Chapter Thirty-Six

Kaitlyn slips into her shoes before walking out of the bedroom. She smiles at Dean as he finishes cutting the vegetables. "I would have gotten that," she says.

Dean grins. "No problem. You've done a lot already." He looks over and actually takes a moment to look at her. "Wow."

"What?" She frowns. "You don't like?"

"No, I love. You're beautiful. I'm a very lucky man." He steps over and kisses her softly.

She smiles against his lips. "I'm a lucky woman." She pulls back and smiles up at him. "I love you."

"I love you." He kisses her again.

"All right, knock it off," Seth says walking in.

Dean flips him off, never breaking the kiss. Kaitlyn giggles as she pushes Dean back. He groans and glares over at Seth. "Jackass."

"Like you won't get any tonight." Seth frowns when Kaitlyn sighs and walks out of the room. "What the fuck did I say?"

Dean sighs. "Nothing."

"She just walked off pissed."

"Right. Not at you. She's pissed at me." He walks back over to counter and puts the vegetables onto the tray.

"Why? Are you two fighting? Because from what I just saw you're fine."

"We are, for the most part." Dean looks over at Seth. "We haven't had sex since Kelsey's been here."

"God what the hell is it with you two and sex? I hate having these conversations. That's my sister."

"Yeah, I'm aware." Dean sighs. "It's weird. I just…" He shrugs. "I don't know. I think I'm afraid Kelsey will come in or hear. I don't know."

Seth nods. "Okay. You're gonna have to get over that. I do not want to have to deal with these damn conversations all the time."

Dean grins as he opens the dip for the vegetables. "I'm hoping once we have a house it'll be different. This place is just kinda small."

"I get it. Listen, we work for two days after Christmas. Paige and I will take Kelsey on our next day off. We'll talk to Kelsey today about it if you want. Uncle Seth needs to learn more about his niece anyways."

Dean nods. "Yeah, okay. Don't force her though. Everything is still new."

"I know. We'll just bring it up and see how she feels about it."

Kaitlyn walks back in. "Mom and Dad just pulled up," she says. "Dean…"

"I'll go see if I can help," Dean says. He walks over to Kaitlyn and kisses her softly. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize." She smiles sadly at him. "Doesn't change how I feel about you."

He nods. "I know. I just hate that this is going on." He kisses her once more. "All right, I'll be right back."

Kaitlyn looks at Seth after Dean walks out. "I hate that you two talk about our sex life."

Seth snorts. "I hate that we talk about your sex life."

"Then stop it!"

"Don't yell at me about it. You two are fucking insane." He smiles at his sister.

"Yes." She can't deny that fact. "But you love us anyways." She kisses Seth's cheek. She looks over when Dean walks in behind her parents. "Mom, Dad." She smiles at them. "Glad you could make it." She hugs both of them.

"Thank you for inviting us."

It doesn't take long for everyone to be sitting around the living room and talking about anything and everything. Kaitlyn's glad that her parents are here. Sure, there's still progress to be made, but this is a start. She wants them in their lives. She smiles at Dean when he slides his arm around her shoulders. He returns the smile but there's something behind his. She watches him closely.

"Daddy," Kelsey says. "Can we open presents now?"

Dean smiles at her. "I think that's a wonderful idea." He stands up and walks over to the tree. "Want to hand them out?"

"Okay."

Kaitlyn smiles as she watches Kelsey passing out the presents. She looks over when Shelly sits down beside her. Shelly smiles at her daughter.

"You look happy," Shelly says.

"I am happy," Kaitlyn says.

Shelly lifts Kaitlyn's left hand. "When did this happen?"

"Two weeks ago."

She nods. "Did he at least get down on one knee?" She smiles at Kaitlyn.

"He didn't exactly ask me. Just kinda put the ring on." Kaitlyn isn't surprised when Shelly frowns. "Mom, it's fine, really. I actually never expected a ring. It's enough. And he asked me in his own weird way."

"But you're happy?"

"Very happy."

"Good, I'm glad. I've always wanted you to be happy, Kaitlyn. I'm just sorry it took the shooting to realize it was never Nick."

"I know Dean isn't perfect, Mom. But he's an amazing man. He treats me right. Yeah, we argue, but I wouldn't want to argue with anyone else."

"Then that's what matters." Shelly smiles.

Dean locks the door after everyone leaves a couple hours later. He lets out a heavy breath as he looks over at Kaitlyn and Kelsey. "I think that went well," he says.

Kaitlyn nods. "Absolutely," she says. She smiles. "But now, I think it's time for bed."

"I agree."

Christmas morning goes smoothly. It's more than Kaitlyn could have imagined. They've become a family, something that makes her beam. She loves how Dean had been so involved with Kelsey as she opened her gifts. Kelsey was ecstatic when Dean opened his gift from her. Kaitlyn isn't sure she's ever seen the look on his face before, but it's one she hopes to continue to see.

Kaitlyn glances into the back seat at Kelsey as Dean drives toward her parents' house. "You're going to meet more people today. Uncle Seth's sisters are going to be there. I'm hoping they'll be nice, but they don't like me."

Kelsey frowns. "If they're Uncle Seth's sisters, aren't they yours?"

"In a way. Uncle Seth is actually my stepbrother. His Dad married my Mom. But I've never gotten along with Becca and Anna."

"Okay. Daddy, do they like you?"

"Not exactly. We have our issues with each other. But that started before I got together with Kaitlyn." Dean shrugs. "If they don't like you that's their loss. But if they say anything to you today that you think isn't right, you let one of us know, okay?"

"Yes."

Kaitlyn walks to the back of the car to grab a couple bags. She looks over when Dean joins her. "If they say anything, I'm going to knock them out."

Dean grins. "As amazing as that would be, you will do no such thing." He grabs the box of presents.

"Dean…"

"Ignore them, Baby. They're looking to get you to react. So don't let that happen."

"You're right." She sighs heavily. "They just annoy me."

"I know they do. They annoy me too." He closes the trunk. "All right, let's head in." He smiles at Kelsey. "Ready?"

"Yes."

Seth is waiting on the porch when they make it to the front door. He smiles at them as they all step in. "Was wondering if you three were going to show up," he says.

Kaitlyn smiles. "We're early still." She kisses his cheek. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Kate. Here, let me take the bags. Where do they go?"

"Kitchen. Food and wine."

"Okay."

Dean sets the box down before turning toward Kaitlyn. "Coat?" He smiles when she rolls her eyes at him and turns.

"So bossy." She lets him pull her coat off before she turns around once again. "Kelsey, want to help me put the presents under the tree?"

Kaitlyn follows Kelsey into the kitchen after they finish getting the gifts under the tree. She's not really surprised to find everyone here. Kelsey stays close to Kaitlyn when the two women she doesn't know look over. Kaitlyn smiles down at her as she rests her hands on her shoulders. Dean looks over and smiles.

"What's with the hells?" Sean asks walking over to hug Kaitlyn and then Kelsey.

"She wants to be closer to my height," Dean says with a laugh.

Kaitlyn smiles. "Yes, keep telling yourself that."

"The way I see it, is you're actually being nice so I don't have to stoop so low to kiss you."

"You're sleeping on the couch tonight, Ambrose." She glares at him but can't stop her smile when he pouts at her. "No pouting allowed." She looks at Becca and Anna. "Kelsey, that's Becca and Anna. Becca, Anna, this is Kelsey."

Becca and Anna simply nod at Kelsey before turning back to their own conversation. Kaitlyn squeezes Kelsey's shoulders. She'd rather have them ignore her than say something hurtful. Dean walks over with a glass of wine.

"I figured you'd want a glass," he says.

Kaitlyn smiles as she takes the glass. "Thank you."

He leans down and gives her a quick kiss. "You're welcome." He groans when he hears Becca mutter something about them.

"Becca," Sean says. "That's enough."

The afternoon goes well, with no issues. Everyone enjoys their time opening presents and before they know it, everything is opened. Kaitlyn frowns when Eve grabs her hand and pulls her into the kitchen.

"Eve…"

"I just wanted to talk for a sec." Eve smiles at her. "I never got a good look at your ring." She lifts Kaitlyn's left hand. "Wow, it's gorgeous."

"Yeah, it definitely is." Kaitlyn smiles. "Not something I expected from Dean."

"Can I see it?" Eve meets Kaitlyn's gaze.

"Okay." She slips it off her finger and hands it to Eve. "Why do I think you're up to something?"

"I'm not. Other than dropping the hint to Roman."

Kaitlyn smiles. "He'll ask you eventually."

"Can I go show him?"

"Yeah, go ahead. I'm going to go grab a drink." Kaitlyn shakes her head at Eve. "You're very odd."

"I'm aware."

Kaitlyn pours herself another glass of wine before she heads back to the living room. She frowns when she sees Dean sitting on the edge of the couch. Why'd he move? She walks over to him. "You okay?" she asks.

Dean nods. "Yeah. Shouldn't I be?"

"Well, yeah, but why did you move?"

He smirks. "Waiting for you." He takes Kaitlyn's glass and sets it on the table beside him.

"Dean…"

"You know, the fact that you gave up your ring so quickly should bother me." He licks his lips as he meets her gaze once again. "But it actually worked in my favor for once. I didn't have to argue with you in order to get it back."

She frowns. "Why would you want it back?"

"Because I realized that I was forgetting something." He moves to stand up which causes Kaitlyn to take a step back.

"Dean, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" He takes her hand. "You are an amazing woman. I have never met anyone like you. And I already know that you've accepted me for the rest of your life or whatever."

"Dean, be a little romantic," Seth interrupts.

"Right, sorry." Dean grins. "I um… I know I'm not always the easiest person to deal with. And I know that there are going to be days that you can't stand me. But I also know that I can't live without you." He shifts and drops down to one knee.

"Dean, you don't have to do this," Kaitlyn says softly.

"I know I don't." He smiles up at her as he holds the ring out. "Will you marry me, Kaitlyn?"

Kaitlyn smiles. She's surprised by the tears stinging her eyes. "Yes, of course I will." She lets Dean slip the ring back on her finger before leaning down and kissing him softly.

Dean stands up, never breaking the kiss. He warps his arms around her and lifts her up slightly. "I love you."

"I love you too."