The bed was strange. The room was full of unfamiliar shadows. The house made strange noises. But none of these were the true reason why, barely three hours after falling to sleep, Ayden was awake again, dressed, staring out the window into the dawn over the scrap yard that seemed to surround the blue house she'd been brought to. She'd managed a couple of hours, but there had been nothing to keep the nightmares at bay, no one there to hold back the darkness and give her peace a little while longer. She felt raw, frayed around the edges, startled by every little creak or groan from the floorboards or walls, certain that it was the angels returning for her.

When, after almost an hour of watching the sun rise, she realised she couldn't stay in here forever, that the residents of the house would be rising any time soon, Ayden drew herself away from the window, pulling on her college sweatshirt as she made her way to the door. The house was quiet still, the upstairs corridor coming to life with the sounds of sleeping breath behind doors as she crept past, making barely any sound on the stairs. She needed fresh air, to feel the sun and appreciate that it was real, and her feet took her straight to the side door by the kitchen without noticing if anyone was still up down here. And there, out in what had to be where Bobby fixed what could be fixed before selling it on, was a sight she hadn't seen in years.

There, sleek and dark and shining in the gentle gold of the dawning sun, was the first good impression John Winchester had made on her twelve-year old self. A '67 Chevy Impala, beautifully maintained; the car that had inspired her to find and buy her own car, back in Madison. A car she hadn't seen since she was thirteen. She'd thought he'd gotten rid of it; he must have given it to Dean or Sam instead. Unexpectedly, Ayden felt tears prick her eyes, even as a small smile touched her lips. She reached out, laying soft fingers against the gorgeous car's hood, murmuring a quiet greeting to the Impala. "Hey, baby."

As for Dean, he had just as much trouble sleeping, but for different reasons. He'd crashed on the couch, hoping to catch a few hours' sleep before the house started to wake, but after an hour or so of tossing and turning, he'd given up. Lying there on the couch, he'd gone over the events of the last few days, over and over in his head, trying to sort out what the options were and still coming out with the same solution to the problem - saying yes. But saying yes to Michael meant Sam saying yes to Lucifer and more than likely killing each other. It was a solution that no one wanted; it was a worst case scenario, a last resort, but Dean wasn't seeing many alternatives.

He heard movement upstairs, light footsteps on the stairs, and he knew without doubt that his newfound sister was having as much trouble sleeping as he was. He listened as she moved quietly through the house, tracking her footsteps in his head, down the stairs, through the house to the back door near the kitchen, and out into the yard. He wasn't afraid of her going anywhere, as there was nowhere to go, and she'd come here for protection. He wasn't afraid of any harm coming to her, so long as she stayed close. He heard the door bang quietly shut and frowned thoughtfully. It seemed as good a time as any to meet his baby sister. He had to do it sooner or later, and he wouldn't have to worry about competition from Sam or dirty looks from Ellen or Bobby to egg him on.

After a while, he shoved a hand through his hair and dropped his feet to the floor, moving just as quietly through the house to the kitchen, where he poured two cups of coffee and slipped out the back door to have a Folgers moment with a girl who was as much a stranger as his flesh and blood.

What greeted him when he stepped from the house was a scene that most men who were a little precious about their cars might have objected to. Ayden was on the far side of the Impala, her back to him as she leaned against the hood comfortably. One hand was tucked into her sweater; the other stretched out on the shining paintwork, fingertips gently stroking the car as she talked, oblivious to her new audience. "Kinda figures you'd still be going strong," she was saying, speaking to the car as Dean stepped out into the freshness of the morning. "I never got why he switched up to that monster truck, but then I didn't really know about the others then. All I knew was that his cool car was gone. Probably just as well - I don't think he would have forgiven me for bleeding all over you, baby."

But Dean wasn't most men. Though his baby was his most precious possession, he noticed how she touched the hood with an almost loving caress; how she talked to her with familiar fondness, as though she was an old friend. Dean realized this was not the first time she'd met his baby, and she felt a pang of jealousy or envy, wondering just what kind of relationship she'd had with his - no, their - father. Be polite, Dean, he told himself, reminded of what Ellen had told him. He came up quietly, a cup of coffee in each hand. "She's a beauty, isn't she?" he asked, making idle conversation to start them off. "I found her in a used car lot back in Lawrence. Dad wanted a van, but..." He shrugged his shoulders before handing her a cup of coffee, black.

Ayden's reaction would have been funny if it hadn't been so heartbreaking. She jumped, a gasp tearing its way from her throat as she lurched out of her lean to spin about and face Dean, green eyes wide with fright and wary shock. Zachariah had done quite a number on her if even a gentle greeting like that could frighten the girl. Realising that Dean wasn't about to make her start spontaneously bleeding or yell at her for abusing his car, she drew in a shaky breath, forcing herself to calm down as her hand wrapped about the offered cup. "Thank you," she managed, remembering her manners in lieu of anything else to say. Her eyes turned back to the Impala, red-rimmed and dark with fatigued bruises. "Is that why he got the truck in the end?" she asked curiously, grateful for the segue into conversation that wasn't too heavy. "Because he didn't want her?"

Dean smiled, both at the memory her question triggered and just out of pure instinct. Whether he realized it or not, he was, by instinct and by habit, a protector of those he deemed needing protecting. Whatever his personal feelings in the matter might be, it was plain to see that she was frightened and needed someone with a calm demeanor to make her feel safe and welcome. "No, because I turned sixteen and wanted to drive. I used to take her out without his permission, and he finally just let me have her." He sipped at his coffee, slanting a glance at the sky as the sun rose over the piles of scrap metal in Bobby's yard. "Here's to another sunrise," he said, lifting his cup in celebration. No one knew that he secretly thanked a God he only half believed every morning at sunrise for another day.

"So I guess it was a fluke those two times he had her when he came to Windom," Ayden murmured thoughtfully. She was relieved by his smile, reassured that the big brother who'd been conspicuous by his absence the night before wasn't actively avoiding her. She even managed to raise a wan smile at his description of wearing their father down. But it didn't last. His benediction to the rising sun wiped the smile clean from her face, and she hurriedly ducked her head, hiding behind the fall of brown hair as her throat tightened. There was one person who'd never see another sunrise again, and the loss was like a brand on her heart. It would take a long time to be able to feel anything but pain at such thoughts.

He turned a surprised glance her way, one brow arched the way it always did when something took him offguard. I would have, too, he thought to himself, knowing without a doubt that had he known, he would have protected her with his life, just as he had Sam. She was a Winchester, after all. There was no reprimand when she took a lean beside him against the Impala, no more than he would have scolded Sam or Bobby or Ellen. He shrugged his shoulders and took another swallow of his coffee. "That's what family is for," he told her simply. No other explanation was necessary. In truth, there was no good time, and she clearly needed their help.

She held the silence for a long time, trying to come up with some way to get them both out of what could turn into something maudlin and uncomfortable very easily, sipping at her coffee as various lines rambled through her mind at varying speeds. The one that eventually made it to her lips was the one she expected the worst reaction from, though. "You are Dean, right' I haven't just made a connection with the mailman or Bobby's illegitimate love-child who lives in the cellar, have I?"

Unlike Sam, he didn't offer any false sense of security, no coddling, no patronizing, no soft soothing words. What she got with Dean was the blunt, honest truth, and promises he'd die trying to keep. Dean snorted at her question, amused at the very thought of Bobby having a love child stashed away somewhere without Ellen knowing about it. "No, I'm Dean. Live and in the flesh."

Her relief at not sparking a snapping reply with her obtuse groping for clarification brought the first truly genuine smile to Ayden's face as she looked at Dean properly in the gentle warmth of the rising sun. Her hand reached out, offering her palm to him. "Hi, I'm Ayden," she introduced herself properly. "Nice to meet you. Sorry I didn't hug, seems like I need to earn that right."

There was that eyebrow again, arching upwards at her formal introduction. He wasn't Sam; he wasn't the huggy type. Ellen was about the only one Dean ever showed any physical affection for, and even that was rare. He shifted the coffee mug to his left hand and reached to wrap his right hand around hers. "Nice to meet you, Ayden. Welcome to the family."

Her smile lingered longer than she would have expected, warming the pale cast of her features in the unflattering glare of sunlight as she squeezed her fingers around his hand, curiously aware of the callouses that marked his palm and fingers against the relatively smooth surface of her own skin. "Thanks, big bird." The cheeky nickname just slipped out, but she wasn't going to pull it back. Sam had already ended up being labelled "beanstalk", and that was going to stick. Chances were, even if Dean objected, he was going to be "big bird" until the day he died.

He snorted again, chuckling sarcastically. "I may be tall, but I'm not yellow." Whether he meant the color yellow or a euphemism for cowardice, he didn't say, allowing her to take him literally or figuratively or both. He retracted his hand and took another swallow of coffee, wincing at the taste of it and making a derisive sound that hinted at his displeasure. "This isn't coffee. It's sludge. Wanna go for a ride?" he asked, his face brightening at the very thought of getting away from the house for a while and taking her for a ride in his baby, not to mention picking up something that actually tasted like coffee.

Ayden's face brightened right along with his, her eyes flicking to the Impala excitedly for a moment. "Seriously' Either you take me for a drive, or I'm gonna hotwire her, and I don't think Sam would like it if you had to shoot me for stealing your baby." Humor like that proved she was one of them - who else could make a joke of being gunned down by their own brother for joyriding"

He chuckled, his mood lightening a little. Maybe Ellen was right. Maybe she was good for him, somehow. "Keep talking nice to me and one of these days, I might even let you drive." Now, that would be something to be proud of. Dean didn't even trust Sam with his baby half the time. He pushed off the Impala, hoping no one was up yet to want to tag along or talk them out of going. They wouldn't be gone long, and he'd take the necessary precautions. "I'll just be a minute." He reached for her cup, assuming she'd had enough sludge, as well. He wasn't going anywhere until he had his keys, wallet, jacket, and sidearm.

She'd barely drunk a quarter of the coffee he'd brought out, her sweet tooth not able to cope with the bitter aftertaste very well, giving up the cup without a second thought. It was easy to forget for a little while that the bottom of her world had fallen through, with the prospect of riding in this Impala again, and to her surprise, Ayden realised she was actually looking forward to spending a little more time with the intimidating half of the Winchester brothers. "I'm not going anywhere." Quite literally, as it turned out.

He started back toward the house, resisting the urge to look back over his shoulder to make sure she was still safely standing there, before juggling both coffee cups in one hand to maneuver the door open and slip back inside. He didn't bother to leave a note; he never did. They knew him well enough to know that if they woke to find him, Ayden, and the Impala missing, they'd put two and two together, and he'd bring back a dozen doughnuts as compensation for worrying them.

Hands deep in her pockets, Ayden bounced on the balls of her feet as she waited, chewing on the inside of her cheek. Left alone, her thoughts turned to her mother, and John, and the family neither of them had wanted her to meet or know. Better late than never.

As promised, Dean wasn't gone long, grateful not to have run into anyone before making his escape. He had on a worn leather jacket that had once belonged to his dad, an automatic hastily shoved in one pocket, twirling his car keys around his left index finger. The gravel crunched beneath his boots, the sun setting the sky ablaze. For the first time in days, there was a light in his eyes that hadn't been there before. He unlocked the driver's side door and reached over to pop the lock on the passenger side. "Hop in."

She didn't need telling twice, clearly more excited by the prospect of the drive than most girls her age would be. Who would have thought that Dean's car would be the means to start forging a link with his long-lost little sister" Unable to hide the impish delight in her eyes, Ayden did indeed 'hop' into the front seat, drawing the door shut with reverent car before running a hand over the dash. "Aww, dude, she even smells the same as I remember!"

"She's my baby," he grinned, obviously fond of the car and proud of the way he took care of her. "Dad wanted a van. Thought it was more practical, but I talked him into this one." If she knew how long John had had the Impala and did the math, she'd be able to figure out there was no logical way Dean could have possibly been there when his father picked out the car. He inserted the key in the ignition and turned the engine over, smiling as he listened to her purr. "Have you ever heard a sweeter sound than that?" Even been than making a woman moan, he thought. Well, almost.

And there was a kicker of a question, so innocent and yet one she couldn't answer without thinking of her all-too-recent loss. Ayden's throat tightened for a moment as she looked away, swallowing against the urge to cry, amazed at the sting of tears in her eyes. Hadn't she already cried herself out' "Uh ....I'm taking Pre-Med," she managed, forcing herself to keep going through the uncomfortably sensation closing her throat, trying not to dwell on her mother being the inspiration for that choice. "But they don't offer it as a major, so I'm studying European History and Folklore, too."

She cleared her throat, pleased with herself for not breaking down. "Where's your friend live?" she found herself asking, grasping onto something that would urge her back toward grief. "I've been on a couple of day trips, I might have passed through."

He stopped the car at another crossroads, waiting for the light to turn green. He'd met so many people over the years, some whose names and faces stood out more than others. He'd crisscrossed the country multiple times doing numerous hunts. He and Sam had been to nearly every one of the continental fifty states at one time or another, but a few were remembered better than the others.

He glanced over, relaxing a little as he waited for the light, noticing that she'd turned away at his question as if it made her uncomfortable for some reason, and he wondered if he'd trigged a memory in her, as well. He was going to have to be careful what he said, and he had a bad habit of saying the first thing that came to mind. "Sam went to Stanford for a few years to study law," he said, making conversation. He turned back to the road as the light turned and pulled forward. "Doesn't matter," he answered nonchalantly. "We're almost there."

Drawing herself back under control was a painful, gradual process, but Dean gave her that time, where perhaps Sam would not have done. Already, Ayden was beginning to note the differences between her brothers, though they both had more than enough about them to be deeply important to her from here on in. Dean seemed to know the value of not studying a moment in-depth; Sam had already proved he could reduce her to cathartic tears with the right comment in the right place the night before.

When she looked up, Ayden was calm and collected again, offering a half-smile of apology. "Sorry, I, uh ....I started Pre-Med because of my mom," she explained quickly, rushing through the explanation before shifting her attention. "Why didn't Sam stay at Stanford" I'm guessing with all the illegal you guys do, having a lawyer in the family would be a good thing."

Same reason I became a hunter, he thought. Because of my mom. He made no comment regarding her mother, knowing instinctively that it was a touchy subject and rightfully so. Maybe she'd want to talk about it later, but not now. It was too soon. He thought she'd be better off talking to Sam or Ellen about it anyway. He didn't think he was very good at offering comfort, choosing to accept her answer at face value and not question it further, never knowing that might be exactly what she needed at the moment. Her question brought a small thoughtful frown to Dean's face, and he wondered if that wasn't a question better asked Sam. There were two different sides to that story - his and Sam's.

He figured the best answer, as always, was the honest one, even if it was the more difficult explanation. "Dad went missing a few years ago, and I went to Sam for help finding him. Long story short, some sh*t went down and he never went back." He left the part out about Jessica and the demons, at least, for now. He knew she needed to know these things at some point, but she'd had enough of a shock for now.

Her brow furrowed lightly as she considered this, wondering just what "sh*t" had gone down to make Sam, who seemed like the sort of person who could obssessively follow something through right to the end and damn anyone else's opinion, change his mind about a career in law. But another thought overrode it. "When did Dad go missing?" she asked quietly, remembering the birthdays John had missed despite promising to make it up to her if he missed her sixteenth.

Dean shrugged again, not really wanting to talk about that time. It wasn't long after that John had died, sacrificing his life for his eldest son's, and though it had been a few years, it was still painful. "Couple of years ago. He was hunting the demon that..." He broke off, realizing that talking about Mary's death would only upset her, so soon after her own mother had died. "It doesn't matter what he was hunting. We're always hunting something." Grateful to have finally arrived at the bright and cheerily-painted donut shop with the yellow and blue sign that read "Daylight Donuts", Dean pulled into the parking lot. "We're here."

Realising she'd wandered into territory that wasn't hers to talk about, regardless of the fact that they shared a father, Ayden didn't press the point. She didn't even apologise, sensing that another apology might earn her a less than polite answer. Instead, she tipped her head to look at the bright sign, a wry smile touching her lips. "Sure they're open" It's, like, only just daylight."

"They're open," Dean assured her as he pulled the Impala into a spot. This early in the morning, the parking lot was mostly empty, and the donuts would be fresh - as fresh as the girls who served the donuts.

"I guess you must come here a lot, if you know they're open before -" Ayden checked her watch, peeling her sleeve back from her wrist to do so, "- before seven a.m." She flicked a glance over to Dean, seeing for the first time the signs of fatigue in him. "Did you even go to sleep yet?"

"I slept a little," he lied, shifting the car into park and pulling the keys from the ignition. He hadn't really slept much, if at all, and was overdue for a good night's sleep, but right now, sleep was a luxury he couldn't afford. "Besides, who are you to talk" I'm guessing you got maybe three hours, if that." It wasn't said in an accusatory way; he was merely stating the facts. "Come on. I'll introduce you to the girls." He pushed open the driver's side door and climbed out, taking a moment to stretch in the morning sun.

"I'm a woman in an emotional state, I'm allowed to be unreasonable," was Ayden's sassy, smiling reply, hiding the defensive sting of having her bad night's sleep pointed out to her. She climbed out of the Impala, letting her fingers linger against the silvered edging before she shut the door behind her. "The girls, huh?" Dean's new baby sister flashed him a grin that was a little too knowing for a nineteen-year old, and far too teasing. Being an only child had evidently made her grow up almost as fast as he had. "Should I wait out here" I wouldn't want to cramp your style, or anything."

"Trust me, you aren't cramping anything," he grinned over at her a little mischievously, like he knew something she didn't. He pocketed the car keys in his jacket and started toward the donut shop at an easy-going pace. "I'm addicted to this place. Best coffee and donuts in town." He waited for her to catch up with him before pulling open the door for her and following her inside.

It said a lot for the aura of calm safety that Dean was able to project around Ayden that she felt absolutely no fear or apprehension in being out of the Impala or away from the safety of the salvage yard that she had expected to feel. She skipped easily to his side without a second thought, sliding her hands back into the pockets of her sweater as she stepped in through the door. Her eyes went straight to the "girls" behind the counter, and she laughed for the second time - a deep, genuine belly-laugh that lit up her face as she looked back at him. "I stand corrected."

Nodding to herself, unable to wipe the grin from her face, Ayden couldn't resist the urge to reach over and tweak Dean's nose as he turned to her. "You're kinda cute when you're flustered, big bird," she teased, genuinely at ease finally in the face of his struggle with his Daylight Donuts' ladies. She looked back at the two women remaining behind the counter. "Is he always this easy to embarrass?"

Dean narrowed his eyes at Ayden, his expression alone warning her not to push her luck.

"Big Bird!" Janet cackled. "Would that make Sam Snuffleupagus?" Oh, that just struck her funny and she dissolved into girlish giggles.

As flustered as Dean was, the thought of Sam as a woolly mammoth made him smirk. The little bell on the door jingled as the morning crowd started to file in.

"Get the man his donuts!" Sandy scolded, tossing a smile to the customer who'd come in behind them. "Can I help you?"

If there was one thing the Winchesters had never had to deal with, it was a normal younger sibling. Unfortunately for Dean, Ayden was also pretty sassy and more than happy to push her luck when it came to teasing anyone. He was just going to have to get used to it. She laughed at Janet's rejoinder. "You know, I think he is," she grinned, nudging Dean impishly, one bony elbow saying hello to his ribs not exactly gently. "Whaddya think?"

Dean oofed audibly when Ayden's elbow met with his ribs, but thankfully, he didn't drop the pie. "I think you're having a little too much fun at my expense, that's what I think."

Janet snorted at Dean's reply and turned to snatch up a box and fill it with an assortment of donuts, adding a couple of extra, just because. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you two were siblings," she remarked casually as she went about plucking up this donut and that and setting it in the box.

"Welcome to the world having a little sister," was Ayden's answer to her brother, without realising that she'd confirmed Janet's casually searching comment until it was too late. Her smile was half-apology to Dean, and half-pride to Janet for being able to call herself his sister. "I'm this week's surprise guest star on the sitcom of Dean and Sam," she explained to the woman with a shrug.

"That makes two of us," Janet remarked, with a grin as she turned back around and set the box on the counter to close the lid. "I could have guessed. You two have the same eyes." She closed the box and rang up a dozen donuts and two cups of coffee, letting them have the extra donuts for free, and of course, the pie.

"Think so?" Dean asked, glancing to Ayden a moment, before shoving a hand in his jeans pocket for his wallet, pulling out a ten dollar bill and handing it to Janet.

The expression on Dean's face was mirrored by Ayden as she met his glance, both of them looking at each other's eyes with the same shade of surprised curiosity sparked off by Janet's comment. And, of course, it had distracted her from objecting to being paid for. "Hey ..." Her protest was mild, but a little defensive. It was going to take a while to get used to being looked after. "I'm not bankrupt, you know."

"Yeah, well....Neither am I," was his amazing comeback, obviously still a bit flustered by the women or maybe just embarrassed because it had happened in front of Ayden. "Can you grab the coffee?" he asked as he reached for the box of donuts, piling it under the pie.

Janet tossed a wink at Ayden. "Nice to meet you, sweetheart. We'll see you both soon!" Though she hadn't gotten a name from the girl, it didn't really matter. She'd be sweetheart or honey or sugar, no matter her name.

"Sure." Reluctantly tucking her wallet away finally, Ayden nodded, reaching out to take the two cups from the counter. She offered a smile to Janet and Sandy as she stepped back from the counter. "Thank you - it was nice to meet you, too!" Turning her back on the overly-friendly women, her smile faded into a slightly overwhelmed grimace. That had been a little bit too normal, given the last twenty-four hours.

"See you later, Dean!" came the voice from beyond - that of Wanda in the kitchen, followed by a giggle.

Unable to wave back, he simply offered a slightly awkward smile and started toward the door with his baked goods in hand. "Later, ladies! Try not to miss me too much." He pushed the door open with a hip and out he went into the morning sunshine.

Catching the door on her elbow to follow Dean out, Ayden found herself laughing again at Wanda's goodbye. "Seriously, dude, you'd make her day with a smooch," she informed her brother, skipping to walk at his side, balancing one paper cup on top of the other in one hand. "You'd probably get free everything everytime you go in there!"

That got his attention and he stopped in his tracks, glancing back at the donut shop. "Free, really' You think so?" He seemed to consider that for a moment, before shaking his head and continuing on toward the Impala. "No, I can't. It's just too weird."

"Well, you just got free pie, and you didn't even have to make eye contact," she pointed out with a half-grin. "Uh ....sorry I dropped the sister-bomb. It just kinda slipped out, I didn't do it on purpose. I get that it must be weird for you guys to even know I exist, let alone have to put up with me right here on top of you."

"It's not weird, Ayden," he contradicted, setting the two boxes on top the roof of the Impala so he could fish the keys out of his pocket and open the door. "It's just..." He frowned, at a sudden lack for words, glancing to her with a concerned frown. "Okay, so, it's a little weird. That doesn't mean you aren't welcome here."

She nodded, avoiding looking him in the eye as her own grew wet once again. Was she ever going to stop crying" "I appreciate it," she said quietly, silencing herself by biting hard into her lower lip, turning to look across the street. It was bad enough feeling as though her heart was gaping open and bleeding, but she felt guilty for being a mess and awkwardly embarrassed by all the crying. It was a bad combination, and that was even before she factored in the anger simmering under the surface. "I'll try not to get in the way."

He sighed, turning toward her, leaving the boxes on top the roof. With any luck, they'd stay there. "Look, I....I'm not very good at this, but I promise you're not in the way, okay?" He wasn't quite sure what else to say. Should he tell her he understood how she felt because he'd lost his own mother, too' There was a connection there somewhere, something Sam would never understand because Sam didn't remember what it was to have a mother. The only mother Sam had ever known had been Ellen, and while Dean loved Ellen and appreciated everything she'd done for him, memories of his real mother kept him up at night sometimes - or memories of how she'd died. "I wish I could tell you it gets better, but it doesn't. It just gets a little easier. You're gonna be okay, Ayden. I promise. You're not alone, okay?"

Green eyes that were so much like his own, so much like Sam's, turned toward him, dark with unfathomable pain, raw and shining with unshed tears. But she wasn't crying. Ayden had as much control over her emotions as her brothers did with less experience, less need for such control. She nodded slowly, unable to find words to answer his reassurance that could possibly describe how much she was hurting right now. She turned, setting the cups on the Impala's roof beside the boxes, and stepped into a hug that held on without crushing or clinging. She just needed that contact for a moment, whether or not he was ready or comfortable. "Thanks, Dean."

His fingers twitched around the car keys, instincts telling him to reach out and touch her or maybe even give her a hug, but he held himself back. Not here, not now. Not in the middle of a donut shop parking lot. Maybe later. But then she was making the decision for him, pressing a hug on him, like Sam used to do when he was little and like Dad never did. He hesitated a moment before awkwardly hugging her back, letting down his defenses for a moment and opening his heart to her.

How should he reply to that' You're welcome? No problem' It's okay' There was no reply that seemed sufficient. "You don't have to thank me. You're family." He felt that old familiar pain of guilt wrench his heart and wondered how much she'd thank him when she found out it was his fault her mother was dead.

He couldn't have known how much those two little words meant to the young woman holding on for dear life. You're family. Ayden had see-sawed from family to all alone and back to family again, all in the space of less than twelve hours, and it remained to be seen just how deeply that would affect her. But for now, at least, she seemed content to hug and be hugged, to tease and play, and settle into her new role of baby sister with enviable ease. Ellen had been right, after all. Ten minutes and a Folgers moment with Dean, and Ayden was safe again. Now all they had to do was keep her that way.

((Thanks to Dean's player yet again - just keeps getting better!))