"Now, you know we're always happy to take Sammy," says Mrs. Harvelle, looking at dad, "but are you sure you have to go?"

"We've never been religious folk, Ellen," says dad. "We've never celebrated Easter before."

"I'm not telling you how to live your life, or how to raise your boy," says Mrs. Harvelle. "But it wouldn't hurt to have some time when you make sure you're around."

"Ellen," says Mr. Harvelle, "we understand. But this is urgent. If we don't go tonight--"

"A lot more people will die. I know. So you all get gone. But you better be home for Christmas, mister. You too, John."

Dad laughs--Sammy never sees that. "Yes, ma'am."

"Sammy," says Ellen, squatting down. "You run along and play with Dean and Jo, okay?"

He doesn't like Jo much. She's a year older than him and never shuts up about it, even though he's almost five too. But Dean is nice to him. Maybe Dean wants to play trucks.

"Hey, Sammy," says Dean. Dean's nine, which is way better than Jo anyway. "You here for Easter?"

Sammy nods. He doesn't really know what Easter means, but he heard it was today.

"You gonna get the visit from the Easter bunny?" Dean asks.

Sammy stares, wide-eyed. "Easter bunny?"

"You don't know about the Easter bunny?"

Sammy shakes his head. "Is that a monster?"

Dean laughs. "Nah. Come on, I'll tell you about it."

*

Sammy wakes up in Dean's bed--they always get to share when he stays--and there are two baskets next to them, full of chocolate and candy. Sammy and Dean eat the ears off their bunnies first, and then stuff their cheeks with Reese's cups.

The next night, Sam has a stomachache, and dad comes home alone.

It's a long time before Sam realizes Mr. Harvelle isn't coming back, and he isn't going to see Dean and Jo ever again.