Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Supernatural! How uncool! I think I might get someone to invest in a t-shirt for me, at least! So…yes. All of the creative genius belongs to Eric Kripke, who I would like to thank for giving all us fanfictioners some fun characters and storylines to play around with. Kudos, Kripke!

Author's Note: Yessss! Supernatural! I love this show unequivocally (except perhaps for House). Just a few notes before we begin, readers. This story is AU-ish and definitely set before Route666. And coming to you un-beta-d (how on earth do you spell that?) so even though I have proofed and spell checked, may be a few minor errors. Let me know and will change ASAP! And, we are a few thousand episodes behind in Australia which all affects how my little brain spins in its wheel. So anyway, hopefully you will enjoy and review (if you can be fagged!).

Four Years

Chapter One

Every four years. 1461 days. Every four years he would return. The ranger, the rugged explorer, the wandering adventurer – every four years he would come home.

Yet here Dean Winchester sat, in the driver's seat of his car, uncharacteristic nerves making him the grip the steering wheel tightly.

"You have to go in there." His brother Sam. His little brother, pointing out, as little brothers do, the fact that he was blissfully ignoring.

"I know."

Sam cocked his head a little – his feign of mental processing. "So…just go in there."

Dean tilted his face so he could fix him with a 'you-aren't-helping' stare. "Dude, it's not that simple."

"Of course it is, you open the car door - "

"Ok, dude, slightly more complicated than that."

"But all you have to do is get out - "

"I know, I know what I have to - "

"So I don't see what's - "

"Like I said, it's a little more complex - "

"But I don't understand, all you have to do is - "

"Ok, fine, dude! I'm leaving. Happy!" Dean shut the car door hard, huffily pulling the bottom of his leather jacket straight and shrugging his shoulders to adjust the sit, muttering under his breath.

Dust made little clouds at his feet as he walked across the car park, the insipid light emanating from the small diner casting his shadow as a lonesome cowboy. Passing another car, Dean spied a reflection of himself in one of the windows – tipping himself a wink to boost his lagging confidence – the absence of that itself enough to be a worry.

Pushing open the diner doors, the same smell rushed to greet him. The same smell, time after time. It was busy, but not too busy – a Saturday night. A group of four sat in the corner, two guys and two girls, around Dean's own age. Two had their backs to him, a guy and a girl. From the way they were sitting he guessed just married – the girl was leaning into her husband and he had his arm stretched protectively along the seat. The other two were facing the door, directly in Dean's line of sight. The second guy looked like a square; he had glasses and short dark hair and while that didn't make him altogether that unhandsome, he reminded Dean a little too much of his geeky brother. The girl seated next to him was pretty. She had dark blonde hair and brown eyes and though she wasn't very skinny she had a happy face and laughing eyes.

As Dean watched, the guy facing him threw the girl an admiring look – she met his eyes but looked away quickly, as if embarrassed by his affection. Her eyes roved the room to find a place to consolidate her discomfort, and her eyes travelled over Dean. For a moment they stared outright, Dean feeling very obvious against his surroundings. Then a strange look flitted across her face and the moment passed, the conversation at the table lured the girl back in and Dean looked at the floor.

Taking a deep breath and savouring the food-scented air, Dean turned and went out through the doors again. So, maybe his courage failed him? No big deal. Well, maybe it was a big deal, but Dean wasn't thinking of that. He was trying to think of what he was going to say to Sam so he wouldn't get ribbed for the rest of his life.

Sighing and rubbing a harassed hand through his hair, Dean pushed his hands into his jacket and stepped off the curb, crossing the dirt once more. Behind him, the doors swung open, admitting another patron into the cool night air.

"It's been awhile Dean."

Dean turned, halfway across the car park. She stepped out of the pool of light, her hair fluttering in the breeze behind her. Hie nerves left him and he felt his confident personality return, but his heart rate doubled and he smiled. He really had missed her. She was just like he remembered; her sharp but warm-hearted eyes, the cheeky smile, the way she fiddled with her clothes because she was self-conscious about her figure. She looked familiar and comfortable, although somewhat more drawn then Dean recalled.

"Charlotte." He spoke the name with something akin to relief. He wasn't sure if she had even seen him – but even if she hadn't and he had had to leave town without speaking to her and only catching sight of her once, it would have been good to see her.

She frowned. "Dean Michael Winchester. How many times have I told you, I grew out of that when I was seven."

Dean grimaced at the sound of his full name. Nobody ever called him that except his Dad. "Me too. I guess we're even now."

"I guess we are."

"Sorry I interrupted your dinner."

This time she smiled, taking in his appearance. He looked older, a few more scars on his handsome face. "I'm not."

He laughed. "That guy looked familiar. Did he go to the same school as us?"

Charlotte nodded. "Luke."

Dean made a face. "Luke. The captain of the chess club, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "Being the top of our biology class doesn't mean he was captain nerd of the universe."

"He was top of biology? I thought you were top of biology."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Shows how much you pay attention."

Dean smiled cheekily. "You'd be surprised at what I payed attention to."

He took a few steps forward and she walked forward to greet him. Without breaking eye contact he pulled her into a hug and when they pulled apart he lowered his face to hers. She didn't blink or draw away but just stared docilely back at him, so he leaned in and kissed her.

Charlotte refused to acknowledge her madly beating heart and despite herself pulled him closer. She refused also to let the tears that threatened warmly behind her eyelids to break their barriers and spill down her face. She hated this; she was smart and she knew she shouldn't let him do this. She knew he shouldn't be allowed to come and go in and out of her life whenever he pleased; she hated him for what he did to her, how every time he broke her heart…but every four years, when he came back and kissed her, she forgave him everything.

But then she reminded herself that this was fun and she was involved in this by choice, and she tried to tame the surging guilt that had suddenly roared up inside of her. But as he pulled away to draw breath there was a tenderness in his eyes that made her forget her shame and sadness, and as he folded her into his arms a second time she thought that no one did ever quite hug her the way that he did.

Dean didn't really know what attracted him to Charlie. If he saw her walking down the street he wouldn't whistle or toot his horn. But there was something insatiable about her – she was what Sam called atypical. Dean guessed that made her different and she was: beautiful in her own way, smart and sexy and with a tongue almost as sharp as his.

His head was resting on top of hers and as he breathed in, the smell of her hair circled around in his nose. It had been a long time since he had held anyone. The silence spiralled until Dean started to feel uncomfortable with his vulnerability. Fortunately, she knew how he would feel and drew away.

"I assume that that is just an innovative new way for you to meet chicks but also check if they are being possessed by evil spirits?"

Dean coughed. "Of course. Flirtatious yet fun. And I can't afford to take any chances in my position."

"I assume you mean the position you want to be in later." She cocked an eyebrow.

"Well, positions are negotiable. Depending on your preferred rate of pay."

She snorted. "Don't tell me you are going to pawn your car."

Dean looked horrified. "How dare you suggest I sell my first born!"

Charlie laughed. "Shut up."

Dean grinned, feeling contented. "Come on, let's go."

Charlie frowned. "Not back to my place you're not. Mum's staying with me for awhile and you know what she did last time."

Dean looked thoughtful, but then winked and caught her hand, pulling her towards the car. "Well I guess we will just go where my baby takes us."

TBC