Sorry it's been awhile since the last update! Kind of hit a wall again, but I think I've busted through it. ;) And to make up for it, this chapter is extra long! And hang in there, we've got just a few more chapters to go!

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

Chapter Twenty-One

*The Reception*

Melinda hugged so many people. Every member of her family made a point to find her and hug her. Her uncles made her laugh, the way they always had, and her aunts cried. Her brothers had sighed and actually hugged Dean, while Melinda stood back and blinked back tears. Castiel kissed her cheek, and Melinda let her eyes close, so happy to have her angel back.

"Oh sweetheart, you are so beautiful."
"Billie!"

Melinda's eyes flew open, and she laughed as she hugged Billie Jenkins. A long time ago, before Melinda was even born, Billie and her sister had been involved in the Ultimate Battle with the Charmed Ones. Paige and Phoebe had died, along with Billie's sister, until both Piper and Billie had gone back in time. Everyone was saved, except for Billie's sister, who Billie had killed, saving herself and the Charmed Ones in the process. But once that happened, the Charmed Ones were able to slack off fighting demons, focusing on creating and raising their families. Billie had babysat for the kids when they were small, before going off to see the world when Melinda was twelve. Billie ran a hand over Melinda's face, smiling.

"The wedding was wonderful, Mel. I wish you both all the best."
"Thank you, Billie."

Billie had kissed her cheek, reaching out to grasp Dean's hand, before walking over to hug Peyton. Chuck stepped up, a little skittish around so many people, until Melinda embraced him. She felt him exhale, relax, and return her hug, even kissing her cheek. He shook Dean's hand, looking him in the eye.

"Good luck."

Dean nodded, and Chuck stuffed his hands in his pockets as he walked away. Dean reached over and took Melinda's hand, lifting it to his lips. She sighed and smiled, as Ellen and Jo walked up. Jo let out a sigh.

"Well, I guess I can't call you Halliwell anymore, can I?"

Melinda smiled.

"Guess not, Harvelle."

Jo smiled, leaning to hug Melinda.

"Congratulations, Mel."
"Thank you, Jo."
"Take care of him, okay?"

Melinda nodded, and Jo turned to hug Dean. Ellen laid a hand on Dean's shoulder and took Melinda's hand.

"It was a beautiful ceremony, Mel. Good luck. You're going to need it with this one."

Melinda laughed, while Dean looked at the ground, a smile on his face. Ellen leaned over to hug Melinda, kissing her cheek. Ellen and Jo walked away, and Piper and Leo walked up with John and Mary. Mary immediately went to hug Dean, and Melinda blinked back tears. Piper walked up, taking Melinda in her arms.

"It was wonderful, honey. You look so beautiful."
"Thank you, Mama."

Piper leaned back, holding Melinda's face in her hands and smiling. Leo stepped forward, pressing a kiss to Melinda's forehead, then went into the kitchen. Melinda looked after him and Piper squeezed her hand.

"He's having a hard time, isn't he, Mama?"

Piper smiled.

"His only baby girl just got married. He's trying his best, sweetheart."

Melinda nodded, and Piper and Mary switched places. Mary smiled as she leaned to hug Melinda.

"Welcome to the family, sweetheart."

Melinda smiled.

"Thank you, Mary."
"Hope you know what you've gotten yourself into."

Melinda laughed at John's statement. He leaned over to hug her, and when she was in his arms, she closed her eyes. Again, it was like a memory hit her, of being held close to him, finally feeling safe in his big, strong arms. She breathed in, the smell of him so familiar. She pulled back, looking up at him, into his eyes, which were soft and smiling at her. He ran a hand over her cheek, then took Mary's hand, whistling again as they walked outside.

"Hey, he's whistling the song. Dad knows what it is."

Melinda turned to Dean, who reached to run a hand down her face, the way John just had done.

"What is it, Mel?"

Melinda shook her head, letting out a breath and letting her shoulders fall.

"I don't know. Something about your dad just … I don't know."

Dean's eyes were soft, and he kept touching her face. She closed her eyes, letting out a breath. Phoebe and Peyton turned to look at her, and Melinda shook her head.

"Excuse me."

Melinda turned, picking up her skirt and walked away. Phoebe and Peyton took a step forward, but Dean shook his head. He waited a second, then turned and followed the direction Melinda had just gone.

Dean found Melinda in the kitchen. He let out a sigh, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her. She let out a sigh, leaning back into him.

"You okay, Mrs. Winchester?"

She smiled, reaching up to run her hand over his cheek.

"I'm good. Just needed a second. "

Dean nodded, thinking that he knew a surefire way to help ease her mind. He rolled his hands down the corset of her dress. Melinda made a noise in the back of her throat as Dean smiled. Her voice was quiet and broken, breathing sharply.

"Don't … don't you start something you—you can't finish."

Dean laughed, moving Melinda's hair aside where he could kiss her neck. She bit her lip, and Dean moved to whisper in her ear.

"Don't bite your lip like that. Let me."
"Oh my god."

Dean turned Melinda around, catching her mouth with his, doing just as he said, gently biting on her lip. She whimpered, yes, whimpered, and felt Dean smile against her lips as he moved his hand up into her hair.

"For the love of God, you two! Stop it!"

Dean pulled back and Melinda turned her head, looking to the door where Peyton stood with a flushed Sam. Melinda's mouth dropped open when she saw the bite mark just under Sam's collar as he was trying to fix his tie. Peyton pointed her finger at Melinda as she walked into the kitchen.

"Step away from him right now."
"Peyton, you can't—"
"I need you to do this for me, Mel. You're killing me."

Melinda laughed as she took Dean's hand.

"Oh, come on, Peyton."
"I'm serious, kid."

Melinda slid her eyes over to Sam, who smiled and shrugged his shoulders. Melinda let out a laugh, pulling Dean to her and laying her head on his shoulder. Peyton groaned.

"Can't you just turn it down for a few more hours? I mean, I'm … I'm dying here."

Melinda and Dean shared another laugh, before Melinda turned to her cousin.

"It's been ten days, Peyt."
"Ten long, long days."

Dean smiled as he took Melinda's face in his hands, pressing his lips to hers again. Peyton groaned, launching herself from the chair she'd been holding onto, across the room and into Sam's arms. She reached up as he was leaning down, taking hold of his face and fusing her mouth to his. Melinda pulled away from Dean, staring open-mouthed at Sam and Peyton. Dean's green eyes were wide, and a smile crossed his face.

"Sammy, you sly dog."

Dean grunted when Melinda landed an elbow in his ribs. Peyton pulled back from Sam, keeping her hands on his face. They kept their eyes closed, both of them breathing hard, and Melinda cleared her throat. They turned to look at her, and she tried to hide her smile.

"We'll, uh … We'll try to tone it down some."
"Thank you."

Peyton's answer was breathless, and made Dean laugh under his breath. Melinda smiled at him, and Paige walked into the room, clapping her hands.

"Wedding party, it's reception time! Come on."

Peyton reached up, smoothing out Sam's hair, fixing his tie as he smiled, pushing a stray strand of hair back from her face. Peyton smiled up at him.

"I'm sorry I keep … attacking you."

Sam let out a quiet laugh, moving to hold one of his big, warm hands to Peyton's cheek.

"I don't mind, Peyton."

Her eyes drifted shut, just for a second, before she walked into the now-banquet area of the sunroom. Tables had been set up all around, and Sam and Peyton took their spots at the head table. Dean and Melinda followed in shortly after, to a resounding chorus of cheers and applause. They both laughed, and Dean reached over, taking her face in his hands again and kissed her, as the shouts and whistles sounded even louder.

"Can't we just sneak out of here?"

Melinda smiled as she reached for her glass of champagne. Dean was leaned over close to her, looking behind him, his mouth close to her ear. She murmured quietly to him, bringing a smile to his face.

"Patience, young Skywalker."

Dean groaned under his breath as Melinda reached to take his hand. She picked up his left hand, smiling as she ran her fingers over the ring on his finger. He gripped her fingers, lifting her hand to his lips, making her smile, until she let out a gasp.

"Ow, Peyton!"

Peyton had a big, fake smile on her face as she reached for her glass. Melinda rubbed her arm where Peyton had just pinched her as Peyton took a long swallow of her champagne. She narrowed her dark eyes at Melinda, who sighed. Sam pushed back from the table, lifting his glass in his hand. The room went quiet, everyone turning their attention to Sam. He cleared his throat, looking down at the glass in his hand before looking up with a smile.

"For my entire life, I have had one thing that I could count on. My big brother, Dean."

Melinda looked to Dean and smiled, while Dean hung his head for a second, letting out a breath before lifting his eyes back to Sam.

"He's told me, as far back as I can remember, that his job is to look out for me. His pain-in-the-ass little brother."

Dean laughed quietly, nodding his head. They didn't see the pain in Mary's eyes, or the guilt in John's. Sam looked down at the glass in his hand before he went on.

"Dean is the one person who I've always been able to count on. He's taken care of me, loved me even when I didn't deserve it. Especially then, I think. I've given him more than enough reasons to turn his back on me, but he won't. He just gives me this look, this sad smile, and says, 'I can't do it, Sammy.'"

Melinda blinked, trying to keep the tears from falling down her face. Dean swallowed, and Sam went on.

"Four years ago, give or take a little time, Dean and I were in San Francisco, working a job. I managed to get myself kidnapped by a demon, and Dean … Well, he managed to meet a girl."

Laughter filled the room, and Sam smiled.

"That girl saved my life, but more importantly, she saved Dean. Melinda is the first person I've ever known who has matched Dean step for step. She's just like him, but better."

Everyone laughed again, and Sam smiled.

"And so much better looking."

Dean shook his head, a wide smile on his face.

"I have to admit, I was a little nervous when I realized how serious Dean was about this girl. It had pretty much been us against the world for … well, my whole life. Adding a girl into the mix…"

Sam shrugged his shoulders, then turned to Melinda with a soft smile.

"But it was like you belonged there. It was like something had been missing all along, and we hadn't even realized it."

Sam smiled down into his glass again, before looking back at Melinda.

"You have this way about you that makes everyone around you want to be better. You make Dean so happy, more so than I have ever seen. And you … Even after …"

Sam stopped, cleared his throat. Tears were falling down Peyton's cheeks as she felt his guilt, the sorrow and self-loathing in his heart. Sam's voice was hoarse when he finally spoke again.

"After everything I've done, you're still on my side."

Melinda gripped Dean's hand and choked back a sob. A tear fell onto their hands and Dean took in a shaky breath. Sam smiled over at Melinda, his eyes glistening with tears.

"I'll never be able to repay you for the faith that you have in me. But I'm glad I'll get the chance. I'm so happy you're a part of my family now. Well, officially."

Melinda smiled back at him as a tear slid down her face.

"Although I will never be able to understand why you willingly agreed to marry Dean."

Sam shook his head as Dean blew out his breath and the room erupted in laughter. When everyone had calmed down, Sam lifted his glass, and the room mirrored his actions.

"To Dean and Melinda. I wish you all the best. I love you both."

Everyone took a sip of their drinks, and Melinda stood up, going to wrap Sam in her arms before Dean could get to him. Sam held her, his big hands spanning the width of her back, and Melinda cried into his shoulder for just a moment. He bent closer to her, where she could whisper in his ear.

"I love you, Sam."
"Mel, I—"
"Shh. I know."

She moved to hold a hand to his cheek, laying her lips against his other one. He smiled as he pulled back, letting his hands fall to grip hers. She smiled at him, before turning away. Dean caught Sam in his arms, a hard, harsh hug, and Sam had to swallow the lump in his throat. Things were not okay between them, no matter how hard they tried to hide it. Sam knew this, knew he'd have a lot to do before Dean could trust him again. But right then, in that one second, they were brothers, best friends, and nothing else mattered. Dean took in a breath.

"I love you, Sammy."

Sam was taken aback. Dean didn't say that to him, ever. It was just something understood between them. Sam swallowed, gripping Dean a little tighter.

"I love you too, Dean."

Dean nodded, moving back, gripping Sam's shoulder. He nodded again as he sat beside Melinda, and Sam let out a breath before sitting beside Peyton. She leaned over, pressing a kiss to his cheek. He turned to face her, and she smiled at him, gently lifting her hand and moving a piece of his hair back from where it had fallen. She laid her hand against his cheek, then stood up. She cleared her throat, lifting her glass.

"This is a very special day for me. It's one I've dreamed about for a long time, as weird as that may seem to some of you."

Peyton looked over to a confused Melinda and smiled.

"This is the day that my best friend has all her dreams come true. Some of you know, and some of you may not, but I am an empath. What that means is I can feel other people's emotions. When they're in pain, I can feel it. When they're happy, so am I. When they're sad, I cry right along with them. Sometimes, this is a wonderful gift. Other times, it's downright awful."

Peyton locked eyes with Melinda then.

"We've been through it all, haven't we?"

Melinda smiled, nodding her head. Peyton smiled back, then turned back to the crowd.

"Melinda and I have been best friends as long as I can remember. She's my cousin, but she may as well be my sister."

Dean leaned to kiss Melinda's forehead, and she took his hand again before they turned back to Peyton, who took a deep breath.

"I knew four years ago that Melinda had found 'The One.' The way her face lit up when she talked about him, how happy she was, and I could feel it, too. And when I met him, I knew that he felt the same way. And somehow, after just a ton of crap, here we are."

Laughter sprinkled throughout the room, and Dean and Melinda shared a smile. Peyton took a deep breath, tears shining in her eyes.

"Mel, I'm so happy for you. I know how happy he makes you, and I think I'd be able to see how much you love him even if I couldn't feel it. I always knew you'd find him."

A tear fell from Melinda's eye and Peyton winked at her. Peyton looked to Dean, tears still shimmering in her dark eyes.

"Dean, I'm so happy that we're family now. Well, officially. I love how much you love my cousin, how happy you are, how happy she makes you. Take … Take care of my girl, okay?"

Dean nodded as a tear fell from Peyton's eye. She held up her glass, and the room followed suit.

"I hope you both always remember how you feel in this moment. How happy you are and how in love you are. I hope you know how lucky you are. And I sincerely hope I can one day find what you two share."

She flicked a glance to Sam, so fast he thought he might have just imagined it. He sucked in a breath, fingers clenching around his glass. Peyton cleared her throat.

"To the Winchesters!"

Everyone repeated Peyton's words, and sipped their drinks. Melinda wrapped Peyton in a hug and Dean kissed her cheek. She sat back down, glancing over at Sam again. The look he gave her, the intensity of his stare, made heat rise in her cheeks. Melinda nudged her when she sat, and Peyton drained her champagne. Dean laughed under his breath, then passed her another glass.

Leo stood up, and Melinda took in a breath.

"Oh no."

She spoke quietly, so much so that Dean was the only one who heard her. He leaned over, kissing her temple, whispering in her ear as her eyes drifted shut.

"It's going to be okay, honey. Just hang on."

She nodded, opening her eyes to see Leo smiling softly.

"Today has not been an easy day, to say the least."

Quiet laughter spread through the room, especially from the men who had daughters. Leo went on.

"On the other hand, it has been. My little girl is the happiest I have ever seen her, and as a father, that is the most important thing. However, the reason for her happiness is one that—I'm not going to lie—is breaking my heart."

Melinda looked down at the table, and Dean took her hand. He ran his thumb across the back of her knuckles, and she let out a shaky breath. Leo looked down, and Piper smiled up at him. He gave her a smile back, then spoke softly.

"As far back as I can remember, I have dreaded this day. Since the day she was born, I feared for the day I'd have to give her away. And to tell you the truth … I don't think I can."

He looked over and tears fell from Melinda's eyes as she locked eyes with her father. Leo gave her a smile.

"How am I supposed to just give you away? I'm your dad. I was the first one to ever hold you in my arms. And I promised you then that I would always be there. I would always protect you, keep you safe. I'd always catch you when you fall. How am I just supposed to stop? To trust someone else to do those things?"

Tears slid down Melinda's cheeks and Dean draped an arm around the back of her chair, pulling her closer to him. Tears were in Leo's eyes, slowly slipping down his cheeks as well. Peyton was crying so hard, but silently. Sam quietly stood up, walking around the table to kneel beside Peyton, taking her hand in his. Leo's voice was quiet, but it seemed to ring through the room.

"However … Dean Winchester is one of the best men I have ever met. I'm not just saying that because you married my daughter, son. I mean it."

Leo had locked eyes with Dean, who nodded.

"Dean came to me, asking if he could ask Melinda to marry him. I didn't want to say yes. I didn't want to give him my blessing. I wanted to laugh in his face, then send him on his way."

Quiet laughter sounded, and Leo smiled.

"But I saw the way he looked at her. The way his eyes lit up when he spoke of her, the softness and love in them when she was around him. He didn't have to say anything; I could see how much he loved her."

Melinda smiled through her tears, and Leo gave her a smile back.

"I told him then that I didn't want to let him marry my girl. But I knew that he would take care of her, protect her, and love her just as much as I do. There is no doubt in my mind that Dean will give all he has to Melinda, and vice versa. I know she'll be safe and loved, and that eases my mind, just a little bit."

Dean kissed Melinda's temple again, and she closed her eyes, resting her hand on his knee. Peyton leaned into Sam, who wrapped an arm around the back of her chair. Leo smiled again.

"I love you, sweetheart, and I will always be here for you. Dean … You watch out for my girl. You're carrying my heart with you, wherever you go. Remember that."

Dean nodded, and tears fell down Melinda's face. Leo raised his glass, and the room silently did the same.

"To Dean and Melinda. Congratulations."

He took a sip of his champagne and Melinda stood up. She moved around the table and Leo set his glass down, walking to meet her. He caught her in the middle of the floor after she froze the room, and she buried her face in his chest as she sobbed. He smiled and ran a hand over her hair.

"Shh. Baby, baby. It's okay. Everything's all right."

She took in deep, shaking gulps of air, and Leo just held her.

"Daddy, I …"
"Shh. I know."

She lifted her head up, and Leo smiled. He held his hands on her cheeks, rubbing his thumbs under her eyes, catching and wiping away the tears there.

"I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you too, Daddy."

After a moment, Piper stood up, wiping her eyes, while Phoebe, Paige, and their children did the same. Piper walked over and took Melinda in her arms.

"Oh, baby. I love you."
"I love you, Mama. And thank you. For everything."

Piper kissed her cheek, and Paige walked over.

"Okay, how about we fix this up, then get back to the party?"

Melinda smiled and nodded. She closed her eyes while Paige glamoured her, then went back to her seat. When everyone was back in their spots, Melinda unfroze the room. Dean leaned over and kissed her cheek while Piper stood up.

"Okay, I'm not going to give a speech. My husband did enough for all of us, I think."

Laughter spread through the room, and Piper motioned with her hands.

"I think it's time we got this party in gear, huh? Everyone outside. Let's dance!"