Notes: If anyone here has been waiting for a chapter, here it is, and a lengthy one at that. Worked on this a lot of nights this since the last chapter, and I think it turned out okay. Took quite a bit of editing and blending to work all the new stuff to mesh with the old idea. The last [ - ] break in this chapter was basically written back when I started to write this story over 10 years ago. It needed some new additions and work to get it to flow with everything above it as well as make sense once it played out. (Couldn't exactly just dismiss the soul mate idea or the message and everything else mentioned from chapter 5 and on to when they're saying goodbye to each other, could I?) But it's now taking the story back to where it was originally going to go, and we will be heading there in the next one. Hopefully it all makes sense. Now prepare yourself for some chick-flick moments, typical Dean and Manda behaviour, a little of Sam and Bobby... and hopefully it's worth the read.

Waking after a few hours of deep sleep, Dean found Manda where he'd said she would end up – sleeping under one of his arms. Under the blanket over them, she was nestled against his left side with an arm flung over him and her head on his chest. Peering down to see she was still sound asleep, he smirked to himself knowing there were plenty of worse ways to wake up on a floor than this and tightened the arm he had around her.

Dean stared up at the ceiling thinking about how there wasn't much time left for them today. After another incredible night spent together, dawn would be breaking in a few hours and all of this had to come to an end. Later that morning they would both be heading out of Bobby's in opposite ways, and he wondered now if this was the last time he'd get to wake up with her this way. He hoped not, but he really had no complaints about it if it turned out to be.

It might have been the soul mate thing and everything they'd read about being together on both their minds, or maybe it had been from knowing there might not be another chance again, but the sex had been just as great as the night before. The connection that existed between them seemed to fuel it and had somehow deepened even more again during it. Dean had felt it, and he knew Manda had too in the way they'd been with each other.

Afterwards they'd laid there entwined, quietly talking a little more about the possible truth to being actual soul mates, but both had also made jokes to take away the weirdness of it.

Rubbing his hand gently up and down her arm then, Dean tried closing his eyes and falling back asleep. There was just too much on his mind though, like how he was just supposed to be okay with everything and let the female hunter go again when there had to be something in store for her soon. He might have gotten Castiel to hide her from the angels, and a hex bag would keep her hidden from the demons, but hunters were also a dying breed these days. Too many had been cut down in the last little while on the job, and the jobs were getting harder and worse thanks to the Apocalypse.

So if Chuck was right, and Dean knew the prophet probably was, then he didn't know if Manda's destiny meant she still had a role to play in everything going on or not. If she was tied to him, and he knew she was with or without the soul mate thing, then chances were she was doomed. Deep down he knew him that loving her doomed her as much as her loving him in return did. Though, the same could be said for her being a hunter since it seemed each and every one of them was doomed.

Dean sighed heavily, unsure if he should wake her now to get a bit more one-on-one time in or let her sleep a little longer. Manda probably wouldn't mind if he woke her but she needed the sleep, he knew that much. Unlike him she didn't have a brother to do half the driving later on.

Turning his head, Dean spotted two piles of paper on the floor inches away. He'd forgotten there was still some more left that they hadn't read last night. Figuring it still couldn't hurt to read it, he stretched slightly to reach the pile. He heard a sleepy moan from his chest and then Manda rolled away from him. Grabbing the pile he wanted, he propped himself up a little better, and then set about reading whatever story was left that Chuck had bothered to write about them.

[ - ]

An hour before dawn, Manda woke with a smile, her head near Dean's shoulder. She quickly saw he was already awake and reading what they hadn't last night. She let her hand slowly slide up his chest. "Don't tell me you woke up early just to finish reading that, Winchester."

Chortling, Dean knew she was teasing him. He stopped reading, glanced from the papers in his hand to her with an amused look. She was smirking at him sweetly in return. "No. Just couldn't sleep, you were totally out, and one of us had to finish it."

"Uh-huh. Well, I'm awake now." She stretched up to give him a quick kiss. "Mornin', Dean."

"Yeah. Morning, Mandolin," Dean muttered, kissing her a little deeper. He quickly put the papers aside to put his arm around her and pulled her closer. Whatever few pages he had left to read could wait.

She playfully smacked his chest. "Lucky you're my soul mate or I'd kick your ass for calling me that again."

"Sex mate is more like it," he joked, running his hand up and down her back. "And you're welcome to try kicking my ass, but you know we only end up like this instead."

Manda laughed softly, leaning more on him then. "Maybe… So what's that last story about?"

Dean just trailed his fingers down her back slowly. He looked away from her, thinking of how to sum it up. Chuck had written about them dating, breaking up, and how when a few weeks later he'd been dragged off by the angels to torture Alastair and nearly ended up dead. Sam had called her then and she'd come back. There was a lot in it, and it had reminded him they'd been good together, and how when they'd broken up they'd both taken it a little harder than either had let on at the time. It also made him realize how much they still needed each other sometimes. "Us dating and hunting for those few weeks, breaking up," he paused, giving her a knowing look. "Getting back together for a minute after that Alastair crap went down."

"Oh, just a little light reading for tonight then. Anything in it I should know right now?" she asked with a raised brow.

He just looked at her, wondering what she'd think after reading it. "Nah, just more feelings and a fair amount of sex, the usual things we do. But Sam and Bobby probably read everything last night, so be ready to deal with them this morning."

"Choice commentary with the coffee… great," Manda said sarcastically. She could see he wasn't entirely thrilled about that happening himself.

Agreeing with a nod, Dean couldn't say much else. He cupped her face with one hand and rubbed his thumb over her cheek. "So there's still some time left before we actually gotta get up..."

"Yeah…" Manda put her hand over his for a second. "Can we just do what we normally do at this point?"

He stifled the grin having known that's what she would want now, and rolled his eyes. "Think I know the drill by now. You always want to be held for awhile before it's time to go."

"You don't mind it, handsome." She gave him a kiss that was open and soft until he took it a little deeper on her. She was grinning when his mouth parted from hers.

"And you don't mind that, gorgeous." Dean gave her his best smirk, and then just wrapped his arms around her. "So we'll do a little of both like usual. Not sure when or if we'll get to do this again, so enjoy it while you can."

Manda looked at him, saw the way he looked at her like he was putting this moment somewhere deep in his mind. She knew she was. "What?"

Just want to remember you this way, you with me like this… that's what. "Nothing," he answered.

"Okay." She put her arm over him, curled her hand over his side, and lay her head on his chest. After a minute of silence, she softly whispered, "Love you, Dean… and if we're… you know… then I know why it's you."

"You too, Manda… and same here," he whispered back. He tightened his arms around her just a little more to hold her as close as he could, and let himself enjoy the time with her before they had to actually get up and part ways again.

[ - ]

About two hours later, Dean and Manda were sitting at the table in the kitchen and moving through the motions, knowing that shortly after the coffee had washed down breakfast this brief interlude at Bobby's was up.

From the time they'd both come downstairs, Bobby and Sam hadn't said much to them about anything they had read, but were curiously watching them both act as if it didn't matter. They had caught the glances and the simple touches exchanged between the older Winchester and the female hunter in the kitchen, and noted that neither was showing how it may have affected them.

Seeing how Dean had poured himself more coffee to delay things, Bobby looked from him to Manda and back again. "So, are we all gonna talk about your two sorry asses being soul mates and what might come from that or just pretend like a prophet didn't say that's what you are?"

Dean somewhat choked on his coffee, giving Bobby a hard glare. "What's to talk about?"

Manda shrugged. "Well, if you really wanna know what the prophet was right about, it's that the sex is always phenomenal." She gave her best smirk to Sam and Bobby.

Sam made a face that said he didn't want to know as he looked at his brother who was now grinning a little comically and sheepishly at the same time.

The look on his face said he agreed. "That's a better word than electric," Dean said with a hearty chuckle. "And definitely true."

Bobby gruffly scoffed. "There's something I can't unread and nearly burned my eyes out for… but in other words, it's all true then. Now you two smartasses can joke all you want here, but maybe if it weren't for you being soul mates then you'd still be dead right now, Manda. Another name on the long list of us who aren't here today… another name you'd blame yourself for, Dean." Bobby hadn't intended to be harsh, but his words and tone had come out that way. Not everyone got to come back, certainly not the two hunters they'd just lost days ago.

Dean said nothing, knowing what Bobby was getting at. The guilt over Ellen and Jo kicked in.
"I think Bobby's just trying to say…" Sam started.

"What Dean and I already know," Manda cut him off, her tone cold. Her eyes met Bobby's with a serious look. "But if that same prophet still doesn't know the actual reason why, then the why is endless, Bobby."

Getting up with his mug, Dean stalked off to the sink. "And Castiel couldn't say either, so what do you want us to do about it, Bobby? Sit here and talk it out with you? Cry and worry about it? No thanks." He put his mug in the sink and turned around, feeling a little annoyed now. "They've both dicked us around so much that I don't really care if it was God or the angels that brought Manda back because she's my soul mate or whatever damn reason they did it for, just that she's alive. So unless one of us has a better clue than a freakin' angel or a prophet does, there's nothing to talk about." His voice was serious and calm, even if it was a little raised.

"Don't bite my head off for it, son," Bobby grumbled, glaring at Dean.

Sam studied his brother, seeing now that Dean's outburst indicated that he actually might believe Chuck was right without wanting to admit it, and that it worried him more than he'd say. "Dean, yesterday you were worried enough to call Castiel about what a stranger said to her, but today you're gonna pretend to not give a rat's ass about what her being brought back has to do with you?"

"Look," Manda broke a moment's silence and the room's increasing tension as she noticed Sam and Dean staring hard at each other. "There's not much to be done about it right now, is there? Just gonna be a bridge to cross when I get to it."

"I didn't say that, Sam," Dean said, his voice louder now. "But she's right. Nothing to be done about it besides making sure she's hidden from both sides. That's done, and so is breakfast. So I'm gonna toss my stuff and yours in our cars, Chambers, and then I'll see you off outside when you're ready." He walked out of the kitchen then.

Bobby just looked at Manda, and sarcastically uttered, "He's taking everything well."

"He's worried," Sam said. "Not like Dean's going to say it, though."

Standing up, Manda took her plate and mug to the sink. She wasn't sure there was much else to say now. "Yeah… okay, thanks for putting me up, Bobby. I'll wash these dishes up, and then it's time to head out."

"You watch your back out there, and call a little more often to let me know you're alright, Manda," Bobby said, wheeling back towards the kitchen. "This war's taken too many hunters out, and damned if someday soon I'm telling that boy you're one of them. That message had to mean something, though, and why you're still alive ain't clear yet. Can't just be that you're Dean's soul mate," he kind of chuckled out that part.

Sam went to help himself to more coffee, knowing him and Dean were likely to be leaving soon as well.

"Concern noted. I'll check in here and there." Turning around once she finished washing what was in the sink, Manda just smiled. "But I'm a grown ass woman, so you let me worry about all that when it happens and you just look after yourself."

"Not like I'm doing much in this ride, so there's no need for that is there?" Bobby replied.

Sam kind of smirked at commanding tone in her voice. It reminded him of his brother's. "Bobby's right. I read everything and Chuck made it sound like there might be more to it than that. So be careful out there, okay? Let us know if you find anything else out or if you need anything. I'm sure Dean will want to know. You guys talked about all that, right?"

Manda just winked, and then stepped forward to give Sam a light hug. "Look after him for me, and take care of yourself, too, Sam. You boys need something or there's trouble, call me… especially if that pain in the ass brother of yours won't."

"I will." Laughing as he returned the hug, Sam smiled as they pulled back from each other. "But Dean seemed to call you just fine on his own this time."

She chuckled softly, and then gave both Sam and Bobby a farewell nod. "Always an interesting time, gentlemen. See you around, Sam… Bobby."

"Yeah, now go tell that Romeo outside goodbye and get the hell outta here already," Bobby teased.

"See ya, Manda," Sam said, nodding at her in return before she left the kitchen and headed out the door. He wasn't sure he would see her again, but he hoped for Dean's sake he would.

[ - ]

Checking things over in the weapon cache in the Impala's trunk while he was waiting to see Manda off, Dean heard Bobby's front door close followed by footsteps he knew belonged to her. He closed the trunk, and went to meet her near the front of their cars that were parked beside each other. His eyes shot to the door, but there was no need to worry Sam was about to come out. The younger Winchester would know he needed a couple minutes out here with the female hunter. He looked back at her and saw the half smile on her face as they stopped in front of each other.

Now alone to say goodbye, the knowledge that this could be the very last time they were seeing each other was there. Each time they'd parted before this they were always aware of how they might never see each other again, but with the Apocalypse now in play it seemed more possible than it ever had before. Neither hunter knew when the next tragedy would strike or which one it would befall first, just that it would happen to one of them sooner rather than later.

Searching each other's eyes both held the sadness that came with this. And a series of unspoken questions with no answers seemed to pass between them then.

Was this all they would get? Had they finally burned through their reserve of time together in the two days spent at Bobby's? Would this be their final goodbye?

If it was, Dean and Manda weren't sure how to do this even though they'd shared a number of these moments over the last year. Both had become a cost the other couldn't afford to hold on to and one they couldn't quite afford to lose either. It was a predicament that had no solution but the one they had come to many months ago – to let each other go and trust that somewhere down the line the roads they were traveling would intersect again. It wasn't easy but it made the regret sting a little less some days.

Today wasn't one of those days.

Manda just looked at Dean, watching as he struggled to put together some sort of words that would make this go easier for both of them, but the regret in him was clear. Letting her go again was a price he just didn't seem to want to pay, but was one he knew he had to. Know the feeling, Dean, All I wanna do is hang on to you, too, but I can't.

Dean was working out what was best to say, unsure if he should go with the usual jokes or something more meaningful. Goodbyes sucked, he wasn't great at them, but goodbye seemed to be par for the course these days, and Manda deserved one from him in case their paths never crossed again in whatever time was left for both of them. Wish it wasn't this way, Manda… but it's the only way this works, and it's safer for you, too.

They could both tell it was already hurting more than either wanted to show the other.
Manda knew once she left Bobby's there'd be a stream of silent tears for the next few miles down the road while Dean knew he'd sink back in to a sullen mood as they once again had to stuff down the feelings that had only grown stronger.

Rubbing his right hand into the side of his neck, Dean felt a bit uneasy now, wishing this didn't turn out to be the last he'd see of the female hunter. He just wasn't ready to lose her for good yet, and knew he never would be. But whether he was ready or not would never matter in the grand scheme of things it seemed. It never really had before and it wouldn't likely start to now either. "Guess we better get this show on the road. You've got somewhere to get to and Sam's going to get broody on me if we don't head out soon after you."

Chuckling a little, the light seemed to hit Dean's hand perfectly in that moment and she saw something that took her by surprise. On his right hand in place of the silver ring he usually wore was another one she'd know anywhere – her dad's ring. Never having seen him wear it before, Manda hadn't even known if it fit him, and now seeing that it did, she didn't know what to think. She ran her thumb along her mom's ring on her own finger as the disbelief set it. The odds her parents' rings fit them both seemed unbelievable, especially when she knew she would never have that with Dean. It was just another reminder that while the rings might fit, what went with them just didn't have a place in their lives.

"Tryin' to tell me something by wearing that old thing?" she kidded with an awkward smile, nodding towards his hand to mask the way this moment wounded her a little more now. What she wanted and dreamt of would never matter; neither would the fact that they were supposedly soul mates. A long-term future with Dean had never quite been on the menu.

Dean gulped hard as he saw her staring at his hand and how the misting in her eyes was clear as day at seeing him wear her dad's ring. He'd only put it on a few minutes ago when she'd been with Bobby and Sam, and now he wasn't even sure why he had. Maybe it was for Manda's sake, just to let her know it fit, which thankfully Chuck hadn't given that away in his stories, and if they could do it, he wanted what went with it, too. But maybe it was more for his own, it helped ease the ache with once again having to watch her go a separate way when the ring was a solid memento, something besides memories he could hold on to when he couldn't hold on to her even when he wanted to.

He quickly put his hand down as her eyes met his, and then let his trademark smirk spread across his face to mask his feelings. "No. Just making sure you're still sharp on details." He started to pull the ring off his finger then. "Told you I'd keep it safe. But maybe you want it back now. Just in case…"

"No. Keep it." Manda shook her head and closed her eyes briefly, painfully fearing what was now rising in her – heartache. She shoved it down as best as she could and looked at Dean again. "But we could always humour Bobby and Sam before I go. Make things official. Have that switched from the right hand to the left."

Pushing the ring back on his finger, he looked at her as if she should know better than to suggest such a thing, and then laughed at the notion. She wasn't being serious, just trying to bury the same thing he was – a longing that couldn't be fulfilled, and trying to keep it light to hide the pain. Raising a comical brow at her with a sly smirk he asked, "That your way of popping the question, sweetheart?"

She smirked, then puckered her lips together for a moment as if thinking it over. "Nah, don't think I could be a Winchester. Too much trouble goes with the name. I'm good with staying a Chambers. Sorry, handsome."

Chuckling, Dean just looked at her completely amused by what he knew was a lie. "Trouble or not, you'd do it in a heartbeat, Manda. No use trying to pretend otherwise with me."

Sheepishly grinning, Manda couldn't deny it when he knew her too well. "Like you wouldn't have me just as quick," she shot back with a knowing look. "No use kidding yourself or me otherwise either, Dean."

Clearing his throat, Dean knew it was true. "Yeah, well…" he stopped, unable to come up with a witty retort or denial.

It was then that both saw that dream in their minds – the one of what life would be like if they were together as they just stood there with their eyes locked on one another.

Both of them seemed to regretfully smile at the other then knowing it wouldn't have been so bad if life was different, or at least if their timing had been. Dating each other truthfully hadn't been all that difficult, and the scattered days spent together before and after that had always ended up being good times and easy to fall back in to. So, maybe if Dean hadn't been trying to stop the Apocalypse from starting back when they'd met and wasn't now in the middle of trying to save the world that didn't even know it had begun, they would've stuck it out, been happy, possibly even fulfilling the longing they both held for a family of their own.

But all that wasn't part of the hands they had been dealt. Instead, just as they'd come to know it, hunters only seemed to catch brief glimpses of what it could be like instead of getting the happy ending. And this – what existed between them – was just that, a glimpse of happiness that both couldn't quite let themselves have more of for the heartbreak it would inevitably bring.

A minute or two ticked by as neither knew what to say just then. The kind of life that was wanted, dreamed about, and had always seemed impossible just seemed even more so now.

"If we survive whatever happens, if we're alive when it ends…" Manda broke the silence and then paused, not even sure why she had to say it.

Seeing how much this moment truthfully hurt her, Dean knew what she was saying. "I'll find you," he said, giving her a weak grin. It wasn't likely both of them would survive, or that the Apocalypse could be stopped, but in some way he wanted to cling to that hope as much as he could tell she did.

She nodded. He could still read her as well as she read him at times. "You better… 'cuz if by some small miracle we both make it and the world's still spinning, we can try us again, can't we? Do it right though, see where it goes?"

He didn't have to think about it, just nodded with a confident smirk. "Sounds good." Good? He thought with a laugh, because who exactly was he trying to kid here? They were good for and with each other, hell, as much as he still didn't want to believe it, they were even apparently soul mates. So he knew that if they were both alive and kicking when it was over he was going to need her and a few nights like the last two. So maybe they definitely owed themselves the shot to try it again when there wasn't so much at stake.

Manda's eyes glistened to see he wasn't just saying it for her sake. He meant it, she knew that look. "You know I'll hold you to that, don't you?"

"Wouldn't have said it if I didn't," he mumbled, pulling her to him by the belt loops of her jeans then. "Now are you gonna shut up and kiss me or what, Chambers?"

Seeing his expectant look, and unable to stop it, she chuckled into a loving kiss. "Taking my line, you pain in the ass," she whispered, hard of breath when their mouths parted.

"Had to." Dean's boyish grin said he was satisfied with the result. "And I'm not sorry either."

With a gentle caress of his face and one long look into those eyes of his then, Manda just found herself a little weak in the knees. Somehow once again she'd fallen harder for him. Dean Winchester had wrecked her for anyone else by now, and he must have known it even before they found out they were supposed soul mates. There would just never be another man like him in her life, and right then there she could only pray that he would make it through whatever else was coming his way.

"What?" he questioned. She was looking at him a little strange and somewhat significantly.

"Always seems pointless to say it, but try to be careful out there, okay?"

"Me?" Dean scoffed, wanting to brush it off. There were times when he couldn't exactly be careful, and she knew it just as much as he did. Being careful wasn't an option when trying to save the world. "You're the one doing this job solo most of the time, and you've got a knack for trouble. So why don't you tryto be careful, Chambers? Especially with everything we learned yesterday… that messenger wanted you to know something's coming your way."

"Dean," Manda sighed. He was more worried about her, and as much as she loved it, she wished he'd worry about himself just a little more. There weren't any angels on her ass, not that she knew. Demons on the other hand had always wanted her dead, but that was nothing new to either of them. And whatever the weird riddles that psychic had said to her yesterday still made no sense despite everything else they'd learned. "Maybe so, but we do know that my ass isn't the one walking the tightrope between both sides here. Yours is. And solo or not, you know I'm a big girl with a trunk full of guns and knives, salt and holy water, iron and silver… do I need to go on?"

She had a point, but she also had nothing to prove to him. He knew just how tough and good of a hunter she was, but the same could be said for Sam and Bobby, and just like he did with them, he still worried about her out there alone. "Well, don't forget the lace and satin, too, now that you're talking my kind of dirty to me," he quipped to keep it from getting too serious.

Smacking him in the chest with a flat palm, she laughed at the naughty grin on his face now. "Guess I know what you're thinking about on lonely nights."

"N-not really," he blurted out with a bit of an awkward chuckle. "Well, sometimes, and if a guy's got to think about something, you in the lace or satin with something from that trunk in one hand," he paused as he let out a low whistle. "I've seen it in the flesh. It gets the job done."

Shaking her head, Manda failed at suppressing a smirk because it was true. He'd seen it more than once. "Lucky you've got all that charm and good looks to make up for that enormous lack of class, Winchester."

Amused, Dean thought it over for a second, and then shrugged. "Don't need class when I've got those two things going for me," he retorted with a cocky smile.

She groaned. "But you should know by now you're supposed to sweet talk the girl before you sleep with her, not after."

Tilting his head with a small chuckle, Dean gave her a 'you're kidding' look. "We've never done things that way, Manda. Why start now?"

With an expression that said it was true, Manda looked at him thoughtfully. "Maybe not, but we had some good times even in the middle of all the crap, didn't we?"

He nodded in agreement, unable to deny it. In the middle was an understatement, but there were days and nights, moments of time together neither of them would trade for anything. "We did. Think this is it?"

Manda shrugged. "No regrets if it is. Time well spent, and that was the best birthday a girl could've asked for."

Dean couldn't help but smile knowing they'd both remember that night for whatever time might be the rest of their lives. "Any chance we can hook up for another night like that in a month or two?"

She winked. "Name the place, I'll be there."

Drawing her close again, there was sadness in Dean's eyes as his arms went around her. He hoped there would still be time by then. "Your house… no Sam, no Bobby. Just you, me, that big bed of yours.,,"

"It's a date." Her lips met his for a sweet kiss before pulling back.

"Looking forward to it. Until then, call if you need anything, okay? I mean it."

"Same." Manda nodded, trying to smile but the gravity of this moment was now sinking in. It was time to go. "I love you, Winchester," she whispered, her voice slightly breaking. She smiled heartbreakingly at him through the hurt and misty eyes.

Pulling her back in a hug, Dean let his lips linger on her forehead briefly. She knew he loved her, but he also knew he had to say it back this time. "Love you, too, Chambers."

She choked on a silent sob, buried her face against his shoulder not quite wanting to go without saying it now. "If this is goodbye, if I don't see you again…"

"It's not," he assured her with a confidence he just didn't actually believe in. "You will."

She could only nod as she looked up and touched his face lightly one more time, gazing in to his eyes. Two tears escaped from hers then, and she sniffled softly before brushing her open lips over his one last time.

Their faces held the pain of knowing this might be the last time this ever happened. And then they gave into it, allowing that kiss to go as deep as it could.

Their mouths broke apart, and Dean rubbed a hand over the small of her back as one of hers found its way to his chest.

"See you soon, Dean," Manda sadly and softly said, hoping she would but figuring it probably wouldn't work out that way. Actually saying goodbye to him now was out of the question. She couldn't do it. It was better to say she's see him soon than to walk away now by saying goodbye for good even though this felt final with how things were going. She whispered a few soft words in his ear before closing her eyes, holding back more tears. She kissed his cheek tenderly one more time as a silent farewell, patted her hand over his heart, and then just walked away.

Dean's eyes had closed as she whispered in his ear before he shut them tighter at her words, and then he was just savouring the moment her lips were against his cheek, committing it to memory once again. Not that he'd ever forget how it or she felt when everything about her wasn't forgettable to him. "See you soon, Manda," he softly said as she left him standing there, unable to say goodbye himself as his heartbreak was rising now. He doubted he would as he opened his eyes again. Two days spent with her in the midst of the Apocalypse had to come with a price, so did her connection to him, and in that moment he was sure this was the last time he'd ever lay eyes on the woman he still loved more than he'd admit to as he watched her smile at him and give a single wave as she got into her car.

Whatever happens, you do whatever it takes and fight like hell to survive it, Winchester. I can't lose you, you hear me? Her words rang in his head as he watched her start to drive away and he raised a hand for one wave goodbye.

You do whatever it takes and fight like hell to stay alive out there, too, Chambers. I can't lose you either. He silently replied in his head then.

As Manda's Chevelle pulled out of sight then, Dean heard footsteps coming up behind him. He stuffed down all the emotions he wouldn't let Sam see now and turned around.

"So," Sam said as he got to his brother.

"So…"

"When this is all over, think maybe you and Manda will work it out for good? End up together finally?" Sam broached the subject. From what he'd seen the last two days between them, and what he'd read in what Chuck had written and that soul mate revelation, he just couldn't help but ask.

"Great, here we go." Rolling his eyes, Dean looked at his brother and couldn't help but wonder if Sam had been eavesdropping. "Stranger things have happened, but don't bet on it, Sammy."

Laughing, Sam knew it was true, but he also knew otherwise. Given better timing, not so much being at stake, and maybe a little less mutual stubbornness, his brother and the female hunter would give their relationship a proper try. They were good together in his opinion, and Dean deserved to be happy if that was what he wanted. "Don't know why not. You still love each other, and don't tell me you haven't thought about it at least once. But, dude, you kinda have to end up together, you're soul mates…" he trailed off, chortling. He knew Dean would get annoyed by that part the most.

"We all make it, you two better end up together. And both your daddies would have gotten over it sooner or later," Bobby's voice came from further behind both brothers then.

Dean smirked before he turned to look at Bobby. "Thought they didn't like each other?"

"They didn't, but they would've known your sorry asses can't do any better than each other. Sam and I know it, hell, even that prophet of yours knows it. Don't get why you two kids don't."

Ain't that the truth… can't do better, could do a hell of a lot worse. Dean was agreeing silently, but his hard look at Bobby said to shut up.

"And after stopping Armageddon, you settling down makes sense. You've done just about everything else, and you're not getting any younger there, princess."

"Knock it off," Dean huffed with annoyance. "Gonna take more than the end of the world to make an honest man outta me."

Sam struggled not to laugh but his smirk was there. "Bobby's got a point there. You've done nearly everything else. But nobody said you have to marry her, Dean. She wouldn't force you to."

Bobby shook his head. "Exactly. Not sure why, but Manda plain old loves you, ya idjit. She might never expect to see Danny's ring on your other hand," he paused, nodding to Dean's hand. "But you'd be dumb to let that woman get away again after everything's over. Think you're gonna find another one like her?"

Nothing got by Bobby, and Dean should've known he'd see the ring before Sam had. "That could take years, Bobby, and we all know how it's ending for some of us before everything's over."

Seeing the way Dean was trying to shrug out of this conversation, Bobby smirked. "You know that girl's a fighter. Manda's not gonna up and die on you if she can help it. Not when she knows you're still out there. I watched her lose way too much once to know that much."

"It's true. Manda's like you, and she gets to you in a way that even I can't sometimes. She can handle you, man… handles the job, too. So that's a plus."

Dean briefly closed his eyes, trying so hard to shove down the love he felt for Manda then so they wouldn't see it written all over him. They were both right. He smirked a little impishly. "Yeah, alright, she's a real pistol, hell of a woman, think I got it… So are you two done playing matchmaker and meddling in my love life?"

Sam just met his brother's look with his own. He'd seen that look on Dean when he said the words, knew what it meant – he'd fallen harder for her again.

"Not playing. John raised you kids to be alone, but damn it, boy, you fell for her. Way I see it, nothing wrong with that."

Harder than you know, more than I ever thought I would… Dean didn't say anything, how could he when it was the truth. There'd been so many girls over the years, but somehow Manda Chambers, a female hunter no less, had flipped the script, made him want more, and now had a hold on his heart.

He let out an exasperated sigh and walked over to open the driver's door of his car. "Okay, Dear Abby, if you're done writing this week's column… time we hit the road. Thanks, Bobby. Now let's go, Sammy."

End notes: It would be great to know what anyone who has checked out the story is thinking. Do you know where it's going? Have you guessed what might happen or comes next? Any thoughts? And was this too much? Too soft? Not enough? Or just enough?
The next chapter was roughly drafted in two or three sections way back in the day as outlining. The bones are there, so it needs work before I can get it up. Hope to get it up in a few weeks, and as I've mentioned before, this story is also posted over on ao3. Updates go up there either a day earlier or more sometimes, so if you're also a reader/user over there that's the better place to follow.

I hope that whoever is reading is liking it, and that you're enjoy where it heads next.