The song here is "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac

Rhiannon

It was a drive of about two days, but they reached their destination. It was a small and quiet town and there, on Main Street, was the bookstore. It was much bigger than they imagined, but it made sense, if it really had everything that the clueless hunter guy said it had.

The building had a second story, but it looked like apartments.

Dean pulled up in front of the bookstore and looked through the windows. They hesitated and no one broke the silence in the car. There seemed to be no one inside, despite the "Open" sign hanging in the glass door. Eventually, Sam, Dean and Castiel climbed out of the Impala and looked through the windows one last awkward time before opening the door and stepping in.

As they opened the door, there was a little bell that made such a sweet welcoming sound. It was obviously to alert Anne that she had a customer, but she didn't show up.

When walking in, there were tables in the center and bookshelves all around. There were even some smaller bookshelves to the right of those tables. At the back, starting in the left corner going to half of the back wall was a counter with a couple of computers and shelves with books in clear bags as if they had been specially ordered for customers. Behind that counter, in the center of the wall was a door marking "For Employees Only". Off to the right corner were a few tables and chairs with a counter of baking and a few coffee machines, along with some smaller bookshelves with books marked "On Clearance".

Dean and Castiel began looking at the books on the tables in front of them, waiting for someone to greet them. If they had to wait for Anne, they might as well poke around her store. Well, these books were your typical books. There was nothing supernatural here. Sam eventually glanced at them and gave a slight frown, as if asking Dean what was wrong.

"You sure it's not just an ordinary bookstore?" he asked, holding up a romance novel, and then, unexpectedly, that familiar voice grabbed their attention.

"Looks that way, doesn't it?"

They all turned and saw Anne standing behind the counter, in front of that door for employees. She had her hands folded together on the counter and smiled sweetly at them with her usual pixie haircut, only she seemed to have added highlights.

They stood in silence, not accustomed to her smiling at them. They were used to her being angry or grief stricken. This sight sort of stunned them.

"Well, came here just to stare at me?" she asked and laughed softly as they approached. "I hear good news travels fast." She added and Sam was the first to smile and confirm it.

"Yeah, a hunter called us and told us about your store." He said and her smile seemed so bright and full of happiness. They couldn't help but feel happy for her and slightly envious at the same time. She had gone through so much crap and here she was, smiling because everything was alright. She had her mother; it was like her death and time in Hell never happened.

"So, Hunters 'R Us?" Dean asked and she met his eyes and gave a soft laugh again.

"The front section of the store is for the general public, gotta make money you know. And for hunters seeking information or help," she said and pointed to the employee door behind her. "Through there." She added and grinned. "Curiosity got the best of the Winchesters?" she asked and Sam smiled, nodding. "Well, come on back for a special tour." She added and walked over to the edge of the counter and unlocked the small door, opening it for them.

As she did, the Winchesters stopped and stared at her stomach. Castiel knitted his eyebrows together in confusion, then took notice of what had grabbed Sam and Dean's attention. Her abdomen stuck out in a firm sounded shape.

"You're pregnant." Sam said and they met her eyes. She smiled softly and rubbed her stomach tenderly.

"Seems that way." She replied with a slight grin.

"Congrats." Dean said and just smiled.

"How far along?" Sam asked and she looked down and back up at him with a sort of glow in her face and a sparkle in her eyes. Another sight that sort of stunned them. She was no longer the girl they knew; she had grown so much and became a total different woman.

"About nineteen weeks." She replied and walked back to the door, opening it for them and waiting for them to step through. Once they did, there was a short corridor with a staircase going to the second floor. At the end was another door.

"Do you own the apartments upstairs?" Sam asked and she smiled at him and nodded her head.

"We do. One belongs to my mother and the other is for Gadreel and me." she replied and the men smiled, looking back at her stomach again.

"And soon, three." Dean said and her smile widened, growing brighter.

They got to the door and once opened, it was a warehouse that was added onto the bookstore. They could tell it used to be a parking lot, but she made it into another part of the store for hunters only.

As they glanced around, the security was high and tight with cameras at every angle. She even had Devil's Traps and other sigils to ward off evil. They were impressed.

Around the warehouse, there were glass cases with weapons inside and in the center, were tables. One had books and computers for consultation while another had the basic hunter essentials such as salt and holy water. There were more tables filled with hunter goodies, and then the far right corner had a table with candles, herbs, potions, Tarot cards and spell books for sale. Behind that one was a counter with similar items that seemed to have been used a few times.

The men continued looking around as Anne explained.

"All at a hunter's discount." She said and the guys smiled. "Or an exchange is acceptable, since we all know hunting isn't a paying job." She added and they smiled at her, feeling sort of proud of her. She was no longer the girl that came to them for help; she was the woman that one would run to for help.

"And in the corner?" Castiel asked and when she followed his gaze, turned back to them and her smile changed into a grin.

"I do sell my services as a Wiccan to help out those that don't know a poem from a spell." She said and the Winchesters nodded. "Of course, if I don't approve, I refuse; but I haven't come across that problem yet." She concluded and the men seemed content. "Either I cast for them, construct or find just the right spell." She added to clarify.

They began walking back to leave the warehouse as Anne continued talking about the things she has ordered and sold. They couldn't believe she had gotten such good connections in two years. They were definitely envious.

Castiel was quite impressed by the various things she had. It was all very helpful to new hunters. She had pamphlets about all different sorts of sigils and she even sold journals where she encouraged new hunters to record their hunts. It was a splash of old-school hunting that never ran out of style with new age hunting that would have helped them out when they had started with their father.

"Mom will have a lunch prepared by now, so c'mon up for something to eat. And I'm sure Gadreel will be in soon." She said and Castiel walked a little faster so he could walk beside her.

"Where is he?" he asked and she smiled as she looked over at him.

"He's at the junkyard trying to find a part for one of our customers. He went to college for a mechanical course so he could work on vehicles. He's studied every make and model. You should hear him talk about engines." She said and laughed softly. "Sexy." She added and laughed again at Castiel's slightly embarrassed expression. "We also own the junkyard." She added and that made the brothers think of Bobby and his collection of used vehicles for parts.

They were definitely proud of her.

Along the walls were a few bookshelves with more supernatural themed books, nearly matching the collection they had at the Men of Letter's bunker. However, that's not what grabbed Sam's attention. He pulled out a book and froze. Dean only noticed when he glanced over beside him and Sam wasn't there.

"C'mon Sam, we're getting food." Dean said and when he saw what his brother was holding, he ripped it out of Sam's hands and flipped through it. "What the Hell, Anne?" he asked and when he turned around, she casually turned and met their eyes with a soft smile. "The 'Supernatural' books?" he asked and her smile broadened slightly as she began approaching them.

"Yes, the 'Supernatural' books by Carver Edlund." She replied and the brothers quickly lost their friendliness. Suddenly, that proud feeling they were feeling for her had gone out the window. How could she have these books? It was atrocious!

"Also known as Chuck Shurley." Dean said and closed the book, lifting it up and shaking it like a preacher would a bible. "How can you have these here? These are about our lives." He added and her expression didn't change. She remained calm and her smile was still soft.

"I know. I've read them. We all did." She said and Dean glanced away with a clenched jaw. Sam was also unimpressed and looked at all the books that were slightly dusty, as if no one else had touched them. That was comforting, but what twisted his stomach was the fact that Anne had every single one of them, even binder's with the unpublished ones that Becky had released on the Internet. "I searched far and wide for these books. I understand now all the crap you two gave me and it's important to have them in my store.

"I can understand your anger, since the books leave nothing to the imagination, but they are so important in a way that's difficult to put into words." Anne said and then the softness faded after a few seconds from her sweet face and was replaced by the hard expression they were used to. "They can offer so much hope to those who have lost it. They can show that yes, it's a difficult life, but look at all the good it leaves behind. Without hunters, the world would be a buffet for monsters and no one would have a clue on how to stop it." She added and the brothers didn't look convinced. Seemed they no longer believed hunting was worth it; that feeling that they've done something good. They were just so used to it, like they felt stuck, like they couldn't do anything else. Hunting was hunting. Have they forgotten how it felt when they thought they were alone in this miserable monster-filled world? Have they forgotten how many lives they saved; all the monsters they killed that would have done so much damage? Yes, they've lost so much in the process and they surely didn't see themselves as heroes, but the fact remains that they are.

After a few seconds of silence, she narrowed her eyes and snapped at them, knowing her words meant very little to them.

"Look, thin layer of dust means no one wants to read them. Now, it's my store; don't like it, too fucking bad. Suck it up, buttercups." She concluded and snatched the book from Dean's hand, her eyes cold. "If you're staying, I suggest you follow me before the food gets cold. If you're leaving, don't let the door hit your ass on the way out." She tossed the book on the nearest table as she turned around and then she left the warehouse.

Castiel stood back as if he was afraid she's push him out of her way and then glanced back at the brothers with a frown. Obviously, he wasn't happy that they had made a scene and upset Anne in the process.

The brothers exchanged glances, annoyed about the "Supernatural" books, but not enough to leave on a bad note. They couldn't be that cold towards Anne. And they still wanted to know what had occurred between her and Crowley two years ago.

Yeah, this chapter is longer than usual, but I couldn't help myself. And I'm sure you, my wonderful readers, don't mind.

Thanks for reading and thanks for the reviews! I love hearing from you!