Disclaimer: Seriously, its not mine. So, stop asking. ;)

Dean was glowering in the corner while Sam was speaking to him. I sighed and gladly accepted the glass of wine Amanda pushed in my direction.

I don't know what Sam had told Dean, and really at this point I didn't really care. What I did care about is that my manipulation of Sam worked and I was no longer tied up, and I was longer on my way to spend quality time in someone else's basement. Although, whatever Sam had told Dean may have convinced him to let me go, it sure hadn't lowered Dean's guard around me, essentially putting me back at square one when it came to him.

And I was pretty sure I was now at absolutely no squares with Sam.

I was also sure that Dean was suspicious of Sam's motives. He wasn't oblivious to the changes happening in Sam. He knew something was wrong with him, he just didn't know what it was. It was sure going to be fun traveling with them now. What with the obvious tension between them and the fact that they both hated my guts.

So, essentially... it was going to be just like a family road trip.

I just hoped I could convince Sam to stop drinking that demon blood, and thereby halt his deterioration before it led somewhere devastating. And if I saw Ruby again, I wasn't going to hesitate in killing her. I'd just need to steal that knife...

"So... Angels, huh?" Amanda said simply and then took a large sip of her drink.

"Yup." I took a seat across from her and rubbed at my eyes.

"Every Immortal... was at one point an Angel?" she murmured setting her grace in front of her and staring at it. Being this close to it made my heart ache... so I couldn't even begin to imagine what it was doing to her.

"'Fraid so." I sighed.

"Almost makes me feel guilty for stealing the papal tiara from the Vatican and replacing it with a fake...." she gave a forced smile, "Almost."

I chuckled going along with her attempt at levity, even though I knew she was at the point of a breakdown.

"So, what now? Are you going to tell Mac?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Of course not. Duncan's broody enough as it is, without throwing this into the mix. I don't even think I can deal with this, let alone MacLeod. It would kill him."

I could tell that this news was really affecting her more than she let on. But, I had to admit a bit of selfishness in the matter. Because I was happy she knew. That someone knew. That I had someone to share this burden.

I nodded solemnly, "I suppose you're right."

"Of course I am, old man. I'm always right."

I laughed, "That's... debatable."

"Jerk."

"Well, I try."

It was a thirty minutes later when Castiel returned. He wasn't in the room for more than five seconds before Amanda had gotten up to stand in front of him her grace in hand.

I stood up and watched her, warily. What was she doing? Castiel looked equally flummoxed by her determined expression.

"Castiel?" she spoke in a serious tone I seldom heard grace her lips.

"Yes?" He rose an expectant brow.

Her hand gripped around the vial, "Can you... make me forget?"

Castiel's expression became sympathetic, and he responded solemnly, "Yes."

Amanda grabbed the Angel's hand and slapped the vial into his hand, "Then do it."

I felt my heart sink when I realized what she was doing.

"Amanda?" My voice sounded uncharacteristically desperate.

Her eyes turned to me and I could see that there were tears forming around her eyes, "I'm sorry, Methos... I just... I can't..."

My shoulders slumped. I could understand where she was coming from, really, I could. This revelation was eating at me too, but I could never bring myself to just forget about it. I thrived on knowledge and knowing the world around me. Amanda though, she was different... always lived in the now and thrived in the excitement of life. And knowing what had been taken from her, was apparently too much for her to bare and continue on with that way of life.

And I'm sure she was just as reluctant as I was about getting her grace returned and simply smashing the vial, because, like me, she didn't know if she'd still be the same person if that happend.

So yes, I could understand... but that didn't mean I had to be happy about it. I'd wanted someone to confide in and she was taking that from me.

Suddenly Amanda's arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace. I returned it, clinging to her desperately. She whispered into my ear that she was sorry, and I could tell that she meant it. Amanda pulled back from me, but kept her hands in mine.

"Are you sure, Amanda...? I..."

She leveled me with an earnest look of sympathy, "I can't carry this, Methos. It's too much. I'm not like you. I'm not strong enough..."

I think she put far too much weight on my abilities. I didn't feel particularly strong at the moment. I mean I was begging for God's sake! Since when did I beg...?

I nodded, trying not to look too dejected by her decision. She gave me a tiny smile, then laid a kiss on my cheek before pulling away from me.

"You take care of yourself, old man."

She turned to Dean and Sam who had come over from their spot near the wall.

"And you two do the same." Amanda smiled. "And a word of advice from the 1000 year old chick?" she gave Sam meaningful look before addressing the both of them, "You really should listen to the old guy. He usually knows what he's talking about... even if he doesn't have to be so damn smug about it."

I smirked at the back-handed compliment. Typical Amanda.

She hugged Sam and then turned to Dean.

"Bye, Amanda." Dean gave her a non-committal shrug.

She eyed him with a shake of her head.

"That the best you can do, Dean? Hmmphh, men! Can't get something done right, gonna have to do it yourself."

Amanda grabbed the collar of his jacket with both hands and pulled Dean toward her, planting a passionate kiss on his lips. After a momentary bout of surprise, Dean gladly returned the gesture. And after what was an awkwardly long stretch of time for Sam, Castiel and myself, they finally separated from one another.

She turned away from the boys and went back to Castiel who was watching her with rapt attention.

"Are you ready?" he asked calmly.

Amanda smiled devilishly, "Well, there is one more thing..."

"What is th--?" Castiel started to ask, but was cut off my Amanda's lips on his.

He stiffened at the intimate contact, and I could hear Sam and Dean try to muffle their amusement beneath their hands.

It was followed soon after by Dean commenting, "Dude, isn't she like technically making out with her brother?"

I couldn't stop myself from bursting out into full-throated laughter.