A huge smile threatened to split Sam's face in two, his cell to his ear as he walked into the bunker kitchen. "Alright then. You guys have a safe trip in and we'll see ya Saturday." He hung up and looked over at Brielle, who was sitting at the kitchen table in her pajamas, nursing along a cup of coffee, the day old newspaper in front of her. "They're coming here for Easter and staying the weekend."
That made her heart swell and her eyes sparkled. "The girls too?"
"Yep. Jody sounded real excited."
The brunette rose, abandoning her coffee as she moved to the cabinets to take a mental inventory. "Well I'd better get a look at the pantry and make a list." Her eyes met Sam's over her shoulder as she paused with her hand on the knob. "You guys ever celebrated Easter? Before me... I mean?"
A somber look settled over Sam's features. "One time I did, when Jess and I... we went to her folk's house during spring break. It was nice." His voice dropped as the memory came back to him suddenly as if no time had passed at all, the details forever engrained in his mind. "I guess Dean and I haven't ever really done family stuff."
"Well, if it's alright, I'd like to change that." Sympathy flickered across her face before Sam nodded thoughtfully. "Anything special you want me to make?" Brielle's eyes stayed on his as he considered her offer.
Sam's arm came around her shoulders unexpectedly and he hugged her close, suddenly so thankful for the woman in he and his brother's life. She brought stability and warmth to the otherwise cold bunker. "Anything's wonderful."
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Later that afternoon, the trio headed into town for groceries and Dean finally spoke, sensing her nervousness. "Sweetheart, everything will be wonderful. Stop worrying." His green eyes moved to hers in the rear view mirror as they drove into town. "Alright?"
"I just want everything to be perfect this weekend." Brielle murmured, her eyes dropping to the list as she unfolded it for the tenth time to glance over the half cursive, half print she'd written. "You know?"
"It will be." Dean reassured her and Sam hid a smile at his brother's gentle words to his girlfriend.
She gave an exasperated sigh, but smiled none the less behind Dean where she was sitting in the backseat. The impala rolled into the grocer's black topped parking lot a few minutes later and he parked before they got out, heading for the double sliding glass doors. Dean snagged a cart from the corral on the way inside.
The two men stayed quiet as they navigated the smallish grocery store towards the fresh produce until Sam spoke up. "What do we need, Brie?"
"I'm making a ham, some scalloped potatoes, roasted carrots, bacon wrapped asparagus-," Dean's eyes got big and he gripped the cart a bit tighter. Sam chuckled at his excited expression.
"Bacon wrapped?"
Yes." They stopped in front of the produce and Brielle mulled over the asparagus selection. Dean immediately grabbed two thicker stalked bundles and she shook her head. "No... get the smaller, thin ones." Dean's eyebrow quirked slightly and she smirked. "Bigger isn't always better, Winchester." Sam laughed out loud at his brother's expression. She smiled up at him. "What wine pairs well with-"
"I'll ask and get two bottles." Sam was gone before she could finish.
Brielle moved across the aisle to the potato selection, the older man following her closely. She reached for a bag and Dean brushed her hand aside, hoisted the ten pound bag of potatoes into the cart. "Sweetheart? What else?" She plucked three bags of already peeled baby carrots from the cooler and placed them in the cart.
"I was gonna make a french toast casserole for breakfast Sunday morning..."
Dean's strong hands were resting on the cart handle as he pushed it along until he stopped walking and raised an eyebrow. "And we're having dinner?"
Brielle eyed him. "Too much?" She got a container of pre cut bell peppers for the breakfast casserole to make the prepwork easier so she could enjoy being with the people she loved.
"Not for me." He winked at her and Brielle smiled, twirling a finger around her low ponytail, her nervous habit. "We skipping lunch then?" She nodded to the fresh parsley next to him and he grabbed a bundle to set in the cart.
"Yeah. I was gonna do the breakfast casserole on Saturday night and throw it in the oven in the morning. I was thinkin' we could eat dinner around 2ish?" Brielle scanned her list again before looking up at Dean.
"That sounds..." He leaned down to kiss her sweetly, his forearms on the cart handle. "Perfect."
"We need deviled eggs."
"Got those precooked hard boiled eggs." Sam spoke as he approached them, carrying three bags of precooked eggs and two bottles of some pinkish wine. "Save some effort." He set everything into the cart carefully. "Hams are on sale... wasn't sure which one you wanted."
Brielle looked up to Sam. "Get one of the ones that are already spiral cut. A big one. I'll make bean soup for the freezer in a few days." He nodded before taking off in the direction he'd just some from.
"Can we have bacon with the french toast casserole?" Dean asked when Sam was out of earshot and Brielle gave him a look. "What?"
"Nothing." She grinned. "Let's go grab some."
"Should I get some fruit too?"
"Yeah. Your brother would like that."
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"That was Jody... they're almost here." Dean hung up his cell phone and stared down at the black screen for a few seconds before he spoke. "Uh, Brie?"
"Yeah?" She put the pitcher of lemonade in the fridge and closed the door to look at him. Dean had a funny expression on his face and he wiped a hand over his mouth nervously. "Dean? What's wrong?" She moved to him, her fingers slipping into his belt loops.
"Jody doesn't know..." He suddenly got shy. "I mean, I hadn't told her yet about... about us." Her eyes got wide.
"Really?"
"Yeah, just hadn't gotten around to it... I guess."
Her gray eyes studied his body language and his expression. "Having second thoughts?"
His emerald eyes snapped to hers. "No... it's just... she's only known me to love 'em and leave 'em."
Brielle nodded, moving into his arms. "Well... you tell her when you feel comfortable, okay?" He leaned down to capture her lips with his and she sighed into the kiss for a few perfect moments until the the domed door echoed through the bunker as it opened and Sam's voice called out.
"Look what the cat dragged in."
Dean stole one more slow, sweet kiss before Brielle tugged on his belt loops, smiling against his mouth. "C'mon. The girls and pizzas are here." He groaned in disappointment, making her giggle. Suddenly, the brunette was very thankful that Sam insisted they have pizza for dinner that evening since she would be cooking all the next day.
They moved to the war room where Jody, Alex and Clare were coming down the stairs after Sam, their overnight bags on their shoulders. Brielle moved to hug Jody tightly, then Alex and finally Clare. Dean hugged each of the women before taking the two large pizzas from his brother. "Glad you guys made it."
Clare was like a little sister to her and she harbored a soft spot for the troubled blonde. Brielle hugged the blonde close to her, a smile on her mouth.
"Me too."
They parted and Brielle tugged on her blonde locks gently. "Damn, all this hair makes me wanna grow mine out." That made the teen laugh. "Let me show you girls the bedrooms, then we can eat. Hope you guys are hungry." She led Alex and Clare down towards the sleeping quarters, leaving the boys chatting with Jody as they left the war room. "Alex, your room." Brielle clicked on the light after opening the door. "Fresh sheets are on the bed already and the bathroom's down the hall."
"Awesome." Her blue eyes sparkled. "Glad I don't have to share with the snore queen over there." She teased and Clare rolled her eyes playfully. "I'm gonna freshen up and I'll be down in a few." Brielle nodded, smiling as she led Clare further down the hall.
"My room's there." She nodded to the one across the hall from Clare's. "This one's yours." The blonde pushed open the guest room door and smiled at the sparse furniture. She watched from the doorway as the younger woman set down her bag on the bed.
"So what's new?" Clare flopped on her bed for the weekend and looked up to the brunette leaning against the door frame.
"Nothin' much." Her eyes twinkled and the blonde woman gave her a pointed look.
"What's that look for?"
"Nothing. Just glad y'all are here."
"Uh huh." The blonde did not look convinced.
"C'mon... I'm starving." Alex appeared behind Brielle and the girls headed down towards the kitchen, stopping to grab some paper plates, napkins and the lemonade from the fridge.
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The six ate pizza out in the war room at the lighted table and damn near finished off the two pies Sam had picked up, plus drank nearly all of the lemonade and the beer. "So what's new?" Sam asked. "You guys been huntin' lately?"
Jody held up a hand as she finished chewing. "Nope. No shop talk. This is family time."
That made Dean smile. "Fine. What's new with you ladies? How's work Alex?"
"Really good. Been picking up oodles of overtime at the hospital, which is nice." She took a drink of her nearly empty glass of lemonade. Sam nodded, a smile on his face. Jody looked proud as a mother hen and Brielle couldn't help but to smile too.
"She's on day shift now." Clare added with a smile. "So no more zombie Alex at noon anymore." That made Brielle giggle.
"And you Clare?" Sam asked. The blonde shrugged somewhat nonchalantly.
"She met a boy." Jody offered, making Clare blush.
"A boy?" Dean's big brother tone came out and he set his paper plate down on the coffee table. "You check him out, Jody?"
"Of course she did, dad." Her tone was dramatic. "He works over at the hardware store in town and is working on his second year in college."
"How'd you two meet?" Sam asked curiously, setting his plate next to Dean's.
Alex giggled then. "She was buying something we didn't need and he asked her out."
Sam's gaze moved to Jody, who was grinning ear to ear. She was proud of these two girls and everything in their world seemed okay at the moment. Sam and Dean shared a smile over Brielle's head as she sat between them on the couch.
"You got a picture?" Brielle asked, brushing her hands off. "Let's see him."
Clare pulled out her phone and scrolled through until she found a selfie of herself and Daniel. "Here."
Brielle reached across the coffee table to take the phone. "He's cute."
Dean leaned in. "Lemme see." His gaze raked over the phone before he nodded thoughtfully.
"Not bad." That made Clare laugh and he handed the phone back over to her. "He good to you?"
Alex smiled from the armchair next to Sam. "He's real good to her." Dean looked over at Alex. "Takes her out on all these cute dates..."
"Oh my gosh, can we move on?" Clare was blushing now and Jody chuckled at her expression.
"My have to tables turned." Alex nudged the blonde's knee with her foot. "Have you forgotten the whole sex talk I got with these three present?"
"I sure haven't." Dean murmured and Brielle laughed out loud. "That might have been worse than the one I got from Dad." Sam grinned.
"Where's the trash?" Clare got up then, reaching for the paper plates and crumpled napkins on the coffee table.
"I'll show ya." Brielle got up and pitched in, leading the way to the kitchen. The blonde followed her down to the bunker kitchen and they tossed the trash and Clare reached out suddenly to hug Brielle again. "What's that for?"
"I'm just real glad to see you." Clare got shy.
"You know you can call me anytime, right?"
"What about..."
"The boys are fine without me for a few minutes. I always have time for you, Clare." That made the teenager smile.
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Hey y'all!
This is just gonna be a little three parter. Thanks for stopping by! Leave me review!
CitrineMama