It was only another three days before an incident brought up a discussion related to hunting, when Rowena paid another visit to bring her a gift. The witch had been talking to Sam and Dean about her most recent run in with a vampire without realizing Ellie was eavesdropping from the hallway.
"You killed a vampire?" she ran into the library excitedly, catching the adults off guard.
"Um," Dean whipped his head around to stare at Rowena, his teeth baring with a concerned face before he pointed to the wrapped gift on the table. "Look, a present."
Ellie glared at him for a brief moment before her curiosity got the best of her and she walked over to the table. "Who's it from?"
"From me, your Auntie Rowena," Rowena smiled down at her as Ellie shook the box.
Ellie pulled the ribbon and lifted the top off of the box, her eyes brightening as she pulled out the soft red material. It was a knee length dress, with the bottom hem being irregular with small beads hanging off of it. The top had thin straps with laced designs on the bodice, which immediately drew Ellie's eyes.
"I love it," she squealed, throwing the box on the table and turning to hug Rowena, "Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, darling," Rowena slowly wrapped her arms around Ellie's shoulders, a smile on her face.
"Dad, can you help me put it on?" she ran up to Sam, holding out the box. He nodded and pointed to the hallway, where she hurried towards her bedroom.
"Now might be a good time to talk about stuff," Dean added in a hushed tone.
Sam sighed and bit his lip, knowing that as soon as Ellie came back out she would want to ask Rowena all about vampires and other hunting things. When he reached her room, she was standing in her underwear, the dress tangled in her hands above her head. He chuckled and stepped forward, rearranging it and pulling it down over her body.
"Thanks," Ellie looked down and smoothed the material, swaying her hips. "It's so pretty."
"It is," Sam smiled, sitting on her bed. "El, I have to talk to you about something."
"Okay," she stood in front of him.
Sam explained the plan that he and Dean and Cass had arranged, going into just enough detail to satisfy her. She was very excited to start 'fighting class' with Dean, and to get to read the many books throughout the house that she had previously been instructed to stay away from.
"You know that this deal only works if you keep up with your schoolwork," Sam sat on her bed as she jumped in front of him with excitement. "If you aren't doing good in school, no more hunting stuff."
"Yeah yeah, okay," she waved him off, turning to run out of the room, "Can I go show Auntie Rowena how I look in my dress now?"
Sam reached out and grabbed her upper arm, pulling her back to stand in front of him. "Ellie, I'm serious. This is not normal kid stuff."
She sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes, "I know, Dad."
"Do you?" he replied a little more harshly than he meant to, "Hunting is dangerous, and we're only teaching you about it so you can be safe."
Ellie squirmed as he kept his grip on her upper arm, trying to push him away so she could leave the room. "Dad stop."
"Are you listening to me?" he grabbed her hips and held her directly in front of him, "This isn't a joke."
"Yes father," she replied sarcastically, tilting her head as she stared into his eyes. "Hunting is dangerous. I know. Can I go now?"
Sam sighed and released her, pointing a finger in her face, "This discussion is not over, Eleanor."
"Don't call me that," she mumbled, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I'm your dad, I can call you whatever I want," he smirked, making her giggle.
"Then call me something else," she shrugged, leaning to give him a quick kiss before turning on her heels and running out of the room. Sam shook his head, then stood to follow her.
When he arrived in the library, Ellie was spinning in her dress to show Rowena, who was clapping with a wide smile on her face.
"Beautiful, I knew it'd fit you perfectly," the witch bent over in front of her.
"Auntie Rowena, I get to start hunting soon," Ellie jumped up and down.
Rowena slowly stood and looked over to Sam, her eyebrows raised. "Oh really?"
Sam sighed deeply, shrugging as he pulled out a chair and fell into it. Dean chuckled from across the table and ducked as Sam picked up one of Ellie's crayons and threw it at him.
"How did you kill the vampire?" Ellie tilted her head, following Rowena as she walked to her bag.
Rowena looked out of the corner of her eye at the brothers, who were both giving her hardened looks. She smiled and turned toward Ellie, reaching out and twirling a piece of her hair around her finger. "Has your father told you about witches yet?"
"No, but I read a book about it," Ellie shrugged, biting her lip as she realized that her dad and uncle heard her.
"You what?" Dean leaned forward in his chair. "You can't read."
Ellie slowly turned and looked at him, a sweet smile on her face. "I found an app on dad's iPad that reads books to me out loud."
"Oh my," Rowena tried not to laugh, holding her hand up to her mouth.
"How do you know how to use my iPad?" Sam held his hands out.
"I'm six, not stupid," she rolled her eyes.
"Language," her father warned, pointing at her.
"Stupid isn't a curse word," she crossed her arms, "Plus, Uncle Dean says way worse words."
"Hey," Dean shouted, "We agreed you wouldn't tell your dad about that."
She looked him right in the eyes as she smiled and continued, "He said the F word. Twice."
"Ellie," Dean hissed, then closed his eyes and hung his head.
"Seriously dude?"
"So," Ellie spun around, satisfied by the argument that was beginning between her dad and uncle, "Can you tell me more about witches?"
"I don't think your father would appreciate that," Rowena turned and winked at Sam. "But when you're older, don't you worry. I'll teach you anything you want to know."
Ellie sighed, then leaned forward to whisper, "Dad says I can't use guns or anything like a weapon, but I don't think that magic spells count."
"Oh," Rowena nodded, her face turning serious, "Spells can be even more dangerous than a gun, my dear."
"Really?" Her eyes grew wide as she inhaled sharply, "Whoa."
"Oh yes, that's why you mustn't play around with magic until you're an adult," Rowena glanced quickly out of the corner of her eye and saw Sam mouthing a 'thank you'.
"Okay," Ellie moaned, looking down, "I guess."
Rowena placed a hand on her cheek, pulling her gaze back up, "Oh Eleanor, you have so much to learn. Don't try to grow up too quickly."
Ellie giggled as Rowena turned her hand and tickled her neck briefly, then smiled up at the witch, "Okay Auntie Rowena."
"Why do you listen to her and not us?" Dean yelled, holding his arms out.
Ellie shrugged, "Because you're boys."
Dean's shoulders dropped and he gave her a dead panned look. He turned to look at Sam, who just shook his head and closed his eyes.
"I give up," Sam scoffed.
Rowena walked by him and squeezed his shoulder, leaning down to whisper in his ear, "Just wait until she's a teenager, Samuel."
"Yeah, people keep saying that," Sam moaned, turning to look at Ellie as she remained in her spot with her hands behind her back, smiling sweetly at him.
"Love you daddy," she tilted her head and gave him a dramatically sappy smile, batting her eyelashes before she skipped towards the kitchen.
"Aye, you are going to have your hands full with that one," Rowena chuckled.
"We know," the boys both said simultaneously.
Ellie walked into the kitchen, smiling when she saw Cass sitting at the table, "Hi Uncle Cass, do you like my new dress?"
"Yes, it's nice," the angel looked at her quickly, then put his hand to his head and closed his eyes.
"Uncle Cass?" she walked up to him, watching as his face scrunched up, "Are you okay?"
He groaned slightly, then opened his eyes, "Yes, I'm sorry Ellie. It was just angel radio."
"You have a radio in your head?" she whispered, her jaw dropping. Cass opened his mouth to speak, realizing that he hadn't explained the full extend of his angel-ness to her yet.
"Um, yes," he began, "It's how angels talk to each other. We also hear prayers this way."
"Wait, so if I wanted to talk to you without Dad or Uncle Dean hearing, I could just pray to you in my head?" she smiled wickedly.
"I guess," he raised an eyebrow, "Or I could just read your mind."
"You can read minds too?" she shouted, her smile getting bigger by the second. "What else can you do?"
Cass smiled, getting off the chair and walking towards her. He held up his hand and lifted a spoon from the counter, floating it through the air in front of her. Ellie's eyes widened, and she watched as the spoon spun around her head slowly, then landed back on the counter.
"That. Was. Awesome," she squeed, jumping up and down, "Can you fly?"
"Not anymore," Cass sighed, one hand instinctually reaching for where his wings used to reside, "I used to have wings."
"What happened to them?" Ellie tilted her head.
"It's a long story," Cass chuckled, "But I don't have them anymore."
"That's sad," Ellie walked up and rested her hand in his.
"I suppose it is," he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "I can do other cool things, like if you ever get hurt, I can make you feel better."
Ellie's nose scrunched up in confusion.
"So you're like an angel band-aid?"