bad about when he told her why. His own father had kicked him out of the house when he went to college, not wanting him to leave the family.

"I don't want you to leave." Sam had explained. "But I do want you to know that I'm proud of you and I'm always, always here for you."

Savannah went inside, expecting to be bombarded by her mother, asking whether she had everything. Are you sure you've got it? Check again. Do you need this? Do you have enough clothes? But she was only greeted by silence. Savannah checked each room. Her father's suitcase and her own were still packed against the wall. Their tickets were on the bed, as was Sam's wallet and Savannah's small purse. The only person Savannah found in the house was Morgan, her little sister.

"Hey, beanie." Savannah said. "Where's mom and dad?"
"They left a few minutes ago. They said to tell you there's a note for you on the refrigerator."
Savannah froze. "What do you mean they left? Where did they go?"

"I don't know." Morgan said.

There's no way this is happening. Not today. Savannah walked to the kitchen and found the note. It was quickly scribbled down by her father, and she felt her blood boil when she read it.

Savannah, your mom and I decided to go on a last-minute date night. We'll be back late tonight. Make sure Morgan gets dinner. Love you, -Daddy

What earlier had been nervousness and excitement bubbled into a rage Savannah had never experienced before. Hoping that she had her date wrong and that their flight was actually the next day, Savannah went to the bedroom and checked the tickets. Date on the tickets-the 24th. Today's date-the 24th. Savannah could barely form the thoughts necessary to process what had happened. She was leaving for college that night, and her parents had completely forgotten. They'd left her alone to babysit like it was just any other day. She thought about calling them and getting them to come back. No, she decided. If they don't care enough about me not to be here, I don't care enough to tell them goodbye. I'll go myself.

Savannah checked the clock. She needed to be at the airport at least two hours early. She had five before the flight left. So she had three to get a way to the airport. She thought about calling her uncle Dean, but Dean would just tell her father and make him come back home. She decided to write a note to her father explaining what she was about to do, take his credit card and call for a cab to the airport. She found Sam's wallet and was happy to see there was enough cash to cover the cab. She got the cash and put it in her wallet, then took the credit card. She wrote a note to her Dad, wiping angry tears away as she did.

I took enough cash to cover a cab to the airport and your credit card. I'll only use the card to eat tonight, get a room and eat tomorrow, and get anything I'm missing for the room. I should be set after that.

I can't believe you forgot this. I needed you, Daddy. I'm scared and nervous and excited and everything all at once, and I really needed you. But I'm on my way to the airport now. I'll send you a postcard or something once I get there. Don't worry-I don't hate you guys for this. I SHOULD hate you for it, but I don't. I love you guys more than anything. I just wish you felt the same about me. -Love, Savannah

Savannah put the cash and card in her small purse, called for a cab to come in an hour, then put her stuff right by the front door. She had forty-five minutes before the cab got there, so she decided to spend the time saying goodbye to her little sister. She walked back to Morgan's room, where Morgan was still sitting at her desk writing in her journal.

"Hey, Beanie. Can I come in? I need to talk to you."
"Sure, Sissy. What's up?" Morgan asked. She finished her sentence, then looked up and saw that Savannah was crying. "What's wrong?"

Savannah walked in and sat at the end of Morgan's bed. "Dad and I were supposed to fly to Raleigh tonight."
"I thought so. I wondered why they left." Morgan said.

Great. So Morgan remembered what mom and dad couldn't. "Yeah. Um, I need you to do me a big favor."

"What?" Morgan asked.

"I just called a cab and put my stuff by the door. I'm going to the airport myself. I need you not to say anything to anyone. Can you do that?" Savannah asked.

"Don't you want to say bye to mommy and daddy?" Morgan asked.

Yeah, but they don't want to say it to me. "I don't want a long, drawn out goodbye. It's easier this way. Please, Morgan?"
Morgan seemed reluctant, but nodded. "Okay."
"Are you sure? Will you be okay here by yourself for a while?" Savannah asked. "They won't be back until tonight."

"I'll be fine." Morgan said quietly.

"Good." Savannah said. She'd thought about sneaking away from Morgan too, but that wasn't fair to her. "Thank you, Morgan. If there's an emergency or something, call uncle Dean, okay? But after I leave, lock the door and don't let anyone in until mom and dad come home."

Morgan nodded, and suddenly she couldn't look at her sister.

"Hey." Savannah said. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I don't want you to go." Morgan said.

"Aww. Beanie, you're gonna make me cry." Savannah said. "I'll be back before you know it."

"You'll come home, right?" Morgan said. "Even if you're still mad at mommy and daddy?"

"Worst case, I'll be at uncle Dean's." Savannah promised. She didn't know how Morgan had known that she wasn't planning to come back home if she didn't make up with her parents, but she didn't question it. "I'll be home Thanksgiving. Promise."

"Okay." Morgan said. "When do you have to leave?"
"The cab'll be here in a little over a half hour." Savannah said. "Will you just come sit with me in the living room until it gets here?"

Morgan nodded, choking back tears. "Yeah."

"Oh…"
The two girls never made it to the living room. Morgan sat next to her sister and wrapped her arms around Savannah's waist, and they sat just like that until all too soon, the doorbell rang. The cabbie was friendly enough, and helped Savannah load her two suitcases into the cab. Savannah explained she was leaving for college and needed a minute with her baby sister. The cabbie, a slightly older gentleman maybe a few years older than Dean, smiled at them.

"I just sent my son off to college. I get it. Take your time." He then realized what was missing. "Where are your parents?"
"Stuck in traffic." Savannah said at the same time she was thinking Good question. "They're gonna meet me there. My uncle's coming in a few minutes to take care of my little sister."

"Okay." The cabbie said, though it was clear he didn't believe her. He climbed into the front seat and waited.

Savannah turned back to Morgan, who was now crying without restraint. Savannah got on her knees in front of Morgan, who grabbed her big sister and held on like she was afraid she'd never see Savannah again.

"I'll be back, Beanie. I swear, no matter what. I'll be back."

Morgan was crying so hard she could only nod that she understood.

"Hey. Hey, look at me." Morgan took her head off Savannah's shoulder and sniffed hard. Savannah wiped her face, keeping her own tears at bay. "I love you, Beanie. You're the best sister I could have ever gotten. I'll call you as soon as I get there."
Morgan hiccupped and asked, "Swear?"
"Swear." Savannah said. She put a hand on Morgan's heart and said, "Cross my heart."
Morgan returned the gesture. "'Kay. Will you call me before you get there?"

"If I get the time, I'll call you from the airport. Okay? I can't promise that, though."

Morgan nodded. "Okay, Sissy. I'm proud of you."

Savannah's heart hurt at hearing that. She'd dreamt of this moment all summer, and she had pictured it being her mother saying that as she dropped her and her father off at the airport. But she'd take it where she could get it, and she grabbed Morgan again.

"Thank you, Beanie. I needed that." She looked back at the cab. "I have to go."
"I know. Go." Morgan said. "I'll cover for you."

Savannah laughed and said one more time, as she had a hand on the cab's door, "I love you, Beanie."

"Love you, sissy."

With that, Savannah left. She waved at Morgan until she couldn't see her anymore, then turned and took a deep breath. Everything was changing, and she was alone. Savannah pulled her cell phone out of her pocket. She scrolled through her contacts and paused when she got to 'Daddy'. She wondered what he was doing right then. What he and Jess were doing that was possibly more important than she was. She scrolled down a little farther until she got to 'Mommy'. Savannah shook her head when she felt her heart ache again. She couldn't think about them right then. She needed to focus on what she was doing. She was terrified, especially of doing this alone, but apparently she didn't have a choice. When the cab pulled up to the airport, she grabbed her suitcases, double checked that she had everything, paid the cabbie, and walked inside. Before going to check-in, she called to check on Morgan, who insisted she was fine and reminded Savannah to call her. Morgan asked her another question that stopped Savannah in her tracks.

"Sissy? Do you hate mommy and daddy?"

"Why do you ask that?" Savannah asked.

"Because they forgot about this." Morgan said. "I know you're mad, and I don't blame you, but I just don't want you to hate them."

"I don't hate them, Beanie." Savannah said. "I promise I don't. I'm just really hurt right now. I promise I'll talk to them after I get there."
"Swear?"
"Swear." Savannah said. "Beanie, I gotta go check in and go through security. I'm sorry I had to leave you alone. Stay safe tonight, okay? Keep the phone with you and call uncle Dean if you need him."

"I'm not a baby, Sissy. I know what to do."
"I know, Beanie. I love you." Savannah said.

"Love you too."

Savannah hung up the phone and headed to the check-in desk. The airport wasn't busy, so there were only two people in front of her. Savannah got her ID out, then headed to the short, friendly, redhaired young woman at the counter.

"Checking in?"

"Yes, ma'am. Savannah Winchester."