Dani paced her room, trying to figure out how she was going to make it through the night. It all seemed too daunting, but it was something that she really wanted and she'd hate herself forever if she backed out of it.
She walked back and forth, taking deep breaths and running her hands down the material covering her sides. Lace to be exact. She hadn't been in a dress in years, but it felt good to switch it up from her normal style, even if this new style involved heels.
While making sure her necklace was on straight and that her hair looked as perfect as she could get it, someone cleared their throat from her doorway. She jumped a little, since she was already a mess of nerves and saw Dean leaning in the doorway with a smirk on his face.
She smiled and then held out her arms. "Thoughts?"
"Yeah, don't go on this date, Dani. Just call him up, tell him that you are sick or something and just stay home. You're too good for him anyway."
Dani smiled and rolled her eyes. "Like that would be possible. I meant the dress. How's it look?"
"On you? Flawless. And trust me, I've seen a lot ladies in a lot of dresses, so I know a thing or two."
"I'm sure you do," she said, rolling her eyes. "So, how's he doing?"
"Do I tell you a lie or embarrass the hell out of Sam...I'm so torn," Dean muttered as he pretended to have an inner debate. "He's just as nervous as you appear to be. Don't know why, though, this isn't exactly a first date, you know?"
"True, but it's still a big step."
"You'll figure it out. You guys are like Romeo and Juliet, you know, but without the stupid dialect and tragedy."
"Nice save." Dani snorted and then walked over to grab her purse. "Seriously, do you think Sam and I are making a mistake by doing this?"
Dean pushed himself forward and walked over to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Hell no," he told her when she looked into his eyes. "If you ask me, he should never let you go and should be thanking every damn higher being that he's getting another chance with you."
Dani smiled and then leaned forward to kiss Dean on his cheek. "You know just what to say, Dean."
"Yep, it's a gift."
Dani and Dean walked down the hallway, talking about what Dean would be doing while he had the bunker all to himself, which only included sleep. They had been working a lot of cases recently, so all Dean wanted was to catch up on sleep, since he hadn't been getting much of because of his recurring nightmares, which Dean said was getting better.
When they entered the library, Sam was leaning against the table with a book in his hands, but Dani could tell he wasn't really reading it, he just needed something in his hands. Dani smiled to herself, while Dean snorted and then walked in before her.
Sam dropped the book onto the table behind him and then looked at Dani. They briefly shared a smile, before Dean cleared his throat and began to speak to Sam.
"Alright, young man, what you are your intentions with my Dani? I hope you intend to treat her with the respect she deserves, if not, just know that I have a gun on my person."
Dani and Sam shared a look, before looking back to Dean, rolling their eyes at the same time.
"What?" Dean asked, clearly offended.
Sam sidestepped Dean and walked over to Dani, holding his hand out. She immediately latched her hand to his and they started walking out. She smiled up at him and he smiled back down. Her nerves were slowly fading away and was replaced with excitement for what was yet to come of the night ahead of them.
"Alright, alright. I get it." Dean called out from behind them. "I get it, but on a serious note, I hope that you guys have a hell of a night. If any two people deserve it, it's you," Dean said and Dani looked down at him from the top of the stairs. Her jaw dropped a little at how genuine his voice was. "Also, Sammy, don't have her back any later than midnight, or you and I will have to have a discussion about that gun I already mentioned."
Sam sighed and kept walking dragging Dani behind him, who was more than willing to flee.
She smiled down at Dean and he smiled and winked back.
Once they were out of the bunker and walking towards the car, Sam turned to her, stopping their movements. "In case tonight, for whatever reason, doesn't go as planned, I was hoping I could go ahead and go for the goodnight kiss part."
"On our first date? What kind of girl do you take me for?" she asked, a smile playing on her face. Sam chuckled and then cupped her cheek.
Dani stretched to the tips of her toes, meeting Sam halfway. Their lips met and Dani sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck. It felt as if no time had passed since they last kissed, nearly a year before. Sam must have felt the same, because he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
The kiss deepened and she found herself pouring more and more of herself into the kiss, savoring every movement and every taste. Kissing Sam was always a bit difficult to stop, because his lips were always so smooth and warm, that they literally begged to be kissed.
Her fingers tangled in his long locks as his tongue delved deep into her mouth, making a soft moan exit the back of her throat. Sam slid his warm, capable hands down the side of her dress and then drug them back up until he was cupping her face in his hands.
Unfortunately the kiss ended and it left them both trying to collect air for their lungs. He stroked her cheek as their breathing evened out. "Glad I got the chance to do that." he told her, before laying another kiss to her lips. That time it was a lot shorter and sweet.
"Me too. Thanks for being so smart and thinking ahead."
"Thanks for saying yes, when I asked you out."
"Thanks for asking." She smiled and Sam grabbed her hand, finishing their walk to his car. He opened up the car door for her and she immediately wanted to forget the date and pull him back into the bunker, because he was being far too sweet and, combined with that toe-curling kiss, he was just too much to resist, but she knew that Sam wanted to go on this date, because they were never really to go on actual dates before, so this was a big moment and she didn't want to take that away from either one of them.
As Sam got in the driver's side, started the car and took off down the road, Dani's mind wandered to the night before, when Sam surprised her by asking her out on a real date.
It had been four months since she had began hunting again. Things were going well for her. Once she dug herself a little bit out of the hole, it only got easier and easier as they time went. Her first hunt wasn't a smooth one, but that was to be expected. She only walked away with minor scratches and bloody lip.
Things were better each time she found a new case, or helped out someone else on an existing case. She had worked with Trevor a couple of times, met up with Jody once and Garth as well. She enjoyed getting to meet up with them, helping them out and playing catch up. Jody and Garth both made her promise not fall off the map again and Dani was determined more than ever that she wouldn't be going anywhere. Being a hunter was part of who she was and she didn't want to lose that again.
Two months after hunting on a regular basis, Dani got a phone call from Dean, asking her for her help with research on some new unidentified creature. She was more than happy to help in any way that she could, which she did.
After their hunt was over Dean called, thanked her, and made her promise to come see them soon. A week later she was at the bunker and actually ended up staying and working a few cases alongside the Winchester brothers. She enjoyed getting to spend time with Dean, who she worried about a little too much, according to Dean and she also enjoyed building a new and more steady friendship with Sam.
She still had feelings for him, but it got easier and easier as the days went by to spend time with him just as a friend and not seeing him as just her ex. Sam and Dean took a little break and asked Dani to stay with them at the bunker for a bit. She'd been working hard, so she thought a little break would be helpful.
Weeks went by, which was filled with lots of good memories being made and lots of relaxation. She loved every minute of it, but then a familiar itch sat in and before they knew it all three of them were working another case.
Dani noticed on their most recent hunt that something was a little off with Sam and Dean, in particular, Sam. Whenever she would walk into a room, in which Sam and Dean had been talking, they would immediately stop, while doing some research Dani noticed a handful of times that Sam's eyes were on her. Whenever she would sense Sam was looking, she'd look back, just in time to see Sam's eyes dart downward and a pink tent would brighten his cheeks.
She tried not to read into it, but she couldn't help herself. Unfortunately, she couldn't figure out what was going on. She had long ago given up on Sam ever wanting more than just being her friend, so the thought of him acting weird, because he was debating whether or not to ask her out had never entered her head.
After finishing the case, Dani and Dean were in the kitchen, sharing a "job well done" beer, when Sam walked in and asked Dean if he could speak to Dani alone. Dean had winked at Dani, before he left the room.
Sam had been so nervous that it was downright adorable. He had shifted from foot to foot, stammered over his words and blushed like a schoolgirl.
Finally he had told her that he hadn't been able to get her out of his head, and that he didn't want to. He told her that he enjoyed being around her so much and liked hunting with her again. She agreed immediately, because she loved spending time with him and hunting together was just the cherry on top.
And then Sam did the unthinkable. He looked her straight in the eyes, cheeks burning red and asked her out, telling her that it would be an actual date.
Surprising to the both of them, Dani answered almost as soon as the words had left Sam's mouth. She nodded enthusiastically and practically yelled 'yes" into the air.
Sam smiled, obviously feeling relieved and it was more than obvious that neither one of them could wait.
Dani smiled when she looked down and noticed that Sam was now holding her hand, she hadn't even noticed at first. She squeezed his fingers with hers and looked over, to find Sam looking back at her, his hazel eyes, stunning her.
Sam was perfect. That's all there was to that.
Sam pulled into the restaurant parking lot and walked around the car to help her out. "Hope you're hungry." he whispered in her ear.
"Definitely." She smiled and once again Sam's hand was holding hers. She knew she could get used to everything with him. She could get used to the small touches, the smiles, the kisses, going out on dates, and she could get used to seeing Sam blush. She hoped that their second first date would be the start of many more dates, but she knew that she couldn't get too far ahead of herself. Sam didn't owe her anything, so if this was just a one time deal, she'd have to understand that and be okay with just moving on.
All throughout dinner, Sam couldn't seem to focus on anything other than her. His eyes rarely left hers and he almost seemed determined to keep a smile on her face no matter what, which proved to be possible for him. Dani couldn't remember when she had last smiled and laughed so much, but of course smiling and laughing always came easily with Sam around.
"This has been the best meal I've eaten in...forever. Please don't tell Dean, I don't want him to think I hate his cooking."
Sam smiled. "Secret's safe with me." he smiled and called the waiter for the check. "So you had a good time?" he asked.
"The best. I haven't felt this relaxed and happy in a long time."
"Mission accomplished," Sam said, just as the waiter approached the table.
On the way back to the car, Sam wrapped his arm around Dani's shoulder. "Think you might want to try something like this again sometime?"
"Already asking me on a second date when the first one isn't even over yet?"
"What can I say? I know what I want and I'm not afraid of it anymore."
Dani looked up at him and smiled as he walked her to the passenger side of the car. "Good. I guess another date wouldn't be all that bad." She joked and nudged Sam's side.
Sam leaned down and cupped her cheek. "I'm so sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"If I hadn't been such an idiot, we wouldn't even need to go on a first date."
"Sam-" Dani tried to protest.
"No, listen, I was scared then and I handled things so poorly, I hurt you and I will never forgive myself for being so careless with you. I'm not scared anymore of what will or could happen in the future. I just know that this is what I want. I don't want to screw this up again."
"You won't."
"Hope so."
"I know so. I have faith in you."
"Even after what I put you through?"
"I put myself through that, not you, but that's all in the past."
"How can you be so forgiving?"
Because I love you, you idiot.
"Because I know you Sam, I know that you are never going to do anything that will intentionally hurt me. You got scared and did what you thought was best. You're only human, Sam."
Sam stroked my cheek and smiled. "I thought I lost you forever. Didn't think this would ever be possible for us again."
"You haven't lost me. I'm not going anywhere."
"Good, because neither am I."
Sam leaned down, closing the distance between them. The kiss was perfect. It was sweet and slow. Their lips moved in perfect synchronicity, their bodies were pressed together, their arms wrapped around each other. It was perfect.
Sam pulled away, albeit reluctantly. "Should get you home, before midnight." He joked, pulling a giggle from Dani.
"Yeah or you're gonna have to hear Dean talk like he's my father again."
Sam opened the door for Dani and she hopped in. Before closing the door Sam leaned forward pressing his lips against hers. "Thank you."
She didn't need to ask him why he was thanking her. It was clear to her. Her was thankful that she gave them a second chance. He didn't need to thank her, because she was more than willing to give them another shot, but Sam needed her to know how thankful he was.
"You're welcome. Thank you for not giving up."
"Never again," he told her, kissing her once more, before closing the door and walking over the driver's side of the car. She couldn't wipe the silly grin from her face and when Sam saw it, he had his own grin playing across his face. They smiled the whole way back to the bunker completely happy with how the future looked for them.
This is the end. I hope you enjoyed this. It was my first time writing a series for SPN. Please let me know what you thought. Your feedback means more than you know. Thanks for reading! And I especially want to thank A.K. Hunter for her amazing editing skills and feedback! She's the best!