Love is Forever

Braden slept the rest of the night and into the next morning finally rising after 10:00. After visiting the bathroom he made his way out to the kitchen where everybody was trying to make conversation to quiet their nerves. Mia was the first to see the boy.

"Brade, are you okay?" she asked jumping up.

"Yeah, just thirsty," he said yawning.

Dean grabbed his son into a deep embrace and held the boy. "You had me scared to death, you can't keep doing this stuff," he admonished.

"I'm sorry Dad, but I have something for you," he said holding out the small rock with the word love written on it.

Dean looked like he had seen a ghost. "Where did you get this?" he asked.

"Mom told me to give it to you; I held it really tight and then slipped it into my pocket before I fell asleep."

Dean looked to the kitchen and saw three faces looking to him for explanation. "Allison gave it to me for my birthday one year. We had had a fight, the next day was my birthday she had said something would always remain a constant in our lives, I figured after the fight it would be something rude," Dean admitted. "But that afternoon she came to the garage and said this would always be our constant no matter what and to never forget it." Dean then placed the smooth rock emblazoned with the word love on the table so everyone could see it.

"She gave that to me and she said Mia was our gift," Braden said looking at this new step-mother. "I think she was right," he agreed walking over to Mia and giving her a hug.

"Eat your breakfast and then we will have a long talk," Dean said looking at his son.

Dean and Braden began their walk in silence feeling each other out and letting emotions settle for a moment. Dean would look down at Braden who once again seemed so fragile and contemplated how they got to this point and why these oddities kept popping up in their lives.

Braden would sneak a peek up at his father and try and gauge how angry the man was. He knew that once again he had crossed the line and there was nothing worse than a scared parent. He could hear his mother's words ringing in his ears, she still felt so close, like she was just beyond the bend. What he thought he had lost forever had been given back to him and he would never ever allow it to escape from him again.

"It was a place where lovers love and dreamers dream, a place where you are never alone a place of happiness and contentment. In this world we stand alone and dream alone, but not there, you miss people who aren't with you but you know they will come and it won't be long; time is different," Braden explained.

"How is it different?" Dean asked.

"I felt like I was only there for a couple of hours but when I came back it was 7 hours later, time is slower there. The wait for someone won't be as long on this side," Braden said looking up at Dean.

"I see," Dean began, "how do you feel?"

"I'm okay, fine actually," Braden said as he took Dean's sunglasses and put them on.

"And what makes you fine?"

"I can see her, I can close my eyes and see her, I can hear her, I have the memories that I thought were gone. Or maybe I have new memories either way I have something and Mom likes Mia so I don't have to wonder or feel bad because I like her. I can…I can move on now and not look over my shoulder."

Dean stood there not knowing what to do or say, he pulled the rock from his pocket and looked at it.

"She still loves you and will forever but wants you to move on and be happy. She is happy that you are happy, it was in her eyes I promise," Braden assured.

"That's good to hear," Dean said eyes blinking back tears. "I'm just glad you are alright, you have to stop pushing the limits, one day you aren't going to come away healthy."

"It just happened I didn't mean for it to."

"Sure you did, that's why you took us that way, you wanted back into that world."

"I guess," Braden admitted.

"You don't guess you know, you know what you wanted and the fact that you didn't care what the consequence were; you plunged right ahead without regard," Dean said sternly.

Braden just looked at the ground.

"Son you can't leap before you look, it will catch up with you."

"Is that what you did?"

"When?"

"When you died, you were there Dad I saw you, you were dead."

"You couldn't have, I'm not dead, one life to live and all that. How could I be dead if I'm here with you?"

Braden not having an answer just shrugged. "Then why were you there, how did I see you?"

Dean following the advice he had been given explained about Braden's conscious tugging at him. Braden seemed to chew on that for several moments and then put his arms around his father and said, "I'm so glad you aren't dead."

"Me too kiddo me too, now we need to talk about keeping you a bit closer to home, he said looking down at Braden."

The end of the visit went well with Dean making Ben and Grace promise that they would come out and stay for at least a week. Dean wasn't sure how the drive back would go he feared being in the car that long with everything hanging over their heads.

Braden was quiet listening to his MP3 player and looking out the window at the passing scenery. Mia also seemed preoccupied and Dean thought the drive would go on forever. Finally Braden broke the silence by removing his headphones and clearing his throat, "Dad please forgive me for what I did the pull was too strong like I couldn't stay away it just felt weird and I had to look, I had to know and then I did know and couldn't stay away. I had a hole in me and it was killing me, to not know to not remember my own mother and I know you know what that feels like. Please understand that I couldn't pass up this opportunity. Plus she gave me something."

"I know sweetie, we saw the rock that said love on it," Mia said.

"No not that, something else something else that I can't hold that I can't show you but I'll try and tell you," he began. "She said she was happy that Mia came to us and would be part of our lives. She said she wanted me to happy and enjoy the life that I have and gave me the permission that I needed to move on. I can love Mia without feeling guilty; she gave me permission to move on, that you aren't an enemy or invader but that you can be my mom. That is what she gave me and the rock is just something to show us."

"So what do you think of that?" Dean asked.

"I think that I don't have to worry about feeling bad that I like Mia, that I can let her be my mom," Braden said as he slapped his headphones back in his ears.

Dean and Mia couldn't help but smile and feel like this was a huge breakthrough.

MP3 Mayhem

Back at home it was discovered that Braden would have Mr. Law for sixth grade. According to Mia he was strict but a very good teacher. She had known him since she had arrived and thought he would be a good match for Braden though she doubted Braden would think so.

"Tell me about this guy," Dean said as they watched Braden dribble the soccer ball down the field at practice.

"He is kind of strict, but fair, he expects a lot, but if you give your best he will do whatever it takes to help any kid out. He will stay in contact with parents if there are any problems as well as when there is something good to report. He is still young and enthusiastic and I think teaching is his true calling."

"So Braden isn't going to like him?" Dean said smiling.

"Probably not, but you will."

In the waning days of summer Braden was sitting outside strumming on his guitar when Brennan Rupert from down the street stopped by. "Wow you're good," he commented.

"Hey Brennan, what's up?"

"Not much just enjoying my last day of summer freedom."

"You go back tomorrow, I have another week."

"Yeah, part of the wonder of Sinclair Day School is we pack more days into your child's curriculum. Hey I see Julia Lowell a lot; she said you guys won that piano competition last winter."

"Yeah, we did it was nice to play with her again. How has she been?"

"Fine, what are you playing?" he asked nodding towards the guitar.

"Nothing exciting, just trying to figure out some chords, I want to start playing Metallica and AC /DC."

"Cool, I'm not even allowed to listen to them."

"No way dude, what's on your MP3 player then?"

"Classical stuff and whatever my mother approves of, it really sucks."

"No way, hey how much time before you have to be home?"

"She probably won't question me as long as I'm home before 5:00."

Braden looked at his phone, "it's 4:25, we have time."

"Time for what?"

"To get you to place where you won't be made fun of, a place where your mother doesn't rule. I'm going to fill your player with some awesome stuff."

The boys scurried in the house and ran past a surprised Mia into the family room and the computer. Braden hooked up the small device to the computer and began to work his magic. "We'll keep some of your playlist on here in case your mom checks, but the rest will rock your world."

Brennan sat his leg bouncing in anticipation. He had always liked Braden but his ever domineering mother felt that Brennan was wasting his time spending time with 'that Winchester boy' as she called him. Brennan figured she felt threatened by the seemingly normal family who took life as it came and seemed content to keep it that way. He knew if he was found sitting in the family room of the Winchester house he would indeed be in trouble, but he didn't care he seemed absorb the courage and attitude from the younger boy and was feeling more alive than he had in a long time and how sad was that?

"There, you have AC/DC, Metallica, Guns and Roses, Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osborne and so much more, you'll love it," Braden said giving Brennan back his property.

"Thanks man, you're the best."

"When you take it off, leave your Go list on so if your mom checks she will see that and all will be fine."

"You are sneaky."

"You know it."

"I'll walk you out; I have to put my bike up before my dad gets home. If I leave it out, he puts it up and then I can't ride it the next day," Braden said shaking his head.

Braden opened the storm door and quickly turned and shoved Brennan back inside, "your mother is out there, she's looking this way."

"Crap it isn't even 5:00 yet, she is getting worse," Brennan said ever so dramatically.

"I'll sneak you out the back and you can go around the other way."

"There's a fence back there and somebody else's yard," Brennan exclaimed.

"Where is your sense of adventure man?"

"I guess I don't have one."

"Well that needs to change," Braden said smiling.

The boys went out the back door and right to the 6 foot privacy fence. "I can't get over this," Brennan said.

"It's easy," Braden said pulling a bucket from the corner of the yard. He flipped it over and climbed up showing Brennan where to put his feet. They both heaved themselves over the fence into Mrs. Walker's yard. They took a moment so Brennan could enjoy his first feat of adventure.

"See you did fine," Braden said smiling.

"Yeah now what?"

Braden looked around and then turned back to his friend, "well there's good news and bad news, which do you want first?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Okay the good news is his mouth therefore his bite is small but the bad news is he can still take out an ankle," Braden said as he pushed Brennan to start running.

Mrs. Walkers Dachshund Rocky was out and quickly making his way towards the boys. "The gate hurry," Braden yelled.

Edna Walker looked out to see Braden Winchester running around in circles keeping her dog at bay. She shook her head and chuckled; she got a kick out of her neighbor and wondered what brought him into her yard this time.

"Rocky," she yelled at the hyper dog, "Braden what are you doing?"

"My ball came over the fence again so I came to get it, I didn't know Rocky was out," Braden lied as he saw Brennan slip out of the yard.

"Where is it?"

"I tossed it back over," Braden responded trying to keep the mongrel from taking a chunk out of his calf.

"Rocky, get over here now," Mrs. Walker commanded.

The dog looking very disappointed reluctantly stopped his hunt and chugged off to his owner.

"Braden you know better, next time you come knock on my door and I'll get your ball, now go out the gate."

"Yes ma'am," Braden said and waved.

He met up with Brennan who was waiting out front. "Dude that was awesome," he said breathlessly, "are you okay?"

"Yeah, let's see where your mom is."

They peeked around the corner to see Mrs. Rupert at the far end of the block. "Come on," Braden said as the two boys did a mission impossible tip toe and dive and peek and run and dive around the houses until they arrived at Brennan's.

"Dude that was more fun than I have ever had," the older boy said as he jumped onto his porch. "I'll listen to your stuff and call you later, is your number the same as last year?"

"Yep, gotta go here comes your momma," Braden said as he flung his body over the side railing eliciting a laugh from Brennan.

"Where did you go?" Mia asked when Braden came back.

"Just jogged around the block, I'm going up to practice my drums."

Mia shook her head and wasn't quite sure what had just happened. She stayed busy downstairs for a while and then decided to check on her step-son. She climbed the stairs and with each step the pounding got louder, she could just begin to hear the words to the music Braden was accompanying as she got to the door. She reached for the knob but hesitated, instead of the usual classic songs she was accustomed to hearing this was more of rap type song and the more she listened the more she was appalled at the language that was escaping from the stereo. She decided she had heard enough and opened the door.

"What are you listening to?"

Braden froze knowing immediately he was busted, "nothing, just some song," he stammered.

"A highly inappropriate song, I must have heard four swear words in thirty seconds, where did you get the CD?" she asked tapping her foot.

Braden picked the remote up off the floor and silenced the rampage of obscenities. "I got it from somebody at school; we all trade and borrow CD's."

"From whom did you get it?"

"I don't remember, I got it before school let out along with some others, I have no idea who I got it from," Braden said hoping he would be believed.

"You should have turned it off as soon as you heard those words, let me have the CD," she said holding her hand out.

Braden got up and ejected the disk and gave it to Mia. "Please Mom don't tell Dad."

The world became blurry; did he just call her Mom? She looked at the boy and his pleading eyes, "is this the only copy?"

"Yes ma'am," he said convincingly.

"It's not in your computer?"

Braden shook his head no.

"Okay then this can stay between the two of us, but no more do you hear me?"

"Yeah, thanks," Braden said obviously relieved it would remain their secret.

Mia went back downstairs, her thoughts swirling, he called her Mom. Was it because it slipped, did he mean it, did he only say hoping he would escape being in trouble? She had no idea what the right answer was but she couldn't help but smile at the fact that he did say it, he actually called her mom.

She was still floating a bit when Dean came home. "How was your day?" he asked.

"Fine, just fine."

"Braden home?"

"Upstairs, he had a buddy over earlier, Brennan I think."

"Brennan, are you sure?"

"I'm pretty sure that's what Braden called him; they played on the computer and then went outside. Does he not know a Brennan?"

"They live down the block but his mother, Karen keeps a pretty close eye on him and his sister. And they are definitely not allowed to come to our house."

"And why is that?"

"She has never said, but I'm sure we aren't good enough for them and are bad influences. She is rather uptight and keeps those kids on a leash that extends to school and home. Her husband is on the road a lot, but I think he likes it that way. Anyway she must not have been at home or he snuck out."

"They seemed to get along fine."

"The kids do, it's mom who is the freak. So what's for dinner?"