So sorry it's been a couple of days since that last update. I was on a roll with this story and my Internet decides to stop working. Anyway, I'm hoping to finish this story up soon! As always, please drop me a review if you can. I appreciate them! :)
**Nothing from Charmed or Supernatural belongs to me.**
Chapter Sixteen
*The Morning of the Wedding*
"Peyton, you better tell me, or I'm going to flip my—"
"Okay, okay."
Peyton took a deep breath.
"Mel, Dean's gone. He wasn't there when Sam woke up, and no one has heard from him. We don't know where he went, and we don't know … if he's coming back."
Melinda nodded, before a smile took over her face. Peyton looked to the people at the table, who were sharing her confusion. Melinda let out a quiet laugh.
"Oh, Peyton. One of these days, you all will learn that if you just go ahead and come out with it, everything will work out better for you."
Melinda smiled again, shaking her head.
"Dean couldn't sleep last night, and neither could I. He called me about 4, freaking out. I told him to get in the Impala, and drive until his mind was clear. A little while ago, he called me again. He drove a little further than he meant to, and he wound up in Bakersfield."
Wide eyes looked back at her from the table, and Melinda went on.
"He stopped and got some breakfast, and he's on his way back now. He's not answering Sam's calls, because he knows how mad Sam probably is and he doesn't want to listen to him bitch, and besides that, he left all their phones in a bag in the back of Bobby's car. He should get back at the hotel probably by one."
Peyton just blinked at her, and Melinda smiled.
"He wouldn't skip out on me. Not now. And the moment you all start to trust him, I promise, everything will work out better for you. Now, Peyton, call Sam. Tell him everything's fine. Finish up with … whatever you guys have to do. The bride needs her relaxing bath, so …"
Melinda nodded her head at them, walked to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of apple juice.
"Kate needed something to drink at her little impromptu tea party she's having."
She waved at them and walked out of the room. Sighs of relief sounded, and Chris let out a laugh.
"I still might kill him, just for the hell of it."
Sam was rocking back and forth on the bed. Bobby had left, saying that he was sure Dean would come back, and they might as well go ahead and get themselves ready for the wedding. Sam had his head in his hands, thinking about calling Dean one more time when he saw a light in front of him. He lifted up his head in time to see Peyton appear before him. He stood up, and she smiled.
"He's on his way."
Sam held his hands out and Peyton laughed.
"He's been talking to Melinda since last night. He was flipping his shit, so she told him to get in the car and go. He put all your phones in a bag in the back of Bobby's car, which is why he hasn't answered your calls."
"Where the hell is he?"
"He ended up in Bakersfield. It's about a 4-hour drive from here, so he should be walking in around one-ish."
Sam let out a sigh of relief as he sank back down onto the bed. Peyton laughed, moving to stand beside him.
"Everything's all right, Sam. Just like you said it would be."
He looked up at her, and she smiled at him, letting her hand come up against his face. He let his eyes drift close, opening them just in time to see her disappear. He dropped back on the bed, letting out a sigh.
Piper found Melinda in Kate's room, in a rocking chair, with a sleeping Kate in her arms. Piper smiled, walking over and speaking quietly.
"Hey."
Melinda smiled, speaking just as low.
"Hi. She wasn't tired, she swore to me."
Piper let out a quiet laugh, running a hand over Melinda's hair.
"How are you feeling?"
Melinda smiled.
"Anxious. I'm ready to get this show on the road, but … I don't know."
"I do. And that is perfectly normal, so don't worry."
Melinda smiled and nodded, looking down at Kate.
"She is so pretty."
"Reminds me of another little girl I used to know."
Melinda looked up at Piper.
"That little girl dreamed of today."
Piper nodded.
"Is it everything she dreamed it would be?"
Melinda shook her head, then smiled at her mother.
"It's so much more."
Piper let out a laugh, then took Kate out of Melinda's arms. She walked over and laid Kate on the bed, covering her with a blanket. She turned and walked to Melinda, wrapping an arm around her.
"Come on. I've got some lunch ready for you, and then, it'll be time to start getting you ready."
Melinda smiled, nodding her head, wrapping an arm around her mother's waist as they walked down the stairs.
"Oh, Mama. I've got a question for you."
"Lay it on me."
"Can you tell me what song this is?"
Melinda stopped on the landing of the stairs, humming softly. Piper listened, and Leo stopped as he walked by. Leo smiled as Melinda stopped humming.
"Hey, that sounds familiar. What song was that?"
Melinda let out a sigh.
"I don't know. It's been stuck in my head all morning, but I can't figure out what song it is."
"Do it again for me."
She did, and Piper just shook her head. Leo sighed.
"Sorry, kid."
Melinda let out a sigh, starting to follow her mother into the kitchen, humming under her breath, when a knock sounded at the door. Melinda looked back, taking in account that her hair was wet, hanging down her back, and she was in her long bathrobe. She sighed.
"Oh, I'll get it. Don't worry."
She walked to the door, opening it and smiling.
"Well, look here. This is a new look for brides. I haven't seen this one yet."
"Ellen!"
Ellen smiled as she wrapped Melinda in a hug, then slipped her sunglasses from her face. She stepped inside, letting out a low whistle.
"Nice digs here, Mel."
"Thanks. Come on in."
Ellen slid her jacket off her shoulders, setting it on a hook in the foyer as Melinda hugged Jo. Ellen turned back to Melinda.
"All right, kid. You know I'm no good at just standing around. What can we do?"
Melinda let out a laugh.
"I have no idea. I am absolutely no help today, and people have been telling me that all morning. But if you'll follow me, I'm sure my Aunt Paige or Aunt Phoebe can find you something to do."
Ellen nodded, wrapping an arm around Jo as they followed Melinda into the kitchen. Melinda smiled, turning back.
"Hey, Ellen. Do you know what song this is?"
Melinda hummed, and Ellen and Jo shared a glance before shaking their heads. Melinda blew out her breath.
"Damn it. No one is any help around here."
Ellen and Jo laughed as they walked into the kitchen.
Sam finished off his bottle of water, tossing the remains of his salad into the trash when the door swung open. He got to his feet, letting out a sigh when he saw his brother standing before him. Dean smiled.
"Hey, Sammy."
"Dean, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
Dean sighed, tossing his keys onto a table and shrugging out of his leather jacket.
"Sam, look-"
"No, you look!"
Sam stepped around the bed, closer to Dean.
"You scared the hell out of me, man! I didn't know where you were, you wouldn't answer a single goddamn phone. I thought you weren't coming back."
"Thanks for keeping the faith there, Sammy."
Dean stepped around him, walking over to sit on the bed, taking his boots off. Sam hung his head and sighed.
"Dean, you … You've always taken off like that, okay? I just … I didn't—"
"I know, Sam. All right? Yeah, I've always taken off, but I always come back, don't I?"
They looked at each other for a minute, before Sam let out his breath.
"Yeah. Yeah, you do. Dean, I'm sorry. I just—"
"I know. And stop beating yourself up, Sammy. Honestly, if I was you, I probably would have thought the same thing."
Sam smiled and Dean stood up.
"Now, are we done with this chick-flick crap, Samantha, or do I need to go get you some lipstick? Maybe a dress and some high heels?"
Sam shook his head, a smile on his lips.
"Shut up, jerk."
"Bitch."
Dean reached up, pulling his shirt over his head. He spoke as he walked into the bathroom.
"There better be some hot water left in here!"
Sam smiled, shaking his head, letting out another sigh of relief. And he doubled over laughing when a shout came from the bathroom.
"Damn it, Sam!"
Peyton was curling Melinda's hair, trying to hide her smile while Melinda incessantly tapped her foot on the floor. After a little while, Peyton let out a sigh.
"Mel, are you nervous?"
"What? No. What do I have to be nervous about? I'm fine. I am just perfectly fine."
Peyton nodded.
"So the tapping of the foot and the rambling, that's … what?"
Melinda stopped, looking into the mirror, seeing Peyton smiling back at her.
"Oh, shut up, Peyton."
Peyton laughed, picking up another piece of hair and wrapping it around the curling iron. Melinda let out a breath and Peyton rubbed her shoulder.
"Everything's fine, Mel."
Melinda nodded.
"Are they here yet?"
Peyton smiled.
"Not yet. We moved their arrival back to 2:00, remember?"
Melinda nodded, and Peyton smiled at the curl that fell from the curling iron. She picked up another piece of Melinda's hair, then continued talking.
"And Chris has been busy all morning covering the perimeter of the house with a continuous salt line. Last I heard, he's got 3 lines, one right behind the other. And strategically-placed apples, too."
Melinda nodded, and Peyton continued working, continued talking to her.
"Ellen and Jo got here a couple of hours ago and Aunt Piper immediately put them to work. But you know that already. Anna and Jenny brought everything over from P3, and Matt's been helping them set it up. Paris and Phoenix will be here, probably in an hour, to do … Well, whatever else needs to be done. Mama and Daddy are finishing up some things, and Aunt Paige is bossing Uncle Henry around, but what's new?"
Melinda smiled at that, and Peyton let the last piece of hair fall from the curling iron.
"Okay. Now, we're doing half-and-half, right?"
Melinda nodded, closing her eyes at the feather-light touches from Peyton's quick-moving fingers. After a moment of silence, with Peyton working on Melinda's hair, Melinda spoke quietly.
"Peyton, can we talk about something?"
Peyton smiled, not looking up from Melinda's hair.
"Of course, Mel. What do you want to talk about?"
"Sam."
Peyton faltered then, bringing her eyes up to the mirror, meeting Melinda's gaze. Melinda smiled.
"Are you okay?"
Peyton smiled, and Melinda could tell how forced it was.
"Peyt, you know you don't have to lie to me."
Peyton nodded, holding out a hand, and Melinda handed her a bobby pin. Peyton smiled again.
"Can we save this conversation for a minute? I can't do your hair if I can't see it."
"Why wouldn't you be able to see it?"
"Because I'm crying."
"Oh, honey."
Peyton shook her head, looking up and taking a breath. She let out a laugh.
"Mel, please. You're killing me. Don't feel sorry for me."
"Honey, I can't help it."
"Please, Mel. I'm begging. Earlier, you were killing me with how freakin' nervous you are, and now your sympathy is just … I can't."
"Okay, okay. What … what can I do?"
Peyton had her hands on Melinda's shoulders. After a second, she looked up, into the mirror.
"Sing."
"What?"
Peyton smiled.
"Sing, Mel."
"What the hell do you want me to sing?"
"I don't care. Anything."
Melinda smiled.
"Hey, do you know this one?"
Melinda started humming, and Peyton gave her a look. Melinda let out a sigh.
"That's been stuck in my head since I woke up this morning, and I can't figure out what song it is."
"It kind of sounds familiar. Do it again?"
Melinda did, and Peyton listened, then shook her head.
"Nope."
"Damn it. It's driving me crazy."
Peyton smiled, finishing up the half-up part of Melinda's hair.
"There. Now I'll touch up some of these curls a little closer to time."
Peyton turned her head to the side.
"Something about this hairstyle seems familiar."
Melinda smiled.
"I know."
Peyton looked at her in the mirror, then smiled as realization dawned.
"Oh, Mel."
"It's the way Mama did her hair when she married Daddy."
"And the way Grandma Patty did hers, too."
Melinda nodded, and tears came to Peyton's eyes again. She walked over and sat beside Melinda on the little bench seat, and once Melinda had pushed her hair over her shoulder, Peyton rested her head there. Melinda ran a hand up and down Peyton's arm.
"Talk to me, Peyton."
Peyton shook her head.
"I don't want to, Mel."
She cried into Melinda's shoulder, while Melinda just closed her eyes.
"What can I do, honey?"
Peyton shook her head.
"I didn't think it would be this hard, Mel."
She sat up, taking the tissue Melinda handed her and wiping her eyes.
"I mean, the son of a bitch chose a demon over me. And not just any demon, but that slut Ruby."
Melinda bit her lip to hide her smile, nodding as Peyton went on.
"I hate him for that. I know I'm not perfect, but I sure as hell know that I'm better than some demon."
"He wasn't himself, Peyton. You know that."
Peyton whirled to face Melinda, who held her hands up.
"And I'm not making excuses for him, so don't even think that."
Peyton sighed.
"I know you're not. And you're right. He was on demon blood."
"It's like being addicted to a drug. He did things we never expected him to do."
"Like almost killing you."
Melinda nodded as she looked down, and Peyton let out a breath. She let out a laugh and Melinda looked back at her. A tear slid down her cheek and Peyton smiled.
"I love him, Mel. I am so in love with him that it hurts. And seeing him just makes it so much worse. I was fine, you know? I had convinced myself that I was over him. And then I saw him. And everything came rushing back."
She shook her head, wiping her face with her hand. She stood to her feet, and Melinda turned around to watch her.
"I wish … No, I don't."
"What, honey?"
Peyton looked down at her and smiled.
"I was going to say that I wish I didn't feel this way about him, but I don't. I love him, and it feels good. It makes me feel good. Even though it hurts so bad… I still love him."
"Peyton, I—"
"And I think I'm going to give him another chance."
Melinda let out a breath and a smile crossed her face.
"Peyton."
"I've tried to hate him, Mel. I really have, and I can hate him as long as he's not here. But as soon as I see him, I remember how kind and gentle he was. I remember how he made me laugh and what it felt like when he kissed me. And even though I remember how horribly he hurt me and how awful I felt, the good truly does outweigh the bad."
Melinda stood up, tears glistening in her eyes.
"I've had months to think about this, Mel. I killed Ruby with my bare hands. And the look on his face when I did … It was like he was free. Like he'd been trying to get away and I'd saved him."
Peyton shook her head.
"I haven't even talked to him about this yet. I went to see him this morning and he held me, for just a second. And in that second… I don't even remember what I told him, but I had to say something to get away. I hurt him, I know I did. But … I am not going to let Ruby win here, Mel."
"Good. Peyton, I love you. And whatever you decide, I'll back your play. I just want you to be as happy as I am."
Peyton smiled and nodded as Melinda stepped over to her.
"Sam makes you happy. Even after all the shit he put you through, I still see how your eyes light up when he's around. I can see how much he loves you every time he looks at you."
Melinda ran her hand over Peyton's hair, touching her face.
"I just want you to be happy, Peyt."
"I know."
"I love you, best friend."
"I love you, bride."
Melinda laughed as she wrapped Peyton in a hug. Peyton smiled, hugging her back. Wyatt orbed into the room with a hand over his eyes.
"Please tell me everyone is decent."
The girls laughed, and Peyton wiped her eyes.
"Hardly ever, but we're at least dressed."
Wyatt laughed and removed his hand. Melinda looked to him with hope in her eyes, and Wyatt gave her a sad smile.
"I'm sorry, Mel. They wanted to, but …"
He shook his head, and Melinda sighed.
"I figured so. It was worth a shot, though."
Wyatt nodded, stopping. He stepped in front of Melinda and Peyton, holding his arms out, as though he was holding them back behind him. They huddled together, watching as a bright light shone, and it seemed to dance around before stopping, as sparks flew in a spiral until a woman stood before them. Melinda was the one who finally spoke.
"Who … Who are you?"
The woman smiled, holding out a hand.
"I am the Angel of Destiny."
Melinda, Peyton, and Wyatt all exchanged a glance. Peyton cleared her throat.
"The Angel of Destiny?"
The angel smiled, nodding her head. She stepped forward and Melinda laid a hand on Wyatt's shoulder. He moved, and Melinda stepped towards the angel, who smiled.
"We heard of what you had been wanting, what you asked of the Elders."
Melinda smiled and looked down.
"They weren't able to grant my request."
The angel smiled.
"I know. However…"
Melinda took in a breath, and the angel smiled.
"After all you've done, the lives that you have saved, all you've gone through while doing the things you have done for us… After all of the good you and Dean have accomplished, we have decided that, for today, we shall grant your request."