**Nothing from Charmed or Supernatural belongs to me.**
Chapter Ten
*Two Days Until The Wedding*
Melinda walked outside, closing her eyes as she felt the sun hit her skin. She had a soft smile on her face, standing still for just a moment before walking out to the garage. It was empty, save for the Impala, resting in a corner. All the men were in the backyard, building, under Piper's watchful gaze, some sort of something for the wedding. Melinda wished she could remember what exactly it was, but her mind had been wandering, something completely understandable, since her wedding was in exactly 48 hours.
She stepped inside the garage, smiling when her eyes caught sight of the slightly bowed legs peeking out from underneath the Impala. She walked over, hearing Dean mutter a curse as he rapped his knuckles on something. Melinda went up on her tiptoes as she leaned over the opened hood, looking down and smiling when green eyes caught hers. A smile spread across Dean's face.
"Hey, beautiful."
"Hey, you."
Dean slid out from under the car, catching the red rag Melinda tossed to him. He stood up with a groan, before leaning over to give her a kiss.
"What are you working on?"
Dean smiled.
"Nothing, really. Just making sure Baby's running smooth."
Melinda smiled and nodded.
"I know."
It was just busy work, something to keep his mind off the fact that his wedding was happening in just two days. Not that he was nervous or sweating it or anything. It just became a lot to think about if one began to think about it. Melinda completely understood, because she felt the same way. Dean walked back from washing his hands at the sink and took the bottle of water Melinda handed him.
"It's getting hot, Mel."
She smiled.
"Almost summertime in California has a tendency to do that, my love."
Dean smiled, wiping the sweat off his brow. Melinda bit her lip. Dean Winchester was hot as hell anyway, but throw him under a car and get him a little sweaty? Melinda could have jumped on him right then and there. 48 hours, she kept telling herself. She could hold out for 48 hours or so, couldn't she? Dean walked over and took a seat on the bench, and Melinda followed him. She sat beside him and Dean reached up, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"What's on your mind, baby?"
Melinda smiled, closing her eyes as his hand drifted over her cheek.
"I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Lay it on me."
"We're getting married."
Dean smiled, then clucked his tongue.
"I don't know, babe. That seems like a pretty big step, if you ask me."
Melinda laughed, punching him on the arm.
"You're such a jerk."
"Hey, that's Sammy's line."
Melinda smiled, leaning over as he kissed her forehead.
"I just wanted to make you smile."
"Well, you did. I love you."
"Right back at ya."
She took a deep breath, then turned to face him, where they were sitting eye-to-eye.
"I wanted to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me."
Dean nodded, taking hold of her hands, giving her his full attention. She took another breath, then smiled.
"The women in my family keep their names. Ever since my Grams lost my Grandpa a long time ago. I don't know if she wanted to pay homage to him, or if she just liked his name, because she was married four times altogether. Maybe Halliwell was the best out of the bunch?"
Dean smiled, letting her go on.
"It was weird growing up, you know? Dad is Leo Wyatt, and I'm Melinda Halliwell. All the other little girls had their dad's last name, but I had my mom's. Not that I didn't love the name, but… It was just one more thing that set me apart from everyone else, you know?"
Dean nodded, and Melinda looked down at their hands, at the way Dean's fingers kept rubbing across her engagement ring. She didn't even think he realized that he was doing it. She smiled, and spoke softly.
"I've been raised to believe that I was a strong, independent woman that didn't need a man to 'take care of me.' And I am strong. I know that. But then you came along. And you … I need you, Dean."
She looked up at him with a smile on her face.
"You came in and you flipped my world upside down, and you made things different for me. Yeah, I never needed anyone before, but that changed. You know how it is. We're bonded. We are stronger together than we ever could be apart. Sometimes I look at you and I wonder how I ever even breathed without you."
Dean stopped her by kissing her then. He held her face in his hands, and she held her hands on his thighs. He finally pulled back from her, resting his forehead on hers.
"It's the same for me, Mel. I made it where I didn't need anyone else. Well, other than Sammy. I didn't stick around, I didn't care. I wouldn't let myself. And then you … One sunny day, outside a little café, you knocked me on my ass. And by the time I figured out what had happened, it was too late. I was already in love with you, and—"
"I know."
Dean sighed, closing his eyes. That still hurt to think about. How stupid he was, leaving Melinda in the middle of the night without so much as a note. He packed up everything he had, woke Sam, and hightailed it out of there. He meant to go back, to explain to her, but Sam had gone missing. And then Sam had been killed. And then Dean had made a deal, his soul in exchange for Sam's life. And then Dean only had a year to live. How could he go back to Melinda, soak her in the way he wanted to, love her the way he needed to, if he was just going to leave her again when his contract was up? So he stayed away, and her name became the last word on his dying lips.
"Hey."
He lifted his head to look at her, and she ran her hand across his cheek. He closed his eyes at the feel of her touch, and she leaned in to press her lips to his.
"Don't do that, Dean. Don't go back there."
"Mel, I—"
"It's over, honey. It's done, we've moved on, and I got you back. You're right here with me. And we're getting married in …"
Dean turned his watch for her to see it, and her mouth fell open.
"Like 47 hours and change."
He smiled, running his fingers through her hair. Melinda smiled, then looked him in the eye.
"I haven't even said what I came out here to say."
Dean smiled at her, then took her hands again.
"Well, go ahead. I'm listening."
Melinda looked down at their hands and took a deep breath.
"I love you, so very much. I wear this ring all the time so everyone can see, so they'll know that I belong to someone. To you. But I want some other way to show it."
Dean nodded, but his face seemed as though he wasn't following her. Melinda smiled.
"The women in my family keep their names. My Grams started it, when she wouldn't let my grandmother take my grandfather's name. Mom, Aunt Phoebe, Aunt Paige continued the tradition. Jenny even kept her name for that year she was married to Paul. But Dean… I want to take your name, if you'll let me."
Dean's eyes widened, but a smile crossed his face. He nodded, and the smile grew.
"Mel, I … I'd love that."
She smiled, leaning over to hug him, and he put his face in her hair. She ran her hand over his neck, holding it there. After a minute, Dean spoke, not moving from her.
"What about your Grams? Won't she be mad?"
Melinda sighed.
"Probably so. I'll have to tell her. I should probably go and do that now, actually."
Dean nodded, leaning back enough to cover her mouth with his. He ran his hands through her hair, and Melinda smiled, breaking off the kiss by standing up. They just looked at each other for a minute, in silence, before she turned and walked inside. Dean closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh, rubbing a hand over his chest before standing up and going to see where Sam was.
Melinda walked into the kitchen, where Phoebe was stirring a big pitcher of iced tea. She glanced back, smiling when she saw Melinda.
"Hi, bride-to-be!"
"Hi, Aunt Phoebe."
Phoebe set the spoon down on the counter, walking over and taking Melinda's hands as they sat at the table. Phoebe smiled.
"You nervous?"
Melinda let out a laugh.
"A little bit."
Phoebe nodded. Being an empath, like her daughter Peyton, Phoebe was able to read and feel other people's emotions. She could feel how excited and nervous Melinda was, and she simply patted Melinda's hand.
"You're going to be just fine. What's on your mind though?"
Melinda looked up, meeting Phoebe's dark eyes, and sighed.
"I … I want to do something."
Phoebe could tell Melinda needed to talk about something. That wasn't even the empath in her, either; that was from being an aunt and being as close as she and Melinda had always been. Melinda let out a sigh.
"Aunt Phoebe, I want to take Dean's name."
Phoebe blinked, and Melinda sighed.
"I know, the women in our family keep their names. And I respect that. Really, I do. But… All my life I've been different, you know? My cousins from you have such dark hair and features, and I'm so blonde. Anna and Jenny are so delicate and wispy, and I'm … not. When we were in school, all the other little girls, except for Peyton, all had their dad's last name."
Phoebe smiled as she rubbed Melinda's hand.
"That always has bothered you."
Melinda nodded.
"I've tried not to let it, but… That's not the reason why, though. I love him so much, Aunt Phoebe. You know."
Phoebe smiled and nodded. Oh, she did know. The love Melinda had for Dean was astounding, strong and lasting, almost as strong as his love for her. Melinda went on.
"I want some sign for the world to know how much I love him. I know I've got the ring, but I want to take his name."
Phoebe smiled again, leaning over to press a kiss to Melinda's forehead.
"Honey, if that's what you want, then I'll stand behind you, 100%."
Melinda smiled.
"Thanks, Aunt Phoebe. I just … I'm worried about what Grams will say."
Phoebe's face fell, and she nodded.
"Oh. Yeah, I didn't think about … Oh, boy."
"She's going to be pissed, isn't she?"
"Most likely."
Melinda let out a sigh, and Phoebe patted her hand.
"Probably best to go ahead and get that out of the way, little Mel."
Melinda nodded, and went up to the attic. She used her powers to circle up some candles and light them, and she walked to the Book of Shadows, opening to the familiar page, more out of ceremony than necessity. She didn't even read the spell; she didn't need to since she knew it by heart.
"Hear these words,
Hear my cry,
Spirit from the other side.
Come to me,
I summon thee.
Cross now the Great Divide."
Melinda watched as little bubbles of light appeared in the circle of the candles. They swirled and seemed to pop as Penelope Halliwell materialized. Well, not really. She didn't take on a corporeal form. Instead, she stayed in the circle, where she was mostly transparent.
"My darling Melinda."
"Hi, Grams."
Grams smiled, and Melinda took in a breath. Grams, of course, knew about the wedding, because since the church canceled, Phoebe had talked Melinda and Dean into having Grams officiate their ceremony. Dean was a little wary of having his marriage ceremony performed by a ghost, but Melinda had persuaded him to go along with it.
In the circle, Grams crossed her arms, and Melinda smiled.
"Well, I know you didn't call me here just to look at me. Honey, the wedding is in a very short amount of time. There are things you should be doing!"
"I know, Grams. I just … There's something I need to talk to you about."
Grams cocked her head to the side.
"What is it, darling?"
Melinda, after 28 years of dealing with the woman, knew how Grams was. She knew most, if not all, of her tricks, her thought processes. Therefore, she knew it would be easier to just bite the bullet and come out with it, instead of beating around the bush.
"Grams, I want to take Dean's last name."
Grams' eyes grew wide, and her mouth fell open. Melinda sighed, pushing on.
"I know that the women in our family usually keep their names, and I respect that, Grams. Really, I do. But I—"
"You want to take his name?"
She said it like she couldn't believe it. Like it was some horrible news that broke her heart.
"You don't want to be a Halliwell anymore?"
"What? Oh, Grams, no! I – I love being a Halliwell! I just … He's going to be my husband, and wives take their husbands' names. I just—"
"You want to be traditional?"
Melinda smiled.
"Yes. I think—"
"Well, that is just too bad, because Halliwells are not traditional. Not in that sense, at least."
"Grams."
"I'm sorry, honey. The Halliwell women are strong because we are Halliwells. It's a good, strong name, and evil fears it."
"Winchester is just as strong, Grams, and evil is pretty fearful of it, too."
Grams shook her head.
"Melinda, you don't understand."
"Grams, it's not like my powers are tied to the name or something. It's just a name! It's not that important, really."
Again, Grams looked as though Melinda had wounded her.
"I cannot believe this. My sweet baby, you are just breaking my heart."
"Oh, Grams, come on."
"No. I … I'm sorry. Either you keep your name, the way you are meant to do, or you find someone else to do this ceremony."
"What? Grams."
"I'm sorry."
She was gone, in the same flashes of light that she appeared in. Melinda stared at the circle, where the candles were still burning, and she started breathing hard. Tears filled her eyes, and she snuffed out the candles with a flick of her wrist. She walked over to the daybed, where Sam had been sleeping, and sat in front of it. She pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, resting her head on them. A few seconds later, she heard footsteps.
"Mel? Are you up here?"
Melinda looked behind her, seeing Peyton standing just inside the doorway. Peyton caught sight of her peeking around the bed and walked over, not saying a word, but sitting down beside her. Melinda let her head fall, resting on Peyton's shoulder. They sat in silence for a minute, until Melinda sighed.
"I told Grams I want to take Dean's name."
Peyton nodded, and Melinda sighed again, speaking softer.
"And she told me that if I do, I need to find someone else to do the ceremony."
"Oh, Mel. No."
Melinda nodded, squeezing her eyes shut, and Peyton sighed. She wrapped an arm around her as Melinda started to cry.
"Don't cry, Mel. We'll fix it."
"How, Peyton? First the church falls through. Now my great-grandmother is acting as though I am bringing disgrace to the family name by not keeping the family name."
"We can find someone else to do the ceremony."
"I don't want someone else, Peyton. I want Grams to do it."
Peyton sighed, sending out a silent signal, hoping her mother or her sisters could catch onto it. And sure enough, a minute or so later, Phoebe walked in with Piper and Paige right behind her. They walked around the bed, Piper kneeling in front of her daughter.
"Hey. Hey, baby girl, what's wrong?"
Melinda brought her eyes to Piper's, whose heart almost broke at the sadness in the pools of blue. Tears slid down Melinda's cheeks.
"I told Grams that I want to take Dean's name."
"You what?"
Melinda sighed, looking down.
"I want to take Dean's name. And I thought it would be best if I let Grams know ahead of time, and she completely flipped out. Mama, she said either I keep my name, like I'm supposed to, or find someone else to do the ceremony."
"You have got to be kidding me."
Melinda shook her head, sighing and leaning back against the bed.
"I just … I don't know, Mama. First the church, now this? Maybe … Maybe this is a sign that we—"
"Don't. Melinda, do not finish that sentence."
Melinda looked up at Peyton, who'd stood when their mothers had walked in. Peyton knelt back beside her, taking her hands.
"Mel, you and Dean are meant to be together."
Melinda nodded, rolling her eyes, and Peyton sighed.
"Listen to me. I know about love, and what you and Dean have is special, and frightening, and it's rare. You are meant to be. I've said it, Daddy said it, even Cas said it. All of this? This frantic, stressful wedding hell week? It's just details. This stuff means nothing in the face of what you and Dean have."
Melinda sniffed as she looked to the floor, then brought her eyes back to Peyton's. Peyton smiled, sitting beside her cousin.
"So the church fell through. Now you're getting married here, in the house that's always been so special to you. So apparently Grams fell through. Maybe this means that something better will happen."
"Peyton, I… I wanted Grams to be the one to marry us. Like she did for Mom and Daddy."
Piper sighed, then walked over to the Book. She looked to Melinda.
"Light those babies up."
Melinda did, and Piper recited the spell Melinda had earlier. This time, though, no one appeared. Piper set her hands on her hips, looking up as she yelled.
"Woman, I know you're listening! You better show yourself, or so help me… Grams, come on! Stop being so damn stubborn!"
Still, no lights swirled. Melinda hung her head, and Phoebe moved to let Melinda lay on her lap. She sat up when lights began to circle, and all of them were still when the ghost appeared. Piper stepped forward.
"Mom?"
Patty Halliwell smiled at her.
"Hello, my girls."
Peyton and Melinda stood up, as always, taken aback by the beauty of their grandmother. Phoebe walked over to Piper, and Paige followed. Phoebe smiled.
"Mama, what are you doing here?"
Patty sighed, keeping the soft smile on her face.
"Mom is … not coming."
Melinda let out a breath, and Piper reached back to take her hand, pulling her forward where she could wrap her arms around her. Piper looked to Patty with fire in her dark eyes.
"You tell her that—"
"I know, Piper. I know, and I will. In the meantime, as a sort of olive branch, I believe I have found someone else to perform your ceremony."
Melinda lifted her head from Piper's shoulder.
"What? Who?"
"Me."
They heard the voice before they saw the person, and Piper's heart leapt into her chest. Lights swirled again, until Prue Halliwell stood beside her mother. Piper and Melinda smiled, and after the initial shock wore off, Phoebe, Peyton, and Paige did, too. Melinda stepped up.
"Aunt Prue?"
Prue smiled, her blue eyes shining as she looked at Melinda.
"Do you really think I'd miss your wedding, Little Prue?"
Melinda let out a laugh, and Prue looked to Piper.
"I have all the necessary credentials. I've been practicing my lines. I could marry them, if they want me to."
"Yes! Oh, Aunt Prue, that would …"
Melinda smiled through her tears, and Prue nodded.
"Stop crying, sweetheart. Everything is going to be just fine. You'll see. I'll be back tomorrow at 5:00, so we can run through everything at 5:30, before the big Rehearsal Dinner. And then, we'll have your wedding."
Melinda closed her eyes as she leaned back into Piper, who wrapped her arms around her. She looked over to her big sister, the one she missed so much and smiled.
"Thank you, Prue."
"Hey, what are favorite aunts for?"
Phoebe and Paige rolled their eyes, but laughed. Prue took Patty's hand, as Patty smiled over to Melinda.
"Don't be mad at your Grams, sweetheart. She'll get over it soon enough."
"Yeah, she just has to show her stubbornness for a while. It'll work out, Mel."
Melinda nodded, as the lights flashed once again. And as swiftly as they appeared, Prue and Patty were gone. Sighs of relief flooded the room, and Piper pressed a kiss to Melinda's forehead.
"Come on, honey. We've got flowers to do."
Melinda nodded, following her mother, aunts, and cousin down the stairs. When they had almost reached the kitchen, the doorbell rang. Melinda, who had been closest to the door, sighed.
"I'll get it."
The doorbell rang again, and she opened the door.
"Well, ain't you a sight for sore eyes."
"Bobby!"
Melinda launched herself at the grizzled older man standing at the door. Bobby Singer caught her, smiling as he held her close to him. He sighed, closing his eyes, moving to whisper to her.
"It's good to see you, Mel."
"I missed you, Bobby."
He smiled, letting her go and she took a step back. He looked exactly the same as he had the last time she saw him, which was something Melinda found comforting. Bobby set his bag down inside the door and Melinda shut it behind him. He turned to her, a smile on his face.
"Now, where's that idjit you want to marry?"
Melinda laughed, looping her arm through Bobby's.
"Probably in the garage. Right this way."
They started to walk, and Bobby spoke quietly to her.
"Now, Mel, I got to ask. Why you want to marry Dean? You under some sort of spell? Possessed or something?"
Melinda had to stop, because she was doubled over laughing. As if on cue, Dean walked in, a smile on his face.
"Baby, what's so funny?"
He stopped when he saw who was with Melinda, the man he looked up to as the father figure he so desperately needed in his life. A smile spread across his face, and Bobby didn't even try to hide an identical one of his own. He opened his arms and Dean walked up, slapping Bobby on the back as he hugged him.
"It's good to see you, boy."
"You too, Bobby."
Bobby pulled back to look at Dean, since the last time he'd seen him had been right before the night the Apocalypse started. Bobby nodded, and Dean smiled as Melinda walked up beside him, kissing his cheek.
"Hey Dean, Leo said the …"
Sam's sentence trailed off as he saw the crowd in the kitchen. A smile, one of sadness and regret, one from a boy who knew he'd let down someone he loved, crossed his face and he glanced down to the floor.
"Hey, Bobby."
"Sam."
Sam closed his eyes, and Bobby let out a sigh.
"Damn it, boy, come here."
Sam looked up in time to see Bobby step over to him and wrap his arms around him. Sam leaned to return the hug, pulling back after a second, looking Bobby in the eye.
"Bobby, I—"
"I know, son. I know about everything. And it … I'm not going to say it's okay, because it's not. But you know that. You don't need me telling you."
Sam nodded, and Bobby sighed.
"We'll fix it, Sam. Don't you worry."
Sam smiled and nodded, and Bobby clapped him on the shoulder before turning to Dean.
"Now, for some reason, this beautiful girl wants to marry you. You got her under some spell or something?"
Dean laughed, and Sam smiled as he spoke up.
"That's what I was thinking, Bobby. No way she'd want to marry this ugly dude without some sort of magical push."
Dean nodded, letting them go, as the men laughed and walked outside. He looked back at Melinda, who smiled and nodded at him, and he nodded back, winking at her as he walked outside. Melinda turned around, closing her eyes. Bobby's words kept going through her mind.
"We'll fix it, Sam. Don't you worry."
It was true, even though it didn't feel like it. And Melinda knew that somehow, in spite of all of the evidence to the contrary, it would be fine. They would fix it, and put the world back on track. But right then, Melinda had less than 40 hours until her wedding, and there were matters that were just a bit more pressing at the moment.