Unlikely Connections

by copperboom82

Full summary inside. 7 years after the war, Harry's sister, Lorelai, still hasn't found her own peace and is working as an Auror for MACUSA. When she crosses paths with Dean Winchester, similarly adrift hunter, is it fate or a recipe for disaster? Starts pre season-1 and runs through series

39. Chapter 39

June 23rd-24th, 2006

Dean had clocked that Olivia Sweeney was trouble from pretty much the moment Lorelai had introduced her – it wasn't all that surprising, given who her best friend was. He'd been lulled, however, into a false sense of security as the four of them had worked the case. It didn't take long after they wrapped up for him to be reminded.

"Oh, come on," Olivia needled him and Sam. "It'll be so much fun! And I'm the bride – no one says no to the bride."

It was Friday mid-morning. He, Sam, and Lorelai had successfully dealt with the striga once and for all the night before, and Olivia had confirmed just a few hours ago that all of the kids the thing had fed on were finally healing. It hadn't taken long from there for Olivia to draw him and Sam into a conversation about what they were doing next while all four of them were going through the motions of packing up. She had quickly found a way to turn that conversation into an invitation for them to join her and Lorelai in meeting up with their friends for a night out. Apparently, they were all meeting up to celebrate Olivia's engagement, but Olivia had pointed out they deserved to celebrate a job well done too.

Sam gave half a chuckle, a genuine smile on his face that Dean wasn't sure he'd seen for a while. Lorelai, who was busy fussing with something in the kitchen, rolled her eyes without looking up.

"Olivia, leave them alone," she chided. "That excuse hardly works on me, and I'm your maid of honor. I'm sure they've got things they'd rather do than hang out with us and a bunch of other people they don't know."

There was something about the way she said it that got under Dean's skin. She wasn't even wrong – the idea of going to some magical nightclub to hang out with a bunch of people he didn't know, especially with things still so…unresolvedwith Lorelai, wasnotwhat came to mind when he thought of a "good time." But something about her tone… the way she was so sure of herself… maybe it was the implication that he wouldn't want to spend the time around her, or that couldn't handle it… whatever it was, it left him with an inexplicable need to prove her wrong.

Sam's reply was just the icing on top.

"Oh, no, she's fine, Lorelai. A night out actually sounds like a lot of fun."

Dean had been trying to get Sam to let himself have fun formonths. He wasn't entirely sure what had gotten into his brother – though he guessed it might have had something to do with whatever conversation he'd semi-overheard the day before – but either way, he wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

And that was how Dean Winchester found himself driving from Fitchburg, Wisconsin to Chicago, Illinois, his gut churning with anxiety that he was doing his best to will away. Lorelai and Olivia had offered to save them the drive, but remembering what Sam had said earlier in the week, Dean had been quick to insist he didn't mind driving – it was only two and a half hours, and he'd done a lot worse for a lot less.

Remembering the surprised look on Lorelai's face when he had backed Sam up, the one that had been laced with a mixture of alarm and skepticism, was more than enough to keep Dean going anyway. It almost felt like they were playing a game of chicken, and Dean would be damned if he was going to be the one to lose.

Of course, that didn't stop his stomach from giving an unpleasant swoop as he and Sam finally found the hotel Lorelai and Olivia had given them directions to, the building only coming into view after they'd slipped the necklaces back around their necks that Lorelai had given them in Kinston. It didn't keep his eyes from widening when their keys seemingly materialized out of thin air at the reception desk either, or his jaw from dropping when he and Sam got into the elevator and it began moving horizontally through the building as well as vertically. Nor did it stop the low whistle that escaped his mouth when they got into their room, thoughthathad less to do with the magic of it all and more to do with the grandeur.

"Damn," Sam muttered, his eyes darting around the room, seeming equally impressed. "This place is nice."

Dean snorted. Between the plush carpet, the marble floors and countertops visible in the bathroom, richly appointed beds, and the intricately designed dressers… it was the reminder he didn't need that in addition to being a witch, Lorelai came from money.

"Nice doesn't even cover it."

Suddenly, Dean's duffel bag seemed rattier than it normally did, and his typical attire of distressed jeans and flannel felt lacking. He waited until Sam was in the shower to start digging through his things, lest Sam pick up on his sudden bout of anxiety. He reminded himself that there was nothing to prove – Lorelai knew who he was, and for whatever reason, she liked him anyway… or had, until things had gone off the rails. His outfit choice, however, wasn't going to be the thing that got them back on track. If that was even what he wanted.

She'd been right to tell Sam that it was'complicated'between them, but despite himself, Dean hadn't been able to get her voice out of his head. On some level, he'd already known it, but hearing confirmation that she hadn't felt for anyone what she felt for him since Fred had died filled him with joy and terror in equal measure.

In all fairness, he hadn't felt what he felt forhersince… well, ever. Maybe Cassie. But he was in deeper here. He knew that.

In the end, he and Sam made it back down to the lobby without incident. Olivia had met them when they'd gotten there, letting them know Lorelai had already gotten tied up in a work call, but that they'd be down together to go with them to meet everyone else.

While they had been settling in and getting ready the ground floor had become a hive of activity, and Dean's eyes were still jumping from place to place when a familiar hand shot out and grabbed his arm. Before he knew it Lorelai was hauling both him and Sam off to the corner while Olivia watched on with a fond exasperation.

"You're being ridiculous," she chided, but Lorelai flipped her off without looking away from the Winchesters.

"Stick to your lane, Liv –"

"Lor, what are you – hey!" Dean started to ask when she begun patting him down, but he dropped his own question in favor of outrage when she effortlessly fished a knife out of his back pocket.

"No weapons," she told him, an edge in her voice, while her she continued her search. Dean was equal parts enjoying having her hands on him again and ready to push her away in irritation.

"You can't just –"

"Oh yes, I can," she cut him off, taking his gun before stepping back with an exasperated sigh. Dean determinedly ignored Sam's quiet snickering. "If I'm about to set you loose in amagicalnightclub, the last thing I'm doing is letting you go in armed."

In their time apart Lorelai had transformed from the down to earth hunter, or rather Auror, he usually saw to the more glamorous version of herself he'd seen more when they'd been together and she'd insisted on sprinkling in nights out when they worked cases together. Her hair was down, in loose waves that framed her face, and she'd opted for a simple black dress that flattered her figure and served to remind him of exactly what he was missing. Her magpie necklace, returned to its rightful owner as soon as they'd killed the striga, was back around her neck, the silver pendant catching his eye in a way it hadn't before.

"You're being dramatic," Olivia nagged, but Lorelai ignored her and looked at Sam. She seemed to debate with herself for half a beat, and that was enough time for his brother to raise his hands in a surrender motion.

"We get it, Lorelai, really," Sam assured her before reaching into his own pocket and handing over his own knife for good measure. She accepted it with a wary look, though Dean couldn't help but notice she seemed less skeptical of Sam. Still, she dropped it into her bag the same way she had with Dean's weapons.

"What, you're not gonna pat him down? You know, if you wanted an excuse to feel me up, Lor, you could have just asked," Dean teased her before he could think better of it. Olivia tried to stifle a laugh, but Lorelai swiveled back to him with a withering stare.

"You think this a joke?" she asked. "Dean, this is –"

"He knows, Lorelai," Sam cut in, his voice calm and steady, stopping her in her tracks. He shot Dean a side-eyed look that Dean only shrugged at before giving Lorelai his full attention. "We both do, I promise."

Lorelai sighed, rubbing at her temples. Her eyes flitted between them but ultimately landed on Dean. Her expression had softened, but was very serious, and Dean did his best to keep a straight face.

"I'm less worried about Sam, this isn't his first rodeo –you, however, held a gun on me when you found out what I was, and if you thinkI'ma freak, you've got no fucking clue what you're walking into."

Dean had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from speaking too quickly, and he couldn't stop from glaring at the reminder of that argument. She wasn't wrong, but throwing it in his face then, after everything that had happened since, and glossing over the context, felt more than a little unfair. But pointing that out, he knew, would only start an argument.

"First off," he said lowly, all laughter gone from his voice, "I never said I thought you were a'freak'.Second, this is a bit different. You think I'm gonna walk in there and go all Rambo?"

"I think," she replied carefully, "that you're about to walk into a whole new world, and that in my world, there's a lot of stuff that's normal and totally safe that, in your world, would make you… uncomfortable. So if you're gonna go in there, you need to promise me you can stay cool, and that if it's too much, you'lltellme, so I can get you out, because what youcan'tdo is fly off the handle or draw unnecessary attention. Do you understand?"

Her stare was intense, and Dean was determined not to be the one to look away first. He swallowed but nodded, and after a moment, Lorelai deflated, stepping back a bit and gesturing out to the rest of the room.

"In that case," she said, "let's get on with it."

What Lorelai lacked in enthusiasm, Olivia more than made up for, and as he and Sam followed the girls through the ground floor, Dean started to realize that it was more than his presence eating at Lorelai.

"Ooo I can't wait to see everyone," Olivia gushed, quickly squeezing Lorelai's arm in a burst of excitement. "It's been so long since we all got together."

Rather than share in her friend's enthusiasm, however, Lorelai looked almost pained, even though she tried to mask it.

"And who exactly is everyone?" she asked.

"Well, obviously Nick and Ian. Emily. Ian invited some people, and then I invited some of the girls from school."

"So help me, if the name 'Tiff Halpern' comes out of your mouth, I'm hexing you."

Olivia sighed and gave Lorelai a disapproving look.

"I did not invite Tiff, but you better be ready to play nice because I'm inviting her to the wedding. And Ididinvite Sophie."

Dean watched Lorelai grimace, and she leveled a real glare in Olivia's direction.

"Oh, comeon," she complained. "And you really won't let me –"

"No!"

"But –"

"I mean it, Lorelai. No tricks – no changing your hair or your face or your voice. It's my engagement party, you can suck it up and show some self-restraint for one night."

"The fact that I know how to cast a blood-boiling hex, and I haven't used one on her is proof that I've gottonsof self-restraint," Lorelai grumbled.

Dean was having trouble following the conversation, but he still had to keep himself from snorting.

"Who's Sophie?" he asked, bending to whisper in Lorelai's ear and smiling to himself when she jumped. She looked up at him with wide eyes, her cheeks flushing slightly, and rolled her eyes.

"A pain in the ass."

"She is not!" Olivia corrected, looking over her shoulder to him and Sam. "Sophie's a girl we went to school with. She was a few years below us, but we work at the hospital together now, and she's become a friend."

"I still don't understandwhy," Lorelai mumbled, almost as though she couldn't help herself, and Dean smirked.

"And what exactly is your beef with this chick?"

"No beef. She's just… annoying. You could have told me she started the Lorelai Baudelaire fanclub the last year I spent helping exchange students at Lytton and I wouldn't have even batted an eye for how up my ass she was and how often she would gawk."

"She was a kid, Lorelai, and let's face it, you caused quite the stir coming back for that last year. Sophie was far from the only person that got a little starstruck."

Lorelai rolled her eyes again, but didn't say anything – though Dean got the distinct impression she was biting down on the inside of her cheek to keep from doing so. It was around then that Dean remembered that Lorelai was something of a celebrity in her world, and when they passed by the reception desk, and a group of kids waiting in line with their parents started pointing, it drove home how real that was.

"Still think it was a good idea to take my glasses and keep me from changing my hair?" Lorelai quipped, subtly but quickly repositioning herself so she was sort of tucked in the midst of all three of them. Olivia looked almost remorseful, but she pursed her lips.

"It'll be better once we get inside; no one will pay you any mind in the club. And if you'd get us into the back –"

"No!" It was Lorelai's turn to cut Olivia off, and her tone left no room for argument. "It's bad enough you made me come out to this crap hole, the last thing I need is to start throwing my name around and alerting my family to fact that I showed my face here. I'd never hear the end of it."

Olivia looked like she wanted to say something, but thought better of it. Dean was curious what Lorelai's family had to do with any of it. But whatever bickering the girls would have continued to do came to a halt, and any inclination Dean had to speak up himself disappeared as they approached a set of tall, grand looking doors, wooden and intricately carved, that swung open when Olivia waved her wand.

Despite Lorelai's earlier warning, Dean felt his jaw dropping open of its own accord. Hearing Sam's surprised gasp next to him, Dean knew at least he wasn't alone.

In all his life, Dean had never seen anything like the scene that had just been revealed. The place still had the feel of an upscale hotel the way the rest of the building did, but there were reminders everywhere that they were no longer in what Lorelai had calledhisworld. So many, that he was having trouble cataloguing all of them. They ranged from things as big as the ceiling that seemed impossibly tall, stretching seemingly into nothingness, to small details like the glittering fairy lights that he thought might be actual fairies, and everything in between like the drinks that were mixing themselves behind the bartender, and patrons that were definitely not all human, and the wide variety of apparel they were all donning.

Lorelai and Olivia, however, didn't so much as slow down, Lorelai's posture a bit tenser than usual while Olivia was still bubbling with enthusiasm. The girls navigated them around a group of what Dean thought might be honest-to-godgoblinsand had to fight himself not to do a doubletake. Even still, Lorelai nudged him gently.

"You okay there?" she whispered when he caught her eye. Dean nodded hoping his face was more believable than he felt. The books, he thought to himself, had not done all of this justice.

Too soon, they were approaching a group that incldued two familiar faces at least – Lorelai's friend Nick, Julia's dad, and Emily, her twin. They were far from the only two, though, and everyone looked up, smiling in recognition at the sight of Lorelai and Olivia. The man sitting next to Nick, with a lean build and messy hair, got to his feet, smiling widely as Olivia made a beeline to him. This, Dean assumed, must have been Ian.

"There you two are," Ian said cheerfully, wrapping Olivia in his arms and dropping a kiss to the top of her head. Nick looked around them and his eyebrows raised when he made eye contact with Dean.

"And they even brought company," he commented wryly before adding with a bit more sincerity, "Good to see you again, man. And, Sam, right?"

"Yes, that would be Olivia's doing," Lorelai said, her voice carrying a false sweetness Dean tried not to take offense to. "Thank Merlin she's Ian's problem again. Everyone these are friends of mine, Dean and Sam Winchester. Guys, this is… well… everyone."

Someone, Dean wasn't sure who, was quick to reprimand Lorelai for her lackluster introduction, but soon enough he and Sam were actually being introduced to all the people gathered and his head started to swim trying to keep track of them all. Ian, he noted, seemed to be the only other person besides Nick and Emily who had an inkling of his history with Lorelai, while the rest of them didn't seem to have a clue.

There was Sophie, who Dean quickly realized was every bit as annoying as Lorelai had implied. Then some guy named Eddie or Ethan, Dean couldn't quite remember, a girl called Talia, another that was introduced to him as Cole, which he was told was short for Nicole, and a host of other people that all blurred together. And while Lorelai clearly knew everyone and seemed friendly with most of them, Dean noticed she certainly gravitated towards her own people – Nick, Emily, Olivia, and Ian – as they all settled in.

"Thought you were tied up in London," Lorelai mumbled to Emily, glancing around as if to check whether anyone was watching before snatching the drink her twin was holding and downing what was left in one go. Emily looked unsurprised but also unimpressed and accepted the glass back with an eyeroll.

"Got home yesterday. Uncle Howard and Aunt Helena send their love," she said, and Lorelai pulled a face.

"I'm sure they do."

"So, long time no see," Nick said, interrupting Dean's observations as he took a seat caddy corner to him and Sam. "Heard Lorelai had worked a few cases with you two lately."

"Here and there," Dean said noncommittally, wary and unsure of what Lorelai might have said.

"Nice that you two are still friends," Sam added. "I remember you guys were really close back in Orlando."

Nick snorted.

"Yeah, well, between the family connection, my daughter, the history, and the fact that we work together, I don't think I'd be able to get rid of her if I tried."

"How's Julia doing?" Dean asked remembering the rambunctious eight-year-old from the Hamptons, and a fond smile crossed Nick's face.

"She's good. Happy to have Katie and Lorelai home for the summer… or mostly, anyway. Lorelai's never really been good atstayinghome. Anyway, both of them are with my parents for the night."

Dean found himself relaxing as the night wore on, the initial shock of the magical surroundings gradually fading into the background, though he still caught himself spotting new oddities every few minutes. He nursed his drink, a whiskey that tasted better than anything he'd had in a long time, watching as Lorelai bantered with her friends, that sharp wit of hers that he knew and appreciated on full display. It was a side of her that he'd seen frequently last summer, but had only gotten glimpses of since their split. Seeing it in this context, though, surrounded by people who clearly shared a long history with her, was different… gave it a new dimension.

"Remember that time you flooded the Ashwinder building?" someone laughed, maybe one of Ian's bandmates Dean thought, looking to Lorelai, who was perched on the arm of Nick's chair at that point, her eyes sparkling in a way that told him she remembered full well whatever incident was being brought up.

"Wait, what?" Sophie asked, and Lorelai shrugged.

"It was our second year. I wasn't ready for the Potions final. Worked out perfect, whole building was shut down for a day, and they rescheduled us something like two or three days later."

"Easy for you to say," Nick scoffed. "I was the one who took the fall for that little stunt. A month's worth of detentions, scrubbing cauldrons without magic."

"Yeah, well, I was already on thin ice from incident with the nifflers the month before," Lorelai pointed out.

"Whenweren'tyou on thin ice?" Olivia giggled, her cheeks flushed from the wine she'd been sipping.

Dean glanced at Sam, who seemed equally fascinated by the exchange. It was strange, hearing about a world so different from their own, yet recognizing the universal experiences of teenage mischief and close friendships. It was also nice to see Lorelai like this, surrounded by people who clearly knew and loved her. There was an ease to her movements, a lightness in her laugh that he hadn't seen in a while. But even as he observed this, he noticed the way her eyes would occasionally dart around the room, ever vigilant.

"You doing okay with all this?" Sam asked quietly a few minutes later when there was a lull, leaning in so that no one else could hear him. Dean nodded, taking another sip of his drink and keeping his eye on the rest of the group.

"Yeah, I'm good. This is… it's a lot, but it's not so bad. Yousawall this and seriously never said anything?" he asked before he could stop himself. Sam gave half a frown, his eyes darting around the room, if it could be called that, as if assessing. Something caught his attention though, and Sam clapped him on the shoulder.

"Hold that thought. I think we're about to get roped into another round of drinks."

Sure enough, Ian was already heading their way, a tray of shots floating behind him. Dean blinked, still not quite used to casual displays of magic.

"Ready for another? No shame if guys can't keep up," Ian said, distributing the shots. "Our liquor tends to be a bit stronger than what you're used to."

Dean had no doubt about that, and Sam was already looking a little uncertain, but Dean raised an eyebrow, a competitive glint in his eye.

"Can't keep up? Oh, you're on, Gandalf."

As they knocked back the shots – something Dean suspected had some sort of magical component based on the sensations he felt as it went down – Dean noticed Lorelai hadn't joined in. She was nursing a glass of water, just as she had been all night, her posture slightly tense as she watched the proceedings.

"Not having one, Lor?" he called out, unable to keep the surprise from his voice. He'd seen her drink him under the table more than once. Lorelai's eyes met his, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them before she shook her head.

"Not tonight," she said lightly. "Someone's got to make sure you all get back to your rooms in one piece."

Nick snorted. "Since when are you theresponsibleone?"

"Since always," Lorelai shot back, lightly shoving his shoulder, but there was no real heat in her words. "You just get too drunk to notice."

The group laughed again, but Dean couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Lorelai's abstinence than she was letting on. He filed the observation away for later, turning his attention back to the conversation at hand.

The opportunity to satisfy his curiosity came a few minutes later, when a newcomer approached, and Lorelai dropped into the seat next to him after she'd said hello.

"You alright?" he asked her, genuine concern coloring his tone even as he leaned in close and kept his voice low enough so that only she could hear him. Lorelai's eyes snapped to his, surprise flickering across her face before she schooled her features into a neutral expression.

"I'm fine," she said, her voice somewhat clipped. "Just not really my scene, you know?"

Dean raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear in his expression.

"Really? 'Cause I seem to remember you being pretty comfortable in bars back when we..." he trailed off, suddenly unsure how to finish that sentence, but a ghost of a smile passed over Lorelai's lips.

"Back when we were together?" she supplied, her voice soft. "Yeah, well, that was a bit different. This isn't exactly your average dive bar, Dean."

As if to emphasize her point, a group of what appeared to be actual merpeople swam by in a giant aquarium that formed one of the walls of the club. Dean blinked, momentarily distracted by the sight.

"Point taken," he muttered, shaking his head slightly. "Still, I didn't think anything could make you turn down a drink."

Lorelai gave him a wry smile.

"There are eyeseverywhere," she whispered, her breath ghosting across his ear and sending shivers down his spine. "I've got a history, and being myself comes at a cost I don't feel like paying here."

The pieces started to click into place – the group that had noticed her on the way in, the jagged scar on her hip and what he knew of her past with substance abuse. But before he could say anything else, she was getting back to her feet to greet someone else.

As the night wore on, Dean found himself genuinely enjoying the company of Lorelai's friends, even if some of the magical references went over his head. Sam seemed to be in his element. Once he found out that Emily was, as far as Dean could tell, some sort of magical lawyer, he seemed to begin peppering her with nonstop questions about their legal system. She took it in stride, with Nick occasionally chiming in.

Eventually, as it neared midnight and their group had dwindled down to him, Sam, Nick, Lorelai, and the happy couple, a new voice cut through the chatter.

"Lorelai? What in Merlin's name are you doing here?"

Dean turned to see a tall, athletic woman with dark skin and braided hair approaching their group. Her eyes were fixed on Lorelai, who had frozen mid-sentence.

"Angelina?" Lorelai said, surprise evident in her voice even as a smile broke across her face. "What areyoudoing here?"

The woman – Angelina – grinned, pulling Lorelai into a quick hug. "There's a big tournament this weekend. A bunch of the teams are staying here." She glanced around at the group, her eyes lingering curiously on Dean and Sam. "I was just heading down to meet back up with everyone. What about you? Younevercome to places like this."

Lorelai shrugged, that tension coming back to her posture.

"Celebrating Liv and Ian's engagement," she explained, gesturing to Olivia. "Couldn't exactly say no to that."

"Oh, congratulations!" Angelina said to them, her eyes lighting up. Then, turning back to Lorelai, she added, "Listen, why don't you all come join us? We're back in the VIP area, no press allowed. It'll be just like old times. George and Lee came, and Harry's here with Ginny."

Dean watched as Lorelai hesitated, her eyes darting around the still-packed club. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head. He realized this must have been thebackthat Olivia had been asking her about on their way in, and he wondered if revelation aboutno presswould sway her at all, considering what she'd told him earlier.

"I don't know, Ang," Lorelai started, but Olivia cut her off.

"Oh, come on, Lorelai," she pleaded. "It sounds fun! And you heard her,no press."

"Yeah," Nick chimed in. "Besides, if we go back with Ang, Howard never has to know you were here."

Lorelai bit her lip, clearly torn, until finally, she sighed.

"Alright, fine. But if I end up on the front page of the Prophet tomorrow, I'm holding you personally responsible," she said, pointing at Angelina.

"Not a chance," Angelina assured her. "Come on, I'll show you the way."

As they followed Angelina through the club, Dean felt a surge of anticipation. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he had a feeling the night was about to get a lot more interesting.

The VIP section was tucked away behind a shimmering curtain that seemed to ripple like water. As they passed through it, Dean felt a tingling sensation wash over him, like static electricity. The space beyond was dimly lit, with plush seating areas and a private bar.

If he'd thought the rest of the club had been mind-blowing, he wasn't sure what to callthis, but his eyes widened as he took in not just the eclectic mix of people scattered about but the new scenery. There was a glittering fountain in the center that seemed to be spouting liquid gold, floating trays of drinks weaving through the crowd and refilling themselves with some sort of magic, and by the bar there was a group that seemed to be engaged in some sort of magical drinking game, their laughter punctuated by small explosions and showers of sparks that reminded him of the ones Lorelai had conjured in Kinston.

"Holy shit," he breathed, earning himself an elbow to the ribs from Lorelai.

"Be cool," she hissed, though he caught the hint of amusement in her eyes.

Sam, walking on Dean's other side, looked like a kid in a candy store. His eyes darted from one magical oddity to the next, a wide grin plastered across his face. Dean couldn't help but smile at his brother's enthusiasm, even as his own nerves jangled with a mix of excitement and apprehension.

Angelina led them deeper into the room, weaving between groups of revelers with the ease of someone that knew where she was going. As they passed, Dean noticed more than a few curious glances thrown their way, bringing back his earlier bout of self-consciousness.

"Look who I found," Angelina announced as she approached a group in the midst of everything. Multiple heads swiveled to look in their direction, most of their eyes landing on the witch next to Dean.

"Lorelai!" A voice called out, and suddenly a tall, red-headed man was bounding towards them, a wide grin on his face. Dean recognized him immediately – George Weasley, Lorelai's brother-in-law… and if he remembered what Sam and Lorelai had been talking about correctly, her business partner, he realized.

"Hey George," Lorelai greeted him fondly, while George enveloped her in a bear hug, lifting her off her feet.

"Blimey, I can't believe you actually showed your face in a place like this," he teased as he set her down. "Are you feeling alright? Should we check for Polyjuice?"

Lorelai rolled her eyes, but the affection was clear in her expression.

"Don't start, Weasley. I'm only here under duress."

There was a round of hellos as George and some of the other people he'd been sitting with greeted the rest of their group, but his eyes widened slightly when they landed on Dean.

"Well, I'll be damned. Dean Winchester, as I live and breathe." He smiled like a cat that had eaten the canary, clasping Dean's hand in a firm handshake and clapping him on the back. "Good to see you again, mate. It's been what, a year?"

"Something like that," Dean agreed, returning the handshake. He couldn't help but notice the way George's eyes darted between him and Lorelai, a knowing glint in them that made Dean slightly uncomfortable.

"And you must be Sam," George continued, turning to shake Sam's hand as well. "Heard a lot about you. All good things, I promise," he added with a wink before looking over his shoulder. "Oi! Lee! Get your arse over here."

A man with dreadlocks, who had been making his way towards them from the bar, looked over at George's exclamation, his eyes lighting up when they landed on Lorelai.

"No bloody way!" he shouted when he drew close enough. "I told this tosser we should let you know we were in the States and ask you to join us, and heinsistedyou wouldn't come."

"He was right – I'm only here for Liv," Lorelai laughed jerking her thumb towards a table Olivia, Ian, and Nick had all taken over. Olivia, Dean noticed, already had her hands on a menu and was speaking to it – a behavior Dean thought was odd until food suddenly appeared on an empty plate that had been sitting in the middle of them all. "She and Ian got engaged. I just ran into Angelina on her way back in here."

Lee tutted, and just as Dean was thinking of following Sam's lead and heading towards the rest of the group they'd come in with, George clapped him on the shoulder.

"Lee Jordan, meet Dean Winchester. Dean's the bloke that –" but Dean didn't get to actually hear however George described him because at that moment, they were ambushed by another pair of familiar faces – or better yet, they were ambushed by Ginny Potter while Harry hovered behind her looking mildly awkward.

"Lorelai, you're here!" she exclaimed, cutting right through the middle of all of them to pull Lorelai into a quick and exuberant hug. Dean was stunned when she released her sister-in-law and immediately turned to him, giving him the same treatment. "And you brought Dean! I thought you two weren't seeing each other anymore."

Ginny's tone did nothing to hide, even to Dean, that she didn't believe this. From the way George was sniggering and Lee seemed to be fighting a smile, Dean assumed George didn't believe it either. Lorelai, however, shot Ginny a withering look as she moved around them to hug her brother.

"We'renot," she hissed. "Liv and I just did some work with him and Sam, and they decided to come out with us. Sam and Liv are right over there. Isn't that right, Dean? Hey, Harry."

And while Lorelai greeted her brother, Dean was left to field a skeptical look from her sister-in-law. Dean scratched at the back of his neck, nodding as he cleared his throat.

"Uh, yeah. That's all it is."

It was the truth, yet something about it didn't feel right – a feeling which Dean tried to suppress as he exchanged his own hellos with Harry a moment later.

"How are you doing with all this?" Harry ended up asking him quietly as the group of them slowly drifted towards the space the others had infiltrated, reminding Dean of Olivia that first night in Fitchburg. "I assume it's a bit different here than what you're used to."

Dean couldn't help but snort.

"Yeah, different. That's one way of putting it." Harry chuckled but didn't seem to take any offense.

"I'm surprised, from what Lorelai said I didn't think –" but this time, Dean didn't get to hear whatever it was Harry had to say ashewas ambushed, first by Nick, then by Olivia and Ian, and chaos erupted around him as everyone caught up with one another. He caught Sam's eye, feeling slightly out of place, as he ended up settling in across from his brother and once again next to Lorelai, where George was ribbing her for something that caught Dean's attention.

"In fact," he was continuing on, "I haven't seen you since your birthday party. Though didn't stick around for long, did you?"

Dean frowned, thinking it kind of a weird thing to say. He might not have done much in the way of celebrating his own birthday, but he knew it was a normal thing, and ducking out on your own party seemed a little weird.

But then, with a sinking feeling in his gut, he remembered the night he'd called Lorelai from Hibbing. She'd shown up, dressed to the nines, smelling faintly of alcohol but looking like she'd just come from somewhere important and wearing a cocktail dress that had threatened to short-circuit his brain. He'd assumed she'd been on a date, but he'd been too focused on finding Sam to really think about it. But now…

Lorelai, of course, was glaring daggers at George.

"I had a work emergency," she said through gritted teeth.

"Right, right," George nodded, his tone far too innocent to be believed. "A'work emergency'that had you running out on your own party without so much as a goodbye to anyone but me and Gin. Must have been quite the emergency."

Dean's frown deepened as the pieces all clicked into place. He turned to Lorelai, who was steadfastly avoiding his gaze.

"That was the night you came to Hibbing," he said slowly. "When Sam went missing. You... you left your birthday party to come help us?"

Lorelai's cheeks flushed, and she muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a threat towards George before turning back to him.

"It wasn't a big deal," she said, speaking up so he could actually hear this time. "You needed help, and it was just a party."

The warmth and guilt that spread through Dean's chest at her words caught him off guard. He opened his mouth, not sure what he was going to say, but before he could speak, Lee was calling for shots.

"Come on," Lee cajoled, slinging an arm around her. "Let's see if I can't finally out drink you."

The tension in Lorelai's shoulders seemed to melt away as she grinned at Lee before she turned to George, her earlier irritation replaced with glee.

"How many galleons do you want to bet he'll be regretting this in the morning?" Lorelai asked, letting Lee pull her to her feet.

Dean watched as she, George, and Lee lined up at the bar, a row of shot glasses appearing before them. It was like a switch had been flipped. Gone was the tense, guarded woman from earlier in the evening. In her place was the Lorelai Dean remembered from their wilder nights together – laughing, carefree, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she knocked back shot after shot.

"They're quite the trio, aren't they?" Ginny's voice startled Dean out of his reverie. He turned to find her watching the scene at the bar with a fond smile.

"Yeah," Dean agreed, his eyes drifting back to Lorelai. "They seem close."

Ginny nodded. "They are. George and Lorelai... well, they've been through a lot together. And Lee's been there for both of them through it all. He was Fred and George's best friend, and he took to Lorelai pretty quickly, soon as they introduced them." She paused, giving Dean a considering look. "You know, I'm surprised to see you here tonight."

Dean raised an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah? Why's that?" he asked, even though he suspected he already knew the answer. Ginny shrugged, taking a sip of her drink.

"Well, for starters, Lorelaireallyhates coming out to anywhere… magical. Then, of course, the way she told it, the two of you weren't exactly on the best of terms. I'm glad though. You seem good for her. Mostly."

Despite the late hour, the relocation to the VIP section seemed to have breathed new life into the party, and Dean found himself getting swept up into with the rest of them. Lorelai, too, seemed to have truly let go of whatever reservations she'd had outside and was fully letting loose, chatting and making the rounds with everyone, downing drinks the way Dean was used to seeing her do, and getting caught up in some sort of game at some point with Lee and George that Dean didn't even try to make sense of. Food and booze kept coming, bottles appearing in addition to drinks, and eventually Dean lost track of everything he'd tried.

As the night wore on, Dean found himself growing increasingly aware of Lorelai's presence. She was sitting next to him again, close enough that he could feel the heat radiating off her body. Every time she laughed, he felt a familiar pull in his chest, a reminder he didn't need of what they'd once had.

George, for his part, seemed determined to push them together. His comments grew increasingly pointed as the night wore on, much to Lorelai's apparent annoyance. Dean caught her shooting George murderous looks more than once, but the redhead seemed unfazed, his grin only growing wider with each glare.

"So, Dean," George said during a lull in the conversation, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Where are you and Sam off to next? You know, Lorelai's got this great flat in New York, right on-"

"George," Lorelai cut in, her voice low and warning. "Don't."

George held up his hands in mock surrender, but the grin never left his face.

"Just making conversation," he said with faux innocence that fooled no one. Dean shifted uncomfortably, acutely aware of the tension radiating off Lorelai. He was saved from having to respond by the arrival of a newcomer to their group.

"Lorelai?" a deep, accented voice called out. "Is that really you?"

Dean turned to see a man with an athletic build and a bit of height approaching them. He was classically handsome, with sharp cheekbones and piercing blue eyes and Lorelai's head snapped up at the sound of his voice, her eyes widening in recognition and surprise.

"Vlad?" she said, standing up. "What are you doing here?"

The man – Vlad – smiled warmly, pulling Lorelai into a brief hug.

"Playing tomorrow. Better question is whatyou'redoing here. I used to have to drag you to places like this kicking and screaming."

Lorelai laughed, the sound a bit forced to Dean's ears.

"Yeah, well, special occasion," she said, gesturing to Olivia and Ian. "Engagement party."

Vlad's eyes lit up in recognition and he smiled at them. It was a smile they returned, though Dean had noticed their eyes widened in interest, and Nick was suddenly looking tense.

"Ah, congratulations!" Vlad said to the couple, before turning back to Lorelai. "You look amazing, by the way."

Dean felt a twinge of... something in his chest. Jealousy? He pushed the feeling aside, reminding himself that he had no right to feel that way.

"Thanks," Lorelai said, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "You're not looking too bad yourself. Great season, by the way. That save against the Arrows was incredible."

Vlad grinned, clearly pleased by the compliment. "You saw that?"

Lorelai shrugged. "I come up for air every once and a while."

"Yeah, when she's not neck deep in monster guts and dark wizards," George quipped, earning him a light smack to the back of his head. Vlad, however, lit up further.

"That's right, you're one of MACUSA's finest now. Heard about your promotion last year – youngest person to make rank in, how long was it? And then that case you just wrapped up in Queens. It was all over the papers. Impressive work. Though you've always been impressive."

The flush in Lorelai's cheeks deepened, noticeable even in the dim lighting, and she took a sip from the cocktail in her hand, mumbling something that might have beenit's not a big deal.

There was a moment of silence between them, loaded with a history Dean wasn't privy to, though looking around, it seemed that he and Sam were the only ones. Her friends were doing a poor job of concealing their interest. Finally, Vlad nodded, his expression turning more serious.

"Well, anyway, you seem...good, Lorelai. I'm glad."

Something passed between them then, an understanding that Dean couldn't quite decipher. Lorelai's smile softened, becoming more genuine.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "I am. Have been for a while now."

"I'm happy for you," Vlad said sincerely. He glanced over his shoulder, where a group was calling for him. "Anyway, I should get back. It was really good to see you."

"You too, Vlad," Lorelai replied. "Good luck tomorrow."

As Vlad walked away, Dean couldn't help but notice the way Lorelai's eyes followed him. There was a history there, that much was obvious. Dean caught Sam's questioning look. He shrugged, trying to ignore the knot of jealousy that had formed in his gut. It was ridiculous, he told himself. He had no claim on Lorelai, no right to feel possessive. And yet...

Time kept ticking, the drinks kept coming, and group slowly dispersed and mingled. George and Lee ended up drifting back to where Angelina was talking with some of what Dean assumed were her teammates, while Ginny got called off to a group of people Dean didn't recognize, and Sam seemed to be engaged in a serious conversation with Harry.

At one point, Lorelai slipped away to get another drink, and Dean found himself relaxing into the banquette, taking the opportunity to just breathe. He was having a good time, but his mind was spinning from a combination of the alcohol he'd consumed and stimuli surrounding him.

"Bet you ten galleons that whole thing starts up again," Nick muttered to Ian, his eyes somewhere on the bar, but his bitter tone catching Dean's ear.

"Eh, I don't think so. I'd give it a 50-50 shot at best," came Ian's answer, and Dean found himself watching them from the corner of his eye.

"Then you haven't been paying attention. It's at least 70-30."

"That's harsh, dude."

"It's realistic," Nick muttered, eyebrows raised as he took a drink. Olivia, however smacked him and he spilled a bit.

"Don't be an ass," she hissed, even as Nick let out a frustrated noise, dabbing at the wet spot blooming on his shirt.

"I call it being a concerned friend," he shot back, and Dean found himself leaning in, unable to contain his own interest.

"What are you talking about?"

Olivia sighed, glaring at Nick and then Ian, before looking back to Dean. Both of them shifted uncomfortably, and Dean followed Nick's eyes to the bar, where he spotted Lorelai. She was still pressed up against it, waiting for the drinks she'd been after, but Vlad was right there, turned towards her and engaging her in some conversation that had her looking over her shoulder with bright eyes and a playful smile on her face.

Something inside Dean twisted in a way it had no right to, and he pushed the feeling down once more. They'd been broken up longer than they'd even been together, and whether he had his reasons or not, he'd made the choice to walk out on her in May. He couldn't expect her to sit away, pining for him. He certainly hadn't abstained in their time apart.

"Vlad and Lorelai," Olivia confirmed quietly.

"And the problem with Vlad is…" Dean prodded. He could be curious without feeling jealous. Ian grimaced, but Olivia was the one who answered.

"Their relationship was… messy. Very public, and very volatile. There was a lot of bad press, especially for Lorelai. They were both partiers, which wouldn't have been a problem, except while Vlad was having a good time, Lorelai was… self-medicating."

Nick snorted, and the pieces began to click into place for Dean.

"Yeah, let's call it that," Nick muttered bitterly, earning himself yet another smack. "Y'know, he could've done something, and instead he just let it get out of hand."

"I don't know that you have much room to talk there," Ian interjected.

"Thank you!" Olivia said, shooting him an appreciative look before glaring at Nick again. "What happened wasn't Vlad's fault, and you know it. Besides, it's been years. They've both moved on, I'm thinking you can too, buttercup."

Nick's glare shifted to Olivia while Dean's heart clenched at the thought of Lorelai in pain, struggling alone. He wanted to ask more, curiosity getting the better of him, but before he could, Lorelai was back, settling into the seat next to him. She seemed to pick up on the tension right away, and looked between all of them in concern, even as she handed Dean a drink he hadn't even thought to ask her for.

"Why so sour, Nicky?" she quipped. "You look like someone spit in your drink."

"Oh, I'm fine," Nick said, his tone deceptively casual. "You and Vlad sure looked cozy, though."

The effect was immediate – Dean could feel Lorelai tense next to him, her eyes flashing dangerously and her voice taking on a hard edge that hadn't been there before.

"It's called being polite, Nick. You should try it sometime."

"Right," Nick scoffed. "Because that's all it was."

"Yes, actually," Lorelai snapped. "In case you hadn't noticed, he's engaged. And even if he wasn't, it's ancient history. Drop it, Nick."

But Nick, emboldened by alcohol and what Dean was starting to suspect was some kind of long-standing grudge, pressed on.

"I'm just saying, it wouldn't be the first time you –"

"Finish that sentence," Lorelai cut in, her voice low and dangerous, "and I swear to Merlin, I will hex you into next week. You have gotnoroom to talk."

The tension at the table was palpable and for a moment, no one spoke. But then, when Nick opened his mouth, Lorelai shook her head, pushing back to her feet, waving a dismissive hand in his direction and walking off without another word. Dean's eyes followed her as she weaved through the crowd, coming to a stop between George and Lee, who absorbed her into their group seamlessly.

"Smooth," Ian said, and Nick made a frustrated noise, pushing to his feet as well.

"Shut up."

It was another hour later, maybe even two, when the evening finally started to wind down. Most everyone had already made their exit. Ginny and Angelina had been the first to vacate, bidding them all goodnight and following the rest of their team out to get some rest before whatever match it was they had the next day. Nick had left, still somewhat grumpy, not long after that, Dean had lost track of Olivia and Ian but assumed they'd gone up to their room too, and Sam was still a few tables over, still talking with Harry.

He and Lorelai were laughing and drinking around the same table they'd started at, rejoined by Lee and George, when Lee began to drift off. It was around then that George decided it was time get his friend up to bed, leaving Dean with just Lorelai.

The alcohol had long since caught up with both of them – Dean couldn't remember the last time he'd been this drunk, and it left them both loose-limbed and giggly.

"You know," Lorelai was saying, her words slightly slurred as she leaned against him, "I'm glad you came tonight."

Dean looked down at her, taking in the flush of her cheeks, the sparkle in her eyes. "Yeah?" he asked, his voice rougher than he'd intended. "Me too."

Lorelai's gaze flickered to his lips, then back to his eyes. The air between them suddenly felt charged, electric. He was surprised when Lorelai stretched and halfway fell over his lap. He looked down and was caught off guard by how close she really was but smiled when she slid a hand between the flannel and the t-shirt he was wearing, her arm wrapping around his torso as she shimmied up against him. Dean found himself not only getting lost in the sensation, but with his own dulled senses, feeling deliciously overwhelmed by the familiar smell of her shampoo and completely mesmerized by the smile on her face.

"We should get another drink," she declared. Dean looked around, taking stock. The bar as a whole had cleared out considerably, and they were the last two in the section of chairs and banquettes the group had claimed earlier in the night. The table was littered with remnants of a night well spent and the world swam around him as he gripped at Lorelai's waist, holding her against him. Dean nodded.

"Whatever the lady wants," he promised. Lorelai giggled drunkenly and sat up a little straighter, looking for something. He watched as she spotted the bottle of vodka on the table, now down to its last fourth. For a moment, she seemed to consider pouring into glasses, but ultimately, she grabbed the bottle itself, and Dean watched as she threw back at least a shot's worth before lowering it from her lips. Turning back to him, she grinned dangerously and pushed the bottle into his chest for him to accept.

"Hmmm, well, in that case, I want a chocolate-raspberry cake, and nachos, and a puppy, and those rose gold Jimmy Choos Olivia showed me, and… a Time Turner to go back and see the Stones during their 1975 tour –"

"A Time Turner?" he interrupted, swallowing down his own shot.

"It's a thing," she assured him. "Oh, and obviously more of this!" she added, grabbing the bottle back from his hand with a smile, and taking another swig while maintaining eye contact. Dean couldn't help but chuckle, even when she offered it back to him. It dimly registered that in doing so she was allowing him to finish it off, which in Lorelai's world was rather meaningful.

"Oh, is that all?" he asked sarcastically. The witch in his lap grinned and nodded.

"Mmmhmm, that's all. Simple girl, simple tastes… except the shoes maybe."

"The shoes?"

"The Jimmy Choos. Those aren't simple. But they're pretty." Dean let out a snort of laughter.

"You're anything butsimple, Lor. You are friendly again, though," he remarked, "and I've had a good night being out with you." Lorelai, however, frowned.

"That's not fair, I've been friendly," she pouted, and Dean shook his head, leaning in closer. Despite the diminished crowds, the room was still loud.

"Not like this. You haven't been… likethissince…"

"Since you tried to shoot me? Or since Kinston when you walked out on me?" she finished for him, an accusatory look in her eyes but a smirk on her face. Dean begrudgingly nodded, and Lorelai shrugged. "What can I say? I may be a drunk like Jack, but luckily for the rest of the world, I'm not the same kind. Most of the time, anyway. I'm usually a very happy drunk."

Her demeanor remained bright, nonchalant, but Dean felt his own features softening, and he rested his forehead against hers, unconsciously reaching up a hand to cradle her face. His mind drifted back to breakfast just yesterday, after she'd blown up and Olivia had reluctantly showed him and Sam the paper. He almost missed the way Lorelai's eyes fluttered shut when he touched her, a content smile on her face, and the way she leaned into him.

"You're not a drunk," he muttered, and Lorelai snorted.

"You don't know me very well."

Briefly, thought back to the speculating Nick and Ian had been doing while she'd been at the bar, and he feltsomethingflare in his chest. He thought of the conversation he'd overheard between her and Sam the day before, and all the pestering Sam had done since May, and he thought of every moment they'd shared the year before. Something deep in him solidified, both of them leaned in closer, impossibly so, their noses knocking. Dean could feel her warm breath on his face.

"I know you well enough," he argued.

For a moment it felt like the world was spinning around them.

"Oh yeah?" she challenged.

"Yeah, Lor, I do."

In the end he wasn't sure who initiated it. All he knew was that Lorelai's lips were on his and he was drowning in the sensation, and he didn't want it to stop. Uncaring of where they were or who might see, Dean found himself pulling her more firmly against him, needing to feel as much of her as possible. Lorelai didn't seem to mind, clutching at him desperately while one of his hands tangled in her hair. It was short, but passionate, and they were both breathing heavily when they broke it off.

"Hm, what was that?" Lorelai asked, her eyes suddenly wider as she pulled back just enough to meet his gaze.

"You tell me."

"But I asked you."

"Fun."

"That can't happen," she said, though the lack of conviction in her voice and the expression on her face undermined the sentiment. Dean cocked his head.

"Why not?"

Lorelai pressed her lips together, and hummed, smiling and shaking her head, although it seemed more to herself than directed at him.

"It's a bad idea.Thisis a bad idea," she said, motioning between them.

"With you, it's usually a prettygoodidea," he disagreed.

Lorelai sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and stared up at him. Her one hand maintained its grip on his shoulder, and Dean noticed her eyes scan his body, her normal ability to be subtle stifled by the alcohol. Her gaze became more heated as she looked, and Dean couldn't deny he was having trouble keeping his eyes on her face. The way she was situated, he had a clear shot down her shirt, and the sight of her tits swelling in the lacy red bra she was wearing was all too enticing.

After half a beat, Lorelai leaned up into him, kissing him again. Her tongue swiped across his lips and dipped into his mouth as she adjusted so that she was no longer just sort-of in his lap. No, she opted to full on straddle him. Dean found himself reacting instinctually, his hands gripping hard at her hips, pulling her to him and egging her on. He suppressed a groan when she grinded ever-so-slightly against him. His need for her had hardly been quenched in Kinston, and being so close to her these past few days, basically living with her, had been the worst kind of tease.

"If we take this somewhere else, you gonna show me exactly how good it could be?" she asked, her breath tickling his ear, just before her tongue ran along the edge of it and her lips closed around the lobe. He bucked his hips when she used her teeth at the last second.

"Sweetheart, we take this somewhere else, and I'll make you feel so good you'll forget your damn name."

He was worried when she backed off him and semi-staggered to her feet, but any concerns dissipated when she looked down at him, seductive smile in place, and held out her hand. Dean took it without hesitation and pushed to his feet, ignoring the way the world sort of spun around him when he did. Without letting go, Dean let her lead him through the dark room, music still pumping magically through the air.

The area of the club they'd started in was still a bit busier than the VIP section Angelina had gotten them admittance to, and Dean noticed that even drunk, Lorelai was careful to skirt the edges of the room. He thought about saying something but, catching sight of their locked hands and remembering what Olivia had told him when Lorelai had been talking with Vlad at the bar, he opted to keep quiet. Frankly, it felt like a gift that she hadn'tdroppedhis hand, and that she was walking so closely with him.

Outside, the rest of the hotel was startlingly quiet and comparatively bright. The lobby was deserted, and Lorelai wasted no time in tugging him down the hall to the bank of elevators he and Sam had used earlier to get to and from their room.

She spun mid-step and grabbed either side of his flannel, pulling him to her without slowing down. Dean's hands flew back to her hips in kind, and their lips met once more in a blaze of fire. She sucked his bottom lip before parting her own to let him in. His hands refamiliarized themselves with the curves of her body, one ultimately slipping down to grab her ass while the other roamed her side.

Before long, Lorelai's back hit the wall and she reached behind them blindly, feeling for the button. It came quickly and they hurried, Lorelai backing in, Dean stumbling along with her, neither of them willing to come up for air. His heart raced as the doors slid shut behind them, enclosing him and Lorelai in the small space and providing them privacy neither of them had really cared about but certainly needed. Bodies still pressed together, she fumbled to press the button for what he assumed was her floor. He was so focused on the woman in his arms he barely registered the sudden jolt as the elevator began to move, though neither of them were totally prepared for the movement and they fell apart.

Dean surged forward, pushing her against the wall, and Lorelai's lips were on his again in an instant, hungry and insistent. Dean responded with equal fervor, his hands roaming her body, reacquainting himself with every curve he'd missed so desperately. He hitched up one of her legs around him, pinning her there with his hips and moving in closer as he deepened the kiss. The taste of vodka lingered on her tongue, mingling with the sweetness that was uniquely Lorelai.

As the elevator continued its wonky ascent, Dean's lips trailed down Lorelai's neck, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin there. She let out a breathy moan, her fingers tangling in his hair, urging him on. The sound sent a jolt of electricity straight to his groin, and he pressed himself more firmly against her, letting her feel the effect she was having on him.

"Dean," Lorelai gasped, her voice thick with desire. "We're almost there."

He reluctantly pulled back, his eyes meeting hers. The hunger he saw reflected there matched his own, and it took every ounce of self-control he possessed not to take her right there in the elevator. Instead, he rested his forehead against hers, both of them breathing heavily as they waited for the doors to open.

The moment they did, Lorelai grabbed Dean's hand and practically dragged him down the hallway. They stumbled slightly, the alcohol making their movements less coordinated than usual, but neither of them cared. All that mattered was getting to Lorelai's room as quickly as possible.

When they reached her door, Lorelai fumbled with her key card while Dean pressed up behind her. She cursed under her breath as it took her three tries to get it to work and Dean chuckled against her skin, his hands on her hips, his lips ghosting over the nape of her neck. Finally, the lock clicked, and they practically fell into the room.

The door had barely closed behind them before Dean had Lorelai pressed against it, his mouth crashing down on hers once more. His hands slid down her sides, gripping her thighs and lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist instinctively, grinding against him as he carried her towards the bed.

They collapsed onto the mattress in a tangle of limbs. Dean's hands roamed Lorelai's body, relearning every inch of her as if it had been years since he'd last touched her, not months. He pushed her dress up, his calloused fingers trailing along the smooth skin of her thighs.

Lorelai arched into his touch, her own hands busy pushing his flannel off his shoulders. Dean shrugged out of it, tossing it carelessly to the side before yanking his t-shirt over his head. Lorelai's eyes raked over his bare chest, her pupils blown wide with lust and an appreciative noise slipping past her lips.

"Ugh, you're just as hot as I remembered," she groaned, her nails raking over his abs as she surged up to leave a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses over his skin. Her tongue flicked over a nipple and his grip on her tightened.

"God, I've missed this," Dean growled, his voice low and husky. He captured her lips in another searing kiss, his tongue exploring her mouth as his hands worked to rid her of her dress. Lorelai lifted her hips, allowing him to pull the garment off in one swift motion.

The sight of her beneath him, clad only in that red, lace bra and matching panties, nearly took Dean's breath away. He paused for a moment, drinking her in, his eyes roving over every curve and dip of her body, the jagged scar faintly visible on her hip. Lorelai squirmed under his gaze, impatient.

"You gonna stare all night or you gonna do something about it?" she teased, her voice breathy and seductive.

Dean's response was a low growl as he descended on her once more, laving his own trail of kisses down her neck and across her collarbone. His hands cupped her breasts through the lace of her bra, thumbs brushing over her nipples and eliciting a gasp from Lorelai.

She arched into his touch, her hands roaming his back, nails digging into his skin. Dean hissed at the sensation, the slight pain only fueling his desire. He reached behind her, unhooking the bra with practiced ease and tossing it aside before diving back in. His mouth found her breast, his tongue swirling around her nipple before sucking it between his lips. Lorelai moaned, pressing herself more firmly against him. He reveled in the sounds of pleasure he was eliciting, continuing to lavish her with attention.

As he continued to lose himself in her, Lorelai's hands fumbled with his belt, her movements clumsy in her eagerness. Dean chuckled against her skin, pulling back to help her. He stood, kicking off his boots and shimmying out of his jeans and boxers in one go. Lorelai's eyes widened as she took in the sight of him fully naked, her gaze lingering on his erection.

Before Dean could move, Lorelai was sitting up, her hands on his hips as she pulled him closer to the edge of the bed. Her breath ghosted over his length, sending a shiver down his spine. He looked down at her, meeting her eyes as she wrapped her hand around him.

"Fuck, Lor," he groaned as she stroked him, her touch both familiar and electrifying.

Lorelai maintained eye contact as she leaned forward, her tongue darting out to lick a stripe up the underside of his cock. Dean's hands tangled in her hair, careful not to guide, just holding on as she took him into her mouth.

The wet heat of her mouth engulfed him, and Dean let out a low moan. Lorelai worked him expertly, her tongue swirling around the head before taking him deeper. Her free hand cupped his balls, rolling them gently as she bobbed her head.

Dean's hips jerked involuntarily, pushing himself deeper into her mouth but Lorelai took it in stride, relaxing her throat to accommodate him. The sight of her lips stretched around him, coupled with the incredible sensation, had Dean teetering on the edge embarrassingly quickly.

"Shit, Lor, I'm gonna –" he warned, tugging gently at her hair.

But Lorelai didn't pull away. Instead, she redoubled her efforts, her cheeks hollowing as she sucked him harder. Dean's grip on her hair tightened as he felt his orgasm building, a familiar tension coiling in his lower abdomen. In a show of what he felt was extraordinary strength, he pulled her off, just barely holding back his release. She pouted up at him, lips swollen, a thin trail of saliva still connecting them for just a second and Dean groaned at the sight. Knees feeling weak, he sank down onto the bed beside her, pulling her in for a deep, languid kiss. He could taste himself on her tongue, and it sent another jolt of arousal through him, and he focused on his breathing.

"Why'd you stop me?" she complained, licking into his mouth, nails raking over his skin once more while her leg hitched over his hip.

"Because I'm nowhere near done with you, and it's your turn," he murmured against her lips, rolling them so she was underneath him once more.

Dean kissed his way down her body, pausing at her breasts again before continuing his descent. He hooked his fingers in the waistband of her panties, sliding them down her legs and tossing them aside.

For a moment he allowed himself to admire her, spread out before him, skin flushed with arousal. Dean's hands caressed her thighs, pushing them apart gently as he settled between them. He pressed a kiss to the inside of her knee, then slowly worked his way up, leaving a trail of kisses and gentle nips along her inner thigh.

Lorelai squirmed beneath him, her hips lifting in anticipation. Dean held her down with one hand on her stomach, his other hand coming up to tease her folds. She was already swollen and wet, and he groaned at the feeling of her arousal coating his fingers.

"Dean, please," Lorelai whimpered, her voice thick with need.

Never having been able to deny her, Dean leaned in, his tongue swiping through her folds in one long, broad stroke. The taste of her made his head spin in the best way, and Lorelai's back arched off the bed, a strangled moan escaping her lips. Dean set to work, alternating between broad strokes of his tongue and focused attention on her clit.

And even though it had been months since they'd last been together like this, longer since they'd done this with any regularity, bringing her pleasure came just as instinctively as it always had. He slipped two fingers inside her, curling them to hit that spot that always drove her wild. Lorelai's hands found their way to his hair, gripping tightly as she rocked against his face. Dean could feel her thighs trembling on either side of his head quickly, a sure sign she was close.

"That's it, sweetheart," he murmured against her, soaking in the way she panted above him. "Come for me."

His words seemed to be her undoing. He'd barely gotten his mouth back on her when she let go with a cry of his name, her inner walls clenching around his fingers as her body shook with the force of her orgasm. Dean worked her through it, not letting up until she pushed weakly at his head, oversensitive.

He crawled back up her body, capturing her lips in a deep kiss. Lorelai moaned at the taste of herself on his tongue, her hands clawing his back as she pulled him closer, somehow seeming even more desperate than before.

"I need you," Lorelai breathed against his lips, her legs wrapping around his waist and pulling him closer, hand reaching between them to wrap around his cock, stroking him.

Dean didn't need to be told twice. He reached between them, replacing her hand with his and guiding himself to her entrance. He paused for a moment, his eyes meeting hers, silently asking for permission. Lorelai nodded, her hips lifting to meet him.

In one smooth thrust, Dean buried himself inside her. They both groaned at the sensation, the familiar feeling of being joined overwhelming them. Dean stilled for a moment, giving her time to adjust and himself time to regain some control.

When Lorelai rocked her hips impatiently, Dean began to move. He started slow, long, deep thrusts that had Lorelai gasping beneath him. But their need for each other quickly took over, and soon he was pounding into her, the sound of skin slapping against skin filling the room.

Lorelai met him thrust for thrust, her nails raking down his back as she clung to him, a combination of his name, breathy gasps, and curses spewing from her mouth. Dean buried his face in her neck, sucking and biting at the sensitive skin there, marking her as his. The possessive gesture only seemed to spur Lorelai on, her moans growing louder.

Dean could feel her getting close again, her inner walls starting to flutter around him. He snaked a hand between them, his thumb finding her clit and rubbing tight circles. Lorelai's back arched off the bed as she let out a string of curses.

"Fuck, Lor, you feel so good," he panted, his voice rough with exertion as she trembled and clenched around him. "You gonna come again?"

She kissed him instead of answering, but the way she continued to clench as she tensed beneath him was answer enough. It was a smaller orgasm, but the sight and feel of her coming undone was almost enough to send Dean over the edge with her anyway, and he gritted his teeth, determined to hold off. He needed more, and was sure he could get her there one more time.

As Lorelai came down from her high, Dean slowed his thrusts, giving her a moment to recover. He kissed her deeply, swallowing her whimpers while he continued to move inside her.

"Turn over," he murmured against her lips, pulling out of her and helping her roll onto her stomach.

Lorelai complied eagerly, pushing herself up onto her hands and knees. Dean positioned himself behind her, running his hands appreciatively over the curve of her ass before lining himself up once more.

He pushed back in slowly, savoring the feeling of her tight heat enveloping him. Lorelai moaned, pushing back against him impatiently. Dean gripped her hips tightly, holding her still as he set a punishing pace.

The new angle allowed him to hit even deeper, and Lorelai's cries grew louder with each thrust. Dean leaned over her, one hand braced on the bed beside her while the other snaked around to cup her breast, pinching and rolling her nipple between his fingers.

"Fuck, Dean," Lorelai gasped, her arms trembling as she struggled to hold herself up. "So good... don't stop…"

Dean could feel his own orgasm building again, a familiar tension coiling in his lower abdomen. He redoubled his efforts, still determined to bring Lorelai over the edge one more time before he lost control.

His hand left her breast, sliding down her stomach until he reached where they were joined. His fingers found her clit once more, rubbing tight circles in time with his thrusts. Lorelai's arms gave out, and she collapsed onto her forearms, the change in angle allowing Dean to hit deeper still.

"That's it, sweetheart," Dean encouraged, his voice strained as he fought to hold back his own release. "One more time for me."

A few thrusts later, Lorelai's body tensed beneath him, a strangled cry escaping her as her third orgasm of the night crashed over her, this one just as intense as the first. The feeling of her inner walls clenching around him was too much for Dean, and with a final, deep thrust and a shout of her name, he followed her over the edge.

Dean collapsed on top of her, both of them breathing heavily as they came down from their highs. After a moment, he rolled off to the side, pulling Lorelai with him so that she was nestled against his chest.

They lay there in silence for a while, their breathing slowly returning to normal. Dean's hand traced lazy patterns on Lorelai's back, while she held him close, seemingly content.

And as the post-orgasmic haze began to clear, he became acutely aware of how drunk they both still were. The room spun slightly when he closed his eyes, and he could feel the warm flush of alcohol still coursing through his veins.

Lorelai seemed to be in a similar state. She nuzzled against his neck, her words slightly slurred as she mumbled, "Mmm, that was fun."

Dean chuckled, running his fingers through her tangled hair. "Yeah, it was," he agreed, his voice still rough, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Between the booze, the sex, and the relief at having her close again, Dean found himself feeling unusually open, and the words started coming before he could actually think about them.

"I've missed this," he admitted softly, his fingers tangling in her hair. "Missed you."

When he realized what he'd said, Dean expected a snarky comment, or maybe grudging agreement… easy agreement, even, if he was lucky and she were feeling as good as he was. What he didn't expect was the quiet as Lorelai shifted slightly, nuzzling closer. And what he really didn't expect was the choked sob that escaped her, or the wetness on his chest that confirmed she was crying.

Dean froze, his hand stilling on her back.

"Lor?" he asked cautiously. Another sob shook her body. "What's wrong?" he continued, this time trying to sit up and move them so he could see her face. Lorelai, however, didn't budge, hiding her face against him and holding him tighter.

"I hate you," she finally whispered, her voice thick with tears.

Dean felt like he'd been doused with cold water, his heart clenching painfully, certain he'd had to have heard her wrong. But before he could respond, Lorelai continued, her voice breaking.

"I hate you because... because it hurts. Because I can't stop thinking about you, no matter how hard I try. Because every time I see you, it's like... it's like I can breathe again, and then you leave and I'm drowning. I hate that no matter how hard I try to move on, you're always there. I hate that I still want you after everything." Her words came out in a rush, slurred slightly from the alcohol and muffled against his skin. "I hate how much it hurts to be around you and not be with you. I hate that I'm not over you. I hate that I don't know how to be."

Dean swallowed hard. He could still feel her tears on his skin, each one like a dagger to his heart. He wanted nothing more than to take away her pain, to make things right between them. He'd never seen Lorelai like this – so raw and vulnerable. Even drunk, she usually kept her walls up. To see her falling apart in his arms broke something inside him.

"Lor," he started, his voice hoarse. But she wasn't finished.

"I hate that you make me feel this way," she continued, her words becoming more jumbled as she cried. "That you can just... just walk in and out of my life and I let you. That I want to let you. I hate that I'm not strong enough to walk away, that I keep coming back for more even though I know it'll hurt in the end. I hate that I let myself fall for you in the first place. I hate that I trusted you. I hate that I opened myself up again after Fred." A harsh, teary, bitter laugh escaped her. "I hate that I'm telling you any of this."

Dean's arms tightened around her instinctively, his own eyes stinging with unshed tears. He wanted to say something, anything, to make it better. But he knew she needed to get this out.

"I hate you because you make me feel things I swore I'd never feel again after Fred died. I hate you because you scare the shit out of me, because I know if I lose you, it'll break me all over again. I hate that it's been months, and it still hurts. Every time I see you, every time we're together like this, it's like ripping open a wound that never fully healed."

Dean's heart shattered. He'd known, on some level, that he'd hurt her. But hearing the pain in her voice, feeling her shake against him as she cried... it was almost more than he could bear. He'd spent so long convincing himself that keeping his distance was better for both of them. That she was better off without him and all the danger that came with his life.

But now, holding her trembling form, he realized how spectacularly he'd failed. In that moment it didn't matter that she'd hurt him too… or that he'd been harboring that anger over how it had ended for months… the guilt threatened to drown him. He wasn't used to the raw emotion in her voice, and it was threatening to bring it out in him too. In trying to protect her, he'd only hurt both of them.

"And then Kinston," Lorelai continued to sob. "Fuck, Kinston. I thought maybe... but then you were gone again. And it hurt all over again."

Her words were like a knife to his gut, the guilt intensifying. He squeezed his eyes shut, remembering waking up to Sam's frantic pounding on the door, the urgency in his brother's voice. Dean had known he'd hurt her, but hearing the extent of it, feeling her shake with sobs in his arms...

Again, he wanted nothing more than to pull her even closer, to kiss away her pain and promise her that everything would be okay. But he knew it wasn't that simple. They had so much to work through, so many issues to address.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "God, Lor, I'm so fucking sorry. I never meant to hurt you like this. Never."

But it was almost like she didn't even hear him, and the tears kept coming.

"I hate that you know me better than anyone else. I hate that you can see right through me, even when I don't want you to. I hate that you're the only one who can make me feel safe and terrified at the same time. I hate that I can't hate you," she whispered. "No matter how much I want to, no matter how much easier it would be. I just... I can't."

The implication of her words hung heavy in the air between them. Dean's heart raced, a mix of hope and fear coursing through him. He knew what she was really saying, even if she couldn't bring herself to say the words.

She loved him. And he loved her too, God help him.

Dean wanted to tell her. Wanted to pour out his own feelings, to really apologize for all the pain he'd caused her. But looking down at her, still crying softly against his chest, he knew now wasn't the time. They were both too drunk, too emotionally raw, and exhausted. It wasn't the time for deep conversations or life-altering decisions. This conversation needed to happen when they were sober, when they could think clearly.

So instead, he pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head, his arms tightening around her.

"I'm here, Lor," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm not going anywhere. Not this time. I promise."

It wasn't enough, not nearly enough to make up for everything. But it was all he could offer in that moment. Lorelai seemed to sense this, her sobs quieting as she nestled closer to him.

They fell asleep like that, tangled together, the weight of their unspoken feelings hanging between them. Dean's last thought before drifting off was a promise to himself: in the morning, they'd talk. Really talk. Sam was right, it was long overdue. And maybe, just maybe, they could start to heal. He would do whatever it took to make things right with Lorelai. To show her how much she meant to him. Because a life without her in it wasn't one he wanted to contemplate.

Sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains woke Dean the next morning. He groaned, his head pounding from the previous night's overindulgence. It took him a moment to get his bearings, memories of the night before slowly trickling back.

Lorelai. The bar. Coming back to her room. The sex. Her tearful confession.

Shit.

Lorelai was still curled against his side, her face peaceful in sleep. Dean's breath caught as he looked at her. Even with smudged makeup and tangled hair, she was beautiful, and his chest tightened with a surge of affection. For a moment, Dean allowed himself to savor the feeling. It had been so long since he'd woken up with her in his arms.

But the contentment was quickly replaced by nerves as he remembered his resolution from the night before. They needed to talk. To figure out what the hell they were doing.

Dean took a deep breath, steeling himself. Normally, he'd have let her sleep, but he didn't have it in him just then to do so. If he did, he was worried he'd chicken out, and he couldn't afford to do that again. He knew that now.

"Lor?" he said softly, gently shaking her shoulder. "Hey, wake up."

Lorelai stirred, mumbling incoherently. Her eyes fluttered open, unfocused and clouded with sleep. For a split second, a soft smile graced her features as she looked up at him.

Then awareness hit.

Dean saw the exact moment it did. Lorelai's eyes widened, a flash of panic crossing her face. Before he could react, she was scrambling away from him, putting as much distance between them as the bed would allow.

"Shit," she muttered, running a hand through her tangled hair. "Shit, shit, shit."

"Lor-" Dean started, but she cut him off.

"No! This was a mistake," Lorelai said, her voice tight. She wouldn't meet his eyes, instead focusing on gathering the sheet around herself. "We shouldn't have done this."

The words stung more than Dean cared to admit.

"Come on, you don't mean that," he started, reaching for her, but Lorelai flinched away from his touch, and he faltered. "We need to talk about this, Lor."

"No,we don't," she said firmly. "I mean it, Dean. This can't happen again. I'mnotdoing this."

Dean felt his own defenses start to rise at her rejection.

"Didn't seem like you thought it was a mistake last night," he said, unable to keep the bitterness from his voice. Lorelai's head snapped up, her eyes flashing.

"I was drunk," she snapped. "We both were. It doesn't mean anything."

"Bullshit," Dean retorted, his own voice starting to raise with hers. "You can't tell me there's nothing here, Lor. Not after everything."

"There's nothing here," Lorelai insisted, though her voice wavered slightly. "We're done, remember? You've made that pretty clear, on more than one occasion."

Dean winced at the reminder. "I know, and I'm sorry about that. But-"

"But nothing," Lorelai cut him off. She stood abruptly, wrapping the sheet tighter around herself. "This was a one-time thing. It's not happening again."

"Would you just listen to me for a second?" Dean said, frustration coloring his tone. He climbed out of bed, not bothering to cover himself. "I know we've got baggage. I know I fucked up. But I care about you, Lor. I want-"

"Don't," Lorelai interrupted, holding up a hand. "Just don't, Dean. I can't do this with you. Not again."

Dean fell silent, stung by the finality in her voice. He watched as Lorelai gathered her clothes from the floor, her movements jerky and agitated.

"You should go," she said, not looking at him. "Sam's probably wondering where you are."

The dismissal was clear. Dean felt his own walls slamming back into place, hurt and anger warring in his chest. Fine. If this was how she wanted to play it, two could play that game.

"Yeah, you're right," he said coldly. "Wouldn't want to overstay my welcome."

He dressed quickly, not bothering with subtlety. Lorelai kept her back to him the entire time, her posture rigid.

Dean paused at the door, turning back for one last look. Lorelai stood by the window, arms wrapped tightly around herself. For a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of regret in her eyes.

Then it was gone, replaced by that stubborn determination he knew so well.

"Goodbye, Dean," she said softly. Dean's jaw clenched. After all of it, how the hell had they ended up here?

"See you around, sweetheart," he replied, injecting as much sarcasm as he could into the endearment.

Without another word, he strode out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

The walk back to his and Sam's room was a blur. Dean's head throbbed from the hangover and his mind raced, replaying the disastrous argument over and over. How had things gone so wrong? Last night, Lorelai had been vulnerable, open. She'd admitted to still having feelings for him. And now...

Now she was shutting him out completely. Acting like what they had meant nothing.

Dean's mood soured further as he replayed Lorelai's words in his head. A mistake. That's all last night had been to her. And her confession? Had that been a lie too? Just drunken ramblings that meant nothing in the light of day?

It stung. More than Dean wanted to admit.

By the time he reached their room, Dean's hurt had calcified into anger. It was easier to be pissed off than to admit how deeply Lorelai's rejection cut. All he wanted was a shower and maybe to punch something.

Sam looked up from his laptop as Dean entered, a knowing smirk on his face. "Well, well. Look who's doing the walk of shame."

Dean grunted noncommittally, heading straight for his duffel bag.

"So," Sam prodded when Dean didn't elaborate. "You and Lorelai seemed pretty friendly last night. Everything good?"

"Drop it, Sam," Dean snapped, more harshly than he intended.

Sam's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Whoa, okay. What crawled up your ass and died?"

Dean ignored him, shoving clothes haphazardly into his bag. "We need to get back on the road," he said gruffly. "Pack your crap."

Sam's brow furrowed, his expression growing more serious. "Dude, seriously, what's wrong? You look like crap."

"I'm fine," Dean snapped. He yanked a clean shirt from his bag with more force than necessary. "We need to get on the road. You packed?"

"Uh, yeah, mostly," Sam said slowly. "But Dean, c'mon, man. Talk to me. Last night you seemed... I dunno, happy. You and Lorelai both were. What happened?"

"Nothing happened!" Dean exploded, rounding on his brother. "Nothing's ever gonna happen, alright? So just leave it the hell alone! Can you justdothat, Sam?"

Sam held his hands up in a placating gesture. "Okay, okay. Consider it dropped."

Dean ignored him, grabbing his toiletries and heading for the bathroom. He needed a scalding hot shower to wash away the lingering scent of Lorelai's perfume.

"I'm getting a shower, and then we're hitting the road!"

"I'll finish packing," Sam called after him. "We can grab breakfast on the way out of town."

Dean grunted in acknowledgment before slamming the bathroom door. He cranked the shower as hot as it would go, stripping off last night's clothes and stepping under the spray.

As the water pounded against his skin, Dean leaned his forehead against the cool tile. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the ache in his chest to subside.

It didn't matter, he told himself. So what if Lorelai didn't want him? He was better off without the complication anyway. They had a job to do, a demon to hunt. He couldn't afford distractions, and that's what she was.

He and Lorelai were too complicated, too messy. Better to cut ties now before anyone got hurt worse anyway.

But even as he thought it, Dean knew it was bullshit. Because despite everything, despite the anger and hurt and frustration, one truth remained.

He was in love with Lorelai Baudelaire. And no amount of hot water was going to wash away those feelings.

---

How many more times do I get to ask you guys not to hate me and promise to trust where it's going? 😂😅

In all seriousness, thank you so much for reading! You guys are the best. I love all of your feedback so, so much ❤️ Heading into the new year, I am going to be switching to an every other week update schedule, at least for a while. Please know, because I know it's a common worry for readers and I've been burned so many times myself by fics that die off, it is not for any decreased interest in this story and I will not be exceeding the every other week schedule. I've got this entire thing outlined, and partial drafts for each season. I just need to get myself a little more flexibility, to keep up with regular life and maybe balancing in a few other writing goals I have for myself. But this story, as far as my writing goes, will remain my number one priority.

Anyway, love you all! Hope you have a very happy and safe New Year! 🎉