-Chapter 14 of TMLL-

Ace stood on the porch for what seemed like forever. She would put up a fist to knock on the door and pull her arm back down again. Without thinking, she knocked on the door. Instantly she regretted it, but a little too soon for her, the door began to open. There stood Bobby, his face full of shock. On instinct he sprayed holy water on Ace. She flinched at how cold it was, but nothing happened. Bobby pulled her inside and recited an exorcism rant. Once again nothing happened. He dropped the spell book and looked Ace over. He looked as if he might cry. Ace smiled and Bobby hugged her like he hadn't had human contact in years. Bobby called out for Sam to come to the kitchen as his voice broke. Sam rounded the corner and he stopped in midstride when he saw Ace standing in the kitchen. He shot a look at Bobby and he shook his head. Sam turned his attention to Ace again and they hugged. Sam squeezed Ace hard and Ace returned the embrace. No one had said a word thus far. It was a silent reunion.

"Where's Dean?" Ace finally asked. Sam and Bobby seemed startled at the sound of her voice. They stared at her in disbelief, but were coming to love having her back. It'd been two dark weeks without her.

"He's out back." Sam said nodding towards the back door.

Ace took initiative and went outback to find him. She walked around before she found him working under the hood of a beaten up pickup truck. He wasn't paying attention, just focusing on his task at hand. Ace longed to feel his warm embrace and look into his soul through the green of his eyes, but she wasn't sure she could look at them the same way as before. Every time she thought of his eyes she would remember seeing their daughter...their beautiful daughter. She sniffled and the sudden sound alerted Dean. He turned his body quickly and went into his defensive mode.

His defense quickly dropped and he dropped the car tool. He rubbed his eyes as if her were dreaming and soon realized this was real. He took a step closer as did Ace. She soon noticed the expression she confused for happiness was one of fury. Dean took a step closer and picked up the tool again.

"Dean...it's me..." Ace begged.

"You sonofvabitch...I'll kill you." Dean said and he ran towards Ace. Sam and Bobby rushed from the house and grabbed Dean's arms and pulled him back. He fought forward as Sam and Bobby tried to convince him that Ace wasn't possessed.

Dean did the same things that Bobby did. He performed the exorcism and he practically drenched Ace in holy water. After seeing the proof for himself he could hardly believe it. He couldn't believe that Ace, whom he loved, was actually back...alive...and here in front of him. He saw her die. He saw her burn. The feeling he got from that day he wished he were back in hell. Dean took one last step forward before he pulled Ace into a loving embrace. Sam and Bobby went back inside the house, still be cautious. When their hug finally loosened, Ace looked into Dean's eyes. As soon as she did she began to cry. Dean held her face in his hands and brushed the tears away with his fingertips.

"Talk to me, Ace. What's wrong?" Dean asked looking deep into her eyes. She couldn't take it and blinked back the tears and looked away, but she didn't let go.

"Nothing..." Ace answered. She blinked back her remaining tears as her thoughts once again went back to their daughter. Ace tried to push that thought aside. She threw her arms around Dean's neck and their lips pressed together. They relived that long forgotten moment of passion and their love, once again, was reignited.

Ace and Dean sat on the couch in silence. His arm was slung over her shoulder and she rested her head against his chest. Sam and Bobby looked at them with smiles stretched across their faces. Ace looked up at Dean and a question crossed her mind, but she decided it was better that he bring it up, which would happen any time now. After a few minutes of mindlessly scrolling through the channels, the five of them got a little hungry. Bobby made a few burgers for them, the same meal that once made Ace queasy when she was pregnant, but instead of vomiting when the smell drifted through the house she sucked in that burger as she hadn't eaten for weeks. Bobby, Sam, and Dean all stared at her in amazement as she started on her second burger.

"I thought you couldn't stand this stuff?" Dean commented. Ace stopped and put the burger back on the plate. She swallowed what was in her mouth and tried to come up with an explanation. Dean dropped his burger and Sam and Bobby continued to eat awkwardly. Ace gave up on an excuse. She finished her second burger and went to the bedroom. Dean took one more bite and followed her. Bobby and Sam cleaned up and prepared for the welcoming argument.

"I found your note." Dean said closing the bedroom door.

"What note, Dean?" Ace questioned. She knew what he was talking about, but she wasn't in the mood to go there right now.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about." He said curtly. He sat down on the bed and brushed his hands over his knees.

"I don't want to talk about her, Dean." Ace grumbled. She covered her mouth seconds after the words escaped. Dean stood up quickly and was in front of her in seconds.

"You knew it was a girl?" Dean said. His temper was beginning to burn through.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. It doesn't matter…there's no baby anymore…" Ace said under her breath just loud enough for Dean to hear. His face dropped as did his anger.

"Oh…" Dean said, silently taking back his anger. He reached out for Ace's hand, but she quickly pulled away and walked to the window sill and looked outside.

"It doesn't matter." Ace began hiding her emotions. "Everything's fine."

"How did you know the baby was a girl?" Dean asked her. Ace didn't answer right away. She folded her arms across her chest. Dean turned her towards him and stared deep into her eyes. Ace shook her head and Dean gave up. He huffed and sat back down on the bed and ran his fingers through his hair.

Ace broke her glance from the window and went out back to her car and took it for a drive. After she left, Dean went to the kitchen where Sam and Bobby were anxiously waiting and called out for Cas. A few minutes later he comes. Dean explained to him that Ace was back. None of them thought it was unusual, being that they had all died several times and come back. Dean asked Cas if he knew she'd come back and Cas nodded his head. He'd just come from Heaven and had been informed of her resurrection.

"She went to Heaven?" Sam questioned rather shocked.

"Yes." Cas answered simply.

"Wanna tell us why?" Dean asked him.

"I'm not exactly sure why, but she's not the same as she was before. Something has changed." Cas commented.

"She's not a damn demon is she? If Azazel is back, I'll shoot the bastard. "Dean said angrily. Castiel shook his head and said she wasn't possessed. "Then what the hell Cas? I called you here to get answers not more questions."

"I'm sorry I can't give you what you want, Dean." Castiel said. The door swung open and Ace walked over the threshold. Castiel looked as surprised as the rest of them did when they first saw her. Ace dropped the bag on the counter and hugged Cas. He stood awkwardly and then wrapped his arms loosely around Ace's waist. She pulled away and smiled.

"Why is it that I feel you've never been hugged before?" Ace asked him.

"I just...i don't know." Castiel said and disappeared.