AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This one is pretty fundamental to the Grace/Dean relationship and also has a bit of fluffy stuff in it, surprisingly.

WARNINGS: Language, Controversial Topics, Dark Themes, Sex, Violence, Blood

ENJOY!

****

Grace woke up first the next morning, smiling at Dean as he slept peacefully, reaching out and stroking his cheek gently. He had had a bit of a fitful sleep the night before, but he had mellowed out and wasn't tossing and turning as much anymore. She hated to think that he was having nightmares, but it made sense to her after everything that he had been through—she had just hoped that he would be a little calmer after getting everything off of his chest the day before.

"I'm just glad you're calm now." Grace whispered, smiling even more fondly at him and propping herself up on her hand.

She knew she shouldn't watch him while he slept because it could be construed as creepy, but she couldn't help it—he was adorable. The way his hair was mussed and the way when he was actually at peace he looked so calm and almost…almost happy. Grace was just glad that for once, there was a slight, soft smile on Dean's face—it almost made everything they had to keep going through bearable.

"Are you watching me?" Dean asked, scrunching his nose a little, the soft smile on his face.

Grace laughed softly. "Of course I am—I'm stalking your every move, Dean Winchester."

"That sounds ominous." Dean teased, his eyes fluttering open.

"Well yeah, sure if you wanna look at it that way." Grace said, laughing a little more and stroking his cheek.

Dean smiled at her and put his arm around her, pulling her body close to his and looking her in the eye as she stopped laughing and nuzzled his nose with hers. He knew she wanted him to take the initiative this time and he did, kissing her gently, running his tongue lazily along her bottom lip and smiling when she opened up her mouth for him. It had been almost too long since Dean had woken up feeling at peace and feeling safe, and he owed Grace so much for that.

"Thank you." Dean whispered to her, kissing her nose softly and cupping her face, his thumb brushing lightly over her smooth cheek. "I owe you."

Grace smiled and shook her head, making eye contact. "You owe me nothing…but, uh…you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Dean asked her shrugging.

"Nothing, you just…uh…you had some nightmares." Grace told him. "I was really worried when you started to toss and turn and I just wanted to make sure that you were all right—you don't have to tell me anything."

Dean nodded and smiled sadly, kissing Grace one more time. "I appreciate the concern…the nightmares are really nothing I haven't dealt with."

"Then end of conversation." Grace said, knowing he didn't want to spill anymore.

Instead she kissed him again, raking her nails along his sides gently, Dean bringing her closer to him, running his hand down her side to her hip. He brought her hip against his a little harder than he had expected to, but he wanted to touch her—feel her…he was in over his head here. She was different than the others and though she was responding by deepening the kiss, Dean didn't feel right about it…felt like she deserved more than some morning tryst.

Just that thought was pissing him off and he didn't get it—he knew he was never going back to the Dean he used to be, but he also knew that he was feeling a little too deep. Besides, he was still feeling like he was getting this close to Grace because he was trying to prove something and the closer he got to her, the more he realized she deserved more than that. And why wasn't Grace annoyed with him after what he'd said about Famine? Didn't she feel like she was being used?

"I smell eggs." Grace said suddenly, pulling back. "Dad's making us all breakfast."

Dean chuckled at her and grinned. "Well we both definitely have all of this food stuff in common. Let's go get some eggs, shall we?"

"No second helpings until everyone has had firsts, and no thirds until everyone has had a chance to have seconds." Grace told him sternly as she got out of bed.

"Can't make that promise." Dean replied, feeling like playfulness was coming easily to him with Grace—he was thankful for that.

Grace gasped and shot him a look as she pulled her hair back. "Oh do not kid me with food, Dean Winchester."

"Well don't stand in between me and food, Grace Singer." Dean warned her in a joking tone.

Grace laughed and pulled him in for another kiss when they made it to the door, Dean smiling and responding to her. Then she pulled away and Dean chuckled, following her as she bounded to the kitchen and leaned down to kiss her father on the cheek. Bobby and Sam both noticed just how happy Grace and Dean were acting that morning and though they suspected things, they didn't say anything out loud.

Bobby wanted to know what Dean's intentions were with his daughter, and Grace did too—it was hard for her not to think about, honestly. She didn't know what she was to Dean other than a girl who was attracted to him and let him kiss her and sleep in her bed with him. Grace was sexually attracted to him and she was emotionally attached to him, but she wanted to be his girlfriend…she just had a feeling Dean Winchester didn't do that…and right now she wasn't going to push a talk on him.

"What kind of orange juice?" Grace asked her father, kissing his cheek.

He smiled at her. "Fresh-squeezed. I made Sam do it—it was that or go to the store for Tropicana or Minute Maid."

"You're the perfect father." Grace told him, smiling and sipping the orange juice.

"And you are a freak." Dean said, laughing a little at the new quirk of Grace's he'd just learned—Grace Singer was picky about her orange juice.

**

For lunch that afternoon, Sam had decided to get out of the house and try and get some air. Bobby was kind of retreating into some research, and Grace and Dean were cuddling on the couch watching a movie together that Grace had to beg Dean to let her watch. As much as Sam liked to watch his brother actually happy, Sam didn't want to be surrounded so much with all of the lovey-dovey going on even though Sam was happy for Dean…and for Grace.

"Bobby, I get it, okay? I'll be there for Grace soon, I promise." Jeremy told him, hanging up his phone and sighing, looking at his coffee.

Sam couldn't help but over hear as he walked into the diner and he went over to the table Jeremy was at, looking at him. Jeremy cocked his head to one side in confusion wondering exactly who this man was that was stopping at his table and looking at him. He opened up his mouth to say something, but Sam beat him to it and he honestly didn't mind it. Jeremy kind of wanted to see how this conversation played out and he didn't so much want to be the first one to break the ice.

"You must be Jeremy." Sam told him. "Sorry, I know it's rude to eavesdrop."

Jeremy smiled up at him. "No, it's fine…who are you?"

"Sam Winchester." Sam greeted, holding out his hand and shaking Jeremy's firmly. "I doubt you've heard of me, but—"

"—you're Dean's younger brother…Grace speaks highly of you." Jeremy explained, motioning for Sam to join him and he did. "She e-mails me and calls me a lot—we're more like siblings than we are like cousins."

Sam smiled and nodded at that, glad to see that Grace had someone on her side no matter what that knew her. Grace and Jeremy had grown up together and he was going to fight for her no matter what happened and Grace needed that. Besides, Jeremy lost his mother as well, and he and Grace had a past to face…a past they had to face together.

"So what is it?" Jeremy asked Sam as Sam got comfortable in the seat.

Sam looked at Jeremy as he sipped his coffee, and just shook his head—for some reason Sam was just feeling like he couldn't get comfortable. He was feeling like something was happening, and though he was glad Grace had some more happiness coming her way, he felt suddenly like everything had a price…he felt like perhaps a demon was near? Jeremy noticed Sam's odd demeanor change and as he opened his mouth to say something, Sam glanced at a table across the diner and his eyes widened.

She was unmistakable—her dark silky locks, her smooth fair skin, the way her face crinkled so beautifully when she smiled. She had a cup of coffee sitting on the table and a book was in her hand, her hair pinned back, cascading onto her shoulders and Sam felt his whole heart brighten just at the sight of her. He couldn't hold back a smile as he looked her over, Jeremy looking at the beautiful women wearing the sweater and the slacks, sensible heels on her feet and her jacket hanging over the back of her chair—it was Sara Blake.

"You know her?" Jeremy asked him smiling. "Or is this just love at first sight?"

Sam shook his head. "I don't believe in love at first sight."

"Me neither." Jeremy admitted, sipping his coffee and chuckling a little. "I say you go and talk to her…she's making your eyes light up. Sorry if that's forward of me to say since I don't know you, but…live in the moment, Sam."

"I agree with you." Sam said nodding, getting up to head over to see her.

Sam knew that this was going to be out of the blue for her and he wondered for a moment why she was there, but he was giddy. Sara Blake was the only one who knew what Sam did for a living—she was the only one he had told about hunting that had lived to tell the tale…that had accepted it and tried to help him and Dean to fight. God…she was more beautiful than she had been when they had to part ways, and Sam suddenly realized that she could be here with someone else.

Turn around, Sam. He thought to himself.

"Sam?" Sara asked happiness in her voice.

It was too late, and so Sam put a smile back on his face—it wasn't hard for him—and he turned back to her, glad she was so happy to see him. She hadn't expected to run into him but she was glad, and even though it had been four years, there was no place else that she would rather be than right there with Sam. Sam was surprised when she went to hug him, but he hugged her back automatically and closed his eyes peacefully, resting his head on hers and smelling her hair—vanilla and lavender.

"Wow, it's been…four years." Sara said, still holding onto him and remembering how it was when they'd first met—she had been so smitten with him…even after learning what it was that Sam did for a living.

Sam nodded and managed out, "It's been too long."

"I agree." Sara whispered back, and Jeremy smiled at them from his table in the diner.

**

"Where the Hell is that boy?" Bobby asked aloud, sighing and then looking at the ceiling. "Castiel?"

Bobby hated that he needed help, but he wanted to find Jeremy and talk to him and he didn't want to put Grace or Dean out. Grace and Dean seemed to be getting along and Bobby just wanted to make sure that Jeremy was actually coming like he said he was—bobby was just freaking out a little bit. He had heard about Thea coming to talk to Grace and though Grace seemed to genuinely like her and trusted her and what she was saying to her, Bobby just wanted to make sure.

This was his second chance to get to be with Grace and be the father that he had wanted to be, and he couldn't blow it. He smiled a little when Castiel showed up, Castiel looking at him with that calm gentle glance, and then looking towards the other room, making a face as he heard Grace and Dean laugh with each other. It hurt him enough that he couldn't sense his friends and know if they were in danger or not, but it worried him that he couldn't sense Grace.

"She is wearing the pendant." Castiel stated, looking back at Bobby.

Bobby nodded slowly. "Yeah, I uh…I told her to put it back on."

"Lucifer gave her that pendant." Castiel reminded him. "We shouldn't trust it."

"I just want her safe from the angels that are potentially on Lucifer's side—this isn't why I called you." Bobby explained quickly.

Castiel nodded and looked at Bobby, glad to help the old hunter that he also considered to be his friend. He had spent a lot of time the last month in Bobby's and Grace's company, mostly with Grace, and he wanted what was best for them—wanted to make their lives as easy as possible. Besides, Bobby needed something from him and since he knew Bobby would gladly lay down his life for him, Castiel was more than willing to do whatever Bobby wanted.

"I need you to take me to see Jeremy—he's important to this puzzle and he's taking his sweet time getting here." Bobby explained to the angel.

Castiel nodded at him. "I can take you to him…tell Grace you're leaving first—she worries."

"You're right." Bobby said with a knowing smile, nodding at the angel and then wheeling over to his door, poking his head out. "Grace? Castiel and I are going out for a little bit, but he'll bring me back in one piece."

"I trust him." Grace replied, turning on the couch and smiling. "Take care, Dad."

Bobby nodded and then he and Castiel disappeared, Grace turning to Dean with a smile plastered on her face. He was watching the TV, pretending to be riveted with it and Grace just swallowed and mustered up all of her courage. She closed her eyes and composed her thoughts, Dean glancing at her and smiling at how adorable she looked when she was determined to do something—Dean was so glad just to be in her presence.

"If I ask you a question will you please promise not to tease me about it?" Grace asked him, opening her eyes when she'd spilled her words.

Dean laughed a little. "I'm not making any such promise."

"I love that you're happy right now." Grace told him honestly, smiling when he beamed and then rolled his eyes playfully and looked back at the TV. "Look…I don't want you to think I'm pushing myself on you, but what are we doing?"

"I knew this was coming." Dean said softly, grabbing the remote and turning off the TV.

Grace smiled a little and then it faded a bit as Dean turned to her on the couch and they made direct eye contact. He wanted so desperately to tell her that he wanted to try out a relationship with her but he thought he was trying to enter into this for all the wrong reasons. He'd always brushed off trying to make things last because eh knew his job meant sacrifice and yet he couldn't bear the thought of just brushing Grace off. Dean had all of these feelings for her that he needed to sort out and he didn't know how to do it, but he didn't want to hurt her…she was making him genuinely happy…why did he have to sacrifice that?

"I can't let you bear my burdens." Dean told her as she sat there silently, letting him get in all the words that he need and he reached up to stroke her cheek as she gave him a look. "That isn't fair to you. I don't want you to think that you have to help me through anything—that you have to deal with the things that I have to deal with. Michael? He isn't your problem. This apocalypse? You didn't start it, I did. This time together that we're sharing, I really like it, and I trust you, and—"

"—can I interject here?" Grace asked him.

Dean looked a little stunned. "I think you just did."

"Right." Grace told him blushing and then she leaned in and kissed him tenderly, Dean responding automatically and then making a face when she pulled back—he didn't want the kiss to end and that in itself scared him. "I'm old enough to make my own decisions and I'm interested in you, Dean…this relationship? It isn't a bandaid."

Dean nodded and smiled a little, his eyes fixed on Grace as she stood up and held her hand out to him. He looked at her hand and then back up into her eyes, searching them for answers as she smiled at him and moved her hand a little moving closer to him. She wanted him to take it and so he did, running his thumb along her soft skin and keeping eye contact with her.

"You said you trusted me and I know that's big for you, so…follow." She said, tugging on him softly.

Dean just nodded slowly and stood up, letting Grace lead him to her room, where she shut the door and then turned to Dean. He found himself swallowing when she walked up to him and took a deep breath, kissing him gently and Dean returned the kiss, his fingers slipping into her hair even though he had a feeling he knew where she was taking this. He'd let her know that she wasn't just some girl so he could do this, right?

"We're not going to do anything that you don't want to do because I want you to feel comfortable with me Dean." Grace said shrugging, unbuttoning her jeans. "If that means that I have to take on the occasional baggage of yours than I'm going to do it…whether you want me to or not—I kind of make my own decisions."

Dean laughed a little as she whispered the last words and he saw that small spark of forwardness she had possessed for a little while. He also found it highly amusing that she was telling him that they weren't going to do anything that he didn't want to do, when he'd been the one to make the sexual advances in the first place. Grace smiled up at him and rested her hands on his sides, Dean locking gazes with her as she started to move his shirt up his sides a little.

"I haven't done this in a while so…I'm apologizing now." Grace said softly, a blush rising in her cheeks and it made Dean feel almost giddy inside—that was the cute, slightly blustery Grace that he knew and was coming to adore.

He lifted his arms up and let her pull his shirt off, kissing her as she tossed the shirt on the ground. "We'll figure it out together, Grace."

Note: Sara showed up, Bobby's being secretive to Grace about Jeremy, and there was a cliffhanger? Yeah, I'm kind of mean. Still, I hope you stay tuned for the next chapter, which has two important reunions in it…Feedback is always appreciated!