Enchanted
Taylor Swift
0:49 ——•———————————
𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅, "𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒕?"
𝑨𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆

𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕?
𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 12 : 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 6
𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒔𝒂 𝑭𝒐𝒙
(𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 1)

☆

𝑱𝒐𝒗𝒊 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 uncle outside of Jody's door, she hadn't been back since she was kidnapped by the men of letters which was also an awkward phone call to Jody. She was almost speechless to hear about everything including Aria going total dark side and Jovi's mother being back and a secret British agent, it was a good thing she was in the hunting life too and knows the chaos of the Winchesters lives.

But now, standing between her dad and uncle outside the front door, all she felt was... nothing.

Not dread. Not discomfort. Just an odd, empty kind of numbness, like there was a thick layer of fog between her and the rest of the world. She didn't know why she felt like that, she loved Jody's, it was basically a second home but maybe it was the reminder that anyone in this town could see her and remind her about that stupid party that had haunted her for the last few days. God she could end up running into Blake, that would be a literal nightmare and she was sure her dad would kill him.

Dean knocked on the door, and a few seconds later, Jody appeared, her gaze sweeping over the three of them before her face twisted in something between concern and judgment.

"Wow. You look terrible. What's wrong?"

Jovi barely had time to react before Dean invited himself in. "Sure, we'd love to come in."

Jovi let out a weak smile and stepped inside, hugging Jody, but she didn't hold on as tight as she normally would've. She felt Jody hesitate for a second, like she noticed.

"I missed you," Jovi said, pulling back.

Jody gave her a small smile. "The house is quiet without you."

Jovi tried to smirk. "You should savor it."

It came out forced.

Sam cleared his throat, trying to cut through the weird tension. "Hey, yeah, we just, uh, finished a hunt in Brookings."

Jody wrinkled her nose. "And you couldn't take a shower first?"

Jovi should've jumped at the chance to roast her dad and uncle. Instead, she just sighed. "Tell me about it. I've been stuck in the car with them all day." Her voice lacked its usual bite.

Dean raised an eyebrow at her, probably expecting some dramatic performance. "The car doesn't need to smell like your tropical perfumes."

Jovi gave a half-hearted scoff. "Yet it's better than BO."

Jody's eyes flicked between them, like she was clocking something in real time.

Sam cleared his throat again. "Figured we'd stop by on the way home, see you, Claire, Alex, and Ares."

Jody smiled, but it was the kind of smile that said Oh, you're about to be so mad, and I can't wait. "That's sweet, but unfortunately, the girls are in Omaha for the weekend. Being angsty at a Radiohead concert."

Jovi blinked. "Oh"

Normally, she would've dramatically clutched her chest and gone on some long rant about betrayal and how dare they go without her, but instead, all she could manage was that one syllable. She should care. She knew she used to care. But now? She just felt... left out. And she wouldn't have been left out if it wasn't for her mother and her questionable colleagues.

Jody gave her a look expecting the girl to have more to say than a simple 'oh'. "They did try and call you but you weren't exactly answering your phone."

Jovi nodded, tucking her hands into her jacket pockets. "Fair enough."

She knew Jody expected more of a reaction. Hell, even Dean looked like he was waiting for her to say something. Jody tilted her head slightly trying to get a rise out of the girl. "But Ares is on a date..."

Jovi stiffened.

Ares. On a date? A rare sense of excitement almost bubbled up in her chest going to clutch her imaginary pearls. "Shut up," she said, but the usual dramatics wasn't there. She should be playfully prying for details, making jokes about how she'd interrogate the poor girl later—but instead, she just felt... weirdly hollow. "With who?"

Jody shrugged. "All I know is her name's Ava. No last name. He's been all secretive about it."

Ava.

She ran through every Ava she'd ever known, but none of the names stood out. Maybe it was the blonde girl he was talking to at the part— she had to stop thinking about that stupid party. It didn't matter, anyway. Whoever she was, Ares had clearly decided she was important enough to keep a secret.

"Good for him," Dean said, nodding.

Jovi swallowed. Good for him.

She wanted to agree. She should agree. But all she could focus on was the sinking feeling in her stomach, like something was slipping away from her and she hadn't even realized she was supposed to hold onto it.

Jody was still watching her.

Dean, on the other hand, was having a whole separate internal monologue. He'd been sure Ares had a thing for Jovi. Sure of it. Hell, the kid had looked wrecked when Jovi almost died — like, not just friend wrecked, something deeper than that. But apparently, Ares had moved on or was trying to, and Dean wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a very bad thing.

Jody clapped her hands together. "Well, I can feed you guys, though."

And just like that, Dean's existential crisis about Ares vanished because priorities. "Ooh, yes. All right. Oh, uh, since the last time we saw you... I killed Hitler."

Jovi let out a quiet breath through her nose. Of course this was his new personality trait.

Jody blinked. "Oh. Thank you?"

Dean grinned smugly, like he'd single handedly saved the world. "You're welcome."

Jovi barely reacted. She should've rolled her eyes, made some sarcastic remark about how he was going to be insufferable about this for the rest of their lives—but she just didn't have the energy.

So instead of playing along, she forced a small smile and said, "I'm gonna go inside."

Jody immediately turned to her, brow furrowed. "You okay, hon?"

Jovi shrugged. "Yeah. Just tired."

It wasn't a lie, not really.

Jody didn't look convinced, but she didn't push. Jovi took the escape, walking off toward the kitchen, and the moment she was gone, Jody turned her attention to the brothers.

"Okay," she said, arms crossing. "What's going on with her?"

Dean sighed, running a hand down his face. He knew this was coming. "What do you mean?" he asked, playing dumb even though he knew exactly what she meant.

Jody scoffed. "Dean. That girl has been coming in and out of my house for years, and I have never seen her like that. She barely said anything, and she looked like she wanted to be anywhere else but here."

Sam nodded slightly, concern flickering across his face. "Shes been through a lot lately."

Dean exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening. He knew Jovi wasn't okay. Hadn't been okay since the party.

He wasn't stupid. He saw the way she carried herself now, the way she pretended everything was fine but wasn't really there half the time. He noticed how often she checked her phone only to put it back down with a clenched jaw, how she only ever brought up Jennifer when she had to, how she flinched slightly whenever she heard an argument—even if it was just something on TV.

She was not okay.

And the worst part? He had no idea how to help her.

He didn't know what to say, didn't know how to fix this. Anytime he tried to check in, she shut him down, threw up that same cocky, sarcastic front she always did, and he let her, because —hell, maybe she wanted to be left alone. Maybe pushing her would only make things worse.

So instead of admitting the truth, he just sighed and said, "I don't know."

Jody's expression softened slightly, but she still gave him that firm mom look.

"Well," she said, glancing toward the hallway, "you better figure it out."

☆

𝑱𝒐𝒗𝒊 𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 pizza in silence, her eyes locked on the TV, her expression set somewhere between mild disgust and boredom. She was all for chick flicks —not that she'd ever admit that to her dad — but this? This was painful. The kind of movie that made her want to walk straight into traffic just for a change of pace.

Mental note: never let Jody pick the movie again.

Her dad, as predictable as ever, spoke up around a mouthful of pizza, already looking at Jody like she'd personally betrayed him."Jody, you watching some kind of chick flick here?"

Jody barely looked away from the screen as she answered, "Well, Dean. I'm a chick."

Dean frowned like the concept physically hurt him. "No. No, no. You're—a badass sheriff chick. You're not a rom-com chick. Wait, are you a rom-com chick?"

Jovi glanced up at him, squinting. "Why do you care so much?"

Jody smirked. "Are you?"

Dean looked offended. Like Jody had just accused him of kicking puppies for fun. Before he could respond, Sam cut in, still chewing, like the menace he was.

"He's more of an animated Japanese erotica chick."

Jovi choked.

"EW! Teenager present!" She cringed so hard she practically folded into herself. "Oh my God, erase that from my brain immediately—"

But Jody, to Jovi's absolute horror, leaned forward like she was actually interested. "Really?"

Dean shot Sam the kind of glare that could kill on sight. Sam just grinned, humming like he had no regrets.

Jody's phone rang in the other room, saving Jovi from having to self-destruct in real time. "I need to leave this scintillating conversation," Jody muttered as she stood to grab her phone.

Sam chuckled, but Jovi just sat there, still glaring at her feet, wondering how much bleach she'd need to scrub that mental image out of her head.

Dean turned to Sam, his voice still dripping with why are you like this. "Don't tell her that. Or Jovi, for that matter."

"Yeah, I've been traumatized one too many times," Jovi muttered, shooting Sam a glare.

Sam barely looked up smugly. "Tell them what?"

Dean sighed like he was in actual pain. "It's Jody. And my daughter, man."

Jovi really should've made up an excuse to go to the bathroom or walk into traffic just to escape this conversation.

Sam, unbothered as ever, just shrugged. "Dude, be proud of your hobbies. It makes you who you are."

Jovi groaned. "I hate it here."

Before she could throw herself out a window, Jody walked back into the room. But something was off. The lighthearted vibe evaporated instantly.
She looked... different. Eyes glassy, face pale, like she was barely keeping it together. Jovi straightened, her stomach twisting.

"Jody?" Sam asked.

She didn't answer, just turned and walked upstairs. The three of them shared a look before following.

Jody was already throwing things into a bag by the time they reached her room, her movements sharp and too focused, like if she stopped for even a second, she'd break.

"Jody, what's up?" Dean asked, his voice quieter now, like he already knew he wasn't going to like the answer.

Jody didn't look at them. Didn't stop packing. "Friend of mine died."

Jovi swallowed hard. Shit.

"Who?" Sam asked.

Jovi elbowed him immediately, shooting him a seriously? look. Maybe don't interrogate the grieving woman, genius.
Sam just gave her an innocent look back.

Jody's voice was eerily flat. "Asa Fox."

Dean frowned. "Asa Fox. Why does that name sound familiar?" Sam barely hesitated. "Isn't he the guy Ellen used to tell stories about back at the Roadhouse?"

Jovi barely remembered the Roadhouse, but she remembered Ellen. And Jo. She'd never forget Jo. She couldn't forget her, even if she wanted to. Even if some days it felt easier not to think about them at all.

Dean's expression shifted, something like recognition sparking behind his eyes. "Yeah, supposedly, he killed like five Wendigos in a night."

Jovi glanced at him, raising a brow. Okay, fanboy. It wasn't every day her dad actually looked impressed by another hunter.

Jody let out a shaky breath. "Yeah. He was a hunter. He, uh, rolled into town a few months back, tried to convince me he was FBI agent Fox Mulder. He was chasing a pack of ghouls. I helped." Her voice was getting tighter, the cracks showing. "He'd pass through every once in a while after that. We'd grab coffee. Or something."

She swallowed hard, blinking too fast. "He was a good man."

Jovi looked away, her throat suddenly tight.

"The wake's tonight," Jody continued, "and, um, they're gonna salt and burn the body tomorrow." She let out a breathless, bitter laugh, shaking her head. "I can't believe I just said that like it's something normal."

Jovi couldn't argue with that. Because yeah. This was their life. Deaths and burnings and trying to pretend that it was all just part of the job.

Dean didn't hesitate. "Well, we're gonna come with you."

Jovi glanced at Sam, her stomach twisting. They'd never actually been to a hunter's funeral before. At least, not one with other hunters showing up.

Jody sniffed, shaking her head. "You don't have to—I'll be fine."

Sam frowned. "Yeah, no, Jody, we—we know you'll be fine, but, you know, we never go to hunter gatherings outside of bars. Dad always said they were trouble, so..."

"Yes, you'd be doing us a favor if you let us tag along," Dean said with a small, soft smile.

Jody turned then, finally looking at them, her eyes still glassy but grateful. "Thank you." She exhaled, rubbing her face before giving them a pointed look. "But you're all gonna have to get cleaned up before we spend five hours in a car together, yeah?"

Dean barely even blinked. Jovi, on the other hand, gaped.

"Five hours? Where are we going?"

☆

𝑩𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 they pulled into the driveway, Jovi was more than ready to get out of the car. Five hours in the Impala with the three of them had left her legs stiff, her back aching, and her patience running thin. She loved the car— really, she did — but after that long, she was convinced she could still feel the vibrations of the road rattling through her skull.

And then there was the house.

It wasn't just a house — it was a mansion, wrapped in ivy and half-covered by overgrown trees, like something out of a Gothic novel. The vintage cars lining the driveway only added to the vibe, making the whole place feel frozen in time.

Jovi tilted her head back, taking it in. "Wow."

Dean let out a dramatic sigh as he shut the car door. "O, Canada."

"This is a big house," Sam commented, equally impressed. "Right? It's so pretty," Jovi muttered, still staring up at it.

The place looked like the kind of house where rich people threw extravagant parties — too grand for a hunter, but then again, she didn't really know Asa Fox. Maybe he'd been one of those rare hunters who actually had a life outside of the job.

Jody, however, wasn't nearly as interested. "Family home. Asa was just a guy," she said bluntly, already moving past them.

Jovi frowned slightly, but she didn't argue. Jody was hurting, and she wasn't going to push her.

As they stepped inside, the atmosphere hit her immediately.

The music was loud — classic rock, of course. There were hunters everywhere, most of them drinking, some of them laughing too hard for a funeral. Others were quieter, keeping to themselves, sipping their beers like they were trying to drown out whatever they were feeling.

Jovi felt like she'd just walked into some kind of alternate universe.

John Winchester had drilled it into their heads that hunter gatherings were dangerous. Full of backstabbers, drunks, and idiots who didn't know when to shut up. But looking around, all she saw was a bunch of people who actually seemed... connected. Like they belonged here.

She'd never seen that before. It was kind of weird.

"Jody!"

Jovi turned at the sound of an older woman's voice, watching as a woman approached with a warm but tired smile, arms open for Jody. "Oh, Jody. Thanks for comin'."

Jovi glanced at Jody, catching the way her shoulders tensed for just a second before she returned the hug.

"Loraine, of course. How you holding up?"

So this was Asa's mom.

Loraine let out a breath, shaking her nearly empty glass of whiskey. "Well, it's a house full of loud drunk hunters..." She raised her voice slightly, making sure everyone could hear. "And my son's dead body is in the parlour. But I haven't slit my wrists yet, so. Small victories."

Jovi swallowed.

She got it. She really did. When someone died in their world, it was never peaceful. It was violent, unexpected, unfair. And people dealt with it however they could —sometimes with humor, sometimes with alcohol. Sometimes both.

Sam offered her a sympathetic smile. "We're very sorry for your loss."

"I know," Loraine said simply, downing the rest of her drink before walking away.

Jovi exhaled through her nose, rocking back on her heels as she glanced at her dad. "So... this is gonna be fun."

Dean gave her a look like he was thinking the exact same thing.

Jovi wasn't sure what she had expected from a hunter's wake, but it definitely wasn't this. It was like someone had combined a funeral and a party and decided to turn the volume up on both. It didn't feel right. But at the same time, maybe this was the only way they knew how to deal with it.

Jovi crossed her arms, glancing around at the crowd. She wasn't sure where she fit into this. But then again, she wasn't sure she fit anywhere these days.

☆

𝑱𝒐𝒗𝒊 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 her dad through the crowd, making a beeline for the kitchen. The house was packed with hunters, all talking over one another, beers in hand, flannel as far as the eye could see. She wasn't sure what she'd expected, but it was definitely starting to feel like every hunter in existence was a borderline alcoholic. Her point was proven the second they reached the cooler — packed full of beer and nothing else. Jovi grimaced.

"Are all hunters raging alcoholics?" she muttered, crossing her arms. Dean pulled a bottle from the ice, turning it in his hand before narrowing his eyes. "No label. Well, that's a red flag."

"Nah, fully safe. I home-brewed it myself."

Jovi turned as another hunter walked over, plucking the bottle from Dean's hand. He popped the cap off with ease before handing it back. "Hope you like strong beer, buddy."

Dean hesitated — just for a second —but then took the bottle, tipping it to his lips.

Jovi didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, but if she had been paying attention, she might have caught the way he hesitated before taking a sip. The way his grip tensed just slightly.

He'd been cutting back.

It wasn't a big announcement, wasn't something he really talked about, but after Jovi's crash, he'd started