I was apprehensive as Dean held the door to the Impala open for me. Whatever had me trapped here knew family was a weakness I couldn't easily withstand. It could be a trap to lull me into complacency, so it could strike when I was least prepared. Powerless against it, I found myself climbing in. A thousand unfavorable scenarios tumbled through my brain as I absently picked at my fingernails. I nearly leapt through the roof when Dean gently grabbed my hand to stop the tick.
"Don't be nervous," he said softly, lifting my hand to his lips. "It's never as bad as you imagine." He held our hands together and rested them on my thigh, making me cease fidgeting.
"I'm not nervous," I lied, lightly running my fingers over his calloused hand. It was nearly twice the size of mine, something that always seemed to amuse him and Sam. His skin felt like supple leather, rough but not coarse; able to soothe when needed. The only thing missing was the scars on his palm from multiple knife cuts. He felt real; like the man I had spent every waking moment with for over a year.
My pondering made the car ride to the other side of town seem short. It wasn't long before we pulled into a quaint house overlooking a pond with a small garden off the side. It emanated mother's touch as I stepped outside, but I caught a glimpse of an overrun shed that screamed my father. Two unfamiliar trucks were parked beside us, the Impala sticking out like a sore thumb. A grievous thought flitted by as Dean knocked on the front door. What if my family didn't approve of him? Was I about to play defense for someone I didn't know?
But you do know him, whispered my heart as I cast an anxious glance his way. He stood tall, calm and collected with no hint of fear on his handsome features. He flashed me a wink with a smile when he noticed me staring. All other thoughts disappeared as someone opened the door.
My father welcomed us in, heartily shaking Dean's hand before crushing me into a quick hug. It felt like all the air had leaked out of my lungs as I shakily asked where my mother was. A finger pointed us down the foyer, where she stood in the doorway of the kitchen. Leaden feet allowed Dean to beat me there. My mother gave him a kiss on the cheek, calling him her favorite son-in-law. She shooed him into the dining room with promises of beer and whiskey when he gave her a cheeky response. I crashed into her, throwing my arms around her as she turned around.
"Oh, honey, whatever's the matter?" she asked, a little startled, hugging me back.
Gently rubbing my back made it difficult to keep the tears at bay. "Nothing," I assured her, emotion distorting my voice. "Just feel like I haven't seen you in a long time." I clung to her desperately, not wanting to let go.
"We just saw each other last week," she said, pulling away despite my attempts to resist. She lovingly combed my hair away from my face, peering into it. She was always able to read me like a book and I was unable to keep things from her. "Is everything okay? Did you and Dean get into a fight?"
I laughed at her good intentions, nosey as ever. "No, Momma. I really did just miss you. Need help with anything?" I peeked around her shoulder into the kitchen where mouth-watering scents wafted by.
"Not tonight," she told me, lightly smacking my butt with her towel as I was redirected.
I only managed to take a few steps before someone slammed into me, catching me in a choke hold. Choice words stuck in my throat. "D-dan?" I stuttered, straining to look up at my older brother from my compromised position.
"Hey, baby sister," he replied, smiling happily down on me. Excited as I was to see him, I all too well recognized the look on his face. "Look who I caught," he cawed, parading me into the living room like a prize turkey.
"Want me to kick his ass, baby?" Dean asked, bending at the waist to get on my level. The cheeky grin suggested it wasn't a real offer, but his eyes said he would come to bat for me if I asked.
I was about to tell them both I could take care of myself when my legs were swept out from underneath me. "What was that?" my other brother, Jacob, teased, my legs firmly tucked in his grasp.
"You two put me down this instant!" I fussed vehemently, struggling against their iron grips. I had fought monsters who were stronger than this. As I fumed, Dean slowly stood, a scheming grin forming under his bright eyes.
Dan recognized the dangerous look first. "Be a man for your wife," he egged, tightening his hold on me.
"Bring it, Winchester," Jacob echoed, shaking me as he bounced on his toes.
Dean began to roll up his sleeves. "Dog pile?" he said, not bothering to look up.
"Don't even think about it," I pleaded, glancing between the three men who were now having a stare off.
Jacob flinched first, a signal Dean had been waiting for. He dove at my brothers, limbs outstretched as he knocked all of us to the ground. The three of them cackled violently, laid out on top of me. My head was stuck in an armpit, legs tangled around Jacob, and someone was laid across my back, preventing me from breathing. And no one seemed to be moving as their laughter reached a fever pitch.
A high-pitched, feminine voice I didn't recognize hollered for Dan to cease what he was doing and let me up off the floor. Air rushed into my lungs as my brothers clumsily extracted themselves from our pile, one accidentally kicking me in the head. I gave an irritated growl; we were grown adults and yet this seemed to happen on the regular.
Free to move, I rolled over to find myself nose to nose with Dean. He was leaned over me, body supported on four limbs while I propped up on my elbows. His face was flushed from laughing, green eyes still crinkled at the corners. My heart swelled at how perfectly he seemed to fit in with my family. Absolutely content, I was tempted to reach out and touch his face.
"Sorry," he breathed, smiling gently at me.
"Are not," I quipped, pretending to scowl. His chuckle told me he didn't take my words too seriously.
"Get a room!" Jacob howled at us, sending the rest of my family into peals of laughter.
I blushed deeply, no longer able to hold Dean's gaze. I felt him press a quick kiss to my cheek before standing upright. Hauling me to my feet, I fell easily into his chest like it was a well-rehearsed move. The lights in the room highlighted the freckles that ran across his cheeks as I leaned into him. His fingers pushed a few stray strands of hair off my face, drawing me in deeper.
"Dinner's ready!" My mother's call to supper was the right distraction, breaking Dean's spell over me. I patted his chest gently to put distance between us as I turned away. I felt him lurch forward to catch up with me, lacing his fingers into mine. I shot him a raised eyebrow, curious about his motive. He avoided my gaze, pretending to study the ceiling. But I caught a quick wink when our eyes met for a moment.
As I sat down to the table, I realized I didn't recognize two of the people in attendance. Dan helped an extremely pregnant, petite, rodeo queen into her chair, seating himself next to her. A comely girl with red pigtails and freckles pulled out the chair across from Jacob, keeping her eyes cast downward.
Throughout dinner we talked, laughed, and teased like the family we were before that fateful night. Dan was in line to take over as sheriff once the current one retired. He had married his rodeo queen a few years before Dean and I; now they were expecting their first child. Jacob was steadily working his way up the chain at the plant in the next town over, where he had met his fiancé. My brothers had settled down with local girls and I was over the moon for them. We deserved to grow up and grow old together like this. With each glass of wine and familial conversation, I slipped further into this reality, truly wondering if my other life was the dream.
I could have stayed all night, but Dean dragged my tipsy butt home when my siblings decided to leave. Giggly from the wine, I tripped up our porch steps. I fumbled with the keys to the front door until I dropped them, which sent me into a fit of laughter. He rolled his eyes at me as he did what I couldn't. Once inside, I clumsily slipped off my shoes while he reclined on the couch.
"Are you alright?" he asked, watching me curiously after I nearly pitched over.
"I'm perfectly fine," I retorted, moving to sit beside him. As I came around the corner of the couch, my hip caught on the arm. I squeaked, smacking my calf on the coffee table as I bounced off the couch. Completely unstable on my feet, I fell right into Dean's lap. Surprised emerald eyes matched my own as I straddled his lap. A tense breath passed between us until we burst into simultaneous laughter.
Exhausted from a long day and alcohol, I leaned my head on his shoulder as our fit subsided. He rested against me, lightly strumming my back. "Tell me how we met," I asked softly after a few moments, all barriers gone.
"Why?" He contorted his head, trying to see my expression.
I only buried my face further in the curve of his neck. "Dan and Jacob were talking about it tonight and I just…" I trailed off, refusing to look at him.
I felt his chest vibrate against me as he chuckled at my shyness. When he drew in a deep breath, I was afraid he wouldn't oblige my silly request. It was a nagging question in the back of my mind the wine had called front and center.
His arms wrapped around me to hold me tightly as he talked in a light voice. "You'd passed your first test of vet school and decided to celebrate with friends in Topeka. Cause let's be honest, the nightlife in Manhattan is pitiful. Kinda like Lawrence, which is why I was in Topeka. I was hustling a little pool and this gaggle of girls just bursts into the bar. Y'all were loud and noisy, without a care in the world. At the back of the pack was this short brunette with striking blue eyes. And she was beautiful."
"It was me," I said cheerfully, glancing up at him.
He didn't answer me, nuzzling my face instead before continuing. "You walked right up to me and said, 'You're so devilishly handsome that I just want you to take me right here and now.'"
"What?" I screeched, shooting upright. His face was the vision of serious; until the corner of his mouth twitched. "Filthy liar," I huffed, leaning back to cross my arms over my chest.
He laughed as he talked, clearly enjoying his practical joke. "Yeah, but worth the look on your face." I pursed my lips, moving to get off his lap. I needed answers, not to be made fun of. "Wait, wait," he conceded, stopping me with firm hands.
"Tell it right," I demanded, smacking his chest as I laid back down.
"Alright," he started again. "You didn't say that. Didn't even notice me; not like I noticed you anyways. But I knew one of the girls in your pack and she introduced us. It took a couple of tries, but you finally let me buy you a drink. Treated you to a round of pool. And once we got to talking, we never stopped. Took you on a real date about a week later and we've been inseparable ever since."
He smiled fondly at the warm memory as I replayed his words in my mind. It sounded perfect; surely there was some discrepancy I hadn't heard.
My silent pondering drew Dean's attention. "Wanna tell me what's going on with you?" he asked, grabbing my chin between his finger and thumb. I gave him pitiful eyes, but he wasn't ready to let this go.
"Ever have a dream that seems so real you mistake it for reality?" I dropped my gaze, feeling silly for what I was saying. "Well, I had a crazy surreal dream last night. But then I woke up and now this feels real too." I gestured around the room, not sure if he understood. "I'm just a little confused, I guess," I confessed, letting my fingers trail across his chest. Why couldn't this be real?
He was quiet for a moment, head titled like he was studying me. Gently, he released my chin, sliding his hand along my jaw. "Were you happy?" he finally asked, stroking my cheek.
"Yes," I said in a knee-jerk like response. We both recognized the answer came too fast to be real. Was I happy with that life? Forever on the road, risking life and limb, with no place to call home or family. I'd gained new friends and family, saved countless people, and had more adventures than I'd ever thought possible. Did what I'd gained outweigh everything I had lost? Did that equate to happiness? "No?" I questioned out loud, beginning to doubt myself.
"Are you happy here?" His gaze burrowed holes in me, like his question did to my heart.
"Yes," I said, tears beginning to prick my eyes. I placed my hand on Dean's, trying to steady myself. "But it's not that simple," I rapidly followed up with.
He sensed my distress, resting our foreheads together. "Why can't it be?" he reasoned. "Your happiness is what matters most; to me." I sorrowfully shook my head against his, ours noses rubbing. Why couldn't he be real? "Stay here with me," he pleaded, "with someone who loves you."
My eyes shot open, a single tear slipping down my face. "Y-you love me?" I stuttered.
"From the moment I first saw you," he assured me, both hands grasping either side of my face.
"You don't know how much I've wanted to hear you say that." My words were lost as he pulled me towards him. His lips crashed down on mine and this time I didn't shy away. I laced my arms around his neck as the faint taste of whiskey filled my mouth. Hands clasped under my butt, Dean stood and carried me up the stairs to our bedroom.
