For Me, It's You
By Luff The HufflePuff
Disclaimer: Everything you recognize is property of the WB (and the new CW). The title is of a Train song of the same name. The rights for the title belong to Train. The OC's in this fic are mine and mine alone. Ask permission before using them. Please and thank you.
A/N: Hello! This fic was uploaded on the SNFF site hosted by Kayim several months ago, and after my Beta constantly told me to repost it here, I did so. So if you recognized it from somewhere else, that is why.
Second A/N: I want to say that my story is dedicated to my beta reader, who has endured almost everything in order to read this story. Oh, and Elphie (Elphaba) Manhiem is an original character of mine. And thanks to Forcryinoutloud who explained how to use the HTML tags when I was confused. This story title is based off of the Train song of the same name. I love Train and it helped my story along the writing process. Enjoy
Chapter One,
Virginia
"Hello?" asked a voice from the other end; a sharp, low note. Dean's face broke into a smile as he imagined her in her early Sunday attire and took several seconds to calm himself.
"Hello," He echoed back, mentally berating himself for not thinking up anything more conversationally stimulating.
But nonetheless, there was a short laugh from the other end.
"Always the charmer," There was a pause and Dean wondered if she had hung up on him again, "Still here," She said, reading his mind. He smiled, wondering for the millionth time how she had gotten to know him so well. "So, what's the big emergency that you had to wake me up at seven in the bloody morning?" She asked agitatedly but he knew she was taking it lightly.
Dean's smile grew bigger as her last sentence ran threw his mind.
"So I woke you up? Does that mean you in your lovely shorts and top?" He asked, holding his breath for some unknown reason. There was a pause on the other end before she laughed.
"Wrong as ever, Dean. I'm only wearing my underwear and bra. Dumbass." She said lightly and with no trace of embarrassment. Dean almost dropped the phone.
"Like to see that."
"Maybe you can, if you pick me up tonight." She said slyly.
"What makes you think I was gonna pick you up?"
"I'm sixteen today."
"I thought you were going to get your big 'coming out' party at sixteen."
"I don't do parties." She paused again as she let Dean register this and continued. "My parents are out all day–
"No they're not. I know you better, Elphie."
"Well, they will be when you pick me up. Joshua is out of town and Mom and Dad volunteered to help with Megan."
"What a treat that'll be," He said sarcastically
"She's gonna want to go out trick or treating tonight. She's still pissed that they're coming with her, being the old age of ten and all. I'm just pleased they are leaving." Well, I'm pleased too, if I get to spend tonight with you... Dean thought with a smirk
"What's she dressing up like tonight?"
"Something like a rock star...She was going with Zombie but I told her she had her whole design wrong, that there's rotted flesh instead of dark circles under her eyes. She's also pissed I shot down all her monster ideas, for some reason every time she mentioned a new idea, I got the image in my mind her showing up at your house and you laughing your head off and giving her billions of pointers. Or a real monster would come and answer the door and eat her for being a Dumbass poser." Dean heard the subtle note of anguish in her voice and felt a pang of guilt.
"I'm sorry Elphie. Really am...I didn't mean to screw up your–
"Don't get all 'chick flick' on me here. Dean, it's fine. It's better to know what's out there and know how to protect yourself rather than live in happy land and go in unprepared. You did me a favor."
"Elphaba–
"Don't use my name. God, what were me parents thinking? They fucking doomed me to an existence of being compared to Saint Älphäba, the devil worshipper." She heard Dean snigger on the other end and began to act offended. "Oh great, my boyfriend is laughing at me. I think I might have to go and lick my wounds."
"Ooh, I'd like to watch that, actually I'd like to have that job."
"Pervert. Bring my gift when you're picking me up tonight."
"'Course ma'am."
"Love ya,"
"You too." With a click, the connection ended and Dean felt more pleased with himself than ever when he realized that she had trapped him into bringing a gift and picking her up. He didn't mind it though, because she meant so much to him that he could do the something so small she wanted in return.
And with his imagination in overdrive, he began to think of things to buy her.
The sun had long since fallen, the only lights source being several hall lights they hadn't bothered to turn off. Dean turned off the stupid Monster Movie Marathon and stood, stretching from the prolonged sit of watching a ghost that was completely stereotyped. It was amusing to watch how completely off the mark the movie was.
It was almost nine by now. Soon enough, he'd be with Elphie, the girl he always wanted to be with.
Without knowing it consciously, he headed for the shower, lost in deep thoughts about Elphie when Sam opened the door and took one look at the smirk on Dean's face and shuddered.
"What?" Dean asked his brother agitatedly, seeing the shocked look on Sam's face and being interrupted from a good daydream. "What?"
"Why're you so pleased?" Sam asked, looking up at his brother.
"None your business, move Geek boy." Dean said, trying to push Sam out of his way, but Sam stood his ground, with great difficulty.
Whilst at thirteen years old, Sam was very strong for his age; he was nothing against his brother's 17 year old bulk from fighting ghosts and other supernatural baddies over ten years.
"But it is my business if you're so pleased. And you only get that pleased when it comes to–" Sam stopped himself short and checked the calendar. "It's Elphie's birthday today." He said slowly.
"So?"
"So, you're going to go see her. Even when dad's on a hunt–
"The gun is downstairs Sammy. Use it if you need it. Don't you have a party to go to anyway?" He asked, trying to displace his brother from the doorway.
"Nah, I'm much more interested why you're so desperate to see Elphie..."
"Drop it, Geek Boy!"
"No, this is only getting good–
"Fuck off!" Dean was getting increasingly angrier, pissed off that Sam just didn't get the hint. He needed to get ready for Elphie and he didn't want to screw up her birthday, after all she had done so well with his birthday, even if was late. It had meant so much to him, and Sam was about to ruin everything by standing in Dean's way.
"If it's this important, maybe Dad'll like to known about it–
"MOVE BEFORE I BREAK YOU SCRAWNY LITTLE NECK!" Dean yelled, pulling Sam by the shirt and tossed him on the ground of the hallway, crossed the threshold of the door, and slammed it shut.
He turned the little lock key and was still fuming as he stripped and let the hot needles hit his skin, burning him as his anger at Sam had. He had his quarrels with Sam before, but he hadn't been properly angry at Sam for several years. He absentmindedly scrubbed and washed his hair, still lost in his thoughts of anger at Sam and what potentially would happen when he saw Elphie tonight. He felt an odd sensation in his stomach and began to scrub harder.
Maybe Elphie was right, he was getting chick flick on her. But he knew he couldn't help it, he kept coming back to the idea that she was meant for him, and he was very comfortable with that idea.
Dean got out of the shower, dried himself off and dressed in the nicest things he could find, (which unfortunately, was not all that different from his normal everyday attire). Sighing after spending several minutes deciding on which cologne, he picked one that was light and simple. It was the kind of thing Elphie liked, that red headed firecracker.
He remembered when he told her what he and his family did. It took a little persuading, and Dean had been sure she was going to dump him as soon as she registered what he had said. But he had been wrong; she had never shrunk away and stood proudly by his side, and told him she'd always be there to make sure nothing happened to him.
The house was quiet, and Dean was glad Sam decided to go to a party or trick or treating or whatever the hell Sam went, but was glad to know he was gone and out of his hair, even if he should have been more nervous over where Sam was. Dean retrieved the keys to the Impala, glad more than ever that he could drive such a cool car, and shoved them in his pockets.
He gave a quick glance over the house and locked the main doors as he headed out into the crisp Halloween night air. He put the key into the Impala, started it up, and drove away.
She lived two miles away, down stupid dirt roads that had more holes in it than Swiss cheese. But he was glad for the silence while it was there. He wanted to sort his thoughts while he could, so he could think up a grand speech when he arrived at her house. He wanted to be grand, for she had always been grand.
He pulled up to her house silently, the rows of neatly manicured homes surrounding her house, all of the lights off. Probably off at some rich people party. He was left with the fleeting thought that Elphie had decided to go but the thought was diminished when he saw a small light in the direction of Elphie's room.
Dean grabbed the ivy trellis and began to climb until he reached the large tree and began to climb to reach her room. The branch he sat on was just below her window and he could see a small lamp on in her room, Elphie sitting and reading. Dean's mouth went dry.
She was wearing jeans that went much lower than Dean had ever seen and a three jacket layer, her auburn hair up in a pony tail in the back of her head. She couldn't've been more perfect and Dean didn't register how long he sat and watched her, five maybe even ten minutes. But he realized his body was deciding to actually see and touch her as he knocked on the window and sat to see her open the window silently.
"Hey," He said, his mouth still terribly dry. Elphie's smile seemed to brighten everything and Dean felt a swell of pride. She was his. And she was perfect.
"Hey," She echoed back. "I thought for a moment you weren't going to come..."
"Sorry, I was just sitting in the tree and I was watching–" Dean stopped himself short, realizing what he was confessing to her. She laughed good-naturedly and put a hand on his own.
"Don't fret...Were you watching me?" She asked, even though she knew the answer. He flushed. "I'm flattered...So are we going to sit in this tree all night or are we going to go somewhere?"
Dean nodded, unable to trust what else would tumble out of his mouth. He offered his arm to her as she swung her legs over the window ledge and slid onto the tree branch where Dean sat.
She kissed him slightly on the mouth and he smiled despite himself. They climbed down the tree with ease and hurried into the car where she turned and kissed him passionately, letting his tongue slide pass her lips.
Against everything his downstairs brain wanted, he pulled away.
"I feel weird if we did this here. After all, your folks don't exactly like me and all..." She nodded too, and they drove away from the suburbia. They sat next to each other for several minutes without saying anything until she sighed.
"I'm glad you came. Better than sitting in my room and reading again. Boring as hell," She said quietly. "D'you know what my parent's bought me?"
"What?" Dean asked, slightly curious.
"A car... A Mercedes Benz!" Dean looked over at Elphie to make sure he wasn't delusional. She had gotten one of the best cars on the market and yet she didn't seem all that happy about it.
"What's wrong with that?"
"It's just too...Rich! They think I want their lives, and I don't. I wanna live dangerously, fighting stupid Supernatural beings with you, not fighting the bills whether or not to oppose certain books in schools! What a hell that would be to live in!" She cried. Dean understood her feelings but was still confused to why she was upset at the car. "I'm sorry I'm boring you to hell, but it's just so frustrating." She said as he pulled over into a deserted area off the road. "Ooh, do I get my gift now?" She asked, looking at him with her big brown eyes.
Dean felt a pleasant feeling in his chest and was quite sure his heart had melted.
"Yeah, you do." He said, pulling something out from his back pocket. As he began to hand it to her, it felt like it was too small, not good enough, and it was bound to be thrown at him for stupidity. Her parents, who didn't even really like her, had bought her a car. "Erm, actually it's not all that–
"A present is a present. Dean, give it to me," And so she grabbed it and opened it. She paused for what seemed an eternity, and Dean was aching to know what she thought of it, a tear ran down her cheek.
She held up the picture where Elphie, Dean, Sam, and John had stood together after meeting her, celebrating the fact that Dean had found a girl who was wonderful.
She remembered how Sam stood dumbstruck at how she was so easy with the fact they were "professionally" popping ghosts. John had congratulated Dean for such a catch, and had lectured him about not taking advantage of Elphie.
She remembered how the most she was worried about was that John was going to question her if she worshipped the devil, but he never asked. She then noticed she should have been more worried about the fact her pants were unzipped, pointed out by Sam. It had been one of the best days of her life. With her real family.
"You became part of my family and a part of my heart when that picture was taken." He said. She looked up at him as another tear fell. "I can get you something else, there's also another thing in there–
"It's so perfect. Thank you," She said, her voice wavering. She had been ready to put the picture back when she found a Japanese symbol on a chain. "Dean...?" She asked confused. Dean swallowed a lump in his throat and smiled.
"It's the symbol for love and protection. I thought it was fitting but if you–" She cut him off by kissing him strongly.
"This was my best birthday. I got everything I wanted." She paused, looking into his green eyes.
"D'you wanna learn how to drive the Impala?" He asked. She nodded and he looked at her trembling hands "Okay then, sit on my lap and I help you."
"Pervert. Guess everything you say and ask me all have ulterior motives, don't they Dean?" She asked but climbed onto his lap nonetheless. "You smell really nice," She said. Dean wanted to return the complement as she smelt amazing, and if she had sat a little more to the left, she would have felt his amazement for her herself.
"Okay, so you place your hand's here," He said, taking the smooth white flesh and placing them on the steering wheel. He registered that it was ten thirty, and felt her neck brush his nose and he felt gooseflesh arise on the back of her neck. They spent almost an hour driving the Impala, careful and slow. He curled his fingers around hers and she turned in his lap and kissed him beautifully. He placed his hand on her shoulder when she broke away.
"Parking's for losers. I'm not doing this in your car, having known this used to be your dad's and he still drives it on occasion." Dean recognized the truth in her words and sighed.
"And I doubt you have any protection in this car," She continued. He nodded guiltily, and offered a place. "We can't do this at my house, out of the question," She said sharply as the thought left his lips. He thought for a moment and began to ready to take her home when she stopped him. "You're dad's out on a hunt, right?"
"Yeah," He said
"And Sam's out at some kind of party, right?" He nodded confusedly before realizing what she was offering and where. "And you have the right kind of protection?" He didn't say anything as he started the car and drove the opposite way, the way to his own home. He could feel her heart race as she put her head on his shoulder. The minutes passed by in silence before he pulled up into the driveway of his home.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him as they blindly went into the house, pushing the door open and Dean dropped her onto his bed, kissing her more passionately than he ever had. She began to unbutton her jeans as Dean pulled off her shirt. He began to kiss the nape of her neck and where her flesh began to curve.
"Dean, da–ah!" Yelled a voice behind them. Sam stood there, his boxers and tee-shirt already on.
"SAM!" Yelled both Dean and Elphie.
"Elphie? Dean is this why–
"GET OUT!" Yelled Dean. Elphie began to hunt for her shirt desperately, forgetting momentarily that she only had her underwear on.
"Sam, where the hell is Dean–Dean?" Elphie's mouth fell open as she spun and dropped to the ground, only her head visible to both Sam and John Winchester.
"Mr. Winchester...uh, nice to see you again." Elphie said in a small voice, humiliated more than she ever had been in her life.
"Elphie?" John asked as he looked down at her red face. She was quite envious that Dean still wore most of his clothes. What had she been thinking?
"I thought you said your dad was on a hunt?" She said, looking at Dean who was a similar color red.
"I did too..." John picked something up and tossed it to Elphie, it was her shirt.
"The Demon, it's here. Get dressed. And ready to shoot." He said, and looked at Elphie and his eldest son. "I'll deal with you two later." Both he and Sam left.
Elphie dressed faster than she ever had, and in a matter of seconds she had both shirt and pants on. She and Dean left the room. John handed Elphie a gun. "You know how to shoot? Good," He said. "You see the Demon, shoot it."
Somehow, she and Sam got paired up to take the upstairs. She couldn't look at him without blushing, knowing exactly what was running through his mind.
"So," She said, breaking the ice. "How does it feel to see your big brother's girlfriend naked? And at Thirteen, too. That's more than Dean saw for awhile. Cheers," She said. Sam looked up at her curiously and she almost snorted. "What'd you do for Halloween, thought you had a party..."
"I wanted to see what Dean was up to. I think I regret that now," Sam said and Elphie laughed. "Elphie...Happy Birthday." She felt touched that Sam knew it was her birthday and felt a sweeping feeling for Dean that she would not share with anyone, especially Dean. She was slightly disappointed that the Winchesters burst on her fun, actually very disappointed.
"Thanks, Sammy. I think I got this part covered," She said, nodding at the only room they hadn't checked yet. "You can head on downstairs. I know how to shoot,"
"No, Dean'll kill me if I leave you!"
"Sammy, I've got it." She was about to prove her point when something grabbed her and pulled her into the darkness of the room, slamming the door shut.
"DEAN, DAD! IT'S GOT ELPHIE!" He yelled, and tried to get in the room. He heard two gun shots before a scream emitted and his brother showed up, his father right behind him.
"What'd you say?" Dean said urgently
"It's got Elphie!" Sam said again as Dean tried to break down the door. He shot the handle and kicked the door in.
Elphie stood, no floated, in the middle of the room, a gun held up to her neck. No tears were on her face and as Dean stepped in the room, he heard the gun be cocked into position. A dark, black figure stood to the side of the room, his eyes on Dean and his family.
"Shoot it," She yelled. "Shoot it." The dark figure shook his head as the gun came closer to her neck.
"You step forward, she dies..." Dean had the fleeting thought of: So the figure was a ghost, not a demon. And held his gun at the ready, waiting to shoot.
"Shoot him!" She cried as the barrel nuzzled her skin painfully. "DEAN, SHOOT IT!" Dean reached for his gun when a shot echoed and Elphie dropped to the floor. Dean ran to the fallen girl as John began to fire holy water and gunshots. The thing disappeared before real damage had been done.
Elphie was gasping in pain, her neck spilling blood onto Dean's hands.
"Being shot's a bitch," She said as John came over and picked her up, careful not to touch her wound.
"This needs to be stitched up." John said as he lied her down on her stomach. Dean grabbed her hand, squeezing it comfortably. "You want some Jack?" He asked, holding up a bottle of amber liquid. She turned to Dean awkwardly, looking up into his face confused.
"It numbs you, takes away the bite of the needle. Helps a lot," Dean said to reassure his father's motives. She shook her head and cried in pain when she felt the back of her neck on fire.
"You sure? Looks like the rock salt really burned your skin around the wound." John said as he began applying rubbing alcohol to the needle in his hand. She nodded, and gritted her teeth.
"Get it over with," She said before he splashed some holy water on the wound and got to work.
An hour, twenty-two stitches, and three painkillers later, everyone sat on the couch, Elphie's head on Dean's lap.
She absentmindedly listened to John yell at Dean for his irresponsibility and how she could have seriously gotten hurt. She felt as if sleep was trying to grab her in its clutches, barely noticing John looking approvingly at how Dean stroked her hair possessively, she only could feel the relief and smiled despite herself.
"She's in no condition to go home tonight, or anywhere. She can stay in Dean's room tonight, so you can look after her." He paused for a second as Sam began to stir from his sleep. "And Dean, start thinking with your upstairs brain, kay? Just 'cause she's sleeping in your bed doesn't mean you should try for anything,"
Dean nodded, for the first time in his life, knowing he would have none of those thoughts as he carried her to his room, kissing her softly, and placed her upon his bed.
"Thanks," She mumbled, and smiled as grasped his hand and pulled him into a lying position right next to her.
"I love you," He said, barely above a whisper.
"And I always will," She said and fell asleep.
He felt a pang of appreciation and fell asleep not too long after that, knowing she was safe with him.
The morning was blue and sweet, the sky perfect. The silence around her was obvious and was everything she had wanted.
She barely registered a dull pain in her neck as she felt someone's breath on her neck, and she shivered involuntarily. Her accompanist began to stir and she felt safe in there arms.
"Welcome back," He said groggily and Elphie's mind went into overdrive as the past twelve hours washed over her. The pain in her neck began to intensify slightly.
"Yeah, this is a great welcome," She said without a hint of sarcasm. This is how she wanted to wake up every morning, to Dean's breath on the back of her neck, to have his strong arms wrapped around her protectively against all demons and...
"What was thing last night?" She asked him, sitting up.
"A ghost. Who it was, I dunno. We thought it was a demon, but we were wrong." He said softly and kissed her on her cheek, making goose flesh erupt in the place his lips last touched. "Feeling better?"
"Better. Hurt like hell last night," She said, having the mad urge to scratch the tender area on her neck.
"I think I might get it checked out by your father again." They sat in silence for several moments, where they held onto each other, when she knew she needed to say it, to ask the question. "You're leaving today, aren't you?" She asked quietly. Dean seemed hesitant to answer and sighed.
"Well, the ghost is gone, and Dad'll want to make sure you're okay, and then we'll probably be off and then..."
"And then I'll never see you again," She said, finishing his sentence. She felt a thick lump in her throat that made it extremely hard to breathe, and a single tear wove its way down her cheek. He kissed her softly on her shoulder and she ached to reach the passion they had the night before, and she knew she would die if she never got the chance. For it wasn't just for the sex, but it was for the partner too.
"I don't want you to leave," She said suddenly. Dean pulled away and sighed.
"You know I can't stay–
"I know! That's what's so frustrating! I want you, and I can't have you." Tears filled her brown eyes as she looked at him. "What if I went with you–?
"No," He said flatly.
"Why not?"
"Because you'll get hurt!"
"Well you and your family get hurt, and it'll help to have some medical practitioner along with you all. I know I'll get hurt, but I'll take that chance if it means I'll be with you!" She said, crying now. She needed him to know. "And I love you, if I let you go ahead and leave, I'll never see you again and the man, the only man I'll ever love, will never be there. I'd pass up on happiness. And Dean, I'm happiest with you." He kissed her slightly, several tears sliding down his cheeks.
"But you'll get hurt; I can't let you come..."
"Too bad, because it's not up to you." She kissed him, there tears intermingling. "I've made my decision. I'm coming. I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to spend the rest of my life hunting down Supernatural baddies, because if it means being with you, I'd go to hell itself and bring you back."
He looked desperately into her eyes, and kissed her much more passionately than the night before but gently. She didn't know how long they sat like that, holding each other, but eventually they broke apart.
"But dad, he'll never let you come." She smiled wickedly this time and Dean felt his heart lighten
"Well, too bad him as well, because it isn't up to him either."
She heard the sounds of shuffling boxes, and Elphie was sure she heard several curses. But despite whatever awaited her in the room before her, she opened the door and walked in.
John stood, looking like he had lost something when he brought his head up and acknowledged Elphie's entrance. Elphie stood for a second while he sat down some boxes, clearing some sort of "path" in order to speak to her properly. She tried to summon up all her courage, as she had done with Dean but kept getting the awful image of kissing John and had to shake her head to clear herself of that image.
"Mr. Winchester..."
"John," He corrected lightly, sitting on the edge of the table.
"John," She echoed back to him, finding herself unable to speak.
"Come here, I'll check over your neck," he said, clearing a space for her to lie down on. She did so and waited for the right moment to start a conversation, thankfully it was John who initiated the conversation. "Must have been an experience for you," He said as he began to take off several of the bandages.
"What, the demon or the fact that me and Dean almost had sex?" She asked, shocked the words came so easily, especially around Dean's father, but John seemed unfazed.
"Both." He grunted and peeled back a thin layer of medical tape. It stung to have the fresh air on her neck again. "If you guys had...It's called 'Statutory Rape'. Even if consensual. Gotta understand this, I know you and Dean Care about each other, but it could end up to be very problematic for you." he said in a strained voice.
From what Dean had told her, this was as close as John had ever gotten to a 'heart to heart' conversation. She felt very touched.
"Thank you, John, for being concerned. But me and him have it under control." She said honestly and wondered how she could start what she wanted to say and sat in silence for several minutes while John doctored her neck back up.
"I'm truly pleased to have met you, Elphaba Manheim." He said, using her full name for the first time in months. She felt the sting of loneliness hit her all over and knew she had to say it now or forever hold her peace.
"I can't let Dean leave. I love him too much, and to have him leave would kill me on the inside." She said and continued before John could interrupt. "And I know he can't stay because he has his obligations. And I can't live without, so I'm coming along," She said quickly, wanting to get her point across.
"Elphaba–
"It's still 'Elphie', John,"
"Elphaba," He said firmly, "there are troubles and dangers you haven't even begun to–
"But I'm willing to risk it if it means I can be with Dean," She said, cutting John off once again. John looked her up and down as she stood tall and strong, though she felt as if she'd melt into a puddle with the scrutinizing look John was giving her. "I'm not asking your permission, because I've made up my mind and I'm going to do it. And nothing you can say or do can change this" She said stubbornly, crossing her arms.
"I wouldn't even think of stopping this, as it's out of my hands. I was merely trying to figure out what gun would be suitable for you."
"Oh," She felt embarrassment rise in her face and couldn't manage anything more. She stayed quiet as he began rifling through the boxes and handed her two things: a long barrel shot gun and a bottle of holy water
"Happy Birthday, these are the most needed tools in our line of work." Elphie, who didn't trust her voice, nodded along with what John was saying, feeling light and happy. She was going to be able to live, with Dean, and fight everything that came into her path.
"Thank you, John. Thank you." She said, debating whether or not to hug the older man.
"Just prove to me that I didn't make the wrong decision." A tear of gratitude fell down her cheek as she left the small study, clutching the two items very close to her chest.
"Just pull off over here for a second, Dean. I have to go say good-bye." Not as if she wanted to, but John had said it would be better if she told her parents she was leaving rather than seem like she was missing and have the whole nation be on the lookout for her when they were to be the most invisible family on Earth.
She hopped out of the car, a high collared jacket on to cover her battle wounds. She unlocked the front door and a loud cry greeted her.
"Fabala!" Cried a voice from the other part of the room. Joshua carried a small baby that certainly was not his own. He hurried over to her and grasped her in an awkward one armed hug. "We were getting worried last night. Gone, and everything. Melena will be pleased to see you again." He said as a small blonde woman worked her way out into the front room.
"Fae, is that you? Oh, Joshua, give me back Maggie." She kissed the side of her younger sister's face and smiled brightly. "Mom was nervous when she saw your car gone. How much?"
"Ten," Elphie replied, holding her niece for a quick second. "I can only be here for another second. I'm leaving, and never coming back,"
Joshua and Melena exchanged looks, the two well into their twenties, Joshua nearing his thirties within the next week or so. They had been afraid of this.
"So you're running off with that boy, Dean?" Melena stated, looking out the door window, to see the infamous black Impala parked on the side of the drive. "Good car, but where you to live? Where you to go?" She asked.
"We'll find out soon enough. Look, I'm going with his family. I'm good and safe. Just tell mom and dad that I'm gone. After I'm long gone. Tonight at dinner, got it?" The two nodded, looking over their shoulders for any listening ears. "My cell phone number is the same, but call me for only emergencies. Dire emergencies. Things you can't explain." She looked roughly into their eyes, knowing this would be the last time she saw them. "I love you; take good care of yourselves,"
"Will do, saint Älphäba." Joshua said as Elphie hurried out the front door and into the car door of the Impala. No wave good bye, no honk, nothing as the car pulled out of the drive and onto the road and out of sight. Melena felt a sadness explode within herself and began to cry.
"We'll never see her again, Josh." She said through the tears. Joshua wanted desperately to lie, but knew it would only hurt worse if he did so.
"Well, maybe in death, but in life: no. I doubt we ever will." They stood there for along time, crying and comforting each other in the early November wind.