The door slammed shut, waking Dean with a start, Sam walked into the room with an air of frustration, and threw a folded newspaper down on the bedside table, and Dean flinched as it landed with a thud, so close to his head he felt the wind on his face.

"Case Closed," Sam said, Dean blinked his eyes, waiting for them to focus properly, as he picked up the paper, on the front page was a much younger photo of the man they had saw yesterday, the caption at the top of the page read 'cemetery gains one more,"

"Bloody idiot," Dean said, putting the paper back down on the table, "you think it's over now"

"Well she got what she was after," Sam replied, placing the cups of coffee he had also brought on the table that sat between the two beds, Dean noticed the bag in Sam's hand, he nodded towards it,

"What's that?"

"nothing," Sam said as he tried to hide the bag behind him, Dean nodded slightly and looked at the floor then in one quick motion he leaped off the bed and grabbed the bag, Sam didn't have time to react as the bag was snatched from his hands, Dean laughed tauntingly,

"Oh, how sweet, Sammy's bed time pal," Dean laughed as he pulled the small teddy bear from the bag and held it up

"It's for Mary ok," Sam snatched it back,

"Yeah sure it is," he chuckled, then smiled mischievously, "mine's bigger," he said as he pulled a larger teddy out of the bag that sat beside his bed, they both laughed,

"What about Joanne, what's happening with you two," Dean asked, Sam frowned slightly, as he stuffed the bear back into the bag, "what?"

"I don't know man, she's a great girl and everything," Sam stated awkwardly,

"So what's the problem?"

"Mum, Jessica you gotta admit my past record with woman hasn't been too good,"

"So what your gonna just give up on maybe finding someone, is that it," he asked "come on Sam, you're the one that has always wanted that kinda life"

"Aren't you worried, that something is going to happen to Lorraine," he asked "or Mary" he added, Dean didn't reply, he didn't know what to say, of course he worried about it "come on, Dean, I mean where like a magnet for the supernaturally challenged, I don't want to be responsible for someone else death"

"Of course I'm worried, but we've talked about this before you're not responsible for the mum or jess," he snapped,

"Ain't I," Sam's eyebrows rose questioningly, "Mum, and Jessica, died because they got in the way, of the plans for me?"

"Don't say shit like that, you know it's not your fault, " he growled pointing a finger at Sam lividly, Sam sighed as he pushed his hair out of his eyes "none of it was your fault," Dean took a deep breath "so what are you saying, we shouldn't go back," Dean was beginning to get stressed out, in the short time he had known about his daughter, he couldn't deny that he had fallen in love with the little girl, and his feelings for Lorraine was obvious, but he thought about what Sam said, being a part of their lives would put them in danger,

"It's your choice," Sam answered "if we leave now, we should be back in Cedar Falls by midnight," he added looking at his watch.

ڳ

Night had fallen again and Lorraine sat with her chin resting on her folded arms staring fixatedly at the phone that sat in the middle of the table as if it was ready to strike, She was having a debate in her head, weather to ring Dean or not, he had rang a couple of times since they had left but she always left it for the answering machine to pick up, now she wished that she hadn't been so stubborn and answered at least one of the calls herself, she smiled at Joanne as she walked into the room and stood behind her, placing her hands on her shoulders,

"Has it moved yet" Joanne whispered in her ear,

"can you imagine living like this for the rest of your life," Lorraine asked as Joanne slid onto the chair next to hers, "waiting by the phone, wondering IF they're going to walk through that door," she glanced at the clock, she'll have to leave for work in an hour, at least it should take her mind off things for a few hours, Joanne smiled sympathetically and wrapped her arms around her sister hugging her tightly,

"There is no doubt that this is your life weather Dean is in it or not, so why not have the best of both"

"but could you do it," Lorraine asked, Joanne took a few seconds to consider the question, what her and Sam had at the moment was just fun, she cared about the guy a lot, but she didn't think it went any further than that for either of them,

"I think if I loved him enough," Joanne replied, Lorraine rolled her eyes at the corniness of the statement,

"Now how's been reading 'mills and boon' hey" but she knew her sister was right, and she did love Dean, she knew that much, but weather he loved her enough, was another question, "Even with the danger of it,"

"What you mean ghosts showing up, and being kidnapped by psychopaths," Joanne said with a condescending look,

"Ok, ok, I get your point,"

"Honey, it looks to me that ghosts and whatnot will be popping up in your life, if it where me, I would, without doubt, want some gorgeous hunk, looking out for me," Joanne laughed, and Lorraine joined in, both girls sobered when the phone started ringing, and they looked at as if it was a bomb that was going to explode,

"are you gonna answer it," Joanne asked, Lorraine continued to stare, Joanne tutted as she pick up the phone "hello," she sang in to the receiver, "mum, hi," her voice dropped

"I'm not here," Lorraine mouthed waving her hands in front of her,

"no, she's at work" she listened to the response, every month her mother had rung and every month Lorraine had failed to call her back, "I'll let her know when she gets in, bye mum," Joanne disconnected the call before the woman on the other end could rope her into a conversation,

"Ha ha that'll teach you for not letting the answering machine get it," Lorraine smiled

"Are you gonna call her back this time," Joanne asked as she placed the phone back where it had been sitting since Mary had bed put to bed,

"Maybe, one day, I still don't forgive her for what she said to me," Lorraine replied stubbornly, Joanne nodded again understandingly, Lorraine stared at the phone again,

"Why don't you head off now, have a drink before work," Joanne suggested, Lorraine nodded and after checking on Mary, headed out the front door.

ڳ

It was nearly one o'clock in the morning, when Lorraine pulled into the street that lead to her house, She was tired and couldn't wait to get into bed and snuggle up to her pillow, her idea of being able to keep her mind of Dean failed miserably as Grahame, James and Nate repeated their questions from rehearsal, plus many more,

"So where is he," Grahame had asked in his fatherly voice, "he got called on a case," 'not exactly a lie'

"When will he back," was Nate's question "when he's finished," 'maybe'

"And is he coming back," James added, "that's what he told me," 'so he did, she finally had to tell them that if they kept asking questions that she would never let them interfere with her love life again, that had earned a hearty round of laughs,

"What love life," Grahame managed to say though snorts of laughter, "till this bloke showed up, everyone thought you had take a vowel of celibacy," Lorraine didn't see the funny side and let them know with one of her assassinating glares,

"Come on, Lorry, you know were just messing with ya," Nate said putting an arm around her shoulders,

"so glad to cater to your entertaining needs," she replied sharply, and the fact that song after song, the drunken women requested love songs, every now and then a bloke would request a song she really enjoyed performing, but with the ratio of about 3 women to 1 man, it was like night of the broken hearted, which made her think about Dean even more, and how much she would miss him, if he did decide not to come back, she let out a loud sigh of relief when her house came in to view, she pulled into the garage and waited until the door had closed before she got out of the car, she entered in though the kitchen, and found Joanne standing in front of the kettle,

"Hey, how'd it go," Joanne asked her,

"Do you really know how many songs there are about someone's heart getting broken," Lorraine sighed, "seriously, and there not all country songs either," Joanne laughed, and handed her a cup

"Here, I made you a café-chocolate-vodka-valium-latté; it'll help you sleep,"

"Oh, just what I need," Lorraine laughed accepting the cup of hot chocolate and vodka taking a sip, "can you believe we had an Usher fan who requested confessions"

"Did you do it," Joanne laughed,

"No, told him, if he wanted to hear it he had to do it by himself, no music,"

"And did he,"

"Oh, yeah, he wasn't too bad either," Lorraine told her, "it was very funny, turned his hat to the side of his head and tried to rap and everything, but he did good, so I downloaded the tabs on Sleazy Joes computer, and got him to do an acoustic to burn with me, we had the whole pub, in stitches," Joanne laughed again then finished her own drink then rinsed out the cup,

"try and get some sleep ok, I'll see you in the morning," Joanne said, then turned and left the room switching off the light leaving Lorraine in darkness, the moon swept enough light into the kitchen as Lorraine sat at the bench sipping the hot drink, her ears pricked as she heard the distinctive sound of the front door closing, she had heard Joanne footsteps ascend the stairs, so she knew it couldn't be her, then a whispered murmur and shuffling from the lounge room, she quietly set the cup back on the bench and grabbed her gun out of her bag, careful not to make any noise that would alert the intruders that she knew they were there, creping out of the kitchen she placed a hand on the wall and followed the hallway down so she was behind the intruders, tip toeing in the lounge room, she saw two figures whispering and had a sudden feeling of déjà vu, she cocked the gun aiming at the taller of the two

"Should have had that thing ready when you picked it up," said the shorter one

"Oh god," Lorraine sighed as she flicked the light switch illuminating the room, "I could of shot you, what the hell are you doing,"

"The lights where off, we didn't want to wake you," Dean said smiling his cheeky grin,

"Sorry Lorraine, we were gonna sleep down here" Sam said sheepishly, Lorraine lowered the gun she would have laughed at the sight of two grown men each with a teddy bear tucked up under their arm, but the realization of the familiarity set in, it was her dream, nearly the same dream she had been having ever since she had had Mary,

"So did you beat the case," Lorraine asked, a smile finally playing on her lips

"Come on, you have to ask," Dean replied as he took off his jacket,

"I'm actually just gonna go straight to bed" Sam said walking out the room,

"So is she sleeping," Dean asked, shocking Lorraine again with how her dream was turning into a vision after all,

"Like a baby," She smiled, already knowing what Dean's response would be

"Great you got any food," he walked towards the kitchen, Lorraine laughed astonishingly, "I'm joking" he smiled putting his arm around her and kissing her on the lips "I told you I'd be back," Lorraine couldn't stop the few tears that ran down her face, Dean wiped at them with his thumb, "you ok," he asked concernedly

"Fine, it's like a dream come true," Lorraine replied, Dean smiled at her as he led her up the stairs, Lorraine could hear the shrieks of excitement coming from Joanne's room as her and Dean walked arm in arm towards Mary's room, they stood in the door way watching Mary sleep, the night light casting an angelic glow over their daughter, Dean nodded his head towards their bedroom, a suggestive smile on his face, Lorraine returned the smile as she followed him.

ڳ

Lorraine opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Deans face, he was still sleeping, Lorraine smiled and couldn't believe she had woken up next to this man, every morning for the last six years, besides the time he was off hunting of course, but he always came back and making up for lost time was worth the loneliness when he was away, she turned off the alarm that had pulled her from her sleep, and Dean turned restlessly, but didn't wake, she kissed him on the cheek then got up, regrettably leaving the comfort and warmth of the bed and the man that occupied it, she had to wake up Mary and get her to school before driving to Waterloo, where she was now a member of staff at the Cedaloo psychiatric hospital, She had started a internship there when she had received her certificate of psychology, and two years later joined the payroll, she had given up performing much to the bands protests, every now and then though, on special occasions, they managed to drag her up on stage and do song with them, she did miss performing with them, despite some of the costumes, she had to admit she had a lot of fun times with them,

"you off to work" a voice came from the bed, pulling her back to the present, Lorraine turned and smiled, then walked over to the bed, sitting down she stroked Deans face with the back of her hand and then rested it on his bare chest,

"yeah, I got a new patient, thinks his next-door neighbor is the devil," Lorraine laughed at Dean's concerned look, "no, trust me, he's not the devil, a little scary but definitely not,"

"you need me to get Mary to school," he asked as he stretched and yawned, He and Sam had arrived back from North Dakota late last night, just in time for Mary's birthday who was asleep by then and still didn't know that he had returned,

"no, you get some sleep, I'll drop her off on my way," Lorraine loved how easily Dean had adapted to life as a parent, she honestly had to admit that she didn't think he would, but Mary had become the center of his universe, and quite the daddy's little girl, she learnt quickly that if she wanted something she would have better luck asking her father, Lorraine had thought it was cute at first but as Mary grew so did her requests, many times her and Dean ended up fighting over it, He always promised to cut back but everyone, including Mary, knew that the she had him wrapped around her finger, knowing there was nothing Dean wouldn't do for his little girl, which worried Lorraine, not just because of the social impact it could have on her daughter, always getting what she wants, but because it made her the perfect target for any supernatural being wanting revenge on either Dean or Sam.

"But I do need you to remember to pick up a few things from the shops," Lorraine stood up, smoothing her jacket, "I'll leave a list on the bench," Dean groaned and pulled the covers over his head, one of the things he hated about his domesticated life was shopping, he actually missed the days when on a job he would just duck into a corner store, grab what he needed and be done with it, but with one of Loraine's list, meant he would be walking around the shops for about three hours,

"few things my ass," his mumbled voice came from under the blankets, Lorraine laughed quietly as she walked out, She entered Mary's room, her room was swamped with teddy bears and Barbie dolls, two collected from each hunt the brothers did, Mary could name all of them, but Lorraine gave up trying to remember them all when their names seemed to change every week, under the mass of stuffed animals that sat on the bed, she spotted her daughter, she moved a few of them out of the way and sat down and gently stroked Mary's curls,

"happy birthday, darling" she whispered loudly, "wake up, time to go to school," Mary stirred and pulled a face that reminded her of Dean, then pulled the covers over her head, the giraffe, elephant and snake fell to the floor, where they joined their friends that had fallen off during the night, Lorraine smiled to herself, another subject that Her and Dean where constantly arguing about was how much Mary she know about what her father and uncle did, Lorraine wanted Mary to have an as normal upbringing as possible, whereas Dean wanted her to be prepared, finally agreeing on teaching her enough to keep her safe and what things she should tell them straight away

"I don't wanna go to school," she whined, "I wanna wait till daddy gets back," she said showing her stubborn streak,

"I left a birthday surprise for you in my room," Lorraine smiled, wide green eyes filled with excitement appeared from under the blanket, Mary didn't bother to pull the blankets out of the way, she jumped out of the bed and ran from the room,

"Daaaadddddeeeeee" Mary squealed as she ran down the hallway

ڳ

Dean smiled at the sound of his daughter, then prepared himself for what he knew was coming, he groaned as Mary practically flew though the air, and landed on Dean, her arms wrapped around his neck so tightly that he thought they would have to be surgically removed,

"Hey, kiddo"

"I missed you so much, daddy, where did you go, what did you do, did you get me anything" Mary said in one breath, Dean was amazed she didn't pass out, he smiled at her and nodded to the chair by the dressing table, Mary squealed again and ran over to the giant teddy bear it was nearly bigger than her, she dragged it back to the bed, jumping up on her father again,

"mummy says I have to go to school," she said at a more reasonable speed, "please tell I don't have to," Dean looked at Lorraine, who now stood at the doorway, arms crossed and an amused smile on her face, then back to Mary who's lip had dropped so low she could trip on it, he wasn't sure who's wrath he wanted to come up against, he thought maybe Mary's was the better of two choices,

"I'm sorry kiddo, but your mums right you have to go to school," Mary pouted,

"come on, I put your clothes on the bed, go get dressed, then meet me downstairs" Lorraine told Mary, she shot her father one last pleading look before doing as she was told, dragging the teddy behind her, "and try not to wake uncle Sam," she called after her

"You're a bitch, sending her to school on her birthday," Dean replied

"I'd watch it if I was you," Lorraine scolded jokingly, "see you tonight," she added then headed down stairs, Dean laughed as he laid on his back and looked at the ceiling, and thought about how his life was at this moment, he often did this after getting back from a hunt, he missed both of the girls in his life when he was gone, and he was happy to finally have somewhere to call home, he heard the front door open and then close again, letting him know that they had gone, then he leaned out of the bed and grabbed the duffel bag that lay on the floor, his hand searched around in the bag until it found what he was looking for, he pulled the small velvet box out of the bag and opened it.