My cellphone which was lying on the bedside table went off, and I went over to get it. "Since when are you Mr. Punctuality?" I asked Dean before picking up. "Hello?"
                          
"Rayne?"
                          
Smiling into the receiver, I held up a finger for Dean to wait while I quickly stepped back into the bathroom. "Mom. Hi!"
                          
"Is it safe to call you now?"
                          
I laughed as I tried to hop up to sit on the bathroom counter. My heels weren't high enough, however, and my long dress made it a tad too difficult, so I opted for sitting on the closed toilet lid instead. "Yes, Mom. It's safe to call. And heck, you can even wish me a happy belated birthday."
                          
My mom made an exaggerated gasp on the other end of the line. "You're allowing me to say those three cursed words?"

                          
Ever since my dad's passing, I allowed my mom to acknowledge my birthday only the day after. On October 25th. We would usually just order in a pizza and watch an old movie together — no presents, no cake, and especially no monkey pancakes. It was simply a little salutation to the fact that I spent exactly eight months and twenty three days in my mother's uterus and then successfully came out.
                          
Actually celebrating it, however, was not something that I was ready for. I only made an exception for the Winchester brothers because between Sam's puppy dog eyes and Dean's smoldering smile, it was nearly impossible to say no.
                          
"We actually had a little party of sorts ourselves here last night," I told her. "Sam even got me presents!"
                          
"So they've broken you down, huh?"
                          
"Yup, I guess they did."
                          
"Well, remind me to thank them next time I see you three kids."
                          
I could hear the smile in her voice. She'd been trying to put an end to my funk about my birthday for a while now. "I'll do that."
                          
"So, what did Sam get you?" she asked.
                          
"A magical card that will support my overpriced coffee addiction as well as two tickets to a music concert that Dean and I are about to head off to."
                          
"Sounds like he knows you pretty well."
                          
"Yes, he does." I smiled. 
                          
"Where are you, guys, anyways?"
                          
"Joliet, Illinois."
                          
"Oh, that's nice," she said, but it sounded like she didn't even hear my answer. When there was a slight pause, I knew she was thinking of something else. "You know, you got lucky with those two," she finally said. "Not every girl gets a smart, caring, capable, and not to mention drop-dead-gorgeous guy who loves her. And you have not one but two of those!"
                          
"Yeah, I guess I do," I said, chuckling slightly.
                          
"I'm really glad you all have each other."
                          
"Me too. I don't know where I'd be without them."
                          
"Never give up on each other, okay?"
                          
The serious question threw me off for a second. "No, of course not. We'd never dream of it."
                          
"I'm serious, Rayne," she said. "I expect to see the day when you and Dean are getting married and Sam is both Dean's best man and your Maid of Honor."
                          
My laughter echoed in the small bathroom. "Mom, you do know that you're gonna be my Maid of Honor, right?"
                          
"You're right." She laughed as well. "I don't think Sam will look as good as me in a dress."
                          
"Definitely not as good as you."
                          
"He doesn't have the puppies that I do."
                          
"Mom!"