Ten

Dean wanted to say how much he felt about her, but he couldn't find the right words to say. As he danced with her, he held her close. He knew that people were watching them. Of course people were going to ask her about him, only because she was with an older guy. She was with a guy that didn't go to their school. How did she acquire, meet a guy like him? He knew what Sarah would tell him. Sarah would say that he's a family friend that she's known for years. She would say that she felt comfortable being with him despite the age difference, which she did not care about. She would say all the things about him that made him the perfect date, the right date. She would go on to tell them that there isn't any other guy in the world who knew her better, that no guy could ever replace him. Dean knew Sarah. If he were to be asked by her classmates, he would say the same exact thing. He would tell them that Sarah meant a lot to him. He cared about her, protected her, and was afraid to let her go. He was going to have to wait for her, and he didn't mind waiting. He didn't care if she didn't want to hunt anymore. It bothered him a little, but he was never going to give up on what the two of them had together. Prom was over the two of them walked back to the car. They sat in the parking lot for a few moments, talking. Dean was glad that Sarah had a great time at her first and last high school dance. He was glad that he was the one who had made it memorable for her.

Dean was waiting for her response, but as soon as the question had left his mouth, Sarah nodded. "Yes!" A smile spread across her face and Dean placed the ring on her finger. It was a perfect fit. He stood and Sarah kissed his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck. Sarah had never been so happy in a long time. She didn't dare hesitate on answering him because she loved him and she knew that he loved her. The two pulled away and hugged each other. She felt his arms wrap around her waist, holding her close. The two went inside and were immediately congratulated by their friends. Sarah showed her friends the ring and they both gushed over at how beautiful the ring was.

Later that night, Sarah and Dean were at Sarah's apartment lying in bed together. "I wish our parents were here to see us get married." She looked over at Dean who was on his back, looking up at the ceiling. Dean reached out and held her hand as he turned to look at her. He caressed her hand gently and said, "They'll be watching, every single minute of it." Sarah nodded and laid her head on his chest. Dean had agreed to move in with Sarah starting the following year. Sarah was just happy that her life was coming together. Dean wrapped his arm around her, gently rubbing her arm. Sarah slept soundly on his chest, leaving Dean to think to himself. He thought about how his life had been since he was five years old. His life had changed the very moment his mother had died. He remembered how the flames engulfed her and how he held Sam in his arms to carry out of the house. He had heard of Sarah's parents deaths. He remembered being at the funeral, but standing still beside the car. He was 19.

Sarah's back was turned to him. She didn't see him, his dad, or Sam. She was oblivious to everything around her. Dean knew that Sarah needed someone to comfort her. He saw that she was with her aunt and some family members around both plots. He watched as Sarah had gone up to speak and everyone was seated to hear what she had to say. He saw that she was holding back tears. "Let's go Dean." John's voice spoke out in a hushed tone. Sam was getting into the car, but Dean didn't move. He refused to leave. His dad was calling him, but he ignored his dad. He felt his dad's hand on his arm, but he brushed it away. Sarah had finished and went back to her seat. As soon as the funeral was over, Sarah was walking back to her aunt's car. Dean made his way towards them, ignoring the words flying out of his dad's mouth. He often obeyed his dad, taking his orders since his dad was an ex-Marine. Dean had no choice, but this time, he was breaking the rules. He had caught up to the two of them. He called out Sarah's name, who turned to see him. "Sarah, honey, let's go." Aunt Mariah said. Sarah didn't listen to her aunt either. As soon as she saw Dean, she ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I'm here for you Sarah, always. I promise." Dean told her as he hugged her. Aunt Mariah was attempting to pull the two away, but Sarah held on tighter. She wasn't going to let Dean go, not again. It was then she had decided that she was going to do everything she can to stay with John instead. Dean pulled away, hating to see her aunt roughly grab Sarah's arm, watching the two get in the car and drive away.

Dean never broke that promise. When Sarah needed space, he respected that. Though the biggest thought on his mind was: how was he going to give up hunting for a normal life? Could he ever find a way to do both? Sam and Sarah had it so easy. They both knew what they wanted. Dean himself was stuck in a predicament that he wasn't sure if he could ever get out it. He wanted to avoid facing the problem of having to pick one over the other. He had no college degree. The family business was something he lived for, loved, and although it gave him no pay, it gave him the ability to occupy free time. He knew he had a choice, but he wasn't ready to make it.

Dean moved in to Sarah's apartment in the new year. Sam helped with the packing and unpacking. It was the three of them again, all together. While Sam and Sarah were talking in the living room resting, Dean sipped some beer in the kitchen. He leaned against the counter, thinking. When it came to the family business, it bonded he and Sam together. He remembered all of the arguments their dad and Sam had gotten into. Of course, Sam wanted to go to college. He had a chance to become a lawyer, but Dean was surprised that Sam never took the chance. Was it because Sam finally found his place? He wondered if Sam ever thought about going back to school and becoming a lawyer. He knew his brother was smart. Through all the hunting the two of them did together, hunting never tore them apart. It was different between he and Sarah. The family business always drove a stake between them. They had their differences, but always found ways to work things out. While Sarah saw an opportunity, Dean wanted to keep her from reaching it. Guess he didn't want to feel alone while his brother was away at college. He never admitted it then, but he saw that now. Sarah was a columnist for a fashion magazine. Dean knew that her parents and his dad would've been proud. He took another swig from the bottle, hearing Sam and Sarah laughing over some memory. Sarah's eyes caught Dean's. He knew that she could easily tell something was wrong. Sam could tell as well. Dean saw that neither of them advanced towards his direction. Guess they had both decided to leave Dean to his thoughts.

Dean finished his beer and went to join them. He sat on the couch beside Sarah. "Sam's moving to the city too." Sarah said the moment he sat down. It was funny how things worked out. Dean was glad that his brother found someone after all these years. Though he knew that Sam still cared for Jess, but it was time for him to move on. "That's great." he smiled. "The gang can still be together." Sam saw that the smile on Dean's face didn't fully reach his ears. Something was bothering Dean. Between him and Sarah, Sam didn't know who was going to speak up about it first. Sarah's phone rang and she stood to go answer it. Now as the time for Sam to talk with Dean. "You okay?" he asked. He was concerned about his brother. Since the day Dean had proposed to Sarah on Christmas eve, Sam had been noticing that Dean was acting differently.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Dean said gruffly.

Sam rolled his eyes. "What's wrong Dean?"

"There's nothing wrong. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me."

"I don't know. You ever think things would've been different if we weren't in the family business?" Sam understood what Dean was getting at now. He shrugged and told Dean that maybe certain events in their lives wouldn't have happened if they weren't hunters. He added that Jess could've been saved and even their mom as well. "You think the family business is getting the way of your relationship with Sarah?"

"I think it is. I just think if I, we, continue to hunt these monsters, life wouldn't exactly be normal."

"Why don't you talk to Sarah about it?"

"We have talked about it and we've gotten into fights because of it. I just don't want to go up to her and tell her because it would ruin everything."

"I'm sure she'd understand Dean."

"She got out of it. She's fine, she's safe. You and I are both stuck with this job. A job that we don't get paid for, but save people. So, I do wish that things were different but even if things were different-"

"You think we wouldn't be together. Is that right Dean?" Dean hadn't heard Sarah enter the room. He didn't even know that she was listening in on their conversation. She stood in the living room while the brothers sat on the couch. "You think if we lived normal lives I wouldn't have fallen for you like I did? Dean," Sarah sat down beside him and took his hand. She caressed it gently, looking at the two brothers. "I fell for you even before I knew you were a hunter. You seemed pretty normal to me. I mean, sure this lifestyle isn't what is 'normal' to everyone else but to us, it is normal. It's a part of who we are. So even if you wish to change something in the past or wish that we weren't hunters, it still isn't right to us - all of us. Even if I got away from the whole family business, it doesn't change the fact that I'm still a hunter."

"Sarah, can I talk to you for a moment?" John was about to head out of the motel. He was leaving Dean and Sarah by themselves. To Sarah, John was like a second dad rather than someone she would call 'Uncle'. She nodded and headed out of the door with John. He closed the motel door behind them. The two of them walked further away from the motel towards the car. "I need you to watch out for Dean. While he's busy looking out for the two of you, you have to be there looking out for him." Sarah wasn't sure at what John was implying, but she nodded. "One day I may not be here and Dean will learn to carry on without me, Sam too. You don't ever give up on him, even if you two start fighting. Don't ever give up on him."

"John, why are you telling me this?"

"Sam will be fine on his own, but Dean... Dean needs you. I know he does. You have to remind him that even though he wants to live a normal life, it will never change the fact that he is still a hunter."

"I just don't want.. I don't want any of our kids to grow up like us." Dean said.

"They won't." Sam told him. "The three of us will all make sure of that. Dad wouldn't want us to live like this, but we are who we are Dean. We're hunters and that's something we can't change." Dean knew the two of them were right, even his dad. He was just glad to have the two people he called family right there beside him.