Family Don't End In Blood

Memories

Forgetting about the case Cas found completely we drove on until mid day when we got to Malibu. It amazes me how well you can remember roads even though things can change. That the memories can be so strong.

I took a shaky breath as Dean pulled into the large horseshoe driveway. The memories of leaving, of watching Fred pace about the drive, they all came back like a tsunami. The house remained unchanged. The plants different but the house the same.

I paid someone to look after it. They lived in the guest house. The house itself a time capsule. A museum of my last months with Freddie.

We walked up the steps in silence. Only the sounds of birds in the trees. Even after all these years, it's still quiet here. The neighbors were still spread out. The keys still kept in the same statue. Nothing had changed. Except that there was no Fred.

I opened the door half expecting to see him sitting in his chair reading. Dean and Cas walked in, their eyes looking over everything. Dean stopped to pick up a photo of me and Fred off the table.

"That was my favorite one, I was really happy in that photo." I whispered as I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"Bring it home, it should be on the wall with the rest of the family photos." Dean said smiling at me. I don't know how I got so lucky. To be loved like this.

"Our pasts, they're part of who we are. Freddie's photos should be up. So should Lisa's. We have photos of jacks mom, they should be there too." Cas chimed in looking at the photo. We both just nodded in agreement.

We wandered through the house. Dean asking for stories behind pictures as he collected them in an old box to bring back to Kansas. I grabbed a few bits and bobbles from my past lives to add to the box as well. Neither of them questioned much.

When we walked into my bedroom, the one I shared with Freddie in the end, it was hard to keep from breaking down. There were so many memories. Good and bad.

"What do you need from us?" Dean asked as Castiel took my hand.

"I'd like you both to box some things up for me.  There's a samsonite in the closet. There's also a gold dress in the closet, could you pack it, and the jewelry boxes on the dresser?" I asked as I sat on the bed trying not to get lost in memories.

"That's the dress you met him in isn't it?" Dean asked pulling the beaded dress out.

"It is. If you're not okay with it, we can leave it..." I quietly spoke. Dean just gave me a soft smile and carefully folded it into the suitcase.

"It's okay to love him Sloane. I'm not mad." He said as he picked up all the little jewelry boxes of the dresser. Carefully packing them in.

"Do you want any of your other dresses? Jo and Claire would want to see them." Cas said looking at all of the now vintage clothes.

"Do you think they'd want them?" I asked getting up from my spot and walking to the closet.

I ran my fingers along all the clothes on the pole. Every dress with its own memories. Each one had a story. Even if I didn't always remember them without a haze.

"They love their mom, and they both love things like this." Cas said smiling at me.

I took a deep breath as Cas and I started taking down the clothes. Folding them carefully into the remaining luggage in the closet.

"The last time I packed these suitcases, packed these clothes..." I whispered as we packed.

"You were leaving your family." Cas said reaching out to comfort me.