The evening lights turned the side of Jesse's house an amber hue as Ash parked the car in front of Jesse's house. Ash, Andy, and Ashlinn traded nervous looks before looking back at the house.

"So we go in, tell them Jesse's a wizard, and show them a couple tricks, right?" Andy asked, nervously tapping the dashboard.

"That's the plan," Ashlinn said with fake enthusiasm, but no one made an effort to leave the car. "Hopefully, they don't freak out too much… This paranormal stuff can be a lot for some people. I just hope they don't… you know."

"Call the cops," Ash offered with a laugh. "We can make a quick getaway if they do. I'll have you know that The Dukes of Hazzard was my favorite show."

"That… is not the least bit surprising. But I'd rather not get into a race with the police."

"To each their own."

Ashlinn took a deep breath and opened the door. As she stepped out, her phone started to ring. It was Dean. Ashlinn sighed before she answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Please tell me that you aren't about to go into the house of the Antichrist without us," Dean said quickly and with so much frustration that she could feel it emanate from the phone.

Ashlinn looked out the window to the house as she answered, "We're just going in to talk with the parents. Maybe show them a magic trick or two. Let them know that Jesse has… a gift. He's a kid, Dean."

Dean started to argue when Sam grabbed the phone and said, "Just be careful. And if things go sideways…"

"We'll be out of there," Ashlinn promised as she got out of the car. "You two be safe too. Don't do anything stupid trying to get here. We've got this covered."

Ashlinn could hear Dean's griping in the background as Sam got off the phone. Looking at Ash and Andy, she said, "So are you two ready?"

Andy nodded as Ash said, "As ready as I'll ever be."

"Okay then," Ashlinn replied before leading the way.

On the way up to the house, Ashlinn felt a surge of magic and heard a crash from inside the house. Running up the stairs, Ashlinn pulled the door open to see Julie in a chair, Jesse's parents holding each other in fear, and Jesse… who looked at Ashlinn with a mixture of suspicion and fear. Ashlinn walked inside and stopped in front of Jesse.

"What's wrong?" Ashlinn asked, ignoring the demon in Julie's body. The demon tried to attack Ashlinn but was held back by an invisible force.

"She said that you lied to me… She said that I'm not like you. I'm different."

"I never said that we're exactly the same. No one is," Ashlinn said as she knelt in front of him.

"STOP! Stop treating me like a child!" Jesse yelled as the house shook. There was a scream from Jesse's mother as she gripped her husband's shirt. Jesse hesitated. The house stopped shaking, but there was already a large crack down the wall.

"But you are one, Jesse. You're just a kid. No matter who your father is… you are still just a kid. And that's all you need to be," Ashlinn said, gently touching one of his clenched fists. Jesse's eyes still watched her every move, but his hand started to relax. "I want you to play videogames and whine about dinner. I want you to wake up on Christmas excited for Santa. I want you to be the kid you are. You don't need to be responsible. You don't need to save the world. All I want is for you to be safe and happy."

Ashlinn heard hesitant footsteps from behind her. Ash slowly knelt next to Ashlinn under Jesse's watchful gaze. The only thing that betrayed Ash's was how deep he was breathing as though trying to calm himself down.

"And it's okay to be scared. You don't know us… but we want to get to know you," Ash said gently with a small smile, reaching out a hand. "I get scared too. We've all been there."

"What are you scared of?" Jesse asked, his other hand still clenched at his side.

"My girl… she's pregnant," Ash admitted, and Ashlinn swatted him. "I know… We were trying to find a good time to tell you. It's been crazy lately."

"Why are you afraid?" Jesse asked with a scowl.

"I… My father was not a good man. I'm not scared that I'll be like him… I'm scared that I'll disappoint my kid the way I did the old man." Ashlinn gave Ash's shoulder a reassuring squeeze, and he continued, "Mighty stupid of me, isn't it? I've got five of the best people in the world who've got my back, and two of 'em are right here. Like they always are."

Ashlinn could help but give him a wry smile. There was muffled laughter from behind them as the demon fought against her bonds. Andy stood protectively behind Ashlinn and Ash as they continued reaching out to the boy.

"Get out!" Jesse snapped at the laughing demon, and Ashlinn watched as black smoke poured out of the woman's body before disappearing. Finally, Jesse held onto Ashlinn and Ash's hands. He asked quietly, "Can my parents come with us?"

Ashlinn turned to see the two parents hugging each other and looking at Jesse in horror. Ashlinn knew the answer that they would give but said, "If they want to… If not, you have a home with us."

Jesse let go of their hands and walked to his parents, who recoiled away from him. Ashlinn felt Ash stiffen beside her. There was nothing that they could do but wait.

"Mom… Dad… I'm sorry that I'm not normal. But these people said that I can go with them. I'll fix the house," Jesse promised as he looked around the room. "Please… I…"

The mother looked at Jesse for a moment before turning away. The father said in a shaky voice, "I don't know who you are, but you aren't our boy."

The house around them shifted until it was restored to its former glory. Jesse stared at the couple for a moment more before walking back to Ashlinn and Andy. "We can go."

Ashlinn held out a hand to Jesse, and he hesitantly held onto her hand. Gripping it gently but firmly, she led the way out of the house. Ash and Andy rode in the front, giving Ashlinn and Jesse back seats. Jesse watched as the only home he'd ever known slowly faded into the distance.

"It's not your fault, Jesse," Andy reassured him. "No one chooses how they're born."

"And how do you know?"

"I… uh. I was one of Lucifer's 'Special Children.' I was supposed to be an evil sidekick… Instead, I'm just a loser dropout."

"Hey now!" Ash said irritably. "You're our loser dropout!"

"I feel so very reassured right now," Andy muttered as Ash gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. However, one look at Andy's face told a different story.

Jesse didn't even smile as he continued looking out the window.

"I found out that my ancestors were Nazis… and necromancers," Ashlinn chimed in, and everyone in the car shot her a look. "Magnus told me… Ash, you hid Winona's pregnancy from me. Don't give me that look."

"Why are you acting like it was my idea not to tell you guys?! I told you… it was just really awkward timing."

"You're telling the truth?" Jesse asked, looking at Ashlinn for clarity.

"Unfortunately so. My heritage is full of monsters, but I believe we are who we choose to be."

Jesse looked at her thoughtfully before asking, "And who is that? Who do you 'choose to be'?"

"I save people and hunt things. It's the family business… and that's another thing. I chose my family as well. My dad's name is Bobby Singer. I have a bunch of idgits that I consider to be my siblings."

Ash laughed, and Andy gave her an annoyed look.

"I have a crazy uncle named Rufus and… an aunt and an uncle that taught me how to control my powers. None of them are related to me, but I wouldn't want to live in a world without them. Family's more than blood, and you can be a part of that… Welcome home, bud."

Tears leaked out of Jesse's face, and Ashlinn brought him to her in a hug. As he cried into her shoulder, Ashlinn shared a look with Ash in the rearview mirror. The music started up. It wasn't one of Ash's usual rock ballads, and Ashlinn smiled as a gentle jazz song began to play. Jesse fell asleep clutching onto Ashlinn's hand.

Using her other hand, Ashlinn texted Sam and Dean that they were all alive and well and she'd let them know when they were home.

"Call us as soon as you can," Sam sent back. "Please."

Ashlinn felt a shiver go up her spine. She gave Andy a nervous look and showed him the message.

Andy mumbled, "That doesn't sound good. Maybe we should pull over."

Ashlinn looked at Jesse with reluctance. His head was resting on her arm, and his hand had relaxed in hers. With a sigh, she nodded at Ash, and he pulled into the next gas station he saw. As soon as Ashlinn put her hand on the door, she felt a small hand tighten on her other hand. Jesse looked up at her with wide eyes.

"It's okay," she said soothingly. "We're at a gas station. Why don't you go grab a snack with Andy? I'll be right outside. Just need to make a quick call."

Jesse nodded and followed Andy inside. As Ash put gas in the car, Ashlinn walked away from the car and called Sam's phone. Sam's voice sounded incredibly tired as he answered.

"We've got a problem."

"We always do, Sam. …But what is it this time?"

"Castiel is here, and he wants to speak with you. It's about the kid."

"Put him on the phone," Ashlinn groaned, wanting to get this over with quickly.

"This is Castiel. Am I speaking with Ashlinn?"

"Ashlinn speaking. I'm not going to let you hurt the boy. I know how powerful he is… And I don't give a single shit about your entire garrison of douchebags."

"Please, Ashlinn, listen–"

"I WILL NOT! Anna's dead," Ashlinn choked out, and Castiel went completely silent. "And there's no heaven for dead angels… so she's gone. And she won't be coming back. The kid might be dangerous, but by that logic then so is Sam. And I am too. Do you think that we're going to join Lucifer?"

"No," Castiel said, his voice sounding heavy… and unsure. "But that child–"

"That child is safe with me," Ashlinn growled into the phone. "Why do you even care? Isn't this a part of what your angelic bosses want? Or did they suddenly get cold feet about fighting a child?"

"Ashlinn! Please! …Please, listen. I… I'm no longer working with Heaven. I want to help."

"I don't believe you," Ashlinn replied, struggling to keep her voice even. "I heard you talking to Raphael in heaven. I'm a 'corrupter', right? Just like Lucifer… How do I know that this isn't a trick?"

"I don't know," Castiel admitted with a strained tone. "I don't know how to make you believe in me again… I can only offer my assistance. Anything you want of me I will give."

Castiel sounded sincere, but that could be a trick. He had lied to Dean about working with Crowley in the series. Is that what he was doing now? Was he lying to gather intel for Raphael and Michael? Sam's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"We can keep him with us for now. We've got a lot of work to do before Lucifer releases Death," Sam said almost pleadingly. "He can help us get the ingredients for that spell."

Ashlinn sighed and agreed before getting off of the phone. Bobby had found a spell that would summon Death to a new location, but the ingredients were very hard to find. Perhaps an angel would have better luck. As Ashlinn walked back to the car, she saw Ash looking at her worriedly. He pulled her into a hug after getting a closer look at her face. Ashlinn returned the hug, burying her face in his flannel.

"We're going to make it through this. Just one step at a time."

"I sure hope so," Ashlinn whispered as she watched Andy and Jesse leaving the gas station with an assortment of snacks.

Ash let go of her and gave her a gentle pat on the back before getting back in the car. Jesse excitedly showed Ashlinn what he had picked out for her. With a thank you, she opened the door for the little guy and got in behind him. Ash started the car, and they were on the road once again.