The front door to Dean and Alicia's cabin opened, and Dean walked in, carrying Alicia in his arms. The couple kept their eyes locked with each other as Dean crossed the threshold and kicked the door shut. He walked into the bedroom and crossed the room, gently laying Alicia across the bed, looming over her for a few moments before leaning over and kissing her. It was gentle and tender but soon deepened as the young woman wrapped her arms around Dean's neck, pulling him toward her.
As he moved his mouth down her neck, planting kisses on the soft skin, hearing the soft moan coming from his wife's mouth, Dean couldn't think of a time he'd ever been this happy. Sure, it'd been crazy, but he had Sam, he had a new wife—and they were all alive and together.
Suddenly, Dean felt something in his head, stirring his thoughts. He was married, like actually married. This wasn't some dream or fantasy, this was real. The hunter's stomach started churning, bile rising in his throat as he pulled back, looking down at Alicia with a mortified expression. "What the hell?"
"Dean?" Alicia asked, propping up on her elbows. "What's wrong?"
"Did we really just get married?"
Alicia furrowed. "Yeah," she said slowly as she sat up.
"Why?" Dean asked as he got to his feet, pacing the small room.
Alicia looked at him incredulously. "Uh, because you asked me?"
Dean stopped. "Well, yeah," he replied lamely. "Why the hell didn't you stop me?"
Alicia looked totally confused. "What the hell is the matter with you?"
"What did you do?" Dean asked suddenly.
"What do you mean 'do'?" Alicia asked.
"There's only one way in hell that I'd ever marry a chick," Dean replied, looking right at her angrily, "and it ain't 'cause I'm in the mood."
Alicia got to her feet, her eyes flashing. "Wait, are you saying this is my fault?!"
"As I recall, you were saying a few nights ago you're the only one around here with any magic."
"So?"
"So if the broom fits, ride it, Glinda."
"I'm not admitting to anything, Dean," Alicia said angrily. "You were the one who proposed to me. I didn't do a damn thing, that was all you."
"Yeah, in a magic circle," Dean retorted. He scoffed loudly. "You know, this is why I've always hated witches: they're spewing their fluids everywhere," he gave her a hard look, "or casting spells in a desperate attempt to drag a person into their pathetic and miserable lives."
He felt the pain as Alicia's hand made contact with his face, slapping him so hard he almost stumbled. He brought his hand up, gingerly touching the stinging area as he looked at the young woman in shock. Alicia just stood there, her expression angry and hurt as tears filled her eyes; her chin trembled, but she set her jaw and refused to cry.
Dean just stared at the young woman. He opened his mouth, but then he stopped himself, set his jaw and stood straight. Wordlessly, he marched out of the room, and a few seconds later Alicia heard the front door open and slam shut, rattling the walls.
Dean marched out of the general store on the property with a beer bottle in his hand. He walked over to where he'd parked the Impala and leaned against the driver's side. He popped the cap, then took a swig, gulping down half the bottle while he undid his tie. He belched loudly, then exhaled loudly.
"Son of a bitch," he muttered as he pulled his tie off and left it on the roof of the car. He replayed his fight with Alicia over and over in his mind, seeing the hurt expression in her eyes. He felt a twinge of guilt, but then he thought about everything else, and he chucked the bottle angrily.
"Hey!"
Dean looked over in surprise and saw Jimmy approaching, carrying a basket filled with board games, decks of cards, and other forms of family entertainment. He appeared slightly annoyed at the young hunter.
"There are receptacles for your trash," he said.
"Sorry," Dean muttered, folding his arms. He nodded at the basket. "What's that for?"
"Rainy day games for the recreation room," Jimmy replied. "Even here, the weather isn't always perfect." He stopped, furrowing his eyebrows as he tilted his head slightly. "Please excuse the personal question, but shouldn't you be with your new bride right now?"
Dean snorted. "Why, so she can work more of her mojo on me?" he asked. "No thanks."
"'Mojo'?" Jimmy asked, confused.
"You think I actually wanna get married?" Dean asked.
"You proposed to Alicia, didn't you?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah, doesn't mean it was me," Dean retorted.
Jimmy looked confused. "I don't understand," he said. He paused, then he straightened up after a few seconds. "Wait, do you think the only reason you married her was because she put a spell or hex on you?"
"Well, I'm sure as hell not getting hitched on my own," Dean replied. "Why the hell get married in the first place, anyway? It's pointless." He shook his head. "Allie said she didn't do anything, but she must've done something; she's the only one powerful enough around here to pull that crap."
"Having that power and using it are two different things," Jimmy said, frowning. "Alicia might have the capability to do so, but it doesn't mean she would."
"Don't talk like you know her," Dean warned.
"I know Alicia wouldn't manipulate you," Jimmy retorted. "She wouldn't need to. I've seen the way you look at her." Dean scoffed but didn't say anything. "It's the same look Mark had when he'd look at Lily; you could tell he truly loved her." He paused. "Just like you love Alicia."
"It's not about loving her," Dean retorted. "It's about trusting her, and I can't do that anymore."
"Think about what you're saying, Dean," Jimmy said. "Do you honestly think Alicia would really do that to you?"
Dean opened his mouth, then he stopped, his mind blank with any evidence to support that claim. He sighed, his anger subsiding. "No," he replied after a few moments.
"Then why did you blame her?"
"What else could it be?" Dean asked. "Ever since we've met, there's been this…thing, I don't know what, pulling us together. And we've fought it, 'cause it wasn't a good time, you know. Then we get here, and it felt like the right time," he snorted, "or I thought it was."
"Do you love her?" Jimmy asked.
"What?" Dean asked.
"It's a simple question, Dean," Jimmy replied. "Do you love Alicia?"
Dean opened his mouth, then paused. He sighed. "Yeah…I guess I do."
"Why?" Dean looked confused. "Why do you love her, Dean?"
Dean glanced up, looking at the night sky, thinking, then he smiled, chuckling softly. "What's not to love about her? She's…amazing. She's a badass, you know, funny, smart, and hot." He shrugged. "I mean, you know the crap she's been through, but she still keeps going."
Jimmy smiled a little. "She gets that from her mother."
Dean glanced down, his smile gone. "Look, I, uh, I know she didn't hex me."
"Then why blame her?"
Dean shrugged. "I dunno. Guess I freaked out, and she was just there, but…something came over me, almost compelling me to ask her to marry me, then…in our cabin, it was like something telling me I made a mistake." He shook his head, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "I don't know—it's like everything's getting all messed up."
"Maybe things are happening how they're supposed to," Jimmy suggested, "and it only feels messed up because it's not what you had in mind. If you truly love each other, maybe that's all you need to know."
"Thank you, Aaron Neville, but I don't believe in that destiny crap."
"Destiny or not," Jimmy replied, "you and Alicia belong together, and you know it. And, if you know it, then talking with the caretaker of a resort is the last thing you should be doing on your wedding night."
Dean looked at Jimmy, who raised an eyebrow and gave him a knowing expression, which the hunter immediately understood. He sighed and stood up, grabbing his tie and getting in the Impala. He drove back to the cabin and parked the car outside. He hurried up to the front door and opened it.
"Allie!" he said loudly, closing the door. No one responded. "Allie?" He headed toward the bedroom, but stopped when he saw Alicia's wedding dress draped over the chairs of the dining table. Her shoes and earrings had been placed on top of the dress, along with a folded up piece of paper with the words 'I'm Sorry' written on the front—and Alicia's wedding band.
The light from Dean's flashlight danced as the hunter hurried down the path, both Sam and Jimmy behind him. After reading her note, and confirming Alicia was not in or anywhere near the cabin—along with her belongings—Dean had called his brother, giving him the run-down on what happened and asked his younger brother for help. They had tried calling and texting her cellphones—all of them—but they didn't get so much as a simple response, and they figured their best bet was to search the property. Jimmy showed up a short time later, saying he was pretty sure he knew where Alicia was, and the trio hurried over. They stopped right before the clearing, looking ahead.
Alicia sat in the middle of the stone circle, dressed in one of her normal jeans, boots, shirt outfits, her bag on the ground just outside the circle. Her back was to the trio, but they could see her legs pulled close to her, her head downward; her body shuddered as they heard the soft sounds of her sobs. The three men visibly relaxed, thankful she appeared unharmed.
"How did you know she'd be here?" Sam asked, surprised.
"This is where she felt her mother's essence earlier today," Jimmy answered. "I knew she felt safe here, and I figured she'd come to a place she felt safe." Dean motioned Sam and Jimmy to stay while he ventured forward.
"Allie?" he said softly. Alicia inhaled sharply when she recognized Dean's voice, stiffening, but she didn't raise her head. "You okay?"
"I'm not physically hurt," Alicia said softly.
Dean nodded, then he glanced down at the stones. "May I come in?" Alicia shrugged, and Dean stepped in, sitting across from her. "Allie?" The young woman refused to look up. "Why'd you leave?"
"Did you get my note?" Alicia asked softly.
"Yeah."
"Then there's nothing to explain."
"'I'm sorry for dragging you into my pathetic and miserable life' is not an explanation," Dean replied.
"They were your words, Dean," Alicia said. "That's what you believe about me."
Dean winced a bit, but he didn't falter in his frustration. "So, you're gonna just leave, with no protection or place to go?"
"Why does it matter to you?" Alicia asked, looking up at him, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "You don't trust me—you never did, apparently—so what difference does it make what happens to me now?"
"How about the demons after us?" Dean asked. "You know the moment you step off this property without protection, they're gonna find you."
"Well, you should be happy: one less witch to worry about." Dean closed his eyes, hearing the bitterness of her tone. He exhaled as he ran a hand tiredly over his face. "Look, Dean, it was nice while it lasted, and I appreciate everything you and Sam did for me, but…who are we kidding? This was never gonna work out between us, it was a waste of time and stupid to even try." She shrugged. "Look, once I know where I'm going, I'll get annulment papers drawn up, and we'll just go our separate ways and pretend this never happened, okay?"
"Like hell we will," Dean retorted. "Look, I screwed up back there, okay? I said things I shouldn't have—a lot of things."
"You said you hate witches," Alicia replied bluntly.
"Not you," Dean said. "Demon-powered, fluid-spewing ones, yeah, but not you. And what I said about you hexing me…I never should have said that. I know it wasn't you."
"Dean, if you really knew anything about me, you'd know—"
"I know you talk in your sleep," Dean interrupted. "I know you still have nightmares about your father, because I'm the one who's there when you wake up crying. I know you try to be this strong, badass person—and you are—but deep down, you're scared because you're always comparing yourself to your parents, and you don't think you'll ever live up to them." He saw Alicia's eyes well up, but she refused to show any emotion. "Allie, look, about what happened: I was scared. I've never loved a chick the way I do you, and I was feeling things I'd never felt before, and…I couldn't control them," he shrugged, "and it scared the hell outta me, and I didn't know what to do."
"Well, reacting the way you did was the worst thing to do." Alicia shook her head. "If you really loved me, you would never have said those things in the first place."
"I know," Dean replied, "and I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, Allie…and I don't want you to leave."
"I've lived five years on my own," Alicia replied. "I've survived plenty already…I'll find a way to survive these demons."
"I'm not talking about the damn demons, Allie. I don't want you to leave me." Alicia stared at him, and for a moment Dean felt the fear building in his stomach, but he pushed it aside. "Look, I get it, I'm a jackass, and I don't know what I'm doing here, but that's why I need you: to help me not be a jackass. I'm asking you to give me another chance." Alicia looked unconvinced. "Please?"
"And what happens when we go through this again?" Alicia asked. Dean furrowed his eyebrows. "How many times have we done this song and dance, Dean? We're fine, then we fight, then we make up, and we're fine until the next round? I can't keep doing that, no matter how much I love you." She shook her head. "I'm sorry."
Dean's countenance faltered, and he felt a bit of panic, his mind racing. He thought for a moment, then he had an idea. He got up and went over to Alicia's bag, unzipping one of the side pockets.
"What are you doing?" Alicia asked as she got to her feet.
Dean pulled out a deck of cards. "Here," he said as he stepped back into the circle and began shuffling the cards. "I know you like playing card games, so we'll settle things the same way: we'll each draw a card, high card wins, all or nothing.
"The wager?" Alicia asked.
"If mine's higher," Dean said, "we stay together—and married—and figure this crap out together."
"And if mine's higher?" Alicia asked.
Dean exhaled. "Then I'll drive you back to Bobby's myself, and we can go our separate ways…and you'll never hear from me or Sam again. Deal?" Alicia hesitated, but she nodded. Dean shuffled the deck one last time, then he held it out. Alicia took the card on the top of the deck but didn't look at it or turn it over. Dean took the next card.
"What do you have?" Alicia asked.
Dean looked at his card, and the color drained from his face as he turned it around, showing it was the three of clubs. He swallowed and looked at Alicia with a defeated expression, his eyes flashing with fear. Alicia glanced at her card, then sighed as she slowly turned it around for Dean to see her card: the two of hearts.
"I guess we're stuck with each other," the young woman said, giving him a small smile.
Relief washed over Dean, and he almost felt the strength leave his legs as he dropped the cards, the deck scattering around their feet as he took Alicia's face in his hands and pressed his lips against hers, kissing her fiercely. Alicia returned the kiss with as much energy, wrapping her arms around his neck as he moved his to her waist, pulling her close. After a few moments, the couple pulled back but didn't let go as they stared at each other with smiles of relief.
"You're still a jerk, Mr. Winchester," Alicia said.
"But I'm your jerk," Dean replied, "Mrs. Winchester." Alicia's smile widened. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out Alicia's wedding band, slipping it back on her left ring finger. "There. It looks good there." He glanced over as Sam and Jimmy approached. "We're okay, guys." Sam opened his mouth, but Dean stopped him. "Look, if it'll make you two feel better, we can talk tomorrow. Tonight," he scooped Alicia into his arms, grinning as she squealed in surprise, "is our wedding night." Without saying another word, he marched off with Alicia, leaving Sam and Jimmy in the clearing.
(End of Chapter 15)
Author's note: My apologies if I seem like I've been dragging this out. It wasn't my intention-the original idea I had was FAR from what you've been reading, but that's the fun in writing. The next chapter is going to be the "fun" chapter, so fair warning if that doesn't float your boat. Thanks for reading, and be sure to drop a line and let me know if you're enjoying this!
