AUTHOR'S NOTES: I know this is a short chapter but there were just a couple things I wanted to hit before moving the story along.

Next chapter: Samuel shows up and Stella's family has a ghost problem.

Chapter 8

Lying underneath a pick-up truck, Stella didn't hear Sam come into the garage and when he said her name she jumped, smacking her head against the muffler. Cursing loudly, she kicked as hard as she could at Sam's leg before sliding out from underneath. "Serves you right," she snapped, angrily as she went to the pop machine and grabbed two drinks, tossing one to Sam who was rubbing his shin. Holding her own drink to her forehead, she glared at her boyfriend. "You know, I'm surprised I'm still conscious. You, your brother, your friend, Castiel—you all seem to enjoy scaring the crap out of me and making me hit my head. I'm going to end up with brain damage, I swear to God." Leaning against the truck she sighed as she popped the top of her soda. "So how'd it go with Crowley?"

"He's dead," Sam replied, shrugging as he walked around the car and leaned on the hood. Chugging down his own pop in one go.

"Well, one less demon's a good thing, right?" Stella asked as she looked at Sam. When he didn't look at her, she set her drink down on the hood of the truck and crossed her arms impatiently. "Look, Sam, I really like—Screw it. I love you." When Sam finally turned to face her, Stella went on. "I know you've got issues—Hell, I've got plenty of my own, I'm not going to lie. But I've never felt this way about anyone before."

"I have," Sam replied, simply. When Stella seemed to be waiting patiently for him to continue he went on. "7 years ago I had a girlfriend, Jessica. I was crazy about her. I loved her. And she was murdered by a demon."

Stella's gaze softened a bit as she saw the storm of emotion in his eyes. "If this is the break-up speech, how about we skip it? I mean, if you're going to give me the 'she was the only one I'll ever love' line—"

"I don't want to break up," Sam assured Stella as he pulled her close and into a deep, lingering kiss. As Stella wrapped her arms around him, he wanted more than anything to stay with her. When Sam pulled away, he smiled as he saw the content, happy look on her face. "I love you, Stella."

"Good." Stella kissed Sam again and when he started to pull away again, she kept a gentle hold on his hand. "Hey, you're still going to stick around for a little while, right?"

Sam grinned at her and after pulling his hand from Stella's, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box and he got down on one knee. "More than a little while," he said, opening the box and taking Stella's hand. "I hope."

Stella was completely speechless as she stared at the silver and diamond ring. And even though her hands were covered with oil, dirt, and grime, Sam slid the ring onto the ring finger of her left hand.

"Stella, I do love you," Sam said, honestly as he stared into her beautiful green eyes which were now glistening slightly. "And with all of the stupid things I've done in my life, the times I've screwed up so bad, that… But when I'm with you I kinda start to wonder if maybe there really is such a thing as redemption. I mean I must have done something right to deserve someone like you." Taking both Stella's hands in his, Sam said, "Marry me, Stella."

As tears started to fall down her cheeks, Stella found herself too choked up to say anything and she just nodded. Sniffing deeply as Sam started to break into a wide grin, she finally found her voice. "Yes. Yes, I'll marry you, Sam."

Sam stood up and grabbed Stella around the waist, lifting her off her feet and swinging her around once as she threw her arms around his neck. When he set her back down, they shared yet another long, passionate kiss.

Watching Sam from the gas station as he filled the gas tank on the Impala, Dean grinned as he saw Stella kiss his brother. Sam's happiness was evident even from across the street and Dean was happy for him. "That's my boy," Dean said to himself as he watched the couple head across the street to the diner.

Kneeling before her mother's grave in Rock Creek Cemetery, Kelly lay the bouquet of flowers down next to the headstone. "Eight years ago you told me that you saved my life by making a deal with a demon. You said that you were given 10 years before paying up." Kelly didn't even bother to wipe away the tears in her eyes as she spoke. "You made the best of those years. You were like my best friend and sometimes I think that it was during those ten years that you and Dad were happiest. But I don't think I really appreciated you until you were gone, Mom. I didn't get why you were trying so hard."

After wiping her eyes and taking a breath, Kelly went on. "That night, before you died, you made me make you a promise: that I would find the demon you made that deal with and kill him. I did it, Mom. Went all the way to Scotland but I found him and put a bullet in his head." After a few moments, Kelly started to feel herself getting choked up again as the events of the past few days started to catch up with her. At first she'd had the feeling of numbness and there was some degree of closure, but there was something that just didn't feel right.

"I know if you were here you'd probably tell me its over. I can stop hunting," Kelly said, quietly, tears streaming down her face. "And I want to. I really, really do, but… It's like when I was little and you wanted Dad to leave the Marines. What I do is important, Mom. I save lives and that…" Wiping her tears again she sniffed before finishing, "That helps me feel better about not being able to save you. I miss you, Mom. Every damn day. And I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

As Kelly stood up, she heard footsteps behind her and turned to see her father and Dean coming up to her. Sticking her hands in her pockets after wiping her eyes, she turned back to the headstone. "I'm not quitting, Dad."

"I know," Gibbs replied, as he, too, set a flower bouquet next to Shannon's headstone. When he faced his daughter, he waited until her blue eyes met his. "I know you're not going to stop being a hunter because you're more like me than your mother. Kelly, I love you. And I want you to do what you think is right."

"Besides, I could use a new partner," Dean interjected. When Kelly looked a bit puzzled, he grinned. "Sam's getting married. Hasn't decided if he's going to settle down or stick with the job but he's definitely staying here for a while."

Kelly managed a half smile as she looked at her father. "You're not trying to fix me up with Dean, are you?"

Dean studied Kelly for a while. After getting back to DC, he'd called Lisa and while she hadn't exactly been surprised when he broke up with her, she had sounded disappointed that he hadn't wanted to stick it out. But for Dean it wasn't about toughing it out or distance and time apart. It was because no matter what he told her or how he tried to explain Lisa would never truly understand the world he lived in. Kelly understood because she lived in the same world. She knew the dangers and accepted the sacrifices of the job.

"I'm not trying to do anything, Kelly," Gibbs assured her, his expression deadpan. "Dean wanted to come with and make sure you were alright."

Raising an eyebrow as she eyed the younger man, Kelly almost smiled as she asked, "You're checking up on me?"

"Problem with that?" Dean asked, giving her his most charming grin.

No," Kelly replied, giving Dean a matching smile along with a devilish lift of the eyebrows. As she started to walk back to her car, she noticed Dean following her. "But if you're going to be hunting with me you better not slow me down, though."

"Wait, me slow you down?" Dean said, with a laugh. "Please. I've been at this since I was 12."

"Dad had me training to be a sniper since I was 5," Kelly countered.

"Peas?" Dean wondered.

"Snowballs," Kelly replied.

Gibbs laughed as he watched the two walking away. As much as Kelly was like him, Dean reminded him of Shannon. Both were very tied to their families and both always tried to do the right thing even when it meant the greatest of sacrifices. As his smile diminished, he knew it was possible that Dean and Kelly might not make it as a couple but as hunting partners they were probably almost perfectly suited. Both were driven and they had the same 'I'm the boss' attitude.

Turning to Shannon's headstone, Gibbs knelt down and let out a long sigh. He missed her more and more every day. She'd been the one to keep him grounded, to be a calming presence when he could feel his life spiraling out of control. The last few years he'd had with her had been the best of their entire marriage and when Shannon had died it had been worse than just losing the love of his life. It had been like a part of his soul had been violently torn out of him.

It was a wound that had never fully healed but the fact that Kelly was alive had helped. But when she'd told him about the truth of the night of Shannon's death, Gibbs had felt his world being torn apart once again.

Kelly was right, of course. Gibbs knew that what she did was important and that she probably saved lives more than he'd had in the Marines. Even though he'd lost her for a year—without a doubt one of the worst times of his entire life if not the worst—she'd come back again and while Gibbs had been hoping his little girl would settle down and get married and have kids, he knew that wasn't who Kelly was.

"We did alright with her, Shannon," Gibbs said, quietly. "I know you'd be proud of her." Not sure of what else to say, Gibbs stood up and after one last look at his wife's grave, he turned and headed back towards his car.