Disclaimer: I don't own anything Supernatural or whatnot, it is all property of the CW11 network. So don't sue and please don't be offended by the language cause it's gonna be colorful to say the least.

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Chapter 9: Of Grand Family Dinners and a Young Mortal Who Bares an Uncanny Resemblance to a Tomato

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Dean let a small smile grace his lips as he and Sam finally caught sight of the doors to the main dining hall of Winchester Manor. With his enhanced vampire's hearing, Dean could hear Sam's heart pounding like a drum set to a fast tempo. It was quite obvious that the young mortal walking beside the Vampire Prince was very, very nervous about the impending meeting with the rest of the coven. Dean turned his smiling gaze to his mortal intended and felt his smile widen. Even with all of the nervousness and uncertainty that was clearly showing on his face, Sam looked absolutely breath-taking in Dean's eyes. The vampire once again thank whatever cosmic forces had been at work for making Sam his eternal soul mate. The vampire and the mortal came to stop before the pair of grand, mahogany doors that were graced with intricate and delicate looking carvings, and the Winchester seal gilded in what looked to be authentic silver and gold over the seam of where the two doors met.

" There's no need to be nervous Sammy, everybody behind these doors is gonna like you, maybe even love you at first sight." Said Dean with a mischievous little glint in his eyes.

Upon hearing these words, Same face immediately took on an expression of astonishment, which quickly morphed into a look of slight embarrassment as his cheeks flushed a bright red. Dean almost grinned as he watched this unfold, silently marveling at how a young man of Sam's stature could still be so adorable.

" Dean please, you're not helping to ease my nerves here." Said Sam without looking up at Dean as he tried desperately to battle back the flush that stained his cheeks.

Still smiling, Dean decided to make his move while Sam wasn't really looking at him. Sam let out a startled gasp as a strong arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him flush against a solid body. Sam found himself gazing into a pair of smiling emerald green eyes, as mere inches separated his face from Dean's.

" Dean what?-" Sam began when Dean's cool fingertip in the seam of his lips effectively silenced him.

Dean for his part, didn't speak a word or make any other sound, he simply met Sam's moss-green eyes head on and continued to smile. Sam twitched nervously in Dean's hold, but did not move to struggle against the vampire. Dean slowly reached up and gently cupped one of Sam's still flushed cheeks with his free hand. The moment they touched, Sam let out a small gasp as he felt a strange and powerful warmth that seemed to spread through his entire body. Without realizing it, Sam leaned into Dean hand and let his eyes flutter shut.

" Everything is alright Sam, you're safe here with me, and the rest of my family. You are now one of the members of this house, and we will guard you like we guard each other, with our very lives." Said Dean, his voice a low rumble that had a small thrill running up Sam's spine.

Sam opened his eyes and stared at Dean with silent wonder written across his face. Before he could help it, Sam found himself smiling at Dean, and feeling ten-times more sure of himself and that everything was alright.

" Thank you Dean." He said softly.

" Don't mention it Sammy." Replied Dean.

" It's Sam." Countered Sam with a small glint of mischief in his own eyes now.

Dean let out a small huff of laughter and lightly rolled his eyes before he reluctantly let go of Sam and spoke.

" C'mon man, let's get this show on the road, cause I'm starving here." He said with his signature swag.

Sam smiled and nodded, finally feeling like he could go and meet the rest of Dean's family without thinking that they'd see him as an appetizer, they were vampires after all.

Dean nodded and then led the way to the grand doors.

" It's showtime." Said Dean before he reached up, placed his palm on the center of the emblem gilded over the place where the doors met, and pushed.

The great hall had been all but buzzing with exciting conversations about the much anticipated arrival of the King's son and his newly found intended. The hall was almost packed with a large number of members of the Winchester clan.

The two current rulers of t he clan, John and Doc, were conversing with Bobby Singer and a few members of the royal record keepers staff. They were all sharing a light laugh at Bobby's expense when John and Doc both went silent mid chuckle. The faint sound of the main doors being opened caught both of their sharp ears and had them alert to the incoming arrivals.

" They've finally arrived." Said Doc with a wide smile.

Even though he had spoken this with normal volume, the entire hall went completely silent, as though Doc may as well have yelled it out.

Vampire hearing.

All eyes went to the grand doors that led into the massive dining hall, the members of the coven eagerly awaiting the much anticipated arrival of their future ruler and his newly discovered mate. The grand doors swung away to reveal Dean, looking as handsome as he usually did, but it was the sight of the very tall and striking young man that Dean was lightly pulling into the dining hall with him that had everyone quietly murmuring in excitement.

Dean smiled brightly and came to stop just a few feet away from the large gathering of his fellow vampires and spoke.

" Hello family." He said with a bright grin.

In almost perfect unison, all the people in the dining hall save from John and Doc bowed in silent reverence before they spoke as one.

" Good evening Dean."

They would've gone further by saying 'Prince Dean', but they knew full well that Dean wasn't a real stickler for formalities unless it was absolutely necessary. Being addressed by his given name was enough for the vampire prince.

John and Doc quickly made their way through the crowd to get to their son and his clearly very nervous intended.

" Glad you could finally make it kiddo." Smiled John as he clapped a firm hand on his son's shoulder.

" Hey Dean, hey Sam." Smiled Doc as he reached out and gave Sam's upper arm a brief squeeze in comfort and support.

Sam sent Doc an appreciative look before he quickly averted his gaze to the floor yet again, feeling very out of depth and shy after seeing so many people openly looking right at him and Dean.

John smiled tenderly at the newest member of his family as he spoke.

" How are you Sam?" He asked softly.

Sam looked up to meet John's deep brown eyes and felt some of his nervousness ease a little as he spoke.

" I'm okay sir." He said, though he wasn't fooling anyone. He was scared as Hell, despite all of the reassurances.

John smiled warmly before he reached out with deliberate slowness and gently gripped Sam's shoulder. Sam for his part, smiled back as best he could, all the while feeling a blush slowly creeping into his cheeks.

Dean smiled at the sight before he remembered that an introduction had yet to be made.

" Sammy, c'mere." Said Dean.

Sam swallowed nervously, but complied. He stepped forward and came to stand next to Dean as they faced the coven.

" Everyone, this is Samuel Colter, my future bloodbond, and your future co-ruler." Said Dean loud enough for all to hear.

Sam looked at all of the pale, smiling faces and spoke.

" H-Hi." He said with a nervous little smile and a wave, finding it slightly hard to breath once Dean had mention the significant roles he was meant to play, both to the Vampire Prince, and to the Coven as a whole.

In response, the coven members all moved as one. They all stepped forward and then smoothly bowed before Sam as they spoke in unison.

" Good evening Samuel Colter."

Sam immediately felt the hairs on the back of his next stand on end, because he could clearly hear the quite respect in the collective of voices, and in all his life, no one had ever really addressed him in such a manner. It was slightly overwhelming to experience. A firm hand on his shoulder had Sam looking to see John standing beside him with a warm smile on his face.

" It's a lot to take in, I know." Said the Vampire King as he gave the young man's shoulder a firm squeeze.

" Y-Yeah, it kind of is." Agreed Sam.

" Well, let's not waste any more time, everybody's been chompin' at the bit to finally meet you, so let's get the introductions started." Said John with a grin.

Sam nodded just as Dean seemed to materialize by his side. The Vampire Prince smiled at his intended, who smiled back as they followed John into the large crowd.

Although the vampires of the Coven were close, they all managed to keep a respectful distance from Sam, Dean, and John. One by one, John started called small groups over and introducing them to Sam.

Sam smiled back nervously at the smiling pale faces of the other vampires loyal to John. One by one, John introduced the members of the vampire family to his son's mortal intended. The other vampires remained at a respectable distance.

Sam was introduced to Bobby Singer's record keeping staff, members of Gordon Walker's security team, and members of Doc's medical staff. Then came several other member of the coven.

Sam had just finished shyly greeting one of Doc's nurses when a blond head of hair seemed to materialize out of nowhere, right under his nose. Sam looked down and found himself staring into a pair of beaming, chocolate brown eyes. They belonged to a female vampire who was a good foot shorter than Sam. The way she was smiling lit up her pale, alabaster face. From where he towered over the as of yet unknown vampire, Sam found himself shyly smiling back. She was a very beautiful, dressed in a simple but elegant lavender colored dress. Focusing on this as of yet unknown vampire helped Sam with his uneasiness, because he could feel the many eyes that were silently taking him in. Sam felt like he was one display, but the stares were appreciative and curious, not the glares and hateful glowered that he had known for most of his life. It was an alien feeling, but at the same time not all together unpleasant.

Still smiling, the vampire spoke.

" Hi Sam, I'm Jo, and I am so glad to meet you." She said, he smiling growing wider as she looked up at Sam.

" I-It's nice to meet you too Jo." Said Sam.

" You're even cuter now that you're awake." Said Jo suddenly.

At these words, Sam found his cheeks heating up with mild embarrassment as Jo's complement.

" Joanna-Beth Harvelle, quit making my future mate look like a freakin' tomato." Said Dean as he came to stand beside Sam and gave Jo a mock glare, quite mirth shining in his striking green eyes.

" But Dean-O, of course I'm gonna say it. My new brother's a complete cutie." Replied Jo, sending Sam another bright grin before Dean pounced on her.

Sam watched on with slightly widened eyes at Jo's words, still blushing to his heart's content, but also with a breathless smile as he watched Dean seize Jo in a gentle head-lock and proceeded to give her a gentle noogy.

" Hey, cut it out, I just got my hair fixed for tonight!" Cried Jo with a laugh as she tried in vain to get Dean to let her go.

" Hey, messed up your hair isn't nearly enough punishment for your maniac driving when we landed Jo-Jo." Countered a smiling Dean as he stopped rubbing his knuckles into Jo's hair and just kept his arm around her shoulders.

" What do you mean by that Dean?" Asked Sam curiously.

" Oh, once I got off the plane with you, Jo was the one who drove us to the house... and almost got us into an accident in the process." Explained Dean sheepishly. Seeing the shocked expression on his future mate's face, Dean quickly added. " Don't worry Sam, you slept through all of it because of the glamor I put on you.

Dean and Jo both resisted the urge to laugh as Sam blinked at the two of them owlishly. Seeing that there needed to be some damage control, Jo walked over to Sam and smiled at him apologetically as she spoke.

" I was driving and then Dean told me who you were to us, so I turned around in my seat." Said Jo shaking her head. " Yeah, stupid I know. I took my eyes of the road and almost swerved off the road. I mean sure, if we had gotten into an accident, me and Dean would've been alright, but you... wouldn't have been fine. I'm really sorry Sam. Do you forgive me?"

Jo looked at Sam with true sincerity shining in her light brown eyes, and it didn't take long for the mortal to find it in himself to give her what she had asked for.

" I forgive you Jo, but next time I think I'll try driving." Said Sam before his face broke out in a bright grin.

Dean let out a small, surprised bark of laughter while Jo squealed in delight and launched herself at Sam, who easily caught the petite blond. Sam marveled at how utterly light Jo was in his arms as he hugged her close.

" Sam you are awesome." Said Jo softly into Sam's ear.

Sam instantly felt his face flush at the compliment, but he was luck he had Jo's long blond hair to obscure his face.

" Thanks, I'm glad you think so." He replied.

A deep rumbling chuckle from behind had Sam gently setting Jo back down on the floor and turning around to seeing a grinning John Winchester standing a few feet away with several other vampire coven members smiling with him as they eyed their newest edition.

" Already making friends I see." Smiled John and he came closer to his son's future mate.

Sam ducked his head and smiled shyly, looking completely adorable. But from where he stood, Dean thought he looked absolutely breathtaking as John harmlessly teased his newest child and Jo.

And so, the quiet mingling between the members of the large Winchester coven went on for another twenty minutes with everyone murmuring in excitement about their future ruler finally finding his eternal mate. Sam and Dean were both talking to Bobby Singer about setting up a schedule for Sam to start learning about the history of the coven of Vampire he would soon become an official members of when a second pair of grand, carved doors on the other side of the room swung open.

Sam's eyes when to the now open doors along with everyone else and saw a pale, striking woman with dirty blond hair and a warm smile standing in the was wearing a chef's coat over a pair of simple dress pants. It didn't take Sam very long to figure out that this woman was the famous Ellen that Dean had been gushing about.

" Alright people, chow time." Said Ellen loudly before she grinned widely, which made her look even more stunning.

The entire crowd of people all started clapping and laughing in mirth, a few going so far as to cheer in obvious enthusiasm as they all began to make their way towards the doors to the main dining hall.

" Way ta'go momma!" Called Jo as she bounced up and down from where she stood next to Caleb Reeves.

John and Doc quickly made their way through the crowd toward Dean and Sam. Together, the four of them moved with the crowd of Vampires and other chosen mortals not yet turned. The collective crowd came to a stop just shy of where Ellen stood and then smoothly parted like the red-sea, leaving a clear path to the dining hall entrance from John, Doc, Dean, and Sam.

Sam felt the nerves from earlier take hold as he and Dean walked in line behind John and Doc as the four of them made their way down the cleared path.

" Don't be nervous Sam, it's dinner plain and simple." Said Dean softly.

" No Dean, this dinner on steroids." Said Sam in return, sending Dean nervous look.

Dean snorted at Sam's quip, and he could see that John and Doc had heard Sam too and were smiling as they walked. The quartet that was in essence the royal family finally reached the end of the path and greeted a still smiling Ellen Harvelle.

" Good evening to you sir." Said Ellen as she gave a respectful bow and then straightened back up.

" Right back at ya Ellen, I am certain that you have probably outdone yourself this time." Smiled John.

" Just doing my job, and this is a very special occasion we are celebrating tonight. It was no trouble at all." Replied Ellen with a smile to her leaders.

Then the female vampire's eyes traveled past John and Doc, landing on a smiling Dean and the young mortal who was standing beside him. John and Doc stepped aside and allowed Ellen to get to Dean and Sam. Dean stepped forward to greet his pseudo-mother figure warmly, engulfing her in a big bear hug. Ellen chuckled softly as she hugged Dean back.

" I'm really happy for you sweetie." She said softly into his ear.

" Thanks Ellen." Replied Dean with a smile.

From where he stood, Sam felt this small twinge in his heart as he saw the exchange between Dean and Ellen. Sure it warmed him to his very core, but it also made him remember how his own mother felt about him. She never looked at him with the love that Ellen clearly held for Dean. There was never a smile for him, only a cold stare. Where Lucas received smiles and hugs, all Sam had ever gotten from the woman who was his mother were looks of disdain, cruel words of blatant dislike, and yes, there was also the day he had been beaten and thrown out of his house, he had gotten her spit in his face and the hard slap of her hand against his cheek as he lay helpless and bloody on the floor.

Sam shook his head and quickly banished the painful memories of his mother to the back of his mind, just in time to see Ellen and Dean draw away from each other.

" Ellen, I know there's someone you've been dying to meet all day. Well, here he is." Said Dean as he gestured to Sam with a smile. " Samuel Colter, my future mate."

Ellen's smile widened as she stepped closer to Sam and simply took in the sight of him. After several seconds, Ellen finally spoke.

" I always hoped that Dean would find someone special." She said before she reached up towards Sam's face. Sam leaned down to meet her halfway and let the lady gently take his face into her hands as she continued to speak. " You exceed everything I ever imagined."

Sam felt his face heat up at the compliment as Ellen planted a gentle kiss to each of Sam's cheeks before releasing him.

" Thank you ma'am." Said Sam softly, finding it slightly difficult to speak as he smiled gratefully at the woman who had in the span of a few seconds, accepted him as part of her family.

" Hey now, none of that sweetie. It's Ellen." Smiled Ellen. She could tell that there was a story behind Sam's particular reaction, but now was not the time for dwelling on the past. Tonight was about toasting to a new, bright future for the boy standing before her.

" Well, now that we have the introductions out of the way, lets get this show on the road." Said Ellen.

Her words were met by the almost thunderous enthusiasm of the rest of the coven. Dean could see that Ellen was skillfully shifting attention away from a very emotionally vulnerable Sam. Seeing Sam silently struggling to keep himself together, Dean quickly made his way over to Sam.

" You okay?" He asked.

" Y-Yeah, I'm alright. Ms. Ellen just reminded me of Grandma Jenny for a second." Said Sam softly.

Dean nodded and silently stood by Sam as he composed himself. Once Sam was sure that he had reigned in his emotions, he looked at Dean and nodded with a smile. Dean smiled back before he spoke.

" C'mon Sammy, I don't know about you but I am starving." He said as he started leading Sam towards the dinning hall.

" I may not know you for very long, but I get the feeling that you are always hungry Dean, and it's Sam." Smiled Sam.

There were several hearty chuckles all around at Sam's words, especially from John and Doc as the four of them led the way into the dining hall.

The second Sam stepped foot inside the dining hall, he stopped dead in his tracks and gawked at the sheer magnificence of the place.

The ceiling seemed to have to end. At the very center of the room was a gigantic, magnificent chandelier that illuminated the entire hall in a soft, golden light. Four smaller versions of this show-stopping piece hung in straight lines along either side, adding to the beauty. The hall itself seemed like something straight out of a French palace. Deep red curtains hung from magnificent arched windows. The floor was made of cream colored marble and deep amber glass tiles with the Winchester emblem emblazoned on them. The main attraction though, was the dining table. Never in all of his life had Sam ever seen a table as long and elegant as the one he was beholding now. The table was made of a dark, almost black wood with legs embellished with magnificent carvings. On either side of this magnificent dining table are what looked to be more than fifty identical, matching chairs of dark, almost black would with deep red upholstery. At the very head of the stood two magnificent chairs, one slightly larger than the other, both looking like thrones. It was fitting because royalty would be sitting at the head of the table. Laid out on the table was the most magnificent spread of food Sam had ever seen in his whole life. Dishes of all kinds were arranged at the center of the table while plates, cutlery, wine glasses, and napkins were all pain-stakingly arranged to perfection. All of it looked better that even the most prestigious five-star hotel.

" I know, it totally blows your mind." Came Sam's dead-panned voice beside him, effectively snapping Sam out of his almost dazed stupor.

" Do you guys eat like this every night?" Asked Sam.

" Nah man, we gotta think about Ellen and her staff man. This room is used for the important occasions, like tonight." Explained Dean.

" W-wait, are you saying that this is all for me?" Asked Sam, almost whispering it.

" It sure is Sammy." Smiled Dean warmly as he watched his future mate's eyes grow to the size of dinner-plates.

Sam was still trying to stutter out an articulate response while Dean gently pulled him along towards the head of the table after that. Dean was grinning from ear to ear as he and Dean came to stand before the two chairs closest to the right hand of the bigger throne like chair at the head of the table. As he looked around, Sam saw that the others were all claiming seats for themselves, Bobby, Caleb, and Gordon taking the three seats directly across from his and Dean's chairs. A smiling Jo materialized next to Sam. All along the grand table, the coven members all stood at the back of a dining chair, but no one took their seat just yet.

Then Sam watched as all eyes went to the head of the table, so he turned in time to see a smiling John and Doc standing by their respective chairs, looking around the hall at the members of their family, both of their eyes lingering on Dean and Sam before John spoke.

" Alright, enough with the formalities, let's sit down and eat already!" Called John with a laugh before he and Doc took their seats.

Almost in perfect sync, the rest of the coven followed suit after their rulers. Vampires and chosen mortals all gracefully sank down into their seats while Sam scrambled a little bit because he wasn't used to such fluid movement as of yet. Sam blushed a little as he quickly sank down into his seat next to Dean. All around him, vampires and mortals were sending Sam warm smiles and silently amused looks, but they didn't make any comments about Sam's nervousness and awkward movements for many of them remembers that they too were once like Sam, newly inducted into the Winchester Coven and unsure of what to do.

As soon as everyone was seated, a veritable army of servers suddenly piled into the Hall carrying ornate silver trays atop which stood various bottles of fine alcohol and other beverages. As he looked closer, Sam was actually quite relieved to see that a certain beverage he assumed would be in abundance among a coven of vampires was noticeably absent, or very well hidden.

" I know what you're thinking, where's the sangre. Relax man, everybody had their mandatory sustenance before hand so you wouldn't get freaked out at your first family dinner." Said Dean.

" Thanks, I really do appreciate that." Said a very grateful Sam in return.

"You'll get used to it eventually Sam." Assured Jo from where she sat on Sam's other side. Sam sent her a grateful look as well before one of the servers came to him and asked him what he would like. Sam went with a light, white wine.

Once everyone's glass was filled with their choice of drink, John called for attention by lightly tapping on his glass of red wine with his dinner knife. The coven fell into respectful silence and waited for the Vampire King to speak.

" I'm sure all of you know why we are here, and why Ellen broke out the special silverware." Began John, pausing as there was a deep rumble of laughter and a few good-natured hoots before he continued. " I would like to propose a toast to the newest edition to this house of Vampires." Said John as he raised his glass and sent a warm smile Sam's way.

Sam watched as the other members of the coven, from a smiling Doc all the way down to the vampires that sat the very other end of the table all raised their glasses.

" To Sam." Smiled John.

" To Sam." Echoed the rest of the coven in one collective rumble.

Sam felt the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck stand on end. He couldn't really describe how this one moment felt, only that it was somehow real, and he was living in it.

Sam startled slightly when he felt a warm and strong hand gently close around one of his own. He looked up to see Dean smiling at him in reassurance. In that moment where their eyes met, Sam felt everything else disappear, leaving him with the profound feeling that everything was alright now, and that they would only get better. Through some strange twist of fate, Samuel Colter felt something he had not felt since his beloved grandmother had passed on from this Earth. Sam finally felt acceptance once again after so long.

" Alright, I think we've all made Sam here blush quite enough, now let's eat." Laughed John.

There were several enthusiastic replies to the king's words all around.

And so, Samuel Colter set about enjoying his first dinner with the rest of the Winchester Coven with Dean faithfully by his side. He still wondered if this was all still some fantastical dream in his head, but most of him was slowly beginning to accept that this was indeed happening to him for real.