Author's notes: Hey, sorry for the wait. Very long story...but I'm back now! I'm wokring on updating my fics and some may take a little longer than others. But this one is almost finished (in terms of writing) so I can update every week :) Thanks C.M.S.Cipriano for your review. Actually, I wanted to make a note of that. Now that I have seen recent season 3 eps and there is the whole thing with Bela/Abby in the ep 'Time is on my side'...well I jsut want you all to know that pretend Bela found a way out of it okay? For those of you that haven't seen the ep, never mind. And I don't think I'll be killing of Bela in my fic anytime soon, sorry! She's very useful right now. Thanks tuffman for your review. I really loved Minda also, but unfortunatly there was no real way to keep her. The brothers will indeed be back sometime down the track! Last chapter was one of my favourites, so I'm glad you really like it too :). Thanks clubby for your review. There are plenty of cleverly-planned surprises down the track. If I kept throwing things at your guys you'd never live to the enxt chapter so some have to be more secretive. There are actually less-obvious clues hidden throughout this fic :).

Enjoy!! Oh, and there is slight spoilers for 'Dream a little dream of me'

Please review and let me know what you all think!! Also, next chapter...oh trust me, you'll love it! grins

Note: song from teaser: David Lee Roth - Damn Good

17 Silent Night

Somewhere in Wyoming…

'We're running out of time!' a man with short, red hair snapped. 'The Winchester boy is never going to-'

'Do you question my plan?' a deeper voice cut him off as he approached them, where they all stood around a campfire that they were using for light.

'No sir!' the redhead said in fear as the bald man stood in front of him.

'Liar' he growled and was going to kill the idiot but decided against it, they really were running out of time and there was so much that still had to be done. 'Things will go according to plan, or you will find yourself in a place far worst than hell itself' the bald man threatened and then looked around at his group of six or seven demons.

'Where to now, sir?' a woman demon with black hair spoke nervously.

'All in due time' their leader nodded and dismissed them.

They chatted amongst each other for a moment, and then wandered away from the clearing and vanished into the night…each with their own duties to carry out.

'All in due time' the bald man spoke again and smirked. He turned so the fire's light was shone upon his face. His eyes flickered emerald green for a brief moment before returning to their usual black…

Green Bay, Wisconsin

One week later…

'Few unexplained murders…a couple cattle mutilations…dry lightning' Sam said aloud. 'It's not nothing, but…it's not much either' Sam shook his head.

He and Dean were sitting in the Impala, but they had spent most of the morning talking to locals, reading newspapers and checking up on some of their theories. It was originally the suspicious weather patterns that had caught their attention and brought them here, but now they weren't so sure that it was anything worth hanging around for.

'Oh crap' Sam's face went from bored to pure annoyance as he saw whom was approaching them.

'Hm?' Dean looked up from his burger and saw Bela. 'C-rap' he mumbled with his mouthful, lettuce sticking out at the corner.

'Fancy seeing you boys here' Bela smiled as she reached the Impala and spoke to them through Dean's window.

Dean glared and wound his window up, also locking the door.

Sam rolled his eyes at his brother's immaturity; clearly Dean didn't realize that Bela won't just disappear if he pretended she wasn't there.

'I can see which of you have the brains in the family' Bela stated as Sam approached her and Dean went to get out of the Impala but had forgotten he'd locked himself in.

'What are you doing here Bela?' Sam sighed.

'And how did you even know we were here?' Dean then asked, having freed himself from the car.

'I didn't' Bela replied half-honestly. 'And if you don't mind, I'd like my amulet back' she held her hand out to Dean.

'Amulet?' Sam echoed.

'Ah yeah, she kinda saved your ass when the vampires got you' Dean shrugged and went into the backseat in search of his bag, in which he'd carefully concealed the amulet.

'Oh…why?' Sam frowned.

'That is yet to be answered' Dean shrugged and dropped the amulet onto Bela's awaiting palm.

'You're welcome' Bela replied sarcastically. 'I'm actually surprised you returned this' she said to Dean as she put the amulet into her handbag carefully.

'Well, it belonged to your mother' Dean shrugged. 'You see, normal people…they do things for other people, without a price'

'I'm touched' Bela said sarcastically. 'Anyway, I'm actually glad you're both here'

'Oh God, what more can you possibly steal from us?' Dean muttered.

'I need your help' Bela told them, ignoring Dean's comment.

'Yeah, and where did that get us last time?' Sam asked, a lot calmer than Dean.

'I swear, I have no alternative motive' Bela said, one hand behind her back as she spoke.

'That's a first' Dean sighed.

'Look, I get it…you're very angry with me-'

'Angry?' Dean echoed and laughed. 'Bela, "Angry" doesn't even cover it!'

'Whatever' she sighed and rolled her eyes slightly. 'After I helped Sam with no strings attached and then I show up and ask for your help…I just thought you would be a little more understanding than this' she said and turned to head back to her car. But Sam ran after her, soon followed by Dean.

'What do you need help with?' Sam asked and Bela turned back around.

She unfolded a piece of paper she'd been carrying, which the boys hadn't noticed until now.

'Ethan Wile, his parents were murdered two weeks ago. The police found no evidence or murder weapon, but the boy is only eight…he was put into a new home. After another few days, they were murdered as well' she explained. 'How's that for interest?'

'And what's your theory?' Dean asked.

'He did it'

'What, the kid?' Sam replied. 'How?'

'See that?' Bela pointed to a chain around the boy's neck. 'It's a very rare artifact, used by the Greeks in early centuries and then by French witches in the late 1600's. It was used for possession' she explained. 'It's quite a keepsake' she added.

'I bet it is' Dean replied, not so smugly.

'And what does this have to do with us?' Sam asked.

'Ethan, the boy…he needs a new family'

'Oh that's…nice' Dean said, not getting the hint that Bela was dropping.

'She means us' Sam whispered to him.

'Come again?' Dean frowned. 'Oh yeah, a gay couple adopting a kid…great' Dean rolled his eyes.

'Why Dean, I had no idea' Bela smirked.

'Not that we're…!' Dean realized what he'd said and was now cursing to himself, shaking his head in annoyance as apposed to shooting her.

Sam sighed and tried not to laugh. 'Dean, Bela means she wants one of us to pretend to be her wife or something so we can get the kid and stop whatever's going on'

'Pretend to be her wife?' Dean asked, which was about the only part he'd heard. 'No thanks, I value my dignity'

'Oh, you have dignity now?' Bela asked in fake shock.

Sam cleared his throat to stop them bickering further. 'Well, you two act like a married couple' he shrugged.

'Dude, we'll kill each other!' Dean frowned.

'Are you going to help me or not?' Bela asked.

'Sammy will' Dean patted his brother's back, only to get a glare in return.

'I hate you' Sam grumbled.

'See? Told you he'd do it' Dean grinned at Bela.

'And you two have been married, how long?' Mr Franks asked as he sat at his desk and looked over at the couple in front of him.

'Three years' Bela smiled as she sat in a chair to Sam's left.

'Yeah' Sam nodded, forcing up a smile too.

'And you're both new around here?'

'We wanted a change of scenery' Bela said and was actually very convincing. 'We bought a very fine house on Violet drive, didn't we honey?' she asked Sam.

'Yeah' Sam nodded again. 'We did'

'Hm' Mr Franks nodded and looked over his glasses at their file. 'And you've never had any kids of your own?'

'No' Sam was quick to respond, the thought of having children with Bela was frightening.

'We tried' Bela said, her tone lowering to be more effective, but Sam wasn't really helping.

'We did?' Sam glanced at her but then turned back to the suspicious Mr Franks. 'I mean, yes! We did…but ah, it didn't go so well'

Bela stared at the floor, rolling her eyes and resisted pinching his arm. She thought Sam would be better at this than Dean…apparently not.

'And you two thought your best option was to adopt a child?' Mr Franks was still skeptical to trusting this couple with custody over another life.

'Yes, I mean all those children that have no home' Bela tried to act sympathetic, but Sam was in a bit of shock.

'I ah…I' he struggled to talk; this was all too much for him. But he knew that he had to get himself under control or else this was going to be a waste of time. 'Yeah, I mean there are kids out there that have no one, it's the least we can do'

'Exactly' Bela nodded, thankful Sam did have a brain after all.

'Hm' Mr Franks nodded and then looked down at their file again. 'And what do you both do for a living?'

Bela and Sam glanced at each other for a moment and tried to think quickly.

'Ah, I'm a lawyer' Sam offered, since he knew he could pull that one off. He saw Bela and Mr Franks watching him so he kept going. 'I ah, finished law school about four years ago, have been working basic cases since then'

'I was in real estate' Bela provided as Mr Franks turned to her.

Sam cracked a small grin then, that was one occupation he could see Bela doing well at.

'And what are your plans? I mean how many children do you wish to adopt?'

'One' Sam said quickly before Bela could even open her mouth. 'Ah…for now' he then shrugged.

Mr Franks nodded again, shocked that he was actually going to give these two a child. If he hadn't known better, he's say that they were the last two people that should be married.

'Hey, are you two done…' Dean burst in and saw the three of them looking at him. Bela had an exceptionally foul look on her face.

'Sorry, I was just…got lost, didn't know if…ah, yeah I'm leaving' Dean nodded and shut the door again.

'Do you know him? Mr Franks asked.

'Nope, not at all…never seen him before in my life' Sam lied.

Bela remained glaring at the door for a second and then turned back around, smiling nicely. If this fat man did not give her the damn kid soon she was going to be in a very bad, possibly dangerous mood.

'Well, I'll show you the kids, shall I?' Mr Franks smiled.

'Thank God!' Sam said, a bit too loudly.

Bela closed her eyes and cursed to herself for a moment and then reopened them.

'I mean ah…great, can't wait' Sam nodded.

They went out of the room and found Dean there. He was sitting in a chair with his head against the wall, snoring softly.

'Are you sure you don't know him?' Mr Franks asked as Dean awoke with a start and sniffed loudly, looking around as if he was drunk or something.

'Not anymore' Bela sighed.

'Oh hey!' Dean grinned at them.

'We don't know you' Sam said, almost wishing it at this point.

Dean stared at them blankly and they left the room, following Mr Franks down the hallway.

Sam and Bela looked around the room that was crowded with kids. There were bunk beds and tables, although most of the kids looked rather miserable or bored.

'Take your time' Mr Franks said. 'I know this is a very tough decision'

'Okay' Sam sighed once they'd separated from Mr Franks. 'So he's eight years old, has blonde hair and wears some sort of chain around his neck?'

'Correct' Bela nodded.

'Hello' a girl about six smiled up at them.

'Ah, hi' Sam nodded and then looked for boys with blonde hair.

'What's your name?' the girl asked him, playing with her brown pigtails.

'Sam' he replied.

'That's a nice name'

'Shoo' Bela said and the girl walked off. 'I found him' she pointed over near the back where a young boy with blonde hair that reached his ears sat on a bed.

Sam and Bela made their way through the kids, which was hard since a few hugged them and if it was awkward for Sam…it was nothing compared to how Bela was handling it.

'Don't you like kids?' Sam wondered.

'Not this many' she complained.

'How's it going?' Mr Franks asked; making Bela jump, which wasn't something she did easily.

'Hey!' a yell was then heard over the noise. Dean wandered into the room, he was sick of sitting in a plastic chair…in an empty hallway…by himself.

'Holy crap' he gasped once he saw how many kids were in the room. 'Hm' he reached the group. 'So ah…picked one yet? I mean, just do the "eeny, meany, miney, moe", if you can't choose' he shrugged.

'How did you even get in here?' Mr Franks asked; he was so sure they had some kind of security in this place to keep people like him out.

'The nice lady Diana, at the counter let me in' Dean gave a whistle and smirked. 'Got her number too, she's so hot…and has this little-'

'Ah, we'll take this one' Sam said, patting Ethan's back.

'Oh um' Mr Franks frowned at the boy, slightly concerned. 'Are you sure?'

'Yes' Bela said quickly, losing her cool a bit. 'Yes, we take him…we leave this room…we just, yes!'

'Okay' Mr Franks said, getting nervous as she was clearly not in the mood to be waiting around any longer.

'I'm glad I'm not married to her' Dean said loudly as he followed them out.

'Thanks' Sam grumbled.

'Just sign here…and here' Mr Franks indicated to the places on the forms and Sam signed first, then Bela…using fake names and signatures of course.

'Can we go now? I'm starved' Dean said.

'Who is this guy?' Mr Franks asked again, getting quite annoyed with him.

'We're not really sure' Sam sighed. 'But he's leaving' he gave Dean a glare, which he understood and left to go find Diana.

Ethan followed Sam and Bela out of the car and up to the house, which Bela had rented out for the duration of this case.

'So ah, welcome home' Sam shrugged.

'It's nice' Ethan nodded as Bela shut the front door. He turned around and faced them with a smirk. 'But you shouldn't have brought me here' he said and his eyes flickered black.

Dean smirked as he sat at the bar and stared up at the woman dancing on the counter, well stripping would be a more appropriate description. He heard his cell phone ringing but chose to ignore it. He held another twenty dollars up to the woman. He watched her for a bit longer and then noticed the time.

'Seven thirty already?' he said in surprise. He shrugged and grinned at the dancer again.

'You're really hot' he told her.

'And you're really drunk' she replied knowledgably.

'Yeah' Dean nodded with a goofy grin, totally unaware of what she'd just said.

'No' Bela said again and Sam was getting downright frustrated.

'Who's going to tuck me in?' Ethan asked sleepishly as he came downstairs.

'We're working on it!' Sam said. 'Okay: paper, scissors, rock?'

Bela glared for a moment and then agreed.

The first time, they both did paper and Ethan just yawned by the staircase.

'Ha!' Sam grinned in triumph the second time as he did rock and Bela did scissors. 'See? Now you can tuck him into bed while I go over research'

Bela rolled her eyes and walked over to Ethan. 'Bedtime' she said, pointing to the staircase. And since he was too tired to move, she had to get him back into standing position and help him up the stairs.

'You don't like me, do you?' Ethan asked sadly as Bela pulled back the bed covers so he could get in.

'We do, we're just…a little new to this' She said, trying to keep him quiet, but now she was genuinely a bit concerned for him. 'Sleep tight' she told him and placed the covers back over him. 'Oh, and you should take that off while you sleep' she said, reaching for the chain around his neck.

Ethan's eyes went a sudden black again but didn't fade this time. He grabbed her outstretched arm and flung her across the room. Bela hit the wall back first and slid to the ground. She got up and was about to call Sam since he had more means of protection, but she spotted a red headed man in the corner.

'Who are you?' Bela asked angrily.

'You can see me?' he frowned, his eyes demon-black. His hands were letting off an electric glow, which was responding with Ethan's chain.

Bela turned and faced Ethan as he stood up, his eyes now pure black. She went towards him but was thrown into the wall again, knocking over a lamp on the way.

'Bela?' Sam rushed into the room after he'd heard the noise and spotted Bela unconscious on the floor. He saw Ethan's eyes and wasn't sure what to do. But the broken lamp then rose off the floor and levitated towards Sam.

Sam hadn't been counting on Ethan to have telekinetic powers when he was controlled by the demon, so he had to duck several items before he was able to work out what was going on.

'Woah, Ethan' Sam held up his hands, since he was unable to see the demon controlling him. A hockey stick swung at Sam's face, but he ducked it. The second time though, it came from behind and he was knocked forward onto the floor.

'Argh' he gasped and the rolled over. The hockey stick was preparing to come at him again, raising back and preparing for impact.

Bela winced and opened her eyes. She saw the hockey stick swing downward at Sam as he lay on his back. But the stick stopped several inches from Sam's nose.

Sam's eyes were shut tightly and after no impact, he realized what had happened.

Bela watched in shock as Sam gasped and stared at the hockey stick, which then flung across the room and broke against a wall. Sam relaxed a bit since that had been quite some strain on him and his head was hurting slightly. Bela closed her eyes and pretended to still be knocked out.

'Bela?' Sam asked and crawled over to her.

'What?' she asked and re-opened her eyes, looking around. 'Sam!' she said quickly and he spun around in time to duck a flying book that had been aimed at his head.

'The demon is using him' Bela said, looking over at man in the corner.

Sam looked as well but didn't see anyone. 'What demon?'

They ducked another book and Sam then got up. He ducked and dodged other objects until he finally reached Ethan. Sam grabbed the chain and yanked it off.

Ethan's eyes returned to normal and he fell to the floor, exhausted.

Sam watched as the chain faded from black to a dark blue and seemed harmless again. He looked up as a red headed man materialized in front of him and went to attack him. Sam threw the chain away and grabbed the man at the same time he grabbed him. While they wrestled a bit while Bela glanced over at the fallen chain.

Sam was shoved into a wall hard and couldn't overpower the demon, whom was very angry and now losing his temper.

A bald man appeared and grabbed the demon from behind and pulled the black smoke right out of the man's body. The man collapsed onto the floor while the demon disappeared through the ceiling loudly, disturbing the objects in the room. The bald man stared at Sam in interest and his eyes flicked emerald for a quick second and then he was just, gone...

Sam breathed heavily and then glanced over to Ethan. Bela was by his side and sitting him up.

'He'll live' she stated with some relief.

Dean drove up to the house the following morning and saw a few police cars and men in suits around which made him very nervous. He spotted Sam and Bela talking near her car so he figured it was safe.

Mr Franks was helping Ethan put his stuff in the car since he as going to a proper home now, one with a couple that were very looking forward to having him a part of their family. Ethan watched Sam and Bela talking for a moment and then rushed out of the car and over to them.

'Bela!' he said and hugged her around the middle. 'I wanted you to have this' he held up a piece of paper.

Bela, Sam and Dean glanced down at it as Ethan went back to the car. It had "thanks" written on the top and it was a drawing of Ethan, which he'd done himself.

'Guess he doesn't want you to forget how grateful he is' Sam shrugged.

Bela nodded and folded it up, stuffing it into her pocket without another glance.

'So ah, guess you two will be getting divorced now?' Dean said as though he was upset. 'It's So sad' he shook his head.

Bela and Sam weren't finding it as enlightening as Dean was though.

'Well um, everything's all set…are you two sure you're okay with this?' Mr Franks asked. 'I mean Ethan seems to really like you two and since you saved him from that kidnapper…' he sighed, since the story he had been given was that the red-headed man had broken in and tried to steal Ethan.

'We're sure' Sam nodded.

Mr Franks sighed heavily and then wandered off to talk to another group of people, finalizing the arrangements.

'Hey Bela? Why exactly did you want to save this boy so much?' Sam wondered. 'I mean you must have gotten something out of it'

'I have my reasons' she replied but ended her explanation there, ignoring all of Dean's eye rolling and head shaking.

'Now, if you excuse me' Bela said the moment all the people started clearing away. 'I am needed elsewhere' she stated and got into her car. 'Ciao!' she called out and drove off.

It was later that night, as the boys were getting ready to leave town that they reached a very concerning issue.

'Ah Sam…' Dean frowned. 'Where's the colt?'

Sam was already digging through his bag madly, tipping the contents all over his bed. 'Didn't you have it? I was staying with Bela and we agreed not to…'

'I don't have it' Dean said and rushed out to the Impala, searching it from front to back.

'Keep looking' Dean growled and pulled out his cell phone.

--

'Yes?' Bela answered her phone while she was driving through the dark highway, heading home. 'Oh, hey Dean' she said.

'Give it back!'

'I beg your pardon?' Bela frowned. 'Give what back?'

'Don't be funny, you took the colt…again!'

'I gave you my word' Bela said, even though she had her fingers crossed behind her back the day she'd sworn that there was no alternative motives.

'Cut the crap' Dean said angrily. 'Give it back'

'Dean, honestly' Bela sighed. 'I don't have it' she replied truthfully.

'Bela!'

'Ciao' Bela hung up on him and glanced over to the seat beside her where Ethan's picture lay opened. She gave a small smile since it had felt good to save someone, and with nothing in return…sort of.

Bela reached into her pocket smugly and pulled out the chain that had been around Ethan's neck. Yeah, this case had been worthwhile...

Teaser:

Time rools on
n' that's as it should be
Here and gone
Seems to move so quickly

'Okay, so if we pass through here…' Sam frowned as he went over the map on his lap. 'And drive for another 12 miles, we should be able to reach-'

'It's the fifth murder this month!' she said. 'Beheaded, just like the rest'

Ahh, the crazy things we used to do
Sure, we was acting like a couple of kids
Good to remember
You know that it is

'I was watching that' Dean said, pointing to the blank screen.
'People are dying Dean' Sam rolled his eyes. 'And you're sitting here watching TV?'

'Oh look' Sam said sarcastically. 'It's Captain Useless!'

So it's one for the money
But that don't make the show
Count to three and I'll be ready
To follow that road

Dean got out of his Impala and ran a hand over her smoothly.
'They get all the work, and we get all the fun baby!' he grinned.

I see it comin'
Yeah, and this one is outs
We got heaven right here on Earth
Ain't nothin' like it

The first bullet flew just past the horseman's shoulder, but the other never even made it to him since he faded away.
'Oh great' Dean said sarcastically

You can tell 'em
We'll be having good times
Damn good times

'This is so not how I pictured my death' Dean muttered.

Coming Soon…