Reviewer Responses

LorGilFan- Thanks for the compliments. I am so glad that the backstory worked. I wanted to have them use something that, while was a little bit of a lie, stuck close to the truth.

Kay05- (grins) Glad you're still liking it.

Ghostwriter- I'm glad you enjoyed the interrogation Sam went through and the way Jess' mom is.

Vincesbabe- Thanks for reading and reviewing. I am glad you're liking it.

CHAPTER 10

Sam looked at his reflection in the mirror and mentally groaned. The rest of Jessica's family was arriving within the next half an hour and he not only had to wear a suit (which he didn't really mind, but only slightly irritated him)( Jessica's mother said the dinner was a semi-formal event), but he was also fighting the nervousness he felt about meeting Jessica's aunt, uncles, and cousins. Sighing, he began to, once again, try to tie his tie.

"Sam, you ready?" Jessica's voice called from behind the bathroom door.

"Not yet, I'm having a little trouble with my tie," he replied as once again he failed to tie it right.

"Open the door and let me see it," Jess replied, no demanded.

Sam grinned slightly. Jessica was in one of her listen to me or else moods and he always thought she looked gorgeous when she was angry or irritated. He unlocked the door and opened it all the way to let her get to the tie and as his eyes washed over her, his smile widened. "You look…absolutely gorgeous," he told her as she grabbed the tie and began working it into the knot.

Jessica looked up into Sam's face and returned is smile. "You don't look so bad yourself," she returned his compliment. Letting his tie fall from her hands, Jessica adjusted the tie, and the jacket. "There, now you're ready to meet everyone," she declared.

Sam chuckled. "Sweetheart, if your relatives are anything like you, I'm sure I'll like them. You know I like your parents," he added, "By the way, how many are showing up? You and your mother have been up since 5:30 this morning cooking."

Jessica thought about the answer for a moment as they walked down the hall into the living room. "Well, mom said her sisters and their families, as well as dad's sister and her family, and my grandmother on my dad's side are all coming. So that's about eighteen in total," she replied.

"Wow!" Sam replied. Thinking about it, he realized he was nervous. Not just because he was meeting the rest of Jessica's living family, but also because he never had the big family Thanksgiving, nor any other holiday. And all because of the Demon.

"Honey?" Jessica questioned, her voice concerned, "Are you sure you're all right?"

Sam nodded, "Yeah," he took her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it, "It's just…growing up the way I did, dad, Dean and I never had a big family Thanksgiving like this. Mom and Dad were only children and their parents were dead. And since mom died three weeks before Thanksgiving, when I was six months old…" he trailed off.

Jessica wrapped her arms around Sam's waist and laid her head on his shoulder. "Sweetheart," she didn't know what to say, "I know my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmother will love you," she said with a smile, placing a chaste, but loving kiss to his cheek.

"Yeah, well," Sam returned her smile, but he still wasn't so sure as they walked into the living room and sat down. Jess' mom was in the kitchen checking on the turkey and ham that were baking in the kitchens two ovens. Her dad was out at the gas station getting a couple bags of ice for the drinks; so they were left alone to sit on the couch in the living room.

As they settled on the couch Sam spoke up again. "You know you never did tell me about your relatives, well besides your parents, that is."

Jessica looked confused for a moment as she thought about it and groaned in embarrassment. "I can't believe I forgot to prepare you…"

Sam chuckled as he pulled Jessica onto his lap, which was a reflex action he had whenever he saw her upset, even if it was over a trivial thing. "Prepare me Jess, sweetheart, it's not like we're going on a hunt," he said half-jokingly.

"Pfffft!" she retorted, "I wish. Let me tell you about my family. On my dad's side we have my Grandma Laura, and my dad's sister, Jean. Jean is married to my Uncle, Robert Lars. They have two children, Becky, who's 16, and Donna who is 14. They're pretty much an all American family. Aunt Jean works as a receptionist at dentist office, and Uncle Robert is college history professor.

"Then there are my mom's sisters; Andrea, and Barbara. Andrea is married to Paul Bradley and they are both attorneys and have two kids as well. Caroline, who's 10 and Bobby, who is 8. My aunt Barbara and her husband Carl Jackson are an elementary school teacher, 3rd grade, and a business manager for JcPenny's. They have a pair of twin boys, Jack and Connor, who are 13. And of course you already know mom and dad, who only had me and that dad is a stock broker and mom works for the Red Cross. Grandma Laura is seventy and still likes to think she can handle everything. Actually," Jessica shot Sam a wry grin, "Mom and dad say I'm a lot like her in personality, so the way she acts is a lot like I may act later in life."

Shaking his head in amusement, Sam laughed. "Well, then, if you're so much like her, I'm sure I'll like her as well…"

Suddenly he was cut off by the sound of the doorbell ringing. Jessica sighed in exasperation, "Everytime!" she shot a look to Sam, "I'll be right back," she then rose from her place on his lap and heading to the front door, she yelled out, "I GOT THE DOOR MOM!"

Sitting on the couch, Sam leaned his head back and closed his eyes, savoring the fact that he was here, with the woman he loved, and her family, celebrating Thanksgiving and not only that, but that he finally had his father's blessing in going to school, so long as he kept up with the hunting in California. Life was good.

"Sam," Jessica's voice brought him from his thoughts and he opened his eyes and straightened up. "I'd like you to meet my aunt and uncle, Andrea and Paul Bradley, and their kids Caroline and Bobby. Guys, this is my boyfriend, Sam Winchester."

Sam rose up off the couch and flashed a smile at his girlfriend's aunt, uncle and cousins. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Bradley," he then knelt down to Caroline and Bobby's level, "It's nice to meet you both. Jessica was just about to tell me about you," he said with a teasing grin and wink to Jessica.

Jessica rolled her eyes. "Sam, you know better than to try that," she warned him with a teasing grin of her own. "Remember what happened the last time?"

Sam chuckled, of course he remembered. He had teased her a little bit while they were having lunch in the quad last week, when some girl who thought she could tempt Sam, tried flirting, unsuccessfully Jessica was pleased to note, with him. Sam just ignored her, not even sparing the girl one look, and took Jessica's hand into his own. On their way home Jessica took the advantage and teased him for five minutes about it. "Yeah, I remember," he replied raising his hands in the 'I surrender' gesture.

Jessica nodded, "Good, now let's sit down."

No sooner did the words leave her mouth than Jessica's cell rang. "Honey, go ahead and get the door, I'll take car of you aunt, uncle and cousins," Sam assured her. Jessica nodded and went to get the door. Sam turned to the Bradley's, "I'm sorry about that," he grinned sheepishly.

Andrea smiled gently, "Not to worry Sam. It's a pleasure to meet you as well. Though it is a surprise to meet you."

Sam nodded in acknowledgement. "I'm sure," he agreed, "Is there someplace where you all put your coats and everything? Jessica forgot to mention it."

Paul nodded and grabbing his wife's and kids coats. "We usually just put them in one of the guest rooms," he informed Sam. He seems nice. I wonder how they met. "Andrea, why don't you take the appetizers to Marlene?"

Nodding her ascent, Marlene looked at her kids, "Caroline, Bobby behave all right," she practically pleaded with her kids. They nodded, innocent looks plastered on heir faces and Sam had to stifle the laugh bubbling up from his throat as he imagined the kids, halos above their heads (devil horns holding them up of course). Marlene turned to Sam, "I'm sorry to leave you with them like this," she threw her kids a fond, yet exasperated look, "they can e little hellions."

"It's no problem, Mrs…"

"Please, you're practically one of the family, call me Andrea or Andi," Andrea insisted as she grabbed the bag filled with items for appetizers.

"All right, Andi, I'm sure they'll be fine. Don't worry," he told her as he sat down on the couch.

"Thanks," Andi replied as she slipped into the kitchen.

Caroline and Bobby looked at Sam with curiosity for a few moments before they too sat down, across from him on the love seat. Caroline thought that Jessica was lucky to have found a guy as good looking as Sam and was about to ask how they met when Jessica walked back in, a worried expression on her face.

Sam was up immediately and at her side, "What is it sweetheart?" he questioned quietly.

"That, honey, was your brother, it seems when he couldn't reach you on your cell he called me," she gave him a half-hearted glare; "he said that there were a few strange deaths in the area. They might be our line of work."

Sam groaned. "This weekend was supposed to be a mini vacation," he muttered, "All right; did he tell you if he emailed the info?"

"Of course. We'll check it after everyone leaves," she assured him placing a quick but pleasant kiss to his lips.

"Ewwwwww!" Caroline and Bobby's voice chorused, causing Jessica and Sam to blush slightly and chuckle.

Paul walked in as Sam took Jessica's hand and led her to the couch, "I wouldn't say that kiddos, pretty soon you'll be doing this," Paul grinned noticing the slight embarrassment in his niece and her boyfriend, "Besides, your mother was a girl once."

"Nu-uh, girls are yucky," Bobby muttered.

Sam chuckled as Jessica cuddled into his side and he wrapped his arm around her. He remembered thinking that when he saw Dean with his 'girlfriends'. "What's so funny?" Bobby questioned angrily.

"Nothing," Sam replied with a smile, "You'll understand in a few years."

Paul was about to ask how Sam and Jessica met when the doorbell rang. As it turned out the people at the door was the rest of the family: The Lars', Jacksons' and Grandma Laura Moore. To say that Sam was overwhelmed was a bit of an understatement. The first thing that Grandma Laura did after being introduced to her eldest grandbaby's boyfriend was to give Sam a very lengthy and appraising look, one which eerily reminded him of his dad's friend Missouri Mosley, who was as strong a psychic as they come.

Upon finishing her appraisal, Laura had smiled and patted Sam's cheek. "Welcome to the family," the dowager matriarch said, a twinkle in her eye. "Now, while were waiting for the food to finish cooking, which one of you is going to tell us how you met?"

"Yeah," chorused Becky and Donna, who were eager for some gossip. "How did you meet this hottie Jess," Becky added with a sly grin.

Sam used his self control to barely contain the blood rushing to his face, and turned to Jessica, "Do you want to tell them, or should I, hun?" he asked.

"How about we both tell it," she suggested. At Sam's nod of agreement, Jessica began telling her family how she and Sam met, leaving out the "supernatural" details. "Well, we met on Halloween. I had been walking home from study group at around ten when these three guys jumped me and pulled me into an alley. I figured at first that they were just going to rob me. But as soon as they made it apparent that was not their main goal, I screamed for help," she explained. "That's when Sam showed up."

Here Sam took Jessica's hand in his and placed a kiss to the back of her hand. "I was heading back to my apartment from the library when I heard Jessica's cry for help. I dropped my things just outside the alley where they were holding her, and was able to get rid of them before they did anything worse than scare her. We talked for a few minutes and I offered to walk her home. It was a stroke of luck that we had apartments down the hall from one another," he smiled slightly. "On the walk back to our building, I guess the shock set in and Jessica fainted…"

"Because he couldn't find my keys and didn't want to dig in the pockets of my jeans, Sam took me to his place and let me sleep off the shock in his room while he took the couch," she explained hastily at the looks of shock on her father, uncles', mother, aunts and grandmother's faces, "ever since then we've been nearly inseparable."

Jessica, sensing Sam's nervousness, squeezed his hand. After a few moments of silence, Jessica's father spoke up. "Son, I think it's safe to say that we are all grateful to you for saving Jessica," he looked around the room and everyone nodded their agreement. "You have also made Jessica the happiest any of us has seen her in the last year, so, you're more than welcome here as one of the family. But fair warning, break her heart, or hurt her in anyway…"

"And I'll have the lot of you after me right?" Sam guessed with a knowing look on his face. Well he would know, especially since Dean was usually the one getting threatened by the father of his girlfriend. And he'd seen it many times, especially as Dean had told the girl goodbye when they were leaving and the father would be running out the front door threatening to call the police.

Nicholas smiled and nodded. "That's right. Now, let's just relax and enjoy the time with family," he said as everyone grinned in response as they all took seats around the room.

Dinner had been great, Jessica thought with a smile as she helped with the dishes. The guys and kids, were out either playing or sitting in the living and watching the game on the television. Though she had to admit, the family certainly put Sam through the interrogation ringer.

It all started when her youngest cousin asked Sam what he was going to be after he finished school. From there it all went down hill. Sam was able to tell the truth about his academic career and his plans for the future, at least so far as getting his college degree. But when it came to his life prior to Stanford, and the hunting aspect, he had to stretch the truth a little.

The night before, she and Sam had agreed that when her relatives showed up they would stick with the cover story that they had told her parents. Which would be all well and good, she realized, but she knew that if she and Sam were ever going to take their relationship beyond boyfriend/girlfriend and get married, she'd want to tell at least her parents. When she mentioned this to Sam, he smiled secretively and agreed. That had raised a number of "good" warning bells in her mind. That meant Sam was seeing her as more than just a college fling. That was good…very, very good.

After all, as her Aunt Barbara had commented a few minutes earlier, "That boy is a prim catch if I ever saw one. Polite, gorgeous, knows what he wants, is intelligent, caring, kind and is heading towards having a brilliant career as an attorney. He's also completely crazy about you sweetie."

"Jessica?"

Jessica looked up and grinned sheepishly at her Aunt Jean. "Sorry, Aunt Jean, I just got lost in thought."

Jean chuckled. "Don't worry sweetie, I feel the same way every time I think of you uncle."

"Well, what was it you were asking?" Jessica questioned as she began slicing up the pies.

"Hmmm…," Jean said, "Oh that, well I know we didn't get into what you and Sam do at school, besides taking classes, and I was just wondering."

Jessica winced inwardly. This was going to be tough. Well, she'd take Sam's lead on this and tell just enough of the truth that it was just omission. "Well, we hang out with our friends, do our homework together, and we go out," she smiled thinking of the last couple of dates they had, "and Sam's even teaching how to defend myself in case there is a time when he is not there to help me. And we also have our own jobs. Sam works as a busboy to make spending money, since he doesn't have to pay for housing, books or tuition. I was lucky and found a job working at the bookstore on campus. So I guess you could say our lives are pretty much normal." Pfft, NOT! That little voice in her head answered, and that's the way you like it.

"So you and Sam haven't…" Becky questioned curiously. Hey, just cause she had a crush on Sam didn't mean she was going to try and steal him from her cousin. Family's family, right?

Jess shook her head. "No," she admitted, "we just don't feel the time is right," she turned her head and looked curiously at Becky, "why do you wan to know?"

Becky looked at her mother, aunts, cousin and sister and blushed slightly, "Well, you have to admit, Sam is quite the hottie and well…"

Jess grinned back. "Oh believe me, I know. But it is always worth the wait." At the looks her aunts and mother were shooting her, she hastily added, "and I plan to wait until…" She stopped in her tracks at the sound muffled laughter coming from the older women in the family. "What? What's so funny?"

"Oh honey, you should have seen your face," Aunt Barbara grinned.

"That was just perfect," Aunt Andrea added.

"Sweetheart, do you seriously believe that your father and I waited until we were married?" Jessica inwardly shuddered at the unnecessary image, but nodded. Her mom smiled softly, "Honey, it is your life. Just be careful, all right?"

Jessica felt relief course through her at her mother's words of reassurance. "Thanks mom," she replied with a grin. "But I think that will be a while."

The older women shared a knowing look as Becky and Donna just out right grinned at their older cousin.

This just in…another body has been found in Sacramento. According to early reports, the heart of the victim was torn from the body and has not been found. The chief of police… The voice of the reporter interrupting the game announced.

As Jessica heard the report, her heart fell. This was great…just great. She so did not need to hear this report now. Why couldn't it have waited until tomorrow? She wondered. Why now, during the actual holiday? As she finished placing a slice of pie on a plate, she felt a pair of hands place themselves on her shoulders and leaned back into the embrace, knowing it was Sam.

"Hey," he asked quietly, "is everything all right?"

She shook her head. "No. The thing that caused grandpa's death, is now at it again, this time within city limits," she whispered.

Sam pressed a kiss to the top of her head and replied, "Well, it looks like we may have some work to do tonight after everyone leaves."

"Looks like," Jess sighed. This was not the way she had wanted to end her Thanksgiving. But she knew that they couldn't let that thing, whatever it was, destroy any other innocent people.