Author's note: I love the range of reactions to some of the twists. I hope everyone is well. If I write something that is insensitive or you just want to say something, you can message me or email. My email is my user name and I use the g mail platform. I think that Supernatural is a gritty show so some of the themes are dark. However, some of those themes may strike a cord with specific people.

Recap so we aren't too lost. Kate is related to Sam and Dean via John. Taylor is related to Sam and Dean via Mary. Taylor's biological father happens to be Jo's as well. There is an unknown (for now) link that ties Taylor and Kate together but they haven't found it yet, aside from the original story with Ada. The yellow eyed demon is still out there. Aphfrim is the Grigori in charge of observing the kids and he will be seen more later on. Hope that helps!

### ###

"What is Caleb hunting?" Dean asked.

Sam shrugged. "He hasn't messaged back yet."

Dean readjusted the route they were on and headed to help Caleb.

Sam didn't mind the detour. They had plenty of time to make it to California and a final hunt, just the two of them, was something that Dean needed. Sam didn't want to hunt forever but he could give Dean that bit of satisfaction. He wanted more for Dean too but nothing he said would ever make Dean turn from the life.

"Hey man." Dean said as he answered his phone. "Yeah, Sam and I are on our way there now." He spoke to Caleb briefly and felt a small bit of excitement growing. Caleb was a hunting buddy and he and Dean were good friends. Sam was at his side and all was right for a few more days.

### ###

Kate got her sketch book from the car and brought it back to her seat. She was tired but liked the atmosphere. In a way, it was sad. Everyone that was there had been introduced to the supernatural. Most, if not all, fell into the life after a loved one was taken. Jo and Taylor were playing pool so Kate sat by herself and drew. She faded into the background, as she was used to doing and listened to the conversations of the other hunters. She wasn't listening to snoop but the background chatter was soothing.

Jo stomped her foot in frustration. "You didn't even give me a chance with that one."

Taylor grinned. "You can't win every single game."

Jo racked the balls again. "3 out of 5?"

Taylor shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Kate was in her own world. She tuned everything out until she overheard someone mention her dad's name. Her ears perked up and she scooted to the edge of the booth to hear the conversation. Word had gotten around to different hunters that Brian had made a deal. This particular set of hunters were gossiping about the deal and what happened to her. One mentioned Craig saying something was wrong with her and then he disappeared. Was John keeping a witch on hand? Kate's stomach was in knots. The things they were saying weren't accurate.

Taylor felt a chill run up his spine and looked over to Kate. She was fuming over something.

Jo followed his eyes. "What happened to her?"

Kate hung on every word that was said. How dare they even speak of her dad. How dare they speak of her. A certain harsh slur made her snap. She drew her knife and leaped out of the booth. She went to storm over to the table but a hand clamped around her mouth and another around her wrist. She was shoved toward the back door and heard it slam behind her. She jerked her wrist free and heard a sharp intake of air.

"Ow. Kate, what the hell?" Taylor said.

Kate blinked rapidly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry."

Taylor held up his hand. "It is healing."

Jo took his hand and wiped the blood on her flannel. "Whoa. That is cool."

Taylor looked back at Kate. "What were you doing?"

Kate looked at the knife in her hand. "I.. I snapped."

"Duh, but why?" Taylor asked.

"Those hunters were talking about my dad and about me. They were saying things that weren't true." Kate said.

"So you were eavesdropping." Ellen said from the doorway.

All three kids jumped.

Kate looked at her with wide eyes.

Ellen took Taylor's hand and looked it over before she approached Kate and took the knife from her. "What was that?"

"I wasn't eavesdropping. I was just drawing and then I heard my dad's name. They were talking and had no idea what happened. It made me mad." Kate said.

"You don't pull a knife on a table full of hunters." Ellen said.

Kate's face was red.

"Hunters talk. They gossip. If they get too rowdy I kick them out." Ellen said as she rinsed Kate's knife.

Kate swallowed hard. "One of them mentioned Craig too." She was still mad. "One said I was a witch." She held her hand out for her knife.

Ellen pulled her hand back. "Oh, no. You aren't getting this back right now."

Kate's mouth dropped open. "It is mine. They can't talk trash and not get set straight."

"Had Taylor not grabbed you, you would have gotten 5 foot from that table and had 4 guns pointed at you." Ellen said.

"So? I've been shot before." Kate said and tried to reach for the knife again.

Taylor shot Jo a worried look.

Ellen handed the knife to Taylor and bent so that her face was level with Kate's. "Young lady you better stop and listen right now."

Kate's eyes got big again. "Sorry."

"Even if they had been talking about something like they were planning to kidnap someone, you shouldn't approach a table like that. They are hunters. Not all hunters think things through, especially if they have had a few drinks. Had you come to me and told me what they were saying I could have set them straight or kicked them out. If one of them had reacted too quickly and pulled their own knife or even hit you, what do you think is going to happen with that witch theory when you heal in front of their eyes?" Ellen said in a harsh tone.

Kate's eyes welled with tears. "I just heard my dad's name and stopped thinking."

Ellen's voice softened. "I know. They struck a nerve. When I go back in there I will tell them to can it. You have got to think a bit harder. Those four are seasoned hunters. Even if they were regular men, you put yourself in a hell of a situation doing that. There have been bar fights over disagreements on football teams. We don't need a bar fight over finding out if you are a witch or not. When you are here, you stay back and stay quiet. If someone says or does anything you tell me or Bobby. You can even tell Jo or Ash."

Kate nodded quickly. "I'm sorry."

Ellen motioned for Taylor to give her Kate's knife. "Bobby is going to hang onto this for the rest of the night."

Kate frowned. "I wont pull it again."

Ellen put her hand on the side of Kate's face and ran her thumb along her cheek. "You'll get it back tomorrow."

Once Ellen went back inside. Jo and Taylor let out the breaths that they were holding.

"She must really like you." Jo said, ruefully. She had been half worried that she'd take Kate upstairs.

Taylor hugged Kate. "I'm sorry that they hurt you with what they were saying. You scared me. I thought for sure you were about to stab someone."

"I wanted to." Kate said.

Taylor stopped hugging her. "Katie, she is going to tell Bobby why you lost your knife. If she tells Bobby he is going to tell-"

"Nooooo." Kate hissed and ran back inside. She came to a sliding stop all of four inches from Bobby's chest. She looked up at him with her best puppy eyes and squeaked when she was promptly spun around and taken back outside.

Jo put her hand on Taylor's back and urged him to go back inside. "Run." She whispered.

"Bobby." Kate squeaked.

"Did you pull a knife on somebody?" Bobby asked.

Kate chewed her thumb nail. "Well, kind of but not really."

"Really? Because Ellen handed me your knife and said that you intended on approaching that corner table with it." Bobby said.

"I..I did but Ellen talked to me about it and I know to tell her if somebody says something bad. They were talking about us and saying stuff that wasn't true." Kate said.

Bobby pinched the bridge of his nose. "What did Dean talk to you about?"

Kate's mouth got dry.

"He talked to you about being impulsive and putting yourself in unnecessary danger." Bobby answered for her.

"I haven't heard my dad's name in a long time and to hear it like that was too much." Kate said.

"Ellen is giving them an earful right now. What was your plan?"

Kate winced when she nicked her thumb with her teeth. "I didn't have one. I wasn't thinking."

"It hasn't even been a week." Bobby said.

Kate let a few tears fall. "I'm sorry."

"What did Dean tell you would happen if his little talk with you didn't get through to you?" Bobby asked.

Kate gasped in horror. "Bobby, please. Don't tell them. I will be more careful. I was caught off guard, Bobby please."

Bobby tucked her against his hip and landed two dozen swats. "You do not pull knives on people. Do you understand me?"

Kate rubbed her backside. She was still achy from the last conversation. "Yes, sir."

Bobby pulled her into a hug. "It is hard hearing rumors about yourself. Safety is important though." He sighed and kissed the top of her head. "You will be telling them but you got a lecture from Ellen and a butt warming from me. If you can manage to think from now on, this will be the end of it."

Kate hugged him and rubbed her face on his shirt. "I'm sorry."

"Shh, I know. You are damn lucky Taylor stopped you and Dean didn't come on this little trip."

Kate cringed. "Yea, he claims you used to be nearly as bad as John."

"I'm too old for this now." Bobby said with a chuckle.

Kate sighed. "Thanks for keeping me."

Bobby scoffed. "Of course I'd keep you. Head back inside. We will be headed back soon."

Kate frowned. "Do we have to?"

"Yeah we do. This place gets busy the later it gets and I can't have you picking fights."

Kate crossed her arms. "I wont."

Bobby ruffled her hair. "Just go say goodbye to Ellen and apologize."

Kate groaned but went inside. She met eyes with Taylor and Jo and blushed. She quickly ducked her head and found Ellen. "I'm sorry that I pulled out my knife here. I didn't think about the trouble it could cause."

Ellen gave her a one armed hug and a kiss on the head. "Men can be assholes. You'll know not to try anything next time you visit."

Kate looked up at her. "Next time?"

"Of course. I have told Bobby not to be a stranger so if he doesn't bring y'all out here soon enough you just let me know and I'll make him." Ellen said.

Kate made eye contact with Jo again and felt her face flush.

Ellen nudged her toward Jo. "Don't worry about her."

Jo walked out to Bobby's car with them. "I'm really glad I got to see you again. I'm sorry it didn't end as well."

Kate chewed her lip. "I'm glad I got to see you too."

Jo hugged her and whispered. "It is okay. I've done my fair share of things without thinking."

Kate smirked. "Like running into a building with demons?"

Jo blushed that time. "Yeah, like that."

Bobby gave Jo a quick hug too and cranked the car. He saw how tired Taylor looked. "You okay over there?"

Taylor yawned. "Yes. They are really nice."

Kate scoffed from the backseat. "Yeah unless you make Ellen mad."

Taylor turned and looked back at her. "I deserve a thank you by the way."

Kate stuck her tongue out at him. "Thank you."

### ###

As soon as Dean was out of the car, Caleb was clapping him on the back. He did the same to Sam. "Boy, you got tall."

Sam rolled his eyes. "People keep saying that."

Dean huffed. "So what do you need help with?"

Caleb opened his journal. "String of hauntings. It seems like the ghost is able to travel by attaching to different objects."

"So not your run of the mill Casper." Dean grumbled.

"If it was I wouldn't have called your sorry ass down here, would I?" Caleb said with a chuckle and a shove.

"Did you call dad first and he sent us?" Sam asked.

Caleb smirked. "Maybe."

Sam scoffed. "Figures."

Caleb showed them the house that seemed to be the center of the hauntings. It was old and the owner had died the year before. "I'm thinking that the old lady musta kept something from getting out. She died peacefully so it ain't her."

Sam followed behind Caleb as he entered the house. His eyes hurt from the amount of floral patterns that covered almost every surface. Where there was not floral, there were doilies. He used the emf reader to scan for a ghost.

Dean went the opposite direction and checked for ghosts as well. He walked into an office and froze. "Oh hell no."

Sam and Caleb ran toward Dean's voice.

"What is it?" Caleb asked as he poked his head in the room. He stumbled back, folded over with laughter.

Sam got a look and busted out laughing as well. The room had 3 walls covered by large bookshelves. On the shelves were dozens of porcelain dolls. It was quite the collection and took up all three walls from floor to ceiling.

"Nope. Nope, I'm out." Dean said and walked toward the door.

"Dean, man. Don't be such a wimp." Caleb said.

"Dolls, dude! Creepy dolls. I bet you every single one of those suckers is haunted." Dean shot back.

Sam held his ribs that had begun to ache from laughing. "They are just dolls. Little girls play with them."

Dean shook his head. "No, those are the evil kind. I'm telling you."

Caleb rolled his eyes. "Man up and help me snuff this ghost."

The lights flickered upon that declaration.

Dean cocked his gun. "If it turns out to be one of those things I'm kicking both y'alls asses."

Sam inched down the hallway. He felt a chill and saw his breath in the air. "We've got company."

Dean opened a door. "Go on and show yourself."

The lights flickered again and a mirror broke.

Caleb turned when he felt something brush against his back. "Did I mention this thing isn't a fan of dudes?"

"No you didn't." Dean grumbled. "How'd you come to that conclusion?"

Caleb pressed his back against the wall. "You know, the history. The people that got done in by the thing. That is why I called you two."

"Because three guys will piss it off more than one." Dean said.

Caleb smirked. "Oh it'll like you just fine. I forgot what a girl you were around dolls."

"Duck!" Dean yelled and fired the shotgun. "Should'a let the damn thing take you." He grumbled.

Caleb sent Sam a grin.

Sam jumped out of the way as a knife flew toward his head. "It does seem to only have an issue with us two."

Dean cocked the gun again. "Son of a bitch." He hit the floor before a chair hit him. "What was that, Sammy?!"

"Caleb, do you have any idea who it is?" Sam said as he lost his footing.

Caleb grunted as a flower vase hit him. "The old woman's daughter. She starved herself after her suiter chose another woman."

Dean fired his gun again. "That'll do it. What is she holding on to?"

Caleb picked up an iron bar. "That is why I needed backup."

Sam lost his weapon as it was ripped from his hand. He was airborne for a moment before he hit the ground too. "Figure it out!"

The lights stopped flickering and the chill left the room. They knew it was just the calm before the storm.

"I burned the bones." Caleb said. "Didn't take." He felt the chill return and dropped the bar he was holding in an effort to remove the rope that had found its way around his neck.

Sam dispersed the ghost and knelt beside him.

Dean backed up until he was standing by Sam. "Do you hear that?"

A faint tune rose in the air. "Music box?" Sam asked.

Dean felt the hair on his arms stand up. "She's back, boys." He fell back and slid across the floor. His breath was knocked out of him and he groaned.

The ghostly figure appeared and flickered.

Sam tried to hit her with the bar but was thrown back as well. He yelped as his arm was wrenched.

Dean tried to yell for Sam but he felt as though he had a house on his chest.

Caleb managed to get a shot off and dispersed the ghost again.

Dean rolled onto his knees. "I'm telling you it is the dolls."

Caleb helped him up. "Which one?"

Sam walked toward the room of dolls and was promptly thrown back.

Caleb ran over to him and tried to help him up. He felt cold fingers around his leg and hit the floor as he was dragged.

Dean stared at the door and squeezed his eyes shut. "It is the dolls. It is always the dolls." He tried to open the door but it didn't budge. He stepped back and kicked it in. He tumbled forward into the room and scrambled back to his feet. He spun around. Which one was it? The room got cold and he cursed under his breath. He glanced back out the door. Sam and Caleb were both getting knocked around. He felt something brush against his foot and froze. "Please don't be a doll, please don't be a doll, please don't be a doll." He looked down and screamed through his nose. A loud thud and a following groan fueled him. He picked up the doll that had found its way to his boot and ran outside with it. He grabbed the iron bar as he busted through the door and threw the doll in the air. He swung and sent the doll flying. He dropped the bar and put his hands on his knees as he hissed through his teeth.

Sam appeared in the door way.

Dean went to go back inside and made eye contact with a mother who was pushing a stroller and walking with her young daughter. He awkwardly waved and grimaced.

She jerked her daughter's hand and crossed the street.

Caleb stumbled outside.

"You! Go find that thing and burn it." Dean growled.

"Where did it go?" Caleb asked.

"I Babe Ruthed it into the neighbor's garden." Dean said.

Caleb took off and jumped the fence. He found the doll in question and brought it back.

"Burn it!" Dean hissed.

Caleb tossed the doll on the ground and Sam poured salt over it. Caleb set it alight and stepped back.

Dean turned toward the house and saw the unmistakable flash of fire as the ghost was burned up.

Sam sat on the steps and caught his breath. He ached. He looked at Dean and started laughing again. He put his head down and tried to hide that he was shaking.

Dean spun around. "Why are you laughing?"

Sam shook his head and pulled his shirt up over his eyes.

Caleb grinned and tried to bite back a laugh.

Dean spun toward him and picked up the iron bar. "I told you the dolls were evil." He swung at Caleb.

Caleb jumped back. "What was that scream?"

"It grabbed my leg!" Dean yelled.

"Did it though?" Sam choked out.

"I regret saving both of you." Dean said and tossed the bar into the trunk of the impala. He stopped and listened. "Uh, we might want to split. One of the neighbors may have called the cops because her four year old witnessed me hitting that thing across the fence."

Sam grabbed the salt rifles and shut the house door. He nearly fell into the front seat and barely got the door shut before Dean peeled out.

They drove for a couple miles and turned off on a rural road.

Caleb pulled in behind them.

Dean got out and stalked back to Caleb's car.

Caleb got out and raised his hands in defense. "You can't kill me, man."

Dean balled up his fist and punched him in the stomach. He patted him on the back. "I told you it was the damn dolls."

Sam backed away as Dean approached him. "Whoa. Dean, none of this was my fault."

Dean managed to grab him and smack him between the shoulder blades.

Sam hissed and tried to roll the sting away. He could feel the perfect copy of Dean's hand as the welt rose.

Dean leaned against the impala. "I told you it was the dolls."

Caleb rubbed his stomach and cracked up again. The punch was a means to even the score between friends. "That kid is going to need therapy."

Dean rubbed his face and cracked up too. "The look her mom gave me. I didn't even see them. I just busted through the door and sent the doll flying."

Sam flexed his shoulder blades. "Oh man. That was hilarious. You sounded like a tea kettle before you took off."

Dean glared at him. "It tried to kill me, Sam."

Sam caught his breath and slid down to sit on the gravel. "For one more hunt, this was the best hunt."

Dean groaned. "I hate you."

"This your last hunt, Sammy?" Caleb asked.

"Sam." Sam corrected. "We were on our way to Stanford. I got a full ride."

Caleb shook his hand. "Congrats to ya' buddy. Goes to show every brain cell the Winchesters have went to you." He dodged a kick from Dean.

Dean sat down beside Sam. He was coming down from the hunting high and catching his breath. "You keep your mouth shut."

Sam grinned. "Not a chance."

Caleb sat down as well. "When is the last time we did this?"

"The last time I saved your sorry ass?" Dean asked.

Caleb shoved him. "No, man. The three of us, stopped beside the road just talking."

Dean furrowed his brows. "I think a few years back when me and you got black out drunk on moonshine and Sammy stole the car to try to pick us up before dad got back."

Caleb blew air through his nose. "I think you may be right."

Sam rolled his eyes. "We stopped because Dean started crying because he didn't want throw up in the car."

Dean clicked his tongue. "It was a valid reason. I had just gotten the keys to her and Caleb has never handled his liquor well."

"You two made me write down your wills on a napkin because dad was going to murder you." Sam said.

Dean laughed. "What ever happened to that?"

Sam ran his fingers along the gravel. "It is probably in a box or something. I forgot all about that."

"How?" Dean asked. "That is burned into my brain."

"I blocked it out." Sam said with a laugh.

"If you are going to college, what does that leave you doing, Dean?" Caleb asked.

Dean sighed. He told Caleb about Taylor and Kate.

"Look at you, grown up and respectable." Caleb said.

Dean chuckled and then sighed. "All the dumb things I did as a kid are coming back to bite me in the ass."

They shared stories about the kids and mostly Kate's shenanigans.

"Oh man, she sounds like a hoot." Caleb said. "If you get tired of babysitting, I could use a partner now and then."

Dean hit knuckles with him. "Any time."

The sun was lower by the time they parted ways.

Sam rested his head against the window as Dean drove. He was glad they had taken the detour although he was sore from being thrown around and was sure that Dean's hand print would be a permanent fixture on his back. His stomach hurt from laughing.

"If you fall asleep I'm going to shave your head." Dean said.

Sam picked his head up. "Kate is right, you are grumpy."

Dean grumbled. "We are getting a motel and I'm going to use all the hot water."

Sam chuckled. "Seems fair."

Dean drove until his eyes couldn't stay open. He got a room and met Sam at the door with a key.

Sam dialed Kate's number. "Hey, Katie bug. We got sidetracked so I didn't get a chance to call earlier."

Dean got in the shower and let the warm water wash the aches away. Taylor joked about him getting old but he was certain that anyone would be stiff after getting knocked around by the ghost of an angry woman. He closed his eyes and let the warmth consume him.

Sam asked Taylor about Jo and Ellen and was happy that the meeting had gone well. Taylor needed good things and Jo and Ellen were good.

Dean felt the water start to cool and quickly washed his hair. As he rinsed the suds off he heard Sam yell. "You what?!" He shut the water off and threw his boxers on. He stepped out of the bathroom while rubbing the water from his hair with a towel.

Sam gave him a tense look. "I'm putting you on speaker phone."

Dean heard Kate's shrill protest and sighed. "What did you do?"

Kate squeaked. "Hi, Dean."

"Hi, Kate. What did you do?" Dean said.

"She pulled a knife on a table full of hunters." Sam said.

Dean grabbed the phone. "You what?"

They had just gotten back to Bobby's and gone inside. She felt her heart beat faster. "No, it wasn't like that. Sam took it wrong. It isn't that bad."

Dean pinched the bridge of his nose. "Report."

Sam smirked and mumbled. "Turning into dad."

Dean sent him a death glare.

"I was sitting at a table and overheard some guys talking. They started talking about my dad and were saying stuff about me and even about what Craig said about me. I couldn't handle them talking about my dad like that and before I knew it I had my knife out and was walking toward them." Kate explained.

"I stopped her!" Taylor yelled from the background.

Sam and Dean heard a mild grunt from Taylor and shared a knowing glance.

"He stopped me then Ellen took my knife away and gave me an earful about it and Bobby took care of it and said that was it and you can't be mad at me because he already took care of it and I wont do it again and how was your hunt?" Kate blurted out.

Dean rubbed his face. "Ellen had to take the knife away?"

Kate paused. "Yes but I get it back tomorrow."

"Bobby took care of it?" Dean asked.

Kate fidgeted with her hands. "Yes. So you can just tell me about your hunt."

Dean rolled his eyes. "I'll ask Bobby about that."

Sam spoke up. "The hunt went well except for Dean being a giant baby."

Dean hit Sam with a pillow. "Haunted dolls. I told them it was the dolls and they didn't listen."

Kate and Taylor were in hysterics as Sam told the story.

"Did the doll really grab you?" Kate asked through giggles.

Dean growled. "Yes, I would have died had I not gotten out of the house with it."

Bobby cleared his throat. "Is this another gnome situation?"

Dean scoffed. "No! Sam and Caleb got their asses kicked by the ghost."

They teased Dean a bit but it was good spirited.

Dean heard Kate yawn and felt the tiredness hitting him as well. "You should be in bed. Especially after a reprimand."

Kate groaned. "You are just mad that we don't believe your doll story."

Dean chuckled. "We are about to go to bed too. I can hear how tired you are through the phone."

Kate gave in. "Fine. Goodnight Sam. Goodnight Dean. Don't have any bad dreams about baby dolls."

Dean rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Bobby, Taylor, one of you smack her for me."

Kate dodged Taylor's smack aimed at her arm but yelped when Bobby got her on the leg. "You are so fragile!"

"Go to bed!" Dean responded but there was no malice in his voice.

Taylor stretched and yawned. "I'm going to bed too. I might actually get a full nights sleep without you snoring."

Dean growled. "Bobby, get him too."

Bobby smacked his leg as he walked by.

The slap wasn't hard and made Taylor laugh. "Fragile." He whispered and said goodnight to the boys. He darted up the stairs and flopped into his bed.

"I leave and in under a day those two are completely out of control." Dean said to Bobby with a slight laugh.

Bobby chuckled. "You just give them too much ammo."

"It tried to drag me into the void, Bobby." Dean lamented.

Bobby snorted. "Goodnight Dean. Tell Sam I said Goodnight too."

Sam was already laying on his bed on his stomach with a pillow jammed under his chin. "Goodnight." He mumbled and closed his eyes.

Dean placed the salt lines and checked the room's window. He double locked the door and slid his .45 under his pillow. It was a ritual that he lived by. He looked at Sam and of course he was already asleep with his shaggy hair in his eyes. He turned out the lights, turned up the AC and called it a night.

### ###

John had taken flowers to Mary's grave and talked to her for a while. It was something he did when he was at a loss. Mary really was his better half and she would have loved Taylor. Taylor was part of her family and she never got to meet him. John made a lot of mistakes with their boys and it plagued him. Dean was a good soldier, to a fault. He followed orders and fought with his entire soul. Sam was sensitive and thought deeply. He tried to raise Sam the way he had raised Dean and he failed miserably. Now, Sam was off to California on a full ride scholarship. Part of John was proud but the other part of him was scared. He heard movement behind him and reached for his gun.

"John Winchester, you better not pull that gun on me." Missouri scolded.

John moved his hand away from the weapon and looked up at her. "How'd you know I was out here?"

Missouri clicked her tongue. "I always know." Missouri sat down beside John. "You're going to help me get up here in a minute."

John gave her a small smile. "I can do that."

"Now, what brings you out here on a night like this?"

John sighed. "Just needed to talk."

Missouri hummed to herself. "What are we talking to Ms. Mary about?"

John told her everything she had missed with Kate and Taylor. It took the better part of an hour before she was caught up.

"Those poor ,sweet babies." Missouri said. "And you are sure that body wont get traced back to you?"

John nodded. "I'm sure."

"And Bill Harvelle is Taylor's father." Missouri said. "I didn't see that one coming."

John chuckled. "Nobody did." The thought of Bill made him uncomfortable. He saw Bill's face every time his name was spoken.

"So what are you doing out here and not back home?" Missouri asked.

John looked up at the sky. "I couldn't go with the kids, Ellen has made it clear that she isn't a fan of me. I couldn't go with the boys because... well I just couldn't."

Missouri patted his knee. "Do you want to stay out here a bit longer or do you want to come back to my place?"

John rubbed the back of his head. "I had planned to take a nap in my truck and head out first thing."

Missouri scoffed. "You are going to get a full night's rest and have a decent breakfast in the morning. Now, help me off this ground."

John stood and then helped her stand. He knew not to argue with her. She had a spare bed that he had crashed on before and Missouri Mosely was not someone he had ever won an argument with.