Chapter Thirty-Five

Tori smiled at her mother from where she sat in the crowd, surrounded by other parents watching on as their own children graduated.

The afternoon was bright and warm, a perfect day for an outdoor convocation- especially since everyone warned there would be rain- and all the graduates were sweating in their robes and square hats.

Tori listened as the Valedictorian spoke about all the great times he had had in high school, all the friends he'd made, the adventures he'd been on and the journey that awaited him and the rest of the graduating class as they moved on to bigger and better things.

"Thank you for that heartwarming speech, Justin. I'd now like to the graduates to come up when they hear their name to receive their diploma," Principal Mueller said and began to alphabetically call out students' names.

Parents and friends clapped and cheered as one by one the students came up to receive their awards.

"Victoria Dodd," Principal Mueller announced and Tori stood up, grinning broadly.

From the audience, Marsha waved to her daughter and brought a camera to her face to take a photo.

Tori took her diploma from the principal and than hugged the woman who had been instrumental in helping her get her scholarship.

Returning to her seat, Tori waited until the rest of her cohort had their diplomas before they were all released to mingle among friends and family and enjoy some refreshments set out by the Graduation Committee.

"Mom!" Tori called and hurried to her mother, one hand on her hat so she wouldn't lose it.

"I'm so proud of you, Tori," Marsha said and hugged her daughter tightly.

"Jenny and Cameron and I were thinking we'd go out to the Bluff tonight to cele-" Tori began but stopped when she caught sight of a familiar face from over her mother's shoulder.

"Oh my God," Tori breathed, blue eyes wide, "It can't be."

Frowning, Marsha turned around to see who her daughter was looking at.

"Sammy?" Tori said, then, "SAMMY!"

The teen ran forward, her hat flying off and her strawberry-blonde hair flowing out behind her as she raced to her old friend.

"Sammy!" Tori reached out and grabbed Sam by the arms, staring into his face.

He was older, of course, his face lined, his chestnut hair starting to show grey at the temples with the odd white strand among the dark brown hairs but it was him.

"Sammy," Tori pulled the man towards her and hugged him fiercely.

"How did you find me?" she asked, "Is Dean here? When did you get here?"

Sam's green eyes grew moist and he looked down at his friend.

"Tori," he said quietly and the girl felt her own eyes prick with tears.

"I didn't want to leave," she said, "Didn't mean to leave, but Mom…"

"Tori," Marsha said, not cruelly and the teen turned.

"Look who's here, Mom," she said, "Sam came to see me graduate."

Marsha, her face carefully expressionless, nodded.

"Where's Dean, Sam?" Tori asked.

As if on cue, the older Winchester appeared, mouth full of hors d'oeuvres and another one in each hand.

"Hey Sammy, you gotta tries this little pie things, they're delicious," Dean spoke to his brother through a mouthful before he saw who his sibling was with and swallowed.

"Didn't you grow up to be pretty," he told Tori.

"That's my daughter," Marsha said warningly and Dean turned his hazel eyes to her.

"How'd you find us?" the redhead asked.

"We're hunters, remember? We can find anything and anyone who doesn't want to be found," Dean told her not unkindly.

They were both silent for a moment before Tori spoke up.

"I got a scholarship," she informed the Winchesters, "A full ride to Harvard."

Dean looked surprised, "Wow, way to go, kiddo! That's awesome! You know Sammy had a full ride to Stanford, back in the day."

Tori smiled.

"Okay, you've seen Tori, you've talked to her," Marsha interrupted, "Now I'll ask you to leave. I'd like to spend some time with my daughter."

Dean frowned and stepped right up to Marsha.

"Since when did you become such a bitch?"

The redhead stared at Dean in disbelief.

"No one asked you to come! No one wanted you here!"

"Mom, stop!" Tori snapped, "They're not doing anything!"

"I don't understand it," Dean told Marsha, "Everything was fine until the car accident. Oh, and Sam's doing much better, by the way, thanks for asking."

"You need to leave," Marsha warned.

"We haven't seen Tori in years," Dean said, "How many years, Sammy?"

"Thirteen," the younger Winchester said quietly.

"That's right," Dean agreed, "So we'll leave when we feel like leaving."

"You…" Marsha's face grew red with anger.

"Mom, stop it, you're acting like they're gonna blow up the whole damn party! They're not dangerous! You're just paranoid!" Tori argued.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" the redhead snapped.

"You want to know something? Something I never told anybody," Tori asked, her own face flushed.

"That night," she continued, "When we were running away from those demons and none of us had our seatbelts. You want to know how I managed to come out pretty much okay? It was because of Sam. He saw the pickup coming and he grabbed me. He held onto me and shielded me with his body so I wouldn't go flying through the goddamn window!"

Marsha's mouth hung open.

"You… how could you even know that? You were too young," she stammered.

Tori crossed her arms over her chest.

The redhead stared at the younger Winchester; her daughter could see the wheels turning in her head.

"Did you know that?" Marsha asked Dean and he shook his head, "I had no idea."

"I don't know why you made us leave," Tori said sadly, "Sam and Dean aren't dangerous."

Marsha put a hand to her mouth, her blue eyes welling with tears.

"Oh God," she murmured, "I've been so stupid. Can you forgive me for being an idiot?"

Dean, unsmiling said, "I forgave you a long time ago, Marsha because I was tired of being angry with you."

The redhead broke down in tears. Tori stepped up to Sam and took his arm, "C'mon, let's get something to eat."

Dean, approached Marsha and dug a Kleenex out of his pocket.

"I wasn't thinking right," she sobbed.

"You don't need to explain," he told her and Marsha shook her head.

"Can we start over?" she asked tentatively, "Please?"

Dean smiled.

W

Tori walked beside Sam, slowly, hardly noticing the hunter's limp.

Sighing, she rested her head against his arm and smiled.

Author's Note:

Thanks to jensensgirl3, Souless666, NightReader22, PriWinchester, mandancie, Trucklady53, reannablue, SPN Mum, kandilyn, whatnosheep, Krisuvial, Katlover98, sbcarri, and Masami Mistress Of Fire for reviewing.

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