The next morning, Dean awoke before Emerson and he sighed contentedly, his nose in her hair. She had asked him to stay with her last night and he'd obliged in the innocent invitation. She'd been vulnerable and Dean was that quiet presence she'd needed right then. In front of him, the young woman shifted slightly, her backside pressed against his groin. Dean squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself not to move, his body wanting to press forward to seek even more contact with hers. She sighed softly and relaxed again.

Dean opened his eyes again and he wet his lips. This was his friend, Sam's friend, Bobby's niece. He'd been fighting the not so platonic feelings he'd been having for her.

For months now.

Emerson was this amazingly smart woman who didn't care what people thought, but at the same time actually gave a damn. She was sarcastic and funny and gave him shit when he needed to be brought back down to earth.

Emerson shifted again, this time to her back. Dean was looking over at her now and her eyes fluttered open to meet his green ones. She looked confused, then relieved. "Dean."

"Mornin' Juno."

She wet her lips before speaking again. "What time is it?"

"Mornin', Juno."

"Smartass."

"You love me."

"I know." They were quiet for a moment. "Dean? I'm sorry for getting all chick flick on you last night."

"You don't need to apologize."

Her gaze held his. "It just sucks."

"Preaching to the choir,"

"Doesn't it drive you crazy? To not come home to someone?"

"I have Sam." He cracked and the redhead gave him a mock glare. "I have you."

"I meant a woman."

Dean hesitated before he spoke the next words. "Again, I come home to you."

"Someone you love, Dean."

He gave her a hard look. "You don't think I care about you?"

"I said love, Dean."

His emerald gaze burned into her steely gray one. "I do, though."

She shifted next to him, pulling the blanket up some more to her chin. "You love me?" Emerson's tone displayed her obvious skepticism. "Right." Her smirk appeared and he huffed.

"I do."

"Then say it, Dean."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

Dean struggled with an answer that he deemed acceptable as she gazed up at him. "Me and Sammy... anyone we... love or who loves us... is like a death sentence." His emotional words hung heavy in the air between them.

The redhead considered that for two seconds before her eyes softened and she moved her gaze back to his troubled one. "Well, I love you, Dean Winchester." A beat passed. "So death can kiss my ass." His eyes crinkled at the sides when he smiled at her genuine words. Emerson giggled softly, watching a light blush work its way onto his cheeks. "Good. I was worried that would be awkward."

"Shuddup."

She shifted to face him. "Dean?"

"Hm?" He murmured as she snuggled into him, her hand smoothing around his torso, grazing his warm skin. Emerson watched him watch her, amusement on her features. She studied his features, noting the freckles sprinkled across his nose and cheeks. He really was beautiful, she decided.

"You can sleep in here anytime. You kept me so nice and warm." Emerson sighed against him contentedly.

"So you won't get mad if I came in here sometimes?"

"Not at all."

"Good." Dean kissed her crown of messy hair. "C'mon. I'll make you pancakes."

"Marry me, Winchester."

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Sam was already up and dressed, sipping his coffee when he heard Dean and Emerson coming up the hall together. He felt her wrap her arms around his neck from behind as she leaned down to plant a kiss on his cheek. "Hey moose." Sam patted her forearm and she let got a second later, heading towards the caffeine.

"Mornin'," Dean's gruff voice came from behind him and he slid onto one of the chairs across from Sam, still wearing his pajama pants and a robe. Sam's eyes moved up from his newspaper to his brother and then to the woman behind him, moving toward them with two empty mugs and the coffee pot.

"No milk or honey?" Sam murmured as she poured two mugs of black coffee for herself and for Dean. She sat down by Sam.

"Well, I'm a grownup now..."

Dean laughed softly. "You're 32. Took you long enough."

She shot him a look before she leaned in to glance at her horoscope on the back of the first section of newspaper Sam was holding. "What's mine say today?"

Sam chuckled as he folded the paper over before he read to her. "Scorpio... today is the day your life changes. Be honest with yourself and you will never go wrong." His eyes moved to her and she considered that thoughtfully. "Big plans for today or something?"

"Not yet, but it's still early." She sipped her coffee and made a face. "Okay, I'm not ready to be a grownup yet. Ugh... this needs milk and honey." The two men laughed softly. She got back up to fix her coffee the way she liked it, taking the coffee pot back to the warmer.

"Did you sleep with her last night?" Sam hissed under his breath, leaning across the table some. Dean gave him a bored look. "Dean..."

"She asked me to." He hissed back, glancing at the young woman in her pajamas behind him before looking back at his brother. "It's fine."

"You are such a-," Sam shut up when she moved back to the table, savoring the flavor of her coffee. He shot his older brother another look, silently telling Dean that this discussion was not over.

Emerson opened the container of birthday brownies from the night before and plucked one out to eat with her coffee.

"I thought I was making pancakes." Dean finally spoke when she finished the brownie and licked her forefinger and sucked her thumb. His green eyes watched her. "Hm?"

"Let's be lazy. How about you make them tomorrow?"

"Fine." Sam's eyes went back and forth between them. Dean pulled a brownie out of the container as well to eat with his black coffee. Emerson finished her coffee and set down her mug.

"I'm gonna grab a shower." Was all she said before leaving her mug on the table. They listened to her footsteps fade before Sam picked right up where he'd left off.

"Damnit Dean," He began and the older man rolled his eyes. "You slept with Emmy?"

"Yeah. Slept."

Sam slammed the newspaper down on the table. "Dean, just for once, could you keep your dick in your pants?" That made Dean laugh out loud, pissing Sam off even more. "Would you have done that if Bobby was still alive?" Dean shook with silent laughter. "Damnit."

"She asked me to stay, so I stayed." Pause. "We slept together, just like we have a bunch of other times." Dean's eyes twinkled. "No sex, Sam. Just sleeping." He saw his little brother calm a little. "Okay? So quit getting your panties in a bunch. I have some self control, y'know."

"Okay." His shoulders relaxed some as Dean threw back the rest of his coffee and rose from the metal bunker table. He set the two mugs in the sink before crossing the kitchen to grab a shower. "Wait... other times?" Sam heard Dean's chuckle as he walked down the hall.

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Emerson had just started drying her hair when she heard Sam's voice. "Emmy?"

"Yeah?" Her voice was coming from her bathroom. Sam stepped inside and glanced at her unmade bed before crossing the room to lean against her bathroom doorway, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror. "Uh oh... what's that look for?"

He crossed his arms over his chest and chose his words carefully. "Did... Dean sleep in here last night?" She stopped brushing her damp hair and turned to face him, confusion on her features.

"Yeah, he did." Sam nodded quietly, studying her for signs of regret, but came up empty. "Sammy?"

He just shook his head slightly. "Nothing. Nevermind."

"Spill."

"It's nothing."

Emerson set down her hairbrush and asked him quietly. "Since when did we start lying to each other?" That made his hazel eyes close. "Sam?"

"You and I both know..." He struggled to soften the words. "How Dean is... I just don't want you to get the wrong-,"

She held up a hand. "What?"

"You slept with my brother last night." Sam clarified and she nodded slowly, not quite understanding why he was tiptoeing around.

"Oh my gosh Sam," Realization dawned on her. "We didn't..." Her eyes were wide. "I was upset and we got to talking..."

His brow wrinkled. "Upset about what?" She shook her head.

"Long story." Emerson sighed softly. "He was sweet. I asked him to stay. It's no big deal."

"Okay."

"You look like you don't believe me."

Sam smirked. "I'm dying to know what you two discussed."

Emerson averted her eyes from his gaze, somewhat shyly. "It was private. If he wants to tell you, fine. But I saw a side of your brother that I never thought existed."

"That existed clothed?"

Emerson swatted him playfully. "Yes clothed. Mostly."

Sam was trying to figure out if Dean had confessed his feelings for her, something Sam had suspected he'd been harboring for months. "Okay." He felt her hug his side and he smiled at their reflection in the mirror. She was only about 5'4'' and he towered over her. "I love you, Emmy."

"I love you too Sam."

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