I'm so sorry for the delay in this. I honestly don't have an excuse, because I really just didn't realize that I hadn't updated! Here's the next chapter. I promise to post at least weekly from now on.

Chapter 2

Crowley's plan was working out just nicely. For the last 10 months in terms of Earth years, he had become the King of Hell, got his queen and was working on destroying the Winchesters and Halliwells for good. They were all broken since losing both Melinda and Holly. Some of them more than others.

The one that made him really smile was seeing the broken soul that Dean Winchester was becoming. He spent every day searching for ways to get Melinda out of Hell. He could try all he wanted, but Crowley was not going to let her go. Not without a fight.

"Sir, the queen would like an audience with you." A young looking demon bowed as he spoke. The demons knew what would happen if they didn't show him some respect. Getting a Halliwell down in Hell certainly did the trick. Getting two down—one of which had broken quickly—was just perfect, especially since Lilith was dead.

"Well, send her in, you mook!" Crowley growled at the demon and stood as Melinda walked in. She had a swagger about her, as her heels hit the ground in an even pattern. She had grown into her demonic powers throughout the Hell years. It hadn't taken long for her to get rid of her humanity. It was like she didn't want to be Melinda Halliwell anymore. But she didn't want to jump into someone else's body.

When she was ready, Crowley had given her a surprise. He had stolen her body from her coffin and put it on ice. She was ready to jump back into her own body as soon as she wanted. It didn't take long for her to take over her own body again rather than be the black smoke that she would have been on Earth. Crowley was extremely happy to see a smile on her features again, even if it was just for a short period of time.

He could tell that she didn't really like being in Hell. As much as she loved being treated as royalty—as any queen should—she missed being on Earth. She missed the sun, and Crowley would soon allow her to go up. It was time, anyway.

"I'm bored." Melinda stated matter-of-factly, after kissing him quickly.

"Well, munchkin, how about we go to Earth and reek some havoc?"

Melinda's eyes lit up. He could see the excitement in her green orbs, "Earth? Really?"

"I have some business to attend to up there, and I thought you might like to take a visit."

"What's the catch," Mel sighed, placing her hands on her hips. Crowley tried to look like there wasn't an ulterior motive but he couldn't pull it off. Truth be told, he didn't want to play little mind games with his queen, "Spit it out."

"Now that is no way to talk to your king," Mel didn't budge, though. She looked at the King of Hell with disdain in her eyes, "I have someone up there who I want down here. You actually saved him from Hell the first time."

Melinda frowned for a moment, thinking back to her old life. It was full of faceless innocents, after 100 years of Hell. But the more she watched the smirk on Crowley's face, the more she realized who he meant.

"Dean Winchester."

"And I know exactly where he is." Crowley nodded his head, smirking at the idea of seeing this reunion.


Dean glared at the plaque in the crypt. When he needed to clear his head and get away from the Halliwells he came here. The only reason he was still with the Halliwells was because it was close to Mel's body. He figured he'd need it when he saved Mel. Not that there was still a body in this coffin. It was a decomposing mess now, but if he could find a way to get Mel's soul out of Hell, he could then work on putting her back in her body.

"I'm trying, Mel, I really am." Dean told the plaque, placing his hands over the engraved letters. It was a simple plaque, one that her brothers knew she would prefer.

Melinda Grace Halliwell

Beloved daughter, sister, niece and cousin

March 1, 1986-December 18, 2008

She was just 22 years old. Death had taken her far too early, and Dean was partially to blame.

Not fully to blame. He was willing to admit that. Even if Dean had never come to the Halliwells for help to get out of his Hell deal, Lilith would have likely come after the Halliwell kids. That wasn't to get at Dean—not completely. Well, Dean would have likely broken and that other first seal wouldn't have been needed, but she may have chosen to break that seal in the end. And there were other demons out there.

The Halliwells fought just as many demons as the Winchesters did. Mel could have ended up facing hellhounds in the end.

And she'd stupidly gone off allowing them to chase her. She wanted Dean to save her niece, and laid down her life for that.

That had been why Riley was so gung-ho about saving Melinda. He felt some responsibility. Riley had been able to see the hellhounds. He'd have seen the attack as it happened, and would have seen Melinda getting ripped to shreds.

"I'm so sorry, Mel." Dean allowed a tear to fall down his cheek.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Melinda's voice taunted him. He would hear her speaking to him now and then, but this sounded so much more real than ever before. He'd forgotten just how her voice had sounded over the years, but this was clear. It was her, "I found my way back."

Dean turned around to see Melinda standing there. She was alive and she looked absolutely gorgeous. Her green eyes sparkled, matching the color of her long, flowing dress. And the black heels that went with the dress...

No, this had to be a dream. She wasn't here. Mel was in Hell. That's where she'd been for the last 10 months. Nobody had been able to pull her out.

But she stood there, looking like she'd just walked off the catwalk. It was like the last 10 months hadn't happened.

Mel's expression slowly changed from a smirk to a look of confusion. It was like she was getting her bearings, taking everything around her in. She looked at the different plaques on the walls, running her hands along each and every one of them until she stopped at one.

Dean could just watch as the brunette placed her hand on the plaque. He came up behind her to see that she was looking at Holly's plaque. It was another simple plaque that had Holly's name, date of birth and death and a short line about who she was. Dean didn't know what to do right now. Everything inside of him told him that this wasn't Melinda, but he wanted to believe that it was her. He wanted to believe that she'd somehow found a way out of Hell.

But how was she in her own body? Her body was a decomposing mess.

No, it had to be a shifter or reverent or something. It couldn't be a demon. A demon would have taken another meatsuit.

Unless a demon had jumped into her body 10 months ago. Was it possible that a demon had taken her body, knowing that she would never need it again?

Before he had a chance to do anything, the thing turned to face him with confusion in her eyes.

"Dean?" she looked deep into his green eyes, fear somewhere in her own, "I...I..." She started looking around again, as she tried to take everything in. All those thoughts about dealing with a shifter or demon went out of his mind.

This was Mel and she was scared. She'd just gotten out of Hell. Of course she was scared. He no longer cared how it happened. He just knew that he had to help her.

"Mel." Dean spoke but his voice was quiet. Her hands reached up to his face, as she felt to make sure that it was him. Dean couldn't help but do the same. And then he did something he wasn't sure if he'd ever do again. He kissed her.

Mel seemed taken aback at first, but soon fell back into old patterns. She returned the kiss, pulling Dean closer to her. She couldn't help it. Her instincts told her to do this; welcomed the warmth from his body.

He felt her clinging to him, as if she was grasping onto the world, like he was her anchor to keep her from returning to Hell. And he couldn't help but wrap his arms around her tightly. He wasn't letting her go back. Not now. Not ever.


Crowley watched with jealousy in his dark eyes. He had told her to do anything she needed to make sure Dean trusted her again, but he wasn't happy that she was back with Dean Winchester.

He had to remember that she'd been his queen for 80 years now. They had a life in Hell together. Getting to Dean was just a way to lure him into Hell; the place that he belonged a year ago.

Crowley would get that soul. He was sure of it.


I hope there are still some readers out there considering the length of time it's been since the last update. I'd love to know what you thought of this chapter.