Author's Note: We sincerely apologize for how long this chapter took to post. There was a combination of writer's block and a severe cold that prevented us from working on it for a while. Thank you so much, dear readers, for sticking with us through all of it. We should be back on track now! Thanks again and always for reading, commenting on, and leaving kudos on this story. You guys really do mean the world to us 3


"Sam, wake up."

Sam mumbled something about five more minutes and rolled away from the voice, already falling back into the amazing dream he'd been having of Dean scantily clad in a schoolgirl outfit and bent over the desk in Sam's office. His pink plaid skirt was hiking up over the curve of his ass to reveal just the barest hint of hot pink lace and Sam reached his hand forward slowly.

But he was shaken from his dream by the voice again, just as he was grazing his fingertips under the hem of the short skirt and lifting it up to see what was hiding underneath...

"Wake up, baby boy. I wanna show you something," Dean was saying with a low chuckle.

Sam groaned and blinked his eyes open slowly, seeing that it was still dark but for a shaft of silvery moonlight pouring in through the window across the room. He yawned, rolling toward Dean. "What time is it?" he asked with a voice that was slightly rusty and tired.

Dean smiled, his eyes sparkling even in the dim light. "It's still late," he said softly, "but I want to show you something outside."

Sam sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, intrigued by Dean's excitement. "What is it?"

"Put your boxers on and I'll show you," Dean replied with a mischievous grin, scooting his way out of the bed.

Sam swung his legs over the side of the mattress and stretched his back before standing up to try and search for his underwear in the dark. Dean rounded the foot of the bed, holding them out for him. Sam smiled, grabbing them from Dean's outstretched hand and stepped into them quickly.

He followed Dean through his darkened house to what he assumed was a mudroom near the back door.

"Forget the shoes," Dean said, waving for Sam to drop his shoe and follow him out the back door. He was carrying a pair of towels but dropped them on the steps as he made his way off the porch and headed for a path in the trees across the yard. He followed Dean with teasing pushes and snarky remarks about serial killers and hockey masks.

"Just you wait, Sammy," was Dean's only retort. His excitement was palpable and Sam suddenly wanted to jog out to this mysterious surprise. He could see well enough; the path was clear and the moonlight washed the trees and dirt and grass with a warm silver glow. Just ahead he could see the part in the trees and could make out a dock and a lake, a pond maybe, just beyond.

"This looks like a great spot for summer cookouts," he said before stopping just outside the treeline. Tucked in the middle of the wide clearing was a lake, small but too big to be a pond, with a dock that looked new. The water was dark and still and Sam turned to Dean, his mouth open in disbelief at the beauty that was hiding right in the man's backyard.

It was as if the sky left a smear of itself behind as a gift and Sam was left breathless and in awe of the vision Dean was sharing with him. From the surface of the water, the stars were staring back up to the sky in a perfect reflection of brilliant black and sparkling night, each twin twinkling as joyfully as the original overhead. He let Dean take his hand and, stepping backwards, pull him towards the dock.

"Ever taken a swim in the night sky?" he asked, his eyes glowing with dovelike excitement. When he reached the end of the dock, he sat down, tugging Sam down with him and let his feet hang down to sink into the water.

"When I got here and was looking for a place, I drove past this overgrown patch of land," Dean looked out across the water to the trees on the other side, quietly searching the darkness. "It was just trees and dirt, but something told me to pull over. I stopped to check the lot and found this. It's a full acre but I bought it a week later."

"You built the house?" Sam asked, respect plain in his voice. "That's your design?"

"Yeah, well," his standard answer for questions he wasn't ready to answer. "This place was a mess and needed a fresh start. Kind of like me at the time." A weak smile pulled at Dean's lips when he turned to Sam and away again, still hand in hand. "I come out here to think or to just to shut out the noise, ya know? When I just need to be alone for a while."

He finally focused olive eyes on Sam completely. They were so full of pain and longing and hope, each emotion taking a turn on Dean's face, before settling on patience and self-depreciation. Sam let his gaze pass over the lush greenery and the inviting water again, Dean's words rolling over in his head. This was a special place for him, a sanctuary to hide from the burdens of life. For a moment Sam wished that he had one of his own, a place to escape long enough to put all of his thoughts back onto their proper shelves before heading out into the world.

And then the meaning of Dean's silent emotions rang clear. Dean was sharing his inner space with him. He was allowing him to see a side he held close to his chest for protection and Dean was inviting him to share it.

"Why did you call me again?" The words spilled out like unruly birds, desperate for flight and Sam was immediately embarrassed by his needful question.

He slowly drug his eyes back to Dean, wondering for the millionth time what he had ever done to deserve a man like this, a man that would trust Sam enough to bring him here, and after they had only known each other for one week.

"Why wouldn't I?" Dean asked in return, no humor or teasing in his eyes, only an insecurity that Sam hadn't yet seen. There was no denying the connection between them was strong, stronger than Sam had ever felt, but it all seemed to be happening so fast.

"I haven't had many lasting or meaningful relationships before," Sam started, pulling his hand away from Dean's and rubbing both down his face. "None, if I'm being totally honest here, and I know that was all my fault. I just didn't have a lot to offer, like ever, and I just don't know what the rules are." Sam let out a heavy sigh and waited for Dean to speak.

"Honesty is a good rule," Dean said, rubbing his palms against his thighs before turning slightly towards Sam and taking his hand back into his own. "Look, I'm no saint, Sam. I've got some ghosts following me around and I have to admit that I played the field. I played a lot, but I promise that I am not doing that here. I… I just… whatever is going on here, I know it's special. I don't want to hurt you or push you away, okay? No matter how this falls out, it is not because of you or something you think you don't have."

Sam searched Dean's face and then his eyes for the lies, the hunt having almost everything to do with his own fragile perception of himself. There was a constant worry that ran at the back of his mind like a swift but hidden current that tried convincing him that on some level he wasn't good enough, that if he happened to fall back to the weight he was in college he'd be as good as invisible again.

"This is nice, like really," Dean said waving his free hand over Sam's face and body, "but this," he tapped his fingers against Sam's forehead, "this is beautiful. And way more than I deserve, Sammy."

Sam's laugh echoed across the water harshly before he spoke, "Dean you have no idea what you deserve. I mean you…"

"I'm serious, Sam," Dean cut him short. "I'm not a nice man, not really. I'm just really lucky that I got a second chance and that I found you."

Sam turned to study the scenery again, the words rolling around in his head once more. How could someone as seemingly perfect as Dean feel so undeserving of… affection? He wondered for a moment if this was what people thought when they looked at him - the total package with a bright future looking for someone to share it with - with no inclination of the horrors he put himself through on the daily. Hateful thoughts take their toll. Maybe he and Dean weren't as different as he was assuming. Did it really matter?

Sam turned back to Dean, a huge grin plastered to his face. "Didn't you say something about swimming?"

Dean frowned momentarily, noting Sam's obvious evasion of the topic at hand, but decided against pressing Sam to reveal anymore if he was uncomfortable; the last thing he wanted to do was drive Sam away. He did vow though to keep showing Sam how incredible he was, and in as many ways as possible, until he finally saw himself as Dean saw him - as worthy and deserving and valuable and wanted.

He forced his frown away, settling a wide grin in its place. "I did say something about swimming," he said, letting Sam's hand go with a warm squeeze and standing up. "But this is more than just swimming, Sammy," he pulled his boxer shorts down, standing naked and proud in the moonlight, "This is skinny dipping in a lake of stars."

Sam looked up at him, his eyes wide as saucers, before dropping down to Dean's cock hanging heavy and limp between his legs, right at Sam's eye level from where he still sat on the dock. "You're serious?" he asked skeptically, his gaze slowly dragging back up Dean's body. "What if someone sees us?"

Dean chuckled, reaching down to tug Sam to his feet. "Don't tell me you're feeling shy now, Sammy. After what happened in the driveway, I'm surprised you have one modest bone left in your body."

Sam blushed and shook his head with a laugh, looking around the tree-lined space, still clearly uncertain. Dean smiled gently and stepped up close to him, settling his hands down on Sam's hips and dipping just the tips of his fingers into the waistband of his boxers.

"There's no one around for miles, Sammy. C'mon, I promise that nobody's gonna see you." He nuzzled into the crook of Sam's neck, nibbling at the soft, warm flesh there.

Sam huffed out a shuddering breath that Dean felt skip across his shoulder. "You think you're pretty persuasive, don't you?" he asked on an exhale.

Dean chuckled, mouthing a wet bite to Sam's throat. "I dunno, Sammy, you tell me," he said as he started pulling Sam's underwear down.

Sam didn't object at all, not when Dean tugged his boxers down to pool at his ankles, not even when Dean stepped back to admire his body in the soft silver glow of the moon beams settling down about his shoulders and frosting the tips of his hair. Sam pulled his gaze up from where it had been focused at his feet and centered his beautiful eyes on Dean, a half-smile tugging at his lips. Dean felt his breath catch in his chest at the sight and he blinked, momentarily stunned. Words that he had never considered speaking to another person before meeting Sam threatened to tumble from his mouth, but were halted before they could be given a voice by Sam's smile as it turned mischievous.

The younger man reached his hands out, grabbing onto Dean's and tugging him to the edge of the dock, one eyebrow cocked. "So are we gonna do this or what?"

Dean grinned, pushing those words back for another day, and began sinking down so that they could ease themselves into the water slowly, but Sam had a different idea completely. Dean suddenly found himself being shoved over the edge of the dock with Sam's joyful laugh filling his ears seconds before the sound of rushing water took its place.

Dean pushed off the bottom to break the surface of the lake just as Sam jumped in, sending up a large cresting wave right into his face. He sputtered momentarily, wiping cool lake water from his eyes, waiting with a devious excitement for Sam to come up for air. When he did, Dean slapped the water, splashing Sam in the face with a small wave of his own, kicking away to avoid retaliation. Pushing off the sandy floor, Sam raced forward after his quarry, just missing Dean's foot and squinting against the onslaught of water. Sam decided to change tactics and lure his prey toward him instead.

When Dean looked back to Sam, seeing that he had floated a little farther away and was chuckling, he rolled over in the water and cautiously glided over, sure to stay out of reach. They circled each other warily before leaping forward, grappling and rolling skin on skin, each fighting for dominance. They continued back and forth, wrestling in the darkened lake, the sound of their grunts and chuckles and empty threats mixing fluidly with wet splashes in the wide and echoing clearing.

Their raucous play began to die down as they panted from the exertion, limbs tangled in an evident draw. Sam was trapped in a headlock just above the water, Dean gasping against a bear hug. They both let out a panting and breathless chuckle. Releasing Dean's back slowly, Sam reached up, suddenly and desperately needing a taste of his skin. He circled Dean's wrist gently and drew his hand to his mouth, pressing a soft but heated kiss to his wet palm.

Dean felt his heart stutter in his chest and he brought his thumb up to trace along the ridge of Sam's brow, water dripping from his hand like diamonds in the moonlight. Sam smiled, maneuvering to face him and wrap his arms around Dean's waist again, and drew him in close.

Battle forgotten, Dean looked up, feeling all the hard angles of Sam's body sliding right up against his own, slippery skin sensitive and eager. He slipped his hands up into Sam's dripping hair, tugging his head forward enough to slot their lips together. Their mouth's moved against each other with a slow and aching tenderness that quickly turned hungry and frenzied.

Dean brought a leg up, hooking around Sam's waist, using the buoyancy of the water to his advantage to press his growing erection up against Sam's warm belly. Sam moaned deep and low into Dean's open mouth, sliding his hands down Dean's back to cup his ass cheeks and pull him even closer. Dean rutted up against him, their hardened cocks dragging alongside each other before Sam growled deep in his throat and pulled his lips away, pressing them hard against Dean's forehead instead.

"God damn, Dean," Sam whispered fiercely. "I want to just hold you and talk to you but I -I just can't."

Dean's chuckle caught him off guard and his brows knit in questioning look, his features soft once again. Dean pressed a soft kiss to Sam's mouth before dropping himself back to the water.

"Take your time, baby boy. We have all weekend, if you'll stay."

The smile the brightened Sam's face rivaled the sun and he nodded his head and emphatic yes. Relief washed over Dean, who let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Alright then," he said. "Let's swim in these stars."

With another smile and nod, Sam kicked his way slowly to the center of the lake, small ripples following him that Dean cut through as he trailed a little way behind. Like a pair of swans, they sliced through the water in quiet contemplation, each reviewing the conversations of the week against the one on the dock.

Upon reaching the middle, Sam stopped to tread water and then stretched his legs down to experimentally see if his feet would still touch the bottom of the lake. His head was still well above the water when he sunk into the soft mud below him, toes curling into the saturated earth. He turned up to the sky, his face a full moon against the star filled water. Dean beside him did the same before dipping his head full back and letting his legs float to the surface, the water holding him up in her cool arms.

"Seriously?" Sam asked, laughter in his voice. Once again, Sam found himself at eye level with Dean's pelvis and laughed at the man's nonchalance for his own body.

"What?" Dean asked, smirk in place. "Can't handle a man at leisure? Come on Sammy, live a little." Dean tugged at Sam's arm to encourage him to relax and follow his lead.

"It's just an excuse to get your dick in my face."

Split between a smile and a grimace, Sam let out a breath and let his feet rise to the surface only to have his shoulders sink below the water. He flipped in the water but tried again, holding his breath and swaying his arms to keep his head up. His feet wouldn't rise. He kicked gently hoping the movement would give him lift but he sank again, his mouth filling with water as he let out his breath.

Dean watched from his cradled position as Sam struggled to find the balance for floating. He snickered and righted himself again. Sam was brilliant but so uncomfortable in his own skin.

"Dude, don't try so hard," Dean instructed letting the humor die away as with the phone sex, his voice now an anchor. "Relax, Sam. Close your eyes, think of me being gentle and let it all go."

Sam felt Dean's palms caress his back and the back of his thigh, his hands helping Sam find his equilibrium. He focused on the texture of each finger on his skin and how they had moved earlier in the night massaging the tension out of his body. He took a slow but deep breath letting his muscles relax into that touch and then closed his eyes, the image of them spooned together emerging into his mind's eye. It wasn't until Dean's hand found and closed around his that Sam realize that he was floating, the surface hugging him as surely as it had Dean. The feeling was exhilarating and calming and safe as they wandered the center of lake like a pair of pale leaves drifting in the breeze.

Dean glanced over at Sam's face, slack and relaxed. Beautiful, he thought again, and smiled at the contradiction floating beside him; handsome but unaware, sexual but shy, smart but maybe naive. He was struck with the wonder of how all those opposites were so inherently congruent, how all those pieces somehow fit together so perfectly to form Sam. It was almost as striking a set of improbabilities as their own chance meeting last week, and not to mention their radically contrasting backgrounds.

Dean pulled his eyes away from Sam, focusing his gaze up at the full moon directly above them and letting out a soft sigh. His mind always seemed to loop back to that glaring difference between them, that hidden past that Dean was still trying so hard to keep locked away. But instead of dwelling on it, Dean pushed the thoughts away again, resolutely trying his best to savor this moment, to memorize every detail. Because he knew, with an aching certainty, that once that truth came to light Sam would be as good as gone. The only thing Dean was really unsure of was was how long he really thought he could hold off that inevitability or if he even had control over any of it. Just make the most of it, he thought to himself, Make the most of it while you can.