Jessica had stayed at Sam's apartment since the proposal, allowing them some time together. Sam had exhausted himself from all his nervous preparation for his interview, he deserved some down time and the newly engaged couple just wanted time to themselves. Her parents could wait a few days to hear the news, she was sure.
They spent their time watching movies in bed together, talking about their future and even beginning early wedding plans. They decided to throw a small engagement party, just their college friends and them, to celebrate. They were always the ones everyone thought would be first to marry.
"We'll find a perfect little house," Jess sighed dreamily, curled up in Sam's arms, "Not too big, just the right size to start a family of our own."
"In Palo Alto?" Sam ran his fingers through Jess' hair as they talked, resting his head on hers.
"Or San Francisco. Maybe Chicago, so we can be near my parents," Jessica grinned and looked up at her fiancé, "I bet you'd love that."
"Oh, sure. I'm their favourite person," Sam grinned, but turned serious for a moment, "How do you think they'll react to the news?"
Jess sat up with a reassuring smile, "Hey, they can think what they want. What matters is that I love you, and I want to become Mrs Winchester. They can't do anything about it."
The youngest Winchester chuckled softly and kissed her cheek, and Jessica giggled quietly as she cuddled close to him again.
"I can picture it already, Sam. Our own little family," she whispered, running her hand down his arm, "You'll be such a great father."
"I'm not so sure," Sam said a little sadly, "I'm not exactly good with kids."
"Sure you are, you just haven't had much experience," Jess smiled, "We'll have a boy and a girl, I think."
"A little girl who looks just like her mom. Her beautiful smile, her bright eyes," Sam leaned back against the headboard and held his fiancée close.
"And her Daddy's brains," Jess rested her head on the pre-law student's chest and closed her eyes, "Then a little boy, he'll be the double of you."
She looked up at Sam lovingly, "You'll be the best father our children could wish for, Sam. I know you will."
"I hope so," the younger Winchester kissed Jess' head affectionately and smiled to himself.
Three days after becoming engaged, Jess finally decided to call her parents and break the news. Despite her reassurance to Sam about them, she was still nervous. She hated how they viewed Sam and was dreading their reaction. Of course, they couldn't stop her marrying the one she loved, but their disapproval would certainly ruin things for her.
She made the call in Sam's bedroom while he wrote up an essay in the living room. Both sensed each other's nerves but said nothing, afraid of making each other worse. Sam just hoped the phone call would be quick – the Moores seemed to love having long-winded conversations at the most inconvenient times. Sam and Jess had a class in an hour's time and the former hunter hated to be late.
Jess left the bedroom around ten minutes later in complete silence. She smiled at Sam unconvincingly, putting her phone in her pocket and getting ready to go to class.
"Baby? Everything alright?" Sam frowned, getting up and wrapping an arm around her waist, "How were they?"
"As expected," Jess said a little quickly, "Not exactly throwing a party for me."
"I'm sorry," the youngest Winchester sighed, hugging her gently, "I wish I could do something to make them approve of me."
"Please don't," Jess smirked, "My parents' idea of a perfect husband for me? Some rich asshole who could provide me a lovely home for me to tend to the children. I'd take you over that any day."
Sam ran his hand through her hair softly, "You sure you're alright?"
"Yes," Jess reached up and pecked Sam on the lips, "Quit worrying, Winchester. C'mon, we've got class to go to."
Sam dropped Jess at the airport the next week so she could fly out to stay with her parents for the weekend. She hated flying but wouldn't let Sam take time out of his studying to drive her there, she knew how uncomfortable he felt when visiting her parents and didn't want him to waste a weekend just for her. Sam, stubborn as ever, had insisted he take her, however he met his match in Jessica Moore. She wore him down until he finally surrendered and agreed to stay home. She'd be fine, she promised him. It was just her parents, how bad could it be?
He spent his time studying, as usual, as well as looking at potential honeymoon destinations. There were so many places they wanted to go together, it was just down to deciding which would be the most special. Sam considered Disneyworld in Florida. They'd taken enough daytrips to Disneyland, perhaps the larger park would be a good place to go?
The pre-law student had fallen asleep on the couch while studying when he woke to his cell phone ringing. Jess had only been at her parents since the day before, why was she calling already? Perhaps she left something at his apartment.
"Hey," a small smile was on his lips, "Everything alright?"
"I'm at the airport," Jess' voice was shaking, "I'll be back in five hours, will you come pick me up?"
The smile disappeared, and Sam frowned, "Of course I will. Baby, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"No," his fiancée's voice cracked and she let out a small sob which made Sam's heart clench, "I can't stay here any longer."
"Alright, alright. I'll be there, we can talk then?" the pre-law student's voice was soft but thick with concern, "Hang in there, alright?"
"Mm-hmm," Jess sniffled and whimpered softly. It pained Sam to hear her so upset but being too far away to comfort her properly.
"I love you," he murmured, "So much."
"I love you too," Jess said quietly, "I'll see you later."
"I'll be waiting," Sam smiled slightly, sighing as she hung up. He knew he wouldn't get any work done for the next five hours, he'd be too busy worrying about Jess to concentrate.
The youngest Winchester didn't have to think too hard to work out why Jess was so upset. Her parents had told her they didn't approve of Sam's proposal, he was sure of it. He just wished they hadn't taken it out on her.
Arriving at the airport at least an hour before Jess was due to arrive, Sam sat at the arrivals gate with a coffee in hand and a book in his bag. He couldn't focus on it but it was worth a try, instead he just sat, eyes fixed on the arrivals board, and drank his coffee. Luckily Jess' flight wasn't delayed, the sooner she got back to him, the better.
The moment Jessica saw her fiancé, she ran into his arms. She burst into tears, burying her head in Sam's chest and clutching at him as he gently held her, one arm around her waist and the other hand holding the back of her head, stroking her hair.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," he whispered soothingly, "I'm here."
Jess cried into him, saying nothing at all. Sam picked up her bags and slung one of them over his shoulder, "Let's get you home."
With an arm around her shoulders, Sam led Jess back to the car, putting her luggage in the trunk. The car journey was silent but thankfully quick. He didn't know what to say to her, the car didn't seem like the best place to ask her what had happened, she had calmed down considerably but still looked shaken and upset. Her cell phone rang, but she made a point of rejecting the call and looking away.
Once her bags were inside, Sam sat his fiancée down on the couch in the living room. Jess knew she'd have to talk about it eventually, she just didn't want Sam to be upset. She'd sworn to herself that she wouldn't let her parents get to her but she'd failed. They hadn't even been allowed to drive her back to the airport.
Sam looked at her with gentle eyes; he didn't want to pressure her to talk but at the same time he wanted to help. He reached and took her hand, squeezing it encouragingly, "What happened, sweetheart?"
Jess' face crumpled and she started to cry again. She'd only just calmed down from the last time, she was so frustrated with herself.
"Mom and Dad," her voice shook with the force of her sobs, "They got mad. Mad at me for agreeing to marry you."
Sam frowned, although he wasn't surprised, "Mad at you?"
Jess nodded, "They told me I was throwing my life away, that I'm too young, that you're not good enough for me."
The last words made the former hunter's chest ache. Ever since they'd started dating, Sam had always felt so inadequate. He'd never felt good enough for this wonderful girl, who by some miracle found him attractive and desirable, her parents' views only reinforced this. Maybe he shouldn't have proposed, they were right. He was twenty-two, Jess was only twenty-one. She was only just old enough to legally drink, for god's sake. What was he doing, wanting to marry her already?
"I told them I was going to live my life how I wanted. That you're the one I love, of course you're good enough for me," Jess sniffled and rested her head on Sam's shoulder, her hand holding onto his. "But they wouldn't listen. They just kept telling me how wrong I was, saying crappy things about you. I couldn't take it, Sam. I couldn't stay there when all they were doing was telling me every fault they had with you."
It was Sam's turn to go silent. He just held Jess close as he had when he picked her up, sitting her on his knee and stroking her arm soothingly.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled, shaking his head, "I was too forward, I wasn't thinking. We're too young, I…"
"Sam!" Jess looked at him with a hurt expression, "Stop it! They were wrong to talk about you like that, they can't control us!"
Sam kissed her forehead softly and Jess gently reached and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Don't listen to them, baby. They can't stop me loving you, wanting to be with you. I'm the one who decides if you're good enough for me."
Jess took a nap, travelling always wore her out, and Sam couldn't shake the guilt clouding over him. He felt like he should do something, he hated her being alienated from her family because of him. He was the one they had the problem with, not her. Bending down to kiss her forehead, Sam left the room and dialled Jessica's family home.
"Peter Moore. Who is this?"
"It's, uh, Sam, sir. Sam Winchester," the youngest Winchester stuttered.
"Did Jessica get back safely?" his future father-in-law cut him off before he could talk.
"Yeah, she did. She's sleeping now," Sam sighed nervously, "I just, I wanted to talk to you."
Peter was hesitant before answering, "Sam, you have to understand-"
"It's alright if you don't like me, sir. It's okay. You don't have to like me, or even approve of me," the student ran a hand through his hair, "But please don't take it out on Jess."
"I admit, we said some harsh things to her, but we just want what's best for her. We want her to have the best."
Sam tried his best not to be hurt by that comment, he didn't need confirming that his fiancée's parents thought he wasn't good enough for her, "I know I'm not the best she could have. I know there are way better guys out there. But she's an adult, sir. Jess can make her own choices about these things. Believe me, I can't believe a girl as incredible as her could want to be with me, but I love her, I just want to make her happy. With all respect, sir, you should too."
Peter was silent for a while, causing Sam's fear to grow. Had he gone too far? He hadn't overstepped his mark, in his opinion.
"You're right," he sighed slowly, "Sam, you're right. Jessica is old enough to make her own decisions. If you're who she wants to settle down with, I can't exactly stop her."
Sam smiled a little in relief.
"Thank you, Sam. For calling and talking to me about this. I appreciate it must have taken a lot of courage," Peter's voice had softened, "I know you want to make my daughter happy."
"Thank you, sir. Jess was upset, I just wanted to make sure everything was alright," the former hunter sat on the couch and ran a hand through his hair, "I didn't want there to be tension between us, it's not fair on her."
"I agree it's not. It just came at a bit of a shock to us. You're both very young, we were concerned," Peter's voice briefly turned stern, "We wanted to invite you to dinner, Sam. So we can discuss plans with you and Jessica."
"Uh, sure," Sam nodded to himself, glad Jess' father couldn't see the grimace on his face. He'd been to dinner at their home several times before and every time it had been a painfully awkward experience. It seemed to be more of an opportunity to interrogate Sam than enjoy a family dinner, but for Jess' sake he always accepted the invitations.
"Great. Well, we'll see you soon. Give my love to Jess," Peter hung up abruptly, and Sam put his cell down on the coffee table. He needed a beer after that.
"You called my Dad?" Jess was in the doorway, her eyes a little puffy from crying.
"I hated seeing you so upset, baby," her fiancé walked over to her, pulling her close, "I seem to have got your Dad to see reason. He's even invited me to dinner."
Jess nuzzled close to him, resting her head on his chest, "Seriously? Not even an apology, just, "come to dinner?" Sounds like my Dad…"
"Right now I'm just glad he's not hunting me down for proposing to you," Sam grinned, kissing her forehead softly and giving her a gentle squeeze.
"Thank you, Sam," Jess whispered softly, "You sure know how to fix everything."