14

I opened my eyes and faced my guardian. "You realize how close you are to dying, right?"

I stood up, "You realize that I'm destroying everything, right?"

"Yes, I do. Because you all fail to accept your actual fate! This is not just about you and these brothers. There are countless lives at stake here, not just yours!"

I stared at her in confusion.

"Are you so naive to think that you are just reborn to find your new lovers and live a happy life in your love triangle?" She scoffed at me, "This is the fate of the world. You are reborn when you are needed! You along with these brothers are to restore the balance of good and evil. These forces are bigger than you and these brothers."

"We already know about the apocalypse that Lucifer is trying to finish."

"You know nothing of what is in your future. Nothing of the darkness that you will battle. You've battled it before and you've lost, but you've also won. Nothing is guaranteed, except that if you fail to unite this bond… we are all doomed."

"What do you expect me to do? Dean's not willing to accept this."

"Then you will die. In a matter of days, now that you all know what it is that needs to be accepted to unlock your abilities. You do not have long."

"Then let me die now."

"That is not an option. If that is to be your fate, then you will burn in the flames of your choice!" She walked toward me and extended her hand. "But should you accept your fate, with or without Dean's acceptance…" She handed me an amethyst heart on a silver chain, exactly like the one from the vision Castiel had showed me.

"What is this?"

"Your offering. A symbol of your powers, a seal of sorts for your powers." She closed my fingers around it. "But know now, should you all fail to accept this, it will be the first time in your many lives that you have failed to even acquire your abilities." She lifted my chin to meet her eyes. "You must find faith in the love that Sam and Dean have not only for you, but each other."

"Have I always been placed between brothers?"

"No, sometimes the men were strangers, sometimes friends. But they always untied for you. Find your inner warrior and break free of the chains you place upon yourself."

I clutched the pendant. "And the dagger?"

She smiled, "Once you have broken the chains, you will know what you need to do to find your dagger."

"Why me?"

"Because long ago you demonstrated your love, sacrificing yourself to save the two men you loved. Aphrodite herself resurrected you, but the only way you could continue to live was through the love of the two men. Both of them, not necessarily together, if that's what you're worried about. She also made you her warrior; for love, passion, desire. You are literally the embodiment of love. A power with never ending source. You battled against darkness to protect the world and those you loved. That is your fate. Embrace who you really are."

"Aphrodite? Seriously?"

"Whether you chose to believe it or not, that is up to you. Now, go, before they think you are truly dead."

I was blinded and then everything went black.

I sat up gasping for air, laying on the sofa in the living room.

"Jesus Christ, girl! you scared the crap outta me!" Bobby said a few feet away from me.

"Thank God!" Dean moved to sit beside me and he wrapped me in his arms. "I'm so sorry, Dee." He whispered.

Sam stood behind the sofa and smiled at me in relief.

Dean pulled away as I moved my feet to the floor. i had my fist still clasped and I slowly opened it and looked at the pendant.

"Where'd you get that?" Dean asked picking it up and looking at it. "Is this amethyst?"

I nodded, "It's a symbol of my power. It's my offering, whatever that means."

"Wait is that the exact term it was called?" Bobby asked.

I nodded.

"Does that mean something, Bobby?" Sam asked.

"Offerings are usually for Gods or Goddesses." Bobby said eyeing me.

"I'm not a Goddess, I'm just me."

Dean went to put the necklace on me and I stopped him. "Not yet."

"Why?" Sam asked.

"We're not ready." I took the necklace in my hand and stood up.

"Dee…" Dean said.

I turned and shook my head at him, "No, I'm done listening to everyone tell me what is or isn't or what I should be doing! You both know now. You also both know what happens to me. But do you also know that this is bigger than us? I can't break the chains on my power without both of you. I can't locate that dagger, which could be our only weapon against Lucifer, without both of you. In my dozens of lives I've never faced the stubbornness of two brothers like you both!" Bobby chuckled and I shook my head. "I can't do any of this without both of you! I don't know why it has to be both of you, I just know that it does! You don't want to accept that, then you'll both watch me burn in the flames of that decision… and with it the whole world!" I turned on my heel and walked out.

I stood on the front porch, it was still dark out. I contemplated driving somewhere, but decided against it. I couldn't run from this, that much I knew. I held the pendant up and looked at it, running my thumb over the intricate detail.

The door behind me opened up and two sets of boots trailed out and the door closed again.

"I'm not willing to risk your life." Dean said.

"Neither am I." Sam added.

I turned and faced them. "That's exactly what you're doing."

"I'm not gonna pretend that this doesn't seem… weird." Dean said motioning between all of us. "It's down right… wrong."

I shoved the necklace in my pocket on my jeans. "This isn't a choice for me. It's do or die. It's all or nothing."

"I'm sorry, Dee, but I'm not cool with a threesome that includes my brother." Dean said stepping away from Sam slightly. "No offense, I love you both, but that's where I draw the line."

"It's not a threesome Dean. We're a team yes, we work together, yes. But it's me in the middle. It's the two of you sharing me, equally loving me and giving me what you each freely offer me." I said matter-of-factly.

"So, what like a schedule? I get you certain days and Sam gets you the other days? Come on, Dee, that's…"

"Just stop, Dean!" I said. "This isn't a discussion to set down guidelines or what will or will not happen. You don't accept it, fine, you've made your decision, clearly."

"That's not what I mean, Dee." Dean scratched the back of his neck.

"Then what do you mean, because it's really not sounding any different than you not accepting this?" I turned and looked at Sam. "What about you? You seem awfully quiet."

"Yeah, Sam, what's your say in all of this?" Dean asked, crossing his arms and facing his brother.

"Without your power, we can't find the dagger, we can't use the dagger, we have nothing to defeat Lucifer… Where do you think I stand in this?" Sam replied.

"You've just accepted that you're supposed to be with my girl and pass her back and forth between us?" Dean scoffed.

"I've accepted that I have feelings for Dee, even if I'm not sure what they are yet. I've accepted that she loves you, but needs both of us. But I'm not willing to accept her death." Sam said and crossed his arms.

"Can I have a moment with Dee?" Dean asked after a few moments of silence.

Sam nodded and walked back inside.

Dean looked at me, "Do you love him?"

"I love you. That's what I know. Whatever Sam and I are supposed to share, it's different from what you and I have."

Dean stepped toward me and brought his hand to my cheek, "I love you, Dee, you know that."

"Do you love me enough to accept this? Or are you going to cling to your stubbornness and have to watch me die?"

Dean sighed, "In your other lives, did the guys just willingly accept this?"

I shrugged, "Apparently. It's not about my love for either of you. It's about your love for me. You and Sam. What are willing to risk?"

He eyed me, "You're literally leaving this decision up to me?"

"No, Dean, you are."

He cupped my cheek and leaned his forehead against mine. "I love you, so much, Dee. I can't lose you."

"I love you too, Dean." I grabbed his shirt collar in both hands.

"Alright," He finally said. "Fine. If I have to share you with someone, I guess it might as well be Sam. At least, I know that he'll be there for you when I can't. And I can trust him with you." he reached into my pocket and pulled out the pendant. "I accept it. As long as I still get to have you."

"Always." I said, taking the pendant.

Dean stepped back, "Do I need to get Sam now?"

I shrugged, "I don't know, might as well."

Dean turned and opened the door, hollering for Sam to come outside. A moment later Sam joined us on the porch, with Bobby in tow.

"So, we doin' this now?" Bobby asked. "Not that I know what's gonna happen."

"Yeah, let's break those chains, love." Dean said, rubbing his hands together.

Bobby rolled to the side of the porch, giving us enough room. "I'll just be over, watching whatever this is."

Sam stood on one side of me and Dean on the other. I held the pendant by the chain and looked at the heart for a moment. I took a deep breath and slipped the chain around my neck.

For a moment nothing happened. "That it?" Dean asked as he stepped toward me.

Then I felt a warmth grow from the pendant and flow through my body. The warmth increased and the pendant burned against my chest. I clutched at it and the guys stepped closer toward me.

My hands shot out, unbidden, one to each of their chest's, my palms over their hearts. The warmth trailed down my arms and sent bursts through them. It wasn't unpleasant anymore.

The energy flowed between all of us. My pendant glowed brightly as the energy grew. Desire flowed freely through us, carried by love and passion. Pure ecstasy filled the three of us.

Dean was gripping my hand against his chest, I couldn't see him through the brightness of the glowing pendant, but I felt his hands. Sam had one hand over mine and his other was on my shoulder.

My palms grew hot over their chests, a final burst of energy flowed down my arms and into their chests, knocking them backward.

I fell to my knees as my hands finally returned to my control. I gasped for breath, just as the guys were.

Dean got to his knees, rubbing his chest. "Damn, Dee, that was…"

"Awesome?" Sam said with a smile.

Dean chuckled, "Yeah, it was actually."

We all chuckled as we got to our feet.

"So, now what?" Bobby asked, wheeling toward us. "That was all bright lights and all, but you feelin' any different?"

I did. I felt the energy flowing through me freely. I felt the power building inside me. For some reason I reached out tugged Dean's shirt down. Under his demon warding tattoo, was a new tattoo. An exact replica of my pendant drawn on his chest, over his heart.

I turned and Sam pulled his collar down, in the same place, he had the exact same thing.

"I guess you marked us as yours." Dean said with a chuckle.

"We gonna find that dagger or not?" Bobby asked.

"Look, we've all had a long night." Dean said. "How about we figure this out in the morning?"

"Fine by me." Bobby wheeled away inside.

Dean stepped forward and kissed my cheek. Then he looked at Sam, "You might as well spend sometime with her." He nodded toward me with a soft smile and headed back inside.

Sam turned to me, "So, we'll start looking for the dagger in the morning, then?"

I nodded, "I guess I'll have to figure out how to find it. If I thought I would just instantly know what to do… I was wrong about that."

"But your abilities are unlocked, right?"

I nodded and smiled, "Yeah, those I can feel. Not sure exactly what I can do with them, but I guess we'll figure that out as we go."

"You can feel them?"

I nodded, "Do you wanna feel them?" I asked with a grin.

Sam quirked an eyebrow at me, "What do you mean?"

I motioned for him to come toward me with one finger. He stepped forward hesitantly for a moment.

"Do you trust me?" I asked him softly as I looked up into his eyes.

He looked at me and smiled softly as his fingers tenderly brushed my cheek, "Always."

I tilted my head up to him and he brought his lips down to mine softly. I slipped my right hand under his shirt and he almost flinched, but I deepened the kiss and he moved closer. I placed my hand over his heart under his shirt. My palm pulsed against the pendant tattoo on his chest.

I let power flow between us as our kiss intensified. He pulled me closer against him, his arms wrapping around me. I wrapped my other hand around his neck. A moment later he was pulling away.

"Okay, wow, that was… intense." He smiled widely. "Is that what you're feeling… like constantly?"

I shrugged, "I've had these for less than an hour. Why don't you ask me that in the morning?" I chuckled.

"Valid point. But seriously, that's really intense. Not that I didn't like it." He smirked. "Why doesn't this feel stranger than it should?"

I shrugged, "Fate? Destiny?" I turned around and sat down on the edge of the porch. "You pick."

Sam sat down beside me, resting his elbows on his knees. I leaned against him, and slipped my hand around his arm. He moved the arm around me and kissed the side of my head as I leaned into him.

"We should get some sleep, Dee. You've gotta be exhausted. Have you even eaten since we've been back?"

I thought about it for a moment then shook my head. "I haven't been hungry."

He patted my shoulder, "Come on, let's get you something to eat."

He gently pulled me to my feet and we went into the kitchen and he got me a plate of some fruit and half a sandwich as he ate the other half. I picked at my fruit and took a couple bites of my sandwich.

Sam got me a beer and took one for himself. I leaned my back against the wall as I sipped the beer.

"Can I ask you a question?" I finally gave into my nagging curiosity.

"Uh, sure." He said with a shrug.

I turned and looked at him. "When did you first start having feelings for me? And please be honest."

He blushed slightly and leaned forward. Bobby was already asleep, so it was just us downstairs.

"Honestly?" He asked and I nodded. "Then probably when you were telling us about why you started the foundation. It was like seeing another side of you. You've been surprising Dean and I ever since. Seems that hasn't stopped and probably won't anytime soon."

"That long, really? Why didn't you ever say anything?"

Sam took a deep breath, "You know Dean and I haven't always seen eye to eye. We've had our ups and downs. I wasn't about to let you be one of those downs between Dean and I, or between you and Dean. I like seeing you two happy together, that's never bothered me. And, honestly, there were a few times I almost did. But none of that matters anymore."

"No, I guess not. I was just curious."

Sam got up and walked around the table. "I'm gonna go to bed. I'll see you in the morning." He leaned down to kiss the top of my head, but I tilted my head up and he smiled before meeting my lips briefly. "I can get used to this." He smiled wider as he leaned in for another quick kiss before heading out of the kitchen.

I finished eating and downed the rest of the beer. Then I leaned against the wall and held my pendant, staring at it, like it would somehow direct me where to go and what to do.

I finally got up and searched through Bobby's library, quietly. I searched for a book on ancient greek and mythology. I started reading up on Aphrodite, not that the books offered more than I already knew, but I searched through them.

Eventually, I sat on the sofa with a book and read until I fell asleep.