**Nothing from Charmed or Supernatural belongs to me.**

Chapter Thirteen

*One Day Until The Wedding*
The Dinner

Dean sipped his Scotch and water, something he normally didn't drink. Leo had insisted he try it, and Dean had to admit, it wasn't half bad. Of course, shooting straight Jack at your own wedding rehearsal probably wasn't the brightest idea, so it was probably good for Dean to stick to the Scotch. Melinda reached for her glass of wine, her fingertips gently brushing his arm as she did. Dean smiled, waiting until she'd taken a sip and set her glass back down before he took her hand, kissing her fingers. She gave him a smile, leaning over to kiss him, but stopping when she heard the ding of a fork on a glass. Everyone turned to see Chris standing up.

"I've heard that, at things like this, the families are supposed to give toasts. So I decided I'd start off."

He smiled, turning to look at Dean and Melinda.

"I've spent a long time hating Dean Winchester."

Dean hung his head as laughter sounded through the room. Melinda groaned, laying a hand on Dean's arm. Chris went on when the laughter died down.

"You all know their story. It's a classic, really. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy screws up miserably and loses girl. But their story … This one is different."

Chris looked back to Dean and Melinda, smiling.

"Instead of the girl giving up on the boy, which, in my opinion, is what she should have done, the girl refused. She tried to convince everyone, even herself, that she didn't love him. But honestly… I think we all knew the truth."

Chris looked down and Melinda moved to lay a hand on Dean's arm. Chris looked back up, speaking softer.

"I've spent a lot of time hating Dean Winchester. For things he did, yes. But the main reason, I've come to realize is because I don't think he's good enough for my sister. And then I realized, I don't think anyone would ever be good enough for her."

Chris smiled.

"I've always felt responsible for her. I was three when she was born, but I can still remember Mom and Dad telling me: 'Watch your sister.' 'Chris, be easy with her.' 'Help your sister.' I was the one who beat up the boys on the playground when they called her names. I was the one who helped her learn to ride a bike. I was the one who helped her through Algebra."

Melinda had tears in her eyes when Chris turned back to look at her.

"I've always been the one to look out for her, to protect her. It's hard for me, knowing that's about to be someone else's job. But I'm certain, without a shadow of a doubt, that Dean will do it. I can see it when he looks at her, how much he loves her. And I know he'll be good to her, because if he isn't …"

Chris turned to look at Dean.

"I will kick your ass. Again."

Laughter spread through the room, and Chris raised his glass.

"To Mel and Dean. I love you, and I wish you the best."

Everyone raised their glasses, with choruses of "To Mel and Dean!" ringing through the room. Melinda stood up as Chris walked over to them, and a tear slid down her cheek as she hugged her brother. Chris turned to whisper in her ear.

"I know he'll be good to you, Mel, and I hope that you're always happy. I love you, little sister."
"I love you, Chris."

Chris kissed her cheek, turning and walking away, but not before Melinda saw how his dark eyes were shining with tears.

The clinking noise sounded again, and Bobby stood to his feet. Dean let out a quiet groan and Melinda laid a hand on his arm. Bobby put his hand in his pocket.

"I've known Dean for a long time. We met when he was four, when he was so little, but he acted so grown up. As long as I've known him, Dean has done just one thing: Take care of his brother."

Sam smiled as he looked down at the table. Peyton watched him, feeling the sadness he felt, the way he felt like he'd let his brother down, that he'd let everyone down. Peyton sighed, reaching under the table and lacing her fingers through Sam's. He looked up, over to her, but she kept looking at Bobby. Sam, after a minute, did the same.

"A couple of years ago, Dean showed up at my house with his brother, like he always does. But this time, they had a couple of tagalongs with them. Melinda and Peyton."

Melinda and Peyton shared a smile, then turned back to Bobby.

"The first time I met Melinda, I knew she'd done a number on Dean. Not only was she beautiful, she was smart. And she understood our lifestyle. That don't ever happen, not for a hunter. Dean just got lucky, I guess. And for the first time, I saw him do something other than look out for Sam."

Bobby sighed, then smiled.

"Mel made him laugh. She would go outside with him, help him work on the car. He let her touch the car; that's when I knew it was serious."

Everyone laughed then, especially Dean and Melinda. Bobby went on.

"He slept peacefully, I think for the first time since I'd known him. He was a sharper hunter, better than before, but more important than that … He was happy. Hunters aren't known for their bright personalities. I'd seen Dean smile before, but I never saw him as happy as I have since Mel came along."

Melinda leaned over, putting her head on Dean's shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her. Bobby turned to look at them and smiled.

"I think of Sam and Dean as my boys. We may not be blood, but we're family all the same. And now… I guess I got my girls, too. I—I love you, Mel. Take care of my boy, now. You hear?"

She nodded, and Bobby raised his glass. The chorus of "To Dean and Melinda" sounded again, as Dean stood up and hugged Bobby, and Melinda kissed his cheek.

Wyatt stood up, sliding a hand in his pocket.

"Mel's my baby sister. I haven't been as close to her as Chris has, but I've still watched out for her. I've protected her, sometimes in ways that I don't even think she realized. Mom and Dad know this, but Mel?"

She was watching him, and he smiled. He hung his head a little, a smile on his face.

"When you went off to college, you and Peyton shared a dorm. And I, um… I sat outside your dorm every night for that first year, in my car, just … just in case you needed something."

Melinda covered her mouth with her hand as tears gathered in her eyes. Wyatt brought his eyes to hers, smiling softly.

"I've always felt responsible for keeping the family safe. So I was always kind of busy doing that, you know? Chris took care of you, but I … I helped some, too. Chris taught you things that everyone needs to know, skills to help you be productive in society. I taught you how to pick a lock with just a paperclip."

Laughter spread through the room as Wyatt went on.

"Even though Dad told me not to, I taught you how to hot-wire a car. And … how to get the coins out of a vending machine."

Wyatt's cheeks were red now, and Melinda just laughed. When the laughter had died down, Wyatt sighed.

"I am so proud of you, Mel. You are strong and beautiful, and I only hope you know what you're getting yourself into, Dean."

Dean smiled, looping an arm around Melinda and nodding.

"And Dean, I … I wanted to thank you, for everything you've done for my daughter."

Wyatt looked down, smiling at Kate. He laid a hand on top of her head.

"She already calls you 'Uncle Dean,' so tomorrow's just a technicality for her. I can see how much she loves you already, and I … I think you feel the same."

Dean nodded, as a tear slid down Melinda's cheek. Wyatt raised his glass.

"Here's to my baby sister. May you always be as happy as you are right now. And I hope you know how much I love you, little Mel."

Wyatt nodded, as everyone drank from their glasses. He walked over and Melinda caught him in a hug.

"I love you."

Wyatt smiled, wrapping his arms around her.

"I love you too, Mel. I don't feel like I've told you that enough."
"I've always known, Wyatt. You don't have to say it; you show it so much."

He pulled back, sighing and smiling.

"Kate's made me see that I need to say it more, though. And I need to tell you thank you for the way you are with Kate."

Melinda shook her head, smiling as she gripped his hands.

"You don't have to thank me for that. She's my niece. I know she's your daughter, but she belongs to me, too."
"And now to Dean."

Melinda smiled and nodded.

"Dean, too. We love that little girl, Wy. And you, too."

Wyatt leaned over, kissing Melinda's cheek. He leaned to shake Dean's hand, then walked off. Piper stood, excusing herself to follow her oldest son.

Phoebe stood up as Melinda and Dean sat back down. Phoebe smiled.

"I was going to try to do this without crying, but I think we all know that's not going to happen."

Tears gathered in her eyes then, as she turned to her niece.

"I remember when Piper was pregnant with you. We just knew that this one had to be the little girl she'd long ago seen. Not that we didn't love your brothers, but this family is sort of female heavy, you know?"

Dean, Sam, and the rest of the men nodded eagerly, making the women laugh. Phoebe went on.

"Shortly after Piper told us that she was pregnant again, I found out that I was, too. We grew to be even closer during our pregnancies, and my baby was born exactly two weeks before Piper's. And our little girls got to be best friends. That meant that at least every weekend, Mel and Peyton were either at my house or Piper's. And our Mel didn't always like to sleep."

Melinda smiled as she looked down at the table. Dean reached over, laying a hand on her leg. Phoebe glanced over at Melinda and smiled.

"We had many a conversation when she couldn't sleep, or over a cup of coffee before anyone else was awake. She came to me with things she couldn't talk to anyone else about. And I cherished those times."

A tear rolled down Phoebe's face. Peyton took in a shaky breath. She could never control her empath power around her mother. They were so closely linked that Peyton could never block Phoebe completely, and vice versa. Sam took Peyton's hand under the table as a tear fell down her cheek. She gripped his hand, then looked back up to her mother.

"Mel and I used to talk all the time about her finding her prince. All little girls dream of the prince, riding up on a white horse to rescue them. And when she met Dean… I had this nagging suspicion that he just might be the one we'd been waiting for. His Impala isn't exactly a white horse, but…"

Laughter sounded again, as Dean hung his head, smiling. Phoebe turned to face them.

"Mel, I am so proud of you. You have done so many great things, and I know you've still got more to do. I have had the pleasure of helping to raise you, and girl... You are amazing."

She had to stop, since tears were rolling down her cheeks. Coop scooted his chair closer to her, reaching up to take her hand. Phoebe nodded, speaking to Dean.

"Dean, you are a good man. I could tell the moment I met you. I know you'll take good care of our girl. I can feel how happy you both are, and I pray that you always stay that way."

She raised her glass, nodding to them before taking a sip. Melinda stood up, meeting Phoebe halfway as she walked to the table. Dean stepped out, following Melinda and wrapping Phoebe in a hug once Melinda was finished. Phoebe couldn't say anything; she just looked at them, smiling with tears in her big, dark eyes, before turning back to sit with her husband.

Melinda sat back at the table, gently wiping her eyes with a napkin. Leo stood up, and Melinda let out a groan.

"Oh, I don't think I can handle this."

Leo laughed.

"Don't worry. I don't think I can, either. So I'll just save mine for tomorrow. Everyone, we've put a little something together outside, if you want to follow me?"

Everyone stood to their feet, and Dean smiled as he held out a hand to Melinda. Her face was confused as she took his hand, standing to her feet and following Leo. They stepped outside and Melinda gasped.

"Oh my God. You … How?"

Dean smiled as he walked up behind her, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"I heard a little rumor that you wanted something like this? Nice and romantic?"

Melinda shook her head, looking around. Just as she'd wanted, as she'd dreamed, the backyard had been transformed into what looked like a fairyland. Lights twinkled from nearly every surface, from the trees, strung up overhead. Flowers were everywhere, in the garden, naturally, but set up in bowls and tubs as well. There was a huge dance floor in the middle of the yard. Melinda let out a breathy laugh, as Dean kissed her cheek. He took her hand, pulling her behind him.

"Let's try out the dance floor, shall we?"

Melinda followed him, stopping on the floor.

"You want to dance?"

Dean smiled.

"Yeah, why not? After all…"
"It's our only wedding, I know. So you keep saying."

Dean laughed as music started to play. Melinda smiled, then sighed.

"Oh. Unchained Melody. I love this song."

Dean smiled as he stepped closer to her, pulling her close to him.

"I know."

As the music continued, Dean wrapped an arm around Melinda's waist. With his other hand, he linked his fingers through Melinda's, moving their hands to hold against his chest. She moved as closely as she could to him, letting out a breath. They began to slowly sway, every once in a while taking a step. She laid her head against his chest, where her forehead was touching his neck.

"Dean, I don't know … This is…"
"I know, baby. I know."

Everyone hung back, watching the two of them, letting them have this moment. Peyton shivered, not because she was cold, but because that was all she could do with the emotions coming at her from the dance floor. Sam slid up behind her, standing as close to her as he could. She let out a sigh, relaxing back against him, at the warmth he radiated around her.

Melinda sighed in Dean's arms. She moved her hand from his, moving to link her arms around his neck. Dean moved his other hand down, wrapping around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She let out a breath as she moved her cheek to his.

"I waited for you. For so long, I hoped you would come and find me. And you did. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but… God, I love you, Dean. With everything I have in me, I love you."

He let out a shaky breath, tightening his grip on her.

"I love you, Mel. For a long time, I was searching for you, and I didn't even realize it. You think you were lucky to find me, but baby… I'm the lucky one. I can't believe that you're with me, that you agreed to marry me. I keep thinking one day you'll wake up and come to your senses, but …"

She pulled back, just enough to look at him. She shook her head, then leaned in to press her lips against his. From somewhere behind her, she thought she might have heard the snap of a camera. Honestly, in that moment, a hundred fireworks could have gone off, followed by a million bombs, and she never would have heard them. All that mattered in that moment was Dean, and the feel of his arms around her. Cheers sounded from the crowd, and Melinda smiled against Dean's lips. He moved his hands, wrapping them around her as he dipped her, as the cheers grew louder. Melinda brought her hands up to his face, and her ring sparkled in the moonlight as the final notes of the song came through the speakers.