It's Been A Long Time... [Desperate Measures Sequel]

SixtySix.

I never imagined that I would ever be thinking about getting married again, my first time around was such a disaster that I was surprised that I'd even made it out alive. How would I tell my family that this was what I was going to do, considering how they felt about myself and every choice I ever made in my life. 

Sitting on the plane next to Dean, I couldn't believe we were on the way to England. Everyone had been so nice to me, Seth had even taken me to sit with him for a bit to play cards since Dean just wanted to sleep. Right now he was still sleeping, leaving me to sit quietly. 

"Say," I heard a familiar voice which made me look up to see AJ in front of me. "How would you feel about getting a drink with an old friend?"

Taking his hand to get up I smiled at him, "I've missed you so much." I pulled him close as I hugged him. "Even after all this time, you are the only one who can charm me like that and not expect anything."

He pulled away and kissed me on the cheek, "Well, even after all this time you are the only woman I hug that's not my wife."

I walked alongside AJ down the middle of the plane before we got to the bar, we stood together and ordered a couple of drinks before I smiled at him. "Dean wants to marry me."

AJ looked surprised, "For real?"

"Oh yeah," I said as I grinned widely. "I'm not crazy, am I?"

"If you love him and he loves you that's all that matters, surely? Why do you care what other people think?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I dunno. I wouldn't usually." I sipped my drink through the plastic straw before I spoke, "I'm just so worried about what my parents are going to say. Not my parents as much as my brother."

"Wade loves you, he just wants you to be happy."

I bit my lip as I thought about what he was saying. "No, he wants me to be happy alone or with anyone who isn't Dean."

AJ sighed, "I guess you two have been through so much together. Maybe he's just looking out for you. He just wants to make sure you aren't making a mistake."

"Aren't they my mistakes to make?"

He groaned, "I want to be honest with you but I don't want to upset you."

I raised an eyebrow, "There's some much happening in my brain all the time, you can't make me feel any worse."

"Okay then," he took a mouthful of drink before he decided to speak honestly. "You have already been married once, Tasha. Your brother knows you have so many problems in your life, he doesn't want you to make any more mistakes which might affect you again. I guess he doesn't want to see you back in rehab or worse, dead."

"I have everything under control," I told him. 

AJ nodded, "For now."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked him before sipping my drink and looking up at him. "You realise that I'm not going down that road again, right? I can end up back in rehab, back in that pit of desperation."

"I'm sorry," he said as he put his hand over mine, "I just, I guess I just worry about you."

I grinned at him as I took my hand back and hugged him, "You really are the sweetest."

He held me tight, "I just want you to be safe. I want you to be happy."

Pulling away from his hug and looking into his eyes I spoke honestly, "I've never been happier than I am right now. Dean, he makes me happy. I just can't imagine myself being with anyone else."

"As long as you are happy," AJ said as he picked up his drink and smiled. "If you and Dean are happy then all I can do is be happy for the both of you."

"Thank you," I kissed him on the left cheek before I ruffled his shiny soft hair then took a step back. 

He smoothed his hair back down before he narrowed his eyes, "It's a good thing I like you."

"What's all this?" We were interrupted by Seth who can over and stood next to me. He smiled at both of us as he looked between us. 

I looked up at Seth, "AJ was just telling me how he was going to beat your ass when you get to England." I joked with him as I nudged him playfully in the right arm with my left shoulder. "And that he's going to enjoy every second."

Seth groaned, "Don't start all that. We all know I am going to win." I watched as he tied his hair back, "I hear there's going to be a wedding. I hope we'll all be getting an invite."

Rolling my eyes I shook my head playfully, "That's something you are going to have to take up with Dean." I told Seth before ignoring the straw and throwing the rest of my drink back. When I placed my glass down on the bar both Seth and AJ gave me a disapproving, disappointed look. "What?" I shrugged my shoulders. "I need a little something to get me through this look ass flight."

"Let me help you back to your seat," AJ suggested as he offered me his arm. 

Reluctantly I put my arm through his before I stepped back and put my arms at my sides. "I'll be okay."

I watched as AJ and Seth exchanged a look, a look of confusion before I ignored them and headed back to my seat on my own. I didn't need their sympathy or pity, I needed to be treated normally. The jokes I could handle, that was normal, but the looks they exchanged only made me feel more and more like the young girl I had been after escaping my ex-husband. 

Flopping down into my seat next to Dean, I looked over at him. He was still sleeping soundly, his eyes closed just perfectly and his hair just falling perfectly, a little bit covering his eyes, yet it didn't bother him. When he slept he looked so at peace, I knew that he had so much happening in his life right now, I didn't want him to not be able to be himself because of everything else he had going on. His rough calloused hands were just laid on his lap, his leather jacket covering his thighs and his knees as he slept, his arms bare as he only wore a light tee. 

I wondered what he dreamed about when he was asleep, I know when I was asleep I either dreamed of him and our happiness or the total opposite and the pain we might endure. I truly hoped he was happy with me, as happy as I was with him.