When I came back around, there were feathers on my wings, and a hand playing with my claws.

I grinned, tentatively pushing back in the hopes that I would be allowed onto my back. When the hand gently found its way to my shoulder and the feathers retreated from my wings, I knew I was being allowed up. When Balthazar helped me turn, I looked up to see him beaming at me, eyes alight with love and joy.

"Good morning, sleepy head." He said gently, grinning like a fool.

I smiled back, still a little worn out. "Hi." I whispered. He reached over to the table, smiling, and brought a glass of water to my lips, encouraging me to drink. When he was satisfied, I was allowed to sit up fully. I did so, tucking my wings away with a thought to my grace.

"So, what's everyone been doing since I've been out?"

He smiled. "We have all the ingredients we need for the spell, just waiting for you to wake up."

I nodded. "And Vamp Kara?"

He shrugged. "I tried to get some answers to give you when you woke up, but she wasn't cooperating. Kept asking us the questions, like she wasn't the one tied up."

I scoffed. "What, none of you know how to get answers from an unwilling prisoner? Please; Dean was Alistair's star pupil in hell!"

Balthazar glared at me drily. "Yes, because we were all tripping over each other to torture a seventeen year old version of you."

I sighed. "But she's not me, Balthy."

He shook his head. "Easy for you to say." He muttered.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. I'm up, so it's my turn. I'll get my questions answered once and for all!" I pushed myself off the bed and Balthazar immediately jumped up, snaking an arm around my waist. I leaned into him, still a little shaky on my feet and grateful for the support.

As we exited the room and entered the dining room, I smiled at the sight of a disheveled Cas and hyperactive Gabriel busying themselves over the ingredients for the spell. Cas, hearing us approach, looked up and grinned; the smile that broke out on his face lighting up his grace.

"Kara! You're up! How are you feeling?"

I smiled as he bustled up, wrapping his arms around me and picking me up, twirling me in a circle. I squeaked a little bit, giggling as he put me down again.

"I'm doing a lot better." I answered him, grinning before turning to Gabe, only to have him do the same. I laughed at them both, their graces both shining almost blindingly with not only their joy at my wakefulness, but also the anticipation of their mates becoming angels.

"So," I said, clapping my hands together and working to get back on track. "Who wants to watch me question myself?"

Gabe smirked as a bucket of popcorn showed up in his hands. "This should be good."

I smirked as Balthazar and Cas rolled their eyes. We all trekked down to the dungeon. I could hear the other Kara questioning Sam and Dean and I occasionally heard a 'shut up' from one of them, but beyond that and a bit of whispered conversation between the brothers, there was silence on the other side of the door. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

As soon as the door opened, Dean turned to me and grinned. "Thank god you're awake again!"

Sam looked up at me and smiled. "Kara! How're you feeling?"

I smiled back. "A lot better. My other self still giving you trouble?"

Dean grunted his affirmation. "I was hoping to surprise you with info on where your mom is in this universe, but whenever I ask she just laughs in my face."

I frowned. "That actually kind of answers the question, sadly enough."

I walked between them, stepping in far enough for the other Kara to see me. As soon as she did, she scoffed.

"Seriously? Man, you Winchesters have hit an all time low; trying to get a shifter to impersonate me to myself in order to get information."

I smiled at how very like me that reaction was. "I wish it were that easy, sweetheart."

Her eyes shot to slits. "Don't call me that, you bitch."

Well, mark that on the differences board. I thought. Still, I couldn't resist the joke put in front of me, so I grinned and said, "not a werewolf either. You done guessing yet?"

She glared at me. "It's asshats like you that I turn."

I smiled. "I guess I'll take that as a 'yes' then." I opened my wings and brought them out. I heard Sam gasp and turned to him. He turned his beaming face on me and said,

"No scar, Kara!"

I smiled indulgently at him. "Yay!" I said, giving him two thumbs up. I turned to my vamp double and said, "Sorry sweetheart, there's a whole hell of a lot more weird going on here than you know."

She just stared at me. "What the hell are you? A dragon of some kind?"

I smiled. "Now we're getting somewhere!" I turned to the others. "Can I have some 'me' time, boys?" I winked at Dean, who rolled his eyes.

"You're unbelievable." He muttered, shaking his head. I grinned.

"Love you too."

He shook his head as he followed his brother out, throwing me one last look. Gabe pouted at me on the way out.

"What happened to 'who wants to watch'?"

I chuckled. "Sorry, Gabe, but I don't think this will go as well with an audience. I'll fill you guys in after I'm done."

He sighed and nodded as he followed the others out, throwing me one last pout before closing the door behind him.

As soon as the door was shut, I sighed and snapped a chair into existence. After turning it backward and straddling the back, I grinned and said,

"Well, let's get started. I hereby offer you the first question."

When Kara just glared at me, I sighed. "Look, you've got questions, I've got questions; why can't we be civilized about this? I'm just trying to be nice."

She smirked. "I thought I got the first question."

I grinned back. "Rhetorical questions don't count. Shoot."

"Who the hell are you? Why do you look like me?"

I smiled. "My name is Kara Wiscom. I'm an absolute nerd. My favorite TV Show is called Supernatural; it's about these two brothers named Sam and Dean Winchester who hunt monsters."

Kara rolled her eyes. "Hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but that ain't a TV show. That's life."

I smiled. "It is in this universe."

She stared at me like I was crazy and I smiled. "What do you know about the 'multiverse theory'?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes. "Sounds like some stupid movie trope."

I grinned. "That's exactly what it is!"

She stared incredulously at me, and I explained. "It's largely considered a tool for lazy writers, but I honestly believe it, so there's that."

"What is it?"

I smiled. I know that tone. She's smelled a good story and she's hooked. "The multiverse theory is the idea that there are millions of different universes out there, each happening simultaneously. Every time anyone makes a decision, a universe splits off for each option that could have been chosen; infinite universes, each with its own differences."

Kara raised an eyebrow. "Tell me you're joking." I grinned at her.

"You haven't heard the best part yet. I fully believe in the validity of the multiverse theory, but I add a little footnote."

Kara rolled her eyes. "I don't think I want to know."

I chuckled. "Well then I guess it's a good thing I'm in charge in here." She rolled her eyes, but stayed silent, waiting for my explanation. "Anyway, the footnote is this; every time an author starts a story, we cause another little offshoot universe; the one we are writing about. Essentially, each author is creator of their own little universe where whatever they write happens."

Kara rolled her eyes. "Wow, talk about a god complex."

I huffed out a short laugh. "Yeah; believe me, it's a problem."

I grinned at her before getting back on track. "Anyway, my turn for a question; where the hell is mom?"

Kara stared at me. "What in the hell are you on about?"

"You know; mom? The woman who made dinner every night, kissed away booboos, gave birth to you? Why wasn't she mentioned in the 'survived by' section of your obit?"

Kara rolled her eyes. "Sandy hasn't been my mother since we moved to the island."

"Seriously? That was, like, first grade! I mean, I get they started seeing a marriage counselor then, but she just took off? No custody battle or anything?"

Kara shrugged, glaring at me. I shook my head in wonder.

"I just... Wow..." I whispered.

Kara rolled her eyes at me.

"Wait," I said, "then who drove you to and from little cheer, if mom wasn't around to do it?"

Kara smirked. "I thought it was my turn for questions."

"Right, sorry. Go ahead." I said, waving for her to continue.

She nodded. "Well, you explained that multiverse theory of yours to me, but you didn't answer my original question; who are you?"

I shrugged before smiling slyly at her. "Well, I thought I answered it quite adequately, and I told you it's more than just a theory."

She rolled her eyes and I watched as she opened her mouth to respond, only to snap it shut and turn wide eyes on me as the implications of what I said sank in, only to roll them again when I grinned and wiggled my eyebrows at her.

"No." She said.

"No what, darling?"

"You are not me."

I pouted a little. "And why not? We certainly look similar. Why can't I be you?"

"I am not, and under no circumstances would I be, a nerd."

I shrugged. "Why not? Been reading since you were three."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, then I got busy with little cheer when I was seven and never ever looked back."

I shrugged and smirked at her. "So, no being a nerd? No writing stories?"

She turned a half disgusted, half amused face on me. "Writing? What was your life like?"

I smiled. "Well, first off, we stayed on Ridge. Mom and Dad did counseling at least from first grade to fifth grade. I didn't pay much attention after that to their marriage, but they were definitely much better. Oh, and Dad struggled to keep down a job."

She stared at me. "Sandy never left?"

I shrugged. "Nope. Mom and Dad were active in the church. Dad was huge on prayer. Actually, the leader of your nest; John? He's a pastor in my 'verse."

She rolled her eyes. "He's a pastor here, too, genius. Youth pastor. Gets us young. I was just going into sixth grade when he called me to his office during sunday school hour and turned me. No offer, no choice." I turned to stare at her. She rolled her eyes at the incredulous look on my face. "What, you think I asked to be a monster; never age, never die? Go to school every day thirsting for the blood that I can hear pulsing through the veins of my best friends?"

I looked at her, suddenly understanding a little more. "That- that must have been terrible."

She scoffed and shook her head. "Don't try to comfort me. It's your turn for a question, so ask."

I froze, contemplating. She had already pretty much answered all my pressing questions, but I still kind of wanted to hear more. "Well- how did you end up knowing James as well as you do?"

She shrugged. "His sister was in little cheer. His mom drove me there and watched me afterward until Dad picked me up on his way home from work. For a while we half expected to become step siblings, but it never happened. I think Sandy just turned Dad off to any notions of ever loving again. I think he was afraid to get hurt again. After we got into middle school, James asked me out and I said yes." She shrugged. "I don't know if we ever were actually anything real, romantically speaking, at least. It was more domestic, really. We were more like a couple who had been married for years than a couple horny preteens like everyone else our age. We argued, teased each other. Never really kissed or got any farther than that. Never really wanted to."

"You turned him?"

"How did you know that?" She frowned.

I shrugged. "Those five are kind of my boys. Balthy's my mate, and the others have kind of adopted me as a baby sister. I took them to Iverson. I wanted to show them where I always went to think during high school, and James showed up. How else did you think we found you?"

She nodded. "Let me guess, he tried to convince me not to go up against John?"

I nodded and she sighed, shaking her head. "Of course. He was always too afraid of John."

"So, how did you feed?"

Kara smiled. "My girls learned what happened after I missed two weeks of cheer practice. We were always so close. They knew how important cheer was to me."

I nodded in understanding. "They supplied it for you, didn't they?"

She smiled sadly. "Between the twelve of them, they kept me from having to hunt. That's why I never turned them. They understood what happened and still accepted me. Because of them, I never took a life."

I nodded. "Well, that satisfies my curiosity. Your turn. Questions?"

She looked at me. "How is Balthazar alive? Word on the street was Castiel killed him, and Gabriel too."

I sighed. "Not so much." I explained how Gabriel died, then told her everything that happened after I got to this universe. When I was done, she nodded.

"That actually makes sense. Anymore questions on your end?"

I shrugged; I was pretty much out.

"Well, I have one more."

I smiled. "Shoot."

"Bang, bang." She said softly, smiling when I grinned at her. "Well if you didn't do cheer, how did you spend high school?"

I laughed. "Would you believe band?" She stared at me, mouth dropped open. I continued. "I told you I was a nerd. From sixth grade until senior year, I played five different instruments, and during marching season I was on the color guard. Would you believe Friday was the first time I had ever spoken to James? My best friend in high school was Madison Whiler."

Kara's eyes widened. "That weird girl on the drum line? John was eyeing her for the nest."

I grinned. "She talked me into joining swim team. We did girl scouts, bible study, and Action Team together."

"Action Team?"

"A service oriented youth group at church for high schoolers."

Kara nodded. "So, lots of church and band, then?"

I smiled. "Yeah. I played Bari Sax in Jazz Band all four years. It was my favorite class; that and German."

Kara smiled at that. "Frau Bilden."

I chuckled. "Frau Bilden. I took and passed the AP German Test senior year."

Kara sighed. "Thank god. I have been stressing so bad over that! Frau Bilden thinks I'm silly for worrying, but I still don't do grammar well."

I smiled. "Neither do I, honestly."

"But you still passed?"

I smiled. "Don't worry, it comes back when you're under pressure."

She grinned. "Good. Well, no more questions for you; none for me. What say you I meet these boys you like so much?"

I grinned. Feel free to come back. I said to Balthazar.

"Finally!" Kara grinned at me, trying not to laugh as Dean's grumpy voice came from the door.

"Relax, Deano. We were just having a heart to heart." She said.

"Is your curiosity satisfied, Kara?" Kara and I grinned at Cas.

"Yes," we said in sync.

Balthazar smiled. "Well; this has been interesting. What do we do now?"

Kara rolled her eyes. "I want to go home. You angels can do that, do it."

"About that... You're kind of dead?"

She stared at me. "What?"

I sighed. "Everyone who was in that barn is."

"James?" I shook my head.

"I'm sorry. If I'd known, I'd have saved him."

Kara shook her head, furiously closing her eyes against the tears leaking down her face. Since her hands were bound, I reached out and wiped them away. "What happened?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"You sparked a battle, love. I wanted to find out what happened in this universe, so I brought you here and went back. Aaron and John's forces decimated James and your other friends. They all got killed, and then we jumped in to clean up the rest. Aaron got the drop on me, and I still had my wings out; Balthy kind of overreacted." My mate chuckled, embarrassment leaking through the bond.

Kara raised an eyebrow at me, waiting for me to continue. "He blew up the barn." I said. She snorted, struggling to hold back her laugh.

"Wow. Of course he did." Her eyebrows drew together. "So I'm the only one left?"

I nodded and she nodded. "Take me back to my girls."

"You can't return to your old life, Kara. Too many questions be raised."

"We have a contingency plan. The only people who will know will be my squad and Daddy. He bought the Johnson's house when I was in third grade. That's why we aren't on Ridge anymore."

My eyes widened. "Like, the huge house on the south end?"

She nodded. "The girls and I can hide out there."

I nodded. "Well, you, definitely. But what about their parents?"

She shrugged. "They already spent all their time with me and their parents never knew. Their parents wouldn't even notice."

"If you say so. I'll take you back." She nodded and I unfastened her cuffs. She stood and turned to the others with a small smile.

"Well, it was nice learning more about you boys; even if it's from myself. Good luck with heaven and the family business. Have fun becoming angels."

They turned startled eyes on me and I shrugged with a small smile.

I held my hand out and Kara smiled, taking it. In a blink we were outside her house. Leaning up, she kissed my cheek. "Good luck, sweetie." She whispered with a small smile. I matched it with one of my own.

"Back atcha, Edward wannabe."

She rolled her eyes and walked up to the front door, turning back to smile at me before walking into that house; the last time I saw this universe's slightly messed up version of me.

I sighed and returned to the bunker to debrief the boys.


A/N: Aaaaaand... That's a wrap! Thoughts? Sorry this chapter took a little long. It was suprisingly hard to write... And Kara never got to kill her(vampire)self... I was really looking forward to writing that confusing monstrosity... Oh well, I like this way better! Thank you so much for all the reviews! They are definitely great motivators when I get busy and don't feel like writing! Sorry we didn't get to the boys becoming angels. I swear I WILL get to that eventually! Hopefully, unless I get seriously side tracked, that will be next chapter! Don't forget to let me know what you think of Kara's "me" time! ;)