For the first time in her life, humming the songs of what her mother termed 'mullet rock' wasn't doing anything to calm Ella Black down. No matter how unsettling the situation, she'd always found a chorus of Master of Puppets or Back in Black oddly soothing. But then, as far as unsettling situations went, this had to rank way above any other.

For a start, her mother was no longer here to call Ella's music 'Mullet Rock.' She was dead. The fact still hadn't sunk in and Ella wondered if it ever would. Someone had once told her that you could never describe the feelings that hit you when a loved one had passed. And it was true. There seemed to be no way to articulate the total feeling of numbness that seemed to replace the aching grief and sadness whenever the pain became too much. Then, there was the fact that she was on a plane…she hated flying. And as if that wasn't unsettling enough, the reason she was on a plane was because she was on her way to the U.S. to meet her father for the very first time.

Oh God.

The seatbelt light flashed and an overly perky flight attendant announced over the loudspeaker that they were now descending into America. Ella shoved a handful of peanut M&Ms into her mouth, more to stop herself from feeling her stomach churn with nervousness than because she was actually hungry.

For the fifteenth time in the last hour alone, Ella pulled out the rumpled photograph that was now the only link she had to her father. There had been other pictures but they had been lost in the fire, along with everything else…along with her mother.

The picture was taken in front of a black Impala parked next to a river. Her mother was just eighteen, smiling infectiously in a tank top and a pair of denim shorts, the guy standing next to her was smiling too…or was it more of a smirk? He had his arm around her mother but it seemed more of a friendly thing than anything romantic. And so it had been at the start, as the story went that her mother had told her countless times. They had been friends for the two weeks Laura had stayed in New England but on the last night after a few too many rounds of poker and maybe even beer before she left, things had changed…She had found out she was pregnant only after she returned to Australia. She had tried to call Dean countless times until she realised the contact details he'd given her didn't even exist…Nine months later Ella Black was born.

'So this Laura…' Sam brought up at last in an effort to start a conversation. 'Do you actually remember her?'

Dean gave him an offended look. 'Yes.' He snapped. 'I met her when me and Dad were doing that jack-in-irons job in New England. You stayed with Bobby cos you had exams or something.'

'Did you love her?' Sam probed bluntly. When Dean stared at him blankly he elaborated. 'I mean…did you…have feelings for her? Were you…fond of her-'

'I know what love is, Dr Phil, I'm not an idiot.'

'Ok, jeez.' Sam smirked. Dean maintained what he evidently believed to be a dignified silence.

'Well, did you?' Sam pushed.

Dean rolled his eyes, Sam wasn't going to give up. 'Well no.' He admitted. 'And she didn't love me…. We were friends…we hung out…it shouldn't have got that far that night.' He was silent for a moment, determinedly avoiding his brother's gaze because he knew he was probably getting the soulfully sympathetic puppy dog eyes from him. 'I could have though.' He said grudgingly at last.

Sam opened his mouth to say something sympathetic…meaningful…brotherly. He felt sorry for his brother, even if he was handling it better than he had expected. He was being surprisingly responsible…mature…

'Dude,' Dean said, smirking. 'Did you see that girl's rack?'

Or maybe not.

By the time Ella had disembarked the plane, she was feeling a little worse for wear. She'd been in the same jeans, ballet flats and tank top for over twenty-four hours now. She felt like crap and was well aware she probably looked it too. She caught sight of her reflection in a window and quickly looked away.

This had been the same outfit she had worn on that night. Her heart seemed to twist with grief and guilt as she remembered. She'd been friends with a guy she'd met at a friend's birthday party for a few months. His name was Will and he was cute and sweet, if ridiculously shy. She had liked him a lot. They'd met up a few times. Her friends had called them 'dates' but it wasn't quite like that. That night, she'd taken the initiative and asked him to the movies with a group of her friends. She had watched the movie but to be honest hadn't really taken it in. When he dropped her home, walking her to the door, he began to become quite flustered, stammering until he finally blurted out that he liked her. It was so awkward…she managed something about liking him too before saying that she'd better get inside before her Mum came out.

'Ella, you are a loser.' She told herself as she watched him drive away. She wished she was more confident around guys like her mother was. She had consoled herself that maybe she got it from her father's side of the family. Cheered slightly, she unlocked the front door.

The house was dark and eerily still. This was unusual in itself. Normally her Mum would be awake, waiting to interrogate her. She fumbled with the light switch. Nothing happened. The power must be out…She took out her mobile to use as a light and passed through the kitchen. There was a note scrawled on the blackboard:

Hope you had a great time!

Wake me up the moment you read this!

Xoxo

Smiling, Ella made her way down the hallway to her mother's room. 'Mum?' She called.She saw a figure looking out the bedroom window at the now pouring rain. She grinned. 'Hang on a sec, Mum, I'm just going to dump my bag in my room and I'll come tell you all about it.'

She chucked her bag through her doorway and bounded back to Laura's room. The figure in front of the window had disappeared now but light filtered through a crack in the door to her ensuite…Odd as there was no electricity. But Mum had probably lit candles.

Ella flopped onto the bed and waited. Will liked her! Admittedly she'd made a huge dork of herself and practically run away from him but he hadn't exactly been Mr. Smooth either. A cool breeze blew through the open window, the floaty white curtains ruffling. Rain hit her forehead and she wiped it off automatically.

But it wasn't rain…even in the darkness she could work out that much. She stared at the blood staining the back of her hand in horror. Then, she looked up.

Her heart stopped. She couldn't breathe. In a second that contained an eternity she stared at her mother, pinned to the ceiling, an expression of terror frozen to her face. Blood staining her lacy nightdress and falling in splatters now onto the doona. Why was she wearing a sexy little nightdress? Ella wondered hysterically. She didn't even own one!

'Mum!' She screamed, registering that her voice did not sound like her own as a ball of blue flame engulfed Laura Black. 'Mum! No!'

She didn't know how, but somehow she escaped. Memories of the next couple of weeks were a blur of tears and meaningless words of sympathy. She never told anyone what she had seen that night. But it was something that haunted her dreams every night. She'd caught a glimpse of Will once after the funeral. But hadn't seen him since. And now would probably never see him again. Only a month ago that would have upset her. But since then she felt like she had aged a hundred years. Will was nothing but a distant memory. Her old life was behind her now.

And, head held high she walked out of customs and towards to arrivals lounge. Towards her future.

Ok thank you to everyone that's read this, you guys are awesome. But the people who read and reviewed are even more awesome! I want to know what you guys think. Should I keep writing or should I actually do the ridiculous amount of homework I have? Or both.. Lol, so you know what to do, click on that review button...you know you want to...Please?