𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 || 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

Chapter 40 ~ Some Things Never Change

Episode: Season 15 - Carry On Pt. 1

I ran my fingertips along the cracked spines, a faint smile touching my lips before pushing them firmly in place.

Taking a step back to admire my handiwork, I couldn't help but notice how barren my bookshelf had become. Most of my spell-books I'd lent to the kids, hoping they wouldn't need them but knowing they likely would.

As for me? I still used my mother's grimoire at times but I'd always been first and foremost a hunter. And, okay, a slight touch of demonic powers from dad did help in sticky situations.

The sound of footsteps thudded on the concrete hallway outside. I turned on my heel just in time to see my husband walk through our bedroom door, a slight smile on his face when his eyes met mine.

"Hey, wanna do something fun?" he asked me cheerfully.

Grinning at his child-like eagerness, I nodded emphatically and it was only two seconds before his hand was in mine, pulling me along and out the door to the Impala.

And I have to admit, where we landed didn't surprise me at all.

"You sure you're ready for this?" Sam asked Dean seriously after we all piled out of the Impala.

Dean nodded solemnly, "Oh, I don't have a choice. This is my destiny..."

I couldn't help but snicker at Sam's expression then as we walked underneath the banner and into the Pie Fest.

"It's just so beautiful," Dean confessed, quickly wiping a hand down his face.

I arched an eyebrow at my husband with a little smirk developing on my face, "Are you crying?"

"What? No! You're crying!" he shot back, making a face at me childishly.

I only stuck my tongue out at him in response as Sam shot both of us a warning glance, "Seriously, be mature, you two."

"I'm...I'm gonna go get some, uh..." Dean stuttered out suddenly, his eyes growing larger as he took in all the delicious desserts laid out on tables spread far and wide.

"Pie," Sam interjected helpfully while his older brother nodded emphatically.

"I'm gonna get some pie!" he said cheerfully.

Sam and I took a seat on a bench while waiting on him but I could feel Sam's hazel eyes on me the whole time.

A sigh escaped my mouth and with one well-placed eye-roll, I bit the bullet, "What's on your mind, Sammy?"

"Have you told him yet?" he arched an eyebrow, his tone almost giddy.

Sam had figured out my idea ages ago, back during all of the Chuck mess. I still wondered just how he knew - even before I'd really known myself. It wasn't a decision I made lightly - and really, not a decision I'd totally made. Not without Dean's approval anyhow. It was, as yet, still in the works. And...not quite on the table.

I shook my head absently, black locks falling across my shoulders, "I haven't found a good time yet. I was thinking though...maybe after we get back to the Bunker. Maybe I'll suggest it then..."

Sam opened his mouth to say something more but was cut off by the excited sounds of Dean coming back, a large white box in his hands. My best friend and I shared a knowing grin as he sat down beside us. But my grin only grew wider after, peeking over his shoulder into the box, I saw six different kinds of pie all in neat little slices on white saucers.

"I'm not sure you got enough..." I pointed out, teasing him mercilessly.

Dean just rolled his green eyes before his gaze flitted over to Sam. The younger Winchester didn't smile at our antics though, only taking in the scene with mild interest. It was unlike him.

"What? What's wrong?" Dean asked his baby brother.

"Nothing. I'm fine," Sam shook his head, brushing his concern off.

"No, come on. I know that face. That's, uh...that Sad Sam face,"

"I'm not Sad Sam. I'm just...I'm thinking about Cas, you know? Jack. If they could be here..."

My smile melted into a frown and I felt my heart thump painfully in my chest. I missed them terribly, too. Seems like they were just apart of everything for so long now - they were family. I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to be just me, Sam, and Dean again.

"Yeah... Yeah, no. I think about 'em, too," Dean agreed, "You know what? That pain's not gonna go away. Right? But if we don't keep living, then all that sacrifice is gonna be for nothing. So quit being an Eeyore, huh? Come on, get into this!"

And with those words, Dean ended his pep talk and proceeded to tear into his pies wholeheartedly - that is, until Sam picked up a slice...and smashed it into Dean's face. I let out a loud guffaw that grew into uncontrollable laughter as I took in the sight of pie and icing smeared all over Dean's face.

He shot a deathly glare towards myself and his little brother as Sam just laughed in response, "I have wanted to do that for a very long time... Oh, you're right. I do feel better!"

Dean began to scrape the pie off his face with a fork then but I couldn't help but stop him, my hand holding firmly to his chin. Only blushing slightly at my act of PDA, I proceeded to lick a bite of pie off Dean's chin. Sam, wisely, chose not to witness this. Dean only smirked at me in response before it melted into a somber expression once he realized what I'd done.

I mean....it really was too much pie for one person. The delicious goodness of it hit my tongue and made me moan lightly at the taste. Dean arched an eyebrow, green eyes glowering.

"It was only a small piece-" I started to protest, the words muffled around bites of pie in my mouth.

But before I could continue, Dean already had his hand on my lips, trying to pry open my mouth to get the bite of pie out, "Come on! Spit it out, Park - that was my pie!"

I shook my head vehemently, feeling triumphant as a smile split my face, keeping my mouth completely closed. We were starting to attract looks as people's heads turned at the sight, Sam, as always, trying to smile politely at them while trying to break it up.

In the end, all that could be done was for Sam to get me a slice especially for myself. And Dean, well, left to his own slices.

Piling back into the Impala, I couldn't help but smile to myself as my head hit the backseat, memories of pie fights in hotel rooms lingering in my mind. Some things never change, I thought to myself with a rye smile.

But as my eyes lingered on Dean as he drove down the road in the darkness, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, some change could be good.