peaceonearth | Give me one more chance to love you

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Give me one more chance to love you

When Sam died a hundred years ago, Ruby thought losing him would kill her. In all honesty, the only thing that kept her from using her knife on herself was a promise to Sam. She had to remind herself on a daily basis that she wasn't alone. There were plenty of grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as grandnieces and nephews that were scattered across the country. Ruby wasn't alone, even though she felt that way so much of the time. She'd adapted and gotten accustomed to life without Sam, but she never stopped missing him.

Eventually, she met Brooke, another hunter who knew who Ruby Winchester was, as well as who her husband had been. The hunter had been persistent and kind and a very good friend even when Ruby hadn't returned the favor. With a good deal of time, patience, and flirtation on (mostly) Brooke's part, they'd become something between friends and a booty call. Ruby had laid down her boundaries from the very beginning and Brooke had respected those boundaries.

One of Ruby's rules was that neither of them spent the night together. She still didn't need to sleep much and spending the entire night together was too intimate, too real, and it hurt too much because she'd only ever shared that sort of intimacy with Sam. This is why Brooke is slipping out of the house at three in the morning when she sees the shadow of a man lurking around the house. She creeps up behind him, gun pointed at the back of his head.

Brooke is on the shorter side with long dark hair, dark eyes, and dimples. She's thin but muscular. She's dressed in dark, slim-fitting pants and a dark tee-shirt with a utility jack over it all. Her hair is loose around her shoulders and mussed.

"You really don't want to break into this place. I promise it's more trouble than it's worth," she tells him. "Hands up and turn around slowly."

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Passing away those hundred ago had left Sam uneasy in some respects about how Ruby would cope, but they had their private correspondence (angel mail), and time had made it easier to accept that she was doing well despite missing his physical presence. There was also his reunion with Dean to make it sting less. There were other familiar faces in his parents, Bobby, Charlie, Jess and more of the likes he hadn't seen for decades. It was nice to catch up with them. He wrote about it all to Ruby and always signed 'Your Hubby' at the end of each letter. He wrote every day... except this one. It was going to be a face to face surprise when he told her that he had accepted the option to come back to Earth.

He had heard about Brooke - a hunter Ruby sometimes worked with - in their correspondence, but didn't have all the details. His return had been jarring to say the least. He was twenty two again and left naked so he had to borrow fresh clothes that didn't exactly fit from a nearby farm and walk barefoot a few miles back into town. The house that Ruby and him shared for all those years was easy to find his way back to. The sign that he carved out quite poorly, which read Winchester, still hung from the post he nailed it too. When he finally reached the house, he couldn't help but wander around a little to remember the little things they built together. Truthfully, he needed the time to gather his thoughts on what he would say after his prolonged absence before he... would knock or something.

The distinct edges of a gun to the back of his head makes him stop, hand dropping from the 'W' of the Winchester sign. The voice didn't sound like Ruby, but it sounded confident and that was enough to convince him it could be. The possibility that Ruby would find another body at some point and not mention it is something he could imagine. It also could be another Winchester. In either case, he was unarmed and not willing to turn this reunion into a tragedy. His arms lift up as he was directed to do, but turn his head a little to try to see the person behind him.

"I don't mean any trouble here either," he tries to maintain a calmness to his body language and the conversation. "This might be hard to believe... All I wanted to find out is who lives here."

Well is a bit of an overstatement, but she was coping. Time made it easier, as did an adjustment to a long-distance relationship with Sam. His letters were the highlight of her day and regardless of where she might be, Jack and Cas managed to find her. She had noticed that this day had lacked a letter from Sam, which is really why she said yes when Brooke had asked to come over. She'd brought a pizza and they'd watched a movie. It had helped to get her mind off the lack of a letter from Sam. Jack and Cas were simply busy. Her letters had always been signed 'Mrs. Winchester' or wifey.

Ruby had shared the important information about Brooke. The house is still very much the same. Yes, a few things like furniture and security had changed, but Ruby had only replaced what she'd needed to. Their rockers are still on the porch.

She definitely had not found another body. There are a few more scars on her body, but he'll find it mostly as he left it. Brooke falters when the man turns around, gun wavering a bit. He was younger than the many pictures at various ages that Ruby had all over the house, but there was no doubt that this man at least appeared to be Sam Winchester.

"Ruby Winchester, but I think you know that." She lowers her gun and raises her voice slightly, but not much. It's obvious that she knows about Ruby's exceptional hearing. "Ruby, I think you ought to get out here."

It's only a few seconds before Ruby appears wearing a threadbare button-down, plaid shirt that is more like a dress on her. Her hair is shorter and blonder than it once was and mussed. "This better be good, Brooke. I put my book down in the middle of a very good--" she stops short when she sees the man standing with Brooke. Shock, surprise, hope, and pain all flash over her face before she shuts it down with a cold look and black eyes. "I don't know who you are, but you're going to regret wearing that face." Her knife is out and pressing into the man's side (she refuses to think of him as Sam right now). "You wanted to see who lives here. Let me give you a tour," she says, nudging him toward the front door. She looks over her shoulder. "I've got this. You can go home."

Brooke scoffs. "Like hell I'm leaving you to deal with this on your own." She says, trailing after them into the house.

Fair enough. In his heart, Sam only just had faith that she was doing her best with who she had down there. Jack and Cas were busy, but that was not the reason they didn't show up to at least say 'hello' today either. Time in Heaven moves differently than time on Earth and they had accidentally failed to notice a day had gone by without Sam there reminding them. Truth is, Sam should have reached Ruby by now if Jack hadn't got the coordinates slightly off. He had sent Sam off with the most recent letters Ruby had written in his hand. Mrs. Winchester written in the most beautiful cursive at the bottom of each one always made his heart grow fonder thinking about her. It would be pretty important to share that she was married to him for around one-hundred and three years, give or take. The house had also been a fixer upper when they found it. Many of the details put into it were of their own design throughout the years. He would be glad to see she kept it the same despite another hundred years ticking by.

He will definitely recognize her more easily with the body she kept all this time. Each and every new scar will just be a story that he would like to ask about. One thing for sure, Sam was never bothered by them. Sam had no intention of turning around completely, but the look on he manages to catch out of the corner of his eye has him completely turn on the ball of his feet. This woman clearly recognized him but who she was still remained a mystery. His best guess, she could be one of his descendants with her darker hair and sharp wits about her.

At the same time, the way she addresses Ruby so casually as Ruby Winchester feeds his doubt a little. He doesn't have the time to think too deeply about Brooke when Ruby steps out after being called. This is not exactly how he was hoping to see her but, turning to her now, he smiled despite his situation.

Her hair may be shorter, but the first thing to catch his attention was his favorite plaid t-shirt hugging her smaller frame like a dress. To say he always liked her in his shirts would be an understatement. The next thing he notices is her eyes turn black and demeanor turn dark, which barely gives him a chance to brace for the knife in his side. His hands are still up, and while he sharply takes a breath in, he remains calm because he knows he can convince her. "Hold on... Hold on. Both of you." It might be better for him if Brooke stayed there for a moment as a witness. Honestly, there was no right answer. "Ruby, I can prove it's me. Don't jump the gun and forget to ask me questions. Ask me anything."

Seems like he has no choice but to go into the house with the both of them... He sees that it isn't all that different and motions to his chair. "I'll pass on the tour. Thank you. Can I sit there?" He looks at Ruby who still appears frosty, realizing his ask may be a lot, and looks to another less notable spot to sit. "Or, I can sit there."

She was doing her best. Some days were better than others. Some years were better than others. The best 103 years of her entire existence.

She'll share those stories when he asks. Most of them were gotten in the early years when Ruby wasn't coping as well and was more reckless. She still gets hurt occasionally, but she is more careful. Ruby couldn't have gotten rid of this body even if she'd wanted to. This was the body that Sam loved. That's important to her. Considering her relationship with Ruby, she better not be a relative.

Their reunion will get better. She's worn one of his shirts around the house every day since he's been gone. She's worn several of them completely out and had to throw them away, which hadn't bothered her as much as she thought it would, especially when they stopped smelling like Sam and ended up smelling more like her. The hair had been something she'd done on a whim. It made her look a little older, she thought. It also took a lot less time. Lucky for Sam, Brooke isn't going anywhere for the moment. Ruby maintains her steely facade. She can't afford to let herself hope and be let down if this turns out not to be Sam.

She's definitely not giving him a choice. She needs time to figure this out. To ask him questions, to get the silver and the holy water. She gives him a look when he suggests he sit in Sam's chair. "Kitchen chair. It's easier to clean up," she tells him as she marches him into the kitchen and nudges him to sit in the straight-backed chair. She looks to Brooke. "Go get the rope out of the garage and my bag out of the SUV trunk. The one with the silver knife and the holy water."

Once Brooke leaves the room, Ruby looks back to the man in the chair. "What's my favorite movie? What sort of books do I like to read?" Those aren't two things that anyone that wasn't close to Ruby would know.

The years they spent together were the best of his, too.

It would require Ruby to first believe it is him. Maybe a week from now after the adrenaline of their reunion slowly wears off, he will though. What he mostly will be asking her when he does get around to noticing the scars is if he has anything to worry about. The last thing he hopes for her is to be suicidal. She is beautiful no matter what form she takes on, but he would be lying if he didn't think that he was glad to recognize her. The connection Ruby has with Brooke is not one he's put together yet.

Hopefully so. Her famous steely expression on him sort of makes him sweat a little. He would be worried if she had held on to rags of former shirts instead of letting them go. Suffice to say, the shorter hair does her justice. The whole house smells a lot like Ruby and sulphur and it's comforting when the situation is uncomfortable. His only job is to convince her he really is back.

He definitely now regrets not waiting until daylight. Maybe he should have written to her about the news after all. He can't take any of his decisions back so he wiggles to find the most comfortable part of the chair. Interrupting Ruby is the last thing he wants to do, which is why he follows the conversation until it gets Brooke out of the room so they can talk just between themselves. "Look, I won't move, I promise you that, Ruby. Tie me up, do the tests, but it won't hurt me because it's really me. Ask me anything."

Her foreign stare on his being twists at his heart a little. He takes a deep breath. "Our favorite is Somewhere in Time. Heh, your favorite genre is the historical bodice rippers... I think the last one we read together was The Silver Devil. Truth is, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting." Which is a side note that he never got to say before... before...

What matters is now. He watches for how her body language may change.

Since he is who he says he is, they'll get there. It won't take her as long to believe him as he might imagine right now. She'll tell him that she's not. Anymore. The first ten years or so had been rough, even with angel mail. She hasn't been suicidal for a long time and now that he's back, she won't be for a long time, if ever again. It's not one he ever has to put together. The important part is that Brooke is a friend, an actual friend. The rest of it isn't important, not to Ruby anyway (Brooke is another story).

She hasn't lost her touch then. For a long time, she burned his clean linen candles and she still does in their bedroom. She wants the sheets to smell as much like Sam as possible. However, the rest of the house smells spicy and rich, earthy, lavender, and yes, sulpher. That's something she can't do much about. Later, once she believes him, she'll be glad that something about this immediate reunion was comforting.

Once this is behind them, Ruby will appreciate that he wanted to surprise her. Ideally, it's perfect, but in practice, it's a little different, especially when the surprise-ee is a hunter and demon. At his plea, her steely expression drops a little and she loses the black eyes. She swallows hard, struggling to deal with the hope, happiness, distrust, and fear of disappointment if this isn't the happy ending she desperately wants it to be. She remembers so vividly the first time she was allowed out of Hell. This feels a little like that: there's hope and a light at the end of this dark, dark tunnel.

Even if somehow, he did know about the movie, she's reasonably certain that no one else could know about the book. She hasn't read that book since he read it to her. The emotion that she hasn't had to deal with in a very long time wells up in her throat and she chokes it back. She will not break down right now. She will not-not until she's certain. Her brow furrows. She knows that there's no easy explanation for this to not be Sam, but there's also no easy explanation if this is Sam. She realizes she's been quiet too long when she hears Brooke shut the trunk on the SUV and she knows that they won't be alone for long. "What do I say instead of saying I love you?"

The most important thing is that she is not suicidal anymore... That's what he would tell her when she divulges the information. The letters had helped him too. For the longest time, even with Dean around, he was listless without her. Writing to her daily had, honestly, saved him from feeling out of place in Heaven. Brooke is an important piece of Ruby's life, so while the nature of the relationship may be hard to swallow, it would do him good to know. Truthful, he would be glad to know his girl wasn't alone.

Never lost her touch. It has been hundred years but he still has a healthy respect for her less than finer moods. The fact she acts made of steel now just shows that he can't take this lightly. He thinks twice about bringing up her smell and what they do to his senses for now.

He hasn't forgotten that she was a huntress and a demon, but his original plan had been to show up, clean dressed and flowers in hand, much earlier in the day. That obviously went south. Sam couldn't blame Jack for any of that though. The kid... God was still young. The fact that his plea reaches Ruby enough for her eyes to flicker back to normal comes as a small relief. He can work with that, he thinks positively. His only desire is to bring out happiness into her face about a second life together. They couldn't share Heaven but they can share this. He still carefully thinks on his next words...

To be fair, if she left it alone, the book would still be visible from the window of their bedroom on his night stand. The movie, on the hand, would be harder to guess. Sam can only try to guess by her choked expression what she is thinking after being away for so long... Most of it good. She has to be having doubts in his favor, right? He fights back from smiling at her too soon. That he intends to do when she realizes it is him and he can move without consequence. The trunk of the vehicle outside quickly pulls him back to the time limit on their private conversation. There is actually an easy explanation to why he is Sam if she would just ask him. He looks from the window back directly to Ruby's eyes, colors mirroring a happier blue and antsy green. "...You always call me nerd." Or was it puppy? He has to second guess himself here. "Sometimes Samuel even though you know I like to be called Sam better."

Oh, Sam. Ruby is selfish and if she had her choice, he would stay with her always, but she never wanted him not to have a good afterlife (she just didn't want him falling in love with Jess again--which might be pot-kettle-black, but she's not even close to in love with Brooke). Eventually, Ruby will tell him. She'd like for Sam and Brooke to be friendly because no matter the nature of their relationship, Brooke had helped her feel less alone and more like she was a part of the world rather than existing in it. the great-great grandchildren were wonderful, but they are all adults with lives and children of their own (which Sam will meet soon). She's Queenie to them, a very cool grandma who isn't home a lot, but never forgets their birthdays, holidays nor does she miss those important moments. She's also the Queenie that takes far too many pictures and videos. She'll show Sam all of those so he'll feel like he knows the greats (what Ruby calls them) before he meets them.

He should definitely bring up her scent and it's effect on him later though.

Things probably would have gone a bit smoother had he shown up in the daytime, but Ruby can't blame Jack either. He's one of the people she loves and one of the few that understand her 'life'. Sam is making progress with her. He's swaying her to the belief that he is Her Sam.

Fair enough, and yes, the book is still on his nightstand along with his favorite candles, and favorite wine glass. Though the wine fridge they have in the bedroom is empty. The movie is so old that almost no one remembers it. She has it on digital and watches it from time to time along with many of the other movies they enjoyed together. She is definitely having doubts in his favor, but there's that distrustful part of her that's only grown since he's been gone, the one that is afraid this is all some horrible joke. His different colored eyes also make an argument in his favor. Those were always her eyes, usually seen when he's turned on. The ghost of a smile tugs at the corners of her lips and she crosses her arms over her chest to keep herself from make a decision that she's not convinced (yet) won't backfire on her. Nerd was for I love you. Puppy was for her being pleased with him. Samuel was usually anger or sexy.

Brooke steps into the kitchen with the rope over her shoulder and the flask of holy water in hand. Ruby's attention is still on Sam and it gives Brooke a moment to assess how the situation has changed. Ruby's body language is softer and she knows that whomever or whatever is sitting in the chair has made her have doubts.

"How?" Ruby asks in a choked voice. "Why?" the words 'are you here' are implied, or at least she thinks they are. Brooke hangs back, quietly unscrewing the cap on the flask of holy water.

Fortunately, he can share with Ruby that she was and will always be his one and only wife. His reunion with Jess had only flowered into a friendship. Nothing more. Likewise, if Ruby considers Brooke her friend, Sam will manage to put aside his feelings to consider the hunter a friend too. There won't be any hard feelings once he's had time to possess Ruby's life now. Please. Learning the names of the Greats before he meets them will be a pleasure. There is a good chance how he missed her scent will come up later in comfortable privacy.

Funny how things tended to go awry for them one way or another sometimes. At least Jack gave him this opportunity. It's his job now to persuade her.

He will have to make a note of how his favorite candle and wine is nearby later. That is, recommend they partake in some and get some of her favorites later. That is true. It won't occur to him right away just how old their movie is. In his defence, it's a little fuzzy what the difference between them were but they all had one feeling in common most of the time and that was love. He can wait for her to come around. The tiniest smile on her little is a sign that invites him to keep talking. Crossed arms were also a sign that he should talk.

Sam hears the door open and shut off to his side but he doesn't take his attention off of wife. "Jack," he offers her a soft reminder of what their kid is. "He asked me if I wanted to come back. I said yes."

She'll be very relieved to hear that. They'll spend a lot of time getting caught up on the things he's missed from all the greats to the scars on her body. As for Brooke, they'll get caught up on that as well eventually either through Brooke saying something or Ruby. She's not going to hide it from him, but its far from the most important thing she has to catch him up on either.

Ruby will thank Jack for that at some point. Both sincerely and giving him a little bit of a hard time on the where and when (after all this time).

It'll feel like a night long ago when they were younger and newly dating or married. Though Ruby can honestly say that they always had romance in the relationship even when Sam was an old man. The ghost of a smile and the crossed arms are probably mixed signals, but Sam is fluent enough in Ruby to know what each mean and to figure out why he's getting both at the same time. He would definitely keep talking. He's not out of the woods yet.

ruby registers that Brooke is back, but doesn't acknowledge her yet. She's entirely focused on what's happening right in front of her. Jack. At least heaven isn't broken and spewing its residents out. Alternate timelines occur to her but he wouldn't know her at this age unless it was a very different timeline. Her eyes are wide and her expression is hopeful but wary. "why now and not a century, two months, a week, 6 days and roughly 5 hours ago?"

Brooke is watching Ruby carefully and she can see how fast Ruby is falling for this and how hurt Ruby will be if this isn't everything the Sam look alike says it is. Brooke is a little protective of Ruby. She also cares enough about bring that she knows one of them is going to be hurt by this. She cares enough to hope the one getting hurt isn't Ruby. With that in mind, Brooke takes a step away from Ruby and closer to Sam. She catches a glimpse of something she's never seen on Ruby's face, something she knows is hope. She flicks her wrist and soaks Sam's face in holy water, taking great care not to splash Ruby.

Meeting the Greats will be one of the first things he will hope to do when they're settled in. Chances are Sam may conveniently find himself somewhere in where he can talk to Brooke alone about Ruby. Ruby having someone she clearly trusts other than himself is very clear here. If Ruby talks to him before that, he will also find a way to accept it as he could have only hoped she would have a friend so good.

Of course she will. In Jack's defense, Heaven runs on a slower clock than Earth does. It took him months to master his new found abilities when two centuries had passed on Earth.

The romance between could never really burn out-- that much is true. Still, Sam will soon remember what more there is to offer with youthful energy. They will get there. His subconscious at least is aware that he never has been in the dog house long. It goes without saying talking and opening up about things is very on brand for Sam.

Ruby's continued attention is a good sign. He confirms with a nod as he knows she is thinking about Jack and putting the pieces together. But he also doesn't have all the answers and calmly shakes his head at her line of questioning. The desire to reach out and touch Ruby to assure her is only held back by the knowledge of how any sudden movement would still be cause for alarm. "I don't have all the answers. When he asked if I wanted to come back, I told him I did. I didn't have to think about it. I only asked for the time to let everyone... to let Dean know I was coming back."

Opposite to Ruby's growing belief in his is Brooke's skepticism. She is harder to predict and harder still when he fails to keep his eye on her with moment between Ruby and him. It's only out of his peripheral that he half notices her step towards him. The holy water catches him off guard and sputtering as he had his mouth open to speak. There is nothing to else to indicate that it isn't more than a small annoyance. No smoke to speak of. Sam does shoot Brooke a measured look to display his dissatisfaction at her rude interruption. While he never expected her to be polite, he is old fashioned about whom certain problems concern.

That would probably be good for all of them. Brooke has heard about Sam Winchester from Ruby of course, but also from all the hunter diaries and legend. If she has to lose Ruby to someone, losing her to Sam will be easier after they talk. Ruby will probably feel a little guilty that she had a physical relationship with Brooke so it will help that Sam doesn't hold it against her. He'll probably feel a bit better that the physical relationship and all those boundaries were always all about him, which is something he'll learn from Brooke, though if he were to ask Ruby about it she would tell him as well. Brooke is a good friend and she will be again once they all adjust a bit. She's also a damn good hunter. Ruby wrote to Sam about her when she saved her (but failed to save her girlfriend). She's also included her in her letters a little over the years, but only ever in small mentions.

It'e entirely understandable. It's a lot of power to figure out not to mention that Heaven was a mess when Jack took over. Ruby really doesn't fault him though she might be angry in general about how much time they missed together, about the loneliness and pain she endured here without Sam. She would never blame Jack for that though. She can only be grateful that they get this second chance.

Oh, Ruby will definitely appreciate the youthful energy and she plans to take full advantage of it once Sam convinces her that he is Her Sam. It's true. She's horrible at staying mad at Sam. it is very on brand for Sam. It's a part of him that helped her stay more human.

Her eyes narrow a little, but her tone of voice is more grateful than disbelieving. "You came back without Dean?" It's not that he's never chosen her over Dean; it's that he never really had to. They both cared enough about him to get along. Of course, he also had lived many years here with her after Dean had died.

Brooke isn't a bad person, but she's dubious even with everything she knows. She's seen too many shape shifters, skin walkers and a host of other things that can choose how they look. Her jealousy and the knowledge that she's losing Ruby drives her disbelief as well. Brooke watches him with narrowed eyes for any sign that the holy water is affecting him.

Ruby's eyes go wide and she whips toward Brooke. "What the actual fuck?" Brooke returns her gaze unflinchingly. "That's why you had me get the holy water. I know he looks good and he's talking a good game, but you have to be careful, Ruby. I know--" she sighs, "I know you want it to be him, but...want doesn't make something true. We have to make sure it's him."

"And that's what I'm doing, Brooke. I'm not stupid and I'm not naive enough to be drawn in by--" she stops and looks back to Sam then moves to the sink to grab a clean kitchen towel. She steps close enough to touch and wipes his forehead, down his cheek, watching him as she does. She takes a deep breath, not even trying to hide that she's smelling him. The top notes of his scent are too clean, like a new car, but underneath he smells like Sam. Tears well up in her eyes just a little before she drops the towel in his lap, pressing her hand against the curve of his neck. There's enough holy water on his skin to make her skin sizzle, but she doesn't pull away. Her voice is low and husky when she finally speaks to him. "You still feel like...you," she whispers, her hand staying against his skin despite the holy water burning her.

If need be, the three of them can sit down and have a conversation together at some point. Little do either of them know that Sam will ask Brooke if she wants to come over in the coming days to the sleep over with the Greats. The door for a friend Ruby's will always be open. Sam could never hold her relationships against Ruby for the time he was gone. He will also need to process the information about the physical relationship in the days after he hears about it but come to that sort of conclusion too. Currently, he only has a vague recollection of Ruby's mentions of Brooke in her letters. It does strike him as a little like Ruby not to have mentioned Brooke a lot. It also strikes him that Brooke feels close to Ruby to have chosen to see this through with her.

Heaven was like the Titanic when Jack took over, if Jack could put a movie he had seen to the situation. But Amara had shown him how exactly to remove that figurative iceberg and plug up the ship. To be fair, if Ruby had anything she wanted to air out, all she needed to do is pray to him to have his full attention. He would love to hear from her. He could also learn from how he could do better because there isn't anything he wouldn't do for her.

All that's left to do is convince her it is one-hundred and thirty percent convince her that it is him. Jack really brought him back. He's always quick to make it right when she is mad. These two things go hand in hand. It doesn't seem like Ruby backslid to her old ways with him gone, which is one thing that he notes after talking with her up to this point.

His eyes betray the seriousness undertone of the situation and simmer in response to the hope in her voice. He closes his eyes momentarily, giving away sadness. "I don't think he wanted to be away from Jo. I wasn't going to ask him to either." He had his time with Dean in Heaven and would be back there one day anyway. To have a second run with Ruby? He couldn't say no to that despite what he would be giving up for at least a little while.

Of course. Brooke is a hunter and skepticism is part of the job, but it ends up with the two of them staring at each other until Ruby reacts. His attention flicks to Ruby and between them a couple of times. They talk as if he isn't sitting right there, which bothers him a little. He clears his throat. "I'm fine if Ruby wants to finish the rest of the tests." He holds his arm out for the silver test and motions to where he last remembers the silver being kept. He isn't sure if Ruby missed it or decided to ignore it when she places a towel to dry his face. He makes no sudden moves with her close to him, but she's close enough that his heart skips a beat and beats faster as a result. He has a clear picture that Ruby is smelling him and lets out a breath in relief. She would always do this in his best memories of them together. She can help him fix what he is supposed to smell like if she wants. She catches him a little off guard to have her hand warn him to stay put while also displaying her vulnerability to him. Before he can think twice, his first instinct is to rub her shoulder to comfort her. Next, he guides her hand a little lower than his throat to take it off the holy water but still maintain her control. "Care to ebolorate?" He asks in a low voice, barely catching her words from the start. Thankfully his hearing is a lot better.

That might be a little awkward for Ruby and Brooke, but it's an offer Brooke will accept. Moving through the awkward is the only way they're going to get past it. Sam is a very good person for not wanting to cut Brooke out of Ruby's (their) life.

Ruby's letters were a lot more likely to be full of stories about the greats and the hunts she'd been doing or more of the literary porn that they tended to trade back and forth.

Jack is doing a very good job, even if he is learning on the job. Ruby wouldn't even begin to know where to tell Jack to start. Her 'advice' would come from a purely selfish point. However, they do need to set up a time to catch up.

There are places and ways that she's backslid. She doesn't pretend human as well as she did when he was alive. For example, the kitchen is almost bare and she only sleeps when she's exhausted. She's a lot less social than she was when Sam was around, but some of the things he helped set up for her before he died, like the hunter network, have kept her from back sliding completely.

"Oh. So he's actually serious about Jo." Sam had written about Jo and Dean in his letters to her, but Ruby hadn't grasped how serious Dean was. It wasn't as if he'd gotten serious about anyone on earth. Her brow furrows as she considers the man in front of her, momentarily forgetting that he *might* not be Sam in her concern for how he's going to cope without Dean. "If you grow a scraggly grief beard, I'm having Jack take you back," she warns. She remembers all too well how Sam had been when Dean was in Hell all those years ago. She aware that sounds like she believes him (she does; she wants to), but she's putting that aside to make sure that he's going to be okay without Dean.

Sorry for that slightly delayed reaction there. They don't mean to talk about him like he's not there, but it sort of happens. Ruby turns her attention back to Sam, her eyes flickering to the good silver drawer. Yes, it's still there. She didn't miss that cue or that permission, but she's a lot more concerned with him. She hears his heart race and it sounds exactly the way she remembers it sounding when he was young and so in love with her. A lot of people would find it creepy the way Ruby smells it, but it's one of the many small ways that she isn't human and because her sense of smell is so much better than a human's, scent is important. She stiffens a little when Sam touches her hand, preparing for a fight that doesn't come (much to her relief). Her thumb slides across his skin and she bites her bottom lip hard. It takes her a moment to answer. "I always have. I don't know if Jack brought you back with demon blood or it's just your soul and my...self. Or Brooke is right and I'm buying into the biggest con this century."

Brooke, to her credit, doesn't say anything. She hangs back, arms crossed over her chest as she watches them.

Sam could only imagine that Brooke would fit in at the slumber party and actually help break the ice from his introduction to the greats. The same can be said about Brooke being a good person for showing up when he does invite her.

There were times more often than not that all their letters were was literary porn and other times about some dumb prank Dean or other. Thankfully, their kids and their kid's kids were still alive. Sam welcomed the stories more than the desire to meet them too soon. That is, in Heaven. In the coming days, he will feel much differently.

Yes, maybe. Ruby could ask the most selfish thing of Jack to do and he would consider it. One thing he has learned thus far may not be to make everyone happy but to deliver onto them a path to find their ending. Ruby's situation with being a demon made her path to happiness Sam more difficult. Jack came to the conclusion that bringing Sam back was the answer.

Of course Sam has a biased view of how he sees Ruby. She never needed to be social with the world, but the proof that she still works within it is in Brooke, which is sticking by her. The lack of food may become evident in a moment when his stomach rumbles and turns the smallest amount in the pit of his gut.

"The most serious I've seen him about anybody." Not that Sam has actually seen any of the time Dean's spent in a serious relationship, but his tone is confident enough to suggest neither of them are dreaming. He can't read her thoughts all the time so he watches her eyes on him closely, waiting for her to share when she is ready. He follows exactly what she means when the 'grief' beard is brought up. "You want to know how I feel about Dean staying behind?" He pauses to remember how he practiced it to himself. "It's going to be different not having Dean around everyday, and I can't make any promises I will be alright every day, but I have come to terms it's just for now." He chuckles at her soft threat. "I think I would have to fight Jack not to take me back so soon." There might be a day he goes without shaving before he snaps out of it though. Sam isn't immune from the wash of his absent brother getting to him some days.

Sure, continue talking about me as if I'm not here, which is something he might have said if he wanted the situation more heated. The opposite is true here. Sam finds Ruby's attention back on him is at least one positive. He can feel Brooke silently turn his eyes on him, which is less nice and feels like daggers. The silver test isn't off the table at least. His heart continues to race with her near him but compensates by making the rhythm more steady. One of the things that make him her Sam is not being uncomfortable with her need to smell him. As memory serves, it was part of their intimate life. His hand loosens his grip to that of a feather to guide her hand the moment she stiffens at all. There's no fight in him when it's her, but he knows that she would win if there were. Her fingers feel cold and leave a tingly sensation where she traced they once were on his skin. His skin feels hot. He spends a moment on what he knows that might help her make sense of any of it.

"Let's start with the easiest things. Jack can tell you himself if we get him here. We can use a spell to get the answers to your other questions."

She probably will help break the ice and once the sleepover gets started, the awkwardness will abate.

Ruby appreciated both types of letters. They allowed her to feel closer to Sam in different ways. She's got all of those letters put away and if he ever sees them, he'll notice many of them are re-read frequently (and no she's not ashamed that many of those that have obviously been re-read are the literary porn letters).

It was a good and accurate conclusion. Also, good on Jack for realizing that not everyone can be made happy. There are adult humans that never figure that out.

Ruby, personally likes the biased view that Sam has of her. She does okay out in the world. There's probably some pizza leftover from when Brooke brought it over earlier. Ruby will get him some of that when she hears his stomach growl. It should hold him over until they can get to the grocery store in the morning. It's also possible there's some dry, sugary, cereal from the last time the greats stayed over. Unfortunately, there's no milk in the fridge.

She nods, following along with how he feels about Dean not being there. It tracks with how Her Sam would feel. Despite the immortaleh-tea that she'd given Dean as well as Sam, Dean had died years before Sam. He'd learned to cope with a day-to-day like that hadn't included Dean. She'd been there to shave his grief beard and help him snap out of it before and she will be this time as well. She realizes that the longer they talk the more she's thinking in terms of hope and future.

Yes, the situation needs to be defused, not escalated. She'll apologize for it later in her own way (spoiler alert: she's still not good at actually saying the words). Yeah, Brooke is much less accepting of what's going on and much warier. No, the silver test isn't off the table. It is one of the things that makes him Her Sam and she doesn't miss that. It goes on the list of reasons this could actually be Sam. His memory serves him correctly. She doesn't want to fight with him, especially not if it's Sam, but even if it's something that just looks like him, she'd really rather he just go away without a fight. His skin does feel hot, but if her memory serves it always did to her.

After Sam speaks, Ruby steps away, letting her hand all to her side. it's a little raw from the holy water, but it will heal. She looks to Brooke. "Why don't you go home? I can handle this. We'll call Jack. It'll b oaky."

Brooke's mouth sets in a disapproving line. Finally, she nods and holds the silver knife out to Ruby. She knows the demon can handle herself with most creatures. Ruby takes the knife from her and Brooke grabs hold of Ruby's wrist. "Be careful. Let me know how things are here." Her eyes cut to Sam then back to Ruby. "Just...keep in touch." It sounds like she's asking for something more. She drops Ruby's wrist and looks to Sam.

"I hope you're everything you say you are, Sam Winchester," Brooke says quietly as she turns to walk out of the kitchen. They hear the front door open and close after a few seconds.

Family don't end with blood, right.

It wouldn't feel right to touch the letters without her permission right away but once they get settled, Jack will send his letters from her here. If she would like, they could sort them into chronological order. Most of them are dated fairly accurately with the human error here or there. He reread them sometimes all day long when the conversations (love) stretched on and on and on.

Jack had the best teachers to help him come to that realization. People should be left to figure it out themselves. There is even a deal in the works with Rowena to 'install' doors for every soul not yet corrupted into a demon. The door would be up to them to find after freeing themselves from guilt.

It hadn't taken him long to have a favorable bias for her after he got over her demon background. Sam hasn't backslided much either. The only thing is that he missed her face every second he was gone. He wouldn't accept it if he knew it was Brooke's on the principle of the matter (they could order their own instead to mind some manners). But Sam accepts it cold because he doesn't know. He chews and swallows a substantial bite. Ruby knows him well enough to know cold pizza is better than cereal. He draws the line at no milk.

It should track. Sam felt the same way about Dean when he was no longer there in his old age, one hundred years back. The sad thing is Dean had done too much drinking early in life for the immortaleh-tea to match Sam. Ruby had been there by his side every day from that time in his life, which had been key. She knew how hard to kick and what to say. It won't be easy, and he is not asking her to step up like she did before, but he hopes it is clear how much his decision proves he is willing to do it all over again for them. Living his life was for her as much as it was for him. The longer they talk the more it cements this for him.

She needn't apologize to him later with words or not. Brooke, on the other hand, he wouldn't expect one from either. Hunters have always been rough around the edges in his experience. However, Brooke's opinion is the last one he cares about. Ruby has to be the one to decide if it is really him. If she has more questions, he will be open to answering. They will likely still do a silver test and it should leave a small mark on his forearm to remind them of today. It would be too elaborate of a cruel joke for it not to be him. All she needs to do is open her heart and trust that feeling. Somehow, Sam knows she will get there.

Sam has another bite of the pizza, knowing where his input isn't needed. But he's not the least apologetic that Brooke is asked to go. His attention is more focused on the rawness of Ruby's hand and when an opportunity best to ask her if he can wrap it arises. He does bob his head at the mention of Jack, that they can agree on. Jack would be called.

He watches the exchange between Brooke grabbing Ruby's wrist with knitted eyebrows. It rubs him the wrong way for Ruby to be treated like that. More importantly, never in the history of his time with Ruby has he seen her let that slide (yet she does). Sam assumes he must be mistaken with what it looks like (he still considers himself Ruby's and vice versa). It's hard to know what to think of that exchange.

The one thing he knows for certain is that he is who he says he is. Sam lets Brooke make her exit without any input. The tension feels like it eases somewhat when the door can be heard closing shut. His eyes return to Ruby's. "The only person I need to prove that to is just you" he says between them.

No, it doesn't. Ruby has learned that a bit better over the last one hundred years.

She would like to go through the letters together. Maybe they can share which were their favorites and that sort of thing before they return them to the lockbox together. She'd always tried to write her letters to Sam like they were a conversation to be picked back up at the earlier possible convenience. She was grateful to have the letters, not only to maintain a connection with him but to fill her hours with something besides hunting.

Oh, Jack. He is doing such a good job. She'll be glad to hear that Rowena is working with Jack instead of against him.

Sam needn't worry about that. Brooke wouldn't have minded. The pizza would have been left in Ruby's fridge and only eaten if Brooke had come over again within the next few days or if the greats had visited. She figured he would draw the line there. They'll get milk at the store.

Dean had done a lot of damage to his body in general before he could be convinced to drink Ruby's tea daily. Sam had always taken his health a little more seriously and it had allowed him to live longer. Ruby knows Sam better than any other person in Heaven or earth, except maybe Dean and she'd wager she could give him a run for his money.

Brooke will come around. Ruby doesn't know how anyone could not like Sam (granted, she's biased). It would be the cruelest of jokes if he weren't Sam, but cruel isn't something she'll ever put past demons or shifters or any of the other things that could take his face. She will get there because it's far too important and everything she's ever wished for.

She'll allow him to wrap it up, but she'll also insist that it's not necessary. she'll take some time and expend the power necessary to heal it later while he's asleep.

Brooke was on her way home when Sam arrived anyway. She doesn't often stay the night here per Ruby's rules. Sam's input would only make the situation worse at this point.

Brooke is one of the few people that's allowed to touch Ruby without obtaining permission. Sam and Ruby do belong to each other and always will. That hasn't changed in the last one hundred years. She just happens to have a casual, physical relationship with Brooke. She's aware that it's probably more casual to her than it is to Brooke, but she feels little guilt about that. Brooke knew what she was walking into (though neither of them expected Ruby's dead husband to show up).

Ruby's attention never wavers from Sam even during Brooke's departure. She doesn't speak until she hears Brooke's car start and moves away from the curb. She sighs, tears still in her eyes as she picks up the silver knife. "If holy water didn't bother you and if this silver doesn't," she says as she steps closer, eyes on his as she carefully, lightly makes a cut on his forearm. "You've got to be you."

He doesn't react to the silver and she steps closer between his legs, one hand pressing against the cut, the other coming up to his cheek as she dips her head to his, close enough to share breath with him.

Sam will be glad to witness that she has learned that a bit better.

They will make time for it. The next hundred or so years are all theirs. His favorite letter had always been her more recent one to him; some of the literary porn that got (him) heated would be honorary mentions that he would share with her without shame. He'd always try to match the tone of the letters she wrote, as well; often would add a question or small topic of conversation as a line at the bottom. Most of the time he mentioned something he fondly remembered about their time together. Likewise, the letters were his connection to her and home. His idea of Heaven was lacking her.

Rowena is doing exactly as she promised when she was allowed to take over. She ensures that demons do not make contracts with the innocent any longer. Besides she has what she wanted with immortality and power at her hands. Playing nice with Jack serves her purposes. Jack likes Rowena though, and Rowena likes Jack too.

It will occur to him later that the food was Brooke's and he repay her with a pizza at the bar. He also may start his new and old job back at the bar to repay Ruby indirectly paying for that pizza too. (There's also the future matter of saving for a ring to repropose to Ruby but everything happens in good time.) Milk will probably be the first thing on their grocery list in the morning. Next is eggs. There is none of the fridge, when Sam's go to is eggs.

Part of his dedication to his healthy lifestyle was because he was just, if not more, prone to addiction than Dean. For example, Dean could hold back from the temptation of human blood as a transitioning vampire where as Sam once had a demon blood problem. The upside is that Dean drank the tea at all and was around for many important moments of Sam's life. He was around for Sam's graduation in 2022, around for MJ's birth and more. The garage being converted to half a gym had all only been possible because of Dean. When Dean passed, Sam hung a tribute of photos of his brother and him on the wall beside his and Ruby's shared bedroom door. It would be a pretty safe bet to say there are things that Ruby knows about Sam that Dean doesn't. All she needs to ask is something only she could know if she still has any doubts.

Taking care of her if she needs it or not was always something he couldn't turn his eyes away from. It is how he always choose to show her love. I like being able to take care of you, were the words he would say to her in these situations. He typically found that any wound she had would disappear in a day and would loving unwrap her bandages as well.

Sam didn't expect he would be allowed to come back either. He lived every day before he passed being the best friend he could for Ruby while also making small arrangements here or there so she she could cope. He drew up the land in her name without telling her. Planned his funeral. Read to her every night he felt able. His understanding was that he could never come back so every moment was special. It's just the two of them alone in the kitchen now. Silence fills the space between for a moment, but his thumb slowly comes to her face to ask permission to wipe away her tears so they don't stain the beautiful eyes behind them. His arm stays extended to allow her to test silver with a small cut into his skin. He prepares for the sting that vanishes as soon the red droplets form to take its place.

"It's really me, Ru. I'm home." He assures her soft as voice can be without breaking. Ruby has every reason to mistrust that he ever could come back but her belief in him goes to show how strong their love is. It would break his heart if she couldn't open hers to trust what he was saying. The blood drops slow to a stop with her hand blocking the flow, the temperature of her hand feels cold but cool against his otherwise warm face. He presses his forehead to hers a bit in return. The heat of her breath makes his face warm in contrast to her touch. Her smell was his favorite combination of cinnamon and sulphur. "I had planned to make a better entrance." Before she could reply, Sam put his hands to cup the sides of her face and kiss her with every ounce of how he missed her behind it.

She can understand that. She wouldn't be interested in spending an afterlife anywhere that he wasn't.

Rowena's fondness for Jack is probably part of the reason why it's working. Yes, she wants immortality and power, but it helps that her co-worker is someone she likes.

Really, it's just pizza and Sam needn't repay anyone for it. Brooke will appreciate the gesture and Ruby will likely spend a great many of those evenings he's working at the bar watching him work. They'll stock the fridge with all kinds of fresh vegetables and fruit in addition to the eggs and milk. There will be plenty of fries in the freezer and sugar cereal in the cabinets as well. The house will, once again, looked lived in. It'll be good for Ruby to see it that way again because in some aspects she has long felt like she haunts the house rather than lives in it.

Ruby had never minded Sam's propensity for addiction since it was easily turned into an addiction to her. She was glad for and supported his healthy lifestyle as much as possible because it allowed him to stay with her longer and to maintain his health as he got older. She knows that she probably should question more and that she should have doubts, but she's finding it difficult to care about those with Sam in front of her.

His arrangements were appreciated because they had allowed Ruby to wallow in her grief for a while. She'd needed that time before she could even contemplate moving on with her life without him. She'd felt the same way about all of their moments, which is why she has hundreds of hours of video and hard drives filled with pictures. She is very grateful to Sam for teaching her how to save those digital memories so she'd have them later. She ducks her head ever so slightly into the pressure of his thumb on her cheek, giving him the permission he's silently seeking.

Somehow those words are what obliterates any walls she's got left standing. She exhales as his forehead pressed against hers and she can't help but laugh very softly, breathily at his comment about makes a better entrance. "I can't say I hate this one," she manages before he's kissing her. She returns the kiss with equal fervor and desperation. She shifts so that she's straddling him instead of standing between his legs then sinks down to sit on his lap, legs wrapping around him and the chair without breaking the kiss. She moves one hand from his forearm to his neck, smearing blood there and not caring as she continues to kiss him. Eventually, the kiss breaks so that both of them can breathe. "You taste the same," she tells him in a breathy voice.

It wouldn't really feel right not to repay her. Besides the pizza might just be the olive branch Sam needs to open the conversation with Brooke in the future. Just like in the past, Sam will tend the bar while making time to flirt with her. Yes, Ruby remembers those are all his favorite foods. They may want to add a blender to the mix if the old one no longer works. Pots and pans will, slowly, start to come out of storage and the scent of spices will fill the air with welcoming aroma. In Heaven, Sam lived with Dean and Jo in the bunker so being home again with Ruby will be the change he was longing for.

His addiction may have partly shifted into an addiction to her (a high that he never really came down from), but her support for his lifestyle at every turn had been another key factor for their relationship. She fit as the hunter wife he realized he needed. She supported his decision to semi-retire and handle things as Bobby once did, only with Men of Letters resources. He was glad she was there every step of the way to encourage his best. They can address those concerns later, too. At any point. Her window to ask questions is not closed because of the intimacy of the moment. Sam would want to appease her before they fester.

Sam never got to see how Ruby reacted to his death or finding out his affairs were in order, but it was good that she got the time she needed to focus on one thing (the grief). MJ had been there with her mom and the grandkids. He would teach her technology all over again if it had the same results. He wanted at the very least to leave the Winchester family photo album in her hands with backups so nothing ever got lost. In the coming days, it is Sam who will realize Ruby may need to teach him technology, though. Her permission is felt rather than seen when her cheek rests against his thumb causing him to add light pressure to stroke it.

His intention is to get her to trust him and her walls crashing down may as well be the same effect. His nose pressed against hers, as well, because it's hard not being close to her as physically possible. The light of her laughter brings him to smile, chuckling softly. He would add something if kissing her wasn't something he needed to do. Desperation would be an accurate descriptor of the kiss. It's been too long since he's really kissed her, tasted the latest flavor on her lips. Was that cherry? he thought. To support her, his hands move to her rear and pull her entire small person closer to him and squeezes much the same way her legs squeeze around his waist. He manages to ignore the smear sensation of his own blood up his arm in favor of teasing her with a light tug to her lower between his teeth. If it weren't necessary, he would apologize for needing air. Rather than focus on that, he looks into her eyes instead with a lustful mix of blue and green. "You're even more beautiful than when I last saw you." Words he used to say when he was alive.

Once things have settled and are no longer awkward, it will be good to have Brooke and Sam be friends. The greats know her and love her so it would be hard to cut hr out of their lives. Ruby will flirt in return and thoroughly enjoy the view at the bar. She hasn't been a regular there in years, but that'll change with Sam back.

She hasn't used the blender since he died so there's a very good bet they'll need a new one. Besides, the new blenders are a lot better. Ruby will have to get back into the groove of cooking. She's only really made Pączki for the greats at holidays or when they'd come over to stay the night. She'll be happy to watch Sam cook and contribute occasionally, especially with perogies and other Polish dishes that she used to make for him and MJ.

Sam will be pleased to discover that she's taken over his role of running the hunter network and answering all the phones. She may not be social, but she talks to plenty of hunters nearly every day. She will probably ask questions for days ranging from 'did you eat in Heaven' to 'why now'.

It hadn't been pretty and he probably wouldn't have been proud of her, but she'd survived, and that had been the important part. She'd eventually had something resembling a life. A large part of that had been due to MJ, the grandkids, and the greats. Another part of it had been due to her promise to Sam. She will definitely teach him technology. There has been a great deal of advancement in the last century. They still can't teleport, but much of the technology seems like science fiction from Sam's time. She leans into his touch like a cat, unable to keep herself away from him.

Her walls coming down and trust are very much the same. It might take a little while longer (as in a couple of hours) for her to trust him completely and a lot longer to be certain that he won't disappear again, but he needn't worry about her stringing him up or hurting him. She feels the same pull toward Sam; that visceral need to be as close as possible then closer still. Cherry is still one of her favorite flavored lip balms so yes, it's cherry. She can still taste the pizza he ate a few minutes ago, but underneath that is a taste that's unique to Sam: something clean and warm. She groans into the kiss as his hands squeeze her hips and her ass, pulling her closer to him. Ruby can still smell the blood, but it's entirely secondary (or maybe it's part of what's so perfect about right now because it smells like Sam's blood). She needs air as well so he needn't apologize for that. It gives them a chance to experience that first collision of lips and mouths all over again. Her hand slides to his cheek, her thumb soft against his temple as she studies those mismatched green and blue eyes. "You're younger than I've ever seen you," she responds. She'd been firmly locked away in Hell for misbehavior when he was 22 last time. Almost belatedly, his compliment sinks in. "You don't mind the hair then?" She reaches up to self-consciously touch the shorter, touseled strands. It just grazes her jawline right now.

Chances are the greats will be the reason Brooke and Sam do start to become friends. Unbeknownst to either of them, they probably have a lot in common, not beginning or ending with Ruby. It would be just like old times with her at the end of the bar and that tell-tale look on her face. He hasn't forgotten her favorite drink and will mix it for her. The bar might definitely return to being a thing for them with his shift work.

If the old one does not work, a new blender, as silly as it sounds, would be appreciated. It means Ruby is two steps ahead of him. It means she thinks of him. Cooking together would be the most ideal thing. Over the years they've spent together, food had become part of their love language. He would not stop if she wanted to cook for him or watch him make something for her. There were quite a few Winchester dishes they enjoyed over the years.

Of course he will be proud of her when he does discover that she has taken his role. He may not know all the ways but she has definitely come far. He will have patience for each and every question and answers that range from 'I didn't need to but I could taste food as if it were real' to 'That Jack would know better than myself. I couldn't say no to the opportunity to see you again.'

Likewise he will have similar questions for her. How she coped, being one of them. It would be painful to hear and have her open up about but important in moving forward and healing. He will smile when she tells him in so many words that she kept her promise. Anything they do together will seem like a date. Technology having a science fiction element to it compared to his own time will just turn him on more (but never as much as she can). He has no plans of releasing her anytime soon. She might as well be an extension of his being.

He can (still) read her like yesterday. He wouldn't blame her for taking an extra couple of hours to trust him and look away for even a second. Their reunion is making his heart ache and pull towards her too. She needn't say anything to him along those lines for him to know. Cherry always suited her best, he thinks. Maybe it's entirely unrelated to him being on Earth, but he had felt the need to shower before coming to see her (nervous). Clean was what he was going for. He loosens his grip a bit just in case her groan is a small protest but his subconscious remembers that he can't hurt and he grunts in kind. He would not think about how his blood must smell to her yet it doesn't hinder their make out session to do anything about it. What's perfect to him is the taste of her lips and looking at her fondly when they break from that. Her thumb on his cheek and studying gaze have him lost in the moment, catching only half of what she says with 'than I've ever seen you'. He pieces together the rest. "Um, about that. My best guess is that Jack brought me back from before I started hunting. He said it would be sometime before Chuck interfered the first time." He had been in college blissfully unaware of what Dean or his father were doing. He had cut ties with them, found a girlfriend, lived life without looking back, save for the postcards he would use to communicate with Dean. Sam doesn't need to think about it to shake his head at her query. "You're beautiful with short or long hair. It frames your face the same way." One of his hands reached up next to hers to brush it affectionately, telling her in this way that she shouldn't be self-conscious. "Can I ask the story behind it?"

She won't mind things being like old times and the greats that run the bar will be glad to have the help and to see the both of them.

She always thinks of him, even when he wasn't here she thought of him every day. They'll put a blender on the list of things they need. They can get one in a store or pick one out online. Cooking will become a part of their lives and a way to show love again. They'll recreate those dishes and share them with the greats or just with each other.

She'll welcome his questions, though the one about coping might be hard to talk about and hard for him to hear, she'll give him the answers he asks for. They'll manage to turn everything they do into a date, yes. He will love learning about technology, maybe especially from Ruby. They're going to be ridiculously connected at the hip for a while.

She might take a little more time to trust him, but she won't be looking away anytime soon. Really that mutual need to be closer to each other is more telling than anything else about who he is. She's never felt the need to be closer than breath to anyone except Sam. No, he can't hurt her; Ruby isn't fragile or breakable and she's glad he remembers that. His answering grunt makes her a little more breathless, heat coiling in her belly even as the kiss breaks. "All the more time I get to spend with you," she responds in answer to his explanation about his age. She rests her forehead against his, her hands drifting to the buttons on his shirt. She fiddles with the first one then unbuttons it, hands drifting to the next button. "About fifteen years after--I needed a change, but I didn't want to switch bodies so I did what normal women do. I chopped it off with kitchen shears. MJ took me the next day to get it trimmed up."

She dips her head to the curve of his neck and kisses as her hands drift down his shirt. Once it's completely unbuttoned, she splays her hands across his chest, one over his heart. "You don't have any scars," she notes, her breath against his skin before she looks up at him and catches his mouth with hers again in another desperate kiss.

Sam will like being back behind the bar, reminded of the days of old, but with his extended family along side him. It will be good to see how the bar has thrived in his absence.

Choosing one together in the store will be more meaningful. Besides shopping with her will be an excuse to look at frivolous things either of them could wear. They will need to go out for one reasons or another eventually. Recreating those dishes they used to make for each other would be romantic.

Whatever her answers may be, they will sort through it together. Their love is older than two-hundred years at this point. What can't it survive? He hasn't given up on her yet after all (and vice versa). Learning things from Ruby had been a favorite part of his dates with her before. She is stuck with him for sure.

The same could be said for him, but after a kiss that sweet, his breathing needs to catch up to heart rate and is exhaled in hot puffs as air. His thoughts scatter into a million different ones about her and the moment. "I'll take that as you're not too disappointed then." He hadn't planned on returning as a twenty-two year old, but it was certainly better than returning as a hundred something. His forehead rests against hers easily. She's eager to get him undressed already, which brings another light chuckle to cross to escape his lips. He remembers better than to stop her or annoy her by helping too much. Rather he will wait his turn to nudge the fabric of her shirt up over her breasts and over her head. He watches her hands fiddle with the tiny buttons while he waits for that time. "And you've had the same haircut since? I'm sorry I couldn't be there to see it."

His chin lifts for her access to his neck. There's nothing marring his skin, no anti possession tattoo. A reflection of the life he lived before becoming a true hunter. "Good thing or ba--" The question is lost with her lips on his for another long desperate kiss.

A moment or so later, Ruby's cat, Heathcliff, meows enthuastically at something that entered the room.

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