Justice Is Served

New Year's Eve

Dean
"Hurry up, Maria!" Dean yelled from the living room. It was New Year's Eve, and Maria was taking absolutely forever.
"Can't we just stay here, I'm tired!" She yelled back. He rolled his eyes and strode into the bedroom where she was bundled in the duvet.

"Nope." He said, ripping the covers off of her and slinging her over his shoulder with almost frightening ease. Maria didn't stop screeching until he set her down by the front door. "Jacket. We're leavin'."
"Yes sir." She muttered childishly, pulling her duffel coat on.

The park that was holding the fireworks in celebration of the new year was only a ten minute walk from the flat Dean and Maria shared. Initially Maria had thought it was too soon, but when Dean went home after Christmas she found herself wandering around her apartment wringing her hands, at a loss for what to do.

Eventually, she gave into her impulsiveness. Eventually was rather a strong word for two hours.

They strolled leisurely, sharing a pair of earbuds listening to the live Viva Hysteria performances and singing along, ignoring the strange looks they received from passers by. Dean paused to strum out an air guitar solo until Maria was forced to drag him along.

"Sam and Anna are almost definitely already there waiting for us." She groaned as she pulled him along like a reluctant dog on a walk.
"Now look who's all geared up to go." He jibed. She elbowed him hard and they continued walking, a casual arm slung over Maria's shoulders.

Moments later, they'd arrived and they found Sam and Anna had found a great spot and had claimed it as theirs with a large picnic blanket.
"Thank God for your organisational skills." Dean sighed happily as he slumped down on the blanket, Maria plopping down next to him.

"We thought you weren't coming." Sam remarked, eyebrows raised.
"I had to drag Maria outta bed but we made it." Dean grumbled, Anna snorted.
"My bet was actually that you two had got caught up in the bedroom so I was technically correct." The late pair reddened and Sam cracked up laughing.

"Oh shut it." Maria snapped. "Where's the food?"

It didn't take long at all for the four to find a variety of food stalls, Dean and Maria loaded their arms with hotdogs, cheesy fries, beers and the odd burger, you know, just in case.

"Don't hold back or anything guys, it's New Years." Sam said sarcastically, Dean stuck his tongue out at his brother.
"And for that, you ain't gettin' none of this hotdog." He said childishly. They laid their treasures out on the blanket, Maria barking rather frighteningly at peckish dogs who's owners weren't paying attention to them.

Anna checked her watch and clapped excitedly when she saw that it read 11:56.
"Four minutes!" She announced, Maria rolled her eyes.
"I don't see what the big deal is, it's just another day." She sighed. Sam smirked.
"Of course, new year is so below Maria Ramirez. Yawn." The three laughed at her unimpressed expression.

"Seriously! And what's with the resolutions? If you're gonna change just do it, don't use New Years as a lame excuse." She complained.
"So you're not gonna make a resolution?" Anna asked, genuinely curious.
"Nope. I'm great already." She folded her arms defiantly.

"I am." Sam announced. The others turned to look at him, wondering what it might be. "I'm going to learn a new language." He smiled proudly.
"I'm gonna try and conquer my fear of heights... But I'm not making any promises." Anna chuckled.

Dean sat looking thoughtful for a few seconds, then grinned.
"I'm gonna join a gym."
"Dean, that's really not a difficult resolution when we all know you're just going to join Maria's gym." Sam shook his head.

Anna and Sam fist bumped each other at the witty comeback and Dean rolled his eyes. When Sam regained control of his breathing he looked to Maria.
"Come on Maria. Make a resolution, even if it's a silly one." He encouraged. Maria squinted her eyes reluctantly, then her face brightened mischievously.

"Got one. I'm gonna marry Dean." Dean consequently choked on the hotdog he was eating and Anna slapped him on the back until he coughed up the bite.
"That's not a lifestyle improvement in my opinion, and I've got experience." Sam sniggered, hardly phased by the idea. The two were so spontaneous that they almost weren't.

"I wasn't aware you two were married at any point." Maria countered and the four fell about laughing until they became aware of people beginning to count down.
"Already?!" Anna exclaimed as they joined in. They stood up, chanting the numbers along with everyone else, unsure as to why they started at sixty seconds.

"This is silly." Maria muttered to Dean.
"Yeah? So does that mean I don't get a kiss at twelve?" He smirked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"That's stupid and cliche." She scoffed in response.

But Dean knew better, when Maria dismissed something as stupid and cliched, it was because she was embarrassed that she secretly liked it.

"Well I didn't expect to bring in the new year with a girlfriend." Sam smiled a little shyly, interlacing his fingers with Anna, who blushed intensely.
"So it's official?" She asked, Sam looked at her strangely, as if confused.
"If I'm being honest, I thought it was from the minute I took a bullet for you."
"Well technically it only grazed-"
"Anna, shut up." Sam said fondly, kissing her as the countdown ended.

Maria groaned loudly as everyone shouted 'happy new year' but soon shut up when Dean grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her hard.
"Happy new year guys!" Sam yelled and they all squashed together in a group hug, all of them knowing that they wouldn't have spent it any other way.