Despite having suspected it, Nadia wasn't sure how to feel about Anna being an angel—let alone her *guardian* angel. The revelation left her uneasy, a sentiment she shared with the rest of the group.

Angels didn't exactly have a great track record in their experience. For all they knew, Anna could be worse than the others—maybe even dangerous enough to justify why Heaven was hunting her.

Anna paced Bobby's study with a calm exterior that didn't quite match the tension in the room. Ruby lingered near the doorway, watching the group with her usual air of detached disinterest. Sam sat on the desk, his arms crossed as Pamela leaned beside him with a knowing smirk.

Nadia perched on the opposite edge, her arms hugged tightly across her chest as if it would protect her from the new information swirling in her mind. Dean, ever the picture of casual alertness, sat on the armrest of a chair, his boot propped up in the seat. Though his expression was neutral, the firm set of his jaw betrayed his unease.

The room felt heavy, everyone waiting for someone else to break the silence. It was clear they all had questions—and none of them trusted the answers they might get.

 "Neither do I," Pamela agreed, her tone dry as always.

Nadia couldn't help but keep sizing Anna up. Now that the truth was out, Anna seemed more angelic, almost ethereal. Her demeanor had shifted, too—more serious, more like Uriel or Castiel. Her voice was flat, almost monotone, and her calmness felt unnatural, even for an angel. It made Nadia uneasy.

Anna sighed, turning to face them. "So... Castiel, Uriel, they're the ones that came for me?"

"You know them?" Sam asked, his confusion clear.

"We were kind of in the same foxhole," Anna replied, her voice distant.

Sam's brow furrowed, still not quite following.

"So, what, were they like your bosses or something?" Dean asked, his tone skeptical but curious.

Anna smirked, her eyes glinting with something darker. "Try the other way around."

Dean nodded, clearly impressed. "Look at you."

"But now they want to kill you?" Pamela asked, the edge in her voice barely concealed.

"Orders are orders," Anna shrugged, her hands sliding into her back pockets. "I'm sure I've got a death sentence hanging over me."

"Why?" Nadia asked, the tension in her voice rising.

Anna crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes flicking over Nadia before she answered. "I disobeyed. And for us, that's about the worst thing you can do. I fell." She glanced at Nadia. "Like Aniela. Like Vanessa—your mother."

Nadia straightened, the words hitting her harder than she expected. She could feel the boys' eyes on her, their shock palpable, but she refused to let it show. "And that means?" she asked, keeping her tone steady.

"They fell to Earth, became human," Pamela spoke up, her voice softer now. "It's what happens when angels choose to go against Heaven."

"Wait a minute," Sam interrupted, looking genuinely baffled. "Angels can just become human?"

"It kind of hurts," Anna said, her face contorting slightly as if the memory itself was painful. "Try cutting out your kidney with a butter knife. That kind of hurt. I ripped out my grace."

"Come again?" Dean raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding.

"My grace," Anna repeated, her eyes narrowing slightly. "It's... energy. I hacked it out and fell. That's how it works."

The room fell silent, the weight of her words settling over them.

"That doesn't make sense," Nadia said, pushing herself off the desk. "You were reborn. My mother wasn't."

Anna's gaze softened as she met Nadia's eyes. "Your mother had already gotten pregnant before she decided to fall. Can't be reborn again if you're already holding a life. That's why we know each other, Nadia. I was your guardian angel." She smirked slightly, as though recalling an old memory. "Well, you used to call me—"

"My fairy friend," Nadia interrupted, her voice flat, not amused. "Yeah, I remember. When we first met, you told me you knew someone close to me. I didn't know you were talking about my mom."

Anna nodded, her expression turning somber. "Yes, she and I were very close. She made the decision to fall, but only as long as I promised to watch over you."

"So, you just forgot that you were God's little Power Ranger?" Dean asked, arms crossed, clearly not understanding the angelic hierarchy.

"The older I got, the longer I was human, yeah," Anna replied with a wistful look. "Vanessa, on the other hand, would always remember. But she'd be powerless. That's what made her decision so hard. She was terrified."

"Scared of what?" Sam asked, his brow furrowing.

"Scared that something like this would happen to her," Anna said quietly, her voice tinged with sadness.

"So, you're telling me she knew demons were gonna come for her?" Dean asked, leaning forward, pressing for answers.

"No, not exactly," Anna responded with a shake of her head. "She was scared that angels would."

"The irony," Dean muttered, leaning back, letting out a soft laugh. "You're all a bunch of messed up children of God."

Nadia paused for a moment, thinking. "I guess the demons beat 'em to it."

Anna's expression darkened, and she looked away.

"What?" Nadia asked, noticing the change.

"Nothing. It's just..." Anna trailed off, hesitation in her voice.

"Anna? If you know something..." Nadia pressed, her heart quickening.

"I don't think demons killed your mother," Anna said softly. "Even without her grace, Vanessa could handle them. She'd walked the earth for years, protecting humans from demons. She was known for it. And I don't know your father, but I was around you long enough to know that he made sure no demon could get into that house."

"What are you saying?" Nadia's voice trembled, anxiety rising in her chest.

"I'm saying..." Anna hesitated, her eyes meeting Nadia's with a look of regret. "I think it was made to look like demons did it. The way it was discussed in Heaven, we couldn't talk about it. We were supposed to pretend it never even happened. I think it was one of us. But somebody wanted to cover it up... for some reason."

Nadia's heart felt like it was about to explode in her chest. She shook her head frantically. "No, no, don't tell me that. You can't tell me that."

"Nadie," Anna said gently, reaching out. "I know that's a lot to process—"

"Don't touch me!" Nadia snapped, her voice sharp and loud, startling everyone in the room.

Even though Nadia was upset, it was rare for her to raise her voice like that.

"Just don't..." She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Her voice softened. "Pamela, let's go. I'm taking you home."

"O... kay," Pamela said quietly, standing up. She cleared her throat, sensing the weight of the moment. She gently took Nadia's hand, and they began to head for the door.

"Wait," Dean called after them, standing. "Let me drive. I'll go with you."

"No," Nadia replied, shaking her head. "I need to think. Okay?"

Dean hesitated, reluctant to let her go, but nodded. "Alright, just be safe."

"I'll go the speed limit," Nadia teased, forcing a chuckle, though the sadness in her eyes was clear.

Dean watched them leave, his face full of concern. The door closed behind them, leaving a tense silence hanging in the air.

Ruby didn't let the silence last long. "I don't think you all appreciate how completely screwed we are."

"Ruby's right," Anna agreed, her voice softer, a little more resigned as she looked after Nadia. "Heaven wants me dead."

"And Hell just wants her," Ruby added with a bitter edge. "A flesh-and-blood angel you can question, torture, and—most importantly—one who bleeds."

 "And sooner or later, Heaven or Hell, they're gonna find you," Ruby added, her tone as cynical as ever.

"I know. And that's why I'm gonna get it back," Anna replied, her voice firm but edged with worry.

"What?" Sam frowned, clearly confused by what she was suggesting.

"My grace," Anna said, her gaze shifting down for a moment, almost as if she were doubting herself.

"You can do that?" Dean asked, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of her words.

Anna nodded, but the uncertainty in her eyes told a different story. "If I can find it."

"So, what, you're just gonna take some divine bong hit, and, shazam, you're Roma Downey?" Dean quipped, trying to lighten the mood, though his eyes never left her.

"Something like that," she shrugged, not offering much reassurance.

"All right. I like this plan." Dean was all in, despite the serious tone of the conversation. "So, where's this grace of yours?"

Anna's smile faltered. "Lost track. I was falling about ten miles per hour at the time."

"Wait," Sam interrupted, his confusion deepening. "You mean falling, like, literally?"

"Yes," Anna answered simply, nodding as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Like the way a human eye can see? Like a comet, maybe, or a meteor?" Sam asked, clearly trying to wrap his mind around the concept.

Anna nodded again, her expression thoughtful. "Why do you ask?"

Nadia was quiet the entire ride to Pamela's, but on the way back, she cried. She had spent years hunting demons—not just to protect people but to avenge her mother. What she hadn't known, until now, was that it was an angel who took her mother away. Her own kind.

She understood that falling was a crime, but Vanessa was a mother, a wife—she had built a life for herself. Didn't that count for something?

It meant that Vanessa had chosen to fall, knowing that she might not be there for Nadia's entire life. She never told Rufus. Never warned Nadia. Instead, she just... lived.

The betrayal stung more than she could process. It wasn't just her mother's absence—it was the fact that she couldn't trust anyone anymore. Not Anna. Not Castiel. Not Michael. Not any of the angels.

Nadia had composed herself by the time they pulled back into Bobby's, but seeing Anna waiting outside didn't sit right. She had hoped for more time. Time to figure this all out.

The moonlight reflected off the Impala's polished surface as Nadia stepped out of the car.

"Hey," Anna called softly, her approach cautious.

Nadia crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to meet her eyes. "What should I call you? Anna? Siona?"

"Anna's fine." Anna shifted uneasily, hands shoved into her jacket pockets. "Listen, I shouldn't have dumped all of that on you. I... I've wanted to tell you so much, but you were so young, and you had already been through so much. Then I decided to fall, and—"

"Yeah, I've been thinking a lot about your little fall," Nadia interrupted, her voice cold. "Did you ever stop to think about what leaving meant for me?"

Anna's gaze dropped, guilt flickering across her features. "I—"

"I went through hell. They pumped me full of stuff, trying to figure out what worked. I was kidnapped. And where were you? My mom trusted you. I trusted you. You were real to me." Nadia's voice cracked but she swallowed the emotion. "And you just... left."

"I know," Anna admitted, her voice soft with regret. "I broke my promise, and I'm sorry. I can't justify leaving you. But you have to understand... it wasn't easy for me. Being down here, envying humans while being forced to follow orders, to never question. Angels are supposed to be perfect—like marble statues. Cold, with no choice. Only obedience." She paused, her face hardening. "Do you know how many angels have actually seen God? Seen His face?"

Nadia's brows furrowed. "Not all of you?"

"Five angels," Anna replied quietly. "Five. One of them was your mother. Not me. We take everything on faith... and if we don't, we're killed."

Nadia scoffed, crossing her arms tighter. "And what? You want me to feel bad for you?"

"Not at all," Anna said, her voice shaky. "But I need you to understand what I was up against."

"No," Nadia snapped. "You're not human. You're an angel. You were created to protect. To be a soldier. You don't get to just cop out because it was hard. Maybe... maybe you need to face the consequences of your actions."

"So, you're saying I deserve to die?" Anna's voice broke, a flicker of pain in her eyes.

Nadia shrugged, her face hard but her heart aching. "I don't know. Maybe."

Anna nodded, though the hurt was clear. "Are you saying my mother deserved to die?"

Nadia's face flushed with anger. "Don't you dare compare my mother to you. She got pregnant, okay? If it weren't for me, she would've eventually stayed away from my father. That much I know. She never wanted him involved in this mess. But she didn't have a choice when I came along. Why do you think she taught me everything she did? Why she asked you to—"

Anna's gaze softened as she listened. "You're probably right," she whispered. "Your mother complained, but she was loyal. She could never fathom falling—crime or not."

The silence between them stretched, heavy and tense.

"So, what? Are you going to hand me over?" Anna's voice was strained, uncertain.

"No," Nadia said without hesitation.

"How come?"

Nadia sighed. "I'd hate to give Uriel the satisfaction."

Anna chuckled softly. "That it?"

"That, and... you've lost everything. You have nothing left. No one deserves to be kicked when they're down. You deserve a second chance, whatever that looks like for you."

Anna smiled faintly. "Thank you. You're just like her, you know?"

"Yeah, well... she is my mom."

Anna nodded, her smile bittersweet. "I know. Listen, I know you're disappointed in us, in me. But we're not all bad. Your mother wouldn't have asked me to watch over you if she thought otherwise. Don't be like me, Nadia. Keep the faith. Don't lose hope. Maybe one day, you'll be able to forgive me. I don't know how this will end, but if I make it through, you can count on me. I'll be there."

Nadia thought for a moment. She wanted to ask Anna about Michael, about her mother—but she couldn't bring herself to. She needed to hear the truth from Michael, not from her.

"I do want to ask you about my gr—"

Before she could finish, Dean stepped out onto the porch, cutting her off. "I think Sam found something."

Nadia turned toward him. "Found what?"

"My grace," Anna answered before Sam could.

"I know what it is. Will it help us?" Nadia asked, following Dean inside.

"It won't stop them from hunting me," Anna said, her voice quiet, almost resigned. "But it'll make it harder to kill me."

Dean paused, his hand resting on Nadia's shoulder as they entered the foyer. "You okay?"

"I will be," Nadia replied, though her eyes were still clouded with doubt.

"Thinking about hunting down the angel who might've done it?" Dean asked, his concern evident.

"It crossed my mind a few times in the car," Nadia admitted, her voice flat.

"But?" Dean pressed, clearly worried. He knew what revenge could do, especially when it came to angels.

"One angel at a time," Nadia said, caressing his cheek. "One angel at a time."

Dean nodded, his expression softening as he kissed her hand. Hand in hand, they joined Anna, Sam, and Ruby around Bobby's desk.

Sam had gone through old newspapers, magazines, and books from local astronomers. He had pieced together a map of a possible location.

"Union, Kentucky," Sam said, his finger pointing to a spot on the map. "Found some accounts of a local miracle. In '85, there was an empty field outside of town. Six months later, there was a full-grown oak tree. They say it looks a century old at least."

"Anna, what do you think?" Nadia asked, her eyes scanning the map.

Anna studied the area, then looked up. "The grace... where it hit, it could have done something like that, easy."

Dean raised an eyebrow. "So, grace ground zero—it's not destruction. It's..."

"Pure creation," Anna finished, her voice almost reverent.