Chapter 72.

There was a slight, autumnal chill to the early morning air and a mist lay on the fields around Lebanon. From the time Eileen had moved into the bunker, Sam had enjoyed a morning run with her as often as he could.

It could be hard to get alone time in and around the bunker. There always seemed to be something to deal with or someone wanting advice or something. Even Dean, who was a total cheerleader for their relationship, could sometimes be in the way, but put on their running shoes and they were free, at leat until breakfast. It was just the two of them.

He smiled at that thought. It wasn't just two of them anymore. There were three of them now. He had the family he had craved his whole life. He watched Eileen running a short distance ahead of him on the path and he felt good about the future.

She turned to look back at him. "You should be ahead!" she said, "Your legs are longer."

He grinned. There was no point in replying. She had already returned her attention to the path ahead. So he couldn't tell her that he liked running behind her, that the view was better and constantly reminded him that he was not alone and never needed to be again. It wasn't that he deliberately held back, more that he felt no need to overtake her. As long as she was in front of him, nothing that lay behind had any hold over him.

He liked her hair loose, but tied back as it was now, it still looked good. Everything looked good, from the bounce of her hair to the strong rhythm of her feet on the packed earth. It could be a little distracting, in hand to hand combat, when he found himself watching her, but mostly, he managed to only get completely distracted when it was safe to do so. She could pass for ordinary, sometimes.

Running, literally or metaphorically had long been an escape for him, but now he had someone and something to run to. Dean had seized on the bunker as home as soon as they had found it. For Sam, it had taken a lot longer. For him, home had always been people, but the bunker was dear to him now. The bunker was where his baby would grow up. It was wine and candlelight with his wife. It was the place they would go home to, together, to eat breakfast with the people they loved.

She stopped up ahead, by the water. It was part of their usual routine, a hydration break and a chance to catch their breath. She took out her water bottle and opened it, waiting for him to join her. He touched his open bottle to hers in a silent salute and then they both drank. Her eyes never left his.

"We're making good time." she said.

"We should," he said, "We're in good condition."

She grinned. "Only because we have an angel to heal liver damage."

He nodded and took another swig before saying, "True, but we're hunters. We can't be expected to live perfect lives."

"Absolutely not, but we do pretty well." she said, "We exercise. We eat better than Dean ..."

"So do most dumpsters." said Sam.

"I still can't get over him getting me all those vegetables." she said, "He didn't have to do that."

"There's nothing he wouldn't do for you." said Sam.

"I think it's mostly for the baby." she said.

"Remember how he was about the wedding? There was no baby then. You just have to accept it. You're one of the people he loves most and he would do anything for you."

She turned to look across the water, then she turned back to face him. "There's not much I wouldn't do for him, either."

"I know. So does he. Feels good, seeing you two so close. I always had this fear that he's hate whoever I ended up with and I'd lose him. Instead, I get both of you and you get each other as bonus family."

"I like that, bonus family. Before you, I didn't have any. The Huntling will never have to be alone. Our kid will know Jody and Donna and Claire."

"And Bobby. We got Bobby back." he said, "After all the losses, it's good to have so many of them home safe."

"I hope he never regrets giving up Heaven for us." said Eileen.

"He won't. We'll make sure of it." said Sam, though the same thought had occurred to him. Karen was in Heaven and he had voluntarily walked away, but he had done it for Dean. It wasn't the first time Bobby had put his boys first.

They were his sons as much as they were John's and the love that made him so quick to sacrifice all else for them was fully returned. Sam had often been able to confide in Bobby things that he could never have told Dean and the gruff old hunter had been capable of the kindest gestures of support.

Eileen knew him well. "Have I just given you something else to worry about?" she said.

He decided it was time to snap out of the loop and be positive. "No," he said, "Today, we're celebrating. Bobby's back, we're having a baby and Dean and Anael are okay. Far as I can see, those are all major wins."

"They are," she said, "And if anyone can stop Dean from sabotaging himself, it's Bobby."

"Yeah, in the past, nobody has been able to do that."

"But things are changing." she said with confidence.

"I love you so much." he said.

"Well, I'm pretty special." she said.

"See, you think that's a joke, but you really are."

"I'm Sam Winchester's girl. That has to make me special."

"No, that's what makes Sam Winchester special." he said.

They put their water bottles away and then they kissed and he held her tightly and just thought about how good his life had become, once she was in it. Then, as he let her go, she smiled and said, "Race you home?"

"That's not so easy for me." he said.

"Longer legs." she reminded him.

"Yeah, my legs are longer, but I'll never make it home before you do."

"You often run faster than I do."

"Oh, I may make the bunker faster, but it's not home until you get there." he said.

"Who says hunters can't be romantic?" she said.

"Just to be clear, who's been saying they can?" he said in mock suspicion.

She grinned. "Don't worry, I never listen. I can't."

"True, but you can lip read, you can sign."

"I swear, no hunter makes flirtatious signs at me." she said, "Well, except Dean and he only does it when you're looking, so you get jealous."

"He knows he doesn't stand a chance. I mean, you're not gonna go for the second best Winchester brother."

"No, I'm not." she said, "I have high standards. I want the best."

"Yet another thing we have in common." he said.

"I'd say we were made for each other, but for us, that's less sweet talk metaphor and more God's railroading, so let's just say we were clever and found each other"

"Well, we are fine hunters, after all."

"We are." she said and he was glad she didn't allude to all the places he had looked before. She knew of his whole past. She knew about Ruby and Madison and Amelia and not once had she reproached him with any of them. She accepted him as he was, with all his mistakes and imperfections. Even the outright evil things he had done, she never threw in his face. Her unconditional love felt like an absolution no deity could offer.

She couldn't have known his thoughts, but she must have seen something in his eyes. She reached out and took his hand and said, "You're worth everything I went through."

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. "And you, darling, are just worth everything."