Sam pulled the pillow over his head as soon as his door opened. He groaned when Dean cranked the music.

"Sam!" Kate yelled and jumped on him.

Sam grunted from the impact. He moved the pillow and wiped the sleep from his eyes.

"Up and at 'em, Sammy." Dean said and pulled his blanket away. He whacked Sam on the back. "You are eighteen today."

Sam rolled the sting from his back.

Kate grinned and pulled his arm.

Sam stumbled out of bed and stretched.

Dean shoved him toward the stairs. "Look alive."

Sam pushed Dean's hands away. "I am. Give me a chance to wake up."

Bobby welcomed him with fresh breakfast. "Happy birthday." He said with a smile.

Sam sat down and loaded his plate. "Thanks guys."

Kate bounced on her toes. "Can we give it to him?"

Dean nodded. "You only get one gift this year but we all pitched in."

Kate ran out of the room and returned with a wrapped box. "Open it!"

Sam laughed at her enthusiasm. "Okay okay." He tore the wrapping and made a face when he saw a second layer. He tore about five layers before he huffed. "Who wrapped this?"

Kate giggled.

He nudged her and went back to the box. He reached the final layer and pulled the paper away. "Whoa. Is this..?" He turned the box over carefully.

"A new laptop!" Kate said.

Sam stared at the box. The one he had was run down and on its last leg. He opened the box and ran his hands over the new computer. He blinked rapidly to bite back the emotion.

Dean swallowed then cleared his throat. "What do you think?"

Sam looked at him. "This is huge. How did you get this?"

Bobby shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Will that work for college?"

"Are you kidding? Yeah it will more than work." Sam said. He was at a loss for words.

Kate hugged him around the neck. "Happy birthday, Sammy."

He smiled and ruffled her hair. "Thanks shrimp." He also gave Bobby and Dean a hug and thanked them. The laptop meant the world to him. It was a clear sign that they were okay with him going to California.

Dean grumbled. "Enough chick flick moments. I have somewhere to be this morning but Kate has that class tonight. I'll be back by the time you get out of school and we are going to celebrate wither you want to or not."

Sam smiled. "I'm not fighting you."

Dean ran his knuckles against Sam's head. "Good."

Sam put the laptop on his desk and quickly got dressed. He was at peace with his choice. He was an adult and was hitting milestones that he never thought he would see.

Taylor met Kate at the car. He leaned in the window. "Happy birthday."

Sam smiled. "Thanks."

They waved as he drove away and Kate spun around in excitement. Seeing Sam happy made her heart happy. She stopped and looked at Taylor. "How is your dad?"

Taylor opened the door for Kate. "He came home and seems to be handling everything. I think talking to that preacher really helped him. He isn't jumpy."

Kate sighed happily. "I'm so glad."

Taylor shrugged. "I know your dad isn't the best right now but he has been talking to mine and I think that things will be okay now."

Kate chewed her fingers. "I think he just doesn't know how to talk to Sam and is embarrassed. He will come around. I guess he feels at home dealing with someone who lost people like he did."

Taylor turned toward her. "I'm glad I met you."

Kate smiled. "I'm glad I met you too but I'm kicking your butt tonight."

Taylor grinned. "Don't get cocky."

Kate laughed and went to her class. She had been waiting for his side to heal and he was finally back in fighting shape. She loved the class and had been allowed to continue attending on a scholarship. The owner took pity on her situation and was allowing her to take the class. Natasha had gotten used to her and they were civil although they avoided being partners.

Ellie jumped on Kate's back. "You didn't tell me you were going to Taylor's class."

Kate stumbled and rolled Ellie to her feet. "I wasn't planning on going but I really like it."

Ellie rolled her eyes. "Just admit you like him."

Kate rolled her eyes back at Ellie. "I do, as a friend." She didn't understand what Ellie's deal was with match making.

Another school day came and went and Sam barely noticed. His head was elsewhere. He held his cap and gown in his hands and stared at them. He ran his fingers over the shiny fabric and took a deep breath. He did it. He made it through school and even made it to adulthood. It was bitter sweet. Graduation was an end to a massive chapter of his life. John left him and Dean to go hunt because he had considered Sam too young and Sam was adamant that he focus on school. It felt weird that he would be continuing on to another school. He checked his phone and tried not to let the lack of message from John ruin his mood. He was probably busy.

Kate sat on the steps and waited for Sam to pick her up. She had been writing a list and wanted to finish it before he showed up. She saw the car pull into the pick up line and skipped over. She handed him the paper. "I'm sorry it isn't a real card."

Sam took it and opened the folded page. He read it and looked out the window. "Agh Kate. I was trying not to cry today."

Kate grinned. "I wont tell anyone if you do."

Sam put his hand on her leg. "Thank you. I'm keeping this forever."

"I wasn't sure if you would think it was silly." Kate said sheepishly

Sam looked at her. "I love it. I'll hang it up in my dorm room." He looked at the page again. She had written eighteen things that made him awesome. He wasn't the type of person that needed constant validation but he had been knocked around for a while.

Kate smiled at him and put her bag down. "I could write a thousand reasons but those are my top eighteen."

Sam drove away. "I really like it. You are a thoughtful person."

Kate grinned. "Sometimes I do think before doing stuff." She shifted in her seat and hid a smirk.

"What is it?" Sam asked.

Kate giggled. "I had an idea."

Sam smirked. "What kind of idea?"

"A messing with Dean idea." Kate said.

Sam grinned. "I'm down for what ever it is."

Kate pulled a sticker out of her backpack and held it up to the car window.

Sam glanced over and was filled with glee. "Oh he is going to flip."

Kate giggled. "I made sure it is a window cling and not a sticker so it doesn't get the window sticky." She looked at the window with cling in front of it. It looked like a rock had went through the window. "I don't think I can do it though. I can't hide it."

Sam laughed and held out his hand. "I'll do it."

Kate shuffled her feet along the floorboard in excitement. One thing she had in common was the love of pranking Dean. She looked at her nails that were tinged blue from the dye that he had put in her body wash. She looked like a blueberry until her fourth shower.

Dean paced back in forth in the living room as he spoke on the phone. "Dad, just come back. He only turns eighteen once."

John swallowed hard. "I can't. Even if I drove all night I wouldn't make it back."

Dean gritted his teeth. "You could at least call or message him."

"He doesn't want to hear from me." John said.

"Bullshit." Dean said with a clinched jaw.

John bristled.

"All he wants is for you to be proud of him. What is one message going to do besides make him feel like you care." Dean said.

"Dean, enough. Stand down." John said angrily.

Dean sighed. "Just send a message saying happy birthday. That is all I'm asking." He looked at the window at the approaching car. "They just got home from school. One message. Two words. It will mean a lot to him." He sighed again and hung up the phone.

John opened a beer and fell back in a chair. He felt disconnected and was tired of being on the wrong side of things. He pulled out his phone and typed the words out. He took a deep breath and sent the message before tossing the phone on the bed and downing his drink.

Sam slid the sticker in his back pocket and looked at his phone. He read the message from John and was hit by a wave of emotions. He bit the inside of his cheek and sent a message saying thanks back.

Dean walked out and put an arm around Sam's shoulders. "What are we doing to celebrate? I can take you to a strip club."

Sam scoffed. "I'm not going to a strip club."

Dean ruffled his hair and pushed it into his face. "You don't know what you're missing."

Kate walked around to the front of the car. "I heard they make good money."

Dean narrowed his eyes. "No."

Kate put her hand on her chest. "I didn't say anything."

Sam chuckled and rolled Dean's arm off his shoulder. "Diner?"

Dean nodded. "Diner it is."

Bobby grabbed his keys and followed them there.

Lacy saw the family walk in and offered them a wide smile. "Hey guys. Happy birthday, Sam."

Sam smiled. "Thank you."

They got a table and chatted until their food arrived.

Dean's phone buzzed and he stepped outside to tend to the call.

Kate felt a little off but tried to push the feelings away. She wanted to focus on Sam and was excited for him to watch one of her classes. Dean had primarily taken her and Sam hadn't seen the gym yet.

Sam talked happily. He appreciated the positive attention. He pulled the makeshift card from his pocket. "Kate gave me this."

Bobby took it and read it. "Well that was sweet."

Kate blushed. "I couldn't get a real card."

Sam smiled brightly. "This is better than any card you could buy."

Kate put her elbows on the table. "We should go look for stuff for your new room. You can actually decorate."

Sam thought about it. It would be nice to have his own room although he had gotten used to sharing his room with Dean and Kate. "I don't know what my room will be like."

Kate shrugged. "When we go out there we can check it out and then go get stuff."

Sam nudged her. "If I come back and my side of the room has girly stuff on it I'm going to be upset."

Kate smiled. "I'll redecorate Dean's side."

Dean walked back in and sat down. He looked between Sam and Kate. "What did I miss?"

"I'm making plans to redecorate your side of the room." Kate said with a smile.

Dean narrowed his eyes briefly and smiled. He dug into his food and asked Sam about graduation.

Sam put his fork in his plate and sat back. "There will be a ceremony like normal where we walk and get our diploma. I need a picture of me as a kid for the 'then and now' slideshow but the flyer I handed you has the times you need to be there."

Kate tilted her head. "Do you have pictures of you as a kid?"

Sam smirked. "I'm sure Bobby has some tucked away."

Bobby chuckled. "I have to hide them so the boys don't throw them out."

Dean raised a brow. "Now why would we do that?"

Kate sat forward. "Are they embarrassing? Please tell me you have blackmail."

Bobby smiled. "I'll show you after your class."

Dean sighed. "I guess we should take more photos of you for future blackmail."

Kate scoffed. "I don't do anything embarrassing."

Dean laughed. "Man I should have taken a picture of your Smurfette moment."

Kate kicked him under the table. "That was your fault."

Dean grinned. "Still funny."

Kate wondered when Sam was going to place the window cling on Dean's car.

After dessert was eaten Dean paid for the meal and ushered the others outside.

Bobby parted ways and said that he would see them when they got back to the house. He had something he needed to pick up.

Dean made a beeline for the gym and they waited in the car until the class started. He enjoyed those calm moments where they didn't have to be anywhere too fast. He would miss having Sam ride shotgun.

Kate opened the door. "I see Taylor. I'm going to go in."

Dean waved her off and shut the car off. He looked at Sam briefly and shoved his shoulder.

Sam didn't need words to understand the meaning behind the gesture.

Dean showed Sam around the gym and took his usual seat. He had grown fond of he bi weekly routine.

Kate felt the off feeling again and steadied herself. She checked her surroundings and walked over to Sam and Dean. "I feel a little anxious. I felt this way at the diner too. I don't see anything and it may be nothing."

Dean patted her shoulder. "Thanks for telling me. I'll keep an eye out for anything."

Kate ran back to the group. She went through the warm ups and drills without realizing what she was doing. She had gotten used to the way the class was structured. When it was time to go live the coach paired her with Natasha again. She groaned inwardly but didn't argue. She knew Natasha was still irritated after the last time they sparred and she didn't want to deal with the drama.

Dean elbowed Sam. "This girl busted Kate's lip with a cheap shot the first time we came here."

Sam sat forward. "I remember her saying something about that."

Natasha was bigger than Kate and at least a year or two older.

Kate looked over to Dean who gave her a thumbs up. She popped her knuckles and shook hands with the older girl. She assessed Natasha's body language and formed a plan. She waited for waited for her legs to be swept from under her and hit her back. She knew Natasha would take that as a win and not pay attention. She grabbed Natasha's foot and tripped her before gaining the upper hand and pinning her.

Sam gasped. "Whoa. That was fast."

Dean had seen Kate grow as a fighter and wasn't surprised.

Natasha tried to roll Kate off her back but Kate was better at reading her opponents movements. She wrapped her arm around her neck and waited for her to tap. She felt Natasha's fingers tap her and let go. She rolled to the side and onto her knees. She looked over to Sam and Dean to make sure they had seen everything.

Natasha was frustrated and turned to drive her foot into Kate's back.

Kate was still looking at the boys when her hand shot back and grabbed Natasha's foot and flipped her over her shoulder by use of momentum.

Natasha bounced back up, far angrier than she had been.

Thankfully the coach stepped in and told her to take a walk.

Kate walked over to get water.

Dean touched her arm. "How did you do that?"

Kate didn't know for sure. "I don't know."

"Reflection? Did you hear her?" Dean asked. He had taught Kate to pay attention to the smallest things but she couldn't have seen the attack coming.

Kate frowned. "I don't know. I wasn't thinking anything when it happened."

Dean patted her shoulder and smiled.

Kate smiled back and went back to the mats. She was happy to finally be paired up with Taylor.

Sam rested his chin on his hand. "They seem to be a good match."

Dean watched them. "I can't tell if he is holding back."

Kate landed with a thud.

Dean smirked. "I guess he isn't."

Kate grinned and bounced back up. "Good shot."

Taylor grinned back. "You didn't want me to go easy on-" He said before also hitting the ground with a thud.

Sam looked at Dean. "Look how happy she is."

Dean snorted. "She is happiest while beating the crap out of someone."

Sam smirked. "She gets that from you."

"Damn right." Dean said and turned back to the mats.

"Are you going to teach him how to use a knife?" Sam asked.

Dean sighed. "I don't even like kids."

Sam smirked again. "Uh huh."

Dean sat back. "If she gets into a knife fight it wont be with another kid."

Sam shrugged. "You never know. There are always those creepy kids in horror movies."

Dean cringed. "Don't remind me. Kids and dolls are creepy as hell."

"There you go. She can fight off the doll while you run." Sam said with a laugh.

Dean elbowed him. "If she isn't afraid of clowns you'll be in good shape."

Sam made a face. "They are evil."

Kate ran over and grabbed her water bottle. She had a red mark spreading on her cheek.

Dean raised a brow and looked over her shoulder at Taylor.

Taylor paled a little and walked over. "It was an accident."

Kate smiled. "I headbutted his knee."

Taylor looked from Sam to Dean.

Dean looked at her cheek. "Don't headbutt people's knees."

Kate shoved his hand away. "Jerk."

"Brat." Dean shot back.

Taylor let out the breath he was holding.

"Is it your attention to have the kid terrified of you?" Sam asked.

Dean shrugged. "He isn't terrified."

Sam went back to watching the class. He could see why Dean found it entertaining. "You know, if you wanted to make some quick money, I bet you could win a few fights."

Dean chuckled. "How do you know I haven't?"

Sam raised his brows. "Does dad know about that?"

Dean shook his head. "About what?"

"I learn new things every day." Sam said.

Dean shifted. "You're an adult now so I don't have to set a good example."

Sam smirked. "Oh, so you aren't perfect?"

Dean scoffed. "I never said that.

The coach excused the class and Kate ran over to the bench and crashed into Dean.

Dean grunted.

Kate elbowed him. "Pay attention to your surroundings."

Dean dug his fingers into her side. "I was but I expected you to stop."

Kate giggled. "That was your mistake."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and ran his knuckles over her head. "I'll trip you next time."

They walked back to the car and Sam gave Kate's foot a gentle kick. She bent down to tie her shoe, letting Dean walk ahead.

Dean froze mid stride and stared at the car. He gasped.

Kate saw the sticker placed strategically on the windshield.

Sam walked over. "Oh man, when did that happen?"

Dean looked around. "Who? How?" He paced before walking over to get a closer look. He let out a breath and peeled the sticker off. He turned to look at Sam and Kate. "Which one of you do I need to beat up?"

Sam shrugged. "Wasn't me."

Kate shrugged too. "I was in class the whole time."

Dean narrowed his eyes. "Payback is going to be rough. I was about to cry."

Kate giggled.

Dean stepped closer to her.

Kate took off and jumped behind Sam.

Taylor had walked out with them and spoke up. "Is that what you wanted that for?"

Kate gasped loudly.

Dean turned. "You helped her?"

Taylor's mouth dropped open. "I uh... I didn't know why she needed it."

Dean smirked. "So it was her idea?"

Taylor looked around Dean to Kate. He shrugged at her. "I don't know. Sam could have come up with the idea."

Sam jerked his head around. "Hey!"

Dean turned his back on Taylor and looked at Kate and Sam. "Oh. Its on." He turned back to Taylor. "That goes for you too."

Taylor wasn't sure what that meant. "What?"

Kate peaked her head from behind Sam. "It is a prank war. Sorry but you are cannon fodder."

Taylor put his hands up. "I haven't chosen sides. Maybe remember that whenever you go dishing out payback."

Dean grinned. "Did you hear that, Kate?"

Kate put her hands on her hips. "Hey! You can't side with him."

Taylor shook his head. "He scares me more than you do."

Dean nudged his arm. "Smart kid." He twirled his keys and tilted his head toward the car. "We need to get home."

Sam tilted his head. "I'm not sure I want to get in the car with you."

Dean laughed. "What's the matter, Sammy?"

Sam bit his cheek. "You take things too far."

Dean ran his hand along baby's hood. "Did you mess with baby?"

Sam rolled his eyes. "Yes."

"What is the first rule of prank war?" Dean asked.

Sam blinked. "Don't mess with baby."

Dean opened the door. "So, its on."

Taylor side stepped. "I'm just going to remove myself from this situation."

Kate giggled. "You're a chicken."

Taylor smiled. "I'll be a safe chicken."

Kate waved and got in the car. "Just so you know I got a cling and not a sticker because a sticker would leave adhesive on the window."

Dean looked at her. "I'll take that into consideration."

Kate scrunched her nose. "You did dye me blue."

Dean shrugged. "Guess I'll have to get more creative."

Sam looked back at Kate and gave her a dramatic grimace.

Dean laughed and drove to Bobby's. "What kind of photos do you think he has."

Sam groaned. "I don't know but at least I was a cute kid."

Dean huffed. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Sam bailed out of the car. "It means I was cute kid."

Kate took off after Sam.

Dean shook his head and followed them. He wracked his brain for ideas on payback. With Sam going off to college, he needed to make this prank good.

Bobby heard them bust through the door and looked up from the box he was looking in. "How was class? Oh, that may be a shiner." He said and motioned to Kate's face.

Kate smiled. "Class was great. I hit Taylor's knee with my face."

Bobby raised a brow but didn't question it.

Kate flipped over the back of the couch. "Are these the photos?"

Bobby nodded and handed her a stack.

Sam sat beside her and looked through the old photos. He vaguely remembered some of them but it had been a long time since he thought about those memories.

Dean leaned over the back of the couch. "Hey, I remember that dog."

Bobby smirked. "You should. You were attached at the hip."

"What happened to him?" Sam asked.

Bobby took the photo. "He passed away from old age. You boys were off with your dad."

Kate looked at the photo again. "You really were a cute kid, Sam."

Dean nudged her. "I was a cute kid too!"

Bobby shook his head. "You were a goofy kid."

They looked through dozens of photographs until Sam found one he didn't know existed. "Hey! Look at this one."

Dean took it and felt the emotions bubbling up.

Bobby leaned over. "I didn't know I even took that photo."

Kate reached for it. "What is it?"

It was a photo of a younger Sam and Dean sitting on Bobby's porch swing eating popsicles. There was a curly headed toddler sitting in Dean's lap with her own popsicle dripping down her arms. "Wait. Is that me?" She asked.

Bobby nodded. "Gosh, how old were you guys?"

Sam looked at the photo again. "I had a cast on my arm so I was what... ten?"

"So you were three and I was around fourteen." Dean said.

Kate stared at the photo. She didn't remember it at all.

Sam found another photo of Dean holding her on his back with a sheet tied around them.

"Oh I remember this one. Your dad left you here with me for three days because you had a double ear infection and he had a hunt to attend to. You cried every time you laid down and Dean said his mom used to wear Sam like that when he was a baby." Bobby said.

Dean looked at the photo. "I remember almost dropping you on your head trying to get that sheet tied."

Kate smiled and looked at the photo. She remembered a few times of meeting them but wasn't aware that they had spent as much time with her when she was that little. "That would have been useful when my leg was injured."

Dean chuckled. "I really would drop you on your head if I tried that now."

Sam held the popsicle photo in his hands. "This is the one I want to use."

Bobby gave his shoulder a squeeze. "I think that is a great photo."

"You sure you don't want to use this one?" Dean said, holding up a photo of Sam with mud covering him.

Sam looked at it. "I distinctly remember you pushing me into a mudhole shortly before that was taken."

They looked through the photos and Kate found great joy in seeing the silly photos that Bobby had managed to save over the years. She felt sad that most of her childhood was undocumented. She held on to the photo of her on Dean's back and asked if she could frame it.

Dean saw Kate yawn. "I think it might be time for you to head to bed."

Kate groaned. "I want to look at pictures though."

Dean nudged her. "You can tomorrow. You look like you are about to fall over." He knelt in front of her and patted his shoulder. "I'll carry you up but I'm not wrapping you."

Kate smiled and threw her arms over his shoulders. "Good night Bobby. Good night Sam. Happy birthday."

Sam smiled and thanked her.

Bobby waited until Dean and Kate were upstairs and leaned over toward Sam. "Your brother is a baby hog."

Sam raised his brows. "What do you mean?"

Bobby nodded. "Watch him next time you are around a baby. He acts like he doesn't know what to do but will wind up holding that baby."

Sam laughed. He couldn't see Dean being a baby person. He held onto the photo of the three of them and put it in his backpack. He grabbed another of just him and zipped the bag. "Thanks for pulling these out, Bobby."

Bobby rubbed his knees when he stood up. "It was nice to look at them. It has been a while. You aren't that little kid anymore."

Sam shrugged. "Time does fly."

Bobby agreed. It wasn't that long ago that Sam was just learning to walk and Dean was learning to read. Somehow they were both now adults and Sam was headed off to college. It was reassuring but also painful. Seeing them as adults made him realize that Kate wasn't far behind. He wasn't sure what her future held but was hopeful that it would be less rocky than her past.