Hi, guys! Here's the last chapter. It was hell of a journey with this story. Took me a while to figure it out, to know how I want to develop it, to clear the idea in my head. And it took me ten times longer, if not even more, to actually manage to write it.

I really hope you'll like it. Enjoy! :)

"That was a first one," Sam takes a sip from his beer, "A gorgon."

We just came back from a hunt in Raton, New Mexico. The Bunker is silent, Dean went straight in for a shower, and Sam and I decided we needed a drink. I look across the kitchen table at the younger Winchester and smile.

"Told you Rowena can help."

Sam scoffs but nods in agreement.

"I don't trust her."

"It's not about trust." I roll my eyes as I open the fridge and take out a beer, "She's useful."

"She's cunning and manipulative, and..."

"Sam," I raise a brow at him, "I worked with her before. I know her. She's intelligent and devious, which is an extremely powerful and dangerous combination. But I believe there's more to her."

"She has her own agenda."

"Of course she has. She's a witch."

"She's looking for the Book of the Damned," Sam states and casts me a careful look, waiting for my reaction.

"I know." I simply nod.

"You know? When she gets her hands on it..."

"If she does." I take a sip, "And if she uses its power to cause trouble..." I shrug, "I'll deal with her myself."

"I see why you like her despite her ruthlessness." Sam states, "And she likes you. Otherwise, she wouldn't have helped us with the gorgon."

"Likes me?" I chuckle, "It might be so. But she really fancies you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you. One or two more cases, working with her, and you'll be her new favorite protege."

Sam groans and I chuckle.

"I hear Eileen is coming for a couple of days."

Sam's hazel eyes light up with excitement and warm care.

"She is. I hope you don't mind."

"Why would I, Sam?" I shake my head, "I like her. And it's not my house to say who comes and goes, you know. The Bunker is yours and Dean's."

"Braeden."

I instantly regret opening my mouth. I sigh and take a gulp from my beer. Yes, Dean and I are back to being a thing. It was so natural to get back to our old ways. Hunting together, spending all of our time inseparable... The tiny difference is I still live in the small room above "Hunter's", even though I spend most of the time with the Winchesters and sleep more at the Bunker than at the bar. But officially, I still live above my bar. Dean never suggested I should move in back to the Bunker and I never really...

"Braeden." Sam's voice is persistent.

"What?"

"It's about time and you know it."

"About time about what?"

Sam sighs and gives me an all-knowing look. Damn it. He knows me too well.

"I hate you're my best friend." I grumble as he chuckles, "You orchestrated this conversation, didn't you? Making sure Dean's at the shower, knowing it'll take him forever, Ben being at "Hunter's" because he has a crush on Alex. I bet you even encouraged the kid..." I shake my head, "all of this so we can talk about... About what exactly?"

"Don't play stupid. It doesn't suit you." Sam takes another calm sip of his beer, "It's been months since you and Dean are back together. It's about time you come back home."

"Home? You mean living at the Bunker? I'm here most of the time anyway."

"I don't mean it that way and you know it." Sam's hazel eyes bore into mine with determination, "Come home, Braeden."

"I can't just... I can't. The bar and the motel, I can't just..."

"Bullshit." he interrupts me, "That's bullshit and you know it. Mrs. Tran and Kevin are taking good care of both the bar and the motel. You trust them perfectly well, and they love the new life you gave them. This is some weak shit excuse."

I exhale. He is right. Of course, he is. Sam knows me better than I know myself. Fuck. I don't want to have this conversation.

"Did Dean put you to this?"

"Even though he wants you here more than anything..." Sam raises a brow at me, "You know he didn't. And don't deflect."

I cross my arms as Sam leans forward.

"I don't get it. What's the problem? You love him, he loves you..."

I grunt.

"Does he now?"

"You know he does."

"Really? 'Cause he never said so himself."

Sam blinks in confusion.

"You know him, Braeden. Do you really think he doesn't love you because he didn't say it to you? Is this really bothering you this much?"

I dig my nail in the label of my beer bottle, trying to peel it. I know Dean. I know how much he cares for me. I know he's no man of words. But I don't need to hear it to know it's true. Because it's in the adoration in his eyes when he looks at me. It's in the simple touch of his hand when he passes by me, it is in the caring way he pushes back a lock of hair out of my face, in the way he intertwines his fingers with mine while we walk together. How he embraces me every night, wraps his body protectively around mine before we go to sleep. The way he kisses my temple for good morning. His love has never been in grand gestures or heartfelt confessions. It's in all the little details. And I love him for it. For the way he makes me feel special and loved, cared for.

"No, Sam," I shake my head and drop a piece of the bottle label on the table, " It doesn't bother me he never said it. I know he never will. Not really." I smile, '"Dean is Dean, and I love him just the way he is."

"What is it then? What's stopping you?"

"I... I don't... I don't know." I cross my arms and huff in aggravation, "And he never actually asked me."

"You're scared," Sam's realization makes his eyes widen in shock.

"Drop it, Sam," I warn and get up, leaving my half-full bottle of beer on the table.

"You're scared," he repeats and stands up.

"Look, it's late. I have an early morning tomorrow. Gotta get back to the bar and prepare for the Thanksgiving dinner. I know it is a couple of days till it, but everyone's coming, and there's so much to be done, and..."

"Braeden." Sam gently puts his hands on my shoulder and makes me look up at him.

"What?"

"Don't do this."

"Do what?"

"Use the bar as a safety rope, an excuse. You belong here. You belong with Dean. If you haven't noticed, when you're not around, we tend to get in some deep shit out of ... stupidity. Like the trials."

"Yeah, well. Those two years you survived without me, so..."

"You belong here," Sam repeats and hugs me, "The Bunker's your home, too."

"What if..." I don't manage to finish my thought, my face pressed against Sam's chest and my voice muffled, "What if..."

"He lost you once, Braeden," Sam reassures me and gently squeezes me, "This time he'll make sure you'll stick around. Trust me. Dean wants you here."

I pull from his embrace, biting my bottom lip. Sam is right. I am scared. I've faced various monsters, demons, angels, I've been in freaking Purgatory, Heaven, Hell. But for the first time, I feel scared, insecure. I'm afraid I'll mess it up. I'm afraid Dean will get fed up with my shit.

"What if he realizes that..."

"Damn it, Braeden!" Sam breathes, "I know my brother, okay? He's been head over heels for you since we were teenagers. It's been years, and it hasn't changed. Nothing will change that."

I nod wordlessly, and Sam leads me back to the table and my unfinished beer. I eye him as he sits down and takes a huge sip from his bottle.

"What?" Sam looks confused, "I know this look. What?

"This hunt, the vampire nest." I start, "When Dean and I met all those months ago... You set it up, didn't you? You and Jody."

"When did you figure it out?" Sam smiles.

I shake my head, trying to hide my amusement.

"I suspected it the moment I saw him there. Does Dean know?"

"It took him a while, but, eventually, he figured it out."

"Of course he did," I grin widely and clink my beer against his, "I owe you one."

"You owe me nothing," he smirks, "What are best friends for?"

Tiny snowflakes fall from the gloomy sky as gusts of wind swirl them around in different patterns, hurling them against the windows. Who knows, if the weather stays severe enough, the snow might actually stick for at least a couple of hours.

It is bright and warm inside the bar. Cozy. It's closed for customers today. After all, it's Thanksgiving, and I decided it's as good a place as any to celebrate with family and friends.

I beam as I pull out of the oven the largest turkey I have ever seen in my life. I don't even want to know where Dean found it. With the help of the girls, the table is already set, with candles on both ends. The men are roaming around with beer in their hands, knowing it's best to stay out of our way. All that's left to be done is to bring all the food to the table.

"You think it's big enough?" Meg's snarky comment makes me arch my brows, "What, it's a zoo here. How many people have you invited?"

"Not that many," I scoff at her.

She's sitting on one of the kitchen counters, observing the well-organized chaos the dinner preparing is. She is not helping with a thing, just making jokes, sitting there all afternoon, being sassy.

"Not that many, huh?" she chuckles, "I counted fifteen. Ben, you, Dean, Sam and Eileen, Kevin and his mother, Clarence and me, the two bulky sexy gays," I chuckle at her description of Luke and Viper as she continues, "Charlie, Garth, the sheriff, and her daughter. Fifteen people, Braeden. Fifteen!"

I shake my head and look at all the prepared dishes. Everyone brought something, even though I warned them not to. So now there's plenty of food I'm not sure we will be able to eat. Even with all the men. I managed to reduce the amount a little - I made Meg take some of it to Duncan and his team since they have a case. I wanted them to have a pleasant Thanksgiving dinner, even though they're not home. But still, there's just too much food. Mashed potatoes, cranberry sauces, various roasted vegetables, creamed corn, two green bean casseroles... Someone even brought macaroni and cheese and a tray with numerous pickles, olives, onions, and peppers. We also have homemade bread rolls, biscuits, and cornbread. Two large bowls of fresh salad and... I shake my head. I don't even want to check all the desserts we have.

Finally, all of us settle around the table as Viper cuts the turkey with expert precision. The evening slowly passes as jokes and stories of old hunts and childhood memories are brought up. It's peaceful and festive.

The dinner reminds me of simpler times. When it was just me, Bobby, and the Winchesters. It is funny how as time passed by, my heart opened to so many more people. Even to a demon and an angel.

After dessert Viper, Luke, Garth, and Linda go to play some pool. I smile, Viper and Luke fit quite well in our made family. Even after meeting Dean for the first time, when they were ready to take his head for hurting me. But now they get along enough to show calm demeanor and mutual respect to one another. My eyes fly to Ben who is trying to teach Alex how to play darts as Kevin gives unnecessary pointers. Jody is on the other end of the table, talking with Charlie. Sam and Eileen are slowly dancing and talking. They are so cute together, my heart swells with happiness for them. Meg dragged Cas away so my only presumption is they're having sex in the storage unit.

Dean's arms wrap tightly around me as I sit in his lap. We are quiet for a couple of minutes, silently observing our family and friends - the family we chose and helped build. My head sinks onto his shoulder and I caress tenderly his throat.

"That's nice," he smiles as he takes a sip from his beer.

"Good." I sneak my arms around his neck.

It is pure bliss to be here with him. To enjoy some well-deserved peace and quiet. A little piece of happiness. I exhale in content. There's no other place I'd rather be than in his arms, with his heartbeat under my ear. His fingers absentmindedly draw patterns on my hips. It is warm and so comfortable, the clamor around us making me drowsy. But Dean's deep voice makes me look at him.

"I've been thinking..."

"Uh-oh!" I grin at him.

"Don't be a smartass, Honey B."

"Me? Smartass?" pretend shock covers my face as Dean chuckles, "Never!"

"Let me finish," his wonderful green eyes lock mine, as I patiently wait for him to continue, "So... I was thinking since we're already here, why don't you pack the rest of your things?"

I pull so I can see his face properly. Dean is incredibly serious, his body still, and there is some caution in his expression, as though he's not sure how I will react. Warmth blossoms inside my chest, a smile trembling on my lips.

"Sam talked to you?"

"Maybe." now he is completely uncertain, something close to fear appearing in his eyes.

"So... you want me to come live in the Bunker," my finger traces his jaw as my eyes never leave his, "I suppose I can go back to my old room there and..."

"No." Dean quickly interrupts me.

"No?" I furrow my brows, " I don't understand..."

"Not your old room." he shakes his head, "My room. Our... Our room."

A huge grin spreads across my face.

"Our room, huh?" I lean forward, my lips brushing his, "I think I can live with that."

Dean captures me in a mind-blowing kiss. There is pure happiness in his eyes when he pulls back.

"Just next time you're in trouble..."

"I know," I nod and snuggle closer to him, intertwining my fingers with his, "We're in this together. No more lies, no more secrets."

"Promise me."

"I promise. To whatever end."

"To whatever end."

THE END

What do you think? Drop me a review and tell me. I'd love to know your opinion on everything! :))

I'm sucker for happy endings, I hope I managed to do so here. And I couldn't resist not to include Aelin and Rowan's quote, for any "Throne of Glass" fans here. I just couldn't :D

Anyways, I really hope you liked the story and its end, and I'm grateful to every one of you who was determined enough to stick with me trough Braeden and Dean's story, reading and reviewing, even when I was the most inconsistent of us all with this nightmare of posting schedule. There's something a bit off in the last couple of chapters (after Braeden was revived) and I couldn't put my finger around it. I tried my best to clear it, to polish the story, to think of something better but obviously that was the best I managed to do. So any ideas in this direction would be very much appreciated.

Also, I'm considering writing something from Dean's point of view, his experience when Braeden was dying in the hospital. Do you think this will be something that's worth exploring?

Thank you all for sticking up with me and till next time! :))

Hugs and love! :)