The next morning, Dean walked into the couple's room to see Willow already dressed, sitting on the bed, lacing up her boots. He gave her a look, glancing around the room as he closed the door, placing the coffee on the table.

"Where's Sam?" he asked, pulling off his jacket.

There was a groan from the bathroom. Dean smiled as Willow sighed in irritation, pinching her nose.

"He there all night?" he smirked as he handed Willow her coffee.

Willow shook her head. "No, but has been all morning. I don't know how you deal with him. He spent all night talking about how I should have puppies so we can have pets in the Impala."

Dean struggled to hold in his laughter as he turned his attention to the bathroom's open door. "How you feeling, Sammy? I guess mixing whiskey and jager wasn't such a gang buster idea, was it?"

When he didn't get an answer, he raised a brow. "I'll bet you don't remember a thing from last night, do you?"

"No, I can still taste the tequila," Sam hoarsely groaned into the toilet bowl. Dean and Willow looked at each other reassuringly.

"You know, there's a really good hangover remedy. It's a greasy pork sandwich served up in a dirty ashtray," Dean joked. Sam gagged.

"Oh, I hate you."

"I know you do."

Willow shook her head, taking a sip of her coffee before turning toward the bathroom. "So, I went out last night. Found out something interesting."

"Yeah?"

Dean nodded, walking toward the bathroom. "Turns out when Grandma Rose was a tyke, she had a creole nanny who wore a hoodoo necklace."

"Oof," Dean gagged as he turned his head away from the bathroom.

"So, you think she taught Rose hoodoo?" Sam guessed. Will nodded.

"It's a theory."

Sam nodded, pulling himself up from the toilet and walking out. "All right. I think it's time we talk to Rose, then."

Willow gagged violently when his scent rolled into the room, so strong she was forced to plug her nose. "After you brush your teeth. I think I might faint."

Sam gave a pout while Dean chuckled, walking out of the room and to his own room. Sam sighed, before giving Willow a look she didn't like.

"What is it?" she rose a brow.

He stared at her sadly for a moment, before shaking his head.

"Nothing. I-I just... You're beautiful, you know that?"

Willow looked at him weirdly, but smiled none the less. "What has gotten into you?"

He shook his head, giving her a loving smile, before closing the bathroom door.

But Willow could tell something was going on in his head.

***

Now, all dressed and cleaned up, the three hunters made their way to Susan's private quarters. Willow checked the perimeter to make sure it was clear while the brothers checked the room.

"Clear?" Sam asked as Willow walked over to them. She nodded.

"Yeah, here?"

Sam nodded before kneeling down and picking the lock. Walking in, Willow's attention was instantly pulled toward the wall lined with fine china dolls. She raised her brows as she grimaced at the scene.

"This is definitely gonna give me nightmares."

Dean slapped her arm, motioning for her to keep quiet. Willow raised her arms in defense before following them farther into the room. Dean came up to a door and slowly opened it, revealing stairs to an attic level. Slowly making their way up, Willow noticed the many creepy pictures lining the walls and cabinets. Getting to the top, they made their way down the hall where an open door sat. Dean slowly pushed the door open to see an older woman sitting in a wheelchair in the middle of the room. She was staring out the window, the rain pounding against the glass.

"Mrs. Thompson?" Sam called out. There was no reply. They slowly walked into the room. "Mrs. Thompson?"

Slowly circling around, Willow looked at the woman who was switching her view frantically. "Rose?"

Sam leaned down to her level and gave a soft smile. "Hi, Mrs. Thompson. We're not here to hurt you. It's okay. We..."

He trailed off when she continued to frantically look around. "Rose?"

Willow looked at her carefully, before suddenly realizing what happened. She stood and quickly pulled the brothers with her away from the woman. "This woman's had a stroke."

Dean gave her a confused look. "Yeah, but hoodoo's hands on."

Sam nodded in a greement. "Yeah."

Dean continued, "You got to mix herbs and chant, build an alter."

Sam looked back to the woman. "So, it can't be Rose. Heck, maybe it's not even hoodoo."

"You know she could be faking."

Sam gave his brother a look. "Yeah, what do you want to do, poke her with a stick?"

Before Dean could answer, Willow was already walking towards her. Sam grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Dude, you're not poking her with a stick?"

Willow stomped her foot like a toddler and whined, "Why not?"

At the same time, Dean scoffed, "Why does she get to?"

Sam didn't get to scold either of them before a voice interrupted them.

"What the hell? What are you doing in here?"

Willow looked over to see Susan staring at them angrily.

"Willow, tell me what happened," Lily stared at her daughter in a silent anger as she held her crying son in her arms.

Willow sniffled as she wiped her tears. "We were just playing, then we both stumbled over the edge of the stairs. I held him while we fell but he still must have gotten hurt. I'm sorry, Mama."

Lily sighed as she looked at her battered and bruised daughter, then to her toddler son who merely had a skinned elbow.

"It's all right, Darling," she told her daughter, petting the girl's head. "I'm not angry, anymore. I'm proud that you protected your brother."

Willow sniffled and looked up at Lily. "But, he still got hurt--"

"--Nothing he can't heal from. You, however, need a bath and some treatment. Come along."

Willow nodded with a small smile as she held her mother's hand as she and her brother went to get cleaned up.

"I want you out of my hotel in two minutes or I'm calling the cops."

Willow was brought out of her trance by her boyfriend dragging her out of the room.

~~~~~~~~

As they rode away in the Impala, Willow couldn't help but look out the back window at Susan, who was watching them leave from the porch. She stared sadly as they turned the corner and drove away.

Dean and Sam looked back at her worriedly.

"Should we go back?" Dean whispered. Sam shrugged.

"Maybe just to make sure. She seems to mean a lot to Will."

"I can hear you, dumbasses," she stated plainly, turning around and slumping into the seat, crossing her arms over her chest.

They both smiled at her sheepishly. "Sorry."

With that, they turned around and took a hiding spot to watch Susan pack. They watched intently as the equipment in the small park began to move on it's own. Susan slowly walked over and held the seesaw in place. She turned quickly as she heard the car accelerate. Gasping, she closed her eyes, waiting for the impact. But none came.

She opened her eyes to see she was pulled off to the side as the car crashed into the swings, Willow crouching over her protectively. Willow looked over to Susan, her eyes flashing from amber back to her blue. "You okay?"

Susan nodded shakily. "I think so."

Dean and Sam ran over. Dean lifted Susan to her feet. "Come on, come on. Let's get inside. Let's go."

Sam helped Willow up before quickly pulling his arms away like she had burned him. Willow gave him a confused look but didn't question him as they followed Dean and Susan into the manor.

They walked inside and made their way into the dining hall.

"Whiskey," was all Susan said as she sat at one of the tables. Willow's lips twitched upward as she walked toward the bar.

"My favorite," she muttered to herself as she grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniel's and pouring two glasses.

"What the hell happened out there?" Susan gasped, looking to the brothers for answers.

Dean gave her an unsure look. "You want the truth?"

Susan scoffed. "Of course."

Dean shrugged. "Well, at first, we thought it was some sort of a hoodoo curse but that out there-- that was definitely a spirit."

Willow walked over and handed her a glass. "Bottoms up."

Susan gave all three of them a look. "You're insane."

Willow merely shrugged. "It's our slogan."

Sam gave her a look. "Look, I'm sorry, Susan. We don't exactly have time to ease you into this but we need to know when your mother had the stroke."

Susan looked at them confused. Willow noticed she had already downed her glass. "What does that have to do with any--"

"--Just answer the question," Sam interuppted her.

Susan sighed but complied. "Uh, about a month ago."

"Right before the killings began. You see?" Sam gave his brother a look. "So, what if Rose was working hoodoo but not to hurt anyone but to protect them?"

"She was using the five-spot urns to ward off the spirit, had the stroke and then wasn't able to," Willow realized.

Susan shook her head. "I don't believe this."

"Listen, Sister, that car didn't try to run you down by itself, okay?" Dean told her before really thinking about it. "I mean, I guess it did technically but a spirit can-- forget it."

Willow chuckled as she bumped Dean's shoulder. "Don't hurt yourself there, Dean."

Dean glared at her. "Dumbass."

"Asshole."

Sam ignored their banter and kneeled down to Susan. "Look, believe what you want but you and your family are in danger, all right? So you need to clear everybody out of here-- your employees, your mother, your daughters, everyone."

Willow and Dean turned to them as Susan gave him a look.

"Um, I only have one daughter."

Sam looked at her confused. "One?"

"I thought Tyler had a sister named Maggie," Dean inquired.

Susan looked confused. "Maggie's imaginary."

Willow and the brother's looked at each other worriedly.

"Where's Tyler?" Willow demanded.

~~~~~~~~~~

They all rushed upstairs, Willow taking the lead at her advanced speed.

"Tyler!" Susan cried just as Willow busted through the door, looking at the floor in horror. The brothers and Susan followed, Susan gasping at the sight. The floor was littered with the china dolls, all broken in various way.

"Oh, my God. Tyler. Tyler!"

Susan rushed upstairs as the three hunters looked around the room for clues.

"She's not here!"

Sam turned to the woman as she rushed into the room. "Susan, tell us what you know about Maggie."

Susan shifted anxiously. "Uh, not much. Tyler's been talking about her since Mom got sick."

"Okay, did you ever know anyone by that name?" Sam inquired.

Susan shook her head. "No."

"Think, think-- somebody that could have lived here, might have passed away," Willow tried to calm the woman.

Susan's eyes widened. "My God-- my mom had a sister named Margaret. She barely spoke about her."

"Did Margaret happen to die here when she was a kid?" Sam realized.

Susan nodded. "Yeah, she drowned in the pool."

As soon as she had said that, Willow took off.

***

Getting to the door, Willow tried to open it but it wouldn't budge.

"Tyler!" she shouted just as the others caught up to her. "Kid, open the door!"

She tried kicking it open but an unknown force sent her flying backward into a tree.

"Will!" Sam called worriedly as Dean continued to elbow the glass.

"Tyler!" Susan shouted, causing the small girl to turn around.

"Mommy."

With that, she was pulled into the pool.

Willow groaned as she stood up, rushing over to the door as Dean and Susan ran to the back.

She watched Sam continue to hit the window, when she had gotten an idea. There was a sky light.

She began to climb the wall as Sam stared at her worriedly. "Willow, what are you doing?!"

"I'm not losing anymore family!" she cried as she pulled herself to the roof, disappearing from view.

Sam cursed to himself as he looked around, finding the warding urn on the side. He picked it up and began to repeatedly hit the window until it shattered. Just as he rushed in, Willow crashed down from the roof and into the pool. He came to a sudden stop as he watched her rush to the girl, pulling her out of the water.

She moved to the edge of the pool and laid the girl on her side just as Susan and Dean entered from the back. Sam rushed over as well as Susan kneeled down to her daughter. For a moment, they all worried they had lost her. Until Willow gave the girl a hard slap on the back, causing the girl to spurt out all the water in her throat.

"Oh, thank God. Thank God," Susan sobbed as she pulled her daughter to her.

"Mommy," Tyler croaked as she snuggled into Susan's warmth.

Susan shushed the girl as she stroked her head. "Yeah, Baby, I'm here."

Willow sighed in relief as Sam asked the girl, "Tyler, do you see Maggie anywhere?"

Tyler looked around. "No, she's gone."

The three hunters looked at each other in relief. Sam, however, looked at Willow with the same expression as before.

***

Susan and Tyler went upstairs to get Rose while the three hunters waited in the bedroom, Willow drying her hair with a towel.

Dean sighed. "I don't get it. Did Maggie just stop?"

Sam shrugged. "Seems like it."

Willow hummed. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Just then, Susan gave off a loud yell.

Willow groaned as she rushed upstairs, following the brothers. "I hate being right."

Busting into the room, they saw Susan holding a shaky Tyler to her chest before rushing her out of the room. Willow sighed as she looked to Rose, who had taken her last breath.

~~~~~~~~~

The ambulance came and took Rose's body. Willow watched her body go sadly as she stood next to Susan.

"Paramedics said it was another stroke," Susan stated. "Do you think... Margaret could have had something to do with it?"

Will sighed as she shrugged. "It's possible. I'm sorry."

Susan gave a soft smile. "You have nothing to apologize for. You've given me everything, Aunt Willow."

Willow's eyes widened as Susan laughed.

"I'm not as oblivious as I seem. If ghosts are real, there is not a doubt in my mind you're the same Willow in those pictures. Especially, with how you reacted when you saw me."

Willow looked down at her feet in astonishment, before chuckling. "You're the spitting image of my mother. It scared the crap out of me."

Susan rested a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you for helping our family. But I hope to see you soon, come and visit. You're always welcome."

Willow gave a smile but turned when she saw the brothers walk out with Tyler.

"Ready to go, Kiddo?" Susan called. Tyler nodded.

"Yeah."

The brothers walked over to Willow's side as Tyler stayed by her mother's.

"Tyler, you're sure Maggie's not around anymore?" Dean rose a brow. Tyler smiled brightly, nodding.

"I'm sure. I'd see her."

Susan gave the girl a pat before walking them over to the cab.

Dean sighed as the three followed. "I guess whatever is going on must be over."

Sam held the door open as the two entered the cab. "You two take care of yourselves, all right?"

Susan nodded before turning to Willow. She stepped forward and gave the woman a hug. Willow was thrown off by this but hugged back none the less.

"Thank you," Susan smiled before turning to the boys. "All of you."

Willow smiled and watched as she got into the car, Sam closing the door behind her. Just before they drove away, the window opened and Tyler's head popped out the window.

"Thank you, Aunt Willow!"

Willow looked surprised but smiled and waved back, chuckling to herself. With that, her family was off. She sighed as she walked over to the brothers.

"Damn, who knew you were such an old lady, Will?" Dean joked, causing Willow to bump his hip.

"Shut up," she chuckled, shaking her head. "I don't need reminding."

Dean scoffed. "Well, you saved the mom, you saved the girl. 'Course, you know, I could have saved them myself but I didn't want you and Sammy to feel useless."

Willow rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, Squirrel."

Dean chuckled, then turned to his suspiciously quiet brother. "Feels good getting back in the saddle, doesn't it?"

Sam snapped out of whatever thought he was in and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah it does. But it doesn't change what we talked about last night, guys."

Willow lost her smile. "We talked about a lot of things."

Sam shook his head. "You know what I mean."

Dean scoffed. "You were wasted."

"But, you weren't... And you promised."

It was silent the whole car ride home.

***

While Dean went to get some food, Sam and Willow were left alone in the motel room in silence. Willow had just gotten out of the shower and was putting away her dirty laundry, while Sam sat on the bed staring at his lap, thinking.

Willow looked over to him and sighed. "Are you gonna tell me what's been on your mind this entire job?"

Sam jumped as she broke his train of thought. "Huh?"

Willow rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Okay, I was weird because I saw a freaky descendant that looked like my mother. What's your excuse?"

Sam sighed, before looking down at his hands. "The talk we had after Dean left?"

Willow pursed her lips, looking away. "What of it?"

"Like I told Dean. The hunt doesn't change what was said."

Willow felt tears come to her eyes but held them back stubbornly. "So, you really want to go through with this?"

Sam sighed, running a hand over his face as he stood. "No, I don't want to go through with this. But, Willow, I can't have you hurt."

Willow rolled her eyes. "In case you haven't noticed, that's kind of in the job description."

"Will, you could be killed because of me!" Sam practically shouted.

Willow sighed as she pinched her nose. "Sam, with or without you, I could be dead any moment. Hell, I've died three times and have survived! I doubt some demon can take me out!"

Sam stalked towards her. "This isn't just a demon, Willow. It's the demon. One that even my father couldn't take down. He could take you in the blink of an eye and I would break if that happened because of me!"

Willow finally looked to Sam. Now, he could see the tears in her eyes, his expression softening. The same eyes she had that night.

Willow struggled to get Sam into bed after Dean had left, going to the bathroom to change as her boyfriend slept. When she came back into the room, she shut off the light and got into bed, facing away from Sam so she wouldn't gag at the smell of his breath.

"Will," he called out. Willow groaned, not wanting to turn around.

"What, Moose?"

"I think we should end it."

With that, Willow was fully awake now. She sat up faster than lightning and turned on the lamp, looking to her boyfriend that was staring at his hands sadly.

"What? Where is this coming from?" she asked almost frantically. Sam sighed.

"I've been thinking about it for a while now. I couldn't save Ava or that man. What if I don't get to you in time?"

Willow sighed. "Sammy, you're not gonna lose me. How many times have we been over this tonight?"

Sam sat up and looked at her angrily. "You don't get it. Everyone I care about dies when I get too close. You're closer than any of them, Willow. He will come for you. And if he doesn't, then I'm afraid that I will do something."

Willow shook her head, trying to push him to lay down. "You need sleep."

"I'm not delusional, Will," he snapped, struggling against her grip. Willow pushed harder.

"Just go to fucking sleep," she snapped. Sam stopped and looked up.

She had tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes, their gaze not directed at him. He reached up and stroked her cheek, Willow unconsciously leaning into it's warmth.

"I love you with all of me, Little Wolf," he whispered, his own tears blurring his vision. "That's why I can't have you hurt. I have to let you go."

Willow didn't say anything as his hand fell to his lap and he was asleep. She sighed and wiped her eyes before turning off the light and crying herself to sleep.

Willow continued to stare into his brown eyes, giving him a small smile. "Is this really what you want? What you need?"

Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Will--"

Willow shushed him and pulled his head down to connect with hers, her hands latching around his neck. They closed their eyes and just took in each other's presence.

"If this is what you need, then I will gladly do as you ask," she whispered. "Just promise me this was never fake. That this was always real."

Sam gave a choked sob. "Of course, it was real. It's the most real thing I have ever felt."

Willow nodded, a single tear falling to her chin. She leaned up and gave him the deepest kiss she could muster. Sam pulled her closer, kissing her harder. This was a kiss he hoped he would never have to give. A kiss of goodbye.

They pulled away and Sam urgently pressed his lips to her forehead. "This isn't for long. I promise, when we get this son of a bitch, you'll be mine again."

Willow smiled, but shook her head.

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

==================

Do you hate me? Do I even need to ask that?

Go check out my anime books if you like:

-Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic

-Fairy Tail

-Blue Exorcist

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