It was not a rare occurrence for Alex to dream about her father and brothers. It was something that was constantly at the forefront of her mind giving her both comfort and fear. What concerned Alex perhaps most of all was the fact that John had left without saying goodbye. She had been with Dean at the time. That was unusual because she had always stayed with her father when he and Dean would part ways for different hunts. Alex had been excited, it was a treat to be able to stay with her brother and drive in the impala. It wasn't until two weeks later that she began to regret even being with her brother at all. Dean kept telling her that he would be home soon, but every week it seemed that his arrival would be delayed another few days. Finally Dean had just stopped talking about him completely but Alex could hear him late at night listening to an old recording over and over again, playing it forwards and backwards, slowing it down and speeding it up until he would fall asleep in a motel chair. There wasn't a second that went by that Alex didn't wish to have her daddy back. It was no secret that John Winchester ran a tight ship but he was still her daddy and she loved him more than anyone had ever loved another human being (aside from Dean sometimes, but only when he let her steer the Impala if the road was clear enough).

It seemed as though John was in every one of Alex's dreams since she had last seen him. Since she did not even have a picture of her father, it was the one way that she was sure she could remember his face.

This particular night was no different and the events that occurred that night only made her dream of a very real memory.

"Alexandra you better eat all of those apple slices before we get to the motel, you understand" John called from the front of the car, eyeing his daughter in the rear view mirror.

The three year old bit her lip and raised her eyebrows, giving her father a mischievous smile, "Nooo daddy," Alex laughed, stretching out in the back of the impala, almost laying on top of her brother. Sam sighed, knowing that John Winchester did not take well to being told no.

"Alexandra" John said, expecting his daughter to pay attention. Raising all his children had been different but his daughter had presented a particular challenge. She was like Mary in so many ways, her laugh, her eyes, her hair, unfortunately her personality was almost 100% Winchester. Most of the time she could be a well-behaved angel, however, on occasion, his daughter was known to pitch a fit.

True to character, Alex did not respond, rather, she rolled over, pushing her body into the impala seats, lying across the back. John turned down the music, a sign that he was less than pleased.

"Alexandra" John repeated, this time in a sterner tone, something that both Winchester boys knew very well. Still his daughter gave no response, apart from a small whine, muffled by the leather seats. Sam, troubled by his father's apparent aggravation, picked his sister up by her armpits and sat her back down on the seat.

"Alex," Sam said giving his sister a warning look, "you need to listen to dad, and look at him when he talks to you". Alex pouted, her glassy eyes and flushed cheeks made it apparent that she had missed her daily nap that day.

She pouted at her brother.

"No apples," she announced crossing her arms and banging her little legs up against the seat.

"You're going to get in trouble," Sam breathed, rolling his eyes at his sister's apparent disobedience.

"Nuh uh", She retorted back, obviously looking for confrontation. Sam just leaned back against the seat and rolled his eyes.

"Whatever brat," Alex's eyes widened, while she was accustomed to Dean's swearing and the occasional curse from her father, every ounce of Winchester blood in her would not allow a direct hit to her pride.

"I'm not a brat you are!" She scowled at Sam and brought up a tiny fist to hit at his chest, Sam gasped. It didn't hurt in the slightest, she was only three for Christ sake, but hitting had become an area of special concern throughout the last year and Alex had to be reminded often that it was not acceptable.

John's eyes shot up at the sound of the smack, his anger apparent in the death glare he was currently giving his three year old, letting the entire car aware that his patients was up.

"Alexandra Winchester, you sit down in your seat and leave your brother alone or I will pull over and spank your bottom this minute! Do you understand me?" John roared, making Alex's cheeks flush at the sudden attention. She felt tears well up in her eyes at the sharp tone of his voice.

"I wanna ride with Dean!" She wailed, referring to the large truck that Dean was driving behind them. John sighed one more time, cursing the heavens for not having the luxury of being more gentile on his children. He pulled over to the side of the road, signaling for his son to follow, and drove the Impala off the highway. John made quick work of getting out of the car and opening the back seat.

"Sammy," he addressed his son, "You go get in the car with Dean" Sam did not argue, knowing full well not to mess with his father in his current state of mind.

Turning his attention to his daughter he quickly picked her up without much thought to the matter, and pulled her across his lap.

By the second swat she was in tears, more from surprise then pain, and four swats later she was finished, hugging her father tightly and sincerely apologizing.

"You need to listen to daddy from now on, do you understand?" John raised his eyebrows.

Alex nodded, "Yes sir. An' no hittin'" she added.

"That's right" John agreed as he laid her down in the back once more. The music in the Impala was still playing softly as it lulled Alex to sleep. She had almost dozed off when it seemed to be getting louder. In fact it was so loud that Alex could barely stand it, barely think, and it was only getting worse.

"Dean! Turn off your damn alarm already!" The noise stopped. Alex opened her eyes slightly; the motel room was just as they had left it last night.

"Let's go Alex, we're moving out in 1 hundred" Dean called from the bathroom, "Daddy dearest here we come," she heard him mutter.