I smiled as I heard the familiar engine in the driveway, not the Impala this time, but something bigger.
I jumped up out of the sofa, still in my pajamas and my black hair still tied back in a mess. I threw my book and journal on the coffee table and ran out of the front door.
"Uncle John!" I exclaimed as I saw him.
He turned to face me and smiled his tired smile. His face got older every time I saw him, but to me he was still the same old John Winchester. He dropped his bag and opened is arms. I couldn't fight the urge to run to him. I could feel my face beaming as he grasped me tightly against him.
"Mary!" He whispered gruffly. "Its good to see you." He put me back on the floor. "Happy birthday by the way." He tapped my nose "Seventeen. Big hurdle."
"My Mom said exactly the same thing when she thought I was asleep last night." I smiled.
"She still sits in your room then?"
"Yeah. She gets lonely I suppose. That, and I apparently need protecting." I grinned, as did he.
"Any thoughts on College yet?" He asked me as we walked back to the house.
I shook my head profusely "Not yet, no. Moms got me piped for Ivy League, Dartmouth probably. Keep me off the hunting game as long as possible. She knows she won't be able to stop me once I've set my mind to something."
"She's right." He sighed. "I'd hate to see you get in too deep."
"I never go looking." I grinned. "I just…"
"Know the signs." He laughed at me. "So you know how to recognize it."
"That time at school was the only time I ever needed help." I pursed my lips into a line.
"True." He smiled. "Come on."
We went into the house.
"So where is your mom?" he asked me.
"Out at the mall, I think. She'll be back soon." I smiled and went to the kitchen. "Do you want a coffee?"
"Yeah, sure Mary." He whispered as I poured him a cup.
"Black, one sugar, if I remembered it right." I handed him the hot liquid and he nodded.
"You sure did." He smiled and picked up the newspaper. He scrutinized the things my Mom had circled. "She's expanding the business then?" he asked me.
"What, oh yeah, I suppose so. I mean, her share in Oasis Plains fell through."
"Oasis Plains?" he questioned me as I sat on the chair opposite him.
"Yeah, it was a development in Oklahoma." I smiled "I'll go and get ready, Mom will throw a hissy fit if I'm not dressed by twelve." I smiled and ran up the stairs returning a half hour later, clean and presentable.
"So, where have you been?" I asked him as I sat on the sofa next to him, my feat curled under me.
"No where in particular." He shrugged and I left it. "So, Oklahoma, why so far out?"
"Mom knows the owner. I went to pre-school and elementary with his son, Matt when we first moved here."
"So, he just wanted financial support?" he asked and I nodded.
"Suppose. That went down the drain, Mom had her insurance to fall back on though." I smiled and took a drink of orange.
"Any reason for it falling through?" he prodded as he watched the T.V.
"No reason." I shrugged and he laughed "Fine! Larry built the housing development on cursed land. Native American land. Around the Civil War, the army tried to relocate a tribe and they resisted. The army got annoyed; they came back every night for six days, killing, amongst other things. Then, by the sixth night, everyone was dead. So, the chief cursed the land, saying that no white man would live there again. Nature would rise above them and kill them."
"How many died?" John asked, "Before you stopped it?"
"Three. A surveyor, a gas company guy and moms friend Lynda." I shrugged.
"I'm sorry." He muttered gruffly. "How did you stop it?"
"We didn't." I answered.
"We? I thought your mom was against you hunting."
"She is." I avoided his gaze "Sam and Dean turned up, Mom had to come back here. So they looked after me."
"Ah. You didn't tell them…"
"I'd seen you? No." I stated. "Their worried Uncle John. Sam especially, he's annoyed with himself."
"For what?"
"Not calling you. Not apologizing." I smiled at him and let him hug me against his chest.
"He doesn't need to." He kissed my hair and rubbed my shoulder. "So your birthday, anything happening?"
I shook my head "Nothing much. Mom booked a table for dinner tonight, she didn't know you were coming."
"Oh." He smiled.
"Neither did I for that matter!" I scolded him "Why are you here?" I asked him as I sat up.
"To wish you happy birthday." He grinned.
"You drove hundreds of miles to tell your niece happy birthday?"
"Stranger things have happened." He added in his defense.
"You would know." I rolled my eyes. "I'm sure Mom could book another seat at dinner. If you're staying that is?"
"Do you want me to stay?" He asked me.
"Of course I do." I smiled at him. "Be nice though." I warned him.
"Why? Who have I got to be nice to?" he looked like he was going to turn into Dean.
"My boyfriend." I muttered.
"Oh. How old is he?"
"Twenty, just…."
"Too old." He growled.
"Uncle John please don't. Do you not think I had this from Caleb, Bobby and Jim?"
"I don't care." He continued, "I know what boys are like at that age Mary Ellen."
"He's not like that." I assured him. "He's a nice, respectable, grade-A student."
"And?" he knew I was keeping something from him.
"He's Bobby's nephew." He laughed in denial as I bit my lip. "So I don't have to explain. That you should be scared of things that goes bump in the night!"
"Does your Mom know he's a hunter?" he asked me, still annoyed.
"No! Uncle John, please don't tell her. His parents don't know either, they're going tonight! Please don't!"
A wicked grin fell on his face "Fine. I won't tell her, on the condition, that next year, you try to get your ass to college."
"Like Sam." I glared at him. "You want me to be a geek like Sam."
He raised an eyebrow "That's my offer."
"Fine! I'll go to college." I muttered, annoyed not seeming to cover it.
"It doesn't mean I won't lecture…"
"Daniel."
"Daniel tonight." He kissed my head. "Now, present time."
"If it's a purse or hint of perfume, I don't want to know!" I told him sternly.
"You wish!" he chuckled at me and ruffled my hair. "Here." He handed me a bag.
I looked at him confused and then I pulled out a box. "Pastor Jim?"
He nodded at me and I smiled at him. "Open it."
I pulled it open and beamed "Well, a cross doesn't work, against most things. But…"
"But…" he smiled
"Its beautiful all the same." I hugged him.
"Turn around." He smiled and fastened it; I placed a hand on it.
"I'll have to thank him."
"You don't have to. He knows how grateful you are." He hugged me again. "I can't believe you're growing up."
The front door went and my Mom came into the house.
"Mary!" She shouted and came into the living room, her hands full of bags. "There you are honey! Happy Birthday." She dropped her shopping and hugged me. "I'd have woken you but you seemed to be having nightmares last night."
"I'm fine now, I promise." I smiled at her.
"Look who I found on the doorstep," she nodded and I went outside. I grinned as I noticed my boyfriend standing there. Daniel's perfect figure was shown off through a fitted t-shirt and jeans. His blonde hair perfectly messy.
"Happy Birthday." He beamed at me and I ran out to him. Letting him hold me in his arms.
"It is now!" I smiled and kissed him, my lips encasing his top one as I finished.
"John's here I take it." He nodded at the RV.
"Yeah. He is." I bit my lip in worry.
"He knows about us?" he asked.
"How did you know…"
"Well, the fact he looks like he's going to kill me might have something to do with it."
"Oh." I turned to the door. "Ignore him, he's promised to be on his best behavior tonight."
"I'll try to be as well," he wickedly grinned at me before kissing me on the lips again. "Oh, present." He smiled and dug in his pocket. He handed me a box and I opened it. I chocked as I saw a key inside it.
"You didn't?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Uncle Bobby helped me a hell of a lot." He pointed at the opposite side of the street. A black 50's Cadillac sat on the pavement.
"Oh my God!" I screamed and ran over to it. I could see Uncle John and my Mom run after Daniel and I.
"She's beautiful." I grinned as I ran my hand over the bonnet. "How did you know?"
"Uncle Bobby may have hinted at it, he said you spotted it straight away when you were at his."
"I love Uncle Bobby!" I exclaimed.
"I hope not as much as you love me?" He muttered as he wound his arms around me again.
"Of course not." I smiled and looked at my Mom "May I?"
She laughed at Uncle John's face and then beamed at me "Of course you can. I'm sure Danny would like to take you shopping instead of me."
"I wouldn't bet on it Mom!" I added sarcastically.
"Oh ye of little faith!" Danny rolled his eyes "That was the plan anyway!"
"I'll go and get my purse then shall I?" I smiled before running into the house and returning with my shoulder bag. "I'll be home soon, I promise." I kissed Uncle John on the cheek before jumping into my new Caddy.
I smiled as I started up the engine "God, listen to her purr!" I grinned and kissed Danny on the neck. "Come on then baby." I laughed as we drove to the Mall.
I squealed in delight as we parked the car, "She runs like a dream!"
"I should think so!" Danny laughed at me as we got out and I locked her up.
I put my arms around his neck. "Thank you!" I kissed him on the nose.
"Your very welcome Mary." He laughed and kissed my mouth. "Come on, you have to look good for my Mom and Dad tonight!"
"I wish it was Bobby coming. Although, no, bad idea." I took his hand and we made our way into the mall.
"Why darling?" he looked at me with amusement.
"Last time Bobby saw John, he pulled a rifle on him. Dean told me."
"How is Dean?" he asked me "I haven't heard anything since Sam's girlfriend was killed."
"I know. Poor Sammy, I couldn't even think how I would cope if you died." I muttered.
"Hey!" he took my face in his hands "I'm not going anywhere! I promise you!" he kissed my head. "Now come on, we'll go and get something knock out for you to wear, you're mom was pretty generous with the cash."
"What can I say, I'm a mummy's girl!" I laughed as he dragged me around the Mall.
When we got home, I ran to the shower to get cleaned up. I put on my new underwear and my new black lace straight dress and heels.
My mom came in the room and smiled at the site in front of her. "I can't believe you're nearly all grown up!" she held my shoulders and looked in the mirror with me. "Come on, I'll do you're hair for you." She sat me in the chair and played with my hair, deciding on what to do with it.
"That's it." She smiled and brushed the top half back, fastening it with a silver hair clip. She played with the loose curls at the front of my face "There you go, all done baby!" she turned me around in the chair. "I like this!" she played with my new silver Channel necklace "Who bought you it?"
"You did." I smiled as I played with it. "Thanks Mom!" I hugged her.
"Come on, Uncle John wants to have a go in the Caddy!" she laughed and so did I as we made our way downstairs.
I beamed at Uncle John "Ahh. You scrub up nice!"
"I thought I'd make the effort for you!" he smiled at me "You look nice as well!"
"Dinner time!" My Mom enthused and we made our way to the restaurant.
I beamed as I saw Danny was already there, waiting for me patiently outside with his mom and dad.
I took a deep breath and looked at Uncle John for support.
"It's okay. They look pretty decent." He shrugged "I'll shoot them for you if they start."
"John!" my Mom scolded him "Those are two of the biggest socialites in Chicago. He started from nothing, a cars salesman. And she, well…"
"Regular gold digger from what I've heard." I smiled at him "Don't worry, we'll go for a burger when this is over."
"I think I'll need it!" he laughed at me as we got there.
"Hey beautiful." Danny kissed my cheek before taking my hand. "Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend Mary Campbell, and her mother Ruth Campbell and her Uncle, John Winchester."
"Nice to finally meet you honey." His mom smiled at me and then my mom "Ruth and John. I'm Mrs. Singer, you can call me Charlotte. This is my husband, Jim." She smiled and he shook my hand gently.
"Pleasure to finally meet you Mary. Daniel has told us so much about you already. Come on in, we'll get our table." Jim smiled at me dubiously before leading us into the restaurant.
"I think I like Uncle Bobby better." I muttered to Uncle John.
"Yep, same here. Even if he did try to pull a gun on me." He chuckled.
The night passed without any sort of major disaster. Uncle John had thrown Danny the warning glances before we'd reached the restaurant anyway.