#ironic the cycle repeats where a missing piece is needed for the brothers to be whole

[marathedemonoverlord]

This is actually such a cool concept to think about. MC's child on an adventure with their friendzoned uncles ✨️ Love it!! 💗

MC's Child

Requested Anonymously

Summary: It had been a while since the Seven Demon brothers had seen MC. When you show up in the Devildom, they were so excited to see her again. But - you're not her. You're her daughter. The Seven Demon Brothers x Fem! Reader

The group of seven demons stood around you as they looked at you with adoration and love.

You were still asleep, unable to talk to them. But you looked so peaceful that they could watch you sleep for a hundred years.

They noticed that something seemed a little different about you, but that was to be expected when they hadn’t seen you in a while.

They had missed you much in your time away from the Devildom. How long had it been? A couple of years? Time flew by when you were a demon who had lived as long as any of them had.

They wondered what you were doing back in the Devildom. Your visit was a surprise to them. None of them expected you to show up at the House of Lamentation - let alone unconscious.

They nearly freaked out when they saw you, thinking you were dead. But traveling through a portal to another realm was exhausting for a human.

And what they didn’t know was that this was your first time traveling through a portal so it was even worse for you.

Because you weren’t the amazing human that came to the Devildom as a human exchange student - you were her daughter.

Growing up, you were always told about the adventures of the Devildom, and you were left instructions on how to reach the Devildom if you were ever in trouble.

You were promised that these demons would help you no matter what. So when you found yourself in a sticky situation, after your mother passed away, you did just as you were told.

The brothers didn’t even think about this being a possibility even though the signs were in front of them.

You were the same age as your mother when she came down the Devildom but time had passed so there should have been some aging. 

Not to mention, your hair color and body type were slightly different from hers.

It was different enough that someone on the outside could see that you weren’t the same person.

But close enough that the demon brothers could rationalize you were the same person.

They had missed their human so much, longing for them to come back down the Devildom since they left.

So, when another human landed on their doorstep, looking like the one they loved, it made sense for them to jump to assumptions. To hope that their human came back to them.

But, those dreams were quickly crushed when you finally woke up.

You told them about how much time had passed and how you weren’t the same person they were looking for, but that you were told they would help you.

And after a very long conversation, you were left in silence as they all processed the news in their own ways.

The news came as a shock to Lucifer.

You looked so similar to them. How could you be two different people?

He remained very stoic during your explanation, not wanting to let on how sad he was that you weren’t the person they had been wishing for.

But you weren’t far off.

And even though they missed their human dearly, they had instructed you to come and seek out the seven demon brothers.

That in itself meant the world to Lucifer because it meant they were trusted and loved by your mother just as much as they loved her.

Lucifer wasn’t sure why exactly you had come to the Devildom, but he knew that he wouldn’t be able to turn you away.

He would have to inform Lord Diavolo and Barbatos of the situation as soon as possible.

He would have to get their guidance and clearance on the topic.

But he knew they cared about your mother as much as any of the rest of them, so they would have no qualms with letting you stay in the Devildom for a little while.

Lucifer wished he would have had another chance to talk to your mother, to tell her how much she meant to him.

But, now that you were here, he was going to make sure he did this one thing to honor her memory.

He would make sure that you were taken care of no matter what.

Mammon was completely heartbroken when you told him that your mother passed away.

He loved her so much and he had been just waiting for another opportunity to see her again.

How had this much time passed? It didn’t make sense to him.

It felt like the blink of an eye to him and yet it was an entire lifetime.

Mammon had so many questions, but he didn’t know where to begin.

He ended up spending most of his time gambling or locked in his room. That was his way of coping with the information.

After the initial phase passed though, Mammon realized you were sent to them for a reason and he would be damned if he didn’t have a part in it.

The human he once loved may be gone, but she sent you there. 

His tsundere behavior is just as strong towards you when the two of you first met as it was towards her the first time they met.

But, soon enough, you’re going gambling with him and binging his favorite action movies.

You didn’t act anything like your mother, and yet you managed to heal the cracks in his heart from missing her.

Mammon made a promise to himself that even though he couldn’t protect her from her fate, he would make sure he protected you.

He would make sure that his human lived on and thrived through you.

He just hoped that you wouldn’t leave them like your mother did.

Levi went into full shut-in mode after finding out the news.

He didn’t want anyone to see how much he cried for the loss of their human.

He told himself there was something he could have done to save her - if only he had tried harder.

And he promised himself that he would no longer open himself up to others. This was too painful for him to ever experience again.

So, he wanted absolutely nothing to do with you. 

But you didn’t want there to be an awkwardness between you and Levi since you were going to be staying there for a while.

And you were just as good as your mother at chipping away at his walls.

Levi resisted your attempts to talk to him for as long as he could. But it didn’t take long for him to crack.

He didn’t say much when you tried to have a one-on-one conversation with him.

But, when you asked to play a video game with him, it was a whole different level.

As the two of you played and discussed his other interests, Levi felt the last of his walls crumbling down as he fell into an easy conversation.

Maybe this wasn’t so bad. Maybe he was glad you didn’t let him hole himself up in his room away from you.

He finally had a friend again and he had missed that feeling.

Satan had disappeared into his room to destroy anything and everything nearby when he found out that you were the child of the human he held in his heart and that she was dead.

He had spent all of this time setting aside books he wanted her to read. He stocked up on cat merch to give her as gifts. And he even made a separate pile of books he wanted to read with her.

Satan thought about her every day and spent so much of his time preparing for their next meeting…and it was all for nothing.

Satan was another one who didn’t want anything to do with you at first because you were a constant reminder of her and it made him sad every time.

But he couldn’t help but notice how studious you were and the fact that you always had a spare book in your bag to read.

No matter how hard he tried to stay away, he couldn’t help but continue to observe you.

He picked up on what your favorite genre to read was and when he found you searching for a good book to read, he couldn’t help but put his two cents in.

He was surprised at how easy the conversation with you was and it was only then that he realized how unfair it was to shun you because he missed your mother.

He knew that wasn’t what she would have wanted. She sent you to the demon brothers because she wanted you to be cared for.

Satan wasn’t the best at being sentimental and empathetic, but you were a completely different story.

And he had decided that he would be there for you, no matter what you needed.

Asmo did not hold his tears back at all when he found out that your mother had died.

He was completely shattered by the news. 

He had so much love for her and was waiting for the chance to show her how much they had been missed in the Devildom.

And now, he was never going to get the chance to show her that.

Despite how sad he was, Asmo was the most welcoming among his brothers.

Asmo always had the most friendly and outgoing personality. He made friends with every person he met. And, you were no different.

Asmo took it upon himself to personally show you around the Devildom. He knew that you missed your mother as much as they did, but no one was looking at it from that angle besides him.

He’s a bit in awe at how she passed their beauty down to you. You shone just as radiantly as she did. 

Asmo will one hundred percent spoil you and pamper you the same way he used to do for her.

All in all, he’s the most dramatic with his grieving but also the most welcoming.

You were one of them now, and he was going to make sure everyone treated you as such.

If there was one thing Beel knew better than anything else, it was family.

Family was the most important thing in his life. The one thing that he would lay down his life for.

And your mother was part of their family. He and his brothers loved her so much.

Before, there was a small hole when they thought your mother was just up in the human world.

Now that they found out that your mother was dead, that hole was gaping.

It hurt Beel more than he wanted to admit to lose someone that was loved so much.

It hurt to lose someone who was such a big part of their family.

But at the end of the day, you were their daughter. 

Which meant that whether you liked it or not, you were a part of the Devildom family now. And Beel intended to treat you as such.

It didn’t matter that they didn’t know you very well yet. Beel welcomed you with open arms.

They could get to know you as the time passed and Beel was certain they would all want to.

He was glad that your mother told you about them and that you came to seek them out. 

He would make sure you didn’t regret that decision.

Belphie was as stubborn as ever.

He refused to show his emotions on the outside even though he was dying on the inside.

He didn’t even know what to make of this situation.

His mind felt like a whirlwind as he tried to figure out what to say or at least what question to ask.

He ended up remaining silent as you talked to the others.

And while you were conversing with the others, he couldn’t help but pick up on the similarities and differences between you and your mother.

He was sure that after your mother was gone, he would revert back to his old ways and begin hating humans again.

But here he was, looking at you, and there wasn’t a hint of animosity.

It made him want to laugh a bit - if only he was this way when he first met her.

Belphie had made a terrible impression on your mother and he didn’t want to make the same mistake with you.

He was a bit awkward at first, but once he started opening up, Belphie showed his caring side to you more often than he usually did.

He wanted you to know that he would be there for you if you needed anything because that’s what he would have done if your mother was still alive.

[moonflower-31]

I Won’t Forget You - Spencer Reid x Reader

Masterlist 

Part 11 

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader 

Warnings: Basically all the shit in the readers history that hasn’t been mentioned up until this point. (Anxiety, mentions of abuse, stalking, arranged marriage) 

Tags: @dra-reid, @eevee0722, @ceeellewrites, @anotherr-fine-mess, @ssahoodrathotchner 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

"Are you sure about this?" 

You take in a heavy sigh as you adjust the tan trench coat around you. You nod, holding back bitter tears. 

"This is for the best, Arthur. I can't marry him. If I stay as a Grant any longer than I have to, he'll kill me. Or use you as leverage to make me change my mind. I can't let him do that." You insist, your (h/c) hair flowing in the wind outside the Atlantic City Airport. 

Your brother looks up at you with tear-stained cheeks. Being only 6 years younger than you made him 14. But he was wiser than he should be. He shouldn't have to lose his sister like this. But it was for the best. That was what you kept telling yourself. 

"B-but… what about Mom? A-and Dad?" He asked worriedly, his hands picking at the expensive leather jacket that you had passed down to him once he had turned ten. "Don't you want to at least say goodbye to them?" 

You grit your teeth as a few choice words threaten to surface. Thankfully, you swallow them. He didn't know. You made sure he didn't know. All he ever knew was that Mom and Dad were always 'busy'. He didn't need to know anything else. 

"No, Artie. I don't want to say goodbye to them. They're busy. I don't want to interrupt their meeting. It's just you and me right now." You explain as calmly as you can, giving him the most genuine smile you've ever given someone. You put a gentle hand on his shoulder, pulling him into a hug. He immediately reciprocates it, squeezing you as tight as he could.  

"I'm gonna miss you sis." He whimpers into your shoulder. For a kid his age, he was pretty tall. You softly let out a chuckle. He would be taller than you in a few years. 

"I'm gonna miss you too, little man. If things calm down, I'll reach out. I'll call you. Promise." You say, holding out your pinky. Arthur sniffles and wipes his tears with his sleeve. He then extends his hand and intertwines his pinky with yours. 

"You better not forget me." He insists, letting out a soft chuckle. You laugh softly back, cupping his cheek motherly and wiping away the fresh tears. 

"That's impossible, and you know it." You tease, gently pressing a finger to his nose. "Be good. Do what you're told. And follow your dreams, okay? No matter what Mom or Dad say is your destiny, make your own." You beg, squeezing your brother's hand for the last time. 

"I will. I love you, (Y/N)." 

"I love you too bud."  

○●♡●○ 

"Your what?" Spencer asks in disbelief, his weathered hands never leaving yours. His naturally focused eyes were now confused and frantic, trying to make sense of the words you just uttered to him. 

"M-my… my stalker. The part of my past I...I didn't want to get you into. I didn't want to put you in danger." You repeat a little quieter. Most of you wanted to curl up in a ball and die. At least then Peter would stop. 

"You had" Spencer stopped himself, letting in a small gasp of disbelief. "--have, a stalker, and you didn't think this was important?" He asks, his voice raising a notch. You flinch and try to pull your hands back on instinct. 

Spencer widened his eyes and immediately calmed his voice, taking your hands back into his. "I-i'm sorry, (Y/N). But please… why didn't you tell me?" He asked gentler this time. You let out a nervous breath and close your eyes, attempting to open the file in your brain you so desperately wanted to erase. 

"It… it might be better if I just tell you everything. I-if you'll listen to my sappy life story…" you insist, squeezing his hands for comfort. His touch was keeping you grounded for now. At least you had him. 

"O-of course, (Y/N). B-but you don't have to. I-I mean… if this is going to hurt you then I don't want you to feel like you have to-" Spencer began to ramble, his hazel eyes weighed with worry. Just like Arthur's. 

You stop him with a squeeze of your hands and take a deep breath. Here goes nothing, you think. 

"7 years ago, I-I turned 18. My parents are very old fashioned. And they believed that since I was already going back to college and trying to be my own woman since I graduated with my doctorate in psychology that year, that they would arrange me a marriage." The words tasted foul in your mouth, almost making you want to spit them out. Spencer still listened, though he did look at you with a look of concern. 

"His name is Peter Calvin. The real-estate broker and investor. At 22 he was vastly rich. And he had everything he wanted. Except a loving wife who doted on him hand and foot. He's a narcissistic bastard who believes he deserves everything he wants. So as you expect, when I turned the proposal down instead of listening to my parents, he was livid. It began with letters. Like this one." You explain, gesturing towards the almost identical envelope next to you. "He would send me gifts, trinkets that I always threw away. No matter how many times my parents arranged for us to meet and try to get along, I always pushed him away. So then after three months, he escalated. He began to call my phone 27 times a day. Blew up my phone with texts. Filled up my email box with 10 or more a day. After that didn't work he began to threaten me. All the while he sent me letters. He would… detail our future together. He even detailed how I would bear him a son first. That we'd name him Oliver. Then I'd bear him a daughter. Name her after his mother." You felt your chest beginning to ache and your heart to pound as fast as a locomotive. 

All the while Spencer listened on in the horror of the past you had gone through. This stalker of yours was easily just like many of the unsubs they'd apprehended. Spencer had never had a personal connection with them till now. His eyes were opening to a different side of things. But he stayed quiet, wanting to let you finish your story before he made any attempt to say his piece. 

"Eventually he resorted to threatening my brother. Said that he'd kill him and my family if I didn't say yes. So… I said yes." You bit your lip, looking down as tears and a sob came tumbling through you. Spencer pulled you closer to him, embracing you in his arms to allow you to cry. You clung to his cardigan, not caring as much about replacing it this time. 

After a few minutes of ugly sobbing, you sniffled and pulled back, wanting to finish the rest of the story. "A-after a year o-of engagement and physical abuse from him I couldn't take it anymore." You let out a half sob, your voice breaking like glass. "S-so I stole a bunch of his money with his credit card and bought myself a ticket down here to Virginia. Gabriel lived down here, and I called him. He offered me a place to stay as long as I went to school and got the education I deserved. So I came here, changed my last name, number and even my social security number. Never looked back." You insist, squeezing Spencer’s forearms where your hands had fallen after he had held you to let you cry. 

You let out a long sigh, the tears drying up and tired hiccups were all that remained. "After a while, Gabriel qualified to go into training for the bareau. And I found out I was too. So we both applied. The rest doesn't matter. Just… know this is all sealed stuff. You're the first person other than Gabriel and my other roommate, Iris, to know. I put myself in witness protection to get away from this man. And now…" you trail, unable to finish your own statement. 

"(Y/N)..." Spencer spoke, barely a whisper. He didn't know what to say. You just shared with him yet again something no one else on the team knew about you. You trusted him with this. 

"I-I know… an FBI agent afraid of some real estate guy. How unique." You laugh bitterly, slowly pulling your knees closer to your chest. 

"Actually, I think you were actually brave for making the right decision for everyone, not just yourself." Spencer expressed, still looking at you in shock. The probability of what was in that letter couldn't be good. If they touched it, their DNA would be on it. This was evidence. If they could only find his and you're DNA on it, they could say that you both forged the note to frame Peter. And Spencer wouldn't allow that. 

His blood felt hotter than melted iron and his face felt stiff. His jaw locked in place as anger began to fuel him. He had heard this man's name before, when your mother said it to you. If only he had known the impact just saying it had on you. He was angry at Calvin. But also at himself for not deducing that something like this was happening. 

"(Y/N)... you kept everyone else safe at the cost of your own comfort. This-This isn't right. He should be in jail for ever touching you like that!" He exclaims, being careful not to raise his voice. 

"Yeah, except his lawyer is the best. His lawyer was able to convince the judge to revoke three protection orders I had filed against him. If I even tried to prosecute him, I'd just get thrown in jail instead. I… I'm just gonna have to change everything again. I'll change my w-whole name this time. Change my hair, move again. I don't think I'll even be able to afford one let alone lease one…" you began to ramble, panic quickly rising into your voice. 

It was Spencer's turn to silence you with a squeeze to the arms. You look him in the eyes, tears beginning to start another cycle. He reached a hand up and cupped your cheek, wiping away the stranded tears. You stared into his eyes, gazing up into hazel hues. 

"Hey… I'm not gonna let you lose everything you've worked so hard for. You are not gonna let him dictate your life. We're gonna bring this to Hotch, okay? Then for now, you'll live with me." 

You snap your gaze back towards his eyes after they drifted. Was he serious?! 

"Y-you can't be serious, Spence. You shouldn't have to-" 

Spencer placed a gentle thumb over your lips and shushed you. "I want to. You need to find a place to stay for now until we get him in custody. So... I'd say my place is safest."

You sniffled a little more, swallowing a lump of gathered excuses in your tightening throat. "A-are you sure about this, Spencer? You don't have two bedrooms, sure I can sleep on the couch…" you began to ponder. "But I'm messy sometimes. Annoying most of the time. And I am most definitely not the most pleasant person to be around in the mornings." 

Spencer chuckled and pressed a kiss to the creases in-between your eyebrows. You blush like a cherry as you stop in your tracks and stare up at him in shock. "You were pleasant to be around when you stayed over last time. Even if you end up a grouch who doesn't like socializing before 8, I still want to help you with this. You're… You're my friend." 

At this, you threw yourself into his arms, hugging him tightly. You knew deep inside that you really shouldn't be letting him help you. He could get killed, or even kidnapped because of his involvement. But right now, some help was better than no help at all.

"Thank you…" you whisper, squeezing your arms around his neck. Spencer hugs you tightly close to him, slightly burying his head in your shoulder.

"Anything, (Y/N)." 

○●♡●○ 

Hours later, the two of you sat in front of the letter, staring at it and pondering whether or not you should open it. Spencer had grabbed a paper towel and moved it to the coffee table. 

You had already called Gabriel and let him know of the situation. He said he called a few of his buddies from his job to watch over the apartment building for the night. 

You were now leaning against the tall doctor who was hunched over next to you, equally pondering the same question as you. But probably better than you. 

You were exhausted and tired of all the fear and panic. Your eyes were still puffy and you found yourself sniffling every few minutes. 

Spencer seemed to notice this however once he moved his gaze from the letter to you. "The handwriting, although made to be elegant, is bold and erratic. He wrote this in a hurry." He attempted, looking back up at you for approval. You took in a heavy breath and nodded, sucking in your bottom lip as you sigh it out. 

New approach, Spencer thought. 

"(Y/N/N)... I-I think you should get to bed. Try to sleep. We think our best when we're well rested, even in situations like this." He suggests, placing one of his broad hands on your back. 

You feel like crumbling underneath his touch from all of the stress. "I don't think I can even try to sleep…" you whimper, leaning closer to him for comfort. "Not alone…" 

Spencer frowned down at you. He rubbed your shoulder as he'd seen Morgan do to Garcia. You were hurting. And he didn't know how to fix it. And he was a damn profiler. A doctor. Where was all his knowledge now? 

"W-well… what if I came in and laid with you. Would that help?" He asked, turning to look at you. 

You thought the suggestion over. Having Spencer Reid in your bed would have normally made you blush like crazy, and made you insist that life was kidding you. But this was different. And as much as you loved Gabriel, he wasn't the type to stay and comfort someone. He cared, sure, but he didn't know how to truly sit and listen to your problems. He was usually the one who offered you a safe place to cry. And wouldn't judge you for it. Spencer, you knew was different. 

"Yeah… yeah I think I'd like that…" you reply, biting the inside of your cheek. Spencer smiled at you warmly, sprouting a couple butterflies. 

Spencer then stood up and helped you to your feet. His arm wrapped around your middle as he guided you back towards the bedrooms. 

"Now your going to have to direct me to which one is which." He comments, looking ahead at the three doors at the end of the hallway. "I think I'd rather not walk into someone else's room and see something I'm not meant to see." He teases, smirking at you. You let out a small chuckle and smile gently, getting Spencer to squeeze you closer. 

"It's good to see you smile." He says. Although it got darker the further into the hallway you both ventured, you could still clearly see the love in his eyes as he looked at you. 

"It's the door on the right." You instruct, gesturing to the door to your bedroom. The room you would soon be abandoning. 

Spencer took out the edge of his shirt from underneath his cardigan and used it to open the door, making you stifle a giggle. Spencer then helped you inside, easing you into your bed. He turned around and closed the door, leaving you to get comfortable in bed. 

When he turned around he was met with you curled up in a coocoon made of your comforter. He couldn't help but chuckle as he came over and sat next to you. "I don't suppose you'll be sprouting any wings any time soon, will you?" He teases, scooting closer to you. You huff, some of the blanket falling off your shoulders. 

"Shut up, Genius." You tease back, smiling at him as you do. 

"No, I don't believe I will. Especially since I just got you to smile." He reveals with an eyebrow raised and a smirk, as if it were a game changing thing. You roll your eyes and nudge him, yawning softly. 

"Yeah? Well I think you're gonna get me to fall asleep with jokes like that." You playfully retorted. He laughed and hugged you closer. 

"Then my job will be easier than I thought." He teased back. You shake your head and lean it against his shoulder hesitantly. You feel him tense up for a moment, almost too long of a moment. But just as you were going to lift your head up, he loosened up, letting you completely rest your head on his shoulder. 

"I...is this okay?" You ask softly, taking in a hard breath. 

"Yeah, definitely. You just get the rest you need. I'll be here." He promised. It was then you finally decided to let your guard down and begin to sleep. 

You feel his warmth radiating from him, lulling you to sleep along with his gentle touch. He had found a way to hold you through the blankets, and you didn't mind. His thumb caressed your arm as you felt yourself drifting off, easing your fears even more than they already had been.  

You had every right to be scared. To be utterly terrified. And you still were. But he made it easier. You began to second guess your own decision not to tell him how you felt. He was here with you when you knew that not that many people would do this for you. Hardly anyone on the team. Garcia and Prentiss might be good for a good cry and pep talk, but that wouldn't have eased you any more than just talking about what your plan of action was with Spencer. Morgan would probably hold you if you asked. But the bedroom was a no-go. JJ was a mother, so she would probably just offer you something to eat to get your mind off of it all. Hotch and Rossi were different people, but you didn't peg them to be cuddlers like this. Spencer was out of his comfort zone with you. And he made no attempt to make it known that he was uncomfortable with it. 

You didn't know where you wanted to go from here, other than heading to the BAU tomorrow and asking Hotch for help. But for now, you needed to relax.  

So instead, you eased your breathing and began to focus on the quiet hum of the air conditioner, and the gentle kiss to the forehead that you felt just as you drifted away.

[wonderlandinrope]

Not All Monsters Part 8

Sam X Reader

Summary: After running into an old friend brothers Sam and Dean catch another case. While on the hunt becomes clear that the friend they left behind isn’t the same person anymore.

Warning: Violence, cussing

Hope you enjoy. This one is a little shorter than usual. 

Part 8

Settling in at the bar, Aris couldn’t help but get the lookout of Deans face out of her head when he had reappeared from his short walk earlier that day. She was halfway up the cliff when he came out of the woods so she couldn’t be sure that she had seen it correctly. It was the same look she’d seen on his face when fought the vampires a year ago. Sam was also on edge when they began their trek back to vehicles. It was obvious they were trying to distance themselves from the group. They had gone from overjoyed to see Aris to trying to get her to move on to her next adventure sooner rather than later.

Jill interrupted Aris thoughts waving her hand and a drink in front of her. “Earth to Aris? Girl you ok?”

“Huh?” Aris looked at the group sitting in front of her.

“Where to next? George wants to start planning the route. Maybe we could hit up rocky mountains next.” Chloe smiled looking forward to the adventure.

Aris frowned her head spinning with memories both pleasant and excruciating. The smell of alcohol still triggering her when things got bad. It was unlikely to ever go away, she had seen a therapist the first few months that she’d stayed with her sister but it never seemed to help. It was too intrusive, instead, she joined a women's support group for abuse victims. It was more supportive, made her feel less like a victim, and gave her the strength to keep going. It was where she got the idea to travel.

“I can’t do this right now guys.” Closing her eyes tight she pinched the bridge of her nose choosing to walk away. “Going to clear my head.”

The girls shrugged, by now they were used to her going off on her own with no explanation. Often times only returning in the morning exhausted, before they moved on to the next city or state. George, on the other hand, couldn’t get used to it, he knew what she had been thrown and worried about her more than the others. He took on the role of an overprotective big brother. He caught her just as before she ran out the door.

“Where do you think you're going?” George stood at an angle, partially blocking her way.

“Out.” She shrugged avoiding his gaze, not wanting to give out more information.

Looking down he shook his head, only to try to catch her eyes. “We both know I can’t stop you, but can at least keep your cell on you this time?”

She looked up at him in surprise it was the first time that George hadn’t at least try to put up a fight. She caught the slight grin on his face. Nodding he gave his approval it meant more to her than she thought. Agreeing to do so a weight fell off her shoulder but her heart felt heavy. It was time to lift the weight.

Pulling out of the parking lot, Aris made her way back to the trail she had staked out earlier that day. The moon was full making a flashlight unnecessary, which in turn just lightened her the load she had to carry. Having gotten used to hiking, spending time in the outdoors, she knew how to get in and out without leaving a trace. She had just about made it to the caves when she heard a gunshot, forcing her calm exterior to one of panic. No one else was supposed to be out here, the park was closed it had been since sunset. Taking off toward the shots it no longer mattered if she left a trail if it meant losing another person suffered.

Heart raising, blood pumping through her veins, the adrenaline was her addiction it was the only thing that made her feel normal. Ironically it was the only thing that could bring her back to a time before Sam and Dean, or monsters or even Dan. Just like any addiction when she needed a fix she would find it, it would make her feel normal again for a time being, then as time went on it would wear off. Then the cycle would repeat itself again, get a fix, feel normal, wear off, repeat.

The cliffs were in view now but something was off, there was a flickering light, a smell that was disgusting, but familiar. Slowing slightly, she listened she could hear voices. One was gravelly, the other smooth and deep. Unfortunately, it didn’t surprise her in the least to hear the two brothers, voices, but it did make sense now as to why they were in such a hurry to get her to leave not wanting her to be in the line of fire.

At least George will have peace of mind when she got back early. She thought to herself getting ready to retreat not wanting them to know she was there. A snapped branch moved her from amusement and relief back to adrenaline-filled ready to fight. It happened again this time behind her. Whatever was stalking her just beyond the trees.

“Come on out you coward, I’m ready.” It was a whisper but it was enough to draw the creature out of the trees. A tall lean thing, pale, with long claws and dripping teeth. “Come on big boy I ain’t got all night.”

It was faster than she expected to charge at her just missing the claws by a few inches. Firing a few shots at it let out a shriek as they pieced its skin, but it didn’t slow down charging again this time managing to get ahold of her foot as she tried to jump back. Falling to the ground she hit her chin, the pain was bad but she not enough to keep her down. Pulling a flare and gas bottle from the inside of her pocket as the Wendigo held her above the ground. Using her teeth to open the small pouch of gas squirting it on the creature, then lighting the flare. Tossing it to the creator it went up like a roman candle.  She fell just narrowly avoiding the flames herself. Howling as it burned she knew the sound would draw attention, but at this point, it didn’t matter she had gotten her fix. The image brought a smile to her face.

“Aris?” Sam exclaimed

“What the hell?” Dean said shocked.

Aris still grinning turned her head looking at them over her shoulder. “Nice of you to join the party.”

In the motel room, they sat in stunned silence as Aris spun a tail a year-long about everything she had really been up to the past year. Leaving only out the parts that she knew they wouldn’t understand or they may not have approved of. She told them about feeling lost needing closure, how she didn’t mean to fall into hunting that it only happened by accident. She was hiking alone for the first time after leaving her sisters. The first night a werewolf showed up and tried to take her out but luckily she had been prepared for it.

“So what you just dive in after the first time you kill something on your own?” Dean was pissed. “You could have died out there!”

“No.” Aris waved her hands trying to defend herself.

“Then what? If you were going to hunt why didn’t you call us?” Sam was a little more understanding but still hurt nonetheless.

“I didn’t want to be a burden so I thought it best to stay on my own.” Shrugging it off as if were no big thing. “The only reason I stopped going out on my own was because of George and the girls.”

“So what they hunt too?” Sam asked. “Because they didn’t seem like the type.”

“What? No! They have no idea about what I do. Well, George does I helped him out with a monster a few months back. But that’s not the point I’m doing fine you guys seem to be doing great.” Aris was still avoiding looking them in the eye.

“We are not talking about us right now we are talking about you and how much of an idiot you’ve been!” Dean was raising his voice, his broad shoulders pulled back making him seem bigger than he already was. While he wasn’t trying to be threatening it came across that way, turning Aris from calm and relax too fidgety, ready to fight. Her eyes wide, she pulled back holding in a deep breath. Noticing the change in her he let down his shoulders he took a few steps back. “Sorry, Sam and I just didn't expect to find you of all people, becoming a hunter.”

Aris had to walk away stare out the window, ready to boil over with embarrassment from how easily she was pushed to the edge. But also knowing that it was something that was out of her control. She wiped away a tear hoping they didn’t notice. Putting on a brave face she hoped that her voice wouldn’t betray her.

“Don’t tell me that no one you’ve rescued hasn’t turned hunter.” Leaning against the window she focused on Sam.

“Yes but you’re not the type to usually go out hunting.” Sam offered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Aris scoffed.

“What Sam is trying to say is that the last time we saw you. You were nearly falling apart at the slightest unexpected sound. You were a bit of a reck, to be honest.” Dean states bluntly, sitting down at the table next to his brother.

Slightly offended but completely understanding what they were saying Aris crosses her arms trying to hide her shaking hands. “My life has never been normal. Not when I was a kid, or after high school. Hell, you saw the shit storm I was living in. I tried to do the whole normal life thing when I was living with my sister! But the only thing that came out of it was me feeling like a freak. Everyone watching me waiting for me to break down or flip out. I couldn’t stand it. Life on the road gave me a chance to start over, and hunting just seemed to fit in with that. Sorry to disappoint you.”

What Aris was saying they could relate to on more than one level. maybe not in the same way but enough to a point that the brothers didn’t feel the need to question it. They looked at each other for a moment Sam tilting his head slightly while Dean only nodded. Aris was used to this silent communication that occurred between the brothers finding it both adorable and obnoxious. Sam got up without a word he made his way over to Aris who was tense waiting for the other foot to drop.

“If your going to hunt you should be with professionals.” Sam was smiling ear to ear.

Aris let down her guard for just a moment trying to get the words to make sense in her head “you mean it?”

“Of course. I know we may not be as fun as scooby doo crew but we sure know how to party.” Dean winked leaning back in his chair again.

Her mouth opened but she remained speechless it was more than she could have ever asked for. “I don’t know what to say!” She jumped into Sam's unexpecting arms making him stumble back a step. Catching his balance they locked eyes for a moment Aris’ never seemed so clear and bright. This was exactly what she wanted it only took til that moment to realize it.

“Thank you would be a start.” Dean laughed “Then maybe give us an idea of when you want to get this show on the road. I don’t know about you but I am ready to head back home. Also getting Jills number wouldn’t hurt.”

“Yes thank you. Of course first thing tomorrow ok? I just need to say goodbye to them and get my things.” Aris was giddy barely holding in the overwhelming joy she wanted to scream out. “I’ll see you guys first thing!”

When the door shut and all was quiet except for the soft snore coming from Dean, a soft light came through the curtains landing on the wall.  Sam lay staring up at the ceiling he couldn’t get that smile out of his head. The genuine true smile that made his heart race, He had seen it for the first time today, then again tonight when they asked her to join them. It moved something within him that he hadn’t felt in a long time. As he finally began to drift off to sleep the smile kept the darkness away lighting up his dreams, he only hoped that it wouldn’t fade as the night went on.

Before they went their separate ways Aris insisted on having a picture of everyone together. Setting the timer on her phone they stood a pile misfits smiling under the morning sun. Chloe, and Jill stood arm in arm, Dean trying to squeeze his way in between them. George was between Jill and Aris. Sam had his arm around Aris shoulders unable to take his eyes off her. Aris looked back up at him butterflies in her stomach. After the photo was taken the goodbyes seemed to go too quickly.

“Don’t be a stranger now, call anytime.” Dean flirted with Jill.

Jill laughed. “Sorry, bud, I’m Taken.” Chloe leaned over giving her a kiss.

Clearing his throat trying to recover he let out an uncomfortable laugh adding “I can handle that.”

Embracing George with a full body hug Aris felt herself tear up. “I’m going to miss you.  Please call me if there’s anything you need.”

“Of course and same goes for you. I’m only a phone call away.” George patted her shoulder, turning to Sam. “Take care of my girl ok? Next time I see her she better be in one piece you hear me.”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Taking her hand Sam squeezed it knowing that his promise to George was one he wouldn’t dream of breaking.

As they drove off Aris’ mind became a buzz looking forward to the future for the first time since she’d last gotten in that old sleek muscle car with the Winchesters. In her life, she’d gone from lost to caged, to lost again, but looking at the two men sitting in the front seat passing insults back and forth as easily as they passed compliments for the first time she felt like she was home. A pair of hazel eyes caught hers in the rearview mirror holding her up keeping her afloat on a cloud.