Chapter 11:

A/N: Hi! So yes, we should probably start right with the story but I wanted to get a jump on Dean and Lya falling back into each other. So for the purpose of this story, and timeline we're just going to pretend that Taylor Swift released Exile prior to 2009, honestly the Exile song was a big inspiration for this story, the first time I heard it a few months ago, I got this story in my head and I couldn't get it out!

So I hope you all enjoy this next chapter and I promise we'll get back to the plot very soon!

xoxo

October 29th 2009

It had been a few months since Lucifer had gotten out, and between trying to find the best way to stop the pending apocalypse, Sam, Dean and Lyanna had worked a lot of cases filling most of their free time with the family business, they were getting burned out and it was only a matter of time before someone slipped up and did something stupid, so at Dean's request the three of them decided to take a night off from hunting and instead were sitting at a dive bar outside of Nashville, McCann's, celebrating Lyanna's upcoming 25th birthday.

Lyanna snorted as Dean said something funny and Sam let out a genuine laugh, and to anyone who was on the outside looking in, they looked as normal and happy as any other close friends enjoying a night out. That was far from the truth and each one of them knew it. They knew the next few months that followed would be some of the toughest, roughest moments of their lives, so for now, they were content with spending the night drinking and reminiscing about the past.

"I remember you dating two guys at once." Dean grinned as his head turned in Lyanna's direction, "And then it backfired when they turned out to be friends with each other and dumped your crazy ass at the same time." he snickered

Lyanna rolled her eyes but continued to smile, "So I had a lapse in sanity, shoot me." she shrugged, "Still not as bad as your string of bimbos."

At that comment Sam laughed and pointed at Dean, "She's got you there, man." he said, "What is your number anyways, I've always been mildly curious."

Dean quirked an eyebrow, "Jealous Sammy?" he said, "I don't know." he shrugged, "I don't keep track."

Lyanna scoffed, "Yeah, right. Dean Winchester doesn't have a tally going?"

"What's yours?" Dean smirked, "I mean, I'm talking before me. I know I ruined you for all other guys." he laughed

"3." Lyanna admitted casting her eyes down as she finished the last of her beer

Dean held back a smirk, "Well aren't you a saint. So that makes it me, Jake and… some mystery guy?"

"His name was Damon, and he was a rebound. After you. But then I met Jake and it was like the sky opened up again." Lyanna smiled

Sam cleared his throat as he got to his feet, "I'll be right back." he said, as he got to his feet and walked towards the bathrooms

Dean pushed back that strange feeling he got every time she talked about Jake, it was anger, jealousy and regret melded together in the worst way, "You always told me hunters didn't get happy ever after."

Lyanna shrugged, "I used to believe that, and-and well, you didn't make it exactly easy, hunters like you are hard to love."

Dean frowned at this, "Hunters like me huh? As opposed to what, boring 9 to 5er's like Jake?" he words came out with more attitude than he had intended

Lyanna sighed, "I didn't mean it like that." she huffed, "It's just, this lifestyle doesn't exactly scream married bliss."

"Yeah, well neither do you, y'know." Dean grunted, "You don't seem all that happy with Jake, more, well, complacent. Bored." by the look on Lyanna's face he had clearly hit a nerve

"At least Jake listens to me, and he had no problem getting down on one knee and popping the question." Lyanna snapped

Sam wandered back to the table, "So who wants round three-everything good guys?"

Dean grunted in response as Lyanna glared daggers at the older Winchester, "Peachy. Dean is telling me how a relationship should look."

Dean licked his bottom lip as he narrowed his eyes at Lyanna, "Just call it like I see it."

Sam frowned as he exhaled, "Alright, I'm getting round three and you two, just don't speak to each other anymore-or at least until I get back, huh?"

Lyanna watched as Sam disappeared to the bar, and she swallowed the lump that was in her throat. She had snapped at Dean out of defense because she knew deep down he wasn't completely wrong. There had been a time when Jake made her so happy but now when she thought of her life with him she had doubts, she barely thought about him most days, it was as if she had fallen out of love with him.

Sam returned a few moments later with beers in his hands and he set them down on the table, "So how's it feel to officially be 25?" he grinned, "It's after midnight."

Lyanna let out a little laugh, "I'll let you know after these beers wear off."

The three friends settled into casual conversation, Sam making sure they both steered clear of any relationship talk as it seemed to set them off quicker than a pistol. "We should probably call it a night soon." Lyanna sighed, "Get back to our real lives-"

Lyanna's voice faltered as a bright spotlight hit their table and a voice spoke from somewhere else in the room, "Let's have our next couple join the stage for their song."

Lyanna's eyes snapped over to Sam, "You didn't."

"I did." Sam grinned, "Oh, c'mon you and Dean used to sing karaoke all the time!" he laughed

"When we were kids, Sammy!" Dean interjected shaking his head at his brother

"There's prize money."

Lyanna glanced at Dean and shrugged, "I'm picking the song." she called as she rushed to her feet and hurried towards the stage. She smirked as she found the female pop section and cheered inwardly when the song she wanted was listed. Dean joined her a few minutes later and wrinkled his nose as he read the song over her shoulder, "I'm not singing that. One, it's wannabe indie pop, and two, it's freakin' Taylor Swift!"

Lyanna let out a giggle, "That's why it's so perfect. I'll dominate your ass. You probably haven't even heard it before." she smirked, walking up onto the stage

Lyanna was surprised when Dean followed her. She thought for sure the song choice would be enough to deter him, but when she looked at him she saw him wearing a smug look on his face, "Jokes on you, Buffy." he said taking his spot at the microphone standing a few feet away from hers.

The lights in the room dimmed and the focus was brought to the stage as the opening piano melody of Taylor Swifts and Bon Iver's song Exile filled the bar. Dean stole a glance at Lyanna who was staring out into the crowd before he started singing his verse,

I can see you standing honey, with his arms around your body, laughing but the jokes not funny at all

Dean's body was tense as he sang towards the audience unaware that Lyanna was watching him with a perplexed look on her face. As he started to sing the rest of the verse his gaze slowly fell on Lyanna,

And it took you 5 whole minutes to pack us up and leave me with it, holding all this love out here in the hall. I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending, you're not my homeland anymore so what am I defending now…

As Dean continued with the chorus Lyanna shifted uncomfortably and dropped her gaze to the ground, a rush of guilt hit her like a tidal wave and she wanted to bolt from the stage-from him. However her competitive nature took over and she felt the need to defend herself, explain herself from his accusing words. Lyanna takes a breath as she steps to the microphone, her blue eyes fixed on his emotional green ones,

I can see you staring honey, like he's just your understudy, like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me

Dean's eyes remain fixed on Lyanna and for a minute he wonders if there was a hidden meaning to her picking this particular song, it just seemed say what both of them never quite could speak to each other out loud, he watched her as she took a tentative step in his direction,

Second, third and hundredth chances balancing on breaking branches, those eyes add insult to injury. I think I've seen this film before, and I didn't like the ending, I'm not your problem anymore, so who am I offending now? You were my crown and now I'm in exile seeing you out, I think I've seen this film before, so I'm leaving out the side door.

Dean was so lost in the moment, in the lyrics, in all the feelings that he had refused to let himself show that he didn't see Sam studying the pair with an uncertain expression, Sam continued to watch the scene play out as Dean and Lyanna began singing the bridge,

So step right out there is no amount of crying I can do for you, all this time we've always walked a very thin line, you didn't even hear me out

You didn't even hear me out

You never gave a warning sign

I gave so many signs

I never learned to read your mind, I couldn't turn things around

You never learned to read my mind, you never turned things around

You never gave a warning sign

I gave so many signs, so many signs, so many signs

Didn't even see the signs

Lyanna and Dean stood close as they gripped their microphones, both transfixed with the other, so drawn in by their musical confession, and they belted out the final chorus of the song. They only stopped staring at each other when the music had ended and the bar filled with the sound of cheers and applause. They smiled awkwardly at each other for a moment before they each rushed off of opposite sides of the stage, slinking back to join Sam at their table.

"Well, that was eye opening." the words stumbled out of Sam's mouth, but there was a hint of a smirk on his lips

"You are dead, Samuel." Lyanna seethed causing the taller Winchester to chuckle, much to Lyanna's dismay Dean laughed as well

Lyanna eyes fell onto Dean, "You're kiddin' me, you found that funny?"

Dean shrugged, "It's just a song, Lya." he replied, he was an expert by now at burying his emotions for the blonde in question, "Have a beer and relax, Summers."

Lyanna glared at the brothers but relented and drank her beer, the unresolved feelings lingered for a while until the beer slowly washed away the memories that were creeping into Lyanna's heart and mind, and the three fell into a familiar pace of banter and teasing.

They were on their fifth round of drinks when an older gentleman approached their table, his salt and pepper hair was slicked back on his head and was giving them a toothy grin, "Hi, folks. I'm Ernie Sellers, MC extraordinaire, you two blew everyone away tonight!" he said, "And I am proud to announce…" he started as a spotlight beamed onto their table for the second time that night and a microphone appeared in his left hand, "The winners of tonight's duet contest!" he exclaimed, "Can we get your names?" he asked holding the microphone towards them

Lyanna hesitated for a moment then a small smile tugged at her features, "Uh, Lyanna Summers and Dean Winchester."

"Well you two were top notch! And on behalf of McCann's I'm honoured to award you this cheque for the 500 dollar prize!"

The room was filled with drunken cheers and whistles and Dean grinned as he swiped the cheque from Lyanna's hand, "This is mine since the ladies clearly find me adorable." he smirked

Sam laughed but shook his head, glancing at Lyanna, "She picked the song though…"

Dean glared at this, but when Lyanna threw her hands up in defeat and offered they split it fifty fifty his expression changed to something more thoughtful, "I think this calls for more drinks." he said as he headed towards the bar

When Dean returned with a pitcher of beer and a tray full of tequila shots Lyanna bit her lower lip, "I don't think that's a great idea…"

"Ah, c'mon it's celebration tequila, it's your birthday and we, us amazing singers that we are, won a contest, we've earned a little fun." Dean beamed as he slung his arm around Lyanna's shoulder, there was a mischievous glint in his green eyes

"You're right, fuck it!" Lyanna laughed, shrugging her shoulders and downing a shot.

After about twenty minutes Lyanna excused herself to use the ladies room. As she was heading back to the table her phone lit up, the ID flashed and she grinned when she saw it was Jake, "My little Jakey!" she giggled into the phone, "I miss you!" she cooed, not realizing just how drunk and giddy she sounded.

Sam watched from across the room as Lyanna covered her free ear and disappeared back into the bathroom on her phone. Then he shifted his attention to his brother, "So that song… was an eerie parallel."

Dean's eyebrows knitted together, "Not really, I mean it was Taylor Swift, ugh…" his face scrunched up in disgust

"Yet you knew every word." Sam snickered, "Admit it, you've played that song on a loop before." he teased

Dean was about to respond when Lyanna came back into sight and ungracefully plopped down between the brothers, "He dumped me." she hiccuped

"What?" Sam frowned, "Jake?"

Lyanna let out a sniffle and nodded, "He knew I was drunk and he a-accused me of hooking up with you." she pouted, poking Dean's chest, "Then he-he dumped me because I was choosing to be here with my boys… instead of there with him, he-he was tired of waiting for me.." her voice was wavering between a sob and a slur, "We need more shots." she announced as she downed the last glass

Sam steadied the small blonde who had tried to get up from her seat and stumbled, "I'll grab this round."

Lyanna watched Sam's back fade into the crowd and she huffed as she rested her head in her hand, "I am-was a horrible fiance."

"No you're not." Dean tutted

"I should've been with him, I gave up this life for a reason. To be happy. And normal."

Dean's eyes locked onto Lyanna's "But were you happy?" he questioned, "With him? I mean, I don't think you would have stayed here with me, uh, us, if you really were."

Lyanna's face fell, "I was happy with him-in the beginning…" she hiccuped, "But, he, well, I realized, he wasn't y-" she was interrupted by Sam's return and her attention drifted to the shot glasses in front of her.

Lyanna downed two shots one after the other, her eyes were hooded and the smirk on her lips was playful and teasing, "Dance with me?" she murmured, leaning into Dean's chest as her hand fell lazily to his knee.

Dean stared at Lyanna for a moment and weighed his options. He knew she was extremely drunk and probably hurting from getting dumped, especially on her birthday. But he wanted her so badly, needed her. He knew his judgement was cloudy too, and he wasn't thinking with logic and reason. Selfish was the first word to come to mind, and he so badly needed to be selfish tonight, with her, "Let's go, Buffy." he rasped as he pulled her to her feet.

Dean could feel Sam's eyes on him and he refused to look at Sam directly. He didn't need Sam's disapproval ruining this for him. It wasn't the right circumstances and he would probably regret how this turned out tomorrow, but he was consumed at this very moment with the way Lyanna was clinging to him, the urgency in her touch, and something told him that she wanted this to play out the same way he did. So Dean did what he always did when it came to Lyanna, he gave in to his desire to give her anything she wanted. And right now, she wanted Dean Winchester.

In the shadows of the bar a pair of eyes watched in jealousy as Lyanna pressed herself into Dean's body, her eyes were sparkling and she giggled at something he whispered in her ear. He'd managed to keep himself hidden for the night slipping in and out of the establishment without anyone giving him a second look. His eyes shifted to black as he continued watching the two hunters, as he pressed his phone to his ear, "I've located the witch and the hunters." he spoke lowly, "Okay, yes, sir." he nodded before he hung up and slipped the small black device into the pocket of his jeans, "Enjoy your night Lyanna." he sneered, "Tomorrow you're gonna fall for the performance of a lifetime, and I'm gonna finally be rewarded for my months of devotion to the dark prince.." he smirked, pulling his hoodie up over his head, he took one more glance at the small blonde, "You'll take him back like a good little fiance, then Lucifer will destroy you." he laughed, walking past a mirror on his way out the door and his reflection showed the familiar face of Lyanna Summers betrothed, Jake Spencer, with an evil smirk tugging at his smile. Then he disappeared out the door of the bar and into the chilly autumn night.