**Nothing from Charmed or Supernatural belongs to me.**
Chapter Fifteen
*The Morning of the Wedding*
Peyton woke slowly, hearing something, but she couldn't figure out what it was. She finally opened her eyes, groaning when she saw the beginnings of sunlight filtering in through the curtains. She finally realized that what she was hearing was her phone vibrating on the table next to her bed. She reached over, grabbing it, sitting up when she saw that Sam was calling. She took a deep breath.
"Sam? What's going on?"
She heard him let out a breath.
"Peyton, I'm so sorry to wake you up. And I'm also sorry for the four missed calls you've got."
Peyton let out a yawn, lying back down.
"Sam, spit it out. What's going on?"
She heard him take a deep breath.
"Peyton … Dean's gone."
She bolted up into a sitting position.
"Sam, what the hell are you talking about? What do you mean, 'Dean's gone'?"
"He wasn't here when I woke up, about an hour ago. I haven't heard from him, and the note he left said not to bother calling him."
Peyton closed her eyes, laying a hand on her forehead.
"Oh, damn it. What the fuck is wrong with him?! I'll kill him. I swear to God, Sam, I am going to kill him."
"You'll have to get in line, Peyton."
"He's gone?"
Sam sighed.
"He took the car."
"Oh, goddamn it, Dean!"
Sam let out a laugh, nodding his head. When it was quiet on the line, Sam sighed again.
"Peyton, what are we going to do?"
Peyton chewed on her lip for a second.
"I'll tell you what we're not going to do. We are not going to tell Mel. We'll just … We'll let her think everything is fine, and maybe he'll come back."
"Peyton, what if—"
"Don't say it, Sam. He'll … he'll come back. He has to. He can't do this to Melinda. He wouldn't hurt her like this."
Sam nodded, running a hand over his mouth. Peyton was massaging her temples, trying to ward off the headache that was already threatening.
"Hey, are there any demon signs? Like maybe Dean was kidnapped?"
Sam let out a laugh.
"That was the first thing I looked at, after I read the note. Salt lines were undisturbed; the Devil's Traps weren't broken. No trace of sulfur anywhere, and no hidden message in his note."
"Damn it. When he comes home, I swear …"
Sam smiled.
"I know, Peyt. Me, too."
Peyton pushed her hair out of her eyes, letting out a breath.
"Well, we're about to get up and start getting ready. If you hear anything from him, Sam—"
"You will be the first person I call, I promise."
Peyton nodded.
"Okay. Okay then."
Sam was quiet, and Peyton closed her eyes, listening to him breathe for a second. When she spoke, her voice was quiet and small.
"Sam, tell me that everything will be all right. Please."
He closed his eyes at the pain that shot through his heart. They weren't talking about Dean anymore. Still, he did what she asked.
"Everything's going to be just fine, Peyt. Okay?"
She nodded, closing her eyes.
"Okay. Call me the minute he gets back, Sam."
"I promise."
Peyton ended the call, tossing her phone beside her and flopping back on the bed. Why didn't she see this coming? She should have known, because everything was going just a little too perfectly. Damn Dean Winchester and his self-doubt, his tendencies to run away when things got rough. Peyton climbed out of bed, walking to wrap her robe around her. She knew for a fact that Dean had to come back. Because if he didn't, there was no possible way her cousin would survive.
Piper stood at the door of Melinda's bedroom, watching her daughter sleep. Her heart was in her throat, tears in her eyes, just as she suspected would be the case all day long. After all, how many times does one's only daughter get married? Piper smiled when she noticed the little hand hanging off the bed. Melinda had never really been one for sleeping alone, especially since Dean came along. Piper walked into the room, letting out a sigh as she did. She walked over to the bed, smiling when she saw Kate on her back, sprawled out with Melinda on her side, an arm over Kate's stomach. Piper gently ran a hand over their hair.
"Sleepyheads, it's time to wake up."
She smiled at the little moans that came from each of them, then gently pushed Kate over, making room for herself to climb in the bed. Kate snuggled closer to Piper, who wrapped an arm around her.
"Katie. Sweet Melinda, wake up. It's Wedding Day."
Two pairs of blue eyes opened to look at her. Piper smiled as Kate let out a yawn.
"Today is Saturday?"
Piper nodded.
"It's Wedding Day?"
Piper nodded again, and Melinda rolled onto her back. Piper kissed Kate's forehead, and Kate crawled over her, climbing down from the bed, running out of the room, trying to beat the cold floor. Piper rolled to her side, propping herself up on an elbow. Melinda had her eyes closed, but she was not asleep. Piper bit her lip.
"Honey?"
Melinda turned her head to see Piper's gentle smile.
"You okay?"
Melinda smiled, slowly nodding her head.
"I just … I can't believe it's finally here."
Piper nodded.
"I know. Neither can I."
She couldn't stop the tears that rushed to her eyes, and Melinda just moved over, letting her mother hold her.
Phoebe sat at the kitchen table, finishing up her cup of coffee when Peyton walked in. Phoebe's smile widened, until she saw the look on Peyton's face.
"Hey."
Peyton turned, noticing Phoebe for the first time.
"Oh, Mama."
She sat down next to her, reaching out to hold a hand on Phoebe's arm. Phoebe moved her other hand to cover Peyton's.
"Hey. What? What is it, honey?"
Peyton blew out her breath, then turned to her mother.
"Sam called me. Mama, Dean's gone. Sam doesn't know where he went, and he can't get in touch with him and—"
"Don't tell me that. No. This … He can't do that!"
"Who can't do what?"
Phoebe had stood to her feet, and she turned around to see Chris and Leo standing at the door. She put a smile on her face, and Peyton closed her eyes.
"Aunt Phoebe? What's wrong?"
Phoebe turned to Chris, that fake smile still on her face.
"What? Nothing. Nothing's wrong."
"Yeah, okay. Liar."
Leo stared at Phoebe, who looked everywhere except at him. Leo nodded, closing his eyes. Phoebe let out a breath.
"Everything is going to be fine. It has to be. Look, there's lots of things we need to be doing, so let's not worry, okay?"
Chris just sighed and shook his head, walking out of the room to go up the stairs. Leo stepped over to Phoebe, looking at the ground.
"He took off, didn't he? Dean."
Phoebe sighed, then nodded. Leo smiled.
"He better be here before 5 or so help me God, I will rip him apart."
Leo walked out of the kitchen and Phoebe and Peyton closed their eyes, letting out a collective sigh. Peyton shook her head, standing up and walking to the sink, before closing her eyes. Phoebe just watched as a pink light shone, then Peyton was gone.
"I know you said not to bother calling, but come on, man! We are counting down the hours—HOURS, Dean!—until your wedding, and where the hell are you? Call me back or get your ass here yesterday."
Sam closed the phone after calling Dean's backup backup phone. He tossed the phone onto the bed before sitting on it, scrubbing his hands over his face. He let out a long breath, jumping when he opened his eyes.
"Christ Almighty, Peyton. Make a noise when you do that."
Sam laid a hand over his erratic heart and Peyton sighed.
"He's still not here?"
Sam shook his head.
"I said I'd call you, honey."
She nodded.
"I know. I just … Mama knows. And now Uncle Leo does, too. And Sam, I don't… I mean, I …"
Peyton sighed as she shook her head, and Sam stood up to go to her.
"Peyton. Hey, look at me."
She sighed again, looking up at him after he wrapped his hands around her arms. Sam sighed, his eyes going soft.
"I know."
She blew out her breath, leaning over to rest her head against his chest. Sam sighed, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her. She let him hold her for a minute, then she shook her head, taking a step back.
"No. Sam, don't … Don't do that."
"Peyton, I—"
"Look."
She held up her hands, trying to ignore the confusion she felt from Sam.
"I can't, okay? You … You chose a demon over me, Sam. Even knowing the whole story, that still hurts. Every time you touch me, all I can think of is you using those hands on Ruby."
Peyton flashed back to that final showdown, where she took Ruby's life using only her bare hands. A spark flew from her fingertip and she sighed, shaking out her hand. She spoke again, using a much quieter voice this time.
"I still love you, Sam. And I'm trying to forgive you. Really, I am. But … I don't know."
Sam nodded. He took a deep breath, then spoke quietly.
"Peyton, I am so sorry that I hurt you. If I could take it back—"
"But you can't."
She looked up at him, the pain evident in both their eyes. She shook her head.
"Call me if he shows up."
And just like that, she was gone, leaving Sam staring at the space she'd been standing, with a dull ache under the tattoo on his chest.
Piper was gently running her fingers through Melinda's hair when a knock sounded at the door. They looked over to see Phoebe and Peyton standing there, smiles on their faces and their arms around each other. Phoebe took a shaky breath, and Melinda sat up.
"Oh, Aunt Phoebe. Don't."
Phoebe shook her head, waving a hand in front of her face as she and Peyton walked over to the bed.
"I just … I can't believe it's finally here. Our baby's getting married, Piper."
Piper nodded, wiping away a tear. Melinda took both of their hands.
"Listen to me. Stop it right now. If you don't, I will absolutely lose it, and I … I can't, okay? It's going to be just like it always was, just now I have a plus one. He's not taking me away from you, and to be honest, Daddy's not just going to give me away today. He can't. That's just the line from the wedding script. I will always be your little girl. No matter what happens."
Piper and Phoebe leaned over, wrapping Melinda in their arms. Melinda sighed, reaching out and taking Peyton's hand. After a minute, Peyton stood up.
"Okay. We need to get a move on. Breakfast, then a nice, long, relaxing, hot bath for the bride."
Everyone nodded, and Melinda's smile grew.
"I'm the bride!"
Everyone laughed, getting up to jump on the bed before heading down to breakfast.
Sam paced the room, Bobby mirroring his actions on the other side of the beds. Bobby stopped, looking over at Sam.
"Maybe he really did just need some air."
Sam stopped, looking over to Bobby.
"I was up a little after 5. When I realized he was gone, it was about 6, and he'd been gone for a while by then. It's …"
Sam looked down at his watch, letting out a groan.
"Almost 10. Goddamn it, Bobby. He won't answer any of his damn phones. Not even Dad's old ones, because, yes, I called those too. That son of a bitch is going to give me a fucking heart attack."
Bobby bit his lip, then went back to pacing. Sam let out a long sigh, then did the same thing.
After breakfast, Peyton and Melinda walked upstairs, leaving Piper and Phoebe in the kitchen. Phoebe took a sip from her cup of tea, and Piper turned to her.
"Okay. Out with it."
Phoebe gave her a look, and Piper sighed.
"Something's going on. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that, and besides all of that, I've known you your whole life, Phoebe. You don't do very well with secrets."
Phoebe let out a sigh.
"Piper …"
Phoebe sighed again, and Piper sat back in her chair.
"That bad, huh?"
Phoebe moved her cup over, then looked to Piper.
"When Sam woke up this morning, Dean wasn't there. He left a note saying he needed some air and not to bother trying to call. We don't know where he went, and no one has heard from him."
Piper just blinked, before laying her head down on the table. Leo and Chris walked in, stopping when they saw Piper. Peyton stepped back into the kitchen, stopping when she saw the scene in front of her. Chris finally broke the silence.
"Okay, will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"
Piper lifted her head to look at her son.
"Dean took off. And no one knows where he is or if he's even coming back. I should have known something like this would happen! It always does. Damn that boy."
Chris shook his head.
"I'll kill him. I swear to God, when he shows his face again, I will kill that son of a bitch!"
Peyton sighed, sitting down by her mother.
"He'll come back. He … he has to. He wouldn't hurt Mel like this."
"What are you talking about?"
Everyone's eyes grew wide when they looked at the door, where Melinda was standing. No one said anything, and the room was silent, except for the breathing. Melinda put on a smile.
"Someone want to tell me what the hell's going on before I lose my freakin' mind?"
Peyton looked to her mother, who let out a sigh. Piper shook her head as Leo stepped over to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. Chris opened his mouth, only to be cut off by Peyton.
"Shut up, Chris."
He blew out his breath, and Melinda took a deep breath.
"I'm waiting."
Peyton stood up, going to Melinda.
"Honey … There's something you need to know."