Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural.

Beep beep beep, the oven timer screamed. Addie, who had been immersed once again in her tort book, jumped slightly before darting off the couch and into the kitchen muttering, "Every second counts!" Apollo watched her curiously, picking up her bookmark in his mouth and placing it on her open page. He jumped down from the couch and trotted after her into the kitchen.

"Oh my goodness! Do you smell that?" Addie shrieked. She felt her heart pumping fast from excitement. This could be it; this could be the recipe that wins the bake off! "And you said that strawberry banana is too new age-y."

"I never said that!" Apollo insisted, jumping up on the kitchen table and wrapping his orange tail around his body. "I just said that the winners typically have more traditional pies, you know? Like cherry or apple."

Addie was no longer listening to him. She was staring at the golden perfection in her oven-mitted hands. The scent alone from the pie was enough to win her first place, and all thanks to her special ingredient. "Apollo, I really think this could be the one. Wanna try it?"

Before the cat could answer, Addie whipped out a small, stainless steel butter knife and pushed it gently into the pie. The crust broke evenly enough, without too much give or take on either side and the knife slid through the filling easily. With the pie broken open, the aroma coming from it was intensified and filled the entire house, even into the living room.

Addie quickly transferred a slice from the pie to a plate and stared at it for a long time. All those years of trying and failing, and here, in front of her, could be the answer to her problems. She could be one step closer to finding out if her mother was still alive…

"Addie?" Apollo said gently, "Are you going to try it or just watch it?"

"I'm trying to take it all in," she replied. "If this is it, Apollo, if this is really the one that could win the competition, well… it's just a little overwhelming."

"Being taken by some monster or demon, or whatever the hell is out there, is overwhelming?" Apollo jested. Addie let out a small laugh and wiped her eyes, she hadn't realized they had been watering so profusely.

"Here goes nothing," Addie said with a smile. She dug her fork into the slice of pie and popped a piece in her mouth. Immediately her heart sank. "Damn," she said, "it's got no flavor."

"What? How? You used the enhancing spell to bring out the flavor," Apollo said, wrinkling his forehead.

"Yeah, I know. I don't know, maybe it cooked out? Or maybe it just enhanced the smell? I mean, this smells like freaking heaven, but it just tastes…blah. I guess we'll have to go back to the drawing board. Maybe you're right, maybe I should try something traditional. How about apple?"

She tried hard to look beyond her failure. She spent months, a year, trying to find the right recipe after last year's bake-off, and so far, nothing was good enough. Magic didn't even make a difference!

"Apple could work," Apollo said. With a flick of his tail, he jumped off the kitchen table and pointed a paw at the clock on the wall. "Um…isn't it almost time for work?"

Addie's eyes flickered quickly to the time: 9:30. She hadn't realized it had gotten so late, between studying and baking, she was really losing track of time.

"Crap, you're right," she said, tossing the pie in the fridge and double checking that the oven was off. "It's Friday night too, so it should be a good turn out! Thank goodness, considering rent is due on Monday."

Running to the bedroom, Addie threw open her closet and shuffled through the myriad of clothing hanging precariously on hangers. She finally found the outfit she was looking for: a deep violet dress with scalloped edges and white lace overlay. Scattered throughout the lace were sequins that made the dress shimmer slightly in even the dullest lighting. It wasn't her favorite outfit, but it gave her a sense of mystique that drew in customers.

Addie hurriedly threw the dress on and ran into the bathroom to brush out her collar length auburn hair and tie it up in a half ponytail. She grabbed a handful of rings from the jewelry dish near the vanity and jammed them on her fingers. She hated rings, but, like everything else she was doing, it was for the appearance.

"Okay, Apollo, I've got to go," Addie yelled as she tossed flats on her feet, grabbed her work bag, and made her way for the door. "Don't wait up."

"Good luck!"

Once outside, Addie ran to the nearest street car stop and anxiously looked at her phone; it was 9:50. She was going to be late. Not that it mattered, but the crowds usually started pouring in at 10 exactly, especially during tourist season, which was in full swing right now.

The huge, green street car rolled slowly to a stop and a handful of people got off, many looking exhausted from the week now behind them. Addie swiped her card as she got on and plopped down in her seat, scrolling through her phone. As the street car rolled down the line on St. Charles Avenue, Addie sifted through apple pie recipes one after another.

Eventually, the city scape of New Orleans came into view. The tall, lit up buildings, the eerie street lights with their orange glows, the crowded sidewalks filled with people from all walks of life. It was all so energizing and strangely beautiful.

As the street car got deeper into the heart of the city and closer to the French Quarter, the buildings became older looking, and the iron work on the patios and balconies were clearly hand wrought from some bygone era. Magnolia trees were scattered here and there and the houses, although close together, presented a feeling of closeness rather than crowdedness.

Soon, they were in the heart of the French Quarter, and tourists and citizens alike were roaming the streets, ready for a night of revelry. College students, high school students, young and old alike all joined together in the French Quarter melting pot. Addie leaned back in her seat as several people on the street car pulled the string to be let off at the next stop.

The car came to a halt and Addie filed off with the rest of the excited passengers. Based on conversations she was overhearing, many of them were tourists, spending their first night ever in the Big Easy. She was almost one hundred percent sure she would see at least half of them again before the night was over.

Addie walked quickly down one of the side streets near a packed restaurant until she found the small shop she was so used to seeing on the weekends; Roscoe's Psychic Services.

"Addie, my girl!" a smooth, velvet voice cooed. Addie turned as a middle aged, African American man walked up to her. He was wearing a colorful shirt and khaki pants; his hair was trimmed neatly and his deep brown eyes looked almost black in the nighttime.

"Hey, Roscoe," Addie replied, smiling. "I'm sorry I'm late, I was working on something and lost track of time."

"No worries, my dear," Roscoe answered, his words thick with a Jamaican accent. "I won't lie to you, Rosie thought she would have a fortunate night tonight getting all the customers." He laughed and patted Addie on the back. "Your table is set up around the side, I told her you would be here."

"Thanks Roscoe," Addie said as she walked around the side of the little shop. At least ten small tables were set up, each with two chairs and a crystal ball. Various signs were leaning haphazardly against the tables, with hand painted messages such as: Palm Readings: Reveal Your Life, Fortune Telling, Speak with Your Deceased Loved Ones! Medium Services, and Cast Your Troubles Away with Easy Spells and Tarots for Beginners.

Addie passed various tables, greeting each of the men and women who were seated. She came to her own table, one that she occupied since she was a freshman Pre-Law student at Tulane, and ran her hand along the top of it. There were various carvings in the wood she had made long ago to protect herself and her customers from any type of dangerous magic her coworkers might be unknowingly producing.

The truth was, most of her coworkers were just street magicians and good body language readers, but for the sake of the show they were being paid to put on, they would recite incantations and spells, some not always kosher. Addie warded her own table against all forms of misfired magic, and so far, it had not failed.

"I see you made it tonight, Miss Addie." A woman approached Addie's table. She had dark, chin length curly hair and skin the color of paper. Her eyes were a deep blue and slightly sunken in. Her lips were bright red, to match the color of her empire waist dress and heels.

"Hi Rosie," Addie replied, smiling slightly. Rosie Dorman was the oldest employee of Roscoe's. She was known to have a wide clientele and to be very successful and accurate in her readings. However, Rosie was one of the frauds, she was very good at reading body language, particularly when that body is completely trashed with alcohol.

"I thought you weren't coming! I'm sure you can imagine my excitement. At least you wouldn't have to compete with me for customers!" Rosie let out a shrill laugh that sent shivers down Addie's spine. Everyone competed for customers, it wasn't like you were assigned people. They approached you.

"Yeah, good point," Addie said, smiling half-heartedly. "Well—"

"Of course, people love coming to see me," Rosie interrupted, "I mean, I am an expert! That's why I have the longtime, loyal customers."

"That's really great Ros—"

"Maybe tonight will be your night though, Addie! You never know. There could be enough for both of us," Rosie stepped up closely to Addie. "If you ever try to steal one of my clients again, it'll be the last thing you do," she murmured under her breath so that only Addie could hear. Addie inhaled sharply and took a step back, turning away from the older woman.

"Au revoir!" With a flash of her heavily jeweled hand, Rosie sauntered back to her table.

Addie felt her face burning and sat down in her chair. She exhaled deeply and uncovered her crystal ball, needing for this night to be over.

A/N: Please read and review!