Charlie's Hero

Saturday came along. Dean and I were going out for dinner. I was looking forward for it. He was finally going to tell me all about his life. He wasn't exactly easy to figure out.

We were in the car.

"So..." I said quietly.

He smiled. "Yes?" He asked.

I played with my necklace. "Um....."

"You're really eager to know about me, aren't you?" He asked.

"I just wanna figure you out." I said.

"I've never really been comfortable telling people that." He said.

"Well, go at your own pace. I'm not rushing you." I said.

He nodded.

We got to the restaurant. We sat down and he started telling me about his early life.

I learned a lot about him. He was so overprotective because he was afraid of losing the limited amount of people he cared about and that actually cared about him. He also explained why he didn't like getting close to people. He also has many trust issues. Also, I learned that he when he gets challenged as a man and backed into a corner, he throws punches and kicks and bites and claws. He had a rough past. I was happy he could trust me enough to tell me this.

"I've never been good at relationships. I've just never really cared. You can see how messed up I really am now." He said.

I gently placed my hand over his. "You're not messed up. You're....amazing."

"What?" He asked confusingly.

"You went through all of that and you still turned out to be the most amazing man ever." I said.

He smiled. "I love you." He said.

I paused. What? I didn't know what to say. Did I love him? This was all too soon to think about this.

"Y-you what?" I asked.

"Can I get the check?" He asked the waiter.

I didn't bring it up the rest of the night. When we got back to the hotel, I turned to Dean and gently kissed his cheek.

"Thanks for telling me all that." I smiled.

"Welcome." He said, "You're one of the very few people I've opened up to like that."

We went to Dean's room and went straight to bed.

I had to think about this love thing. I had to talk to Seth and Emma.

I woke up before Dean and wigged my way out of his arms. I went to Seth's room and knocked gently.

He answered it momentarily.

"Hey." He said sleepily.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked.

"Sure." He said, inviting me in. "What's up, cutie?" He asked. We sat down on his bed.

"Dean told me about his early life and his childhood and stuff." I said.

"Sad, huh?" He asked.

I nodded, "Now I understand why he's so protective." I said.

"Dean doesn't have a lot of people. He kinda clings on to the people that care most. He just doesn't what to lose you." Seth said. "He searches for secure and for a family cause he doesn't have one. He lives by himself in Vegas. He doesn't keep in good contact with his family because of his rough past."

"I told him he was awesome because even after everything he went to, he turned out to be an amazing man." I said.

"Explains his anger all the time." Seth said.

"Yeah....uh....and....he told me he loved me." I said.

Seth paused and stared at me with wide eyes. "He what?"

"He told me he loved me." I said.

"How long have you guys been dating?" Seth asked.

"Almost 3 weeks." I said.

"Whoah." Seth said.

"What?" I asked.

"Dean's never told anyone that." Seth said.

"What? Really?" I asked.

"Yeah. But he said it to you....after 3 weeks." Seth said.

"Yeah, I didn't know what to say. I was speechless." I said.

"You didn't say it back?" He asked.

"No." I said.

"Wow, I knew he was serious about you. I never knew he was in love." Seth said.

"Me neither." I said.

"Well....do you love him?" He asked.

I thought about it. "Yeah," I finally said, "yeah I do."

Seth smiled. "Then tell him that." Seth said.

I nodded. I ran back into Dean's room and jumped on top of him like a little kid, waking him up.

"Babe, babe, what are you doing?" He asked as he rolled over.

I bent down and whispered in his ear. "I love you."

He stopped and stared at me, "You do?" He asked.

"I do." I said.

He smiled. He rolled me over and kissed me roughly. He played with the end of my shirt before looking into my eyes as if to ask permission.

I sighed, "I want to, but.....with everything that's going on...."

"Exactly. You've been stressed. Let me make you feel better." He said.

I shook my head, "I'm not ready."

He let go of my shirt and looked into my eyes.

"I do love you, Dean. It's just that....I don't know. I'm scared." I said.

"There's nothing to be scared of, babe. I'll be gentle." He said.

"No, it's not that. I'm scared of making the wrong decision. Like, I feel like I'm ready, but then again we've only been dating for 3 weeks." I said.

"It feels like a lifetime." He said.

"Yeah. I feel like I trust you enough....just....I've just never done this before." I said.

"It's okay." He said. "You'll do fine." He said.

"Not now." I said firmly, "Not here. I want our first time to be done the right way."

"K." He said.

"We get our own hotel room." I said.

"Sounds good to me. When?" He asked.

"Um...."

"Not until you're ready." He assured me.

"Next weekend." I said.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" He asked.

I paused, but nodded. "It's just weird how I'm a virgin and I've liked guys a lot in the past that have asked me. But you....I just....love you." I said.

"For the record," he whispered in my ear, "you're the only girl I've ever said that to."

I smiled, "Same here. I've never been in love." I said.

I smiled to myself.

I love him.

He loves me.

We're in love.