Between Love and Darkness- Book 2

22. A New Chapter in Life

Dean's POV

I never thought I'd be the kind of guy standing in Bobby's kitchen, telling my family I was engaged. That word—engaged—still felt strange in my mouth. But now, as I leaned back against the kitchen counter, my arm wrapped around Stella's waist, watching Sam and Bobby try to wrap their heads around the idea of me getting married, it didn't feel so strange anymore. It felt right. It felt like a part of my life I never thought I'd have, but here it was, staring me in the face.

Sam was still grinning like a damn fool, shaking his head every few seconds like he couldn't believe what was happening. "I mean, don't get me wrong, Dean," he said, looking between us, "but when did this... how long have you been planning this?"

I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. "Not as long as you'd think, honestly. It just hit me one day—Stella's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I didn't need to think about it for much longer than that."

Sam laughed softly, running a hand through his hair. "I'm happy for you guys. Really. This is... it's good, Dean."

The words hit me in a way I didn't expect. It wasn't like we were the type to get mushy or spill our feelings all over the place, but hearing Sam say he was happy for me, for us, meant a lot more than I thought it would. It was like everything was falling into place.

"Thanks, man," I said, giving him a nod. "Means a lot."

Bobby, who had been unusually quiet throughout this whole thing, finally let out a deep sigh, crossing his arms over his chest as he studied us both. He was trying to act grumpy, like usual, but I could see the way his eyes softened when he looked at us. "Well, I guess it's about time. You two make a damn good team. I've seen the way you look out for each other. That's important."

Stella smiled, reaching up to brush her fingers against my arm. "Yeah, we've been through a lot together."

"And you're gonna go through a hell of a lot more," Bobby grunted, but there was no mistaking the affection in his voice. "But if anyone can handle it, it's you two."

There was a brief, comfortable silence that settled over the room after that. I glanced at Stella, and she gave me that soft, knowing smile that always made my chest tighten. We'd been through more than most couples would ever even imagine—facing down creatures that could tear you apart in seconds, running headfirst into danger, barely making it out alive some days. And through all of it, she'd stayed by my side.

This wasn't just about getting married. This was about us making it through whatever came next. Together.

"So, what now?" Sam asked, leaning back in his chair. "You guys going to start planning the wedding, or is that going to be another last-minute Dean Winchester special?"

Stella laughed, shaking her head. "We haven't even thought about that yet."

I grinned, pulling her a little closer. "Hey, we've never done things the normal way before. Why start now?"

Sam rolled his eyes, but there was that familiar look of amusement in his eyes. "Yeah, figures."

"Well, we don't have to figure it out tonight," Stella said, her hand still resting on mine. "For now, I'm just happy to know that we're starting this next part of our lives together. The rest will come."

I squeezed her hand, feeling that same rush of warmth flood through me again. She was right. We didn't need to have all the details figured out. All that mattered was that we were in this together. Everything else would fall into place.

Bobby gave us both a nod before pushing off the counter and heading toward the back room, his gruff voice cutting through the quiet. "I'm happy for you two, but don't think this gets you off the hook for work. Still got a hunt or two lined up, and we'll need all hands on deck."

I laughed. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

As Bobby disappeared, I turned back to Sam, who was still shaking his head in disbelief. "Dean Winchester. Married. That's... that's something."

I shrugged, trying to play it off, but there was a part of me that liked the sound of it. "Yeah, well, get used to it."

Stella leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder, and I couldn't help but smile. It was still surreal—this whole idea of having a future that wasn't just about hunting, about surviving. But with her, it felt possible. It felt real.

After a few more minutes of back-and-forth with Sam, I noticed the tired look in Stella's eyes. The day had been long, and I knew she was running on fumes. I wasn't far behind her in that department, either.

"You ready to call it a night?" I asked, my voice low.

Stella nodded, her hand sliding down to intertwine with mine. "Yeah, I think so."

Sam gave us a knowing smile, waving us off. "Go on. Get some rest. You guys earned it."

With that, we headed upstairs to the guest room, leaving the faint hum of voices and clinking dishes behind us. The weight of the day settled over us both as we stepped into the room, the silence wrapping around us like a comforting blanket.

Stella sat down on the edge of the bed, kicking off her boots and pulling her hair back into a loose ponytail. I watched her for a moment, leaning against the doorframe, trying to wrap my head around everything that had just happened.

"We really did it," I said softly, breaking the comfortable silence.

She glanced up at me, her eyes shining with that same warmth I'd come to love so much. "Yeah. We did."

I crossed the room, sitting down beside her, my fingers tracing light circles on her back. "You sure you're okay with all this? I know I didn't exactly give you a lot of time to think it over."

Stella laughed softly, leaning into my touch. "Dean, I've been sure about you for a long time. You surprised me tonight, but it was the best kind of surprise. I wouldn't change a thing."

I smiled, pulling her into my arms, holding her close as we both sank back onto the bed. The weight of the day seemed to fall away, leaving just the two of us, tangled up in each other, the future stretching out ahead like something we could actually hold onto.

"You know," I murmured, my lips brushing against her temple, "this is just the beginning, right?"

She smiled against my chest, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my shirt. "I know. And I can't wait for what comes next."

Neither could I.

As we lay there in the quiet, the world outside settling into a rare, peaceful night, I realized that for the first time in my life, I wasn't just thinking about the next hunt or the next fight. I wasn't waiting for the next disaster to hit.

I was thinking about the future. Our future.

And I couldn't wait to start it.

(The End???) Thoughts? I'm SO conflicted on if I should continue or not!!!