OKAYYY so I know I said that this was gonna be the last chapter but the more and more I typed I thought it would be super odd to have one chapter that was significantly longer? So good news; a few more chapters! I'm on vacation so hopefully I'll be able to finish this. Thank you so much for reading this far, I look forward to giving you the last few chapters!
The new house was empty. Sam was used to moving; but not to someplace familiar. He found himself stepping into a new house, a new life. Though it seemed at times that he would never make it, he's here now. Here and alive. Its been twelve years since everything happened, who would have thought he would have ended up back here? It just seemed like South Carolina was where he belonged.
When he got the courage to tell his family that he wanted to pursue law his father lashed out. John told him to get out of the house; but Dean was supportive no matter what. Even through continuing the long tradition of staying in the family business Sam was still in contact with his brother. From what he understands Dean branched to another place while continuing what him and John do. Sam's still not really sure what the business is; but he's happy to be away from it. He's welcome to visit anytime, Dean has made clear, but he's still building up the courage to pop in and see his brother. He knows Dean and Castiel are still together; and even though the relationship had been rocky at times they're doing good.
But still a lot of that; the courage to tell his family and leave, he has Gabriel to thank for that. Though they were no longer together at the time, Gabe as his friend guided him and believed him when no one else did. He still has to tell Gabe how much it meant to him in person even when it's been ten years since they've been in contact.
As for himself; with a 174 on the LSAT and beyond superb grades he granted himself a place at Stanford. Sam had a hard time but he worked up and got a small social group; even meeting a girl named Jessica. One thing led to another, and he ended his undergraduate with a fiancé and being accepted into a prestigious law school.
With a sigh, Sam exited the house that was now his and locked the door. He never thought that he would miss the heat or the beach, but apparently he thought wrong. Following the sidewalk he turned and walked along the path as kids were running out along the sand trying to avoid the waves flowing to the shore. He chuckled; remembering the times that he spent with Gabe, Charlie, Cas, and Dean. It seemed like just yesterday but it really was so long ago. He missed being with people but who was there left? He was all alone.
Jessica had moved in with him when he made law school. Hand in hand they found an apartment and started living together. It was like a dream they were so happy. Countless times they talked about having a wedding, having a family, having a house. Everyday there was breakfast for Sam on the table, and every night there was someone to lay next to. The fights they suffered through never lasted and the love they shared was endless. Everything seemed perfect.
But one day something was wrong, and another day it just got worse. Once Sam took her to the doctors they found out there was a very aggressive tumor on Jess' brain and there was nothing the doctors could do to stop it. Sam and Jess spent their limited days together the best they could, but there was the fear that kept growing if something were to get worse.
Jess passed away a couple weeks after they discovered the tumor; halfway through Sam's junior year.
Sam was completely ruined. His light had gone out once again; and he must have cried for a month. The funeral passed, and Sam dragged himself through the rest of law school; though it was nothing like with Jessica by his side. Immediately after school he decided to leave the apartment, moving to escape the depression of being alone where he had once shared with his love. The heavy weight of losing her never went away; and Sam thinks it never will.
Which is why he foolishly moved his way back to the place where he made the most memories. The people that he met here and the memories were things that stayed with him; even when leaving his family, even after losing Jess. This place gave him a feel of tranquility, which he hasn't felt in a long time. But if only so much wasn't missing in Sam's life, it would make things perfect again. Which his life may never be again. So many things have crumbled Sam's chances at being happy he wondered if he could ever feel that emotion anymore.
Taking a left, Sam found himself in a neighborhood. Nothing like a long walk to clear his head. It was strange, it seemed like he had been here before. He forced himself to stop, and found himself face to face with his old house, the house where it all began. Since he came back, the memories kept flooding in. Sam could never forget the love he first had for Dean so many years ago; and how Gabriel made him realize that there were ways to work around it, and how Gabe took that love in return. Sam sighed and wondered how he could have even let that go.
Forcing himself to move along on his walk; Sam unknowingly followed a path that he knew all too well. Amongst the shops and stands, he was unconsciously going the way he always did to get to The Sweet Stop, searching for the bakery. Sam knew that it was foolish to search; the business closed years ago. But it's like if it existed again everything would be real. It would give moving here reason again. Even though it was impossible; he couldn't stop scanning the tops of the buildings.
He was looking up so much that he didn't notice a sign around the sidewalk, which when it fell over it snapped Sam back to reality. Bending over, Sam let out a sigh as he picked it up and set it back up the way it was. Maybe he should visit the place as an apology, not that the owners would have realized the sign was down; it was a sign for the Grand Opening of a place just down the road. Sam didn't catch the name of the place; yet he continued walking like he somehow knew where he was going.
A few feet forward there was another sign for the same place in the window of a hair place. The same sign hung outside a place where you get henna tattoos. Just a few steps more until Sam reached the destination, he realized, without taking notice of the name.
Noticing a person up ahead who was mumbling to himself and fiddling with a sign that looked much like the one he accidentally kicked over, Sam figured that was the place and stopped before the sign.
"Grand opening huh?" He asked, tilting his head. "What kind of shop you got here?"
Startled, the other person who Sam could now make out to be a man, sprung up, hitting his head on the sign on his way up. "It's a- a bakery. Should probably call it a re-opening. It's been a good twelve years since The Sweet Stop has existed, but now it's-" the other guy turned to face the Winchester, before blinking before his eyes grew wide.
Sam couldn't even move a muscle he was so shocked. The other guy; his voice, his figure, how could he have not recognized him? "... Gabriel." He breathed out, a smile coming to his face. "Hey it's... it's been a while."
"A while? Sam Winchester, it's been years! Why are you back here? Is it really you? I'm not dreaming, right?"
"In the flesh. Did you say The Sweet Stop? I thought... didn't it close? Like, for good?"
"Why don't you look behind you." Gabe said gently, turning Sam around to face the building behind them.
Sure enough, there it was standing in all its glory. Like nothing had ever changed and like it never left. Here Sam was, standing in front of it, he could not believe his eyes.
He went to pinch himself to see if this was real life. "You don't have to do that." Gabe said, shrugging. "You know, this is real Sam. I still can't believe it myself. I also... can't believe you're here."
Sam breathed out turning back to Gabe. "I thought I would never see you again."
"Me neither." Gabe said gently, sticking out his hand and grinning. Winking he said, "Wanna come in? I can give you the great first tour."
Returning that grin, Sam took his hand. "We've got a lot to talk about."