Well this is it. This is the end. I hope you enjoy it.

I'm sorry it's late. Life has a way of getting crazy this time of year.

Merry Christmas.

"Right now, she wanted to celebrate."

After the day they just had, there was only one place to go: Crash. The crowded dance floor, loud music, pool tables, and immense alcohol quantity sounded like the perfect end to one hell of a day. They said their goodbyes to Joshua and dropped him off at Max's apartment for the evening, and then headed out to celebrate their victory over not only Manticore, but also the ever present, pain-in-their-ass familiars.

Whatever came next could wait till tomorrow.

"Hey Dean, how 'bout a game?" Alec called to his human counterpart as he motioned to the pool table in the corner.

"Sure. I'm up for one." The handsome ordinary agreed as he sauntered over.

The two each grabbed a cue and chalked up. "You break." Alec offered.

Max and Jo watched from the table as Dean lined up his shot with practiced precision. His smooth motion caused the cue ball to plow through the colorful racked balls, sinking two. They saw the concentration written on his face and the tension in his well defined muscles as he proceeded to systematically run the game. Through his cotton t shirt, contrary to his normal layering, Jo could see his lean and well defined back muscles bunch as he effortlessly raised his torso up and ambled over to Alec. He glanced over at her with that flirtatious grin that he had been wearing around her lately in place. She had no control over the easy smile that took up residence on her own features at the sight.

"I'll still never get used to seeing the two of them side by side." Max mumbled and it was hard to tell if she was talking to herself or to Jo. The short brunette ran a hand through her long hair and continued to watch the scene unfold before them. Then, she almost physically shook herself out of it and noticed the flirting between Dean and Jo. She turned to her new friend.

"How did you and Dean meet?" She asked with innocent curiosity.

Jo let out a short laugh as memories flooded her vision. "Like most everything in my life, I did it with guns blazing. He and Sam came into the Roadhouse. I thought he was breaking in so I snuck up on him with a rifle pressed against him. He was such an ass and spun around and grabbed the gun from me. I punched him in the nose. That was the first time I saw his face."

Now it was the blonde's turn to get lost in the past. He was broken and bloodied and possibly the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. His green eyes held so much pain within their depths. Something about the way he carried himself reminded her of her father and something about that smirk just weaseled its way under her skin. A while later while they were wandering that haunted apartment building, she realized what was so magnetic about him: his protective nature. While she was slightly offended by the way he was babying her, she couldn't help but melt at the way he wanted to keep her safe, keep everyone safe for that matter.

Only then did she realize that she had inadvertently pulled her beer perilously close to the edge of the table.

"How did you and Alec meet?" She asked quickly as she adjusted her cup.

Max laughed under her breath and shook her head. "Back after I had been recaptured, I was sitting in my cell and in struts Alec, all charm and confidence, proclaiming that he's my breeding partner and that we've been assigned to 'copulate.'" She told with a roll of her eyes. "He starts taking off his shirt and I realize he's serious so I kick him to the door. He gets all offended and we have the first of many fights. We came to a stale mate and ended up sitting on opposite ends of the cell just staring at each other for two hours. He kept coming back and before I knew it, I was dragging him out with me when I escaped."

It was nice to have someone to talk to who could sympathize with a less than traditional upbringing and way of life, the secrets and the lies, and the pure exhaustion that was always threatening to overtake you. They laughed and barely noticed that the guys had finished up their game until they came up to the table.

"Who won?" They asked in unison.

Alec's charming smirk shifted into a small scowl and Dean's eyes lit up.

"That would be yours truly." The latter said with an impish bow and a sly smile.

"Wow, congratulations. I can't even remember the last time Alec actually lost to someone he wasn't trying to hustle.

Then, from behind them they heard a familiar voice. "Did I jus' hear what I think I heard? Someone finally beat hot boy?" Max turned to see Original Cindy walking towards with another pitcher of beer and nearly jumped out of her chair to see her friend. She had just seen her two days ago but with all that happened, it seemed like ages. She laughed as she could see in OC's eyes the moment she noticed Dean. She went to explain but the African American held up a hand to stop her.

"I don't need to know about no cloning or twining or whateva', all I need to know is that he's here and he a'ight"

"Yeah, he's fine."

"Well in that case," She rushed up and wrapped him in a hug. His face expressed his confusion but Max just motioned to go along with it so he hugged her back until she pulled away a moment later, "You're the first person to beat Alec in pool in…how many years? 21? 22?"

While it wasn't exactly her intention, she'd posed an interesting question and Sam was quick to pick up on it.

"Yeah Alec, how old are you, exactly?"

"Eh, I'd say I'm probably around 22 by now." He said calmly.

"Wait, probably?" Jo piped up.

Alec rolled his eyes and laughed to himself. "Well, they didn't exactly celebrate birthdays back in Manticore. After I put together a rudimentary time line, I figure I'm roughly 22 years old."

A chorus of "huh"s and nods erupted around the circle. They filled OC in on just what had been going on the past two days and before long, they were all talking and laughing like the best of friends.

Some time and several drinks later, Jo and Dean made their way back over to the pool table.

"So, Dean, you up for a rematch?" She asked with one hip cocked out playfully. She couldn't decide if it was the alcohol, the adrenaline, or just Dean that brought out this side in her, but either way, she was having fun.

"For you? Of course." He leaned down and slowly closed the distance between them before turning away at the last second to rack the balls with a sly smile on his face.

'Tease' she thought to herself.

"Your break." He handed her a cue and from the look on his face, for a moment, Jo could have sworn he could read her mind. She grabbed the tool and the fight began. They remained locked in a heated battle until finally, Dean pocketed the last ball into the corner pocket.

"Well, sweetheart, looks like you're 0 for 2." He slid over to her and dropped his tone ever so slightly. "…and I believe you still owe me a favor from our last little match." He said in that deep, husky tone that was so distinctly Dean that even Alec couldn't imitate it.

"Oh, I do, don't I?" She said almost coyly while once again lessening the amount of space between their bodies. A playful glint was in her eye as she reached up and gently grasped the back of his neck and lowered him the rest of the way down to her waiting lips. She pressed her lips to his and felt his arms loop down around her waist. A second later, she pulled back, the playfulness dominating her eyes entirely now.

"Well, consider yourself paid in full." She smirked up at him and slipped out of his arms. She tossed him back a more than friendly look over her shoulder as she ordered another round of beers. While her back was turned to him, she allowed herself the shudder that she had suppressed before. She had kissed Dean Winchester! And she'd been the one to leave him wanting more.

Dean bit his lower lip and let out a short breath of laughter. She wanted to play, he could play. His eyes were transfixed on her hips as she sashayed back over to the table bearing a newly refilled pitcher of beer. She still had that smug little grin on her face as she glanced up at him. As she set down the drinks, he moved smoothly and silently behind her, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her toward the dance floor. She didn't resist his gentle tug.

"It was only a matter of time." Alec laughed to himself and glanced back over to the two love birds. He then turned back and headed in Max's direction.

"Maxie! Come on." He called cheerfully to his fake girlfriend.

"Come where?" She asked. Instead of answering her question, he winked at OC and led Max out to the dance floor. He spun her and settled into a close embrace as Crash played one of their rare Pre-Pulse slow songs. She couldn't fight the smile that tugged at her lips at his antics. He had always been charming. She'd give him that.

OC looked down to the dance floor from the table and laughed at the two couples. Her gaze settled on her best friends and smiled. "About time, boo. About damn time."

A/N: Thank you all for following this story with me and an extra special thank you to all of you amazing people who reviewed. I would love to hear what you thought in a review. Any favorite moments, favorite lines, things that made you smile, anything really, I'm not picky about reviews. Merry Christmas to you all and God bless.