A/N: Hi, guys! We're about to head into my favorite time of the year! After this chapter, we're also about to head into some darker stuff with Hope. Questions will be answered! I really wanted this one to stay light and funny, but it apparently wants to go somewhere else – and all I can do is follow it and put it on laptop paper!

Chapter 10:

We pulled into the somewhat sad-looking parking lot of the small strip-mall that had the big green DOLLAR TREE sign on the front. I had my twenty dollars and a plan to show my brothers (the twits) that they weren't as all-knowing as they thought they were. They had basically reduced me to a materialistic money-grubber! (Not that I have anything against money or the nicer things it can buy. But seriously – do I put them down for the comfort they find in cleaning their guns religiously? To each their own!) Anyhow, Little Pink is about to school them epically. I wasn't only about money. Or things. I have a heart. I have fears and dreams, but I made them angry so they punished me by taking away my "stuff." If they only knew I loved my stuff, but I could live without it. That stupid time-out chair hurt more than them taking all my Sephora. And Sammy says it stays. Ugh. Jerks. But I love them. I love my Jerks. It's complicated.

I opened the door to make my way into the store and heard two doors open behind me. I turned and saw my brothers readying themselves to follow.

"Oh, come on you two – I don't need tailed in a Kentucky Dollar Tree! (Did that sentence really just come out of my mouth? WOW. Kentucky Dollar Tree.) BUT, I know my brothers, and knew they would follow, so I used it to my advantage. It was important for them to see.)

"We aren't TAILING you, Little," Dean said, adjusting his jacket to cover the gun he was packing. "Think of it more as stalking, right Sammy?" he laughed, shoving Sam sideways.

Sam shoved him back, grinning and looking at me. "We just don't want anything to happen to you," he said. "And I'm curious," he added.

I gave him my best WTF look. (He didn't know what it meant.)

"Hey, don't give me "What The Fuck" look, Pink – didn't think I knew what that look meant did ya?" he said sharply, running in front of me and raising me up above his shoulders. (God he was so freaking fast and, apparently, could read me even better than I thought.) He was smiling, but his eyes sent me a clear message. "Watch it, Little" is what they said.

"Deeaaan, Sammy won't put me down so I can go into the Kentucky Dollar Tree and spend my twenty dollars you both gave me because you're not heartlessssss…." I tattled in my whiny voice.

He came up behind me and tickled my sides. "Then watch those looks you're throwin', baby," he said with a wink. Sam shook me in the air a few times and planted me on the ground.

I enter the store and found it surprisingly clean. I felt bad. I had expected dirt-covered boxes and dust in the air. (Was I kinda a jerk for that? Yes, yes I was.)

"Hi, welcome to Dollar Tree, let me know if I can help you find anything," a pretty girl with a sweet drawl said to me. (AND she had a full set of teeth! I was learning things all over the place and I just walked in the door! I was also a jerk for assuming she wouldn't have a full set of teeth.)

"Thanks, I'm just gonna browse for a few things," I said, knowing exactly what I was getting. Revenge on the brothers.

Grabbing a carriage, I went directly to the cosmetics and the health/beauty section. I was surprised to see some really well known brands, like Cover Girl and another I had seen a lot in stores called "Wet and Wild". Awkward when your brothers are spying on your every move. I wasn't wet or wild, and they saw to that completely. I really wasn't anyhow.

I grabbed a dark mascara and a palette of browns. They also had the Elf brand, so I bought a slanted brush that I could use as liner and also tame my brows. A clear gloss finished my purchases there. I had spent four dollars.

It wasn't very busy in the store, which made my gargantuan bros stick out like sore thumbs. (THESE were the two best hunter/blender-ers in the U.S.? They weren't blending very well as far as I was concerned. It was perfect.)

I began to meander my way down the aisle and found a Secret deodorant and some Vanilla Sugar bubble bath, and a jasmine body lotion (I checked – it wasn't runny at all!) Also grabbed razors - who knew the Dollar Tree held so many treasures? I also picked up a jar of Vaseline – you can use it for everything… Up to nine dollars.

I turned to check out the women's section across the aisle. I knew I had to move fast because they would NOT want to stalk me eyeing the tampons. Instead, I quickly grabbed two pregnancy tests, using my most serious look. I could feel their eyes on me. Dean's had to be pure rage and Sam's had to be absolute confusion. I was dying inside, trying not to fall over laughing.

I took my time pretending to scrutinize the back of the test, then looked around to see if anyone was in the aisle. Very cloak and dagger-ish. I tried to look as clandestine as I could, and slid them into my pocket. I walked around a bit more, then went back and returned the tests. I tried to look torn. (Served them right for assuming I was a shallow, mean girl! Screw the time out chair! I was Baby Sister, hear me roar!)

I went and found a vanilla candle and put two in the carriage. Up to eleven dollars. Time to head for the snack aisle.

I got two M&M's for Dean, and two trail mixes for Sam. Up to fifteen. That left four for me, because of tax. I threw in a pack of gummy bears, plus I found some Hershey's Kisses, sunflower seeds, and Ju-Ju Bees. I hadn't seen those in years! They were my favorite from childhood. Sammy hated that Dean bought them for me; he said they would rot my teeth. He wasn't wrong, but the fillings were worth it. Score one for Dean and score one for Kentucky.

I pushed my haul toward the checkout and began placing my items up on the belt. There was a divider between the small family in front of me and my stuff. There were three little ones along with their mother. She had put some food on the belt, and one pack of chewing gum.

"Momma, PLEASE let me have my own – you said I could have mine if I was good. I was so good today," the dirty-blonde begged.

"Karlah, shhh, people can hear you," her mother admonished her. "You'll have to share the gum with your brother and sister until next payday."

"You ALWAYS say that," the little girl cried, crossing her arms in anger.

I decided I had to do something for her. Before I put much thought into it, I threw my four treats aside and grabbed four chewing gums, kneeling down next to her.

"Hey, know what?" I said, giving her my brightest smile.

"Your hair's pink. I like pink," she said, showing me her fingernails that had chipped pink polish on them.

"It looks like you do!" I said back to her. "Guess what?" I asked.

"What?" she said, all curiosity and eyes now.

"I have four extra dollars and I don't know what to do with them," I smiled. I put my hands up in the air to emphasize my point.

"And I found these packs of gum, so I thought maybe you could take these, and use this extra four dollars that I don't know what to do with. Maybe you can pay for them all by yourself, like a big girl, and share them with everyone. What do you think?"

She looked up at her mother, silently questioning whether she should say yes or not. He mother made a slight nod and she squealed with delight.

"Yes, yes, YES! You're a nice pink girl," she said excitedly.

"Just remember to be nice to the next person you meet who's sad, okay?" I said.

She nodded solemnly, placing the gum up on the belt.

I watched the mother pay for her things with some rolled up nickels and thought again about how very lucky I was. How differently my life could have been, if not for my brothers – those two knuckleheads who tried to balance me against saving the world every day. I was very selfish, in many ways. In that moment I saw myself, whining about them leaving me. Complaining about not being taken out to the mall more often, and how they would give into me time and time again, two grown men following along behind me like very dangerous puppies. I thanked the pretty cashier with the full set of teeth, and walked out the door with tears threatening to spill over my eyes.

My brothers weren't trying to be quiet as I heard them clomping behind me in a run, grabbing my bags from both sides and each reaching under a knee to pull me up into a sitting position in the air between them.

"Ya know, that was pretty nice of you back there, Sweetie," Dean commented, smacking me on the cheek with a sloppy kiss.

"I can be nice," was all I said back, returning his cheek kiss minus the slop. The tears spilled over and down my face as I turned away and looked down.

"Hope? What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Sammy asked, reaching over and grabbing me into his arms like I was a two year old.

"Jeez, keep walking at least," I said, feeling stupid. "I'm just thankful. Thankful I have both of you," I answered, squeezing his neck and giving him his own kiss on the cheek. He squeezed me back, starting at the top of my shoulders and moving all the way down, cracking my back for me. He did that a lot – he said I carried too much anxiety in my back. It felt glorious.

We pulled out of the parking lot, Dean tearing into his M&M's and Sam munching on his trail mix.

"I know two selfish bothers who should be sharing with their hungry sister," I said to the air.

"It'll ruin your lunch," Dean said. I could see a rainbow dancing on his tongue in the rearview mirror.

Sammy looked back at me. "Up for some Chinese? Maybe even some sushi on a non-Tuesday?"

"I'm down," I smiled. I was starving.

Then Baby pulled over, so fast I thought we had a flat tire. Dean turned and glared at me.

"Is there something you want to tell us, Little?" he asked, tongue still colorful and defying the sound of his voice. Sammy had an "Aha Moment" and turned, giving me his serious look. I had no idea.

Then I remembered the pregnancy tests and inwardly did a happy dance while I watched them squirm and fuss. I let some time pass, and acted like I was thinking. (I was an excellent actress – HA!)

"Just messin' with ya," I said casually. "You know, teaching the teacher."

"Huh? Sam, tell her to make sense."

"This trip was for you both to show me you weren't heartless by taking away all my good stuff. But that was your side of it. My side of it was to show you that I don't need that stuff, and I could spend my twenty and still have room for something for you ass -, I mean jerks. The little girl at the register was just luck, and the pregnancy tests – just messing with ya," I finished. "Wish I coulda seen your faces, though!"

I started laughing. And laughing.

"You're a dingbat," Dean said.

"Pixie, you little shit," Sammy said.

Giggling bubbled up inside me, all the way to the Chinese takeout joint. I knew I was the luckiest girl out there…

… and then the dreams came with the faceless bad man.