A smile curved her lips upward as she woke up slowly, feeling Dean's arm tighten around her in his slumber. He was snoring lightly in her ear and she reached out to the nightstand and fumbled for her phone. "Ugh." Brielle grunted softly, squinting at the brightness of the screen.
It was nearly 3am and she switched off her alarm clock that was set for 3:15 am. The brunette shifted around a bit to lay on her back. She could feel Dean's soft breath on her face in the darkness and she leaned forward to nuzzle her nose against his. He grunted something and she giggled. "I'm gonna start dinner."
"At this hour?" He groaned, making all the blood rush to her groin. "Let's just starve. You feel so good." He nuzzled into her neck, making her dark eyes close. "So warm." For a second, she considered ordering chinese for dinner. "Just order chinese, hm?" Dean's voice was husky with sleep. "Sweetheart?"
"Baby," Brielle purred, gently untangling herself from him. "I bought everything. I'm making dinner. I'll be back in here in an hour to lay with you." Dean made a disgruntled noise. "I'll be back. Promise." She pressed a kiss to his neck, making him shiver.
Brielle got up and wrapped her hair in a messy bun with the hairband on her wrist before slipping out the door. "Sammy?" He was coming up the hall, a sleepy smile on his face. "What are you doing up?"
"I wanted to help you start dinner." He linked her arm in his and looked towards the kitchen. "Glad I didn't have to knock on the door... I've seen my brother's naked ass enough." That made her laugh out loud.
"Consider yourself lucky, Sam." Dean's grumpy voice reached the hallway, making them both laugh. Brielle and Sam made their way to the kitchen and they started on dinner. Sam chopped onions and celery to saute for the dressing and the brunette started cleaning the bird.
"Sam?"
"Yeah?" He smoothed his hand across the cutting board a few seconds later, pushing all the celery into a frying pan before turning it on and adding butter. Sam glanced over at her, elbow deep in the turkey.
"I'm sorry."
"For?" He started chopping the next rib of celery. "This small enought pieces?" She nodded. "Sorry for what, Brie?"
"For not telling you about Dean and me." Brielle washed her hands before starting her search for a roasting pan. "I just never expected things to... go this far, y'know?" That made him smile.
"You having second thoughts?"
Brielle looked over at him, surprised. "No. I just... things like this don't happen to me. Guys like Dean don't happen to me." That made Sam smile even bigger, eyes on his task. "I just feel like... what if he changes his mind? What if I'm not enough for him?" Her statement made Sam set down his knife and wipe his hands on the clean dishtowel before hugging her close.
"Don't you think he feels the same way?"
"I love Dean, Sam. I really do. I know he struggles to express himself, but I know how he feels. He may not tell me, but he shows me." Brielle's voice dropped and she pushed back from him lightly. "I'm scared." She suddenly felt insecure about her own emotions and started her hunt for the roasting pan.
"Love is scary."
Brielle found the pan she was looking for and set it on the counter. "He makes me feel like... like everything is okay. Like I'm safe and cared for." She smiled sadly and tears stung her eyes. Sam started chopping the onions on the cutting board next to her.
"I know." There was a certain sadness in his voice and she nodded. They worked for several more moments, Brielle seasoning the turkey and Sam cooking down the veggies a bit more. She cubed the bread for the dressing and he turned the oven on preheat, watching her dump some stock over the dressing and mix the saute pan contents in also.
Her hand worked over the dressing carefully before they worked to stuff the bird and put on the lid. "Sammy?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm so glad I have you." Her arms came around his torso in a tight hug and they stood that way for a moment. Sam smiled even though she couldn't see him. "You think Dean would care if we just bought a pie? I'm gonna make the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole."
"He'll eat anything. He's like a damn garbage disposal." They both laughed softly. Sam let her go. "When you wanna make eevrything else?"
"I can do the green bean casserole now and bake it an hour before we eat. Same with the taters." The oven beeped then, having reached the desired temperature. Brielle opened the door and Sam slid the roasting pan inside. "I'm thinking 13 minutes an hour times what... 20 pounds?"
He shrugged. "How's like 11am sound?"
"Perfect." Brielle patted his forearm. "I'm going back to bed."
"Me too." He fought a yawn. "See ya in a few hours."
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"I was thinking... maybe we could celebrate Christmas... get a tree and some lights..."
Dean made a face when Brielle suggested celebrating Christmas. Sam saw the subtle disappointment on her features when her shoulders slumped ever so slightly. "We never celebrate. Why start now?" His nonchalant reply made her stomach drop and she nodded quietly, as if in agreement.
"Okay." Brielle poked at a piece of turkey on her plate. The trio was having thanksgiving dinner and she felt like she should bring up the upcoming holiday, but Dean was pretty against decorating the bunker and having a tree. She could feel sympathy radiating off of Sam, but she kept her eyes from his too. Under the table, his large hand found her knee and squeezed gently, reassuringly.
"I'll wash." Sam said quietly, getting up to gather the dishes from the table. Brielle smiled a bit up at him and he leaned down to kiss her head, Dean's eyes on them as he chewed his last bite. "Thanks for dinner."
"I'll dry." She rose from the table, leaving Dean there alone, staring after them. Sam turned on the warm water and she stepped up next to him at the sink. "It's fine." Brielle breathed and he frowned, knowing it wasn't. Their backs were to Dean now.
"I'm sorry." The water was running, drowning out his words before his brother could catch them. "He'll come around." Brielle only shrugged before picking up a dishtowel. They washed the dishes in silence as the older man cleared off the table and put the rest of the food away. He wiped off the table and leaned against the counter next to the brunette.
Sam drained the dishpan and wiped his hands on the towel Brielle gave him. Sam and Dean shared a look before Brielle moved into Dean's arms, hugging his torso. Sam smiled a bit when Dean kissed the top of her head. The pair had been getting more comfortable expressing their emotions in front of Sam somewhat candidly.
"You guys wanna watch the grinch who stole christmas?" Brielle pushed back and looked up at Dean, then back at Sam.
"What is it with you and Christmas, hm?" Dean teased her a bit. "I'll sit with you, sweetheart. You in Sammy?"
"Yeah, of course."
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The two men had changed into sleep attire and were flipping through the channels on the television when Sam spoke up. "Dean? You need to rethink this whole not celebrating thing." Dean looked over at his younger brother in surprise.
"What are you talking about?"
Sam's eyes narrowed. "Brielle wants to celebrate... with you, Dean. That's what people in relationships do." He let that sink in and his brother's expression softened. "Just... think about it, alright? She loves you, Dean. This is technically your first christmas together and she wanted it to be special." The older hunter nodded.
Brielle moved back out into the living room and sat between the two men on the couch, all of them sharing a warm blanket she'd knitted. Dean lifted his left arm and she cuddled into his side, her head finding his chest. Sam smiled over at them before turning back to the show.
It was the cartoon version and it reminded Sam of one December that he and Dean spent alone without their Dad coming back to the motel. Dean had slipped out while Sam was sleeping and had likely shoplifted some gifts from some gas station nearby. He'd woken Sam up later, saying their Dad had stopped by to drop off gifts, but even at that young age, he'd known better.
"You remember that one Christmas in Nebraska?" Dean, as usual, read his mind. He looked over at his younger brother over the now sleeping brunette's head on his chest. Sam smiled a bit.
"Of course I do." His voice softened a bit as the credits rolled. "Thanks for doing that for me, Dean." There was so much more behind those words.
"I'm glad I did." The older man pressed a kiss to the brunette's hair. "You deserved the world, Sammy." Sam felt a lump in his throat. "You were a kid. I didn't want ya to think Santa wasn't coming for you." Beside him, Brielle sighed contentedly in her slumber. "Dad wasn't exactly great at parenting."
"I know." Was all Sam said. "You were, though." That heartfelt reply made Dean smirk.
"I hope so." He reached out and clicked the remote to shut off the tv. Dean shifted to pick up the sleeping brunette in his arms carefully. "I'll take her to bed." He straightened up, hoisting her against his chest.
"Think about what I said, hm?"
"I will." Dean promised softly, his green eyes softer now. "Night brother." He carried the sleeping brunette to her room and laid her down. He pulled the covers over her and tucked her in before moving across the hall to Sam's room. He tapped and Sam answered.
"Yeah?" The older man pushed the door open and crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "Dean?"
"I'm not good at this." He admitted softly. Sam knew what he meant. "I'm good at some of this boyfriend stuff... but," Dean swallowed his pride. "Sam... what what you said out there, about Brielle... lovin' me," Sam yanked on a tshirt and stared at his older brother.
"What about it?"
"Why did you say that?"
Sam smiled a little. "Because she does, Dean."
"She never said that to me."
"Have you said it to her?"
Dean pushed off the doorframe. "No. I don't ever say that. Ever."
Sam sighed. "Hey Dean? I love Brielle too and I have no problem saying it. Just... please don't screw this up with her. She's so good for you." That made Dean's eyes close painfully.
"I know she is." Dean's voice dropped. That made Sam smile a bit. "I just need... some guidance here. Tell me what she needs from me because I don't know."
"Be you, Dean. That's what she needs." The younger man swore he saw Dean growing up right before his eyes. "Remember how she takes her coffee, kiss her every morning." Sam paused thoughtfully. "Make her laugh. Watch movies with her, even if you hate them." That made Dean smile some. "Those are the things I'm so thankful I was able to do with Jess when I had her." Sam's voice softened some now. "It's scary to have something worth losing, isn't it?" An understanding passed between them then.
"Scary as hell." Dean's voice was soft. "I'm damaged, I know that. I just don't want that to be... all she sees." Yeah, it was a chick flick thing for him to admit, but Sam understood.
"Dean, she loves you and that includes all the good and bad. Give Brie some credit here." He pulled back his blankets then. "Night Dean." He shot his brother a smile before Dean slipped out and closed the door behind him.
He closed Brielle's door and locked it before slipping off his tshirt and climbing in next to her. She turned towards him in her slumber and he turned the lamp down to the lowest setting, wanting to stare at her for a little while. Brielle sighed softly against him, her lips parted slightly.
"Dean?" Her sleepy voice made him smile tiredly.
"I'm right here."
"I love you." She murmured and he leaned forward to kiss her forehead.
"I know." Was his whispered reply.
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Dean's eyes fluttered closed and she giggled at his relaxed expression. It was early and she'd woken him up with her intrusive fingers slding underneath the waistband of his pajama pants. He'd groaned softly at her touch and she smirked at his sleepy reaction; normally, he slept on edge, but with her, it was always this relaxed state, slow to wake up. "Baby?"
"Mm?" He murmured, his eyes still closed. Dean's jaw clenched when he felt Brielle's warm hand wrap around his hard length and stroke gently. He groaned softly in the darkness and she smirked.
"You awake?"
Dean grunted. "Parts of me are." He rolled over in the darkness, pinning her underneath his delicious weight. They kissed a bit and he settled in the v of her thighs. "Morning." He nuzzled his nose with hers.
"Morning baby," Brielle whispered softly and his lips dropped to hers. They kissed for a few minutes, slow and lazy before she reached down to push his pants down. He chuckled at her eagerness despite the morning hour.
His body felt amazing, so warm against hers as he slid home, making both of them sigh at the sensation. "Sweetheart, you're gonna be the death of me." Dean whispered as he stilled momentarily. "I'm not gonna last this morning."
"I don't care." She whispered back and he kissed her eyelids before nudging her lips apart with his own. "Just... go slow. Make love to me..."
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"Good morning Camilla," The store's owner raised her gaze from the book she'd been reading when she heard the young woman speak to her as she entered the shop. Brielle closed the heavy wooden door, the brass bell above her jingling. It was probably original to the building and Brielle loved the solid sound it made when it closed behind her. "How's it goin'?"
"Wonderful. Good to see you! Did you have a good thanksgiving?" The blonde tucked her pen behind her ear as she came around the counter to hug the brunette. Brielle hugged her back tightly. The shop was closed the day before for the holiday and had reopened the next morning bright and early, Brielle one of the first people to meander in after the tryptophan wore off.
"It was nice... had dinner with the boys." Camilla didn't miss the shy little smile on her friend's face. She knew a little about one of her regular customers, but Brielle was always careful on what she shared with outsiders.
"How's Sam?" That made Brielle grin and Camilla blushed. "What? He's smart and incredibly good looking... just asking." The girls shared a giggle. Brielle had been coming in the store with Sam for nearly the last year and a half, on a pretty regular basis. They'd even found some old used lore books on occasion.
"He's good."
"Miss?" Another customer injected. The girls turned and he smiled a bit. "Can I just get these two, a newspaper and two coffees to go?" Camilla moved back to her spot behind the counter and rung him up, pouring two coffees. Brielle watched her back the books for him and he bid her goodbye before stepping out of the shop.
"He's sweet. Always buys something every Saturday and gets coffees for himself and his wife." The blonde murmured somewhat wistfully as they watched him pass by the glass windows, heading east. "So you were saying something about Sam?" Her tone was hopeful.
Brielle smiled at Camilla. She was attractive in a natural way. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail that brushed her shoulders and she was somewhat petite. She wore very little makeup and Brielle had always thought she could go straight from jeans and a sweater to some fancy dress in two minutes and still be amazing. Her eyes were dark brown and studious, like she could see right through you. "Yeah. He's still single." Camilla closed her eyes and the brunette giggled. "You need to ask him out for coffee. He's shy."
"Maybe I will." The blonde tugged on her arm. "I marked some stuff down in the back corner... go take a look and I'll get you a coffee while you browse." Brielle nodded and they parted as she headed towards the back of the tiny shop. She could smell the coffee brewing and coupled with the smell of the used books, it was almost heaven.
The sale shelf appeared in front of the brunette, her fingers dancing across the tops of the well worn covers of the lastest arrivals. Her eyes moved over the bookshelf as she browsed the titles, her lips moving as she read them to herself. Sam had dropped her off about an hour ago, promising her he'd be back to pick her up when she was ready. She'd stopped by the drugstore first and always wound up at the little book shop at the end the main street. This was something they'd done before and he felt comfortable doing so.
She eventually chose two books, holding them against her chest in her left arm, sipping on the coffee Camille had brought her. She finished her coffee and set the paper cup down on the shelving before pulling a third book out to read the back cover, her eyes focused on the small print.
Behind her, the bell above the worn wooden door rung as someone else entered the bookstore. She heard someone exchange hellos with the owner before she felt a warm hand on her arm. Brielle startled, dropping the two books she'd had in her arms. "Sorry. Just wanted to surprise you." Dean's smile was infectious. He hugged her close before squatting down to pick up the books before handing them to her.
"You sure did." Brielle was smiling as he straightened back to his full height. "What's up? I thought Sam was picking me up."
"I thought about what you said," Dean's green eyes focused on hers. "And I wanna take you upstate for the weekend."
"Upstate?" Her brow wrinkled.
"Yeah." He smiled a little. "There's this christmas shop and I thought we could go pick put a tree, some lights, the whole deal..." Her arms came around him again and she hugged his torso tight, feeling him chuckle. "Is that a yes?"
"Of course it is." She raised her face to his and he leaned down to kiss her lips softly.
"Let's pay for these and head out then."
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Sam was sitting down at the table in the kitchen, nursing along his coffee when his cell phone rang, Brielle's ringtone. "Hey, you left some books for other people, right? Or did you buy them out?" His tone was teasing and a smile spread across her face.
Her laugh came over the line. "I bought three. I know how to control myself." He grinned.
"You ready for me to come get you then?"
"Cute, Sam."
"What?"
"Dean's here."
Sam turned to look over his shoulder at the kitchen doorway. He hadn't even heard his brother get up yet, much less leave the bunker. "What?"
"He surprised me. He's taking me upstate for the weekend to shop for christmas deocrations."
"Wow."
"Like you didn't know."
"I seriously didn't even hear him leave the bunker." Sam paused. "He changed his mind?" His brother hadn't celebrated Christmas since the last one before he'd gone to hell. Brielle had brought up the subject before she'd made them thanksgiving dinner. Dean was flat out against it and Brielle just nodded, but Sam could see the disappointment in her tight lipped smile when she'd just nodded.
"Yeah." She opened the impala's passenger door and slid inside, pulling it closed behind her. She saw Dean talking to the owner through the window as he paid for her three books and her coffee. "Dean's really sweet, y'know?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I'm gonna get off here. I'll see you in a couple days, I guess."
"Alright." He felt goosebumps on his skin when he heard a shuffle in the hallway. Sam rose, palming the gun that was tucked in the back of his jeans. He thumbed off the safety. He exhaled, pointing it at the doorway.
Footsteps were shuffling up the tiled hallway towards the kitchen at a leisurely pace.
Familiar footsteps.
Then a rustling of papers.
Sam's jaw clenched, the phone still to his ear, his left hand holding his gun. He kept it trained on the doorway, waiting for the assailant.
Dean rounded the corner, still in his pajama pants and slippers, a robe thrown over his bare shoulders, newspaper in his hands.
"Love ya Sam." Her voice came over the line. Sam was frozen in place, his mind reeling out of control. He lowered the gun when he realized Dean was right in front of him.
"Whoa Sammy." Dean looked surprised at his brother pointing a gun at him. "I'm sorry if we were up late last night. Damn. Don't point that thing at me." He moved past his brother and stepped down into the kitchen, heading towards the coffee pot.
"Brie, that's not Dean." He heard the click of her line and the older man froze when Sam choked out those words. "That's not-,"
Dean froze then, his eyes instantly on his brother's. "Sammy?"
A/N: Hello all! Thank you for all of your reviews and for following me on this story. What do you think thus far? This chapter was much longer this time. :) This isn't the direction I had originally planned on for this story, but my muse takes me where she takes me. Reviews are love! Have a lovely evening, beautiful readers! -CitrineMama