Jared was taught from a very young age to value all the little things in life, for they could transcend into larger things that could eventually affect his life in every positive way possible. Jared was brought up to never look down on a person, regardless of their past and how they used to be, purely due to the fact that people do change and that there will always be more chances for everyone. Ever since he entered the world a little over three decades ago, Jared's eyes sparkled with curiosity, ever so determined to delve deeper into certain topics and to not take things at face value.

However, out of all the things that Jared was and was not, he was definitely kind-hearted. In a small town of 1300, everybody knew everybody and no one was ever left out of the town's day to day activities or occasional festivities. Additionally to this, Jared was known as the town's sweetheart. Rare visitors, when visiting Coronation County, were given the opportunity to be flashed a gigantic, dimpled smile from the six foot four fellow. Despite Jared's seemingly warm and empathetic demeanor, Jared knew that there was only one thing that his life lacked: someone to fall in love with. Jared was lonely. He wanted a man to call his own; someone to grow old with. Jared was much too busy with his life to even consider the concept of settling down with a man at the moment. However, on one cold winter night, everything changed that. And it all changed with a knock to the door. Jared sighed heavily and bit at his lips. He really wasn't in the mood to socialize with anyone on this cold winter night, contrary to most nights, so he was hesitant about doing so. Jared cautiously stood to his feet and made his way into the hallway. The hallway was engulfed in brisk air which made Jared want to cough but he held it in. He had a feeling about the visitor on the other side of the door, not necessarily a negative feeling but just the feeling of not knowing.

He finally arrived at the door. His fingers lingered on the knob, apprehensive about what he had done so many nights before but yet this felt different. So different. The potential outcomes swallowed his mind and drowned them in the words of what he would never say; about what he was feeling. He took a deep breath and turned the knob, only to reveal a decent looking man of about thirty-or so years, rugged, handsome features adorning his face. His lips were a dusty purple due to the cold and his eyes were a steely green, the greenest Jared had ever laid eyes on. At this moment, Jared felt his stomach pooling with an emotion he never felt before. He clenched his jaw and continued to take in the appearance of the man before his eyes. The man was wearing jeans that resembled Swiss cheese and boots with an abundant amount of holes around the toe and heel area. Jared gulped and opened the door wider as his eyes scoped the man even further. The man's jacket was tattered and barely left anything to the imagination due to the fact that he was shirtless underneath it. Jared's eyes travelled up to the man's own and took them in again. He was marveled by the hue of them, a deep green dipped in willow bark undertones. Healing, Jared thought to himself. He shook himself out of his reverie and swallowed hard for possibly the hundredth time since laying eyes on the man.

"What do ya want?" he asked, his voice shaking lightly. He felt himself nearly go weak as the man struggled to speak.

"I-I need a place to stay, Sir. I won't be n-no harm. Please," the man begged as he wrapped his arms around himself. Jared finally coughed.

"Do you have a name, boy?" he asked, despite the fact that he knew that the man was probably no older or younger than he was. The man nodded shakily.

"Yessir. The name is Jensen. Jensen Ackles. I-I-I need shelter. Just a bit of shelter for a few days. I won't be a pest. I promise, sir," he assured. Something about the way Jensen kept referring to Jared as 'sir' made Jared's stomach pool with a few tremors of pleasure and authority that he never felt before. Jared nodded at the man.

"Very well then. Come on in then. Don't be shy," he ordered, letting the stranger in. Jensen nodded submissively and entered the home. Jared closed the door behind him before swiftly taking the opportunity to watch Jensen's ass as he walked into the main hallway. Jared bit his lips in frustration. What was he feeling right now? Jensen briefly turned around and looked at Jared.

"Can I do anything for you, sir? I will do anything to make my stay not completely useless," he begged again, walking over to Jared. Jared gulped in arousal at the hidden meanings he was giving to Jensen's words.

"Tell me about yourself, boy. How old are ya?" Jared asked, taking a step closer. His heart thumped wildly in his chest, his mind racing over possibilities, consequences, beliefs and strife. He was much too worried, his throat dry, his bones cold in apprehension over the idea of not being enough for his sudden visitor.

"I'm a man of thirty six years. Thirty-six years, sir. Does that shock you? I've been told to appear older than those years," Jensen explained. Jared was younger than the man before him, causing his knees to sway. The fleshy, pink color had returned to Jensen's lips. Jared finally closed the gap between the two of them, his heart racing.

"I'm only thirty-four and let me tell you, you look as young as they come. And as beautiful," Jared mumbled quickly, absentmindedly brushing his fingertips against the soft flesh of Jensen's lips. Jensen closed his eyes in contentment as Jared continued to thumb at his bottom lip. He captured them with his teeth, his half-lidded eyes gazing at Jared through thick eyelashes. Upon realization of his actions, Jared removed his fingers. Jensen's knees buckled as Jared walked around him.

"Are you..." Jensen asked, his heart plunging to the soles of his feet. Jared nodded and clenched his hands.

"Yes. I'm gay. Are you?" Jared wondered, hoping for the best. Jensen nodded.

"I am." Jared sighed in relief and straightened his posture.

"I'll show you to your room. You may take a shower if you'd like to. I recommend it. You look as though you had a long journey," Jared explained, guiding Jensen over to the nearest vacant bedroom. Jensen nodded.

"You live alone?" Jensen asked, hoping that the lovely man who had decided to give him shelter was single and solitude. Jared nodded, sighing heavily.

"Indeed. It gets quite lonely up here, but I try to make the best of it. There's nothing to do but do that, you know?" Jared explained. Jensen nodded and pursed his lips in thought as he arrived at the doorway of the nearest bedroom.

"But it doesn't have to be that way forever. Sometimes the right person comes around and changes everything. Trust me," Jensen assured, staring up at Jared. Jensen moved in closer to Jared, causing Jared to panic slightly. The proximity was slowly killing him.

"I feel so drawn to you. Call me crazy for feeling this way. Please just... just don't tell me that you don't feel it, too," Jensen pleaded. Jared gulped and clenched his jaw in defiance.

"You should rest. It's much needed. I'll see you in the morning," he assured, his voice cracking at his last few words. His eyes began to well with tears as he turned away from Jensen and began to make his way down the hallway to his own bedroom.

"I don't even know your name," Jensen added. Jared wiped at a stray tear before turning to face him again.

"Jared. Jared Padalecki," he stated. The tension was evident in his bones as Jensen walked over to him. Jared subconsciously pulled Jensen's body to his own once he was at arm's reach. Jensen smelled like cold rain and tears, cigarette butts and stale aftershave, lies and getaways, mint candy and lost memories. Jared wrapped his arms around the diameter of Jensen's waistline and stared down at him. Jensen was beautiful under the dim lighting of Jared's cozy home, his cheeks a rosy pink, his green eyes remaining in the depths of willow bark. Before Jared could allow his thoughts to travel any further, he swooped downwards and captured Jensen's lips in his. A minty sensation exploded across his lips and invaded the inner walls of his cheeks, filling his lungs with the oxygen that he was missing all of his life. He swayed out of the kiss and leaned his forehead against the stranger's.

"You're not crazy," Jared promised. Jensen's eyes glistened with tears as he kissed Jared again. They moaned simultaneously, Jared's nimble fingers tearing off what was left of Jensen's jacket. Jensen halted the kiss.

"We shouldn't. I'm being silly. We honestly shouldn't. I should sleep. I can't... Goodnight, Jared. I'll see you in the morning," he explained, his bare chest heaving in arousal. Jared's eyes flickered in possession as he grabbed onto Jensen's wrists. He crossed them and brought them over his head as he backed him up into the wall.

"I always get what I want. Can't I get you?" Jared asked. Jensen gulped and nodded.

"Take me, then."