The Good Life (Book 11, The Life Series, Supernatural)

Regarding Amara

Sam, Dean and I were at home with Aiden in the library.

"So, where is Amara?" Sam asked in confusion.

"She was out all night, saying that she was gonna hit up that, uh, low rate club that you can hardly even call a club," Dean answered.

Sam was even more confused and surprised. "She was actually out in the world doing something that doesn't involve hunting?"

"Yeah, we're as shocked as you are," I told him. "And I'm getting really worried."

"She said that she's fine," Dean told me.

"Oh, so she hasn't told you about the nightmares, the daymares where she loses time?" I asked sarcastically.

"I take it by the tone of voice that she hasn't told you this, either," Dean told me.

"Nope," I answered. "I had to put the pieces together. Amara wants us to think that she's okay, but she's still struggling, Dean, and who can blame her?"

"So why did she run off last night and not come home?" Sam asked.

"She said she needed some time to clear her head," Dean answered. "The dump club downtown lets kids like her in free, but no drinking."

"Unless she pays off the bartender," I told them. "You know how many times I've pulled that?"

"So she's a little troublemaker genius like her mom with a mouth like her dad," Sam told us. "So she goes out to blow off some steam and get her mind off things. Normal teenage girl for once. Is something else wrong?"

I sighed. "Not wrong, Sam. Just... I'm worried about her."

Dean stood. "Hey. You're always worried about everything. One of your charms. But you are the voice of reason and reassurance when the rest of us need it. Let me be that for you for once." I smiled a small smile. Dean smirked, pulling me closer into a kiss for a moment, pulling away. "She might be going through a lot right now, but she's a Winchester and a Singer, which means surviving is in her blood. She'll get through it."

We both smiled more convincingly.

Sam smiled. "Right, so now that we're all feeling better by the fact that we know that Amara is gonna get through this, can we talk about the fact that there is a case that is not even thirty minutes out of town?"

"You think it's coincidence that there's something this close to us, or..." Dean trailed off.

"Well, my dad taught me that there is no such thing as coincidences," I told them. "And we all know that the only person that was smarter than me was my dad." Sam and Dean smiled in agreement, amused. My phone rang. I took it out to see that unknown caller was on the ID, answering in confusion. "Hello?"

"Mom?"

I sighed in relief, putting my phone on speaker so we could all talk to her. "Amara, where the hell have you been?"

"I'm not really sure about that."

Sam, Dean and I were confused and concerned by this response.

"You..." Sam trailed off.

"Well, where are you now?" Dean asked.

"I'm not real sure about that either. I, um... Oh. I'm starving. How do you guys feel about waffles?"

Sam made a confused noise. "What?"

"Dumb question. Right. What hunter doesn't love waffles?" Sam, Dean and I were completely confused by what Amara was saying. "I mean, they're fluffy. You got the little pockets full of syrup. You just cover them in whipped cream. Am I right? Anyway, meet me at Waldos', okay?"