CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE:
IN THE STARS.

⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅

EVERYONE HAD THEIR own way of grieving when they lost someone they deeply cared about. Some people completely blocked off their emotions and refused to feel the effects and come to terms with the death. Some people couldn't help but get lost in it, sometimes losing themselves in the process as they could only hang on to what was now gone because they knew it wouldn't be coming back no matter how much they wished. There were those who did their best to come to terms with it, talking it out with those they trusted or seeking help from trained professionals.

And, then there was Birdie who simply opted to try and not feel the pain and instead distract herself with all of the things around her.

Sam and Dean took notice, having seen it first hand with her after Reese died. At that time, they tried to be there for her as best as they could, but Birdie had just brushed them off and tried to move on by diving head first into hunting by herself. But, even now, they could tell that Reese's death still affected the younger woman——some days more than others. However, it had been some time since she lost someone truly close to her and it was taking its toll.

Birdie turned on her heel when she heard her name, slowly blinking as she stared out at the sunny park in front of her. A bright grin spread across her lips when she spotted Kaiya sitting on a red and white checkered blanket. Young couples and loving families milled about, enjoying the warm sunshine. Birdie glanced away from a couple and their giggling twins, spotting a large, woven basket that was carefully placed in the middle of the blanket beside Kaiya.

"Where's Batman and Robin?" Kaiya cheekily called out, loudly laughing when she saw Birdie roll her eyes once she was close enough. "You didn't leave them all alone in the batcave again, did you?"

Birdie adjusted the bag dangling over her arm, shaking her head as she approached Kaiya and plopped down across from her. She shrugged the bag off her shoulder, some packets of candy peeking out from the unzipped part. "I left them by the car after they started fighting about which is better——Marvel or DC."

Kaiya chuckled, shaking her head. That was something she could easily believe. "Marvel, of course."

Birdie brightly smiled, the familiar voices of Sam and Dean suddenly growing closer as they continued to argue with each other. "See? You know the right answer."

"The right answer to what?" Birdie partially turned her head to the side, peering up as Sam and Dean rounded the picnic blanket, amused smiles on their lips. Sam sank down beside Birdie while Dean opted to sit next to Kaiya, nothing but pure joy radiating from them. This was what summer was all about; enjoy the warmth and sunshine with your closest friends and family.

"Who the cuter Winchester is," Kaiya cheekily replied. "Birdie said Dean."

"I did not!" Birdie gaped, looking across at Kaiya with wide eyes.

Dean snickered, giving Kaiya a pointed look. "We all know she'd pick Sam, not——"

"I thought we came here to have a nice, little picnic," Birdie huffed. "Not to pick on the nicest person here."

"Nicest?" Sam and Dean said in sync, gaping at Birdie with wide eyes. Birdie blinked, eyes flickering between the brothers, seeing them share a silent look with each other.

"Well don't act so surprised, you assholes," Birdie grumbled under breath. Her gaze fell on Sam, seeing a small smile on his lips as his eyes lingered on her a few seconds longer than usual. Birdie suspiciously narrowed her eyes, tilting her head. "Why're you lookin' at me like that?"

Sam just shook his head, his smile remaining as his dimples poked out more. "No reason." Birdie only narrowed her eyes even more. Sam quietly chuckled, casually leaning back on his hands. "Am I not allowed to look at you or somethin'?"

"No, not when you don't agree I'm the nicest," Birdie replied, giving him a glare before she looked in the opposite direction. Sam scoffed under his breath while Dean and Kaiya chuckled. Birdie let out a sigh, glancing towards the basket before she looked back up at Kaiya again. "Please tell me you packed some——"

"Flamin' hot cheetos?" Kaiya finished for Birdie, her brows raised. She reached towards the basket and her hand slipped inside for a few moments. Then she pulled her hand out, holding up a small pack of the cheetos with a smirk. "What kind of friend do you take me for, Bird?"

Birdie cheekily grinned in response. Kaiya smiled in return and tossed the bag towards Birdie. She easily caught it, happily tearing it open. She adjusted her legs so they were no longer tucked underneath her, sitting criss-cross while Kaiya picked up the basket, starting to pull more food out for everyone.

"Holy shit," Dean said, watching Kaiya pull one thing after another out with no end in sight. "Is it Thanksgiving already?"

"No, but you're gonna feel like it after we finish all this food," Kaiya giggled, warmly glancing around the small group. Birdie softly smiled, her eyes briefly instinctively flickering aside at Sam. He caught her gaze just a few seconds later, the corner of his lips crinkling. His dimples poked out, causing Birdie's smile to widen before she quickly looked back over at Kaiya. "Besides, it's what you guys deserve. You all saved my life once again."

Dean beamed, nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders as he accepted a beer from the woman. "It's what we do," he said, popping the cap off. Birdie continued to smile, accepting a bottle of lemonade. Then she shifted, pausing when her hand accidentally brushed against Sam's. They both glanced down, chuckling as they pulled their hands away from each other. Birdie shifted and cleared her throat, smiling around at the group. Then she glanced down and lifted her head to speak, but suddenly Kaiya and the boys were gone.

Birdie's smile instantly fell, eyes widening as she realized she was no longer sitting in the park.

She quickly stood up from the blanket, the bag of cheetos and lemonade falling from her hand as she found herself standing in the middle of a narrow highway. Turned over cars that looked like they belonged in a salvage yard surrounded her, black smoke emitting from some of them and flowing up towards the graying sky. Birdie sucked in a sharp breath, brows knitting together as she took in the heart wrenching wreckage.

What was going on?

Where did Kaiya and the boys go?

Her eyes then landed on a specific jeep up ahead, heart dropping to the deepest pit of her stomach when realizing it was Kaiya's.

Her eyes widened in horror and she immediately took off, boots pounding against the wet pavement. "No, no, no," she muttered, jumping over car parts that had been ripped off during the wrecks. She darted around some more vehicles, panting as she raced towards the jeep. "Please be okay, please be okay, please. . ."

Birdie slowed to a stop when she finally reached the jeep, noticing a figure slumped forward in the driver's seat. She hurried up to the seat, but when she reached it, there was no one inside.

She deeply frowned, taking a step back in confusion. She shook her head, feeling her heartbeat thump against her ribs. "Not again, no. . ."

She glanced aside, doing a double take when she saw a blonde haired woman standing behind a truck that was flipped over on its side. Her hair was curled at the tips, cascading past her narrow shoulders. The woman smirked when she saw Birdie's eyes were on her, an uncomfortable sensation washing over Birdie. Then the woman lifted one of her hands, wiggling her fingers at Birdie.

Birdie's eyes sharply narrowed, balling her hands into fists at her sides.

A tall figure came to her side, causing her head to snap in their direction. She let out a shaky breath when she saw it was Sam, wearing the same outfit that he had been when they were in the park. Birdie's eyes darted back to the woman, clenching her jaw when she saw she'd disappeared.

"We're gonna find her," Sam firmly said, turning his head towards Birdie. Birdie twisted her lips, still glaring where the woman had been standing only moments ago. "Whatever it takes."

Birdie's eyes fluttered open, blinking up at the white ceiling above her for a few seconds as she registered what had just gone on inside her head. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, lifting her hands and rubbing them along her face. Then she puffed out her cheeks, frowning when she felt something laying on her. She dropped her hands from her face and lifted her head. Her expression softened when she noticed a blanket had been neatly laid on top of her. She tilted her head in confusion, glancing around the living room; she didn't remember falling asleep, or even being in the living room last.

She curiously turned her head to the side, spotting Dean curled up in the recliner, his head resting on a pillow while a blanket was placed on top of him as well. Sam was on the opposite couch, facing the back cushions with a thin blanket on him and a small pillow tucked underneath his head. Birdie twisted her lips and slowly sat up, breathing out a sigh as she planted her feet on the cold floor. She spotted her phone on the coffee table, a frown automatically appearing on her lips as she grabbed it.

Her finger hesitated over her text messages, a soft sigh escaping as she clicked on them. She clicked on the last person she got a text from, leaning back against the couch as she read over the text.

Bagans Funeral Home. 1204 M. Peterson Avenue. 11:00 A.M. You and your friends are more than welcome to come.

She closed her eyes and sat her phone in her lap, letting her head rest against the couch cushion. She remained like that for a few minutes, eventually standing up and placing her phone back on the table. She tugged on the sleeves of her sweater as she stood up, making them stop past her fingertips. She quietly padded around the couch, not wanting to disturb Sam or Dean. She made her way into the kitchen, softly sighing to herself as she glanced towards the coffee pot tucked away in the corner. She tiredly rubbed at her eyes and walked over to it, lifting her hand and turning it on as quietly as possible. As she waited for the water to begin warming up, she walked towards the backdoor to try and see if she could tell what the weather would be like for the day.

Her eyes skimmed over the back patio, doing a double take when she saw a guitar placed in the rocking chair beside the door. She furrowed her brows together and reached for the doorknob, biting her lip as she slowly started to pull it open. She glanced over her shoulder with a wince when the door squeaked, making sure she hadn't disturbed Sam or Dean. They remained still, a soft snore escaping past Dean's lips. Birdie quietly stepped outside, doing her best to make sure the door didn't make any more sound when she closed it behind her. She took a few steps forward, standing near the fence that blocked off part of the patio, only stopping in front of the steps that allowed Birdie to step down into the grass. Her eyes flickered over the grass, noting that the color had started to fade, some patches of dead grass spread throughout the yard. The flowers in the square garden beside the wooden shed were wilted, flowers drooping down as if mourning Kaiya as well. She quickly turned her head, gaze landing on the guitar again. She curiously tilted her head and walked over to it, picking it up to see a note taped to the back of it.

She knitted her brows together as she sat down in the rocking chair, twisting the guitar around to read the note. She placed the pick that was taped to the back in her lap, her other hand holding the guitar in place. She peered down at the note, her features falling as she read over the handwriting that she easily recognized as Kaiya's.

I know it's not July anymore, but happy birthday, bird! Xoxo Kai!

Birdie sucked in a sharp breath, blinking a few times as she read over the writing like she was trying to figure out if that was what it actually said. But, the words never changed no matter how many times she read it. She couldn't stop her lip from dipping down into a pout, fingers gently tracing over the writing. She shook her head and shifted in her seat, tucking it in the front pocket of her sweater. She adjusted the guitar in her hand, finally examining the details.

A small gasp escaped past her lips when she saw a familiar symbol had been painted near the bottom——the same symbol the both of the boys had tattooed on their chests. Birdie let out a heavy sigh, faintly shaking her head. "Oh, Kai. . ." she whispered, her fingertips touching the slick surface of the guitar. Her fingers trailed up the chords, sadly smiling as fresh tears began to brew in her eyes. "This was the surprise, wasn't it?"

Birdie sniffled, biting the inside of her cheek for a moment. Then she picked up the guitar, adjusting it in her arms so her right hand was placed over the strings on the neck, her left one holding the pick. Her mind swirled with hundreds of songs she thought to play, but it wasn't until a few minutes later that her fingers started to actually move and music began to quietly fill the morning silence. She softly sang to herself as the wind fluttered against her with a chilly breeze, her fingers skillfully moving back and forth as she played the song.

"When it's time to live and let die. . .and you can't get another try. . .something inside this heart has died. You're in ruins. . ." Birdie sang as she neared the end of the song, fingers stopping for a few seconds. Then she continued, singing as she started to strum once again. "One, twenty one guns, lay down your arms, give up the fight. One, twenty one guns. . .throw up your arms into the sky. One, twenty one guns, lay down your arms, give up the fight. One, twenty one guns, throw up your arms into the sky. . .you and I. . ."

She bit the inside of her cheek, quickly blinking when she felt the tears prick inside her eyes as they desperately tried to fall. She cleared her throat and sat the guitar against the wall, going to stand up until she heard something off to the side. Her head snapped towards the sound, visibly relaxing when she saw Sam standing in front of the door, a small smile on his lips as he held two mugs of coffee in his hand. "Oh, hey," Birdie softly greeted him, quickly wiping at her eyes.

"Sorry, I-I didn't mean to scare you," he sheepishly apologized. Birdie peered up at him as he took a few steps closer, holding one of the mugs out for her. "Thought you might need this."

The corner of Birdie's lip tweaked upwards, graciously accepting the coffee. "How long have you been standing there?"

Sam let out a sigh, stealing a look around the backyard. "I, uh, I only heard the end," he answered, eyes flickering back over to meet Birdie's. "That was Green Day, right?"

"Yeah," Birdie said, softly nodding her head. She leaned back in the rocking chair, a silence washing over the two as they sipped on their coffee. Sam moved in front of Birdie, leaning against the railing, facing the younger woman. "I. . ." Birdie sighed, unsure of what to really say. Sam was more than willing to listen, but he wasn't going to push her when it was clear that she still wasn't ready. Being in Kaiya's house was hard enough. "Is Dean up yet?"

Sam scoffed at the question. Birdie quietly chuckled, taking another sip of her coffee. "Funny, Bird," Sam said. He shifted his feet, clearing his throat. "Have you. . .heard from anyone in her family?"

"Uh, her oldest brother, Hiro," Birdie answered. "I-I don't think anyone else. . .they wouldn't have told me anything."

Sam's features softened, watching Birdie glance down at her lap. He'd heard about Kaiya's family over the years, but it wasn't much. He knew she had siblings but not how many, and that she only really ever got along with one. He nor Dean knew the names of her parents, a topic Kaiya never cared to talk about. "What'd he say?" Sam wondered.

"Bagans Funeral Home," Birdie replied, fiddling with her fingers. "It's at eleven." Sam nodded, his eyes still lingering on Birdie. At the feeling of his eyes still on her, Birdie picked up her head. "If you and Dean don't wanna go——"

"Birdie," Sam softly interjected, tilting his head as he spoke, "Of course we do. It wouldn't be right if we didn't."

Birdie sadly smiled, letting out a sigh. Her gaze flickered to the backyard, the wind causing some of her hair to tickle her neck. Some dark clouds were looming in the distance, the sound of thunder rumbling behind them. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Way too early to be up," Dean answered, poking his head out of the back door. He huffed, looking between Sam and Birdie. "What's up?"

"I, uh, I'm gonna start getting ready." Birdie stood up from the rocking chair, giving Sam and Dean a forced smile. Dean frowned and stepped onto the porch so he was out of her way. He turned his head towards Sam, but Sam just shook his head.

"We will, too," Sam said.

Birdie nodded in response, a smile still on her lips yet it didn't reach her eyes. Dean's gaze followed her into the house, automatically turning to Sam when Birdie was out of sight. "What's she——" Dean's expression faltered, answering his own question before the rest of the words left his mouth. He sighed, leaning against the railing beside Sam. "Today, huh?"

"Yeah," Sam sighed. "Bagan's Funeral Home at eleven."

"Where's that?" Dean asked.

Sam shrugged. "I don't know, but we'll find it."

Dean nodded, letting out a sigh. "How's she doing?"

"She won't say, but I don't think good."

"You think goin's a good idea?"

"It'll be hard but. . .Kai was her friend. I think she'd go no matter what. We would."

"Yeah."

⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅

Hiro was the first face Birdie saw when she stepped out of the Impala. She stood beside the door of the car, lips twisted as she found herself unable to look anywhere but at the oldest Hamed——the only one who had actually bothered to reach out to Birdie after Kaiya's death. She looked away, running a hand along the side of her black dress. It stopped just above her knees, the edges ruffled out. It had mesh cape sleeves, stopping a little past her shoulders. It had a Peter Pan collar, which felt tighter now than it did when Birdie first put it on as if it was beginning to choke her in a way. She let out a sharp breath, looking away from Hiro when she felt someone come up beside her. She looked up at Sam, seeing him give her a small smile when their eyes locked.

"You need anything before we go in?" he quietly asked.

Birdie gave him a small smile, shaking her head. "No, I think I'll be alright."

Sam nodded, his eyes lingering over her features. Birdie playfully rolled her eyes, shaking her head. She knew what he was doing——it was a look she'd seen a few times over the years, but more frequently within the last few months.

"You said she has three siblings, right?" Birdie turned her head, Dean coming up to stand on the other side of her. She nodded in response, following his gaze when she saw him looking towards the main entrance of the funeral home in front of them. She shifted on her feet, lips smacking together when her eyes fell on the rest of the Hamed family.

Rami Hamed stood beside his wife, Nadia, his arm wrapped around the woman's waist as she stood pressed against his side. He wore an all black suit that was tailored to his exact height, his jet black hair slicked back and stopping just below his ears. Nadia wore a black dress that came to a stop at her shins, a pair of sparkly stilettos slipped on her feet that gave her some extra height. Her dark brown hair was pulled up into a tightly done bun, some curly strands falling past her temples to frame her pale face. Rami and Nadia's faces were partially turned away, facing their youngest child, Layla, who was currently talking to them. She was quite a few years younger than the rest of her siblings, but that hadn't affected their relationship; it was other things that did that. And, as if she felt a set of eyes on her, Layla turned her head to meet Birdie's eyes.

Birdie anxiously bit the inside of her cheek, face falling when Layla narrowed her eyes and turned away. Rami and Nadia glanced over when seeing their daughter's reaction, instantly recognizing Birdie. Sam and Dean stared across the parking lot at the couple, noting the intense expressions on their features. Sam furrowed his brows, turning his head to peer down at Birdie. "That's her. . .parents?"

Birdie quickly looked away, looking up at Sam. "Yeah, Rami and Nadia. And that's her little sister with them, Layla." She turned her head, a faint frown appearing on her lips when Rami narrowed his eyes, Birdie just barely catching the way he shook his head at her before he started to lead Nadia and Layla inside the funeral home.

"They sure look like a friendly bunch," Dean muttered under his breath, looking aside at Sam and Birdie. Birdie quietly sighed, fiddling with a loose string on her dress. Dean stepped over, standing in front of her and Sam, hands tucked in the pockets of his pants. "Listen, Bird, if this is too much——"

"What?" Birdie interjected, frowning as she stared at Dean. "Dean, I think I can handle some glares——"

"But this is. . ." Dean heavily sighed, stealing a glance towards Sam in hopes that he could phrase it better for him.

Sam turned to face Birdie, his hand reaching out to gently touch her arm. "He just means we don't want you to get overwhelmed. This is for Kaiya, but——"

"Sam, Dean, I'll be fine," Birdie softly interjected, giving the brothers a forced smile. They could see right through it, the light unable to reach her eyes despite her best efforts. "Besides, I've got you guys with me, right?"

"Exactly," Dean said, offering her a warm smile.

Birdie looked towards the building, letting out a small sigh.

It was now or never.

But, her feet remained planted on the ground beside the Impala, standing perfectly still as her eyes simply watched a few more people filter into the brick building. Sam shifted, moving his hand to place it on the small of her back. He gave her a light nudge and she started to walk forward, Birdie glancing aside at Sam with a tiny smile.

"Thanks," she whispered to him.

Sam silently nodded in response, his hand lingering on her back as they walked towards the funeral home, Dean entering a few steps ahead of them. He paused in the foyer, turning his head towards the door as Sam and Birdie came in next. Sam let his hand drop from Birdie's back as they stepped to the side, glancing around the elegant funeral home.

The foyer was well lit and spacious, long windows lining the far walls. A narrow hallway was to the left of them with some signs that read restrooms and staff only. There were a few people Birdie recognized from Kaiya's work walking down the hall, solemn expressions on their faces. A round, wooden table was in the middle of the room with a large bouquet of roses inside a golden vase on top of it. Pamphlets were placed on both sides of the vase, some people who were milling about near the entrance had some in their hands or were reading. Ahead of them and to the right were a set of double doors that were propped open. It gave a clear view of white benches, a shiny black casket at the very front. Faint music spilled out of the room, Birdie recognizing it as one of Kaiya's favorite songs: Come Sail Away by Styx.

Birdie's eyes flickered to the side, just barely catching a glimpse of Hiro. He dipped into the room, disappearing just as fast as he appeared. Birdie didn't allow herself to wonder what kind of looks Kaiya's family would give when they saw her inside, remembering that she was there for Kaiya. After a few seconds, she started to walk forward, feeling Sam and Dean on both sides of her like they were sandwiching her between them. She headed for the door that Hiro entered, stepping inside. It was more spacious than she was expecting, people beginning to take their seats as it got closer to eleven.

Sam's gaze flickered down towards Birdie with concern, noticing her tense stance. He softly touched her arm, causing her to look up at him. "Hey, we're right here with you, okay?" he murmured. Birdie nodded, looking across the room again. Then, without a second thought, Sam felt a clammy hand slip into his own, fingers locking together tightly.

Dean took a few steps forward, stopping when he saw a man around his age walking towards them. There was an uncertain look on his face, eyes flicking from Dean and over to Sam before his gaze finally stopped on Birdie. Dean looked aside, seeing Birdie twist her lips as he got closer. His black hair was slicked to the side, not a single strand out of place. His black suit fit his frame nicely, showing off his broad shoulders. Something about him felt familiar, but Dean couldn't quite put his finger on it. He cautiously moved beside Birdie, eyes slightly narrowed as the man came to a stop. But much to Dean's surprise, the man brightly smiled as soon as he reached them.

"Birdie Fowler," the man said, his smile never faltering as the name spilled from his lips. Birdie saw him eye the scar on her eye, but thankfully he chose not to comment on it. "It's really good to see you again. I wish it were under better circumstances, but. . ."

"I wish so, too," Birdie softly said, a small smile etched on her lips. She shifted, feeling Sam's thumb brush against her hand as if he felt the uneasiness bubbling inside her. "Uh, Hiro, this is Sam and Dean."

Hiro warmly smiled towards the brothers, his expression shifting into one of recognition as he shook their hands. "Sam and Dean. . .Winchester?" he asked, looking between the brothers, his hand falling back down at his side.

"Yeah," Dean said, nodding his head.

Hiro breathed out a chuckle, tucking his hands in the pockets of his pants. "I've heard a lot about you two over the years. Almost every time Kai talked about you," he said, gesturing towards Birdie with his head, "she mentioned you two. You guys——you run a family business together, yeah?"

Sam nodded, stealing a subtle look with Dean. "Something like that," he answered.

Hiro nodded as well, eyes falling on Birdie again. "You know, I'm sure my family would be glad to see you."

"Oh, I don't know about that——"

"Don't be silly, Birdie," Hiro said, tilting his head towards the younger woman. "You being here for Kaiya. . .it means more to them——to us——than you know."

Birdie stole a glance towards Rami and Nadia, noticing they were now seated in the first row, the other two Hamed siblings beside them. Then she faced Hiro, reluctantly nodding her head while her grip on Sam's hand tightened. "Okay," she said.

Hiro smiled, turning on his feet. "I'll see you over there in just a bit then."

Birdie just nodded in response, her eyes following him for a few seconds before she heavily sighed, brows furrowed together as Dean moved to stand in front of Sam and Birdie. "He seems pretty. . .cheerful. . .for someone who just lost a sister," he quietly said, glancing over his shoulder to see Hiro standing in front of his parents, lips moving as he spoke.

"That's just. . .it's for his family's sake," Birdie said, pursing her lips together. "He always had to be the one to fix things or take care of his siblings when their parents were working. . .and this. . .it might be hitting him the hardest."

Sam's frown deepened, seeing Hiro's smile falter as his eyes fell on the man beside his father, brows scrunching together. Dean stepped to the side when he heard footsteps behind him, making sure he wasn't blocking the entrance. Birdie shook her head, hand slipping from Sam's. "I'm gonna go use the restroom," she softly said, glancing between Sam and Dean. "I'll be right back."

"Alright," Sam said, nodding his head in acknowledgment. She gave him a forced smile and slipped out of the room, feeling a set of eyes pinned to her back as she left. She stuck close to the wall as she made her way down the hall, eyes flickering over the faces she passed. One of the figures just now arriving she realized was Ryder; she was quick to fasten her face to avoid having a conversation with him. She faced forward and noticed two doors near the end of the hall, feeling a wave of relief when she saw the bathroom sign. She quickly hurried inside, peering under the three stalls to see if anyone else was currently in there.

She was completely alone.

She turned and caught a glimpse of her reflection, pausing as her eyes raked over her features. She had put on makeup, but she could still partially make out the bags under her eyes. Her eyes were more dull than usual, the eyeshadow around her eyes making her look more alive than what she actually felt, but not by much. The cut on her cheek was still bandaged, but she had a feeling more people would focus on the scar across her eye. The cuts and bruises on her arms and legs weren't as noticeable due to Birdie putting some foundation on them or bandaging them; it was something she'd done in hopes people wouldn't pay any more attention to her than they might have originally.

She pursed her lips together and stepped closer to the sink, blinking a few times as she gazed back at herself. She almost could've sworn she saw something strange flash inside her dull eyes, but she brushed it off and headed towards one of the stalls. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Once she was done, she readjusted her dress and smoothed it down before exiting the stall. She quickly washed her hands without sparing another look at her appearance and then left the bathroom. She made it a few steps forward before someone rounded the corner, bumping into her rather harshly.

Birdie gasped and bumped into the wall, eyes wide as she looked at the figure. "I'm sorry, I. . ." her voice quieted, locking eyes with Darius Hamed as he lifted his head to see who he'd bumped into.

His brown eyes narrowed as he stared at Birdie, standing up straight. He was slightly taller than her, the heels on Birdie's feet making them almost eye to eye. His black hair was slicked back by some gel, the styling almost identical to Hiro's. He wore a suit similar to Hiro as well, but he'd opted to not wear a tie and leave the first few buttons of his shirt undone. A shiny, silver watch peeked out from one of the sleeves of his blazer, matching some of the rings that were slipped onto his fingers.

Birdie shifted, standing up straight as she smoothed her hands over her dress. "Darius. . .I. . ."

"It's been a long time, Bird," Darius said. He was standing rather close to Birdie, but she didn't move. Her eyes bored straight back into his, trying to gauge what might've been going through his head. No matter what it was, it couldn't have been anything good. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"At the funeral?" Birdie asked, raising her brows. "You didn't think I'd come?"

"No, because I thought you knew better."

Birdie let out a sigh, biting the inside of her cheek. "She. . .she was my friend, Darius, one of my best friends. Of course I'd be here."

"How the hell'd you find out about it?" he questioned, suspiciously narrowing his eyes on the younger woman. Birdie mimicked his expression. "We made sure——"

"I told her." Birdie kept her eyes focused on Darius as he turned his head, spotting his brother walking towards them with an unpleasant expression on his face. Darius huffed and took a step back, harshly glaring at Hiro. Hiro was unfazed by the stare, stopping in front of the two. "She has a right to know."

"You know that's not what——"

"I don't give a shit what they want," Hiro snapped, keeping his voice low to avoid being overheard. Birdie looked from Hiro and over to Darius, wondering if steam would begin rolling out of Darius's ears in the next few moments. "Birdie has been a giant part of Kaiya's life and you need to get over it. Hell, she's been there for Kaiya more than you ever have."

"Hiro, you don't have to——"

"Yes, I do, Birdie," Hiro said, briefly looking towards Birdie. Then his gaze fell on Darius again. "You can feel however you want, Darius, but don't you dare take it out on everyone else——today is not the day for your bullshit." Then he turned to the side, holding his arm out for Birdie. "Come on, Bird. I'll escort you back."

Birdie didn't spare a glance towards Darius as she slipped her arm through Hiro's, allowing him to lead them back towards the main room. He stopped them just a few steps away, turning to face Birdie as she removed her arm to face him. "Hiro, you didn't have to do that," Birdie softly said, speaking before he got the chance. "I don't wanna cause any trouble for your family, especially today."

Hiro sadly smiled, shaking his head. "You were not the one causing trouble. Darius. . ."

"You don't have to explain," Birdie said, nervously fiddling with her fingers. "I'm well aware that the rest of your family doesn't like me, it's nothing new. I've been told I don't have the best social skills more than once. . ."

Hiro softly chuckled at that. "That's one of the reasons why I've always liked you. You don't try to fit into the things everyone else likes. You're just. . .you."

"Thank you. . .I think?"

"It's a good thing, I promise." Birdie smiled. "Anyways, the service should be starting in just a few minutes, and if you want, but I'll completely understand if you don't, I can save the seats behind us for you and your friends. I promise my family won't be a problem."

Birdie's head turned when she saw movement off to the side, spotting Sam stepping out of the main room. His eyes immediately fell on her, but she quickly looked back at Hiro before Sam could tell that something had happened. "Okay," Birdie agreed, returning Hiro's smile.

"Alright," Hiro said. He looked to the side, breathing out a quiet laugh when he saw Sam quickly look away like he wasn't watching their interaction. "I take it he's the boyfriend?"

"What? No, he's not my boyfriend," Birdie quickly denied. "Neither of them are."

Surprise washed over Hiro's features. "Wait, really? I could've sworn Kai told me you had one."

"It wouldn't be the first time she did that," Birdie chuckled.

"Wait," Hiro said, tilting his head in confusion, "but you were holding his hand."

"That was. . .I don't really know how to explain, but that-that didn't mean anything. It was more for. . .moral support."

"Oh, I see," Hiro replied, but something in his tone made Birdie wonder if he didn't actually believe her.

A figure appeared beside them just a few moments later, Sam stepping up beside Birdie with his eyes shifting from Birdie and over to Hiro. "I think it's about to start," Sam said, giving Hiro a brief smile and nod.

"Okay," Birdie said, faintly smiling towards Hiro. "We'll be there in a second."

Hiro silently nodded and turned away. Birdie watched him for a few moments before looking up at Sam, her eyes automatically locking with Sam's curious green ones. Sam glanced aside, doing a double take when he saw a man a few years older than himself walk past, shooting Birdie and Sam a harsh glare as he did so. His brows furrowed together, peering down at Birdie. "Did something happen?" he asked, looking at the man as he walked towards the room. Birdie followed his gaze, softly sighing when she saw the back of Darius's head.

"It's fine, Sam." Is it, though? Birdie twisted her lips, doing her best to give him a smile. She didn't give him a chance to respond, simply taking hold of his hand again. She pulled him towards the room, hearing him sigh as he fell into step with her. They stepped through the doorway, noticing Dean seated in the row behind Kaiya's family; Hiro must've told him.

Sam gently pulled Birdie off to the side, making her look at him in confusion. "Hey, come on," he said. "Talk to me, Bird."

"I said it's fine, Sam," she said, giving him a pleading look.

Sam seemed to want to press further, but he reluctantly nodded. Birdie gave him an appreciative smile and turned, feeling him close behind her as they headed towards Dean. He looked over when he saw them, smiling as he scooted down some so that they would all fit in the second row——where Hiro had said they could sit.

Birdie sat beside Dean, Sam on the opposite side of her. Nadia was directly in front of Birdie, an empty spot on her right for Rami while Hiro was to her left. Beside the oldest Hamed was Layla and then Darius, each of them looking forward as they waited for everyone else to take their seats. A funeral director was standing near the front of the room, speaking with Rami near a framed picture of Kaiya that was placed on a metal stand.

Birdie felt a nudge on her left arm, her head turning towards Dean. She peered down while he kept his focus ahead, noticing he was holding his phone out for her to take. Her brows knitted together and she took hold of his phone, reading over the words he'd typed into a text but hadn't sent.

You okay?

Birdie smiled at his concern, meeting his gaze as she nodded. He nodded back and stuffed his phone back into his pocket, adjusting his jacket.

Rami said a few more words to the funeral director and then he nodded, offering Rami a smile before he walked away. Rami let out a sigh, glancing towards his family. Birdie bit the inside of her cheek when he looked at her, but he didn't say a word as he focused on his wife. Nadia stood up from her seat a few seconds later, taking Rami's hand in her own as they stepped towards the podium, a shaky breath escaping past her colorful lips.

The music slowed to a stop as Rami and Nadia approached the podium near Kaiya's photo, solemn looks on their faces. They looked so much older than the last time Birdie had seen them, more wrinkles lining their foreheads and the corners of their eyes. Rami's hair was starting to gray, the most noticeable being in his beard. Nadia's hair appeared to be about the same, but then Birdie noticed a few gray streaks meshing with the brown. Birdie shifted in her seat, straightening out her back as Rami stepped in front of the microphone.

"Hello everyone. I'm-my name is Rami Hamed for those of you who might not know me personally," he began, forcing a smile onto his lips as his eyes skimmed around the room full of people. "I, uh. . .first of all, I'd like to thank you all for coming and-and being here to say. . .to say. . .to say a final goodbye to Kaiya." Nadia sniffled beside her husband, but she quickly looked down, dabbing at her eyes with a balled up kleenex tissue. "Kaiya was. . .she was one of a kind. Even growing up, my wife and I could tell she was going to amount to such wonderful things, bring joy to everyone she met, and. . .and make the world a better place than we could have ever imagined. And, that's exactly what she did. . ."

Sam briefly looked down as Kaiya's father spoke, feeling his heart clench. He'd been incredibly upset when he found out about Kaiya, but it hadn't fully hit until just now. Dean thickly swallowed, a frown on his lips as Rami's words sunk in. Then he lifted his head, seeing Rami momentarily close his eyes. "I'm sorry. . ." Rami whispered, shaking his head as he turned towards his wife. Nadia sadly smiled at her husband and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, guiding him to stand where she'd previously been.

"Hello. If you don't already know who I am, I'm Kaiya's mother, Nadia," Nadia said, clearing her throat. She blinked a few times, trying to deter the tears she felt brewing in her dull, brown eyes. "This has been a difficult time for our family, and if Kaiya were here, she would be the one checking on everyone, saying that while it is painful, we will get through it. She. . .she was amazing, wonderful, so creative. We spoke to her almost every day——" Birdie tilted her head at those words, brows furrowing together. No, they didn't; they hadn't spoken to Kaiya in over a month when she hung up on them for a reason Birdie still didn't know. Is she trying to make herself feel better by trying to pretend she and Kaiya actually had a decent relationship? Birdie just twisted her lips when those words echoed in her mind, listening as Rhea continued. "She was like a fire that could never be extinguished no matter how hard someone tried——" and did Rami and Nadia certainly try sometimes, "——was something we loved, and still love, about our daughter. She was taken too soon, and I. . ." Nadia sniffled, looking down as she felt her tears begin to fall. But, she continued. "I could go on and on about Kaiya, but I will allow someone else to come forward and speak some kind words about Kaiya."

Nadia stepped away from the microphone and took Rami's hand into her own, walking over to their seats without sparing Birdie or anyone else another glance. A few people's eyes flickered around the silent room, wondering who would step up and take to the stand. Birdie figured Hiro would, or maybe even Layla, but she didn't think it would be herself.

Before she realized what she was doing, she was moving towards the podium, a shaky breath leaving her lips as she stopped in front of the microphone. Her eyes darted towards the Hamed family, seeing she already had their full attention. Darius's hands were balled into fists in his lap, jaw tightly clenched with anger bubbling inside his chiseled chest. Layla opted to glare straight into Birdie, but it only reminded Birdie of how she used to look at Bobby when he would tell her that Sam and Dean would also be staying at his house for a few days. Hiro was softly smiling, his sadness looming in his eyes. Rami and Nadia were wearing identical expressions, both appearing as if they'd eaten something sour and the taste wasn't leaving their tongue. Birdie looked towards Sam and Dean, not missing the surprise on Dean's face. Sam was taken aback by it, but he gave Birdie a warm smile and a nod, encouraging her to speak.

Speak.

Birdie nervously cleared her throat, blinking a few times as she glanced down at the podium. One of the pamphlets was there and flipped open to the first two pages. Kaiya's picture was on the first one with her birthday and where she was born under it. Her beaming face stared directly at Birdie, a shaky breath escaping Birdie's lips. She quickly blinked away the tears that she felt prick at her eyes, lifting her head again. She tried to ignore the uneasiness as everyone looked straight at her, silent as they waited for her to speak.

Birdie, talk.

"Uh, hi, I'm-my name is Birdie," she started, trying not to look at anyone in particular as she faced the people. "Most of you probably don't know me, but I was one of Kaiya's friends. I wasn't. . .I wasn't the most popular person in school or had many friends, but. . .that didn't matter to Kaiya. She-she was the first person who talked to me, saw me for. . .saw me for me, I guess. She was always there for me, for anyone——no matter what it was, she was there. She was the most genuine person I know." Rhea shifted in her seat, stealing a glance towards her husband, but he didn't meet her gaze; he was too focused on what Birdie was saying. "She had a way with words and had advice for anything anyone might've needed. She was incredibly funny and knew how to make an entire room brighten just with her smile. . .I haven't known her for my entire life, but. . .I owe her my life. I've never been able to thank her for everything she's done for me, and I think I'm not the only one, but what I, or even all of us, can do. . .is to honor her. . .live our life how she would want us to, how she would——without hate, without fear, but with love. . .and hope."

Birdie didn't wait to see the reactions of Kaiya's family and hurried back to the seat between Sam and Dean, letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Dean's gaze lingered on her, subtly looking towards Sam. Sam just shook his head with a shrug, turning his attention to Birdie as he opened his mouth to speak. "Well said, Birdie." However, it wasn't Sam who spoke those three words. Darius shifted in his chair along with his siblings, their attention falling on their father. He was partially turned in his seat, facing Birdie and the boys. Birdie's lips fell open in surprise, casting an unsure look towards Sam. Rami sadly smiled, sharing a subtle look with Nadia. "I-I know we. . .we haven't always been. . .the friendliest towards you, and. . .I just wanted to say we're sorry."

"What you said about Kaiya——only someone who truly knew her could've given such a thoughtful and loving eulogy," Nadia softly said, a small smile tweaking up onto her lips. "It. . .we never could've. . ."

"Are you guys serious right now?" Darius gruffly asked, eyes narrowing on his parents. Layla raised a brow, noticing the annoyance on her brother's face.

"Not now," Hiro harshly whispered, shooting him a stern stare.

"Hey, man━━━"

"We all know she━━━"

"This is our sister's goddamn funeral," Hiro said, his voice coming out louder than he intended. Multiple heads turned in their direction, Nadia wincing as her eyes turned towards her sons. Layla sank down in her chair, eyes slightly widened. Rami heavily sighed and shook his head, giving Darius a pleading look. But, Hiro didn't back down. "Do you think Kaiya would want you to be acting like this? Huh? The least you could do is keep your mouth shut and not harass someone who was there for our sister more than you ever were."

Darius abruptly shot up, storming out of the room. Nadia deeply frowned and quickly hurried after him, muttering out apologies as she passed by rows of stunned faces. Birdie nervously gulped, wearily looking from Dean and over to Sam. "Birdie——"

"I think I should go," Birdie said, sadly smiling at Hiro.

Hiro frowned, shaking his head. "No, wait. You don't have to worry about him——"

"No, Hiro, it's okay——"

Dean shifted in his chair like he was going to speak, but another person beat him to it. "Let her go." Layla peered over her shoulder, her glare returning when her gaze landed on Birdie. "Just like she always does. She shouldn't even be here. This is all her fault. It's her fault Kaiya's dead."

Something sparked inside Birdie, making her eyes narrow at the younger girl. "Right, because you were always there for her," she said. "You always answered her calls or texted her back after a night of sneaking out to let her know you were okay instead of cussing at her for trying to be involved in your life?" Layla's face faltered as did Birdie's. Dean raised his brows, eyes widening in surprise. He looked over to Sam, but Sam was solely focused on Birdie. Birdie shook her head, beginning to frown. What did she just do? "Oh my g. . .I'm sorry. I. . ." Birdie didn't even finish her sentence and stood up, shaking her head as she slipped past Sam and left the room. She heard Hiro and the boys call out to her, but she simply ignored them.

She felt her bottom lip begin to wobble as she hurried towards the double doors leading out of the funeral home, heart frantically racing as she pushed through the doors.

She made her way down the stairs leading into the building, huffing in annoyance when she nearly toppled over her own feet. "God damn shoes," she meekly grumbled, wiping at the corners of her eyes while she made her way to the Impala. She didn't look back when she heard her name being called again, just trying to reach the car before she could be stopped.

"Birdie, please." Birdie finally halted when she reached Baby, closing her eyes as some tears started to trickle down her cheeks. She glumly lowered her head, hearing footsteps slowly approach from behind. "Please, just talk to us."

Birdie sniffled, wiping at her eyes, but the tears continued to fall. "I'm sorry, I don't. . .I just wanted to be here for Kaiya. I didn't wanna cause any trouble. . ."

A hand touched her arm as Sam came up beside her. Birdie turned her head at the feeling, noticing the prominent frown etched on his lips. "Come here," he softly said, wrapping his arms around her. Birdie leaned into his touch, burying her face in his chest. One of his hands cradled the back of her head, his chin resting on the top of her head. Dean stared at them for a few seconds, quietly sighing.

Something had obviously changed between Sam and Birdie in the months Dean was gone.

Dean stepped towards the Impala after a few moments, keys in hand. He stole a glance inside the car, doing a double take when he noticed something dangling from the rear view mirror. He went to unlock the car, but that was when he realized it already was. His eyes widened and he pulled open the door, plopping down in the driver's seat. "Hey, neither of you got in here after we got here, did you?"

Birdie sniffled and let one of her hands fall to her sides, the other wiping at her tears as she turned to face Dean. "No, I don't think so."

"Why?" Sam wondered.

"Because it was unlocked," Dean said, reaching forward and grabbing something from inside. Then he slid out of the seat, taking one more look inside to try and figure out if something was missing or if something else had been placed inside. He lifted his hand when he stood in front of Sam and Birdie, holding up a silver necklace. "And this was hangin' from the rearview mirror."

Sam tilted his head. "Wait, isn't that——"

"I thought I lost that," Birdie said, reaching forward and taking it into her fingers. She peered down at it, lifting her head with a hint of fear swirling in her eyes as she glanced between the brothers. "I haven't seen this since. . ." Birdie quickly closed her mouth, looking towards Sam. He sucked in a sharp breath, her silent look telling him what she wasn't saying out loud.

Dean tilted his head, raising his brows. "Since when?"

Birdie shook her head, peering down at the necklace again. One of her hands rubbed at her lower back, a sinking feeling resting itself on her shoulders. "It doesn't matter," she softly replied. Dean huffed at her response. Birdie didn't comment on it and lifted her head again, closing her fingers around the necklace. "What happened to Kaiya. . .it wasn't an accident. It was Lilith."

"What? How can you be so sure?" Dean wondered.

"I'm just gonna need you to trust me on this, Dean," Birdie softly answered, keeping a tight grip on the necklace. Dean shifted on his feet, tucking his hands in the pockets of his pants. "Please, Dean? This is about Kaiya, and I know Lilith did it. Can you just trust me on this, please?"

Dean stared back at Birdie for a few seconds, finally nodding his head. "Okay, okay," he said. "So, what are we supposed to do next? She's not exactly our biggest fan."

"I don't know," Birdie said, twisting her lips as a gentle breeze blew past them. "I don't think it'd be smart to go after her right now——she's clearly not fuckin' around, so. . .I think our safe bet is to just. . .plan."

"Plan?" Dean repeated.

Birdie huffed. "We don't wanna go at her half-cocked again, do you?" Dean's silence was an answer. "We need to be more careful. She's probably got half a dozen demons watching us, so we can't let them know what we're up to."

"Then how are we gonna stop her?"

"We can figure it out while we work cases," Sam answered, mimicking Dean's stance. "If we suddenly stop, she might get suspicious."

"Yeah, we don't want that," Dean said. His eyes swiveled back to the funeral home, noticing Hiro had stepped outside. "You wanna stay?" he asked, directing his question to Birdie.

Birdie followed his gaze, quietly sighing as she softly smiled. "Yeah, I do. I owe it to Kaiya."

⋅ ∙ ∘ ☽ ༓ ☾ ∘ ⋅ ⋅

Well, I'm crying now 🥲

I know the last chapter was sad, but I promise not all of them will be sad!! Castiel should be coming in pretty soon and I'm so excited! There's still lots more to come and I hope y'all will enjoy! Also, this won't be the last time you see some of Kaiya's family 👀👀

Anyways, please don't forget to leave your feedback in the comments and I hope y'all enjoyed!