For Emma, All Those Years Ago

Chapter Two

The Strays


Two years had passed, two years of being on the road, two years of cheap motel rooms and crappy food. Emma loved every second of it, and Robbie hated every minute.

The family of three rolled up to the Salvage Yard. In the last two years, it had gone to shit. More cars and parts rolled in and it was a rare thing to see them roll out. Bobby hadn't been around to make it happen and Karen wasn't there to keep the books. If it wasn't for the fact that Bobby owned the home outright, the bank would've taken it away.

Bobby walked inside first, the house was cold. He flipped on the light switch and let out a sigh of relief. "Why don't you kids run upstairs, I'm gonna make a few calls." He said. Emma nodded and grabbed her brothers hand, trying to hide the fact she was shivering and pulled her brother to their room so that they could build a warm fort of pillows and blankets.

"Balls." Bobby mumbled under his breath after hanging up the phone. He wiped the dust off of his hand onto his coat and took a look at the dishes that were still in the sink and the flies that swarmed. With his head hung he began to clean.

A few hours had passed when a crash came from the kitchen. Without hesitation, Bobby grabbed a crowbar and moved toward the sound. "Robbie, you're going to burn yourself." Bobby heard Emma say and put the crowbar down. The closest he'd come to happiness in the last 2 years was when he heard her voice for the first time again six months ago. When Bobby turned the corner to the kitchen, Robbie was on top of a chair in front of the stove, struggling to open up a box of macaroni.

"No, I'm not Emmy." Robbie insisted, though he was wobbling a bit more than he should have.

Bobby walked up behind his son, picked him up and placed him firm on the ground. "That'll be enough of that." Bobby took the box from his son. "Why didn't you kids tell me you were hungry?"

Robbie looked at his feet. "We wanted to surprise you." said Emma. "But this idjit couldn't be quiet." Robbie glared daggers at his sister who smiled sweetly.

Bobby smiled "That's real sweet of you, I can take it from here though."

"Thanks, Daddy." Emma smiled and ran off, Robbie stayed put.

They looked at each other for a moment before Bobby said, "Can you kids clear out the spare room? We got some guests comin' in soon."

"Uncle Rufus?" Robbie asked, hopeful. Emma came back in the room when she'd heard.

"You remember John Winchester?" They nodded, Emma blushed. She was always following John around, despite his protests. "His kids are going to stay here for a little."

Robbie put his hands on his sister's shoulders, pushing her from the room. "We got it Dad."


Underneath a rusted Ford Bronco and nestled in the snow laid a shivering orange cat and laying on his stomach in front of him was young Robert Singer. His hand was outstretched and she beaconed the cat. "Here kitty, I ain't gonna hurt ya" Robbie said for the fourth time. The cat moved to him and sniffed his hand. Robbie waited patiently for the cat to nudge him and he did. "Emmy, come here!" Robbie yelled, picking up the shivering cat.

She ran over, bundled up in her pink butterfly coat and snow pants. As soon as Emma was within smelling distance of the stray, he hissed at her. "Robbie, put that thing down it probably has a disease!"

Robbie pulled him in closer, petting him. "No, it's cute." He looked up at Emma as she slowly approached, the cat hissed at her again. "Can I keep him?"

Emma hesitated, eyeing the animal. "Dad's gonna say no."

"Dad's not going to let the poor little thing die." Robbie pouted. "I think I want to name 'im Fluffy."

"It ain't got any fur, Rob." Emma turned up her nose.

"He'll grow it, when he's not frozen and starving." The feral cat nudged into Robbie, Emma went to pet it, it hissed a third time. "She knows you want her dead."

Emma's face scrunched up. "That's not what I said, you- "

The gravel in the yard began to crunch as a '67 Impala rolled over it. Emma smiled and ran to the house as best she could in her snow gear, Robbie walked behind her, cradling Fluffy. "Hi Uncle John!" Emma yelled as she ran up, he smiled as she collided with him, giving him the biggest hug she could muster. "There's my favorite girl." He said, picking her up. "How've you been sweetheart?" He tapped the top of his car, the two boys inside got out begrudgingly.

"Good!" She exclaimed. "We missed you." The older boy rolled his eyes, she ignored him.

"Well I missed you kids, too. How you doing Robbie?" John asked putting down Emma, Robbie merely nodded. Emma walked up to the two boys.

"You must be Sam and Dean!" She hugged them both, they didn't return the favor, just looked at each other. "I'm Emma, this is my brother Robbie." She pointed back to her brother, then rolled her eyes, "and the cat is Fluffy. I guess."

"How about we all get inside?" Bobby's voice came from the doorway.

"I think that's a fine idea there, Bobby." Everyone walked inside. "Thank you again for taking my boys in."

"It's nothin'" Bobby said, his eyes captured his son's. "The hell is that, Robbie?" Bobby caught a glimpse of the cat staring his daughter down as she shed her snow suit.

"Fluffy." He smiled, putting it on the ground. "Can we keep him? He's real sweet."

"Real sweet my ass." Emma mumbled under her breath, the younger brother chuckled.

"Watch your mouth Emma Kitty or I'll wash it out with soap." Bobby warned.

"Yes sir." She mocked and rolled her eyes where he couldn't see but the young Winchester did, he gave a small smile. Bobby continued to scold his son. Emma grabbed the boy's arm. "Come with me." She demanded and led him upstairs. The older one looked mean, so she ignored him. "So, which one are ya? Sam or Dean?"

"Sam." He said following her up the creaking stairs. She opened the first door on the left. "This is Robbie's room, it's where you and Dean are gonna stay." In the month they'd been back home, Robbie decided he wanted his own space and moved into the guest bedroom, only to have to move back to their old room. Emma moved further down the hall, giving him the grand tour. She tapped a door frame. "This here is the bathroom, across the hall is Daddy's room." She moved on without opening the doors, Sam couldn't get a word in. She pushed the door at the end of the hall wide open. "This is my room." She walked inside, he followed with his hands shoved in his pockets. "You like chips?"

"Uh. Yeah?" Sam hesitated, watching her reach under her bed and dig around. She opened up a bag and sat down, patting the spot next to her. He did as he was asked and took a chip when she offered the bag. It was silent for a while, which Sam seemed comfortable with but Emma did not.

"So how is school here?" Sam asked when he saw her shifting. She smiled, pushing her white hair behind her ears.

"I don't know, I'm only five. Killdergarden isn't really school." Sam silently corrected her, Kindergarten.

Sam scanned his brain for a new topic and came up blank. "Sammy, Dad's leaving." Dean popped his head in the door.

"Already?" Dean nodded, Sam got up and went to say goodbye to his father.

Three months and 4 days would pass before John came back for his boys.