Two days later, my dad was released from the hospital. The doctor's advised him not to fly home for at least a week, and Elijah offered my dad and Sophia the house that was being unoccupied, making their stay a "sort of vacation," as my dad said.
Dean, Sam, and I began staying at my place, Dean normally sleeping with me, Sam in the guest bedroom across the hall. The day my dad left, we drove him and Sophia to the airport.
"Remember what the doctor said," I told him sternly. "Eat healthier. Exercise. I want you around for a long time, okay?"
He smiled, pulling me in for a hug. "You remind me so much of your mother," he said into my hair, pulling away after kissing my forehead. "I promise I'll start taking care of myself," he said, smiling again.
"I'll be there to make him." Sophia smiled, but her words were serious. "Try not to worry about him too much." She hugged me, moving down the line to hug Sam and Dean. Dean stuck out his hand to shake my dad's hand, but my dad shook his head, pulling him in for a hug.
"Take care of her."
Dean nodded when they pulled away. "I will, sir."
--
Two weeks into living at my apartment again, Dean brought up moving into a bigger place. "I've been looking at places, and I think it'd be smart if we're all living together."
"You want to move in together?" I asked, putting away groceries.
"Try to sound less enthusiastic," Dean rolled his eyes, standing up to help. "But yeah. We're already living together, this would just make it, I don't know, official. And Sam's and my name would be on the lease so we would be helping pay the bills."
I nodded as he spoke. "Yeah, okay," I smiled. "Let's move in together."
Dean grinned, pecking my cheek before turning to open the fridge and put away the milk.
When Sam arrived that night, he looked exhausted. He had been taking general education classes at the local community college, hoping to transfer back to a university after completing his general ed. He walked in, throwing his keys on the coffee table and collapsing onto the couch.
"Sammy?" Dean called, worriedly entering the living room. "Are you okay?"
"I'm dead inside," Sam groaned over dramatically, making me laugh.
"Tough day at school?" I teased, earning me a middle finger.
"I forgot how exhausting this is. How did I ever do this before?"
"Believe me, it's all worth it."
Sam rolled over, looking at me as he spoke. "Oh yeah, you just graduated, huh?"
I nodded, leaning against the door frame. "Yep."
"What was your major?"
"English. I actually applied for a few jobs at different publishing firms, but I haven't heard back yet. For now I'm working at the local book store."
"Funny," Sam teased, "I haven't seen you work at all this summer."
"Ah, yes. This summer the gods blessed me. They're remodeling the store, so every employee got the summer off with pay."
Sam groaned again, covering his eyes with his arm. "I can't wait to be done with it."
"You've got a ways to go," I laughed. "Especially if you still want to be a lawyer."
