Chapter Six: July 20, 2011

Zoey and Sam walked around her estate, neither talking. Sam's hand dangled close to hers but she didn't grab it. She risked a glance at the giant of a man, 6'4" to her 5'0". His brown hair had gotten longer and it fell in his face as he stared at the ground. "Sam?" She said tentatively.

His hazel eyes met hers. "Yeah?"

"I'm sorry." She finally said. "For everything. Lukas took control of your mind and made you say those horrid things to me to get us to break up. I should've known you wouldn't do that."

"Yeah, well, I shouldn't have freaked when you told me you were a witch." He reached over and his hand enveloped hers. "You don't have to apologize, Zoey."

"Thanks for saving my sorry ass."

He chuckled. "You need to thank Gabriel. He did most of the work."

"Will do. I'll make him my special chocolate balls for a reward." She tugged her hand out of his and hugged him tightly. "I missed you, Sam."

He kissed the top of her head. "I missed you too, Zoey."

She looked up at him. "Do you think, maybe, we could get back together?"

"I think we should probably have a long talk before we do." His answer, although not totally surprising, scared her a bit.

They walked back inside, to the large library. Zoey curled up in the oversized chair across from the chaise lounge Sam was sitting on. She bit her lip, wondering when he was going to start talking. Luckily, she didn't have to wait long. "I just really want to know one thing. When I said that stuff, why were you so ready to believe I meant it?"

She looked down, twirling her thumbs. "Because, Sam, you were the first mortal I'd ever dated. I thought, after you saw how twisted my dad was, that you thought I'd turn into him one day, and I was dreadfully insecure you'd decide a witch wasn't good enough for you."

He started laughing. "Seriously? Come on, Zoey, surely you didn't think that. I didn't even deserve you, to be honest. When we first met, I was screwed to hell. I was Lucifer's vessel, complete with the demon blood. Dean and I were a million miles apart, and I went to hell and came back soulless." He turned serious, facing her. "But you, you fixed me. You cured my addiction, helped Dean and I to the point where we're closer than we've ever been, and you helped Death get my soul back. Zoey, you redeemed me."

She smiled. "Well, what now?"

"It's up to you." He said. "If you want to just leave it alone, I'll respect your decision."

Zoey frowned at Sam. Did he honestly think she wanted to go their separate ways after he came all the way to Salem to rescue her, even after she broke up with him? She saw it now plainly: this was the man she was supposed to be with. Instead of answering him, she crossed over to the chaise lounge and kissed him soundly. Even though he'd been out of practice for over a year, he instantly pulled her onto his lap, tangling his hands in her thick, copper hair.

She pulled back, a smile playing at her lips. "Now, now, Sam, we just got back together. Let's play it cool for a while."

He smirked. "I can outlast you, Zoey, remember?"

Eight months into their relationship and they still hadn't had sex. Sam seemed okay with this, but Zoey wanted all of him. So, she put a plan into effect to seduce Sam Winchester. First, it was walking past him while wearing nothing but a towel. This piqued his interest, but he seemed to know what she was doing and an unspoken bet started. It wasn't until their first year anniversary that he finally gave in and made love to her.

She grinned at the memory. "Touché."

"I guess I should check in with Dean." He said, reluctantly pushing her off his lap.

"Not yet. I'll go pack a couple of bags and go to the bunker with you. I, uh, should apologize to him, too."

Sam nodded. "Yeah. He's a little pissed at you."

She ran up to her brother's room, knocking on the door. "Connor, I'm going to Kansas with Sam. Think you and Nicole can manage the store?"

He finally opened it, his hair messed up and his pants unbuttoned, breathing hard. "Yeah, that'll be fine."

"Agreed! Mind if I stay here while you're gone?" Nicole's cheery voice sounded from inside.

Zoey smirked, knowing those two were dating. "Of course not. Keep Connor out of trouble, okay, Nic?"

"No problem, Z!"

Connor shut the door, presumably picking up where they'd left off when she interrupted them. It didn't take her long to pack a bag and she brought it down to the kitchen, where Gabriel was sampling her candy jar. "-her back, do not lose her, Sammy." The archangel warned, popping a mini Snickers bar in his mouth.

"I'm not planning on it."

"Gabriel!" Zoey snickered when the angel jumped a foot in the air. "Aren't you supposed to ask before you steal people's candy?"

"I'm an angel. I do not steal." He said, offended. "And, if I remember, this candy jar is for me."

"Thanks." She hugged him.

"No problem, Glenda." He dubbed her that after the good witch of the north in her favorite movie, The Wizard of Oz. "I'll see you two lovers later."

He disappeared and she turned to Sam. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah."

She climbed in the passenger seat of his Charger, finding a letter addressed to her. She quickly checked for him; he was re-packing his bag, still inside. She opened it carefully and began to read.

Zoey, darling, please, if Dean calls you, don't think it was your fault because it's not. I just can't handle this life anymore. The person I see in the mirror isn't someone I like and I'm tired. I'm tired of letting everyone I love down, but my greatest sin? That was not going after you the minute I realized you were gone. I'm sorry. I love you more than anything, and I wish you the best. Love always,

Samuel Tristan Winchester