Author's Note: Please review! It is the fuel that I run on. Please, please, please tell me about how awesome I am. lol. Thanks in advance.
Sam was sitting at Bobby's kitchen table with his back to the study, but even though she couldn't see his face, as Marion came through the study, she could tell he was the old Sam.
"Hey, Sasquatch!"
Sam stood and smiled brightly. "Marion! Where've you been?" He asked, wrapping her in a hug.
They sat down at the table. "Well, Dean couldn't live a happy, normal life with Lisa as long as his angel-resurrected twin sister was pulling on his coattails."
Marion gave a small look over her shoulder as Dean walked in and leaned against the door frame. "So, I went off to find my own normal. I got my GED and some college under my belt. I changed my name and got a boyfriend. And a cat! But I've got a bunch of Dean's memories in my brain, and hunter tendencies got the better of me. After about a year, I got mixed up with putting down a demon that had convinced somebody to hang four nuns. And hunting just seemed more important than a degree."
"I didn't know you changed your name." Dean said.
"You didn't ask." Marion snapped.
Sam's brow furrowed as he looked from his brother to his sister. "What'd you change your name to?"
Marion looked down, a bit embarrassed. "Well, you guys call me 'Marion', of course. It's my given name. But I changed it to Barbara… Bobbi… Singer."
Sam and Dean snickered. Marion rolled her eyes. "Chuck told me that Bobby was dead. I wanted to honor him. Shut up."
"No middle name?" Dean asked, walking over to the coffee maker.
"No one likes their middle name. It's not important."
"Yeah, but you chose yours. What'd you choose?" Dean pushed.
"Samantha. Barbara Samantha Adama Singer." Marion lied.
"Bobby, Sam, and Adam. Isn't that sweet?"
"Everybody who died in the Apocalypse. I'd've stuck a 'Cassie' in there, too, but the name was already pretty long." Marion quipped.
Dean slammed the coffee pot back onto the burner and walked out with his mug. Sam's eyes followed him out. "Okay, what the hell?" Sam asked.
Marion took a deep breath. 'Don't poke the wall.' "Dean and I had a disagreement while you were gone. He was… working hard to get you back. But the way he was working toward it… he was working with a demon, and the demon couldn't bring you back, but Dean wanted to believe. So, he let this demon use him for favors. For months, he did this creature's bidding." Marion looked at the table.
"I told Dean that it didn't make sense, that he was being used. But if there was a tiny chance of it working… he would do anything for you, Sam. He won't even listen to me. So… I'm just letting myself get used to… being so unimportant."
Sam took his sister's hand. "You aren't unimportant. Dean and I, we've depended on each other for so long, we get irrational when the other dies. It's not an insult-"
"He thought I was dead for a year and he barely flinched, Sammy. He cares less about me than he did Jo and Ellen. Which I get, 'cause he didn't get my mind, I got his. None of you know me. But Dean still thinks he gets to act like he does. And I'm not here to be lied to. I'm here because I'm not cut out for normality and I'm tired of hunting alone. Otherwise, I'd be off by myself, like Chuck… strongly suggested."
"You're right. We barely know you, me especially. You were with us for less than a month before you got possessed. And then, you left right after Meg left you. But… I know you can quote Shakespeare at the drop of a hat. I know you prefer the Grimm Brothers over Disney. I know you never felt comfortable with the Cornwells, which is why it was such a profound experience when Castiel filled you full of grace. I know you hate Zeppelin, even if you won't admit it to Dean." Sam smiled, softly. "If I know all that from a few weeks in the middle of Armageddon, don't you think Dean knows more?"
Marion smiled up at Sam. "I can list a few thousand things Dean knows about you. Thousands of things about Dad, and Bobby. Hundreds of things he knows about Jo Harvelle. Dean probably knows a fraction of that about me."
"You think you're Rapunzel. It's why your hair used to be so long." Dean said, from behind Marion. "It was the most read volume on your side table at the hospital. When Meg cut your hair, I thought you'd realized you were out of the tower. You take your coffee with 4 sugars and cream, but if someone accidentally brings you a coffee black, you'll drink it, anyway. You never had a crush before Cas, and that's why you fell like a school girl."
Dean leaned against the wall. "You miss the Cornwells, and that makes you feel guilty. Just like you feel guilty that you sat in a house for 27 years being treated like the next damn Messiah, while we fought monsters and broke our bones. You're trying to hide that you're back with Cas, 'cause even though you're pissed at me, you don't want me to be pissed at you and Cas."
Dean pushed off from the wall. "We're stubborn, so, I know you'll be mad for a while. You've got every right. But you love me, and you're a lot nicer than I am, so when you're ready to forgive me, I'm willing to… make more of an effort to show you you're valuable."
Marion tried to keep her face stern as she looked up at her twin, but her heart was melting. "How did you know?" She whispered.
"That Cas is the reason you want your own room? He's been leaving more and mentioning his war less. And you've been a lot more successful with your hunts lately. I did the math."
"I'm still mad at you."
"And I'm still not cool with you dating Cas, but… we'll get over it."
Sam looked awkwardly between his older siblings. Marion took a look at Sam, then Dean. "Eventually." She said, with a nod, before standing and walking out of the kitchen.
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"So, Dean knows?" Castiel asked.
"Yes, but you don't have anything to worry about. He'll get past it."
"I'm not worried about Dean."
"I'm not… it's not a big deal, Castiel. Dean kinda gave his blessing… in his own way."
Castiel sighed loudly , sending static through the phone. "His blessing is unimportant, Marion… but it is much easier for us to be together when Dean is oblivious."
"I understand, but… he's observant. So, why don't you come to Bobby's and we'll work through it, together?"
"I can't. I'm only on Earth to retrieve an item. I have to get back to Heaven."
"Oh. Okay, well… I heard Dean and Bobby talking about a case… I'll just… see if they would want me to go with them. Or I can stick around and watch out for Sam. I'll find something to do. You just, uh, call me the next time you're back on Earth with some extra time."
"I'm sorry." Dean said, setting his bag on the table next to her. "Someone's got to stay here with Sammy."
"Great. I'll watch him sleep and try not to poke the wall while you're gone." Marion growled, before walking out into the study and flopping down on the couch.
Twenty minutes later, Bobby walked in, alone. "Where's Dean?"
"He and Sam took off together. I'm still on the fence about that boy after what he pulled last week, so… I opted to let Dean take him out alone." Bobby answered, grabbing a bottle from his desk drawer.
Marion shook her head. "Of course. I, specifically, ask to go out on a case and Dean takes Sam, instead. I'm sensing a pattern here, Bobby."
"He didn't exclude you on purpose, ya know. It happened pretty quick."
"He never does it on purpose, Bobby. But Mister always said, 'It doesn't matter if you meant to, because you didn't mean not to'. He never considers, Bobby, never thinks of anyone but himself and Sam." Marion laid down on the couch and closed her eyes. "I'm gonna take a nap… or a coma."
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Marion arrived in her dreamscape in her basement bedroom at the Cornwells' home. The familiar scene of grey cinderblock walls lined with full bookshelves, made her smile. She breathed in deeply, a savory and sweet smell invading her nostrils. "That smells like…"
"Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and homemade yeast rolls. Mmm-mh, good." Lucifer said, appearing on the stairs.
"You set up my favorite meal for me? Why?"
Lucifer smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. "Thought you might need it. I mean, Sam and Dean went off to fight evil without you. Brother Castiel is too busy to have a drink with you. Bobby's got his mouth to the bottle, just on the thought of being around Sam after what he did. Thought you'd enjoy a calm family moment, even one that's not real."
"Luke! Is she sleeping? What is taking so long?" Mister's voice called from upstairs.
"They think I'm 29 and I go to your church." Lucifer winked and pushed her toward the door.
"There they are! The food's gonna get cold." Missus said.
Marion sat down at the square oak table, across from Mister and Missus and smiled. This dream, it made her happy. It filled her with calm and well-being, just like Castiel had when they first met.
Mister and Missus smiled at them as they spooned food onto the plates. "I never imagined the angels would send you a disciple. I almost thought they'd forgotten about you, Marion. But Jesus was in his thirties when he started ministering." Missus said.
"I'm not… That's not what I'm here for, Missus. I'm sure I'm not anything like the Nazerene."
"Oh, hush. The angels had us save you for a reason. Now, eat your meatloaf." Mister Said. "How's that taste, there, Luke?"
Lucifer smiled. "It tastes perfect. You should have a cooking show, Mrs. Cornwell."
Marion smiled over at Lucifer. He was much different in this setting. He didn't seem like a powerful, almost omnipotent creature who had been intent on turning everyone into rage zombies. He seemed almost normal, and like the only person who actually wanted to be around her. Marion shoved a forkful of mashed potatoes into her mouth and thanked Lucifer, silently, that he'd gotten the details of Missus' cooking perfectly.
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As Lucifer helped Dream Missus clean the dishes, and as Dream Mister retired to his study, Marion snuck out onto the front porch to sit on the little wooden porch swing. She swung back and forth a bit as she stared out at the semi-familiar lights of Lawrence down below her.
Lucifer appeared next to her on the swing and looked out at the lights. "It's kinda pretty."
Marion leaned back. "I know I should wake up. I can feel Bobby staring at me from his desk. I can smell the coffee he brewed to nurse his hangover. It's morning… out there in the real world. I've been out since last evening. I should wake up before Bobby starts checking for vital signs. But this world… this dream you made for me… I know why djinns use dream worlds now. I don't want to go back there where I'm nothing."
Marion ran her hand through her hair and breathed deeply. "When I was a teen, living here with those God-fearing people, I pulled away from God, a bit. I couldn't help but question it, why God would let a crazy old couple turn a little girl into a false idol. They were so sure. I would be something big. I never had any aspirations for myself. Mister and Missus told me I'd never leave, not until God willed it, but even if I had… nothing I could have imagined would have been close to my life now. I'm around wonderful, powerful, special people all the time. My boyfriend is an angel. My only real friend is the Fallen Angel. I hunt demons and monsters with my brothers… when they let me go with… I never had dreams so wonderful as my real life. So, why don't I want to wake up?"
"Maybe… you know something is wrong. Maybe you don't want to think about whether the vibe Castiel has been throwing off is the beginning of the end. You don't want to question whether his distance has to do with the heartbreak God told you is looming. But…" Lucifer turned to look at her instead of the lights. "… you'll never know for sure if you stick around her. I mean, I like the company, it's a bit of a sausage fest in the Cage, and I like that you've finally recognized me as your friend, but… you have to wake up, Mare. Your brothers are facing something… different, to say the least. You need to be awake."
A ringing sound went through the air.
"Bobby's phone. That's them. They need help."
Marion slunk down into the swing. "I wish I could stay."
"I know. I'll throw together something good for you tonight. Something like this, but better. I promise, you'll love it. Go on. Wake up."
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"Dragons?" Marion asked, incredulously.
"Don't make sense to me, either, but… Dean says it's the only thing he and Sam can come up with."
Marion took a sip of coffee. Luci did say it was something different. "So, who would we talk to for Dragon lore? I mean, actual Dragon lore, not Tolkien or World of Warcraft lore?"
"Oh! Dr. Visyak. Gotta find my address book." Bobby said, digging through his desk drawer.
"Dr. Visyak. Why does that name sound familiar? Did she write a book?"
"Um, yeah, I think. A textbook on medieval studies. She's a professor…"
"At San Francisco University. My medieval studies professor down South taught her textbook. She's brilliant."
"Yeah. She's amazing." Bobby said, pulling his phone out.
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Marion laid down on Bobby's couch and closed her eyes, excited for what Lucifer had planned for her. She showed up in a hotel lobby, with streamers and balloons hanging from the roof. She could hear pulsing music behind a set of door to her left. "What's this?"
"This is your Prom, Marion. You never got the chance to go. I thought you'd like the opportunity." Lucifer said, appearing suddenly, leaning against a table with a bunch of pictures on it.
"I don't think we're properly dressed, Luci." She said, turning to him with a smile.
"Oh, silly me. Forgot the most important part." Marion looked down and she was wearing a sleeveless red ball gown and long white gloves. She looked up and smiled at him, then frowned playfully when she saw him still wearing jeans and the flannel shirt.
"You're still underdressed, Luke."
"Oh, I'm not your date. He is." Lucifer said, nodding toward a figure suddenly in front of her. Marion gasped a little when she saw Castiel in a black and grey suit.
"But… I don't want to go with him. As handsome as he looks, and as much as I would enjoy watching him struggle with a corsage… he's not really here. And if I'm going to be at my Prom, I'd like to be there with someone who isn't too busy to even show up in my dreams. What do you say, Lucifer? Will you go to Prom with me?"
Lucifer smirked and stood up, finally. He snapped his fingers and Castiel disappeared. When she turned back around to Lucifer, he was wearing a tuxedo. Marion giggled happily. "You look amazing."
She took his arm and walked into the ballroom.
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Marion walked outside as the boys returned, semi-victorious. As Dean walked into the house with a bag of gold and shiny trinkets, Sam grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the open trunk.
"You okay, bro?" Marion asked.
Sam looked sadly down at her. "I'm so sorry, Marion."
"What? For leaving me behind? That was Dean's fault. I don't…"
"No, I'm…" Sam looked toward the door, then back to his sister. "I'm sorry for what I said. I know now that I'm a big part of why you feel so unimportant. I'm so sorry."
Marion picked up a knife from the trunk and leaned against the bumper. "Oh. That. Bobby tell you?"
"Cas."
Marion nodded. "I don't really hold it against you, Sam. I know that soulless Sam is different than Normal Sam."
Sam seemed to relax a little, looked a bit grateful until Marion dropped the knife and looked him in his eyes. "But I do know that Soulless Sam was still Sam. And somewhere, in the dark deep parts of you that your souls hides away, you really do think everything would be better if I'd just stayed dead. If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way."
"Marion…" The sadness and guilt in Sam's eyes only barely overshadowed the pity there.
"Sometimes, people should just stay dead, Sam. Don't feel bad, though. God's will or not, I'm here to stay. Do me a favor, and don't dwell on this. We did have a good reason for not telling you the truth."
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"So, your boyfriend's an asshat. Should've asked one of us before he filled Sam in." Dean said, sitting next to Marion on the couch and offering her an open beer.
Marion took a sip of it, keeping her distaste to herself. "Yeah. I know. I mean, Sam kinda tricked him, but… he's an angel, he should've known better."
"So, we're gonna head out. I've got Sam convinced that he shouldn't think too much. I think we're okay to go catch a few cases while Bobby works on this 'Mother of All' thing."
"You're not leaving me here, Dean." Marion interrupted in a tired, but cold whisper.
"What?" Dean asked, a bit surprised at the tone.
Marion lifted her head from staring at the floor. "My boyfriend is too busy fighting to come see me, but he has time to regale my brother with a year and a half of events. I have no friends, no family but you two idiots. I am sick of looking outside and seeing junk cars. I am sick of walking into that kitchen and finding nothing but beer and condiments. I'm sick of pretending like Bobby's taste in beer doesn't suck. I'd much rather drink shitty beer in a shitty motel room with my brothers, knowing that I'm on the heels of kicking the shit out of some creature or demon. You can't leave me here with my thoughts, Dean. They're getting a bit dark."
Dean nodded. "Yeah, okay. Might need help with Sammy, anyway."
She leaned her head on Dean's shoulder. "I think I know why you used to leave a trail of floozies behind you. So much easier."
"They weren't all floozies. Some were just naïve and drunk." Dean said, taking a drink, and wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
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