Longest chapter yet and unapologetically full of tooth-rotting fluff…

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The next couple of days fly by. Dean is buoyed by a 'honeymoon' sensation. They have plenty of sex, sounding out each other's bedroom preferences. Dean finds being held down by Benny's strong arms drives him wild. Although Benny's priority is face to face mating, they discover that doggie style over the bed with Dean's knees on the mat, leads to frenzied knotting. Rug burn was a small price to pay.

Since the claim, Dean is more keenly aware of his alpha. He hates being apart from his mate for too long. He can sense Benny's mood and his presence or absence. Awareness that his alpha is also more closely attuned to Dean's secreted emotions is kind of daunting until he remembers that the person with this unique insight is Benny, his alpha. If he takes a few nuzzling inhalations for calming equilibrium then that's alright.

Benny puts in long hours over Mac's burner and behind the bar to give Tim, June and Mac's other part-time cook the weekend off. The new mates plan to leave Gauntlet early in the week and this way Benny's boss has a chance to rope in some new help or organize a temp from the mainland. While his alpha sweats over a hot stove, Dean scrubs clean and packs up the cabin. They discuss what is to be left behind or given away. Benny's face is priceless when he comes home to see neat separate piles of knick knacks, kitchen bits, and household items that have accumulated over his time on the island. They offer Jonah his pick and take the leftovers to the goodwill box in the church for distribution. One strong cardboard crate is placed to the side for implements Benny wants to bring. When Dean learns that the cook owns his own set of chefs' knives, he grins like a loon imagining matching up his own knife collection with Benny's non-weaponry one. The red silicone whisk that Dean used on the eggs for their first breakfast together gets sneaked into the 'take with' box too.

When he is not sorting out the logistics of their move, Dean spends time at Mac's or writes up the story of The Angiak for his Dad's journal entry and to share with Bobby, who he knows will be fascinated by the additional lore on the creature. Putting down in words what happened to Rowan and Phoenix is a depressing task. It takes Dean more than one stab at completing it. He finds himself enticing Benny from Mac's kitchen more than once to indulge in being the recipient of understanding body encompassing squeezes.

By Monday everything is sorted. They might leave on Tuesday's ferry but Dean is fine with another day on Gaunt, if Benny is nostalgic or wants to visit friends. With time on his hands, Dean takes a stool at Mac's bar. Benny is on his last shift. The alpha grouses repeated rhetorical questions about how he is meant to cook with all his regulars popping their heads into his kitchen to say their farewells.

June hangs up her bar-rag, kisses her Alpha-Dad on the cheek and lets Benny peck her cheek goodbye. As she heads off, Tim arrives for the shift change over.

He greets, "Hey Dean, you get the message?"

Slurping a coffee, Dean raises his eyebrows.

"Damn, June." The tall beta mutters, fumbling under dollar bills in the register, "I left it here for safekeeping and so she'd see it when opening this morning. He seemed pretty anxious for you to call him."

The sheet torn from a notebook has the number of John's main cell phone across the top and another set of carefully inscribed numbers along the bottom. The message is simply for Dean to return his call ASAP. From long years of practice Dean can tell that the co-ordinates are somewhere in the Ohio/Indiana/Kentucky area. He should have known his state of contentment couldn't last for long. With a heaving sigh, Dean asks if he can use the phone.

He detours to stick his head into the kitchen.

"Alpha?"

"Hey, Darlin'." Benny beams.

"I got a message from my Dad." Dean forces out, "I gotta call him."

Wiping his hands on a glass-cloth, Benny asks, "You want me to come with?"

Dean does really, but he shakes his head. "Naw, I got this. Going to use the office."

"Sure, Sugar." Benny nods slowly. "I'd say Mac could take over in here and give me a break. I'm due one soon. Come find me when you're done and we'll rest awhile or go for a walk."

Dean guffaws. "It's thirty two degrees outside, only walk I'm taking is home with you later."

"I'll hold you to that." Benny grins.

Spirits lifted, Dean steels his courage for the call. Something in his hind brain has his fingers move of their own volition.

"Yo!" A deep voice greets.

"Sam?"

The speaker pulls Sam's cell away from his mouth but Dean can hear the jesting shout out, "Hey! Brady! Call for your other half! Where's Sam got to?"

Brady's oily tongue takes over, "Hello?"

"Hi. It's Dean, again. Is Sam there?"

"Sam is in class."

"Oh, okay." Dean wonders why Sam would leave his cell behind. "Would you tell him…?"

"Yes?"

Impatience is evident in the young alpha's sharp cadence. Dean swallows hard. He wanted to be the one to tell Sam. He hasn't talked to him since forever.

"Would you tell my brother that I have mated?"

"Congratulations. I'll pass on the news."

"Ahem, thanks, and if he wants to call back, I'm outta cell range next couple of days but if he leaves a message or waits…"

"Yes, yes. I'll tell him. Ciao, Dean."

"'Kay, thanks Brady."

That could have gone better, but at least Dean reached a real person, who'll let Sam know. He hopes Sammy will be pleased for him, guesses Sam will be glad that he's got a different alpha if nothing else. The omega takes a moment to remember that only the width of a wall divides him from his mate as he taps in his Dad's number. While the ringing tone vibrates his eardrum, he does a practice run.

"Hey, Dad. I'm mated." Dean tells the unconnected call. "I found my alpha and I'm bringing him with me. If you'd like, you can be our witness at a notary office near the hunt."

There is a click on the line.

"Hey Dad…" Dean begins.

"Dean." John's tone is clipped, all business. "Got word of unexplained deaths. Our sort of deal. You get the co-ordinates?"

"Yeah. You get the chupacabra?"

"Finally." John huffs over the background noise of his truck engine. "Got your messages. Good job ending the revenant."

Dean smiles privately, gives the handset a pleased squeeze, "Thanks, Dad."

"Are you on your way?"

In the time it takes Dean to lick his lips, readying to reveal his mating, the brief pause is over.

"Are you still on that island? Dean?" There is a hiss of exasperation. "The rules, Dean. You cover your tracks and you blow outta the location."

"I had…" Dean tries to interrupt.

"I expect you to rendezvous in 48 hours."

"Dad." Dean raises his voice. "I can't…"

"I don't wanna hear it." John growls. "Get your ass to Kentucky."

"Wait. Dad. I'm on a freaking island." This conversation is a lot more one-sided than Dean had hoped.

"Is my omega son mouthing off at me?" John snaps. "I had enough of that behavior from your alpha brother. You listen. You follow my orders."

Dean grinds his teeth. Using Sam was a low blow. He inhales while his Dad waits for him to fall in line.

"Look, Dad, there's no ferry off Gauntlet until tomorrow afternoon."

"Crap. 72 hours, Dean, no more." John concedes. "No diversions, and pick up sups and maskers."

"Dad wait…"

"I need you to be my Beta Rookie Fed partner. Start the meds ASAP."

"Da…"

"No arguments. 72 hours. 38.2.5. North. 85.20.38 West."

"Hold up, Dad. I need to tell…"

The line is dead. Dean's fingers are numb as he hangs up. He treads lightly, as if he is stalking or being stalked, sticks to the walls, wraps his disappointment tight and shoves it down. Standing at the entrance, the swing door leaning against his shoulder, Dean sees his mate dressing a plate with cranberry sauce. Benny's head turns to find Dean, his lips part in a welcoming smile. Dean draws on a lifetime of keeping up appearances. However to his alpha, Dean's scent betrays how upset he is. This brave face is a useless façade. Benny plunks the plate onto the pass, grin falling away. He takes Dean by the shoulders, examining under the mask with probing imploring eyes. His hands move to span Dean's spine, cup the back of his head, pulling his omega in close. The aromas of the kitchen are ambient noise as Dean fills his lungs with the scent of their union.

"What did he say?" Benny murmurs into Dean's ear.

"He ordered me to Kentucky." Dean gulps.

"Just you, Darlin'?"

Benny's hand strokes Dean's back.

"I couldn't tell him." Dean hears the words as he utters them, immediately parsing the multiple interpretations, ones that speak of fear of John's rejection or displeasure with his mating. He is quick to correct. "He wouldn't let me get a word in. Sammy was right. I'm just his toy soldier. There is a case and I am to go back on sups."

His chin is lifted by a gentle hand. Benny's blue eyes are liquid but with a steely core. "No, Mon Cher. No sups."

Sagging into Benny, Dean experiences relief. He will never put those chemicals in his body again. It would have been a dog fight to stand up to his Dad and insist that he would no longer pose as beta, and possibly it may have been a battle Dean would have lost, at his Alpha-Dad's command. Benny won't let that happen. Dean's heart bursts with a sense of pride and thankfulness that he has found his Alpha-mate.

"Do you want us to meet up with him?" Benny asks carefully.

"There is a case. He needs a partner, otherwise he'd have sent me elsewhere." Dean chews on his lip, withdrawing a fraction from the hug so he can watch Benny's reaction. "It's freaking rotten timing. I told him there's no ferry until tomorrow, but yeah… I mean… he needs back up…"

"Okay." Benny nods.

"Okay?" Dean widens his eyes.

"I won't deny that a more leisurely leaving and journeying woulda been preferable, Sugar, but he's family. Right?"

There are no words. Dean expresses how awesome his alpha is by planting a spiral of kisses to his neck, cheek, nose, lips.

"You are leaving, leaving earlier for me. Leaving behind your home and your friends." Dean doesn't doubt Benny's affection for him. He thinks Benny might go to the ends of the earth for him, but he worries that he may ask too much, that dragging him into the hunting life might be a step too far.

"You're thinkin' too loud," Benny teases with a smirk. He turns away a moment to take an order slip from Tim's extended arm. "Mon Cher, I won't deny that Geoff and I got along, and that Mac has been more than a boss, but Dean, what happened to you… It opened my eyes in more ways than one. This isle is not the refuge I thought it was. And, Sugar, I plain don't belong here. All my life, everywhere, I've never truly belonged. Even back in the good days in Carencro, my diner was on the edge of town, and my relationship with Andrea isolated us."

Dean's eyes close a moment. "I hear ya. Belonging is a hard thing to find. 'Least I'm not dragging you away from paradise."

Benny huffs a laugh. He ladles three portions of chowder into heavy bowls and puts slices of garlic bread on the side. When he turns back from the pass, his eyes are glassy, "You ain't hearing what I'm saying. I've found where I belong."

"Huh?" Dean expresses ineloquently.

"You and me, Sugar, we fit, no matter where we are." Benny squeezes Dean's arm. "I belong with you, Dean Winchester, and you with me. Let's saddle your impala and ride to Kentucky, stopping to officially register our mating in Portland."

"Hell Yeah." Dean's grin matches Benny's for broadness. In the middle of exploring Benny's lips and teeth with his tongue, he realizes that Benny said he hoped his omega belonged with him, not belonged to him. "You are awesome, and you know I'm awesome, so that means together we're all sorts of …"

"Awesome." Benny laughs along with his mate.

Dean steals a second deep and lingering kiss before Benny's got to get back to the stove. The alpha extols a promise that Dean won't go far. It's one the hunter is happy to comply with, taking a corner stool near the service counter so he can catch his mate's eye repeatedly until last food orders.

When Benny appears from the staff room, clad in his own clothes, bearing his knife case and final pay packet, a bottle of Johnny Walker is produced at the bar, and toasts are offered.

Mac makes a short gruff speech full of praise and gratitude, with a melancholy lilt that spreads genuinely through the bar. Combined scent changes hit the back of Dean's throat. Benny is affected too, his few words delivered with a thickened Cajun accent interspersed with Bon Amis and Mercis. Winding their way through Gaunleteers sorry to see Benny go, amid back claps and well wishes, Benny whispers to Dean that he has booked a water taxi for early morning. They can get a head start, meaning the ride to Kentucky won't be as rushed.

They lock up the cabin at dawn. Benny bears a huge worn duffel and his crate of belongings. Dean's got his bag over his shoulder. The taxi could have picked them up at Inner Cove, but beginning their long trek with sodden trousers did not appeal. Benny makes a final silent salute at Mac's closed up bar, while Dean gives his own two fingered salute to The Lookout before pointedly looking east to avoid another sight of the dive bar.

A puffed sound of surprise from his alpha gets Dean to shift his gaze. Geoff is standing on the boardwalk, hand on stroller, talking to the waiting older watertaximan. Jonah is there too, attempting to wrangle a young pup away from his boat explorations. The Shields had not been at Mac's the previous evening. Dean and Benny had said their farewells when giving Jonah his choice of household items. As the newly mated couple closes the distance, Jonah manages to get Daniel off the taxi boat.

"How'd you find out about our dawn flit?" Benny winks as he claps Geoff on the arm.

Jonah doesn't let go of his wayward pup's hand as he gives Dean a one armed hug.

"Island gossip wire." Geoff huffs.

Jonah purses his lips at his mate. "Stephen Gantry, your ship captain…"

The taxi pilot doffs his cap at his passengers.

Jonah continues, "Stephen's mate is in the quilting circle with Mom…"

Benny raises his hand, "Say no more, dear omega. Our departure was not a state secret. We are pleased to see you and Geoff."

Dean nods, "Glad to be able to say goodbye."

"Not goodbye." Geoff expresses. He smiles and attempts a bad impression of Benny's accent, "Surely, Brother, it is au revoir."

The two alphas share a display of testosterone back clapping that has Dean and Jonah rolling their eyes in unison.

Benny chuckles, "A see y'all later? I guess so."

A smile is plastered to Dean's face as his head bobs in false agreement.

"You'll visit when you are in Maine again?" Jonah asks hopefully, as he pulls back from gifting Dean with a final hug.

"Damn right we will." Dean promises.

He feels shabby as he spouts his well worn parting words. They slide off his tongue with the practice of a boy who has left potential friends behind since he was four years old. The oft said platitudes are bitter here with Jonah, who makes the list of unrealized potential close friendships. Dean has been a creature of the road, not knowing where he'll be from one season to the next. Down that future road, perhaps they will return to New England, to Maine, and just maybe they'll contact the Shields and arrange a meet up. However, it won't be on Gauntlet. Dean will never return to the site of his attack and of Phoenix's tragic story.

On their short journey to Mount Desert, Dean can see memories flitting across Benny's face. Save for the wonderful event of finding his mate, and meeting Jonah, Gauntlet is not a happy place to Dean. That does not mean he can't offer solace to his mate. Dean scoots closer, wrapping an arm around Benny's waist and resting his head on his chest.

"You okay, Alpha?"

"Uh-huh, Darlin'" Benny places his arm over Dean's shoulder, "One life's gotta end for another to begin."

"Geez, I've mated a philosopher." Dean ribs.

Benny tilts his head, "Our new life, we begin, young omega? Yes?"

"Hah!" Dean crows, "If you've picked Yoda, I get to be Han."

"Boba Fett, more like, bounty hunter, mysterious…." Benny snickers.

"No freaking way. I'm Han and you're my Leia."

"Oh really, Sugar?" Benny emits with a belly laugh. "You gonna get me headphone hair pieces and chase me around our bedroom?"

"I might." Dean has no intention of it. He likes his alpha masculine and dominant in their bed, but he's not saying uncle on their joking repartee.

"Lafitte!" Stephen ducks his head out of the wheelhouse. Their bright scents of joy must be infectious because the gnarly boatman chuckles out, "Land ahoy."

"Aye, aye, Captain." Benny calls back with a grin.

"No, no, no," Dean shakes his head with amusement. "Don't cross the streams. Wars or Trek, Alpha."

"Did you reference Ghostbusters?" Benny quirks a brow. "A lot to teach me, you have, I see."

"Stop," Dean bends from the waist, pleading for mercy. "I won't be able to freaking walk if you keep me laughing like this."

"I'll carry you then," Benny vows, pressing a kiss to his hair.

While Benny settles their fare, Dean throws their bags to the dock of Northeast Harbor and alights bearing the crate. Benny jumps off to join him.

"Where to?"

Dean cocks his head towards the long term parking garage. He can see the shutter is raised, open for the new day. Baby is in there, kept safe from the elements, waiting for his return. His hand itches to rub her dark flank and twitches to feel the wheel in his grasp. He had paid for the first week, so owes only for the additional days. The hunter almost throws his money clip at the attendant as he drops his duffel and races to be reunited with his beloved car.

Expelling a long sigh, Dean pats her trunk before popping it open. His tire iron has been moved but he is satisfied to see that the combination lock to the weapons compartment hasn't been tampered with.

Pushing his hip against her side, Dean grins. "Hey Baby. D'y'miss me?"

"Should I be worried?" Benny chuckles, coming alongside.

"I can't wait to hit the road in her." Dean admits.

"You got the keys?"

"What?" Dean wrinkles his brow as Benny puts his hand on the driver's door handle.

"You want to stow our stuff first?" Benny looks equally nonplussed.

"Do you think you are driving, Alpha?"

"Well, yes, Sugar." Benny's brow furrows.

"Ahem. No." Dean clears that up.

"No?" Benny returns with a light amused huff.

Concern he was overly firm, that his insistence bordered on offensive, makes Dean wince. He can both see and scent that he hasn't inflicted hurt or evoked rage. He places his hand on Benny's shoulder. The alpha reaches up to cover it with his palm.

"I don't mean you can't ever." Dean moistens his lips. "And I know traditional alphas don't let their omegas get a permit…"

Benny growls at notional traditional alphas. It makes Dean snicker. He shares the sentiment.

"… It's a long way to the meet up with Dad in Kentucky. We gotta take turns, and my turns might be longer than your turns."

Benny pulls Dean in for a quick hug. "Don't nobody know what I did in a previous life to be rewarded with a mate like you?"

That resolved painlessly, they hit the road. Dean gives Benny the ultimate low down on Impala care, driving techniques, and musical accompaniments. By the time they hit I-95, Dean pushes his luck to direct his alpha to listen to his Baby purr. Although Benny complies with admiring words, for the sake of preventing Alpha to Car jealously, Dean finds a classic rock station on the radio and shuts up about the car. It is peachy to be driving down the highway with his alpha alongside. Somewhere beyond Augusta, Dean finds that he is tapping the wheel to the music and belting out Living On A Prayer, much to Benny's fond amusement.

At a Gas'n'Sip north of Portland, Benny snags a phone directory and engages the clerk in conversation. Seems the most reputable mating notaries are found in the region of Monument Square. Dean's happy to let Benny flex his alpha via cell phone while he is occupied by purchasing coffees and hot dogs with extra onions. It wouldn't matter to him if they were registering in the back room of a country law practice, but it does leave a pleased glow that Benny makes a number of calls to get the arrangements to his liking.

Consuming their lunch snacks on the bench seat of Baby, Benny sidles closer to confide that he has booked the first afternoon appointment at Jones, Carter and Nemov in downtown Portland.

Their venue is an upper storey office in an impressive brownstone on Monument Square.

"Color me impressed." Dean admits, mounting the thick pile carpeted stair, bumping against his alpha.

Deep hued wood paneling adorns the walls. They are greeted by an impeccably dressed beta when they enter the notaries' offices. She sits at rich mahogany desk that many a CEO would covet. Dean decides he likes the petite black haired legal secretary when she glances over their casual attire, then welcomes them with a friendly smile and the same enthusiasm he imagines she offers to those arriving dripping in diamonds and Rolexes.

"Alpha Lafitte?" She queries once she has introduced herself as Caroline Porter.

"Sure am," Benny answers, his warm tone revealing how pleased he is with their reception.

"Pleased to meet you and your intended…"

"Dean Winchester." The omega pushes back the collar of his shirts to show the red mark of Benny's claim. "Benny's mate."

"My congratulations to you both. Thank you for choosing us for the formal solemnization of your union." She offers her hand and shakes theirs in turn. "We offer from simple registration with one of our notaries to a full wedding package with seating for guests in our large conference room."

Dean suspects that she knows they want the basic package but he offers her a smile for her inclusivity.

"Well, Ma'am, we're happy to simply put down on record our mating." Benny replies.

"Witnesses?" Caroline asks as she retakes her chair.

"Maybe you would…" Dean begins.

"Of course." She smiles. "It is always a pleasure. One of our partners can stand as the second required witness. Would you mind filling out the basic paperwork?"

Two clipboards are produced. It takes only moments to complete basic personal information and hand over their identification for Xeroxing.

"You didn't tell me." Benny hisses under his breath, jerking his head towards the paperwork.

"Huh?" Dean throws his alpha a puzzled look.

"It's your birthday, Friday."

Dean tries to remain dignified but a snort of laughter escapes. "Winchesters don't do those."

"Bully for them," Benny retorts, "You're leaving this office a Lafitte and we celebrate shit."

"Yes, Alpha," Dean smirks, evokes the freedom of being a cheeky shit, "We can celebrate shit."

"Damn right." Benny's vibrating chest betrays how amused he is.

"Alpha Lafitte?" Caroline interrupts. "Have you brought a collar or would you like to choose from our selection?"

Dean's body thrums in anticipation. This is the moment he gets to select the visible symbol of his mating. He misses Benny's response as the blood rushes through his ears. They are led along a short hallway to a separate bright room full of glass display cases. Dean barely registers the low glass covered tables of matching rings. He is drawn to the far wall, where the selection stretches from a shelf of emergency twenty dollar plain buckled ones to an alarmed cabinet glinting of gold and platinum damned uncomfortable things that probably have to be sent to a metalworker to be sized.

He reaches back instinctively knowing Benny's hand will be there. Their fingers interlink.

"Alpha?" Dean's throat is dry. "What's my budget?"

"Sugar, I'd love to say limitless," Benny replies softly, "I want you to have a quality piece that you love. I can stretch to one of the mid-hundreds dollar jewel stud leather ones if you'd like."

"You doofus." Dean clicks his tongue, "No sparkles or gold chains, remember?"

The ever so slight release of tension from his alpha's set shoulders tells Dean that he has plenty to get something awesome with change leftover. His eyes rove over the leather display. Some sit on cushions. Others are showcased on swanlike neck shaped pillars. With a mutter under his breath about power-crazed sonuvabitch alphas, he moves on from heavy duty wide contraptions dripping with D-rings and padlocks. The mates stand together examining midrange offerings. They all look like quality merchandise. The display cards outline guarantees, hand craftwork, organic dyes, non-allergenic eyelets or studs, and choice of closing mechanisms. Turns out you can lace them shut or have locks, hasps, clasps and buckles in all shapes. On top of that there is a bewildering choice of linings from fur, to silk, to freaking handspun wool.

Dean's aware that Benny is gauging his reaction, because he is at the same game, hunting for clues in his alpha's scent, gaze and posture.

Breaking his no sparkles rule the first one Dean favors is three quarter inch wide deep brown dotted with minimal rhinestone studs. Benny smiles as they share an appreciative look.

Caroline asks if they want to have a closer view.

Dean shakes his head. It's lovely but on the feminine side of androgynous and definitely not for a hunter.

Benny points to one made of four rows of ethnic beads with solid green pearls dotting the brown circle. By the squint of his alpha's eye Dean can tell Benny is visualizing it round his neck. It's another gorgeous but impractical pick.

Then he sees it. He blinks, half expecting it will have disappeared into the dimension that houses nice things Dean cannot have. He stares, imagining how it would feel to wear.

"We'd like to look at that one." Benny requests.

It is one and three quarter inch black soft pliable leather in a subtle chevron design for comfort. The lining is two inch forest green glove leather, creating an attractive slim trimming. The card explains how all these collars are individual pieces, oil tanned, pliable and easy to wear. The buckle is a gorgeous hand forged twisted pewter spiral in the shape of the Greek letter Ω. The edging is finished to be soft and non abrasive. They actually supply a no-chafing promise. Benny reads aloud, while Dean holds his collar in his hands taking its simple beauty and solidity.

"This one." Dean offers it to Benny who turns it round in his hands.

Reverently the alpha places the strap loosely around Dean's neck. He doesn't close the buckle. Although claimed, it doesn't feel right to tie the collar until they are officially registered.

"Darlin', it's amazing." Benny gasps.

"A handsome choice." Caroline agrees, supplying a mirror for Dean to be astonished that it is truly his image in the glass.

There is a sudden violent wish that Sammy was there to share the moment, but Dean pushes it away.

They are interrupted by a buzzer. The beta makes her excuses to allow other clients entry, asking that they return to reception to wait the short while until their ceremony. Benny sits the collar on his lap, as is appropriate. While they wait to be called, Dean breaks with tradition to run his fingertips along the fine stitching, sampling the softness of the emerald lining.

"Lafitte?" A deep alpha voice calls.

The notary is an older man, broad shouldered in a charcoal gray suit. Caroline rises to join them, telling the official that she has transferred all calls to someone called Heidi. The room they enter is spacious and as richly furnished as the rest of the offices. Two upholstered straight backed chairs sit opposite a rich desk. Another similarly attired alpha, dark haired with a trim beard, younger and serious faced, comes to meet them. This alpha, Brett Jones, will perform the ceremony. Caroline and the older alpha, Kris, will witness.

Without fuss or wedding extras, the ceremony is brief and simple. Brett comes round to plant his feet in front of the desk and chairs. Their witnesses move to the side. The older alpha bears Dean's collar to pass over at the correct moment. Dean and Benny face each other and verbally confirm they are not mated to any other.

A smile plays on Benny's mouth. Dean can feel a tingle in the epidermis of his lips, nerves wishing to meet his alpha's soft skin, as his own smile curves upwards. He focuses on Benny's eyes, his hands, and the curve of his shoulder.

Brett's voice seems to cross a distance to reach them. "Benjamin Lafitte, do you take this omega to be your mate? Do you promise to care for him, provide for him, guide and cherish him for the rest of your days?"

"I most certainly do." Benny takes both of Dean's hands in his and squeezes.

"Dean Winchester, do you come here freely, offering all to your alpha, to commit only to him for all your days?"

The world contains only his alpha. Dean meets his loving gaze. "I freely give myself to you."

"My Omega." Benny breathes, leaning in for a much yearned for kiss before the notary can suggest it.

"The collar." Notary Jones prompts.

Dean stands tall. It is Benny's hands that tremble as he reverently buckles the handsome collar at the nape. It encloses Dean's neck in a ring of commitment and love. The weight is less than imagined, the fit snug when Dean swallows but not uncomfortably so. He will feel it constantly, aware of the connection to his alpha at all times, and it is marvelous in every sense of the world.

Benny whispers into the shell of Dean's ear, "Everyone will know."

Those words, the sensation of leather on his bare skin, the drying ink of his signature on their mating certificate, melt Dean's center into a gooey core.

A complimentary photograph is taken. Dean remembers to beam his joy at the lens, hand fisted into Benny's jacket, chin proudly raised to show off his collar. The print will be forwarded with the permanent registered mating certificate to Singer Salvage in Sioux Falls. Dean didn't want to use one of their hunting mail drops for such a precious delivery. Caroline gives them a notarized declaration of their new statuses as legal proof in the meantime.

On the sidewalk Dean notices sets of eyes flick to his neck and then to Benny's presence. He interprets those passers-by as being envious of his fine alpha.

"Southbound?" Dean asks, prepared to hit the road.

"Naw, Sugar." Benny grins. "Least not far. We've got a room booked at a nice family run hotel at Old Orchard Beach. It's got a renowned steakhouse and sea view."

"How'd you do that when I wasn't looking?" Dean asks in appreciation of his alpha's wiliness.

"I talked to people 'bout somewhere special. They list motels in phonebooks." Benny is not divulging more detail.

"Uh-huh?" Dean rolls his eyes, "Come on then, let's go celebrate shit."

The night exceeds Benny's promise of special. When they check in at the homey seaside motel, the owners upgrade them to a deluxe room. Their melt in the mouth steak mains are followed by so-good Boston Cream pie. Bellies full, they are guided to prized armchairs next to a roaring fire and treated to on the house Irish Coffees.

When Dean wakes, pleasantly sore, on his stomach, hand splayed on the small of his alpha's back, in a Californian King with creamy Egyptian cotton sheets, it is to the rippling sound of a gentler ocean over soft sand, and with the knowledge that he is wanted and loved.