A/N: Guys! Exciting news! Someone deemed this story worthy of being added to the Best Original Character Supernatural Stories community and I am ecstatic! (Honestly, I didn't know communities were a thing until this happened, but I am so stoked!) The views just keep rolling in and I am incredibly excited about the new favorites and follows, I honestly appreciate all of the support from all of you. So thank you! Alright, back to business… Just an FYI, the beginning of this chapter went a completely different direction than I thought it would, but oh well! Let me know what you guys think :)

eldaearien: Thanks so much for the input on whether to branch out with different stories or just keeping with this one, I will definitely take that into consideration. I'm glad you loved Ana's power show last chapter, she is pretty powerful but we're going to see some of her weaknesses coming up soon :) As always thank you for the review dear!

Teaching her family all of the things she had hoped to never let them know about was harder than Ana had imagined. It was admitting defeat and she wasn't handling that well. Thankfully Sam and Dean were there to pick it up when she couldn't continue. Castiel and Gabriel had left, yet again, to see if they could find any new information for the group to work off of. They were all in agreement that they needed to get a lead on Jade, track her down, and put an end to her. Hopefully that would put an end to the possible release of Michael and Lucifer. Ana stood on the concrete steps that led from the path from the driveway to the front door, looking at the night sky. It had been a long night and it didn't seem like it was going to ever end, like she was going to be stuck under the same night sky for the rest of her life. That's what it felt like, almost a constant stream of getting stuck in a situation that seemed hopeless and life threatening. Fighting of demons and angels, demons and angels… The only time it had ever felt different was the short amount of time she was away at school and even then she couldn't keep her mind off of the possibility of someone coming after her.

Taking in long, deep breaths she tried to let the cool night air clear her mind, but no matter how many times she repeated the process it wasn't helping. The sound of the door opening behind her warned her of the intruder on her privacy, but then again, things between her and Connor were never really private. "How's it going in there?" Ana questioned without turning to look at him, her focus still up at the stars.

Connor moved to stand behind her, carefully wrapping his arms around her stomach. Their wounds had been healed by the angels just before they left and he was thankful that his arm was no longer hurting, but more so that the cuts on her body had healed. "As well as can be imagined. They're taking it all in, Monica offered to make copies of the symbols that Dean and Sam are showing them so that the everyone has a one and can work on memorizing them." He pulled her body close against his, hoping that his presence would help calm her down. "Kellen's paying extra close attention. I had a thought watching him, but you know him better than I do…"

"What thought?" She asked, eyes still focused upward on the one constellation that she was always able to find. Llys Don; in old Celtic tales it was said that it was the physical representation of the mother goddess Danu watching over the world beneath her. It had been her personal version of the north star since she had learned about it when she was younger.

He half shrugged, not wanting to move his arms from around her body to comply with the full motion, "He just had this look in his eyes, like he was taking everything to heart, making sure it was all stored somewhere in his head where he could easily access it." Taking a moment, he thought about it again and came to the same conclusion, "I think he's considering taking up the hunt."

"Becoming a hunter?" Ana almost shrieked, turning in his arms so that she could looked up at him. "Do you really think that he's thinking that's a possibility?" If Kellen was even considering it she was going to have to put that to an end. There was no way in Hell she was going to let anyone else she cared about join this neverending fight, she couldn't handle adding one more person to the list of people she constantly worried about losing to the evil of the world.

Looking into her eyes, he took his time to chose his words, hoping that he wouldn't say something to upset her further. The fight with the demons, the small yelling match she had gotten into with Dean, having to explain everything she wanted to keep hidden to her family, and the news that he thought Kellen may be considering becoming a hunter was clearly too much for her. "I think that he understands the need for people like Sam and Dean, like you. After what happened tonight he most likely wants to be able to help protect those he cares about and I know the part of him that considers you as much of a sister as Gwen and Callie wants to be able to protect you as well."

With a shake of her head, she pulled herself out of his arms and took a few steps away. Her eyes were focused on the ground, arms crossed over her chest as she spoke. "I can't let that happen, you know I can't. Anyone who ends up in this life dies bloody and I can't let that happen to any of them in there. If I could, I would take dad and Sam out of it too, but I can't. So I'll do what I can and make sure that no one else I love has to join this fight." Finally raising her eyes to his, she winced at the thought that if she could control it she would have made it so that Connor never had to join the fight either. They were stronger together, they both understood that something about being witches and being soul mates made their powers stronger as a pair rather than separated, but she didn't want him to risk his life to be a part of something he really didn't have to be.

"Don't you dare think that, Ana." Connor strode over to her, having been able to pick up on her thoughts as she frantically worried for those she loved. "You are the most important thing in my life and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else other than fighting by your side as you try to keep the world safe." He placed his hands on the sides of her face gently, forcing her to look him directly in the eye and not be able to look anywhere else. "You are part of who I am now and I wouldn't change that for the world, even if that means that I go down in a fight protecting you. I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe, whether you like it or not."

She sighed, eyes slowly closing as she took in a deep breath and then opened them as she released it. "I understand that, but that doesn't make it any easier. Connor, you aren't a hunter and what we're in the middle of? It's hunting at its worst. Big fights with powerful beings and end of the world conclusions, something my family has become all too familiar with." A tear slid down her cheek as she placed a hand on top of one of his that still rested on her cheeks, tucking her fingertips between his index finger and her skin, gently clutching on to him. "This is all just so messed up and I can't stop replaying the fact that I'm at the center of it all. In one way or another I've made myself a key player in anything that deals with the cage or Lucifer and Michael."

"We're the key players, Ana, not just you." He spoke before she could get any further, using his thumb to wipe away the stray tear. "The prophecy is about the two of us working as a team to stop this, you're not alone. You were never meant to be alone in this and you need to get that through your stubborn, Winchester head." Pulling her close to his chest, he held her head there before dropping his hands to wrap them around her in a hug. "We're a package deal now. I'm not going anywhere and I'm not letting you leave, so you're stuck dealing with me fighting by your side."

Turning her face toward his chest, she let herself find comfort in his presence, which was so much easier than it was with anyone else. Something about the lingering smell of the mixture of herbs he kept in his bag of clothes paired with the faint smell of gunpowder from firing the gun he disliked so much calmed her and it wasn't long before she was able to process his words without the nagging voice in the back of her head that told her it was all her fault. He was her's, just as much as she was his. They were meant to be together, they were meant to fight at each other's sides and to keep the other safe. Something had gone incredibly right in the universe and fate had given her a man that would help her through life in more than one way. "So I'm not allowed to run away from this?" she questioned, not moving her head at all, but wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I'm thinking handcuffs. That way you're with me at all times and we can spice up things in the bedroom a little." Connor teased, knowing that now that she was calm he could relax a little.

Pulling back just enough to be able to look up at him, Ana raised an eyebrow, "I know it's been a few months, but last I remember our adventures in the bedroom were going just fine."

He let a contemplative expression cross his face, eyes turned upward as he pretended to think hard on the subject. "Honestly I don't remember, I think you're going to have to refresh my memory." he told her as he looked back down at her, a sly grin forming on his lips.

"You are absolutely ridiculous." She commented with a shake of her head before stepping back away from him, "Come on, let's head inside so I can do what I can to keep Kellen out of the hunting life."

Following Ana inside the house, Connor grabbed her hand as they walked back into a mostly quiet living room. Sam and Dean were talking to themselves in the corner of the room while it seemed everyone else was trying to fully process everything they had just been told. Heading directly toward her father and uncle, she pulled Connor with her, knowing that he would just follow her had they not been holding hands. The conversation the two brothers were having suddenly stopped when they were joined by the witches. "Hey, kid, how ya holding up?" Dean asked, knowing that none of this had been what she had in mind for keeping the rest of her family out of the trouble of their lives.

"Well, I'm not the one having a hushed conversation in a corner that suddenly stops when my daughter appears. So the real question is how are you holding up, dad?" She let go of Connor's hand to cross her arms over her chest. Watching as the brothers exchanged a look, she sighed, "You might as well tell me because I'm going to find out one way or another."

"She's got a point, Dean." Sam spoke up, knowing that it wasn't his brightest decision, but he didn't like the idea of keeping anything from one another when there were other things for them to be worried about.

Dean glared at Sam for a moment before turning to look at Ana, "You want to know so bad, go ask Kellen yourself."

Ana spun and looked at Connor with a raised eyebrow, either the witch standing next to her was slightly clairvoyant or just really good at reading people. "Do I really want to know?" She aimed the question at Sam and her dad, "Is this one of those things I can just ignore and it will go away?"

"Sorry kiddo," Dean answered, "I just don't think this one is going to be that easy. We've already tried to talk him out of it while you were outside, but he isn't listening to us. Maybe he'll listen to you?"

With a scoff, she turned around to look at her friend, "Yeah," she muttered, "and some day pigs will fly." Kellen could be stubborn, very stubborn, and so she had to prepare herself for the possibility that the conversation she was about to begin with him would at some point turn into an argument. They had experienced enough of them growing up because Ana wouldn't back down like his sisters would. "Kellen, let's take a walk."

"Uh oh." Callie leaned over Gwen to look at Kellen, "You're in trouble." she told him in a sing-song voice, teasing him as she did so often when they were younger.

Kellen rolled his eyes at his sister and stood from where he was sitting, knowing that Ana was going to give him an earful about what he had discussed with Dean and Sam. "We won't go far and we won't be gone long. If anything happens I'll let you know." she directed the last part at Connor, knowing that using their connection was the quickest way of communication should she and Kellen find themselves in trouble. Following Kellen she knew that it was unlikely that she could deter him from his plan, but maybe if she played her cards right she could convince him to just stay in the city and protect the people there should anything simple come into town.

"That's not going to go over well." Gwen offered, loud enough to include the whole room in the conversation.

Monica looked up from the center of the coffee table where she had been staring and let out a slow breath, "If anyone can talk some sense into him, it would be her. You know just as well as I do that she is just as stubborn as he is, if not slightly more."

"I wonder where she could have gotten that from?" Sam questioned sarcastically, looking across the room as if he couldn't feel Dean glaring at him.

-A-

"So you want to be a hunter?" Ana asked as they walked down the street they had grown up on, following the same path around the neighborhood that they used to race their bikes around. It was weird to think that the memory wasn't from that long ago, the last time she remembered their regular bike race had been the summer before she turned eleven. Almost ten years ago and in the grand scheme of things that amount of time was nothing compared to things like the long lives Gabe and Cas were living or the time both Sam and Dean had spent in Hell. She looked at Kellen, he was thinking hard about something and hadn't responded to her yet. "Come on, Feragen, spill it."

He smiled softly at that, it had been a long time since they had referred to one another by their last names. "I'd probably be good at it and if there's as much evil in the world as you guys talk about then it sounds like a couple of extra hands couldn't hurt." Kellen turned to look at her and saw her jaw clench at his words. "It's like you leaving college, right? You couldn't do something normal like go to school when you knew that there were bigger things out there."

"I'm sure my family mentioned the casualty rate when they tried to talk you out of it." Ana knew that it would have been Sam's first go to, the fact that more often than not hunters died young and bloody.

"Yeah, they did, but you get enough on your side and soon enough the odds are in your favor." He shrugged, wondering why she wasn't already campaigning for the cause to get more people on their side.

She stopped suddenly and grabbed his arm so that he had to stop as well. "I watched my dad lose both of his parents, watched his mother lose her's. Then you add on the long list of friends they've lost, mentors… family and the numbers are too high for me to want to drag more people into this. They've never met an active hunter that's made it long in life and I would rather keep the list of people I need to worry about being in danger from growing."

Kellen looked down at her, seeing a sadness in her eyes that he hadn't seen since they were little and he didn't like it. Wrapping his pseudo little sister in a hug, he pulled her tight against his chest, knowing that she had spent all of her life dealing with the fact that she had lived through her own birth and yet her mother didn't. Ana had blamed herself for as long as he could remember and now he could see that it wouldn't be any different with those she couldn't protect from the evil of the world. "You know me, Ana, I can't just sit back and not do anything. I understand where you're coming from, but I'm not changing my mind."

"I had to try, though, didn't I?" She sniffled, not moving from their tight hug. It was different, she thought, the way he understood her compared to what Connor and Dean knew. Kellen had watched her many times at her worst in different ways and had always been there to help her back on her feet unlike the new men in her life who only knew the worst of her past from what she had told them. The fact made her realize that the comfort Kellen provided was maybe something more than what the other's could, it was a difference that she needed after what had happened with being held captive by Laylah and then facing down Brandon. Taking in a deep breath, Ana slowly pulled away from him, "Can you at least do me a favor and not go hunting down the big bad's of the world? You're going to do this and I can't stop you, but don't put yourself in unnecessary danger. It's a lot easier to take on a pissed off spirit than it is a group of demons."

"What if it isn't a whole group? What if it's just one demon?" He asked, not being able to hold back his smartass comments.

With a roll of her eyes, Ana pushed herself away from him, "Ha ha ha," she spoke dryly, "you're so damn funny. Let's get back to the house, it doesn't seem like I'm going to have the vacation I thought."

Kellen turned and walked by her side, "You're going to retaliate for the attack tonight?" He questioned. The look that crossed her face made him believe every story of her battles, she was strong and determined, she always had been, but now she had an enormous amount of power at her hands and she was pissed.

"Retaliate? No." She shook her head, giving him a quick glance before she focused forward again.

"Then what are you going to do?" The look on her face gave away that she was planning something.

Ana was silent as they walked up to the front door, her mind was going through plan after plan trying to come up with the best idea. They needed a direction to go, an idea to move toward and other than murdering any demon that had even the slightest thought about continuing to work toward opening the cage, she had nothing. Moving through the entryway and into the living room, she was glad to see that everyone was still there. Their entrance silenced any conversation in the room; Dean, Sam, and Connor looked at her with expectant expressions, waiting for her to say something. "We're going on a killing spree."

"We're what?" Dean was looking at his daughter as if horns had just sprouted from her forehead.

Ana rolled her eyes, "It's the only solution I can think of. Demon killing spree, angels too if we have to. Anyone who has been working to open the cage gets taken out and once they're all dead our problem is solved. What demon or angel would want to try to do something like that after that many of their kind had already fallen?"

"Oh, is that all?" Connor cocked an eyebrow her direction before closing his eyes, "Gabriel, not quite sure how this praying thing works but you and Cas are going to want to hear Ana's newest plan."

"Really?" She crossed the room until she was standing toe to toe with her soulmate, "Are you really going to tattle on me to two angels?"

He shrugged, "I don't know why, but sometimes you'll listen to Gabriel when you won't listen to the rest of us. You're set on this plan, I can feel it through our bond, and it's going to take all of us to convince you of how completely moronic it is."

"I'm on your side for most things, princess, but Connor has a point." Gabriel spoke as he appeared behind her. "Also," he began, moving so that he could see everyone, "Cas and I have been doing some studying on the effects of Red holding onto my grace, so far we're thinking that it's why I like her more than the rest of you."

Castiel gave his brother a pointed look once he appeared at his side, "You like all of them fine. You've been accepted into the makeshift family these two," he pointed to Sam and Dean, "have been adding to for years, there is no need for you to pretend that you dislike any of them. You and Ana just share a different type of connection because of the intimacy that your grace and her soul shared while they were side by side."

Dean scowled, "Did you just say that my daughter's soul and Gabriel's grace were intimate?" Crossing his arms over his chest, he shifted his gaze from Cas to Gabe and glared at the archangel.

"That's not what he meant by intimacy, Dean." Sam explained, sounding a bit exasperated by having to explain at all. "Though I'm incredibly interested in knowing about whatever connection Ana and Gabe have, can we please focus on the fact that she wants to go on a killing rampage?"

"We have been keeping tabs on what's going on here while we've been away," Cas began as he moved toward the center of the group, taking command in a way that he hadn't in awhile, "Gabriel was aware of Ana's plan shortly after she concocted it. It isn't the wisest plan, Anastasia, that amount of death could set off the balance and cause more problems than we face now."

Gabriel nodded, "Cas is right, that could give us more problems than it's worth. Add that on top of the fact that it's a freaking suicide mission and I will knock your ass out if you try it."

"Then what the hell do you suggest we do?!" She snapped, moving away from Connor and meeting each of their eyes once before continuing. "I am so damn tired of fighting off demons and angels at every turn. I've been in this life for less than two years and have spent the majority of it putting an end to plans of opening the cage, one after the other. When does it end? This job, this lifestyle is all about saving people and I am one hundred percent on board with that, but there has to be a way to stop this once and for all."

Sam shook his head, "You can't just put an end to all supernatural beings, Ana."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, she closed her eyes tightly and turned her back on the room, needing a moment to pull herself together before she just started yelling at everyone. "That's not what I'm saying." she finally stated, not turning around, "Obviously we can't stop everything in on big blow out, but we need to put an end to the plan with Lucifer and Michael. If not permanently then at least long enough for it to not be my problem anymore because I'm done with it." Slowly turning around, she took in a deep breath as she met the shocked expressions of her family. "How many times does this family have to be the roadblock between the rest of the world and the wrath of them both? This shouldn't be on us, not this many times over."

Dean didn't say anything, having thought those exact words himself a few times before. It shouldn't be all on them, but somehow it always ended up being that way and there didn't seem to be anything they could do about it. Crossing the room he walked until he was standing in front of his daughter, looking down into her eyes with understanding. He placed his hands on the sides of both of her shoulders, "We are going to stop this, but it's not going to be easy and it most likely won't be quick. If you're going to make it through this you need to prepare yourself for that. We're doing what we can, I know it's tiring and repetitive, but we have to push on." He watched as her jaw set and the look in her eyes told him that not only had he motivated her a little, but that he'd also pissed her off. Turning to address the rest of their family, he nodded slightly, approving of the plan forming in his own head, "We're going to head back to the bunker and dig through every piece of information in that library until we have a list of any possible moves that Jade can make to open the cage. We'll have to keep an eye on both the demons and angels, track any moves they make that could be a lead to their next plan, but right now that's all we can do. You with me?" he asked, aiming the question at Ana as he turned to look at her.

She flicked her eyes up to meet his, "I'm going back to the bunker to get started." Was her only response before she teleported out of the room.

"Holy shit!" The swear came from just across the room, bringing the attention of the men to the rest of the people in the room that they had almost forgotten were there. Gwen's eyes were wide in shock as she stared at the place Ana had just been standing, "It's one thing to hear about your best friend being a witch, it's another thing altogether to watch her disappear in front of your eyes."

Kellen nodded, "At least she didn't take you with her. Trust me, teleporting is not something I want to do on a regular basis."

Connor shook his head, turning his focus away from the normal part of Ana's family, "We need to figure out something more than just ending these plans. Ana is slowly losing the very little patience she had in the first place and apparently this is all taking a larger toll on her than we all thought it was."

Dean scoffed, "Aren't you two still connected? If any of us was going to pick up on how far off of the rail she was getting, it should have been you." he pointed an accusing finger at the witch.

"Yes, because her blocking me out is completely unheard of." Connor retorted sarcastically. "Even with our connection, even with being soul mates, she has more power than I do and because of that she has the capability to keep whatever she wants from me. I guess she didn't want any of us worrying about how she's been handling this all."

Sam stepped forward, tired of listening to all of the bickering. "Alright, just stop, both of you. There's a lot on Ana's plate right now. Between the cage, the demons and angels, the torture that Laylah put her through and then having to go up against Brandon himself… there's no way that she's as stable as she has been letting us all think she is." Shaking his head, he pushed a hand through his long hair and glanced toward the sitting area where everyone was watching and listening to their conversation. "What we need to do is meet her back at the bunker so we can get a start on the search with her."

"We'll drive the Impala back, Connor you drive her car-"

"She shouldn't be left alone until we can get both cars back." Connor interrupted Dean, "Why don't I teleport back to the bunker and start helping her tonight. You can come back in the Impala and just leave her car here, we can come back for it when we need it."

Kellen stood from where he had been sitting next to his sister and walked over to the group of men, "I'll drive her car and follow you guys to the bunker. An extra set of eyes could help in your search." he offered, knowing that his family wouldn't like him leaving, but it sounded like they could use some help.

Connor raised an eyebrow at him, "She's going to be pissed when you show up, you know that right?"

"Wouldn't be the first time I've made her mad. Plus, it's not like I'm actually doing anything dangerous, I'm just going to come help you guys read through some books. What's the worst that can happen? I'll get a papercut?" Kellen shook his head, "I'll deal with her when we get there, but from what you guys told me that library is huge and having a little extra help might get you to your solution quicker."

Connor turned his attention to Dean and Sam, knowing that when it came down to it the decision was theirs. The brothers exchanged a look before Dean nodded, "Sure, you can come help, but when she traps you in the bunker when you try to help with something other than reading we're not going to help you." he explained. "Don't act like once we have a lead, you aren't going to want to help because I think we all know that it be a lie."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it." Kellen shrugged, "I'll stop by my apartment and pack a bag, meet you guys at your hotel?"

Sam nodded, "That'll give us time to get our things and check out." Turning to look at Connor, he gave him a version of the puppy dog look that was more pity than it was trying to con him into something. "If you're missing when we get back to the bunker, we'll come looking for your body."

"Ha ha ha," Connor gave him an unamused look, "You're so funny." He paused a moment as if he was thinking on something, then glancing between Dean and Sam, he sighed, "If she kills me you won't be able to find my body." he grumbled before teleporting out, knowing that he was going to be poking an already provoked lion. Looking around the library and not seeing Ana anywhere, he was on his way to look for her when she came around the corner in different clothes.

She glanced at him for a moment before moving across the room, "Where's everyone else?" she questioned, hoping that Gabe and Cas weren't flying them to the bunker from Montana. The shorts and tank top she had changed into were comfortable and probably a little more revealing than either her father or uncle wanted to see.

Watching as she began to look through one of the shelves, Connor let his eyes linger on her body a moment longer before he walked toward her. "They're going to drive the cars back and the angels are going to go keep tabs on the enemy." he answered, purposefully leaving out the mention of Kellen.

"So they won't be here for a while." She commented, her gaze focused on the bookshelf though she was very aware of him closing the distance between them. When he suddenly stopped just behind her, she closed her eyes, being able to feel his desire through their bond.

Lifting up a hand, he barely let his fingertips touch her skin as he trailed them across her shoulder and down her arm. "So we have the whole place to ourselves, what shall we do with ourselves?" He barely heard the soft sigh that escaped her lips at his touch and he grinned, "I'm sure we can figure something out." With that assurance, he quickly turned her around and maneuvered her so that he was carrying her over his shoulder.

She shrieked when she was suddenly upside, opening her eyes to see that he was carrying her out of the library and down the hallway. "Is this necessary?" she questioned, "I didn't suddenly lose the ability to walk."

"Hush, woman." He teased as he swatted her playfully, "We only have a limited amount of time and I plan to make the most of it."

"Because twelve hours isn't enough time." She countered and giggled as he tickled the backs of her knees in reprimand. "Connor!" she squealed, pleading with him to stop as she wiggled against his hold.

A smile spread across his face, if he got to spend the rest of his life changing her moods like this it was bound to be a good time. He stopped tickling her long enough to open the bedroom door and used his foot to close it again, accidentally slamming it a little harder than he meant to, but that sound and any others that were made in the early hours of the morning wouldn't bother anyone so he really didn't mind.